Ramil Hasan, the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), has met with Binali Yildirim, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States and former Prime Minister of Turkiye, in Ankara, Azernews reports.

Binali Yildirim congratulated Hasan on his appointment and wished him success in his new role.

During the meeting, Hasan shared his insights on the Assembly's key priorities and updated Yildirim on TURKPA's ongoing projects and future plans aimed at enhancing parliamentary dialogue and fostering greater unity among Turkic countries.

Hasan highlighted that these initiatives are progressing well under Kazakhstan's current leadership of the organization.

Binalir Yildirim expressed his strong support for the principles of Turkic unity and stressed the importance of reinforcing cooperation within TURKPA.

The conversation also focused on the continued strengthening of relations and unity among the Turkic states.

Hasan was accompanied by his deputies, Talgat Aduov and Muhammet Alper Hayali, during the meeting.
A staff member arranges cut pieces of poria cocos at a poria cocos processing factory in Jingzhou County, Huaihua, central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

CHANGSHA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- After resigning as a senior sales executive for a state-owned tobacco company in Shanghai, Yang Peiru registered a bamboo shoots processing company in his hometown, Huitong County, a hinterland in central China's Hunan Province.

"The local government offered many preferential policies, which attracted me to bring investment back to my hometown," said Yang, general manager of Hunan Green Land High-tech Agriculture and Forestry Development Co., Ltd. He added that government loans had bolstered the company's capital and enhanced its production capacity.

"Due to the expansion and stability of production capacity, we have got many orders from big customers. Currently, our order volume has reached 200,000 packages per day," Yang said.

Established in 2017, Yang's company has contracted some 3,300 hectares of bamboo forest from local farmers to secure raw materials, with support from the local government.

"After the official launch of sales in June 2021, the performance has grown steadily, and it is expected to achieve sales of 80 million yuan (about 11.28 million U.S. dollars) by 2025," Yang said.

Song Xiaofeng, a local villager who leased one hectare of bamboo forest to Yang's company, now works on its production line, earning a monthly salary of 4,000 to 4,500 yuan.

"In the past, I could hardly make more than 1,000 yuan annually from my bamboo forest. Now, I earn about 50,000 yuan a year, including a 1,050 yuan land transfer fee," said Song. She added that the job allows her to care for her elderly parents and children at home, rather than endure the hardships of working in the mountains every day.

About 40 kilometers from Yang's company lies Jingzhou County, known for its waxberries and poria cocos, a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine.

Local people have found that growing poria cocos under waxberry trees effectively utilizes space, maintains vegetation balance, and prevents soil erosion.

"After harvesting, the poria cocos residue acts as organic fertilizer for the waxberry trees," said Wang Xinzhi, general manager of Jingzhou Guoling Technology Co., Ltd., a local producer of poria cocos products. "We now use this model on 200 hectares of land."

"Planting poria cocos under the waxberry trees is not only an innovation but also reduces costs and makes full use of land space and increases overall profits," Wang said.

Near Wang's company, there is a busy market for poria cocos. Many buyers and sellers come here every morning to trade poria cocos.

As one of the largest poria cocos industrial parks in China, Jingzhou County attracted 71 traditional Chinese medicine enterprises, over 300 processing households, 21 e-commerce enterprises, and four logistics enterprises by 2024, according to the local authorities.

The annual transaction volume reaches 80,000 tonnes, accounting for more than 70 percent of the national total.

Yang and Wang are the epitomes of China's non-timber forest-based economy.

Included in the country's 2025 government work report, the concept is an eco-friendly economic model that involves a compound operation involving forests and woodlands.

According to data from China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration, by 2024, some 40 million hectares of forest land were utilized for this purpose, generating an annual output value of approximately 1 trillion yuan nationwide. 

Buyers and sellers trade on poria cocos at a poria cocos market in Jingzhou County, Huaihua, central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 22, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)
MOSCOW, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- New sanctions against Russia complicate efforts to restore relations with the U.S., Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview released Sunday.

"Of course, the actions taken this week were an unfriendly move. They truly damaged the prospects for reviving our relations, but this does not mean we should abandon these aspirations," Peskov told journalist of Russia-1 TV channel Pavel Zarubin, commenting on the sanctions.

He added that Russia is interested in building good relations with all countries, including the United States.

The spokesman noted that Putin appreciates Trump's desire to achieve a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, but stressed it "cannot be resolved overnight."

On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, the two largest Russian oil producers, and called for "an immediate ceasefire," adding that the White House was prepared to take further actions if necessary.

The United States and its allies have imposed multiple rounds of financial and trade sanctions on Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, targeting Russian banks, defense industries and energy exports. 
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China is spearheading a profound transformation fueled by the cultivation of what it terms "new quality productive forces" in the coming five years. At the very core of this ambitious shift lies a resolute commitment to translating cutting-edge technologies into burgeoning new industries.

The country plans to turn next-generation industries, including quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, hydrogen energy and fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence and sixth-generation mobile communications, into new engines of economic growth.

Such vibrant prospects are underpinned by a resilient manufacturing supply chain and a fast-growing private sector.

DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT

Within China's Pearl River Delta, a region long synonymous with its manufacturing prowess, a novel form of workforce is rapidly taking shape: the humanoid robot.

Pioneering startups like EngineAI, born and bred in the tech hub of Shenzhen, are pushing the boundaries of what these sophisticated machines are capable of achieving. EngineAI's engineers have created robotic models endowed with uncannily human-like gaits.

"The posture and the way they walk are just the first step. When intelligence is combined with form, it becomes even harder to distinguish them from real humans," said Zhao Tongyang, EngineAI's founder.

UBTECH, also a native of the city, offers a more pragmatic alternative. It focuses on deploying robots in factories to perform practical tasks, and its products are already undergoing training in multiple automotive plants.

Currently in China, 470 industrial robots are deployed for every 10,000 manufacturing workers. And in the years to come, AI-empowered humanoid robots are poised to join human workforces, particularly in the handling of open-ended tasks that require cognitive capabilities.

Having topped global manufacturing output for 15 years, China is now building on that strength to focus on quality and sophistication. The country has built a robust foundation of smart factories, with more than 35,000 facilities at the foundational level.

The launch of open-source models like DeepSeek has sparked optimism in global markets about China's AI capabilities, yet this is just a precursor to the far greater economic potential of integrating AI with its massive manufacturing sector.

This strategic shift towards tech-intensive production is seen as a pivotal way of achieving sustainable economic growth. "This could be the next industrial revolution. Moving in this direction is definitely the right choice," said Zhao.

NEW FRONTIERS

Beyond making traditional industries smarter and more efficient, China is also scaling up emerging sectors and actively cultivating future industries.

Shanghai-based NeuroXess is among the tech firms developing brain-computer interface (BCI) devices, as the city pushes to become a leading center for the industry of the future.

NeuroXess has successfully implanted electrodes in 10 participants with epilepsy, allowing them to communicate complex Chinese sentences using only their thoughts. Similar clinical trials are currently being conducted in Beijing and Shanghai.

Drawing inspiration from silk, one of ancient China's greatest technological inventions, the team is testing an innovative approach of coating electrodes with silk protein. This engineering solution could significantly enhance the safety of implant operations.

QuantumCTek, based in eastern Chinese city of Hefei, is positioning itself to industrialize quantum secure communication. Alongside quantum computing, this area is anticipated to spearhead the next round of quantum revolution, and a high-stakes global race in this domain is now unfolding.

"We shrank the entire device into a small module, and we are now working towards a single chip the size of a phone," said Tang Shibiao, QuantumCTek's R&D director, explaining the miniaturization process aimed at transforming an unhackable encryption technology into an affordable gadget for the public.

Although the quantum information industry still faces uncertainties, it also holds disruptive potential, said Shi Fan from China Telecom's technology innovation department. "It serves as a powerful vehicle for fostering the new quality productive forces," he said.

In China, a range of technologies that were confined to labs just a few years back -- ranging from eVTOLs to solid-state batteries, 6G and bio-manufacturing -- are now being rapidly moved to production lines, opening up a new frontier for growth.

These industries are poised for significant growth, with the new scale added over the next decade equivalent to creating a whole new high-tech sector in China, said Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, at a press conference on the guiding principles from the just-concluded fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

"We always choose the most difficult path, and we cannot guarantee we can make it on time," said Tao Hu, NeuroXess founder. "But if someone can make it, then it had better be us."

INNOVATION HOTBED

Chinese entrepreneurs cherish different ambitions, but they converge on a singular advantage: a complete, integrated ecosystem with strong links from raw material extraction to final production.

"China's solid manufacturing base has given our innovations fertile ground to take root and grow," said Tang. QuantumCTek's quantum devices once depended on imported critical components. However, in recent years, this dependence has significantly diminished "thanks to the emergence of domestically produced alternatives."

"The Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta have extremely well-developed supply chains," said Zhao from EngineAI. "For example, a component that once cost 2,000 yuan (about 280 U.S. dollars) to import can now be made locally for just 200 yuan."

Tech firms like EngineAI are emerging, securing venture investment quickly and pursuing diverse business models aggressively. The private sector has played a significant role in China's innovation landscape, comprising over 92 percent of all national high-tech enterprises. This vitality is further reflected in the count of 372 unicorn companies in 2024.

This year, China implemented the country's first fundamental law dedicated to promoting the private sector. Additionally, local governments have been actively rolling out robust incentives for technology-intensive industries.

Government support also comes from creating new consumption scenarios, such as opening autonomous vehicle testing zones and easing airspace controls for drones and eVTOLs.

These measures shorten the path from lab to market, putting breakthrough products in consumers' hands sooner.

At this year's World Robot Conference in Beijing, the organizers launched a "coupon for robotics" program, offering individual consumers up to 1,500 yuan in subsidies for robot purchases, while enterprise consumers can receive up to 250,000 yuan.

Shortly after, a dedicated robotics store opened in a renovated industrial park located in Beijing's western suburbs, an area once dominated by old steel factories. Also recently, Beijing-based startup Noetix Robotics unveiled a robotic model priced below 10,000 yuan, which will be available for pre-sale in November.

These breakthrough industries aren't stuck on some distant drawing board; they are racing straight into Chinese homes. 
Reid students paint pumpkins at the Berkshire Humane Society on Thursday. The students will learn how the shelter operates and about the pets it helps. PreviousNext

Reid Middle School Students Learning at Berkshire Humane Society



Eleven Reid students will attend six classes at the shelter through a grant obtained by the Humane Society.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Students at Reid Middle School are attending classes at the Berkshire Humane Society for alternative learning sessions to help accommodate their needs.

"This is the first of a series of classes that our alternative education program for middle school students, the [Berkshire] Innovation Center participates in. The Berkshire Humane Society, had won a wonderful grant and awarded it to our students to come to do some social, emotional learning based in working with animals," said Meghan Gagnon, dropout prevention liaison for the Pittsfield Public Schools.

The Berkshire Humane Society applied for a $5,000 grant from the Charles H. Hall Foundation that will pay for a bus for the students, supplies, and lunch.

Eleven Reid students will be attending six classes lasting two hours at the animal shelter through May.

"Having our students be able to do service-learning projects and get out of the classroom and away from computers and experience things that you don't normally experience in their houses, is a fantastic way for our students to kind of go above and beyond what they're learning in the classroom," said Gagnon.

Berkshire Humane used to have a camp education program until the pandemic stopped it, and is hoping to bring students back in to learn more about animal welfare and to be an alternative learning environment.

"We used to do our Camp Humane education program, and then COVID really squashed any of the educational outreach. So this is our way of getting back out into the community and being able to bring students in and younger generations to help educate them further. So I'm hopeful that if this goes well, that maybe when applying for the grant again, we can actually ask for even more funds and extend it out to other groups of students besides Reid," said Director of Development and Marketing Nicole McKeen, who applied for the grant.

McKeen said she wants the students to realize there is a world of opportunity for them in the animal welfare field than just being a veterinarian. She also said it's great to teach kids when they are young to help develop and cultivate compassionate care for animals.

"I hope for these students that they get a good internal view of what happens behind the doors of animal welfare in the shelter world, and also opens up their minds to thinking of different opportunities for them in the future," she said.

In the classroom on Thursday, students learned what it means to be a hero and talked about some of the organizations they believe are heroic. They were also able to paint pumpkins as a fun activity. Reid teacher Kristen Leonard and Tricia Phillips, the community outreach coordinator with the shelter, both spoke to the class about what they are learning.

Some of the group took a field trip to the Humane Society last year and that was when the idea of the alternative learning was brought up again. Leonard said it's great to be partnering with people in the community to help her students.

"I'm grateful that we had the field trip last year, that we were able to communicate afterwards and to develop this into a year long school program. So that's fantastic, but it's nice just to be working with people and partners in the community, and it gives these kids other adults and role models to look up to and to know that they could go to if they had to," Leonard said.

Students Sami and Vee were able to attend the field trip last year and helped excite the students who were nervous, according to Leonard. They both say this has been a better learning environment for them because it has been hands-on and more inclusive.

"I feel like it's better to learn from being hands on than just hearing because you'll be able to better once you handle the situations better, if you have had past hands on experiences with it," Sami said.

"I would say it's a lot that it's more hands on and inclusive, so it's easier to take in information," Vee said.

Sami said her grandfather helped build the shelter and it is great to see how it is doing. She and Vee love to see the animals want to be able to help them like the Humane Society does.

"I am excited for the next few visits that we're gonna have, definitely because looking forward to volunteering here once I reach the age requirement, because I love helping animals. I always have since I was younger," Sami said.

Gagnon said the school wants to reach every student and help accommodate their needs.

"We really try to make sure that we're shaping and reaching every student. If they are not succeeding anywhere else, then we want to make sure that we create a space for them. So the Innovation Center is one of the many different alternative education programs Pittsfield Public Schools has so that we can reach every student in our community," Gagnon said.
Bousquet is adding 16 mobile cabins to its amenities. The units will be produced by B&B Micro Manufacturing in Adams. The site plan reviewed by the Community Development Board. PreviousNext

Bousquet Plans 'Micro-Cabin' Accommodations



The site for the cabins is currently a gravel parking lot.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Bousquet Mountain plans to add "micro cabins" to its recreational offerings.



On Tuesday, the Community Development Board approved a site plan submitted by Blue Chair Properties LLC, the owner of the ski area, for a mobile micro cabin area located at 101 Dan Fox Drive. It was approved with the condition that the board receives details about each phase of the project, site improvements are constructed before cabins are installed, and all lighting is downcast.



"Ultimately, the goal of the product is to provide an on-premises accommodation for overnight stay, really, on a year-round basis," explained Brent White, of White Engineering.



"Through this application, we're seeking a total of 16 sites. I want to be clear for everyone that the applicant proposes to construct this in a phased approach, with the first phase being really probably three to four units as kind of a proof of concept to verify that the demand and the operations are successful before they were to fill the full 16."



The proposed site is an existing gravel lot with a curb cut. It would have 16 parking spaces to accommodate the units, solar-powered lighting, and be connected to municipal water and sewer, extended from a nearby maintenance garage.

White said the cabins will be produced by B&B Micro Manufacturing in Adams. The full plan includes four two-bedroom cabins and 12 one-bedroom cabins.



Tim Burke, Mill Town Capital's CEO and managing director, said the first phase wouldn't start until 2026 and would need at least a year or two of viability to expand the cabin offerings.


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India and China are resuming direct flights on Sunday after a five-year suspension as relations between the two countries improve.

Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and did not resume as Beijing and New Delhi engaged in prolonged tensions following a border skirmish.

Indias largest commercial carrier, IndiGo, will operate the first daily flight from Indias eastern city of Kolkata to Guangzhou in mainland China. The flight is scheduled to depart at 10pm IST.

Direct flights between China and India are now a reality, wrote Chinese embassy spokesperson Yu Jing on X.

Additional flight services from Indias capital, New Delhi, to Shanghai and Guangzhou are set to begin in November, according to reports.

The resumption is part of the Indian governments approach towards gradual normalisation of relations between India and China, the Indian embassy in China had said earlier this month. New Delhi added that the resumption of flight will boost people-to-people contact.

The resumption comes after Indian prime minister Narendra Modi visited China in September 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.

In October last year, both sides reached an agreement on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control. This year, both nations resumed the Mansarovar Yatra and ended the visa freeze for tourists.

The thaw in the relationship between the two Asian giants was aided by US President Donald Trumps sweeping tariffs on India in response to its oil purchases from Russia and Washington's longstanding trade war with China.

Since being hit by tariffs, New Delh has sought to diversify to markets such as China, Latin America and the Middle East. According to India's commerce ministry, New Delhi's imports from China surged to more than $11bn last month, up more than 16 per cent compared with September 2024.
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Donald Trump has hailed a historic ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand after both nations signed an expansion of the peace deal to end their border conflict.

The US president, who was in Malaysia on Sunday, had used the threat of higher tariffs against both countries to force them to agree to end a century-old dispute that has killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands.

President Trump announced that both sides had agreed to cease all hostilities and that the peace deal would save millions of lives.

At least 18 Cambodian prisoners of war would be released following the ceasefire extension. The agreement mandates both sides to begin removing heavy weapons from the border.

The deal was signed shortly after Mr Trump landed in Malaysia, his first stop on a five-day tour of Asia. He watched as Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, signed the agreement at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

We did something that a lot of people said couldnt be done, Mr Trump said. Mr Manet called it a historic day, and Mr Charnvirakul said the agreement created the building blocks for a lasting peace.

Because of Americas strong commitment to stability and peace in this region and every region where we can do it, my administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating, said Mr Charnvirakul, describing the agreement as a peace treaty. We just did the deal and reported the deal. Everybody was sort of amazed that we got it done so quickly, he said, noting that the United Nations was not involved.

Before the signing of the deal, Mr Manet thanked Mr Trump for his decisive lead and tireless efforts in July to end the conflict. No matter how difficult and complex a dispute may be, they must be resolved by peaceful means, he said.

Trump and Charnvirakul after the ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia ( AFP via Getty )

The two nations committed to establishing an Asean observer team, military de-escalation and removal of heavy weapons from the border area. They also agreed to coordinate the removal of landmines, which were the trigger for the fighting after a Thai soldier on border patrol was maimed.

Thailand has accused Cambodia, one of the worlds most landmine-scarred countries, of laying new ordnance, which it denies.

In July the two neighbours fought the worst border clashes in a decade, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Both sides traded artillery fire and airstrikes along contested stretches of their 817km border. They have competing territorial claims, and violence periodically flares along the border.

The violence began at a flashpoint near the ancient Ta Moan Thom temple in Thailands Surin province, and quickly spread to other disputed areas. Cambodian officials accused Thailand of launching airstrikes and dropping bombs on roads inside its territory.

A truce, brokered by the Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, was reached on 28 July after Mr Trump said he had spoken to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr Trump had threatened to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped. A shaky truce has persisted since.

Earlier this month, Cambodia accused Thailand of broadcasting high-pitched ghost sounds along the disputed border after the countrys human rights commission urged the UN to investigate what it described as psychological warfare.

This declaration reflects our will to resolve differences peacefully in full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr Charnvirakul said on Sunday.

Mr Trump also signed separate economic deals with Cambodia and Thailand. A White House official said he would also sign a critical minerals agreement with Malaysia.

The presidents trip will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and could conclude with a meeting with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.
An Egyptian Excavator digs during searching for Israeli remains in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 26, 2025. Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday.

Speaking at a news briefing, Bedrosian said Israel had permitted the teams to move beyond the "yellow line," which marks the Israeli army's withdrawal zone under the current ceasefire agreement, to assist in the recovery effort.

She said Hamas has not yet returned the bodies of 13 hostages. Under the agreement, Hamas is required to hand over the remains of 28 deceased hostages, in addition to the 20 living hostages it had released earlier this month.

The remark came as Hamas said it was expanding its search for the bodies of the dead hostages, a day after an Egyptian team of experts entered Gaza with heavy equipment to assist in the recovery. 

An Egyptian Excavator digs during searching for Israeli remains in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 26, 2025. Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

An Egyptian Excavator digs during searching for Israeli remains in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 26, 2025. Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

An Egyptian Excavator digs during searching for Israeli remains in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 26, 2025. Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

An Egyptian Excavator digs during searching for Israeli remains in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Oct. 26, 2025. Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Red Cross members are seen as an Egyptian Excavator is working at al-Tuffah area east of Gaza City, Oct. 27, 2025. Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

An Egyptian Excavator works at al-Tuffah area east of Gaza City, Oct. 27, 2025. Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

A Red Cross member is seen as an Egyptian Excavator is working at al-Tuffah area east of Gaza City, Oct. 27, 2025. Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

Red Cross members are seen as an Egyptian Excavator is working at al-Tuffah area east of Gaza City, Oct. 27, 2025. Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

An Egyptian Excavator works at al-Tuffah area east of Gaza City, Oct. 27, 2025. Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip to search for the bodies of hostages, Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said on Sunday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
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The US has this week imposed new sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russias two largest petroleum-producing companies.

After efforts to negotiate an end to Vladimir Putins war on Ukraine appeared to come to a standstill, the Trump administration made the move in a bid to increase pressure on Russias energy sector and degrade the Kremlins ability to raise revenue for its war machine and support its weakened economy.

So how much impact could the move have, and what are the implications for countries who rely on Russia to supply their oil?

open image in gallery Protesters hold a vigil in Brussels in March 2022 against the purchase of Russian oil. Campaigners have been calling on EU leaders to impose a full ban on Russian fuels since the start of the war ( AFP via Getty )

Who buys oil from Russia?

China, India and Turkey are the biggest recipients of Russian oil that used to go to the European Union. The EUs decision to boycott most Russian seaborne oil from January 2023 led to a massive shift in crude flows from Europe to Asia.

Since then, China has been the No 1 overall consumer of Russian energy, having purchased some $219.5bn (164bn) worth of Russian oil, gas and coal, followed by India ($133.4bn/100bn) and Turkey ($90.3bn/67.7bn).

Up to 20 per cent of Chinas crude oil imports come from Russia, Bloomberg reports, with data analytics firm Kpler suggesting that a quarter of that comes from Rosneft and Lukoil.

Last year, China reportedly bought 100 million tonnes of Russia crude, and last month alone it imported around 2 million barrels per day.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on Russian oil amid frustration with Vladimir Putin ( Getty )

India is another country that makes significant purchases of Russian oil, having imported relatively little before the invasion of Ukraine. Now it imports around 1.6 million barrels a day.

Turkey is also a relatively big customer, while other purchasers include the EU, Myanmar and Azerbaijan, but its the deals with India and China that have the most outsized financial impact.

Analysis undertaken by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) showed the EU purchasing larger volumes of LNG and pipeline gas, while Turkey bought more oil products.

CREA analysis found that China and India had bought 85 per cent of all Russian crude oil exports in September.

Will the UK be affected?

The import, acquisition, and supply of Russian oil and oil products was banned by the UK in December 2022. However, the Treasury committee heard from experts in 2024 that Russian oil is still ending up in the UK despite sanctions, thanks to a loophole.

As long as Russian oil is refined in another country, such as India, it can avoid the ban.

Richard Bronze, head of geopolitics at Energy Aspects, told MPs that he estimated refined Russian oil to account for well below 5 per cent of the UKs oil imports.

The UK joined the US in sanctioning Rosneft and Lukoil earlier this week.

What financial impact will the sanctions have?

As for how much of a hit Russia will take as a result of the new measures, the financial pinch may not be immediate.

The sanctions state that trade relations with the two Russian companies must be exited or closed by 21 November, giving India and China time to make alternative arrangements  and of course theres the prospect that Russia will re-engage with talks during that time, in a bid to have the sanctions lifted.

However, CREA analysis showedthat Russias total revenue from fossil fuels in September was 546m (474m) per day. The report also states that, if the $47.60 per barrel price cap had been fully enforced, that revenue would have been 1.53bn (1.15bn) lower in September 2025 alone.

The most immediate impact has been a change in the price of oil. Markets typically do not like uncertainty, and the sanctions themselves were unexpected, so a quick upturn is not unusual in such circumstances.

open image in gallery A facility belonging to the Russian state-controlled oil giant OAO Rosneft, at Priobskoye oil field near Nefteyugansk, western Siberia. The state-owned company is one of two sanctioned by Trump ( AP )

Oil markets have spiked higher after news emerged that the US was putting Russias major oil producers under sanctions due to the Kremlins failure to move toward peace in Ukraine, said Steve Clayton, head of equity funds at Hargreaves Lansdown.

Brent crude has climbed 4 per cent to almost $65 per barrel on the news, marking a dramatic recovery from recent weakness in crude markets. Americas new stance is in stark contrast to recent messaging from the White House and took markets by surprise.

The effectiveness of the sanctions is yet to be proven, but President Trump has said that the Indian PM Narendra Modi has assured him that India will cease Russian oil purchases.

For some context, Brent crude rose to around $77 earlier in the summer, when there were fears that Iran could entirely close the Strait of Hormuz.

How big are Rosneft and Lukoil?

The two organisations together represent about $105bn (80bn) combined in market capitalisation  an accepted measure of the worth of a company  which is almost equally split, with Rosnefts share being slightly larger. For comparison, London-listed energy firm BP is worth around 66bn.

Russia exports about 4 million barrels of oil a day, and Rosneft and Lukoil account for around half of that figure. Rosneft alone is responsible for roughly 6 per cent of global oil production.
Homeschooling got its highest cultural exposure in the 2004 film Mean Girls, when Lindsay Lohans Cady Heron gets pulled out of her idyllic homeschooled life in Africa (though we never learn which country) and plonked into the ferocious Darwinism of high school in America.

The film reinforced some of the perception that homeschooled kids and families arent normal, either being weird geniuses that a normal school cant cater for or hyper-religious types unwilling to countenance concepts taught at school like evolution and homosexuality.

In the 20 years that have passed since Mean Girls, homeschooling hasnt gone mainstream exactly, but it has become exponentially more common in the UK, US and Europe. At the last count in autumn 2024, according to the Department for Education, 111,700 children were being homeschooled in the UK, a significant increase from the 92,000 in October 2023. Going back to 2015, the number was just 37,000.

open image in gallery The UK has the highest number of homeschooled children in Europe ( Monkey Business, stock.adobe.com )

The UK has the highest number of homeschooled children in Europe, though there have also been sharp rises in Belgium and France. But this is dwarfed by the estimated 3.6 million students being homeschooled in the US, which has also seen a sharp rise in the last half-decade  up from 2.5 million in 2019.

There is no doubt that the record numbers are connected to the long tail of the pandemic when the worlds children were kept home from school for months at a time. This weeks Covid inquiry and grilling of Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, revived debates over the price young people paid to protect the elderly and vulnerable. Johnson admitted children paid a huge price for others in their loss of schooling and social and cultural experiences  something many of them continue to pay, with thousands never settling back into a school routine.

open image in gallery While most parents and carers were delighted to see the end of lockdowns and send their children back to school, for some, the pandemic signalled an alternative path ( Getty/iStock )

According to the DfE, 2.26 per cent of pupils in the UK are severely absent, which means they missed more than half of their classes, which is significantly above the 0.81 per cent 2018-19 pre-pandemic levels. A staggering 1.28 million children and teens (roughly 17.9 per cent of the school population) are persistently absent, which means they miss 10 per cent of their school sessions.

While most parents and carers were delighted to see the end of lockdowns and to send their children back to school, for some the pandemic signalled an alternative path. Shirley, 50, noticed her two young teen daughters were exponentially happier not attending school, with one daughter, Ella, who was then 14, seeing a dramatic improvement in an eating disorder shed suffered from on and off before the pandemic.

The most common reason is low confidence in schools and the traditional education system, combined with increasing concerns over issues like big class sizes, safety at school, and an inability to cater to the specific and individual needs of every child

Shirley and her partner arranged to homeschool both her children up to GCSEs. She explains: My girls absolutely blossomed during lockdown, they started playing, reading, laughing, listening to music and Ella started eating properly again. It was like having my kids back again, and I realised how much school had been dragging them both down with endless girl dramas, fights and upsets.

open image in gallery The reasons behind families deciding not to send their children to school are many ( PA )

They were both so upset at the thought of going back to school, we decided to teach them their final GCSE years with the help of some tutors. They both excelled and I think it was a lifesaving decision for all of us, but it was bloody hard work and expensive. We had to take out a loan to pay for the tutors.

However, the pandemic is not the only reason homeschooling has continued to reach record highs in many countries. The reasons behind families deciding not to send their children to school are varied, but there are factors that come up in most of the families I spoke with.

The most common reason is low confidence in schools and the traditional education system, combined with increasing concerns over issues like big class sizes, safety at school, and an inability to cater to the specific and individual needs of every child. Greater awareness and diagnosis of special educational needs has put further pressure on schools at a time when they have fewer resources than ever to cater for them.

Kayla, 41, has two children, Bertie, seven, and Hattie, 10. Kayla made the decision to homeschool her children a year ago and has given up her job as a speech therapist and adapted their dining room into a full-time classroom they share with another homeschooling family.

Bertie has special needs, having been diagnosed with severe ADHD, and Hattie is incredibly bright with a specific gift for music, Kayla says. Every day, school increasingly just wasnt possible for Bertie; he was either getting into trouble or freaking out every morning, and Hattie was just getting lost in her class and was completely withdrawing.

open image in gallery Most parents and homeschooled children say the biggest prejudice they encounter is the assumption that their kids will be isolated ( Mediteraneo, stock.adobe.com )

We couldnt afford to send them both to private school, so after nearly two years of researching, preparing, reading endless books and taking some classes myself, and getting involved with an online homeschooling community whove been a lifeline  I share teaching with one parent  Hattie and Bertie are fully homeschooled and I believe doing much better than they would in school.

Kayla is clear about the huge commitment homeschooling is and how, if you want it to be successful, it requires someone who can do it full-time with serious knowledge about teaching and a vision for what you want your child to learn. And then theres the social aspect. Most parents and homeschooled children say the biggest prejudice they encounter is the assumption that their kids will be isolated and cut off from essential childhood and teenage cultural and social experiences.

Homeschooling families overcome this by developing communities  some virtual and some real-life  as well as using charities and other organisations that facilitate meetups, support and social opportunities.

But the different generational needs can be hard to navigate. Many of the children and teens I spoke to hugely enjoy the homeschooling experience and the different education and lifestyle it gives them to their schooled peers. But some, particularly when they reach teenage years, miss the excitement and buzzy diversity of school.

open image in gallery There is a growing anti-government and moralistic sentiment that looks likely to further increase homeschooling rates ( Vitalii Vodolazskyi, stock.adobe.com )

Charlotte*, 15, has been homeschooled since she was nine, and her demands in the last two years to go back to school have caused real friction with her parents, who are fully committed to the project of educating her and her two younger sisters. I stayed friends with some of my primary school friends and I belong to a swimming team, she says. I hear about their school days and even though they tell me Im lucky to avoid all the stresses of school, I miss it. We have a group of homeschooled families we see all the time, and I know it sounds horrible, but Im bored of them and just want to see my other friends who seem different.

Getting a phone made it even worse. You see the Snaps and the texts, about crazy, funny things at school and even the arguments, and I just want to go. The worst is at Halloween and Christmas. Theres a play and discos and people dress up. I feel like Im missing out because of my parents beliefs.

In America, 75 per cent of homeschooling families cite moral instruction and 53 per cent religious instruction as driving factors to keep their children at home, believing mainstream schools fail to provide either. In the UK, the predominant factor tends to be educational, but there is a growing anti-government and moralistic sentiment that looks likely to further increase homeschooling rates.

In our hyper-partisan times, with increasing influence of online discourse, growing numbers of people believe schools have a specific political and cultural agenda that they dont want to influence their children. Some believe schools and universities are too woke, with others believing schools  particularly those in inner cities  are too preoccupied with multiculturalism.

At the same time, some families from strict religious backgrounds of all faiths believe their children are exposed to immorality and insufficient religious instruction or space to pray. A parental resistance to their children getting vaccinated is also a growing reason to keep children from mainstream schooling, more in the US. With those elements comes concern for child welfare  that religious, ideological or political beliefs are outweighing what is best for childrens personal development or educational outcomes.

open image in gallery Children are overtested, overstressed, and underdeveloped in every way in schools and its gotten much worse since my children were at school ( Getty/iStock )

Indeed, the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was removed from school after teachers raised safeguarding concerns, has increased pressure on the government to introduce registers of children not in school and give local authorities more oversight on families that homeschool, much to the opposition of many of the families.

Amanda Grimberg, the executive director of the Coalition for for Responsible Home Education in the US, voices a note of concern about the closed ranks nature of homeschooling education that can be both evident in the US and in the UK.

The majority of home-schooling parents have their children's best intentions in mind, she says, but she calls for an agreed homeschooling policy to stop more serious problems. On the more severe end of the spectrum, children are physically abused and neglected, she says.

Margaret, 73, successfully homeschooled her three children, who are now grown up and have careers and families of their own. She is discussing the possibility of helping her middle daughter homeschool her primary school-age grandchildren  believing children do better outside of the constraints of traditional school.

Theres little play, no creativity, no interacting with nature and they start getting tested and organised into academic value aged six  its not a wonder kids and teens are sick, stressed and struggling with life Margaret, a mother of three

Children are overtested, overstressed, and underdeveloped in every way in schools and its gotten much worse since my children were at school, she says. Theres little play, no creativity, no interacting with nature and they start getting tested and organised into academic value aged six  its not a wonder kids and teens are sick, stressed and struggling with life.

Margaret describes her beliefs and politics as very leftie and now quite anti-government, as I dont think the government has peoples best interest at heart, especially young people.

There is a growing anti-school movement online that sometimes goes under the hashtag #unschooled, led by young people who believe schools are bad for their mental health, failing to teach the right skills, and are hotbeds of bullying and social exclusion. Emerging from this are many high-profile parent and teen influencers who extol the benefits of homeschooled life, such as Katie Klein and Lindsay and Derek Lane, who frequently share inspirational posts of their kids who dont attend school.

However, homeschooling is not an inspirational Instagram page. Its a serious undertaking and one that demands commitment, time and a parent to cross over the boundary from caregiver to teacher, which can fundamentally alter and challenge relationships.

Families considering it are encouraged to do serious research and ask themselves whether they are prepared to take on the responsibility of shaping their childs knowledge as well as their happiness and wellbeing.

* This name has been changed to protect the childs anonymity
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Russell Specterman broke down in tears and hung up the phone when his sister called to tell him that there was going to be an independent inquiry into child sex abuse.

I just broke down, he tells The Independent. I knew the pain and trauma that it would bring up in me.

Mr Specterman, 59, had grown up in the care of Lambeth, the council which became a core case study in the Independent Inquiry (IICSA). Findings would later detail the councils institutional failings as it retained in its employment adults who posed a risk to children and failed to investigate its employees when they were suspected of child sexual abuse.

Its been more than a decade since IICSA was first announced after posthumous investigations into the Jimmy Savile scandal revealed widespread child abuse.

It cost a staggering 186.6 million and more than 7,000 survivors were involved in the inquiry over the course of the seven years it ran. Three different panel chairs were forced to resign before Professor Alexis Jay, already a panel member, took up the mantle in August 2016.

Panel members were paid a day rate of 565 for their participation in the inquiry, according to financial reports. Dame Lowell Goddard, chair panel before Professor Jay, was paid an annual salary of 355,000 for the financial year 2015-2016.

open image in gallery Professor Jay told The Independent she had felt initially reluctant to chair the inquiry, as she was already a panel member ( PA )

Monday was the third anniversary of when IICSAs findings were published in a damning final report, shedding light on the institutional nature of child sex abuse in the country. The report was unhelpfully overshadowed at the time by the resignation of Liz Truss, 44 days after her premiership began, but 20 key recommendations were made in order to protect children.

Three years on, none of the recommendations have been fully implemented and campaigners and survivors remain dissatisfied with the inertia. A further review by Baroness Louise Casey this year urged the government to act on the recommendations.

No justice

Mr Specterman didnt give live evidence, but he was a core participant and submitted a statement, something he found hard to do.

I struggled to put pen to paper at the best of times, but it was something that needed to be done, he says. I wanted to help the kids.

Years later, Mr Specterman has grown frustrated as nothing has been done. He feels there has been no justice and expressed concern that a lot of people involved got fortunes out of it.

Looking back on the inquiry, Professor Jay tells The Independent that she recognised the limitations of the sort of justice it might bring.

A lot of people tend to think that they will gain justice from it, but if you take justice to mean criminal investigation and prosecution, a public inquiry cant do that, she says. It can accurately describe what happened, and it can make recommendations for improvement in the future.

open image in gallery Russell Specterman shared a statement as part of the Truth Project ( Supplied )

I was never in any doubts about the limitations of a public inquiry, but people so desperately wanted to have a public inquiry, she adds. I was always clear about it, but you tend to think this is not a court of law, its a quasi-judicial process.

For Professor Julie MacFarlane, the fact that the recommendations have not been implemented is just further proof that theres no political will for change.

By the time the inquiry was in action, Prof MacFarlane, now 67, had moved to Canada and already come forward as a survivor of child sex abuse from the Anglican Church in Chichester. As a prestigious legal academic, she had sued the Church in 2015, the same year that the inquiry began, and the police went on to successfully prosecute the church minister who sexually assaulted her over the period of 15 months when she was a teenager.

Already accustomed to speaking about her experience, she travelled from Canada to the United Kingdom in 2018, especially to give her testimony for the inquiry.

By then Id had a certain amount of practice, she says. I wasnt particularly afraid of telling that story; I was ready to tell it. It seemed important to tell it, especially when I realised that there was going to be a focus on Chichester and I was going to find out all of this stuff that I had no idea... It made sense that he [the minister] was doing this in a community where there was an incredible amount of tolerance for this behaviour.

open image in gallery Professor Julie MacFarlane travelled from Canada to the United Kingdom especially for the inquiry ( Supplied )

The inquiry found that over 50 years, 20 individuals connected to Chichester Diocese were convicted or pleaded guilty to sexual offending against children. The dioceses neglect of the physical and spiritual wellbeing of children and young people was in conflict with the Churchs mission of love and care, according to the report.

I felt like it was my responsibility. It would be more straightforward for me to do the actual testifying than it might be for somebody doing it for the first time or someone who was unfamiliar with doing that kind of presentation, she adds. This could be helpful for other people to do this.

Prof Macfarlane remembers sitting in front of the panel and feeling less than hopeful for what would come out of it when she was questioned.

I wanted them to ask me more questions, and sometimes what I tried to do in my answers was go further than they necessarily asked in their question, she recalls. What I felt that they didnt necessarily quite get is... the vulnerability of people, especially younger people... to the fact that the power of the church is a very hierarchical institution and if youre a believer, then you believe this person is next to god in your life.

This was an accident waiting to happen when you put somebody who has God given authority in a situation in which there are younger people.

A blueprint for change

Prof Macfarlane doesnt think the key recommendations go far enough. One core change that could help victims is taking the ability to investigate allegations of abuse out of the churchs brief.

What the recommendations do is they describe better processes, more training etc, she explains, adding that one change, to broaden the category of person of trust to include clergy in the Sexual Offences Act would take 15 minutes.

Given how simple that is, and sometimes legislation is more complicated than that, [its clear] that theres not a lot of real political will to do anything about this.

With an estimated 500,000 children sexually abused every year, with fewer than one in five ever disclosing their abuse, campaign group ACT on IICSA has continued to highlight how the government hasnt acted on what it calls a clear blueprint for change.

open image in gallery The report of the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse ( PA )

Professor Jay has warned that if the final 20 recommendations are not committed to and fully implemented within a timescale, the future for children is incredibly bleak.

In 10 years' time, people will be there saying the same things, and children will still be being sexually abused in the most appalling ways, she says: I am concerned about the growth internationally, and locally, of the use of the internet and where that takes online abuse. And it is serious, the speed with which that is changing and getting worse.

Lucy Duckworth, policy lead for the Survivors Trust, said: The importance of Baroness Louise Caseys report was that IICSA would be done and its really clear all the way throughout.

We absolutely need to be looking at the individual cases of child sexual abuse like grooming gangs, like abuse in boarding schools, like in cover-up of social workers' institutions.

Theres so many different places that it happens and each one comes with its own complexities and nuances and certainly cover-ups.

But for the moment, our main point is that all child sexual abuse needs to stop and were not at a place really where were even understanding how widespread this is. And thats what IICSA was for.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said: Baroness Caseys report revealed the unimaginable horrors that some of the most vulnerable people in this country went through, and how victims and survivors were failed. This will remain one of the darkest moments in our countrys history.

Earlier this year, I set out how we are taking action on the recommendations Alexis Jay made in her inquiry to root out failure wherever it occurs. This includes creating a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse, establishing a new Child Protection Authority for England that will make our childrens safety a priority, and making it easier for victims and survivors to pursue claims in the civil courts.

But there is more to be done, which is why we are launching a new statutory inquiry into grooming gangs to direct and oversee local investigations. In parallel, policing has set up a new national operation, overseen by the National Crime Agency, which has already flagged more than 1,200 closed cases for review. This will open the door for further convictions, and there will be no hiding place for those who abused the most vulnerable.

If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call Childline free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331
Close Virginia Giuffre speaks about Prince Andrew in resurfaced Panorama interview: 'I was a toy'

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Unseen footage of a BBC interview with the late Virginia Giuffre has aired, in which she reflected on her introduction to Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

I was a toy. I was there to be passed around, she said. But I was still a human being with feelings and emotion and sadness. And to know that this man had daughters, that he was still capable of abusing me. It's... it just doesn't make sense.

In the interview, which featured on BBC Panorama on Tuesday night, the late Ms Giuffre told the story of how she met Andrew in London in 2001 when she was 17 years old.

The prince vehemently denies the allegations that Ms Giuffre was forced to have sex with him three times after being trafficked by Epstein. Ms Giuffre told the BBC: "He knows what happened, I know what happened. And there's only one of us telling the truth."

Andrew was formally stripped of his remaining royal titles on Thursday. A statement from Buckingham Palace said Andrew continued to deny all allegations against him.
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Wes Streeting has claimed Nigel Farages deafening silence over the racist remarks made by his fellow Reform MP Sarah Pochin says it all.

The health secretary went on a furious attack in the wake of Ms Pochin telling Talk TV that it drives me mad seeing adverts full of black and Asian people.

Ms Pochin has since apologised, but Mr Streeting said: Shes only sorry that shes been called out and she said the quiet bit out loud. He added: The only way we are going to defeat this racism is to call it out and confront it for what it is.

The Reform MP for Runcorn, who apologised the day before, appeared to double down on the row as she posted a retort back to Mr Streeting on X with a video of Scottish leader Anas Sarwar attached complaining that all the senior positions in Scotland were filled with white people.

open image in gallery Sarah Pochin complained about adverts full of black and Asian people ( PA )

Dear Wes Streeting, Im sorry you feel that way. Perhaps you could remind us all how strongly you spoke up when this happened, she said.

Mr Streeting retorted: That apology of yours lasted long, didnt it?

Meanwhile, the Tories shadow home secretary Chris Philp refused to describe Ms Pochin as racist three times when pressed on the issue on the BBC. This follows controversial remarks made by his colleague Katie Lam, suggesting legal migrants should be deported.

He later told Times Radio that the comment by Pochin was racist.

Addressing the issue with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Mr Streeting spoke of how on Friday, a day before the interview, he had been in one of his Ilford North constituency schools talking to teenage boys about their experience of racism in London, one of the most diverse cities on earth.

What they are describing, and what we have seen on our streets in weeks, recent weeks and months, is a return of 1970s, 1980s-style racism that I thought we had left in the history books.

Since the Labour conference in September, the partys leadership has been openly attacking Mr Farage and Reform. The strategy is still not working in the polls, with Reform holding a 10-point lead over Labour in the most recent Techne UK poll for The Independent.

But Mr Streeting warned: I think what [Ms Pochin] said was a disgrace. I think it was racist, and the deafening silence from her party leader [Farage] says it all. Reform is a party who think that our flag only belongs to some of us... who look like me, not all of us who have built this country, built its success.

With Remembrance Day approaching, Mr Streeting evoked memories of the Second World War, noting: People who bled and died for our democracy and our freedom werent just my grandfather and my great-grandfather who looked like me and worship the same God as me. It was people from right across what was then the empire, now the Commonwealth, people who are Muslim, people who are Sikh, people who are Hindu, people who look differently than you and I do.

And we should remember that, defend it and fight for what this country stands for: decent, respectful and inclusive democracy, the most successful multi-faith democracy in the world. We stand for that; Reform dont, and that's why.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy later described Ms Pochins remarks as mean, nasty and racist calling Farage to sack her.

He said: Her statements were mean, were nasty and were racist. Our country is so much better than this. Unbelievably nasty statements. All of us are neighbours in this country. All of us, recognise the contribution of the Windrush generation, black Britons particularly in so many areas of our life. These were terribly racist remarks.

Nigel Farage should sack her effectively and certainly say something and apologise for what she has said. I'm disgusted by what she said, not just on behalf of myself or my family or the people of London, but on behalf of our country. We are so much better than this.

The Independent has asked Reform for comment.

open image in gallery Health secretary Wes Streeting described the comments by Pochin as racist ( PA )

However, Arron Banks, a close ally of Mr Farage who stood as a Reform mayoral candidate in Bristol, has claimed Ms Pochin should not have apologised.

Copying in Ms Pochins apology, Mr Banks posted on X/Twitter: I cant see there is anything to apologise for.

Speaking to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Zia Yusuf, a member of the Reform leadership, defended Ms Pochin.

He said: She didnt say those words and she has apologised, saying it was a poorly phrased thing to say, but youve got to put that into context. The caller, a gentleman called Stuart, called in and I think he was right to be upset about the massive under-representation of some groups in television advertising and significant over-representation of others, and we have to be able to talk about these things.

Even in apologising, Ms Pochin sought to justify her remarks.

She said: The point I was making is that many British TV adverts have gone DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] mad and are now unrepresentative of British society as a whole. This is not an attack on any group but an observation about balance and fairness in how our country is portrayed on screen.

Speaking earlier to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Mr Streeting also criticised resident doctors and members of the British Medical Association, who are about to go back on strike over demands for a 29 per cent pay rise.

He accused the BMA of having some brass neck in criticising the pace of the government in bringing down waiting lists in the NHS.

Mr Streeting warned that resident doctors were hurting patients and NHS recovery as well as costing the health service 250m with their planned strike.

He said: Never the BMA talking about waiting lists. They do everything. They're doing everything they can to hamper our progress with unnecessary and unreasonable strike action.
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Keir Starmer is being urged to stand up to the left of his party as a battle rages within the government over whether to impose a mansion tax in next months Budget  which some fear could have a severe impact on the housing market.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is understood to be seriously considering the proposal for her 26 November statement as she attempts to not only fill a 40bn black hole in her finances but also find more than 10bn of headroom to deal with future shocks.

She and the prime minister are being warned that, with the flight of millionaires from the UK already hitting the economy, a mansion tax would have disastrous effects.

Ministers want Sir Keir to step in, with one source saying: It is patriotism versus prejudice. What is good for the country versus a hatred of success and wealth.

open image in gallery Reeves and Starmer are being urged not to agree to a proposed mansion tax ( AFP/Getty )

Previously, The Independent revealed that cabinet ministers were already unhappy about the anti-aspiration taxes of VAT on independent school fees and abolishing non-dom status.

The impact on London in particular has been stark and there are genuine fears among senior cabinet ministers that there could be a major flight of capital from the UK.

But a row is now raging over a new tax to punish the high-paid and wealthy with a so-called mansion tax.

The proposal, which came from now Treasury minister Torsten Bells Resolution Foundation, would mean owners of properties worth at least 2m facing an annual charge of 1 per cent of the amount by which it exceeds that value.

It follows revelations that Ms Reeves is also being pushed to change the 45p top rate of income tax for those earning more than 125,000 to raise more money and possibly drag more people into paying it.

The mansion house tax is backed by an increasingly left-leaning Labour parliamentary party, which skewered attempts to reduce the out-of-control welfare bill before the summer. But it is understood that a majority of cabinet heavy hitters, including the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and former chief treasury secretary Darren Jones, deputy prime minister David Lammy, communities secretary Steve Reed and home secretary Shabana Mahmood, are among those opposed to new taxes which hit aspiration.

open image in gallery Lucy Powells election as deputy leader has increased the pressure from the left of Labour ( Sky )

However, with trade unions calling for wealth taxes, including a bank levy, and the Labour membership voting in left-wing deputy leader Lucy Powell, there are concerns that the prime minister no longer has the authority to stand up to the left.

The former Tory prime minister and chancellor Rishi Sunak has added to the pain with his first column for The Sunday Times, warning that tax increases do not produce economic growth.

He wrote: Raising taxes would be a disaster for the UK  and particularly if increases are concentrated on a narrow base as Reeves tries to remain technically compliant with manifesto commitments. Such tax rises would be particularly distortionary and damaging to growth.

Meanwhile, property experts are warning that the proposed mansion tax would hit the top end of the market and have a ripple-down devaluing effect, leaving many people in negative equity.

There are also concerns that it will disproportionately hurt people in London and the South East, where property is much more highly valued.

Simon Gammon, founder and managing partner of the mortgage broker Knight Frank Finance, warned: The government needs to get the property market moving again and stamp duty, talk of capital gains tax on main homes, and now a potential mansion tax would all slow down transactions even further.

Their attempt to get 1.5 million homes built requires people to want to buy, and developers will not want to build homes if theres no demand for them, and even though the mansion tax would apply at the very top end of the market we need all areas of the market to function to have a healthy property market.

He also warned that with a mansion tax, Ms Reeves would not see her money quickly from this, as this would involve a huge amount of valuations, causing significant delays and potential disputes. So its another negative impact on the property market with delayed revenue if there were some.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, which represents estate agents, said: By focusing efforts on higher value property, this will disproportionately impact people in London and the southeast of England, disincentivise people to improve or upgrade property, and not encourage older homeowners, who often have larger, more expensive properties, to right-size, freeing up much-needed homes for families and second steppers.

open image in gallery Reeves delivers her budget on 26 November ( AFP via Getty )

With talk surrounding both changes in stamp duty and capital gains tax, ultimately, this can alter behaviour and relies on people wanting to sell their property. The concern is that if many people now choose to stay put, its unlikely that the Treasury will get the tax receipts that theyre anticipating.

Economists and tax experts have issued similar warnings.

Professor Stephen Millard, deputy director of macroeconomics at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, told The Independent: It acts as a disincentive to people to up-value or to upgrade their housing. When you want to move from a flat to a house, youre much more likely to hit the tax, and so its going to become more expensive, particularly if youre paying the tax every year.

This is basically London and the South Easts big problem where house prices are much higher than that.

Isaac Delestre, a senior researcher on tax at the Institute of Fiscal Studies, suggested that adding more council tax bands might be a better solution.

He said: The problem is that all the banding is based on the 1991 value of houses. So unless you revalue, which the government absolutely should, then its not going to be a very well-targeted tax. There are fewer properties in London, in the South East, in the top bands than there should be at up-to-date values. So it would be a pretty imperfect tool.

The tax policy expert Dan Neidle warned that much more fundamental reform of property tax was needed by introducing a land value tax and scrapping the council tax.

He has calculated that if the top band of council tax was worth 12 times the amount of band A at the bottom, instead of its current double band A, then an extra 3.6bn could be raised. However, this would go to councils, not the Treasury.

He also noted that the imposition of a 1 per cent property tax on those worth 2m or more would require somewhat regular valuations when no new valuations have taken place in 34 years.

In a policy paper, he said: My view is that there is a strong case for adding more multiplier-based council tax bands. Im less convinced that a percentage tax makes sense given the administrative/valuation issues and the horizontal equity problem.

The balance changes once were looking at wholesale reform: replacing all of council tax, business rates and stamp duty with land value tax. The boost that such a reform would give to growth and homebuilding, in my view, more than counters the downsides. But bolting on a miniature version of such a tax as a pure revenue-raiser looks less attractive.
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Wes Streeting appeared to put further pressure on Keir Starmers leadership after Labours defeat in the Caerphilly by-election last Thursday.

The health secretary told The Sunday Times that the defeat in the Welsh Senedd election was the prime ministers Hartlepool [by-election] moment in a significant parallel to a defeat, which almost saw Sir Keir quit as Labour leader.

Although he insisted that the prime minister can bounce back, Mr Streetings comparison has added fire to speculation over Sir Keirs leadership to some in the party.

With Labour now polling below 20 per cent in a number of different polls, discussions about ousting him among MPs and ministers are heating up.

It comes as Labour members elected Lucy Powell, who Sir Keir sacked just a few weeks ago as a minister, to be his deputy leader after rejecting his preferred choice, education secretary Bridget Phillipson.

open image in gallery Health Secretary Wes Streeting (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

Meanwhile, a Techne UK poll for The Independent revealed that voters are deserting Labour for the Greens, who under Zack Polanski have surged to 12 per cent, up three points, while Labour have dropped to 19 per cent.

Mr Streeting told The Sunday Times: When we were in opposition, we were shocked that Hartlepool  a town that had always been loyal to Labour  rejected us at the ballot box. Keir Starmer not only took that result on the chin, he took it to heart. And he used Hartlepool and the experience of Hartlepool to drive through the change in the Labour Party necessary to make it electable and capable of winning a general election that no one thought we would win.

I have no doubt that, having done that before, Keir can do that again. Weve got to take the message from Caerphilly not just on the chin, weve got to take it to heart  and we have got to change the way our Labour government drives change and delivers in just the same way we did in opposition after Hartlepool.

The Hartlepool by-election on 6 May 2021 came when Labour was at a low ebb and seemingly unable to overcome Boris Johnsons popularity before Partygate knocked the Tories off course.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulates Lucy Powell after she is announced as the new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party at an event in central London (Lucy North/PA) ( PA Wire )

It was the first time Labour had lost the seat, and just weeks later, they were faced with another crucial by-election in Batley and Spen on July 1 2021.

Sources have confirmed that had Batley and Spen been lost to the Tories, then Sir Keir would have quit with Mr Streeting at the time, understood to be preparing a leadership bid in case that happened.

But Labours Kim Leadbeater, the sister of the former MP Jo Cox, who had been murdered in 2016, won by 323 votes, saving Sir Keirs leadership. From there, Labour eventually completed a comeback in 2024, winning the general election.

However, Mr Streetings comments to The Sunday Times in the wake of the Caerphilly defeat have already been seen by colleagues as an indication that Sir Keir may be running out of time.

The health secretary is one of five potential candidates to take over from within parliament, with Manchester mayor Andy Burnham another possibility if he can mastermind a comeback as an MP. One MP messaged The Independent: Wes knows it is over.

Caerphilly was a seat that Labour had held unbroken in Westminster and the Senedd for 107 years. But it came a poor third with just 11 per cent of the vote behind the winners Plaid Cymru and Reform in second.
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The Washington Posts editorial board has jumped to the defense of President Donald Trump and his $300 million ballroom in its latest op-ed for the newspaper.

Jeff Bezos is the owner of the Post and the CEO of Amazon, one of the tech giants that has contributed funds toward Trumps ballroom, along with Apple, Google, HP, Microsoft and Meta.

Trumps new project has prompted widespread criticism this week after crews began demolishing the White Houses historic East Wing, contrary to assurances the president made earlier in the year that the building would not be impacted by the lavish plans.

Now it has been razed to the ground to make way for the ballroom, which will dwarf the 55,000 square-foot White House at 90,000 square feet.

While the newspapers board noted that Trump has pursued the project in the most jarring manner possible, it also stated the move was a shot across the bow at NIMBYs everywhere in the op-ed published Saturday evening.

open image in gallery The Washington Post s editorial board has jumped to the defense of President Donald Trumps $300 million ballroom in its latest op-ed for the newspaper ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The acronym stands for not in my back yard and is often used to describe opposition from local residents over development and real estate projects.

The Posts editorial board agrees with Trumps team that it is absurd tents need to be erected on the South Lawn to accommodate larger state dinners where guests are forced to use porta-potties.

Under Trumps grand plans, the ballroom will seat 999 guests. The next Democratic president will be happy to have this, the op-ed read.

The board also dismissed concerns that Trump has bypassed the usual process required for major federal renovations.

open image in gallery While the newspapers board noted that Trump has pursued the project in the most jarring manner possible, it also stated the move was a shot across the bow at NIMBYs everywhere ( AFP via Getty Images )

The truth is that this project would not have gotten done, certainly not during his term, if the president had gone through the traditional review process, the op-ed said, adding that it has become far too difficult to build anything in America.

Parroting the defense Trump officials have given this week, the Posts board closed its case by arguing other presidents also left their mark on the White House.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt welcomed the op-ed. First dose of common sense Ive seen from the legacy media on this story! Leavitt reacted in a post on X.

There were more than 1,500 comments underneath the op-ed within a few hours of publication, with many pointing out the apparent conflict of interest.

Why didnt you mention that Amazon is a funder of the ballroom? the top comment on the op-ed said.

Looks like Jeff Bezos is now writing OpEds for the Post! another joked.

open image in gallery The East Wing, which stood for more than 100 years, has been razed to the ground to make way for the ballroom, which will dwarf the White House at 90,000 square feet ( AFP/Getty )

Did Jeff Bezos write this? said another reader.

I honestly dont recognize this version of The Post, someone else commented.

Journalists at the paper expressed concern earlier this year that Bezos is currying favor with Trump by softening the Posts coverage of him. The backlash began when the Amazon founder blocked the editorial boards endorsement of then-vice president Kamala Harris just days before the 2024 election.

A quarter-million readers canceled their subscriptions after Bezos pulled the Harris endorsement.

Then, staffers were enraged in February after Bezos announced a shocking new direction for the papers opinion content that resulted in a top editor resigning.

We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets, he noted. Well cover other topics too, of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.

It later emerged that Bezos dined with Trump just hours after he unveiled the new mandate, the president revealed in an interview.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed on Sunday that he was specifically considering a bid for president in 2028, but added that he was focused on helping his party win seats in Congress in the upcoming midterms first.

Newsom spoke with Robert Costa on CBSs Sunday Morning and discussed his bid to bring his brand to a national stage, including to red and purple states. The two spoke in California but Newsom was as recently as July in South Carolina  a red state, and also a pivotal early primary state on the Democratic Party election calendar.

The governor explained that his focus was on the midterms, for now, but told Costa hed be lying if he said he wasnt going to consider running for president after the 2026 elections.

The idea that youd even throw that [possibility] out is in and of itself extraordinary. Who the hell knows. Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028, and who meets that moment, Newsom told Costa of running for president in 2028, before being pressed on whether hed consider it after next year.

Yeah, Id be lying otherwise. Id just be lying. And I cant do that.

open image in gallery California Gov. Gavin Newsom has directly challenged the White House over mass deportations and the militarization of National Guard troops ( CBS Sunday Mornings )

The governor went on to say that fate will determine if he finds what he calls a compelling why, or a message central to a political effort on the national stage that would help him find success in a tough presidential election year.

Any Democrat who runs in 2028 is likely to face Donald Trumps chosen scion, be it Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or another conservative Trump-aligned candidate. Theyll also face the near-certain prospect of a crowded Democratic primary field in a year as the partys base fumes over their leaders botched handling of the 2024 election campaign.

The governor himself has also warned that the president will try to run for a third term, a warning echoed by a gleeful Steve Bannon in an interview this past week.

Newsom is one of a short list of Democratic leaders at the state level whove emerged as possible contenders for the top spot on the 2028 ticket, with others including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Michigans Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore  though Moore seemingly ruled out running for president in September, choosing instead to focus on a second term. Former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed to the BBC in an interview last week that she was also considering a 2028 bid.

In Congress, several young party members are also emerging as stalwarts, holding out against the supercharged right-wing agenda of the second Trump administration, thereby allowing them to build their own national prominence. In the Senate, Democrats like Chris Murphy, Ruben Gallego, and Jon Ossoff have been floated as potential party leaders.

California has allowed Newsom an oversized stage to grow his own brand on the left; however, as Donald Trump and his allies across the administration have made challenging the leaders of blue states like his a priority.

open image in gallery Newsom announced a ballot measure aimed at countering Texas Republican redisctricting efforts in August ( Getty Images )

Earlier this year, the president battled with Newsom in court over the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to protect ICE agents performing immigration raids and facilities housing detainees and personnel. Hes now teeing up another fight over sending in soldiers to San Francisco. However, the Republican president backed off from those threats this past week after a conversation with the citys Democratic mayor.

Absent another direct fight with the White House over the militarized occupation of American cities, the governor is picking a different battle with the broader GOP as he fired the opening shot of the Democratic response to Republican mid-decade redistricting efforts, a bid by Trump-aligned state leaders to engineer more House seats for a slim Republican majority in the lower chamber of Congress.

With Texass legislature voting for new maps aiming to shift as many as five seats into GOP hands, the California governor returned with his own bid to scrub out an equal number of GOP-held seats in his state. Officials in both parties in states around the country are now scrambling to find their own responses to the escalating gerrymandering conflict, under respective pressures from the Republican president and a furious Democratic Party voter base.

Wake up America, Newsom warned in August at an event announcing his redistricting moves. This is serious moment. Wake up to what's going on. Wake up to the fear, the anxiety. Wake up to what's happening.
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President Donald Trump busted out some of his signature dance moves as he was greeted by a troupe of Malaysian performers on Sunday while kicking off his Asian tour.

Video showed the 79-year-old president, fresh off a 23-hour flight from Washington, D.C., on Air Force One, pumping his fists out and dancing to the beat of drums after arriving in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Trump was seen dancing alongside performers representing Malaysias major ethnic groups, including indigenous people from Borneo, as well as Malay, Chinese, and Indian people.

He was escorted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was also bobbing along to the music.

Trump arrived in Malaysia to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and oversaw a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said would save millions of lives.

open image in gallery Trump was captured on video dancing with groups of performers after landing in Malaysia Sunday ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN ( POOL/AFP via Getty Images )

The five-day tour of Asia, which includes stops in Japan and South Korea, will culminate in a highly anticipated trade meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It's not the first time the president has gone viral over his signature dance moves  pumping his fists out and bopping his head along to a beat.

Trump has gained viral attention most notably for dancing to the Village Peoples 1978 disco hit, Y.M.C.A.

The tune, long considered central to Trumps campaign, has played at countless rallies throughout his political career, often accompanied by his infamous fist-pumping dance.

While the Village People once attempted to stop Trump from using their music, sending his legal team a cease-and-desist letter after he was filmed dancing to their hit Macho Man, they have since warmed to his use of their music. In January, the band came on stage and danced with Trump during his Make America Great Again Victory Rally held a day before Inauguration Day.

Similar to Trumps viral moments dancing to the two Village People hits, the internet had a big reaction to his moves on display in Malaysia.

open image in gallery Trumps dancing with the Malaysian performers went viral on social media, as his signature moves have done in the past ( Getty Images )

While many social media users praised him for his energy and high spirits, with one commenting that Trump is making dancing great again, others deemed the display embarrassing and cringey.

Wow. Donald Trump is doing his double jerk-off dance in Kuala Lumpur! How do you say cringe in Malay? one social media user wrote.

Hes like that drunk uncle who wants to be the life of the party but everyone wishes he (would) go home. How embarrassing! another user chimed in.

Another joked, Grandpa escaped the nursing home again!

Good God, this man is embarrassing, one social media user wrote.

Another user had a more scathing take, writing, Cringe is an understatement. A wannabe autocrat doing a boomer shuffle while democracy burns. History wont remember the moves. Just the collapse.
Mayors attending the Global Mayors Dialogue in China's Zhengzhou were impressed by how the ancient capital preserves its cultural heritage while embracing modernization, and praised the city's balance of history, innovation and vitality. #GLOBALink
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A former advisor to President Donald Trump hypothesized that there may be a surprise meeting between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Trump begins his Asian tour.

Well, itsalways expect the unexpected with Donald Trump, right? And so theres not a meeting scheduled, KT McFarland, a former deputy national security advisor for Trump, told Newsmax Saturday.

But President Trump had had an outreach meeting with the North Korean president during his first term, McFarland, a former Fox News host, added.

And it was very successful because, as a result of that meeting, the North Koreans stopped testing nuclear weapons. They stopped testing missiles.

McFarland continued: So he was able to really buy the good faith of the North Koreans as a result of that meeting.

open image in gallery There may be a surprise meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a former Trump advisor says. The last time the two leaders met was during Trumps first term as president in 2019 ( Getty Images )

Maybe President Trump is going to do that again, she added.

The 79-year-old president arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and oversaw a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said would save millions of lives.

The five-day tour of Asia, which includes stops in Japan and South Korea, will culminate in a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to de-escalate the ongoing trade war.

The only meeting more consequential could be between Trump and the North Korean leader.

Before the trip, Trump seemed to indicate that he was ready to sit down with Kim, telling reporters on Air Force One, I would if you want to put out the word. Im open to it.

I had a great relationship with him, Trump added.

open image in gallery McFarland previously worked as a Fox News host before serving as an advisor to Trump during his first term as president ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

If the meeting were to take place, it would mark the first time the two world leaders have met since 2019, when they met at the Korean border village of Panmunjom. The two leaders met three times during Trumps first term as president.

While there has been no official confirmation of a meeting between Trump and Kim, many have speculated that one would take place after South Korea's unification minister, Chung Dong Young, told lawmakers this month that it was possible they could meet in the Demilitarized Zone.

The new liberal South Korean government has repeatedly urged Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with Kim.
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President Donald Trump greeted trick-or-treaters at the White House Halloween event on Thursday night  and once again placed candy on top of a childs head.

The president, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, distributed candy for about an hour outside the White House, which was decked out in pumpkins, leaves, and other decorations for the event. The president was spotted placing a candy bar on top of a childs light-up mask, in a moment that mirrored a viral incident from Halloween 2019, when the President placed candy on the head of a child dressed as a Minion.

The moment has already made the rounds on social media. In a post with hundreds of likes and reshares, one user uploaded todays clip side-by-side with the 2019 viral moment.

President Trump DOES IT AGAIN! He just recreated the time he placed a candy bar on a kids head for Halloween 6 years ago, the user wrote. We are SO BACK!

open image in gallery President Donald Trump places a bar of candy on top of a childs costume at the White House Halloween event ( AP )

Some trick-or-treaters appeared to be dressed as Trump himself, while others opted to be Secret Service agents or the Statue of Liberty. As the President and First Lady handed out candy, Halloween-themed tunes played in the background.

Trump also greeted two young kids who were in a wagon decorated with the McDonalds drive-thru sign. The president notably operated a McDonalds fryer last year for a campaign photo-op.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump high-fives a trick-or-treater who appears to be dressed as him at the White House Halloween event ( AP )

open image in gallery President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet two trick-or-treaters in a wagon displaying the McDonalds drive-thru sign at the White House Halloween event ( Reuters )

Several kids dressed as pumpkins, ballerinas and dinosaurs. Some trick-or-treaters also brought items for Trump to sign, including a golf ball and copies of Time magazine with covers that featured him.

Top White House officials, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, were also spotted with their families at the event.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump greets White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and her family at the White House Halloween event ( AP )

open image in gallery White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller attends the White House Halloween event with his family ( AFP via Getty )

Meanwhile, Trumps tariffs are reportedly driving up the prices of Halloween candy and costumes. His tariff hike on Chinese goods has resulted in tighter Halloween inventory and higher prices, The Independent previously reported.

The National Retail Federation also estimates that consumers are expected to spend a record $13.1bn this Halloween, which is up from $11.6bn last year and tops the previous 2023 record of $12.2bn.

When asked about the higher prices earlier this month, White House spokesperson Kush Desai told The Independent, Real prosperity is good jobs, booming industry, and thriving communities for everyday Americans  not cheap Chinese imports.
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Russia has reportedly conducted a test of a new nuclear-capable and nuclear-powered cruise missile, which President Vladimir Putin claims is designed to bypass existing defence systems as it moves closer to military deployment.

Video footage released on Sunday, accompanied by remarks from the Kremlin, showed Mr Putin in camouflage fatigues meeting senior military officials. General Valery Gerasimov, Russias chief of general staff, informed the Russian leader that the Burevestnik missile travelled 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles) during a critical test carried out on Tuesday.

General Gerasimov stated that the Burevestnik, also known as Storm Petrel, remained airborne for 15 hours, adding that "thats not the limit."

In the video, Mr Putin instructed General Gerasimov to work on the missiles final tests, stating: "We need to determine the possible uses and begin preparing the infrastructure for deploying these weapons to our armed forces." He further asserted that the weapon was invulnerable to current and future missile defences, citing its almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

open image in gallery In this image made from video released by the Russian Presidential Press Office on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks while visiting one of the command posts of the Joint Group of Forces. (Russian Presidential Press Office via AP) ( Russian Presidential Press Office )

Here are some key facts about the weapon.

What is Russia's Burevestnik missile and what does it translate to?

- The 9M730 Burevestnik, whose name translates as "storm petrel", is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile that is not only capable of carrying a nuclear warhead but is also nuclear-powered. NATO refers to it as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.

- Putin, who first revealed the project in March 2018, has said it has an unlimited range and can evade U.S. missile defences. But some Western experts have questioned its strategic value, saying it won't add capabilities that Moscow does not already have, and may disgorge radiation along its flight path.

- Putin said on Sunday that the weapon was unique. Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, told Putin that in the October 21 test the missile travelled 14,000 km (8,700 miles) and was in the air for about 15 hours. He said it travelled on nuclear power, could defeat any missile defence and has an unlimited range.

open image in gallery 9M730 Burevestnik (known in US as SSC-X-9 Skyfall) nuclear-propelled cruise missile. ( Russian Defence Ministry )

- Its nuclear propulsion is designed to enable it to fly much further, for longer, than traditional turbojet or turbofan engines that are limited by how much fuel they can carry. This would allow it to "loiter" for an extended period before hitting a target. The Nuclear Threat Initiative, a U.S.-based non-profit security organisation, said it could stay aloft potentially for days: "In operation, the Burevestnik would carry a nuclear warhead (or warheads), circle the globe at low altitude, avoid missile defenses, and dodge terrain; and drop the warhead(s) at a difficult-to-predict location (or locations)," it said in a 2019 report.

- Some Western experts say the Burevestnik's subsonic speed would make it detectable, and it would become more vulnerable the longer it stayed in flight. Responding to this, Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov wrote in 2019 that the role of Burevestniks would be to eliminate the "remnants" of the enemy's command posts, military bases, factories and power plants after Russia had already fired intercontinental ballistic missiles, by which point the opponent's air-defence systems would be incapable of stopping them. He said Burevestniks would "trample the aggressor countries into the Stone Age", completing the destruction of their military and civilian infrastructure.

- The International Institute for Strategic Studies, quoting a specialist Russian military journal in 2021, said the Burevestnik would have a notional range of up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles), so could be based anywhere in Russia and strike targets in the United States.

- The same Russian journal said the notional altitude of the missile was just 50 to 100 metres (164 to 328 feet), much lower than a conventionally powered cruise missile, which would make it harder for air-defence radar to detect

- A 2020 report by the United States Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center said that if Russia successfully brought the Burevestnik into service, it would give Moscow a "unique weapon with intercontinental-range capability".

- Experts assess that it would be sent aloft by a small solid-fuel rocket to drive air into an engine containing a miniature nuclear reactor. Superheated and possibly radioactive air would be blasted out, providing forward thrust.

- The Burevestnik has a poor test record with numerous past failures, according to Western experts. In 2019 at least five Russian nuclear specialists were killed in an explosion and release of radiation during an experiment in the White Sea, and U.S. intelligence sources said they suspected it was part of a test of the Burevestnik. Putin presented their widows with top state awards, saying the weapon they were developing was without equal in the world, although he did not name it. Putin announced a successful test of the missile in October 2023.

- Two U.S. researchers said in 2024 that they had identified the probable deployment site for the missile, alongside a nuclear warhead storage facility called Vologda-20 or Chebsara. The site is 295 miles (475 km) north of Moscow.

open image in gallery FILE - In this video grab provided by RU-RTR Russian television via AP television on Thursday, March 1, 2018, Russia's new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile blasts off during a test launch from an undisclosed location in Russia ( RU-RTR Russian Television )

On Wednesday, Putin directed drills of Russias strategic nuclear forces that featured practice missile launches. The exercise came as his planned summit on Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump was put on hold.

The Kremlin said that the maneuvers involved all parts of Moscows nuclear triad, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that were test-fired from launch facilities in northwestern Russia and a submarine in the Barents Sea. The drills also involved Tu-95 strategic bombers firing long-range cruise missiles.

The exercise tested the skills of military command structures, the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday.
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A number of people have been arrested over the theft of jewels from the Louvre, the Paris prosecutor has said.

The priceless crown jewels were taken from the museum last Sunday, when four thieves wielding power tools broke into the building in broad daylight. The heist is reported to have occurred at 9.30am local time and lasted several minutes.

Two suspects, from Seine-Saint-Denis, a department of the northern Paris metropolis, were arrested on Saturday evening, according to Le Parisien.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests. Her office said one of those arrested had been about to leave the country from Charles de Gaulle airport. A source close to the investigation told BFMTV he was heading for Algeria. Another person was arrested in Seine-Saint-Denis, according to French media.

open image in gallery The stolen jewels ( Interpol )

A group of four thieves entered the Galerie dApollon, which holds the remains of the French crown jewels, and made away with nine pieces of jewellery, using a scooter to escape.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez described the incident as a major robbery involving jewels that have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless.

The culture ministry confirmed the stolen items included a tiara, necklace and a single earring from a set that had belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense; an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from the Empress Marie Louise set; a brooch known as the reliquary brooch; and a tiara and large corsage bow brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.

According to the museums website, the tiara from the set belonging to the two queens is composed of five articulated elements, each topped with a large sapphire. In total [there are] 24 sapphires, 10 of which [are] very small, and 1,083 diamonds.

open image in gallery The ladder thieves used to gain access to the Louvre gallery ( AP )

The Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense sapphire set belonged to King Louis Philippes wife, while the Empress Marie Louise emerald set was a gift to Napoleons second wife.

The Empress Eugenie tiara, corsage brooch, and reliquary brooch were made in the 1850s. The brooch alone contains 2,438 diamonds.

The culture minister, Rachida Dati, said the robbery lasted less than four minutes. She said footage of the operation revealed that the thieves dont target people, they enter calmly in four minutes, smash display cases, take their loot and leave.

No violence, very professional, she was quoted as saying by TF1.

The Louvre, which draws tens of thousands of visitors daily, was closed last Sunday for exceptional reasons.
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Russia launched a blistering assault on Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people and injuring 35. Some 430 drones and 18 missiles targeted the country, Ukraines president said, calling the strikes a deliberate and calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure.

Ukraines air force said most of the drones and missiles were shot down, but officials said falling debris and fires damaged high-rise apartments, a school, a medical facility and administrative buildings across nine districts in the city of about three million.

"At that moment you don't know what to do first: save yourself, your child, or run to help people, because so many people were screaming and needed help," said Anastasia, 29, whose apartment block was hit.

The attacks came just two days after Russias foreign ministry indicated it was ready to resume direct talks with Ukraine on ending the war in Istanbul. An official told TASS the ball is in Ukraines court.

Russia continues to escalate its strikes on Ukraine while coordinating its messaging to present a show of good faith to the United States. Nearly four years since the invasion, the Kremlin maintains its maximalist designs on Ukraine.

Zelensky said that Ukraine was responding to the strikes with long-range strength, and called for greater sanctions to be imposed on Russia.

open image in gallery The overnight attacks hit residential buildings, despite Russias insistence it does not target civilians ( AFP/Getty )

Russia has waged a devastating aerial campaign against Ukraine since its all-out invasion of its neighbour nearly four years ago. US-led diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing.

Friday's aerial assault, which also targeted Odesa in the south and Kharkiv in the northeast, was mostly aimed at Kyiv, where drones and missiles smashed into high-rise apartment blocks, according to Zelensky.

Mariia Kalchenko said it was a miracle she survived after her building was hit. "I didn't hear anything, I just realised that my hair was on fire," the 46-year-old volunteer rescue dog handler said.

In the Odesa region, Russian drones struck a busy street on market day in Chornomorsk, killing two people and injuring 11 others, including a 19-month-old girl, regional military administration chief Oleh Kiper said.

Moscow denies targeting civilian areas, with the Russian Defense Ministry saying Friday it carried out an overnight strike on Ukraine's "military-industrial and energy facilities."

Analysts nevertheless accuse Russia of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in order to wound morale.

open image in gallery Eight of the capital's 10 districts reported damage. Emergency crews fought fires in apartment blocks, debris from explosions was strewn across yards and cars parked in the streets were set ablaze ( Reuters )

Natia Seskuria, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure was a central element of Russias strategy, designed to terrorise the Ukrainian population and erode public morale.

The underlying calculation is that a war-weary society subjected to sustained attacks might exert pressure on the government to accept almost any settlement that promises an end to hostilities, she told The Independent.

Thus far, however, this strategy has proven ineffective, as Ukrainians have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination in the face of ongoing aggression.

Fridays attack was the biggest on Kyiv in almost three weeks. Most recent Russian aerial attacks have aimed at electricity infrastructure around the country ahead of the bitter winter months.

With no sign of the war abating, millions of Ukrainians face one of the harshest winters in years as humanitarian organisations scramble to deliver essentials to the frontlines and affected areas.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned on Friday that people whose livelihoods have been destroyed by the war are entering the winter with no financial buffer to support themselves.

open image in gallery At least six people were killed in the strikes overnight, Ukrainian officials said ( Reuters )

Frequent power cuts continue to plunge neighbourhoods into darkness, cut heating and force hospitals to use emergency power. For older people and vulnerable people in high-rise buildings, blackouts can mean hours or days of isolation without elevators, heat, and often without food or medicine, the IFRC warned.

Almost four years of conflict have eroded peoples resources. Many families are entering this winter with no financial buffer  seven out of ten people said they dont have any savings left, said Jaime Wah, Deputy Head of Delegation for IFRC in Ukraine.

We have been providing support to people for several years, but our resources are also running thin, Wah added. The scale of the needs is overwhelming, and with each passing day, those needs only grow.

Keir Giles, a fellow of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House, told The Independent that Moscows attacks are designed to cause the maximum possible misery and suffering among the civilian population.

Thats the principle we saw applied in Syria, in Chechnya and in countless others of Moscows wars dating back decades and centuries, he said.

Mr Giles said Ukraine was the victim of Russias attempts to demoralise its victims through inhumanity.

Thats the reason for attacks on maternity hospitals, and nurseries, targeting the most vulnerable in society, as well as for the systematic torture and starvation of Ukrainian military and civilian captives  not for any objective purpose other than deliberate and demonstrative cruelty.

These attacks continue despite Russias insistence that it is open to talks moving towards a ceasefire.

open image in gallery ( Reuters )

Foreign ministry official Alexei Polishchuk said on Wednesday that Russia was ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. No face-to-face talks have taken place between the two sides since they met in the Turkish city on July 23.

Overtures towards peace come after a proposed summit between Russias Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump broke down in October, reportedly over Moscows intransigence over its demands.

The two leaders have not met since August, when a summit held in Alaska failed to produce a deal. Mr Trump said the meeting was very productive, but the diplomatic push to end the war has yet to yield any results.
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This article first appeared on our partner site, Independent Arabia

Independent Arabia has received the World Press Freedom Hero Award on behalf of its Gaza correspondent, the late Maryam Abu Daqqa, during a ceremony hosted by the International Press Institute (IPI) in Vienna in partnership with International Media Support (IMS). Abu Daqqa was killed in an Israeli strike in southern Gaza in August.

The award statement paid tribute to the Palestinian photojournalist and reporter, noting that she repeatedly risked her life to document the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. It added that her killing, for which no one has been held accountable, reflects the perilous conditions journalists face in the Gaza Strip, including targeted attacks, displacement and starvation.

Maryam Abu Daqqa ( Independent Arabia )

During the IPIs 75th anniversary World Congress ceremony at the University of Vienna, organisers screened a video message from Riyad Abu Daqqa, Maryams father, who thanked IPI for honouring his daughter. I want the whole world to remember Maryam, he said. I remember her every day, every moment. Losing her has been deeply painful for our family. He added that Maryam was often overburdened with work, always striving to be the first to cover unfolding events. She was a very strong and dynamic woman, loved by everyone in journalistic circles, he said.

Independent Arabias Assistant Editor-in-Chief, Hadi Torfi, received the award on behalf of Maryams family and the newsroom team. In his address, Torfi shared that the family had wanted to attend the ceremony and honour their daughter in person, but were prevented by the ongoing blockade and border closures in Gaza. Maryams story constantly reminds us that press freedom is not a privilege, but a responsibility that must be protected for everyone, everywhere, he said, while echoing the organising institutions urgent call to strengthen protections for journalists working in conflict zones.

The World Press Freedom Hero Award is presented annually to journalists who have all displayed tremendous courage and resilience in fighting for media freedom and the free flow of news.

Alongside Abu Daqqa, Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roshchyna was also honoured posthumously. Roshchyna was detained by Russian authorities and died in custody on 19 September 2024.

The 2025 awardees also included Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia, Martin Baron from the United States, Gustavo Gorriti from Peru, Jimmy Lai from Hong Kong and Tesfalem Waldyes from Ethiopia.

Translated by Ali Charafeddine; Reviewed by Celine Assaf
Donald Trump has issued a warning to Vladimir Putin, telling the Russian president: m not wasting my time.

The US president was asked about rescheduling his meeting with the Russian leader following a call between the pair earlier this month about the war in Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskys wish to use Tomahawk weapons from America.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday (25 October), as headed for Asia, Trump said: I'm not gonna be wasting my time. I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing. I thought this would have gone long before peace in the Middle East.
In the autumn of 2013, I boarded a plane at Yangon airport, leaving Myanmar after four years as the UKs ambassador. Just before setting off for my flight, I made my final official call. It was with the Nobel Peace Laureate and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.

Back then, she was in the ascendancy as a global icon of democracy and peaceful protest. She was on her way to a landslide election win in 2015; adored across the world and by the Myanmar people who respected her sacrifice, determination and, above all, the hope she represented. Quite a contrast with her circumstances and reputation today.

As the British ambassador, it was fitting to finish on a farewell meeting with someone who embodied Myanmars democratic hopes. The UK had long stood as one of Suu Kyis strongest Western advocates, often holding firm when others considered easing pressure on the military junta that had ruled for more than 50 years.

When Myanmar began to open up in 2011-12, I hosted visits by the UKs prime minister and foreign secretary, who were among the first senior Western leaders to visit and show support for her and the reform process. There followed a procession of global leaders, Oscar winners, writers and activists. Being photographed with the Nobel Prize winner had become a must.

Contrast that with 2025. On 19 June, Aung San Suu Kyi spent her 80th birthday in a prison cell in Naypyidaw, the juntas remote capital. Outside the inner circle of the junta, no one knows exactly where she is held. There are no family visits, no letters or cards. The woman once celebrated worldwide is once again the worlds most famous female political prisoner  but nowadays, far fewer people seem to care.

She would be the first to say she is not suffering alone. Over 20,000 political prisoners languish in Myanmars jails. A humanitarian crisis entirely of the juntas making is gripping the country. Food and medicine are scarce. Resistance is met with overwhelming force, backed by arms and technology from Russia and China. Entire villages have been bombed from the air for allegedly harbouring resistance fighters.

Yet, against these odds, resistance groups have taken significant territory. The main cities, however, where foreign investment and junta interests concentrate, remain under military control.

Once, ordinary people in Myanmar believed the international community would stand with them. Now, many of them feel abandoned. They watch Western protests about Gaza or swift sanctions against Putin and wonder: where is the outrage for Myanmar?

The world once celebrated Aung San Suu Kyi. Its time to remember what she represents for democracy and to stand with Myanmar again  ( AP )

Some Western governments and international organisations issue periodic statements calling for Suu Kyis release and addressing the humanitarian situation. But, to many Myanmar citizens, these are just hollow words.

The change stems from the Rohingya crisis. The militarys unspeakably brutal 2017 campaign  killing 10,000 and displacing 750,000  was a calculated move. They weaponised deep-rooted divisions, aided by Facebooks unfiltered enabling of the spread of hate, and laid the trap. The West responded by cancelling Aung San Suu Kyi.

It is true she did not always help herself. Her 2019 appearance at the International Court of Justice, focusing on legal technicalities rather than human suffering, was deeply damaging. She seemed to lack empathy. But those who know her well know she is not Islamophobic and was appalled by the violence.

It is also worth remembering that although Suu Kyi was a brilliant campaigner, as evidenced by three landslide election wins in 1990, 2015 and 2020, she was not a seasoned politician. She spent much of her adult life raising a young family with her English husband in Oxford and then, after returning to Burma in 1988 to nurse her dying mother, in isolation under house arrest.

Not ideal preparation for life in the glare of global and, latterly, hostile media scrutiny. Nor for dealing with ruthless and power-hungry generals. Overlooked, too, was her early recognition that the Rohingya issue needed addressing. She took the bold step of inviting Kofi Annan to lead an international commission to recommend solutions. The military ensured its recommendations went nowhere.

The generals always held real power. The 2008 constitution they wrote guaranteed control over security and key ministries, even after Suu Kyis 2015 landslide. They used this to conduct one of the most horrific campaigns of ethnic persecution in recent history.

The militarys coup in 2021 came after the generals judged that the West had fallen out of love with Suu Kyi, despite her second landslide election win in 2020. They correctly calculated that condemnation would be mild, sanctions token, and Moscow and Beijing would back them. As The Independents excellent documentary Cancelled demonstrated, the military seized its moment, overturned the 2020 election result and seized power.

Where does the UK stand now? Weve issued statements and tightened some sanctions. But we are no longer leading the global response as we once did. For many in Myanmar, Britain is yesterdays friend. That must change.

We have a historic duty  to Aung San Suu Kyi, to the 20,000 other political prisoners and to the millions who still hope for a democratic future. The UK should step up and cajole its allies to increase humanitarian aid, push relentlessly for the release of all political prisoners, and urge all international partners to reject the juntas upcoming sham elections.

The world once celebrated Aung San Suu Kyi. Its time to remember what she represents for democracy and to stand with Myanmar again.

Andrew Heyn was a UK diplomat for over 30 years. He was British consul-general in Hong Kong from 2016-20 and British ambassador to Myanmar between 2009 and 2013
Richard Curran: Dawn Meats swoop on New Zealand food giant shows where Irish agri-sector should be going

Rachel Reeves is doomed to fail, as UK finances look shaky

Dairy cows in New Zealand with Mount Taranaki in the background. Photo: Getty

Richard Curran Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

The Dawn Meats swoop to take control of one of New Zealands largest meat processors represents a real opportunity for the Waterford group. But it also provides an insight into the future of the sector in Ireland.
Spanish firm in legal challenge over awarding of 650m fleet contract

Irish Rails plans suffer blow over judicial review and battery problems delaying roll out of hybrid trains

Dublin to Belfast Enterprise train

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Spanish train manufacturer CAF has mounted a legal challenge against both Irish Rail and Northern Ireland Railways over the awarding of a 650m contract for the supply of a new fleet for the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise train service.
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A comprehensive report on China's state-owned assets (SOAs) in 2024 was submitted on Sunday to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, for deliberation.

By the end of 2024, total assets of non-financial state-owned enterprises had reached 401.7 trillion yuan (about 56.6 trillion U.S. dollars), while that of state-owned financial enterprises hit 487.9 trillion yuan, according to the report.

It also provided details on SOAs held by government agencies and public institutions, as well as state-owned natural resources. 
Its about creating a structured opportunity to support each other

From left, Linda Jamison of Invest NI, Margaret Hearty, CEO of InterTradeIreland, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, First Minister Michelle O'Neill, and Carol Gibbins of Enterprise Ireland.

Ireland has always had a strong tradition of the meitheal  of co-operation and mutual support. And while times have changed, the principle still applies.

When it comes to making fast progress on innovation and scaling overseas in an era of wide-scale disruption, companies still find theyre stronger together.

Clustering is all about encouraging national and international collaboration. Clusters give companies in the same sector a structured opportunity to work together, share knowledge and support each other.

At Enterprise Ireland, we see how clustering enhances SME competitiveness, productivity and internationalisation.

Moreover, the evidence clearly shows cluster companies achieve higher revenue and exports, and are more active in innovation and R&D. These benefits were on display at the recent 28th TCI Global Conference in Dublin, which brought together over 250 clustering experts from 25 countries.

It was jointly hosted by Enterprise Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Invest Northern Ireland. This cross-border partnership reflects our all-island cluster collaboration ideal.

Clustering is all about encouraging national and international collaboration

We work together to help contribute to balanced regional economic growth across internationalisation and innovation agendas.

As well as hearing from world-leading experts on clustering, delegates workshopped strategies for growing clusters.

They also discussed how clusters can be key drivers of skills development and R&D, and how they can bring companies together for mutual economic benefit.

During cluster tours to Belfast, Dublin, Dundalk and Portlaoise, delegates were able to witness first-hand the strength and diversity of Irelands cluster ecosystem, including its integration with Irelands strong research ecosystem.

The tours showcased a wide range of capability in such sectors as advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, cybersecurity and fintech, and maritime and offshore wind.

During the advanced manufacturing cluster tour, Midland Steel CEO Tony Woods guided delegates through the companys smart factory environment.

As they toured the facility, Tony explained how the companys involvement in the local cluster, Advanced Technologies in Manufacturing (ATIM), is helping it.

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke announced a new clustering initiative

The cluster is not only supporting Midland Steel develop productivity measures, but also in growing its international connectivity and export footprint.

During the conference, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke announced a new International Impact Clustering Programme. This will initially fund three pilot clusters with 2.3m over six years, which will be supplemented with Shared Island Cluster Funding.

This funding complements the Regional Technology Clustering Fund (RTCF), which Enterprise Ireland launched in 2019.

Since then, Enterprise Ireland has approved investment of over 10m to develop 12 industry clusters aligned with Irelands Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities.

By the end of 2024, these 12 clusters supported 766 full members, including 604 industry partners. Collectively, these members represent over 50,000 employees.

Multinationals are well represented in Irish clusters too. They see clusters as key in building Irelands attractiveness for FDI.

To find out if theres a suitable regional or sector cluster for your company to join, talk to your Enterprise Ireland client advisor.

Darragh Cotter is south west regional manager at Enterprise Ireland and national coordinator for cluster development
Drunk Aer Lingus passenger involved in violent air-rage incident on Dublin to Turkey flight

The flight was forced to divert to Bulgaria

An Aer Lingus plane takes off. The airline is defending its sacking of pilot Tom O'Riordan. Stock image: PA

Ali Bracken Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

A drunk passenger on board an Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Turkey was involved in a violent air-rage incident, forcing the pilot to divert the plane to Bulgaria.
Gardai draw up new security plans for asylum centres after violence at Citywest Hotel

Move follows riots in response to alleged sex attack on very vulnerable girl

Gardai in standoff with protestors at Citywest. Photo: PA

Ali Bracken Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Gardai are making contingency security plans at asylum-seeker centres nationwide amid online threats calling for migrant accommodation to be targeted.
A man in his 30s is due in court following an alleged assault on canvassers in Dublin city on Friday.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou MacDonald was among those canvassing on the North Strand Road, Dublin 1, when two females in the group were allegedly assaulted.
Michael D Higgins gives some 2m back to State from his salary

The President still has a number of jobs to do, but after he leaves the Aras he is looking forward to spending time with his grandchildren

President Michael D Higgins speaking during his final afternoon tea event before he leaves Aras an Uachtarain. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Lorna Siggins Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina wont be under pressure to have their last bags packed today for the journey home to Galway from the Phoenix Park.
Councillor Ger Deere also suggested that Heather Humphreys campaign suffered due to an anti-government mood felt across the country

The results from first count saw Ms Connolly gain 28,039 votes to Ms Humphreys 11,957. Jim Gavin received 2,596.

The focus at the count centre in Castlebar has shifted towards the high number of spoilt ballots, with a total of 6,311 invalid votes.

Fine Gael councillor Ger Deere condemned what he called an orchestrated campaign to spoil votes, describing the movement as "despicable and disgraceful".

"We fought so hard to get the right to vote, what's the point in spoiling a vote? he asked.

"Politicians don't get everything right, but I'd like someone to explain to me what the point is in having a spoilt vote, what does it serve? It will achieve nothing."

Turning to his own party's performance, Cllr Deere said Fine Gael's campaign had faced challenges due to what he described as an anti-government climate.

"It didn't work out. The people have decided that Catherine Connolly is the best fit for the President of Ireland, and that's democracy. But the spoilt vote campaign that is not part of democracy, I thought that was despicable and disgraceful,

"We put up a candidate, [ran] a good campaign. I think Heather was against it as well. There is a bit of an anti-establishment, anti-government mood at the moment; people are a little angry, maybe with the Budget - she had to deal with all that.

"She was part of a Government, we've been in power for 14 or 15 years. Catherine Connolly didn't have to deal with that; she hasn't been in Government, hasn't had to make hard decisions over the last number of years.

"In 2011, when Enda Kenny took over as Taoiseach, the country was on its knees, and we brought it back. We had to make a lot of tough decisions. We are probably being punished for doing that, and Heather was part of it.

"We are proud of her as a candidate; she put up a great campaign, but the people have spoken."

Cllr Deere wished Catherine Connolly well in her new role and said she would make "a fine President."

"We have to be proud of Heather, we put up a candidate and Fine Gael will always be part of democracy," he said, adding that lessons would be learned.

"In the next election, I think there'll be a lot of lessons to be learnt for all political parties."

Fine Gael's Thomas Garvey echoed this and dismissed claims that the party prevented other potential candidates from running in the presidential election, saying Independent representatives "have a lot to answer for."

"There was one myth out there. We didn't deter any candidate from going on the ticket,

"If I were a councillor, I don't know if I would have been in favour of any of the other candidates, like Conor McGregor or Maria Steen, running for the Presidency,

"But we have lots of Independent people in the Oireachtas and lots of Independent councillors all over Ireland - I didn't see them coming out in favour of any of the other candidates.

"I think the Independent people in the Oireachtas have a lot to answer for there."

Mr Garvey added that Fine Gael should take time to reflect.

"It is not a day for hasty decisions, people are talking about leadership and so on. Let's go back and look at things."

This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Deputy Conway-Walsh expressed gratitude to Mayo voters who supported Ms Connolly and who saw through the dirty tricks campaign that was being led against her

Catherine Connolly walked away with 65pc of the vote in Mayo.

Catherine Connolly gathered 65.84pc of the total vote in County Mayo. Out of 42,592 valid votes, Ms Connolly received 28,039.

Reflecting on the result, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh said her first response was one of gratitude to the people who backed Ms Connolly, and to the people who saw through the dirty tricks campaign that was being led against her.

6,311 ballot papers were deemed invalid in Mayo. Deputy Conway-Walsh said she found it disheartening to see efforts encouraging voters to spoil their vote.

I thought of the suffragette women, and women who fought and died to get a vote. But, we must listen to people who feel they werent represented on the ballot paper, and certainly I will be acutely doing that in Mayo.

Speaking at the count centre in Castlebar, the Sinn Fein TD said she was excited about Ms Connollys commitment to preparing for Irish unity.

That is critically important for me and for many people who canvassed for Catherine here in Mayo as well, she said.

We are very much looking forward to preparing for Irish unity, for reunification, for having a new and united Ireland that leaves nobody behind.

Asked about the potential timeline for reunification, she said the process was already underway.

Deputy Conway-Walsh was critical of Taoiseach Micheal Martin, saying he represented one of the main obstacles to progress on unity.

To me, one of the biggest blocks to Irish unity is one individual  that is Micheal Martin, she said.

That does not say for all of Fianna Fail, there are members within Fianna Fail who believe in Irish unity and reunification, and I hope to see them coming to the fore as well, and the individuals within Fine Gael as well, because I do think Irish reunification is much bigger than any one party.

Deputy Conway-Walsh said she looked forward to working with Ms Connolly to turn the vision into a reality.

Turning to the upcoming Galway West by-election, she confirmed Sinn Fein would contest the seat.

We will obviously be turning to Galway West. We will be doing our very best to win that by-election. We have several candidates that we can choose from, and we will be looking to win that seat.

Deputy Conway-Walsh, who was among those tipped to secure Sinn Feins nomination, said the partys decision to align with the left-wing parties and support Ms Connolly was the right one.

I did give it serious consideration, but it never felt 100pc right to me. It was a great honour for me to be considered, but now was not the time, and Catherine was the best candidate.

This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Tally figures being taken this morning at the Sligo count centre at The Mercy College. Photos: Donal Hackett.

Supporters of Catherine Connolly were out in force at the count centre in The Mercy College, Sligo. Photos: Donal Hackett

Before a box was opened in The Mercy College on Saturday morning, the indications were that it would be a day to remember for Catherine Connolly supporters as the early tally figures confirmed what the polls and political commentators have been saying for the last number of weeks.

Amidst the hustle and bustle as the tally counts progressed landslide and spoiled vote were phrases that cropped up regularly. In following with the national trend, the Sligo/Leitrim count offered few surprises with representatives and supporters of Heather Humphreys congratulating Catherine Connollys team from a very early stage.

A win for the left was the early theme with one local representative taking note of the number of spoiled votes saying, it is up to the politicians to listen to the people to ensure they dont become disenfranchised.

With the national trend following what was happening in The Mercy College, local representatives were quick to pay tribute to the incoming President

Deputy Martin Kenny described the victory as clear and decisive.

Speaking while counting was ongoing but with no doubt about the result, Deputy Kenny gave his assessment of the campaign saying Catherine Connolly, Will make an excellent President for Ireland.

Deputy Frank Feighan put his personal disappointment to one side as he congratulated Catherine Connolly on her resounding success saying, I congratulate Catherine Connolly and I wish her all the best as President of this great country.

In the aftermath of the election Fine Gaels disappointing performance will be analysed in depth but Deputy Feighan felt Mairead McGuinness early withdrawal from the race had little bearing on the final outcome.

I dont think Mairead McGuinness would have done any better than Heather Humphreys in the current climate.

Deputy Marian Harkin, who endorsed Heather Humphreys but also signed nomination papers for Maria Steen was also quick to congratulate Catherine Connolly on her victory.

Its a great win for her. I have known her for the last five years. I was one of the five people who nominated her for leas ceann-comhairle, I knew she would do a good job. The reason I didnt vote for her; politically, I agree with her on lots of things but other things that are very dear to me we have our differences. At no point did I say what they are, I left that to other people but some of the differences would be quite substantial in certain areas.

Despite those differences Deputy Harkin believes Catherine Connolly, Will make a good president. She is a barrister, she understands the constraints of the office and she will push the boundaries which people expect her to do. Good luck to her and her family, it is a great vote.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Donal Gilroy also extended his congratulations saying, On behalf of the people of Sligo I wish to congratulate our President-elect Catherine Connolly.

With the result in no doubt and Heather Humphreys conceding defeat all that remained was for the counting to be completed and for an official result to be declared.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Trinity lecturer awarded 30,000 after secretly recording conversations about permanent contract prospects

Lecturer Niall Kennedy argued the university was trying to avoid employing him on a permanent contract

The Campanile in Trinity College, Dublin. Photo: Getty

Wayne O'Connor Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

A Trinity College lecturer who secretly recorded his senior colleagues saying he would not be considered for a job has been awarded more than 30,000 at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
We do our housework now like everyone else, and I dont have to tell anyone where I am going: Mary McAleese on life after leaving the Aras

After her presidency, she went off to Rome to pursue a doctorate in canon law with just a hoodie, jeans, a backpack and a student card

Mary McAleese and her husband Martin welcome Michael D Higgins to Aras an Uachtarain before his 2011 inauguration. Photo: Niall Carson/PA

Lorna Siggins Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Former president Mary McAleese still remembers that moment when she shook hands with her garda driver and members of the Special Detective Unit and that was the end of that. So the day I left office, I had no driver, no state car, no secretarial support  you are on your own from that point, she told the Sunday Independent this week.
Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara casts his ballot at a polling station during the country's 2025 presidential election in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Voters in Cote d'Ivoire began casting their ballots on Saturday in the 2025 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

ABIDJAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Voting for Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election proceeded smoothly on Saturday, though voter turnout varied across polling stations in Abidjan.

"All polling stations are open and functioning normally. Security forces, deployed for three weeks, are fully fulfilling their mission," said Minister of Interior and Security Vagondo Diomande following a field visit.

A total of 44,000 police officers, gendarmes and military personnel were mobilized nationwide to secure the vote. In the densely populated commune of Yopougon, police officers patrolled the streets on motorcycles and in pickup trucks.

According to the Independent Electoral Commission, 25,678 polling stations were established, 25,370 within Cote d'Ivoire and 308 abroad, to accommodate 8,727,431 registered voters, including 8,607,253 in the country and 120,178 overseas.

National and international observers, including 251 experts from a joint AU-ECOWAS mission, closely monitored the process. In total, 2,300 observers were deployed across the country.

President Alassane Ouattara, seeking a fourth term, cast his vote late in the morning at Sainte Marie High School in Cocody. He called for a peaceful election and expressed hope that results would be announced "by tomorrow at the latest."

Ouattara, 83, representing the Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace, faces four challengers: former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo, 76, candidate of the Movement of Capable Generations; Jean-Louis Billon, 60, candidate of the Democratic Congress; Ahoua Don Mello, 67, an independent candidate; and Henriette Lagou Adjoua, 66, candidate for the Group of Political Partners for Peace.

The election is taking place in a tense atmosphere, following court rulings that barred two main opposition leaders, Laurent Gbagbo and Tidjane Thiam, from running. The campaign period was marred by protests, some turning violent, resulting in the arrest of 700 people and prison sentences of up to 36 months for nearly 30 demonstrators. 

Staff members check voter information at a polling station during Cote d'Ivoire's 2025 presidential election in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Voters in Cote d'Ivoire began casting their ballots on Saturday in the 2025 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

This photo taken on Oct. 25, 2025 shows a presidential candidate information form at a polling station during Cote d'Ivoire's 2025 presidential election in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Voters in Cote d'Ivoire began casting their ballots on Saturday in the 2025 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

A voter fills out a ballot at a polling station during Cote d'Ivoire's 2025 presidential election in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Voters in Cote d'Ivoire began casting their ballots on Saturday in the 2025 presidential election. (Xinhua/Zhang Jian)

A staff member prepares to count ballots at a polling station in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Polling stations for Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election closed at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, marking the beginning of vote counting in Abidjan, local media reported. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

A staff member writes the names of candidates on a blackboard at a polling station in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Polling stations for Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election closed at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, marking the beginning of vote counting in Abidjan, local media reported. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

Staff members count ballots at a polling station in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Polling stations for Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election closed at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, marking the beginning of vote counting in Abidjan, local media reported. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)

A staff member shows a ballot at a polling station in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Oct. 25, 2025. Polling stations for Cote d'Ivoire's presidential election closed at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday, marking the beginning of vote counting in Abidjan, local media reported. (Photo by Yvan Sonh/Xinhua)
Cathy Belton: You work, you put yourself into it. It gives you a little break from the waves of despair and shock

The Hidden Assets star on the very recent loss of her mother

Cathy Belton returns to our tellies. Photo: Barry McCall

Liadan Hynes Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Cathy Belton is already waiting when I arrive at the Dublin hotel where weve planned to meet. She lives nearby with her husband Brian. They travelled back from Galway the night before, where they had been to Cathys childhood home for the weekend.
Inside Citywest Hotel: We are used to protests but it got really frightening when young men started throwing fireworks at gardai

Residents living in the refugee and asylum centre describe what the past week has been like behind a garda cordon

Gardai release bodycam footage and appeal for help with investigation into Citywest riots

Nina Mishchenko Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Protests outside the Citywest Hotel are not unusual. For more than a month before last weeks unrest, local residents had demonstrated two or three times a week against the States purchase of the hotel.
Sligo mans epic journey to Azerbaijan and back on his motorbike

Collooney natives love of travel was inspired by his parents who are also motorbike enthusiasts as he plans to eventually travel the world on his beloved bike

Ferdia Durkin during his trip.

Emma Gallagher Sligo Champion Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:00

A motorcyclist enthusiast from Collooney went on a mammoth trek to Azerbaijan and back to Sligo last year and has plans now to do a tour of Africa.
2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with Career Guidance Counsellors from local secondary schools attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cliona Donegan, Keeley Delaney and Teegan Quigley attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with Principal Declan O Toole from Creagh College, Principal Michael Finn from Gorey Community School and Principal Conor Berry from Gorey Educate Together and also students from the three secondary schools attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Brandon Roche and Freddie O Neill attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Shaun Kavanagh, Tommy Gormley, Garda Collette O Sullivan, Dorde Tremac and Graham Prendergast attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Maya Voydalo, Ellie Murphy, Isobella Liquit, Zoe Harnett and Lucy Kealy attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

James Keane and Paul Doran from Colaiste an Atha Kilmuckridge attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Sean Rosario, Daniel Lynch, Brian Lanigan, Alex McNamara, James Murray, Bailey O Donohoe and Jake Hennell attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Kate Murphy and Matthew Dunbar from Gorey Training Initiative attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Colman Gilligan with students, Elise Swan, Willow Clare and Sophie Doyle attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with Principal Declan O Toole from Creagh College, Principal Michael Finn from Gorey Community School and Principal Conor Berry from Gorey Educate Together attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with John O Leary, Catherine Bermingham, Shane Flood and Eamon Hogan attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with John O Leary, Catherine Bermingham, Shane Flood, Eamon Hogan and local students attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Paramedics and members from the defence force were just a few professions in attendance at this years Future Options event held in Wexford.

Students from a number of schools across Gorey were invited to the Amber Springs Hotel to interact with universities and educational organisations to discuss their future opportunities after secondary school, with some pathways students may not have previously considered.

The event took place from 9am to 3pm, with students from Gorey Community School, Creagh College and Gorey Educate Together Secondary School in attendance.

On the day, several stalls were set up to provide information from universities including, Trinity College, UCD, DCU, UL, University of Galway, SETU, and Maynooth University.

Jaden Kajopaiye, Alex Kelly, Kyle Cullen, Rhys O Connor, Darragh Sheehan, Alberto Qato attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Visitors also got the chance to speak with member of the Defence Force, Fire Brigade, Gardai and National Ambulance service workers.

A guest appearance brought excitement to Gorey as Katelyn Cummins, Rose of Tralee 2025 spoke with students about her experience as an apprentice electrician, and the various options for students after school.

A number of local institutions were also in attendance to showcase the opportunities available to students in Wexford from Gorey Training Initiative, Gorey Institute of Further Education and In- Tuition Enniscorthy.

2025 Rose Of Tralee Katelyn Cummins pictured with Career Guidance Counsellors from local secondary schools attending the Future Options Event held in The Amber Springs Hotel Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Principal of Creagh College, Declan OToole, said the event helps students make well informed decisions about their future, but to also explore new opportunities. He also spoke about the collaboration with Gorey schools. By hosting one shared event, we cut down on unnecessary travel for exhibitors  its a simple but powerful way to show sustainability in action, Mr OToole said.

He also thanked the guidance department at Creagh College for their time and effort with organising the careers fair.

Future Options 2025 event was co-hosted by Gorey Community School, Creagh College and Gorey Educate Together Secondary School and was marked a success.
latest | Israel will decide which foreign troops are acceptable to secure Gaza ceasefire, Netanyahu says

International force planned as part of Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza after truce Trump administration excludes rules out US troops but considers Egypt, Indonesia, Gulf states for Gaza Netanyahu rejects Turkish forces amid strained Turkish-Israeli relations

US Vice President JD Vance, second right, was meeting Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in Jerusalem (Nathan Howard/The New York Times via AP, Pool)

Steven Scheer Reuters Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 17:15

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel would determine which foreign forces it would allow as part of a planned international force in Gaza to help secure a fragile ceasefire under US President Donald Trump's plan.
I am not done  Kamala Harris hints at 2028 White House bid

Harris on Biden: 'I do reflect on whether I should have had a conversation with him, urging him not to run'

Naftali Bendavid Washington Post Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Former US vice-president Kamala Harris has said in an interview that she possibly will run for president, adding an early twist to what is already likely to be a hard-fought and complicated race for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
What is the plot of A House of Dynamite?



( Image credit : IMDb | A House of Dynamite follows the U.S. government as it scrambles to respond to a nuclear missile launched by an unknown adversary. )

Cliffhanger ending sparks fans' debate on A House of Dynamite



( Image credit : IMDb | Following the cliffhanger ending of A House of Dynamite, fans are demanding a sequel to the film )

Will there be A House of Dynamite sequel ?



( Image credit : IMDb | Director Noah Oppenheim says missile thriller is a conversation starter, not about answers )

has become one of the most talked-about films of the year on Netflix in just one day since its premiere. The political thriller, which debuted on October 24 on the streamer, is directed by Kathryn Bigelow, written by Noam Oppenheim, and features a strong cast, including Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Greta Lee, and Anthony Ramos, among others.The movies gripping plot and intense performances captivated audiences, but its cliffhanger ending has left fans wondering: will there be a sequel? Scroll ahead to know everything we know and what makers shared about the possibility of the film's sequel.In this political thriller, the U.S. government loses its cool after spotting a nuclear missile headed right for Chicago, with no clue who fired it or why. The movie unfolds over a frantic 18 minutes, bouncing between military bases and the White House as everyone tries (and fails) to stop the missile and figure out if they should strike back.Rebecca Ferguson plays Captain Olivia Walker, the Situation Rooms steady hand; Idris Elba takes on the role of the President, whos under brutal pressure to retaliate or hold back; Anthony Ramos is Major Daniel Gonzalez at the Alaska missile defence base; Greta Lee is North Korea expert Ana Park; and Jared Harris plays Secretary of Defence Reid Baker, who ends up desperate when he learns his own daughter is stuck in the missiles path.The ending ofhas left fans totally hanging and sparked debate online. In the films final act, the President is forced to make a gut-wrenching choice: either let the missile hit Chicago and hope to avoid all-out war, or launch a nuclear counterstrike without even knowing whos behind the attack.As the clock ticks down, we see top officials scrambling to shelters, families making heartbreaking calls, and the President staring down historys biggest decision. But before we ever find out what happens, whether Chicago gets hit, or if a retaliatory strike is ordered, the screen cuts to black, leaving the fate of millions and the entire world completely up in the air. That absolutely brutal cliffhanger has left everyone desperate for answers and demanding a sequel.As of now, there has been no announcement regarding a sequel to the film. Noah Oppenheim, in an interview with, emphasised that the film is meant as a powerful conversation starter rather than a story with clear-cut answers.He said, "There are two questions: Does the incoming ICBM [intercontinental ballistic missile] detonate and does POTUS respond? I do have answers in my head to both, but its not relevant to the issues were trying to raise. The first [issue] beingshould one person have the power to decide the fate of all mankind, with little preparation and only minutes to decide, while simultaneously running for his (or her) life? That should already be terrifying enough, regardless of what happens next.He further stated, Its a call to attention and an invitation to a conversation. No matter what final outcome you imagine, youve already seen a horror unfold. And in the real world, these weapons and all the processes youve just seen are still lurking in the background of our lives. Are we comfortable with that reality or should we do something about it?is now streaming on Netflix.
( Image credit : X | Salman Khan declared a terrorist by Pakistan )

What did Salman Khan say about Balochistan?

I dont know if it was slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates people of Balochistan from people of Pakistan .

pic.twitter.com/dFNKOBKoEz  Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) October 19, 2025

Pakistan has now declared Salman Khan a terrorist

So Pakistan declares Salman Khan a terrorist under its Anti-Terrorism Act after he mentioned Balochistan separately from Pakistan during a show in Saudi Arabia.

pic.twitter.com/k07gKPAbbF  Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) October 26, 2025

Balochistan welcomes Salman Khan's statement



( Image credit : X | Salman Khan, Shah Rukh, Aamir at Joy Forum 2025 in Saudi Arabia )

What is the Balochistan issue?



( Image credit : X | Salman Khan, Shah Rukh, Aamir at Joy Forum 2025 in Saudi Arabia )

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been officially declared a terrorist by the Pakistani government after he made a controversial remark about Balochistan during an international event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This comes after Khan who was speaking at the Joy Forum 2025 alongside other actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan spoke about the presence of several South Asian communities working in the Middle East. While doing so, he made a clear distinction between Balochistan and Pakistan, which apparently has ignited a political firestorm across South Asia.At the Joy Forum 2025, there was a discussion going on about Indian cinema's international reach. "Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here," Salman Khan said and added, "There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan... everyone is working here."When he said this, the actor mentioned Balochistan separately from Pakistan, which quickly everyone's attention including Pakistani authorities and public commentators. While some debated whether this was just a slip of tongue, others said it was deliberate political statement.Pakistan has added Salman Khan's name to the '4th Schedule' of its 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. For the unversed, it is a blacklist which is typically reserved for individuals suspected of terror links. This listing puts Khan under close watch, limits his freedom, and could lead to legal trouble. Pakistan's Interior Ministry officially called him an enemy of the state saying that his statements call for strict punishment.On the other hand, Baloch separatist leaders and activists have welcomed Salman Khan's statement. Mir Yar Baloch, who is a leading figure in the independence movement, publicly thanked the actor for what he called an act of soft diplomacy stating that it gave moral support to the people of Baloch and helped showcasing their struggle for recognition to the world.Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province by area but among its most underdeveloped, has been a hotspot for separatism and unrest for quite some long time. The region, which is rich in minerals is afflicted by poverty and has faced systemic political marginalisation, economic neglect, human rights abuses and ongoing insurgency for decades. Pakistani authorities are especially sensitive to any statements or actions that appear to undermine the country's territorial integrity or acknowledge Baloch nationalist aspirations.Salman Khan's apparent separation of Balochistan from Pakistan during his speech has landed him in unprecedented trouble with Pakistani authorities, leading to his official designation as a terrorist under their anti-terrorism legislation.
Donald Trump's ballroom expansion sparks fear over Washington, DC's 'Scared Geometry'

A TikToker claims President Trumps new White House ballroom construction will disrupt the Freemasonic layout of Washington, D.C., which was intentionally designed with symbolic geometry visible from above.



He says this change will break the citys sacred symmetry, erasing the pic.twitter.com/8DDV1RbXcI  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) October 24, 2025

( Image credit : X | @ShadowofEzra| Trumps Ballroom Expansion Sparks Conspiracy Theories )

Conspiracy theories over 'Satanic Geometry in DC'

( Image credit : X | @MarkUltramaga | TikTok Goes Viral Over Alleged Masonic Symbols in Washington D.C. )

Netizens react to the viral claims made by the TikToker

( Image credit : X | @ShadowofEzra | TikTok Sparks Debate Over DCs 250-Year-Old Freemasonic Blueprint )

What does 'Freemasonic design' mean?

A viral TikTok video has sparked a wave of online discussion, with the creator claiming that plans for a new ballroom at the White House under President Donald Trump could interfere with the Freemasonic design of Washington, DC. The TikToker also argued that the city's layout has been intentionally crafted in a pattern linked with Freemasonry. Let's find out more about it.The claims made by the TikToker were originally designed using Freemasonic principles and 'sacred geometry', with patterns and symbols embedded into the city's layout. According to the video, President Trump's planned additions to the White House, including an archway and a new ballroom, could disrupt this carefully aligned design, making it asymmetrical and 'out of alignment."Satanic symbols or urban planning? TikToker claims Donald Trump's new White House ballroom could disrupt Washington D.C.s Freemasonic layoutThe creator suggested that the city's geometric patterns, in place for over 250 years, could be altered by the construction. "One thing I want to talk about is the original design of Washington, DC. As you know, it was built as a Freemason city, and there's a lot of sacred geometry in Washington, DC. You get an overlay of this with Freemason symbols and the star, which, of course, looks on the surface like a satanically built city because of the geometry of this place.""Now if you didn't know, Donald Trump is building an archway and adding to the ballroom, so this sacred geometry that's been set up in Washington DC is about to be considered asymmetrical, and it's going to Fu** it up. So this quote that has been part of Washington DC for 250 years is about to be knocked out and out of whack and out of alignment because of Donald Trump's plans of what he's building," he added.As soon as the X (formerly called Twitter) user shared the post, it went viral and sparked theories. The TikToker in the post argues that the city's layout was intentionally crafted using symbolic geometry, visible from an aerial perspective, incorporating elements and patterns associated with Freemasonry.According to the video, adding a large ballroom to the White House grounds could disrupt the 'sacred symmetry' embedded in the city's original blueprint, erasing or altering the carefully planned symbols. The creator said, "Claim that Washington D.C.s original design, influenced by Freemasonic principles, contains geometric patterns that appear satanic when viewed from above."Critics, however, dismiss these interpretations as speculative, emphasising that the citys design reflects classical urban planning rather than occult intentions.As soon as the post surfaced on social media, it instantly sparked debate, and one X user wrote, "Insane. I had to find drone and satellite imagery to confirm what this guy is saying about DC's geometrythat it's architecturally and geographically observable, documented, and truebefore I could believe it. The fact that it's verifiable makes it very difficult for non-believers like me to digest.""Sorry, I'm not seeing how it disrupts the geometry. Honest comment. Hope it does! Not trolling," one added."The East Wing portion that was demolished for the ballroom was only built to hide an old military bunker from WWII. Not part of the original design."One said, "Get Scott Onstotts take on this and go over Tom Horns material. Look at the concerts in DC and the Great Pyramids hours before the 7-Year Peace Plan on the 13th. Tom Horn said the Tribulation would start that day in 2025 back in 2019. Weve not disrupted anything, Trump has fulfilled Albert Pikes (buried in the eye of the pyramid on the DC streets at Grand Masonic temple) master plan. The pure light of Lucifer is on its way. Zionists and Islamics (peace then sudden destruction) will annihilate each other before Lucifers religion will emerge. Remember Trump personally saved Pikes statue in DC..3I Atlas may be Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds. Also look at the 250th anniversary statue to be the largest in the West (made in France like Liberty was) portraying Atlas upholding the World called Guardian of Liberty..All Hail the Coming of the Dawn Bringer!"Freemason design is not defined by a single architectural style but consists of a set of principles and symbolic elements incorporated into structures, especially Masonic lodges and temples. Originating from mediaeval stonemason guilds, Freemasonry employs architectural tools and motifs as symbolic representations to communicate moral teachings and philosophical ideas.
Man in Nazi uniform sparks chaos outside pub in Georgia





~Il s'est deguise en nazi et a ete expulse:



~Un homme de 33 ans nomme Kenneth Leland Morgan s'est deguise en nazi et a ete expulse d'un bar etudiant en Georgie.



Il a ete arrete apres avoir agresse l'une des etudiantes. pic.twitter.com/QEzqAb9vuD  Lilou Atila (@AttalahLinda) October 25, 2025

Who is Kenneth Leland Morgan?



( Image credit : X/@Knot73211261 | Man dressed in Nazi Uniform has been identified as Kenneth Leland Morgan )

The internet is divided over the incident



People dress up as Satan for Halloween, but if you dress up as a Nazi, then suddenly its OK to assault you? And you get charged with a crime for defending yourself from assault? His name is supposedly Kenneth Morgan. https://t.co/NpPCWnQSX5  Solionath (@Anarseldain) October 25, 2025

Dude was attacked by several people, and lightly tapped one with his mug to get them off of him; and he's the one who gets assault charges?



We need a GoFundMe for Kenneth Leland Morgan. https://t.co/ssROaL4jgz pic.twitter.com/cChnJZ82H4  Punished Fren (@Roneci_McGill) October 25, 2025

From what I have heard this brave young man was arrested. I would like to try to help him if I can find any contact info. we should help him as a community. pic.twitter.com/f5LFcMY7tB  Paul miller (@jokerwaffenfren) October 25, 2025

Well, well, well Kenneth Leland Morgan is a top G  https://t.co/6MuvVz3bOU  Reese A. (@Mr_R_Alexander) October 25, 2025

A video that has been widely circulating on X (formerly Twitter) captures a heated brawl taking place outside Cutters Pub in Athens, Georgia. As seen in the viral video, the altercation began when a man wearing a Nazi uniform was being restricted from entering the pub, which prompted a group of college students present to confront him.Initially, the man stood his ground, slightly grimacing but not immediately retaliating. However, the situation quickly escalated after he allegedly struck a woman, leading to a chaotic and violent exchange between him and the students. The man involved has since been identified as Kenneth Leland Morgan, who was subsequently arrested in connection with the incident. The video has sparked widespread debate online, with many expressing shock and outrage over the aggressive behaviour, while others are calling it self-defence.A disturbing incident unfolded during Halloween festivities in Athens, Georgia, when 33-year-old Kenneth Leland Morgan was filmed outside Cutters Pub wearing a full Nazi SS uniform, complete with a red armband bearing a swastika. The video, which has since gone viral, shows Morgan grinning as a group of college students confronts him. The situation escalates when Morgan allegedly strikes a woman in the face with a beer pitcher during the altercation. The incident occurred in the early hours of October 24, 2025, near the University of Georgia campus.Following the confrontation, Morgan was arrested by Athens-Clarke County police and charged with aggravated assault and simple battery. Court records indicate he was booked into the county jail at 3:56 a.m. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has acknowledged the arrest but declined to provide further comment on the matter.The man in the Nazi uniform has been identified as Kenneth Leland Morgan, a 33-year-old resident of Athens, Georgia. A UGA student charged with aggravated assault (a felony) and simple battery (a misdemeanour), with a bond set at $1,500 for the latter charge. He remains in custody as of October 25, 2025.While the incident involving Kenneth Leland Morgan has drawn widespread condemnation, some have come to his defence, arguing that it was simply a Halloween costume and part of the tradition of dressing up as controversial or frightening characters, such as Satan or other evil figures. Many also claim that even if Morgan personally holds Nazi beliefs, that alone shouldnt justify denying him entry to a public establishment. Some users also said that he hit the woman in self-defence after he was heckled by multiple people.Currently, a controversial Protect Kenneth campaign has emerged on social media, with several users attempting to rally support for Kenneth Leland Morgan. As part of the effort, some individuals have even started a GoFundMe fundraiser on his behalf.
YAOUNDE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said Saturday that security forces have arrested three "terrorists" as they were attempting to transport explosives to the country's North region.

The suspects had left neighboring Nigeria and were transporting "huge quantity of explosives" when security forces intercepted them in Garoua, the chief town of North region, Atanga Nji told reporters during a press conference in the capital, Yaounde.

Sporadic protests have been launched in some parts of the country since Monday, with angry crowds accusing authorities of falsifying results of the presidential election which took place in the country on Oct. 12.

Atanga Nji said the intention of the three suspects was to "infiltrate protesters and carry out terrorist attacks and accuse security forces". "Public order will be reinforced," he said, accusing opposition politicians of initiating a "vast rebellious project" to cause panic and overthrow the government.

On Friday night, three prominent opposition politicians accused of inciting violence were arrested in the commercial hub of Douala, according to the police.

The final results of the election will be announced on Monday. 
Officials say a 21-year-old Lower Gwynedd man fled from police officers before striking a Plymouth Township Police Officer with his car multiple times. Read more

A Lower Gwynedd man has been charged with the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer after authorities say he struck a Plymouth Township police officer with his car multiple times before fleeing the scene.

Dalton Lee Janiczek, 21, faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.

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Around 10:19 a.m. on Friday, Janiczek fled in a white Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon from an attempted traffic stop by Springfield Township police officers, according to police. The officers did not pursue but instead broadcast information about the incident to neighboring police departments.

Around noon, Sgt. Jon Bleuit of the Whitpain Township Police Department was out on patrol when he heard a radio transmission about the attempted stop, police said.

Earlier that day, Bleuit had received information that Janiczek had been involved in an incident in Chester County where he threatened to blow up a police department, police said. Bleuit and the Whitpain Township Police Department were familiar with Janiczek and his SUV, according to police. There was no warrant out for Janiczeks arrest at the time.

Several minutes after Bleuit heard the radio transmission, he saw Janiczek driving and attempted to stop him for a traffic violation, police said. Janiczek allegedly drove over a center concrete median barrier and drove off again. Bleuit did not attempt to follow Janiczek and also relayed the information to neighboring departments.

At 12:39 p.m., a Plymouth Township police officer, whom police did not identify, responded to the Doubletree Hotel in the township, where he saw the Mercedes G-Wagon driven by Janiczek, police said.

The officer turned on his emergency lights. Within seconds, police said, Janiczek reversed his SUV, hitting the police officers car several times. The officer got out of his car, drew his firearm, and started yelling at Janiczek to stop the car and show his hands.

In response, Janiczek allegedly accelerated directly at the officer, trying to strike him. The officer discharged his firearm at least five times toward the front windshield of Janiczeks car, police said. Janiczek struck the officer, causing him to fall to the ground and start bleeding out of his leg, police said. Janiczek then drove away briefly before allegedly striking the officer three more times as the officer lay on his back attempting to apply a tourniquet.

The officer was airlifted to a hospital in Philadelphia with severe leg injuries. As of Saturday afternoon, he was in intensive care and would require multiple surgeries for his injuries, police said.

The incident was captured by bodycam footage and video taken by a bystander at the hotel, police said.

After leaving the Doubletree lot, officials say, Janiczek fled the area and began traveling southbound on Walton Road. A Plymouth Township police car with its emergency lights on approached northbound on Walton Road. Janiczek allegedly crossed the double yellow line, striking the police car and causing it to strike another police car. Janiczek continued to travel southbound in the northbound lane, where he struck a stopped Plymouth police car head-on, injuring a Plymouth Township police sergeant.

The sergeant, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital for injuries to his legs. Both injured officers are in stable condition, according to a news release from the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office.

Janiczek was taken into custody after striking the sergeants car. According to police, Plymouth Township Officer Mike Watts said he heard Janiczek say, Put me in the car or I will kill you, as officers took him into custody. Janiczek was treated at Jefferson Abington Hospital for injuries, including a graze wound to his head.

Janiczek was arraigned on Saturday by Judge Thomas P. Murt, who denied bail. A preliminary hearing before Judge Jodi L. Griffis is scheduled for Nov. 4.

Before Fridays incident, Janiczek had been charged with driving violations multiple times in both Pennsylvania and Arizona, including careless driving, driving without a license, and driving an unregistered vehicle. Authorities say Janiczek had been involved in several traffic incidents within the last week where he had fled from police.
Travis Schattle, 33, takes off in his Eagles-themed vehicle for the 17th annual Kensington Derby on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Philadelphia. Read more

Just before they were set to make their derby debut, Jake Poeske and Jack Gentry suffered a crushing blow: Their package of bird costumes was stolen.

Last-minute Big Bird Halloween onesies would have to suffice.

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The duo had welded, papier-mached, and crafted their way to the start line of the 17th Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, a uniquely Philadelphian tradition where absurd human-powered contraptions  no motors, no nothing, just people  travel a three-mile course with obstacles, and then face the final boss, a mud pit.

The derby was the centerpiece of Saturdays all-day arts festival on Frankford Avenue, celebrating the East Kensington and Fishtown corridors creative, kitschy flair and pride, said Marc Collazzo, executive director of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, which puts on the event.

Theres unfortunately a lot of negative views of what this neighborhood is, he said, and it doesnt give enough highlight or spotlight on the people that are here  the people that really have invested their time, talent, and treasure to live, shop, and work here.

Collazzo added: We have people coming from all over the region to really see the good that Kensington is.

Poeske and Gentrys entry, The Early Bird Doesnt Catch the Worm, was a punny nod to the Philadelphia Eagles. Poeske welded two bikes side-by-side, built a steel frame wrapped in chicken wire and stuffed it with twigs and hay, creating a birds nest. Gentry donned a handmade cockatoo head, while Poeske was an eagle.

Two worms rode alongside. Francis Poeske fashioned pink pantyhose stuffed with towels and shirts to his helmet and repurposed a pink velour The Cheetah Girls outfit for his grub couture.

But before the derby kicked off, a rivalry was already brewing: Travis Schattle, a kinetic artist, also channeled the Birds for his rig, an eagle sculpture whose wings moved in tandem with his bike.

We dont have worms  you can quote me on that, he said.

Schattle, whos competed in the derby twice before, was in pursuit of glory this year: Make it through the mud pit in style. (Schattle originally envisioned Jason Kelce as the rider, and said he even reached out to the Kelce brothers beer company for a sponsorship to no avail.)

We just want to make it to the mud pit, Gentry said.

What happens in the mud pit? We will see, said Poeske.

Building a slurry, sloppy mud pit on a main drag requires roughly three tons of soil and lots of water, said George Mathes this years pitmaster and owner of neighborhood business Thunderbird Salvage. The mud is a staple of the derby, and the pits consistency received harsh scrutiny from spectators.

The mud needs more water, one woman heckled. Eventually, the crowd demanded, Hose it down! Hose it down!

Still, the mud pit claimed a few victims. Prophetically, a SEPTA train got stuck. The shark from Jaws  or Jaw(n)s, as it was aptly named  and his tuba accompanist sank. A Newsies-esque barkeeper who attempted to make cocktails along the route was ejected from his carriage, then dove and flopped into the mud.

By Schattles turn, the crowd was amped, and the air smelled of Philadelphia Brewing Co. beer, incense, and brisket. Schattles eagle elicited many chants of Go Birds and E-A-G-L-E-S from festivalgoers, as he soared across the mud pit.

Glory achieved.

We flew to victory, Schattle said postgame. We got people flapping their wings.

While roller-blading worm Kangeun Seo wiped out, Poeske and Gentry successfully flew their coop over the pit.

I accomplished what I wanted to do: I made it through the end and we made it through the mud, Gentry said.

A panel of lab-coat-and-goggle-wearing judges scored the participants pit performances based on design, durability, and dynamism. Schattle ultimately ended up taking home third place. Poeske and Gentry got second  one point short of the champions, The UnderTowed barkeepers, who earned a perfect score.

Accepting their trophy, one barkeeper dangled a cigarette from his lips and held up a Pabst Blue Ribbon.

And any jocular rivalry between the dueling birds seemed quashed.

There can always be more birds in the city, Gentry said.
The only thing more shocking than Donald Trump having dozens of people killed on his word  no trial, no jury, just execution  is that more than 70% of voters seem to be fine with this. Even when broken down by political identification, 89% of GOP supporters, 67% of independents, and 56% of Democrats are all right with the U.S. military blowing up civilians.

Well, maybe.

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The polling that produced those stomach-turning results comes from a Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll released earlier this month, with a headline takeaway that most voters support Trumps strikes on boats smuggling drugs.

As the administration escalates its attack on alleged smugglers in international waters, this wide approval is bad news for anyone who cares about (in alphabetical order) human rights, international law, and the Ten Commandments.

However, I am counting on something I usually rail against  how uninformed most people are  to optimistically dismiss these poll numbers as a bad question about an abhorrent policy.

You see, the question in the poll was, Do you support or oppose the U.S. destroying boats bringing drugs into the United States from South America? Asked in that manner, I wouldnt be surprised if a lot of people were torn between answering Absolutely! or Totally! After all, who wouldnt want to stop dangerous drugs from coming into the country?

 READ MORE: As clashes with ICE heat up, Trumps cold war against immigration rages on | Luis F. Carrasco

Of course, the way that question should have been asked is, Do you support or oppose the U.S. destroying boats nowhere near the United States and killing their crew under the mere suspicion they are traveling with drugs?

I hope the answer to that question would have been Hell no! or, as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul more elegantly put it when speaking on Fox Business recently, You cannot have a policy where you just allege that someone is guilty of something, and then kill them.

Unlike the voters who were presented with an anodyne version of the presidents actions, the Republican senator from Kentucky knows the deadly reality. At least 42 people have been killed across 10 reported strikes on boats as of Friday; eight bombings occurred in the Caribbean, and two in the Pacific.

The administrations legal rationale seems to be that the drug cartels (allegedly) running these boats are designated foreign terrorist organizations, and represent a clear and present danger to the American people, and must be dealt with accordingly. Or, as the president so chillingly put it at a news conference Thursday: I think were just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? Were gonna kill them. Theyre gonna be, like, dead.

Like, yikes.

Where do you start? A motorboat that (maybe) is carrying drugs 1,000 miles from a U.S. coastline is hardly an imminent threat, and most of the strikes have involved Venezuelan vessels, a country that plays a very small role in drugs that reach the U.S.

Even if these are drug runners, trafficking is not a capital crime. And lets say that it was, you must prove a crime has been committed before you pass sentence, yet all we have to go by are the administrations claims. Forgive me for doubting, but this is the same bunch who sent hundreds of immigrants to a Salvadoran torture prison, saying they were the worst of the worst, only for it to come out that their only sin was having the wrong kind of tattoos.

For Trumps supporters, didnt the president run on keeping us out of foreign entanglements, on America no longer being the worlds policeman? Because this sounds a lot like a police officer whos way out of his jurisdiction deciding to shoot someone for loitering.

 READ MORE: Saudi Arabias repressive regime is nothing to laugh about | Luis F. Carrasco

If there were any doubts about the real motives of Trumps strikes, consider the fate of two survivors of the U.S. attack on Oct. 16. If you think these two men were detained, questioned, and booked for processing as dangerous members of a foreign terrorist organization who merit death on sight, then you will be sadly disappointed to hear they were released.

Responsible members of Congress have tried to rein in the administrations blatant lawlessness.

An Oct. 18 resolution to block the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities with any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities without congressional authorization was voted down in the Senate.

While most Republican senators went on the record with allowing the president to freely continue killing, U.S. Sens. Paul and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted their conscience. On the Democratic side, Pennsylvanias own John Fetterman, we must assume, also voted his when joining the GOP majority.

Folks like Fetterman have no excuse. They know what the administration is doing and condone it. My hope is that as more people learn the details of whats happening, as voters pay attention to what is being done in our name, they will respond accordingly.

The only principled reaction to what Trump is doing should be revulsion.
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KUALA LUMPUR, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday signed a joint declaration on peace on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Malaysian capital.

The declaration was signed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

At the signing ceremony, Hun Manet said Cambodia reaffirms its strong commitment to fully implementing the joint declaration and to continuing close cooperation with Thailand and all partners to ensure lasting peace that brings tangible benefits to people in both countries.

For his part, Anutin said the declaration, if fully implemented, will provide the building blocks for lasting peace and, more importantly, will help mend Thai-Cambodian ties.

Armed clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces broke out on July 24 along their border. The clashes have resulted in more than a hundred deaths and injuries.

On Aug. 7, at an extraordinary meeting held in Malaysia, the two ASEAN member states agreed on the details of a ceasefire and signed an agreement, pledging to maintain current troop deployments without further movement and not to increase forces along the border. 
A drink-driver who pulled out in front of a Garda car has been disqualified from driving in the district court.

Sergeant Trish OSullivan told Bantry District Court a Garda patrol car was driving near Drimoleague, West Cork, on July 18, 2025.

At 8.15pm, the patrol car was heading in the direction of Bantry at Baurnahulla when a white Vauxhall Vivaro van pulled out across the road in front of them heading for the Skibbereen road. The van then struck the kerb on the opposite side of the road before straightening up.

The van was stopped and the driver  identified as Cathal Collins, aged 49, of Derreennaclough, Ballydehob  was observed as slurring his words and his eyes were glazed. He was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and failed an alcohol breath test at Bantry Garda Station, where his alcohol level was recorded as 73mg per 100ml of breath where the legal limit is 22mg.

The court was told Collins had two previous convictions for driving without insurance and one for failing to provide a sample in 2016.

Defence solicitor Flor Murphy said Collins was fully insured on this occasion. He said his client had an alcohol addiction and had not drunk alcohol for six years prior to the incident. The court heard Collins, who is a carpenter, was struggling financially at the time and was in the middle of renovating a house he planned to live in.

Mr Murphy said Collins broke out and went back on it that week but has since stopped drinking again and is attending support services.

Judge Joanne Carroll said it was an unfortunate situation, and Collins appeared to have a relapse at the time. She said she had no option but to disqualify him from driving for three years.

The judge said because Collins lived in a remote rural location, the disqualification would have serious consequences for him and as he pleaded guilty and was cooperative she would strike out the additional charge of careless driving.

Collins was also admitted to a probation bond for 12 months on condition he attends addiction treatment services.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Dan Linehan and Chani Anderson took to the streets of Cork to get a flavour of the vibrant sounds and atmosphere for the 47th Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.
US President Donald Trump has said he will solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis very quickly, as peace talks between the warring neighbours entered a second day.

The two countries are embroiled in a bitter security row, with each side saying they were responding to aggression from the other during clashes earlier this month.

It was the deadliest fighting between them in several years, marking a low point in relations while also causing alarm in a region where armed groups like al-Qaida are trying to resurface.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of turning a blind eye to militants who cross the border for attacks  a charge the countrys Taliban rulers reject.

The second round of talks between them began in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on transforming a fragile ceasefire, achieved earlier this month in Doha, into a durable framework for peace and border security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Mr Trump said: I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But Ill get that solved very quickly.

President Donald Trump made the comments while at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia (Vincent Thian/pool/AP)

He made the comments while attending the signing of the ThailandCambodia peace agreement, adding that the leaders of Pakistan are great people.

Days of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds in Afghanistan, although Pakistan denied attacking civilians and said it was targeting militants and their hideouts.

Pakistans army said on Sunday it had killed 25 militants while repelling two major infiltration attempts along the border, even as delegations were talking in Istanbul. It also said five Pakistani soldiers had died during exchanges of fire.

It was not possible to verify the casualty figures as the area is remote and off-limits to the media.

On Sunday, Taliban-controlled media RTA reported that after 15 hours of continuous discussions, the Afghan side had submitted a draft focusing on Pakistan not violating Afghanistans territory and airspace and not allowing any anti-Afghan group or opposition to use Pakistani territory against our country.

There was also an expression of readiness to establish a four-way channel to monitor the ceasefire agreement and exchange information on violations, RTA reported.

The Pakistanis submitted a second draft to the Afghans on Saturday evening, according to RTA.

Nobody from the Pakistani government was immediately available for comment. But Mr Trumps remarks are likely to energise the countrys political and military leadership, which wants closer ties with the White House.

Pakistan has also praised Mr Trump for his role in defusing a crisis earlier this year with India.
Russia has tested a new nuclear-capable and powered cruise missile fit to confound existing defences, inching closer to deploying it in combat, President Vladimir Putin has said.

In video released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Mr Putin, dressed in camouflage fatigues, could be seen meeting with senior Russian military figures.

The footage showed General Valery Gerasimov, Russias chief of general staff, telling Mr Putin that the Burevestnik missile covered 8,700 miles in a key test on Tuesday.

Gen Gerasimov said the Burevestnik, or Storm Petrel in Russian, spent 15 hours in the air, adding thats not the limit.

Mr Putin then told the general: We need to determine the possible uses and begin preparing the infrastructure for deploying these weapons to our armed forces.

Mr Putin also claimed the missile was invulnerable to current and future missile defences, due to its almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

On Wednesday, Mr Putin directed drills of Russias strategic nuclear forces that featured practice missile launches. The exercise came as his planned summit on Ukraine with US President Donald Trump was put on hold.

The Kremlin said the drills involved all parts of Moscows nuclear triad, including intercontinental ballistic missiles that were test-fired from launch facilities in north-western Russia and a submarine in the Barents Sea. The drills also involved Tu-95 strategic bombers firing long-range cruise missiles.

The exercise tested the skills of military command structures, the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday.
The main wreckage of a cargo plane that veered off a Hong Kong runway and plunged into the sea has been recovered.

The Boeing 747, flown by Turkey-based ACT Airlines from Dubai, skidded after landing last Monday and collided with a patrol car, sending both vehicles into the water. Two workers in the car were killed, while the four crew members on the plane were unhurt.
Hamas has expanded its search for the bodies of hostages in new areas in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian group said, a day after Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to help retrieve them.

Under the fragile US-brokered ceasefire reached on October 10, Hamas is expected to return all of the remains of Israeli hostages as soon as possible. Israel agreed to give back 15 bodies of Palestinians for every body of a hostage.

Israel has sent back the bodies of 195 Palestinians so far, while Hamas has returned 15 bodies of hostages. In the past five days, Hamas has failed to release any.

An Egyptian team and heavy equipment, including an excavator and bulldozers, entered Gaza on Saturday to help search for the hostages bodies, part of efforts by international mediators to shore up the ceasefire.

Bulldozers have been sent by Egypt into Gaza to help aid the search for the bodies of Israeli hostages (Mohamed Arafat/AP)

Hamass chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said the Palestinian group started searching in new areas for 13 bodies of hostages that remain in the enclave, according to comments shared by the group early on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that he is watching very closely to ensure Hamas returns more bodies within the next 48 hours.

Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not, he wrote on Truth Social.

Al-Hayya, who is also Hamass top negotiator, told an Egyptian media outlet last week that efforts to retrieve the bodies faced challenges because of the massive destruction, burying them deep underground.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces struck the central Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza on Saturday night  the second time in a week  according to Awda Hospital.

The Israeli military claimed it targeted militants associated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group who were planning to attack Israeli troops.

Palestinians move water supplies amid the ruins of Gaza City (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, denied it was preparing for an attack.

Hamas called the strike a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to sabotage Mr Trumps efforts to end the war.

It was the same area that Israel targeted in a series of strikes on October 19, after the military accused Hamas militants of killing two Israeli soldiers. That day, Israel launched dozens of deadly strikes across Gaza, killing at least 36 Palestinians, including women and children, according to local health authorities.

Saturdays strike in Nuseirat came a few hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Israel, the latest in a series of White House officials to visit Israel and a new centre for civilian and military co-ordination that is attempting to oversee the ceasefire.

US Vice-President JD Vance was in Israel earlier this week, and American envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, were also in Israel.

Mr Rubio said on Saturday that Israel, the US and the other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire deal are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

Around 200 US troops are working alongside the Israeli military and delegations from other countries at the co-ordination centre, planning the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza.
Actresses perform acrobatics during the "Meet China" cultural festival at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Oct. 25, 2025.

The festival was held here on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It spotlighted a variety of performances including Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and Swiss alpine horn, as well as about 20 cultural experiences such as sachet making and lacquer fan crafting. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A child tries lacquer fan crafting during the "Meet China" cultural festival at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Oct. 25, 2025.

The festival was held here on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It spotlighted a variety of performances including Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and Swiss alpine horn, as well as about 20 cultural experiences such as sachet making and lacquer fan crafting. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Children learn to make sachets during the "Meet China" cultural festival at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Oct. 25, 2025.

The festival was held here on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It spotlighted a variety of performances including Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and Swiss alpine horn, as well as about 20 cultural experiences such as sachet making and lacquer fan crafting. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A man performs Swiss alpine horn during the "Meet China" cultural festival at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Oct. 25, 2025.

The festival was held here on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It spotlighted a variety of performances including Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and Swiss alpine horn, as well as about 20 cultural experiences such as sachet making and lacquer fan crafting. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

People perform Chinese martial arts (Kung Fu) during the "Meet China" cultural festival at Waisenhaus Square in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Oct. 25, 2025.

The festival was held here on Saturday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Switzerland and the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It spotlighted a variety of performances including Chinese martial arts, acrobatics, and Swiss alpine horn, as well as about 20 cultural experiences such as sachet making and lacquer fan crafting. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Erik Uebelacker at Courthouse News Service reports that a three-judge appeals panel of the US Court of Appeals, First Circuit, in Boston, struck down a lawsuit by a pro-Israel pressure group against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alleging that the university permitted pro-Palestine students to harass Jewish students.

The three judges were U.S. Circuit Judge William Kayatta, a Barack Obama appointee, U.S. Circuit Judge Gustavo Gelpi, a Joe Biden appointee and U.S. District Judge William Smith, a George W. Bush appointee.

The California-based Stand With Us Center for Legal Justice joined two MIT students in alleging that the universitys failure to ban pro-Palestine activism constituted discrimination against Jewish students on campus that violated the federal Title VI.

In their ruling, the three judges disagreed. It is one of the more important rulings in the history of the First Amendment, and has profound implications for our own moment, in which the Trump administration (more specifically White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller) is attempting to inflict profound economic and other damage on American research universities under the pretext that they are antisemitic in their policies or have coddled antisemitism.

Jewish American students, faculty and staff should never face discrimination on campus, but rather deserve to be treated with warmth and collegiality, like all members of the university community. Antisemitism is certainly a significant problem in American society that must be determinedly combated.

Groups such as the Stand With Us Center for Legal Justice, however, construe criticism of Israeli government policies as a form of antisemitism, a stance that violates the US Constitutions first amendment. That is, for one student in a class to speak demeaningly or pejoratively of another students ethnicity is unacceptable. But for the student to criticize the policies of a foreign government, however vehemently, is protected speech.

The plaintiffs alleged that the MIT Coalition Against Apartheid and another student group, Palestine@MIT, sent an email to all undergraduate students with a Joint Statement on the Current Situation in Palestine. The statement said, among other things, that the student groups h[e]ld the Israeli regime responsible for all unfolding violence; unequivocally denounce[d] the Israeli occupation, its racist apartheid system, and its military rule; and affirm[ed] the right of all occupied people to resist oppression and colonization. It was signed [u]ntil liberation.

The plaintiffs alleged that the universitys complaisance toward these and other activities constituted a violation of the Title VI prohibition on discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Such discrimination would take the form of being excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving [f]ederal financial assistance.

Or by check:

Juan Cole

P. O. Box 4218,

Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548

USA

(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed)

The plaintiffs certainly could not show that any such practical discrimination arose from the activities of the pro-Palestinian students. Jewish students werent barred from participating in any programs. During their participation, they might have heard sentiments with which they disagreed, but that is a different matter. The plaintiffs tried to make an analogy to sexual harassment under Title IX, I guess holding that subjecting Jewish students to claims for Palestinian rights is like boys sexually harassing girls.

The judges did not dispute the analogy, but they didnt find any evidence of pro-Palestinian students doing anything like that, and they couldnt see why MIT should be blamed even if they had:

This theory fails for two independent reasons. First, Plaintiffs allegations do not plausibly rise to the level of actionable harassment required by Title VI. Second, even if the protestors conduct as a whole was actionable harassment under Title VI, MIT is not liable because it was not deliberately indifferent to the effects of the protests on Jewish and Israeli students.

In short, the pro-Palestine student groups were not guilty of actionable racial harassment. They were engaging in protected speech. It is illogical to hold that Title VI was intended to overturn the first amendment, which goes like this: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

So the judges held that 1) the pro-Palestine groups were exercising a first amendment right. 2) Gathering on campus and protesting and setting up an encampment were not antisemitic acts, and they were also protected speech. 3) Even if some antisemitic speech did occasionally occur during these protests, it wasnt sufficiently severe, pervasive, and offensive to constitute actionable harassment under Title VI.

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The panel pointed out that public speech about matters of intense debate has been held by the Supreme Court to have special protections under the first amendment. Their ace in the hole here is the 2011 case of Snyder v. Phelps, which protected the right of protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church to stand on a sidewalk outside the funeral for a deceased soldier and chant things like God hates you and Thank God for dead soldiers. The church members viewed American war deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan as Gods punishment for American tolerance for homosexuality. The soldiers father sued for the infliction of emotional distress, but the Supreme Court sided with the protesters.

So, public speech on matters of national concern in public spaces is permitted even if it is in awful taste and hurts feelings.

The panel also noted a long tradition of the Supreme Court giving special protection to speech on university campuses, since academic freedom is key to the universities mission and underlies their very mission, as in e.g. Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957).

The judges say that MIT did curb some of the speech of the pro-Palestinian students, but permitted some. As a private institution it has the prerogative of making that call. The question is whether accepting federal funding and therefore Title IV regulations put MIT under the obligation to curb all pro-Palestine speech by students.

The First Circuit judges concluded, clearly not:

Requiring MIT to restrict students expression merely because those students opposed Israel and favored the Palestinian cause would infringe upon MITs freedom to encourage, rather than suppress, a vigorous exchange of ideas. See Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819, 836 (1995) (For the University . . . to cast disapproval on particular viewpoints of its students risks the suppression of free speech and creative inquiry in one of the vital centers for the Nations intellectual life, its college and university campuses.).

The judges dismissed the possibility that by passing Title VI Congress in effect deputized private parties like the Israel lobbies to suppress protected speech. They pointed out that the Supreme Court had ruled against such a Hail Mary pass regarding gun legislation: see also Sullivan, 376 U.S. at 277 (What a [s]tate may not constitutionally bring about by means of a criminal statute is likewise beyond the reach of its civil law of libel.).

That MIT took government money may put it under Title VI regulations regarding what most people would consider clear (facial) discrimination or harassment. But taking that money does not require the university to give up its own first amendment rights or those of its students: See Agency for Intl Dev. v. All. for Open Socy Intl, Inc., 570 U.S. 205, 218 (2013) (finding that the First Amendment prohibited a  25  statutory provision that demand[ed] that [federal] funding recipients adopt  as their own  the Governments view on an issue of public concern, and thus by its very nature affect[ed] protected conduct outside the scope of the federally funded program' (quoting Rust v. Sullivan, 500 U.S. 173, 197 (1991).

This passage seems to me clearly to go beyond the MIT case to attempt to intervene more generally in the Trump administrations fascistic crackdown on permitted speech on university campuses.

The judges note that the plaintiffs do not allege that the pro-Palestine protesters engaged in name-calling that demeaned Jews. Rather, they are accused of having criticized the actions of the state of Israel. The plaintiffs maintained that criticizing Israel is antisemitic because so many Jews make Zionism part of their identity.

The panel laughed this position out of court. Plaintiffs are entitled to their own interpretive lens equating anti-Zionism (as they define it) and antisemitism. But it is another matter altogether to insist that others must be bound by plaintiffs view. Plaintiffs equation finds no consensus support in dictionary definitions. Nor does a review of the academic literature point to any consensus that criticism of Zionism is antisemitic.

The panel also was willing to consider the other side of the equation. If some speech can be banned because it hurts the feelings of Zionists, then couldnt other speech be banned that hurts the feelings of Arabs and Muslims? Given that MIT had Israeli students affected by the horrors of October 7, 2023 and Palestinian students whose families were being bombarded by the Israeli Air Force, it is unreasonable to expect the university to police the speech of either side. Basically, what the plaintiffs were asking for implied that the university should ban any discussion of Israel-Palestine on campus at all, which would not only violate the first amendment but also academic freedom and the very terms of the mission of a research university.

The judges just reject out of hand the notion that hostility to Zionist ideology is the same as discriminatory speech toward Jews qua Jews.

It is so nice to see a court strike down a common piece of Zionist propaganda, which implies that you cant criticize Israel unless you first criticize the other 193 countries in the world. As the judges pointed out, that is just silly:

We also reject plaintiffs implicit contention that the choice to criticize Israels actions in Gaza  rather than, for example, choosing to criticize some other alleged atrocity elsewhere in the world  necessarily manifests antisemitism. Political advocacy, by its nature, involves a choice to focus on certain issues or causes over others. Title VI does not preclude the protestors, U.S. university students, from responding to the headlines by choosing Israel as their target, particularly given the protestors perception of the significant role played by the United States and U.S.-supplied arms in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. They cite Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), which upheld the rights of students to protest the Vietnam war and to attempt to influence others to adopt their perspective on its wrongness.

That is, a genocide is also unfolding in Sudan, but the US didnt give Sudan tens of billions of dollars or a constant stream of armaments and ammunition to carry it out. The Gaza conflict mattered to students as Americans.

The panel also rules against the plaintiffs allegation that referring to what the Israeli government did to Gaza as a genocide is inherently antisemitic:

Plaintiffs claim that accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians is antisemitic. But even prominent Israelis have lodged the same accusation. See, e.g., Omer Bartov, Opinion, Im a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It., N.Y. Times (July 15, 2025), https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/opinion/israel-gaza- holocaust-genocide-palestinians.html



Photo by Bernd  Dittrich on Unsplash

The judges also dont agree that slogans such as from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free or intifada revolution imply a desire to commit genocide against the Jewish people:

Neither slogan says as much on its face, nor do plaintiffs allege facts suggesting that either chant was commonly so construed by the protestors. So plaintiffs must again rely on a theory that they can dictate the interpretation of the protestors speech in order to suppress it.

All university administrators should read this decision and ponder it. And Columbia and Harvard, which adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, thus kowtowing to the Israel lobbies, should be ashamed of themselves and should fear a successful suit by Palestinian students citing the First Circuit decision.

A final word from me. Zionists special pleading is destructive of reasoned discourse in the United States. Just imagine if any other ethnic group invested in a certain nationality made this sort of demand. What if African-American students sued over criticisms of the dictatorial policies of Isaias Afwerki in Eritrea or Teodoro Obiang in Equatorial Guinea? What if Chinese-American students wanted to bring Title VI action against a university for allowing criticism of Red China? What if Italian-American students sued over criticism of far right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni or, in a history course, criticism of Benito Mussolini? What if Russian-American students sued over criticisms of Stalin or Putin? Im a historian. How could we teach Chinese, Italian or Russian history that way? How could we teach Middle Eastern history if criticism of Israeli policy or of the extremist right-wing cabinet of Benjamin Netanyahu is off limits because hearing that might injure the feelings of students brought up to admire the Likud Party? (Betar, active in the United States, is the youth wing of extremist right-wing Revisionist Zionism, which also birthed the Likud.)

Moreover, if Americans arent free to discuss American foreign policy freely, they are setting themselves up for foreign policy disasters. Veteran CBS journalist Tom Fenton argued that the slight attention American television news broadcasters gave to foreign affairs in the 1990s set the US up for the 9/11 disaster. By making people wary of discussion Americas position in the Middle East, the Israel lobbies are opening us up to severe security dangers.

Zionists have a right to their nationalism. I dont approve of nationalism in general. But they dont have a right to repeal the first amendment and destroy the research university to protect Benjamin Netanyahu from criticism.
By providing a protective presence in the West Bank, international activists hope to deter unprecedented settler attacks.

( Waging Nonviolence )  On July 22, in the Palestinian village of Ibziq, bright lights pierced through the tent at 12:30 a.m., jolting Baltimore, Maryland-native Nikki Morse and a fellow activist awake. The activists, both from the United States, were confronted by a masked young man who declared in accented English: Your time is almost up. Behind him, three others waited on an ATV. His shirt read Artzeinu  Hebrew for our land.

This encounter with Israeli settlers in Ibziq provides a glimpse into the daily reality for Palestinians under constant attack in the occupied West Bank. Since Oct. 7, 2023, BTselem, an Israeli human rights organization, says settler violence has reached unprecedented levels, with entire communities forcibly displaced, their homes demolished or confiscated, and Palestinians subjected to collective punishment, killings and torture.

Amid global attention on Gaza, where leading experts say Israel is committing genocide, attacks in the West Bank have intensified, especially since President Donald Trump lifted sanctions on far-right settler organizations in one of his first moves in office. This reversed one of few concrete actions Biden had taken to challenge Israeli impunity while in office. With only medical personnel allowed into Gaza, International Solidarity Movement, or ISM, volunteers have turned to the West Bank, where it is still possible to enter. Morse, an organizer for Jewish Voice for Peace, spent three weeks in the West Bank in July to provide a protective presence by documenting and hoping to deter settler attacks.

It was terrifying  the closest Ive ever come to real danger in the West Bank, Morse said.

The tent Morse slept in  with just a board for a door  exemplifies how Palestinians are forced to live, because they are rarely granted construction permits, despite residing on their land for decades.

Never again

Morse says intimidation was part of a coordinated campaign. That morning, Israeli soldiers had warned the Palestinian family: You have to leave. The settlers are going to try something soon, and we wont be able to stop them. For Morse, it revealed this almost tag team effort by the soldiers and the settlers to instill fear in the family.

The confrontation with Israeli settlers evoked painful parallels for Morse. What it felt like was what Ive heard my great grandparents went through in Russia when they experienced pogroms, they said. This sense of vulnerability to armed gangs invading, attacking with absolutely no recourse to any kind of authority. In Russia, it was sanctioned by the state, and here in the West Bank, it is sanctioned by the state.

Never again must apply to everyone, said Morse, who argues the lessons of the Holocaust and Jewish persecution demand resisting all forms of ethnic cleansing  including those justified in the name of Jewish safety. As an anti-Zionist, they oppose a Jewish-only state on Palestinian land and advocate instead for a democratic state with equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians.

An observant Jew, Morse sees their activism as a religious obligation: I believe that is what we are required to do, because thats what I believe is my role in making the world a space that is suffused with what we understand to be the presence of God.

Tangible effects

The risks of this type of activism are real. In September 2024, 26-year-old Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a member of ISM, was shot and killed by an Israeli sniper while attending a nonviolent protest in the West Bank. One year later, despite U.S. officials calling her killing unprovoked and unjustified, no one has been held accountable. Since Oct. 7, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed at least four other Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank with impunity.

Despite the dangers, ISMs presence has at times resulted in real world impact for Palestinians. In the early 2000s, the community of Yanun in the northern West Bank agreed to return to their village only under the protection of international activists  and they remain there today. ISM volunteers also took part in breaking the sieges of Yasser Arafats compound and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during the Second Intifada, and have supported communities like Khan al-Ahmar in resisting forcible displacement.

More recently, activists acknowledge that clear wins are harder to identify. Victories or tangible effects are really hard to assess these days, because we dont know how attacks would play out without the presence of activists, said Miriam, an ISM volunteer who asked to use only their first name for safety reasons. What we do know is that communities have tried to return when accompanied by activists, and that we are supporting their struggle to remain on their ancestral land. Palestinians keep asking for our presence and that for us is a tangible effect and reason to continue doing what we do.

The situation in Ibziq illustrates a wider campaign of systematic displacement as Israel accelerates settlement expansion. According to BTselem, at least 41 Palestinian communities in Area C, which is under direct Israeli military control, have been forcibly displaced since October 2023. This is the largest forced transfer since the start of Israel occupation of the West Bank in 1967. Another 40,000 Palestinians were displaced during an Israeli military operation in January and February 2025.

Miriam witnessed entire villages fleeing. While I was there, there was a community in the south of the Jordan Valley of 200 people that left altogether. There was another Bedouin community west of Ramallah of 330 people that left 10 days after an outpost was placed very close to their village.

According to the U.N., at least 1,860 incidents of settler violence occurred in the West Bank from October 2023 through December 2024  an average of four attacks daily. At least 964 Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers during this period, while demolitions displaced nearly 2,900 Palestinians and settler actions displaced another 2,400.

Two months after Morses confrontation, the settlers strategy succeeded. ISM reports that the last family left Ibziq and the village is now deserted.

As Reuters has reported, Israels settlement project systematically fragments Palestinian land through new housing, military zones and restricted areas. According to Israeli human rights group Peace Now, settlement expansion has surged faster since 2023 than in the previous nine years combined.

The role of protective presence

Protective presence is kind of what it sounds like, explained Dottie Lux, an Oakland-based activist who has spent four months in the West Bank over the past year. The internationals are asked to come to spend time with Palestinian families as witnesses  as a set of eyes to report back to their home countries whats been going on, but also in hopes of being a deterrent for settler and state violence.

The work varies day by day, shaped by the actions of the occupation rather than a set agenda. Volunteers might accompany shepherds to protect them from harassment, document home demolitions or stay overnight to guard against settler attacks.

Lux recalled one incident where settlers tried to steal a familys donkey. Israeli forces arrested the Palestinian owner, his daughter, and 13-year-old son, zip-tying them in front of their home. The internationals were left unrestrained to watch. After more than a day in custody, the family was released  but the donkey was never returned.

Miriam and Lux saw how heightened repression stunts Palestinian nonviolent organizing. Theres not much organizing, unfortunately, because of how much nonviolent Palestinian resistance has also been destroyed in the West Bank  because of killings, because of torture in prison, because of collective punishment of villages, Miriam said.

Even basic survival has become resistance. Last year, for example, nonviolent resistance could look like refilling your water tank from a stream, and now that stream has been completely overrun with settlers preventing Palestinians from getting their water, Lux observed.

What Palestinians are doing now is staying on their land, Miriam explained. They are trying not to leave their houses, their land, their villages, and this is what were supporting now.

Displacement campaigns have accelerated in recent months, with Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declaring the intent to bury Palestinian statehood through continued settlement expansion. Meanwhile, the U.S. continues to provide billions in military aid while backing a two-state solution that Israeli policy openly undermines.

Challenging US complicity

The activists stress the direct role of U.S. support in enabling the violence they witness. All of the guns, all of the water tanks, all of the handcuffs and locks  they all say either property of the United States or made in America, Lux said.



Photo of Jericho, West Bank by Snowscat on Unsplash

Upon returning from the West Bank, Morse reached out to mainstream Jewish institutions in Baltimore offering to share their experiences, but so far those invitations have been declined. Instead, they spoke at a gathering organized by Baltimore Families for Justice, where activists held a letter-writing campaign urging local members of Congress to reconsider their support for Israel.

Morse also organizes with the Apartheid-Free Baltimore campaign, pressuring businesses not to stock Israeli goods as part of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, known as BDS.

They have also noted the change in public perception around Israel and Palestine. Recent polling shows U.S. opinion moving sharply against Israel: a majority of Americans now disapprove of Israels actions in Gaza, with support among Democrats dropping to just 8 percent. Nearly half of Americans believe Israel is committing genocide, and more than 80 percent favor an immediate ceasefire.

At a Sept. 24 antiwar vigil in Baltimore, Morse recalled being confronted by a pro-Israel activist who dismissed them as uninformed: You havent probably even been to Israel. You dont even know what youre talking about. Morses reply was direct: I have been to the West Bank. I was just there.

Jaisal Noor is a Baltimore-based multimedia journalist and media trainer reporting on grassroots movements working to solve their communities most urgent challenges.

Via Waging Nonviolence

Published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed and another wounded in two Israeli strikes on the country's south Saturday, the latest attacks despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

In a statement, the ministry attributed the death to an "Israeli enemy strike on a car in Haruf, Nabatiyeh district".

The ministry then reported another Israeli strike on a motorcycle in Qlaileh, Tyre district, which killed one person.

The Israeli military said it had killed Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni, alleging he was "a commander in the anti-tank unit of the Radwan Force Battalion" of Hezbollah.

According to the army's statement, Fatouni "was involved in efforts to re-establish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon".

The military did not immediately comment on the attack on Qlaileh.

Israel has repeatedly bombed Lebanon despite a November 2024 ceasefire that sought to end over a year of hostilities with Hezbollah.

The Israeli military has intensified its attacks over the past week, killing two people in two separate strikes on vehicles Friday.

The military said it had killed a Hezbollah "logistics commander" in the first strike and a member "who was involved in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's military capabilities" in the second.

A series of Israeli raids Thursday on southern and eastern Lebanon killed four people, including an elderly woman, with the military saying its targets included a weapons depot, a training camp and military infrastructure.

Last week, a United Nations special rapporteur told AFP that deadly Israeli strikes on ostensibly civilian vehicles in Lebanon could amount to war crimes, despite Israel's assertion they targeted Hezbollah members.

As part of last year's ceasefire deal, Israeli troops were to withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle any military infrastructure in the south.

Under US pressure and fearing an escalation of Israeli strikes, the Lebanese government has moved to begin disarming Hezbollah, a plan the movement and its allies oppose.

Despite the terms of the truce, Israel has kept troops deployed in five border points it deems strategic.
Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday that an Israeli strike on the country's south and east killed two people, the latest in a string of deadly attacks despite a ceasefire.

"The Israeli enemy strike on a car in Naqoura in Tyre province led to the death of one person," the ministry said.

Another strike on a vehicle in Nabi Sheet in the country's eastern Baalbek region killed one more person, the ministry said.

Despite a nearly year-long ceasefire, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon, often saying it is targeting Hezbollah positions.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on Sunday's strikes.

The Lebanese health ministry also said one person was wounded after war remnants exploded in the town of Aitaroun, in the south.

Israel has intensified strikes in recent weeks, with several deadly attacks launched over the past days.

The health ministry said two people were killed and another wounded in two Israeli strikes on the country's south Saturday, with the Israeli military saying it killed Hezbollah fighters.

Another two were killed in strikes on Friday, and a series of Israeli raids on southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday killed four people, including an elderly woman.

Last week, a United Nations special rapporteur told AFP that deadly Israeli strikes on ostensibly civilian vehicles in Lebanon could amount to war crimes, despite Israel's assertion they targeted Hezbollah members.

As part of last year's ceasefire deal, Israeli troops were to withdraw from southern Lebanon and Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle any military infrastructure in the south.

Under US pressure and fearing an escalation of Israeli strikes, the Lebanese government has moved to begin disarming Hezbollah, a plan the movement and its allies oppose.

Despite the terms of the truce, Israel has kept troops deployed in five border points it deems strategic.






Saturday, October 25, 2025 - Acting ODM party leader, Oburu Odinga, has likened the rise of future Luo leaders to mushrooms.

Speaking at an ODM delegates meeting held at his Opoda home on Saturday, October 24th, 2025, Oburu recalled how his brother, the late Raila Odinga, was never formally elected as the Luo communitys kingpin but emerged naturally, gaining prominence after storming a Ford Kenya meeting chaired by their father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

Luos never sat and elected Raila their leader; he just sprouted like a mushroom and was felt on the political podium, Oburu said.

He emphasized that Railas legacy lives on through the leaders he mentored, including ODM chairlady Gladys Wanga, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Migori Senator Eddie Oketch.

Oburu urged Kenyans not to blame Raila for failing to name a successor, noting that the community has a pool of capable leaders already entrusted with parliamentary and County responsibilities.

Vet them and decide among them who can lead you, he advised.

Oburu also expressed surprise at his own appointment as acting ODM leader, revealing that he learned of the decision from Suna East MP, Junet Mohammed, during Railas homecoming.

Despite concerns about his age, Oburu affirmed his commitment to serve: I will not let our people suffer; I will hold on to it.

He concluded by stating that Raila left them within a broad-based Government structure, which ODM intends to remain part of beyond 2027.

His leadership received full backing from ODM delegates, Nyanza MPs, Senators, and Governors Orengo and Wanga, signaling unity and continuity within the party.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The PKK terrorist group has declared the commencement of its troop withdrawal from Turkiye, according to a statement issued by the organization, Azernews reports.

The statement highlights that as conflicts and wars in the Middle East increasingly threaten both Turkiye's future and the Kurdish population, a process initiated last year through statements by President Tayyip Erdo?an, Nationalist Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli, and terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalanculminating in Ocalan's call for "Peace and a Democratic Society" on February 27, 2025is now entering a critical and pivotal phase.

The announcement also mentions that from May 5-7, the terrorist group held a congress where a decision was made to end the PKK's organizational activities and armed struggle approach.

Following this decision, all PKK forces deemed a potential threat to conflict within Turkiye and susceptible to provocations are being withdrawn from Turkish territory.
STUTTGART, Germany, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China represents an investment opportunity that German companies must not overlook, as it is both an important market and an innovation hub, German business leaders said at a conference promoting bilateral cooperation.

"Choosing China has been a pivotal strategic decision for our growth," said Thomas Koepfer, general manager of KOEPFER Holding GmbH, a multinational gear manufacturer that began investing in Changzhou, a city in southern China's Jiangsu province, in 2013. He spoke to Xinhua at the promotion conference for the 2025 Sino-German (Changzhou) Innovation Park held on Friday.

According to the event organizer, the Changzhou municipal government, Chinese local governments have formulated long-term strategies to promote economic development and have been instrumental in providing swift, professional support for regulatory approvals and market entry.

Among more than 200 representatives from the business, academic, and government sectors of China and Germany attending the event was Roger Schulz, chief executive officer of MPS ARCHONIC GmbH, an industrial architecture consulting firm.

Schulz emphasized that cooperation between localities and enterprises from both countries is crucial in today's volatile global landscape. He said his company is expanding its footprint in China and will incorporate a second entity in Changzhou this year.

Johannes Jung, head of Department Strategy, Economic Law, Foreign Trade and European Affairs at the Economic Ministry of the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, highlighted China's strengths in innovation and technology.

"China has continuously seized opportunities brought by new technologies and now boasts world-leading enterprises and numerous innovative high-tech parks," he said, noting that China is among Baden-Wuerttemberg's most important trading partners, with many German companies active in the country.

Baden-Wuerttemberg and Jiangsu Province have enjoyed a friendly cooperative relationship for over 30 years, he added.

Located in the Jintan District of Changzhou, the Sino-German (Changzhou) Innovation Park is one of the first Jiangsu Provincial International Cooperation Parks. According to municipal statistics, the park has attracted 78 companies from German-speaking countries, with total investment exceeding 2.3 billion euros (2.67 billion U.S. dollars). Up to 60 percent of these companies in the industrial park are "hidden champions."

Companies from German-speaking countries and their local partners in Jintan have formed a strong industrial cluster effect in industries such as new energy and high-end equipment manufacturing, creating a mutually beneficial and win-win situation, Xu Yawei, mayor of Jintan District, said at the conference.

Zhang Xiangwu, director of the Germany, Austria, and Switzerland Liaison Office of the Innovation Park, said Changzhou offers a continuous supply of stable, high-quality talent, laying a solid foundation for long-term development.

So far, 269 German companies have business running in Changzhou, making Germany the city's most important trade partner, the largest source of foreign investment, and the primary investment destination within the European Union, the organizer said. 






Saturday, October 25, 2025 - Dennis Itumbi, the Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination, has disclosed that President William Ruto regularly receives direct feedback from Kenyans through social media.

In a recent online interview, Itumbi revealed that he routinely screenshots public criticism and shares it with the President to keep him informed of the national mood.

Sometimes, even when I think he hasnt seen the negative reviews, I screenshot and send them, Itumbi said, emphasizing that his intent is not punitive but constructive.

He described Ruto as a leader who welcomes dissent and often reflects on criticism to improve policy.

Itumbi said he engages with citizens online and relays their concerns to the president both professionally and personally.

After working hours, I approach him as a friend and show him that people dont actually agree on this issue, he explained.

He stressed the importance of respectful and reasoned criticism, noting that Ruto is open to harsh feedback if it carries substance.

Critics are necessary; they are our fuel, Itumbi said.

Even if you have to add some insults, put your point. We take criticism very seriously.

His remarks come amid growing public concern over the administrations intolerance for dissent, following reports of abductions and intimidation of online critics.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, October 25, 2025 - A Grade 5 pupil from Kamungei Primary School in Sotik Sub-County, Bomet County, who went missing six days ago, has been found alive.

The young girl, who hails from Suek Village, disappeared on Sunday, October 19th, 2025, sparking fear and anxiety among family members and residents.

Her disappearance was reported at Sotik Police Station, prompting a community-wide search involving villagers, teachers and local authorities.

According to police reports, the girl was traced to Kapkoros, where she was found in the company of a middle-aged man who had allegedly been hiding her.

Alert members of the public noticed the pair and informed the authorities.

Police officers, working with local administrators, moved swiftly and rescued the child.

The suspect was arrested at the scene and is currently being held at Sotik Police Station as investigations continue.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, October 25, 2025 - Renowned Kenyan billionaire businessman and politician, Jimi Wanjigi, has called for a bold rethink of Kenyas education system, urging the country to phase out boarding schools in favor of a nationwide day-schooling model.

In an interview with Dr. Ofweneke, Wanjigi shared his concerns about the emotional toll boarding schools may have on young people.

Ive spoken to many youth, and a common thread is trauma from their boarding school experiences, he said.

Wanjigi, who never attended boarding school himself, believes the traditional system may be contributing to social and psychological challenges among students.

His remarks come as Kenya continues to implement the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which already recommends limiting boarding to select senior institutions.

The CBCs 2-6-3-3-3 model aims to localize junior secondary schools within five kilometers of learners homes.

This approach could boost parental involvement, reduce costs and nurture emotional wellbeing.

We must be willing to evolve. The world has changed - so must our schools he asserted.

Education advocates, including former KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, have echoed Wanjigis sentiments, calling boarding outdated and rooted in colonial history.

This isnt Wanjigis first time weighing in on youth and education.

Hes consistently urged Kenyans to challenge cultural norms that no longer serve todays generation, from employment to lifestyle choices.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
A COUNTY Kildare landowner was prosecuted for the destruction of vegetation on land not then cultivated at Lattensbog, Caragh during the birds nesting season, contrary to section 40 of the Wildlife Act.

This was revealed in a communique from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to the Kildare Nationalist, as the prosecution occurred at a sitting of Naas District Court on 7 July, a date our reporter was not in attendance.

The case was taken by the NPWS of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, prosecuted by William Maher BL, instructed by David Gibbons, state solicitor.

At previous sitting of Naas District Court on 6 November 2023, Sean Taaffe, Blacktrench, Naas, through his solicitor, had entered an early guilty plea to all three summons relating to breaches of the Wildlife Act.

Mr Taaffe had given an undertaking to the court to carry out to carrying out remedial work at Lattensbog.

However, on 7 July, at Naas District Court, the court heard that limited remedial work had been carried out, so Judge Zaidan imposed the maximum fine of 5,000 on each summons, resulting in a total fine of 15,000.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting, grubbing or destruction of any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or in hedgerows or ditches during the period from 1 March to 31 August.

The prohibition of the cutting and removal of vegetation (including hedgerows), except in limited situations, during the bird nesting season (1 March to 31 August annually).

This is aimed not only at protecting important habitats for birds during this critical time when birds are nesting and rearing fledglings, but also to protect the wide-ranging biodiversity from wildflowers to insect life that occupy these important farmland habitats.
Eight-time All-Ireland winner with Kilkenny and highly esteemed Shamrocks clubman, Michael Fennelly believes like O'Loughlin Gaels, 'hurt' will be a factor for the Shamrocks in today's (Sunday) St Canice's Credit Union SHC Final. - FULL PREVIEW HERE

Shamrocks failed to reach the semi-finals last year after losing to eventual champions Thomastown and will be eager to scratch the itch of the county final two years ago and avenge their loss to the 'Gaels that day.

READ NEXT: 'It's always there' - Molloy on the hurt of 2024 as Kilkenny county final day arrives

"It was great Henry (Shefflin) took it on again and has done a great job along with his management team," Fennelly told the Kilkenny People Sport Podcast.

"There's probably hurt their from last year, there was a huge amount of injuries and that was difficult in itself but thankfully that has gotten better," he added.

"I do feel the middle third, we saw last week with Danesfort's half-back line how important that was and the midfield picking up ball so I think a lot of Sunday will depend on what happens there, which half-back line is dominating and who is picking up that ball in midfield."

HEAR THE FULL INTERVIEW BELOW:
Carlow-Kilkenny Fine Gael TD Catherine Callaghan has said that the 'See Something, Say Something' initiative, a free-to-use confidential text line to report antisocial behaviour to an Garda Siochana, must be rolled out across Carlow and Kilkenny.

To date, there have been a number of successful rollouts of the programme, in counties such as Longford, Louth and Kerry, with residents warmly welcoming the initiative.

Coupled with this, the programme for government makes a commitment to roll out the campaign nationally as a confidential text and messaging system and to continue to support community alert groups.

TAP HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS

See Something, Say Something is a really good initiative. The national roll-out of it is committed to in the programme for Government. It is a community initiative which enables the public to text details of illegal dumping, antisocial behaviour and

other incidents directly to the authorities," he said.

According to the Meath experience of the initiative, it seems the local community safety partnerships are seen as the best way to roll out the initiative at present.

The LCSPs in Carlow and Kilkenny should be coming online at the end of the month and I wonder whether the Minister would support a call to see this initiative being made an early priority for all local community safety partnerships.

While I commend the Minister's ambition in expanding community policing across the country it is important to note there is still a real need for more community gardai in our rural towns and villages who are as visible and contactable as possible, as far as the people they serve are concerned.

Of the most recent graduate class from Templemore, only one has been stationed in Carlow, with zero new graduates coming to Kilkenny. That said, I accept there is another class graduating from Templemore next week and Garda numbers are being built up across the country and it is important to acknowledge that.

Many people in Carlow and Kilkenny will recall a time where practically every village had a local garda. We know that time has passed, but using a service such as this we can re-establish the presence of An Garda Siochana in the day-to-day rhythms of rural life in Ireland.

Even if people never use this service, knowing it is there provides significant comfort, security agus siochain to our citizens.

Following Deputy Callaghans remarks, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Migration Jim OCallaghan TD has committed to raising 'See Something, Say Something' with the Garda Commissioner.
Fianna Fail needs a new leader in the not too distant future, one of the partys TDs has said.

John McGuinness, TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, said the party made serious errors in the presidential election campaign which ultimately saw its candidate Jim Gavin dropping out of contention.

Mr Gavin was the candidate put forward by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers after expressions of interest from other hopefuls including MEP Billy Kelleher and former taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

Mr McGuinness said party members are extremely disappointed by the lack of selection process in the election.

He said: They were not consulted, councillors were not consulted, TDs were not consulted, the national executive was not consulted  so as a result of that inaction, we have arrived a situation where the campaign itself turned into a shambles.

Mr McGuinness said the party now stood at 17% in opinion polls, which is where it stood in 2011.

We do have to look at the structures within the party, but we also have to question the leadership team, which is made up of the Taoiseach, some unelected advisers and Fianna Fail headquarters.

Asked if the candidate selection was mostly Mr Martins responsibility, Mr McGuinness said it was and added: The selection of Jim Gavin came at a time when the leadership team decided that Billy Kelleher should not be the candidate, so they announced Jim Gavins candidacy, and that in turn caused a vote  there was a contrived majority.

He said the whole election exposed weaknesses in Fianna Fail and was just a shocking embarrassment for members of the party.

Speaking to RTEs This Week, Mr McGuinness said the presidential election has underlined the need for Fianna Fail to reinvent itself for the future.

Asked whether that meant a new leader, he said: In due course, yes.

Pressed on when that should happen, Mr McGuinness replied: Firstly we have to examine what happened in this election  but I think its quite clear what happened  and I think its quite clear what needs to be done some time in the not too distant future.

It has been suggested that Mr Martin may continue as leader and Taoiseach until the end of Irelands presidency of the EU Council in December 2026.

However, Mr McGuinness said: Quite frankly, I dont think the party can wait until then. I think the party must reflect immediately on what happened and take the appropriate steps.

He said there should be an open discussion within the next 10 days.

Mr McGuinness contended it was a majority viewpoint within the party that there should be a root-and-branch change.

Fianna Fail TD John Lahart also told the broadcaster there needed to be a conversation about leadership.

In an interview with Newstalk on Saturday, Mr Lahart said there was huge affection for Mr Martin, whom he said had stood by the party when others left the scene in difficult times in 2011.

He said: But the party cant afford the kind of error and errors that were made in the selection process here.

Mr Lahart said backbenchers took the proposal of Mr Gavin in good faith.

A lot of this went on the trust in the judgment of what the leader was saying and recommending and this was a really significant error of judgment.
Duiske College welcomed the community through its doors for a spectacular open night recently, showcasing everything the school has to offer.

The event, which drew a fantastic turnout from local families and prospective students, featured a wide array of interactive subject displays, student-led tours, and performances. The Science Department stole the show, with a fireball experiment sending flames soaring safely through the air in a controlled spectacle.



Keeping with the fiery theme, guests were invited to gather around the outdoor firepit  a hub of laughter and conversation and song as the evening ended with an impromptu campfire singalong. The schools talent was on full display at the subject fair, where departments offered hands-on activities and student work. Musical talent took centre stage, with the school band delivering a rousing performance.

READ NEXT: DUISKE COLLEGE CELEBRATES 70 YEARS

Principal Georgina Murphy shared highlights from the schools most recent inspection.

The Inspectorate described our school as exemplary and our teaching and learning as highly effective, she said.

But what makes Duiske truly special and what the inspectors noted as the most powerful contribution to excellent learning is the positive atmosphere that builds strong connections between staff and students in the school. That sense of respect, pride and support was evident here tonight.

TAP HERE FOR MORE GRAIGNAMANAGH NEWS

With almost half the student body volunteering to help on the night as guides, demonstrators, performers and more the schools community spirit was on full display.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, will meet U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff on Saturday in Miami, Florida, U.S. media reported.

The meeting comes days after Trump cancelled his plan to meet Putin in Budapest, Hungary and the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, the two largest Russian oil producers, in a bid to press for a ceasefire deal on Ukraine.

Dmitriev said on social media X that his visit was "planned a while ago based on an invitation from the U.S. side."

The Russian envoy said on CNN on Friday that the sanctions, the first during Trump's second term, would not be a big issue for Russia but lead to higher gasoline prices in the United States, reiterating Putin's position that Russia will never yield to pressure.

Dmitriev also said he believes a Trump-Putin summit will happen but "probably at a later date."

"The Russia-U.S. dialogue will continue, but it is certainly only possible if Russia's interests are taken into account and treated with respect," he said.

Following a phone call with Putin and a White House closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, Trump urged Russia and Ukraine to "stop where they are" to end their conflict.

On Wednesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, and called for "an immediate ceasefire," adding that the White House was prepared to take further actions if necessary.

Also on Wednesday, Trump confirmed he had cancelled his meeting with Putin in Hungary, saying it "didn't feel right to me."

The United States and its allies have imposed multiple rounds of financial and trade sanctions on Russia since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, targeting Russian banks, defense industries and energy exports. 
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 23F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 23F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is trying to avoid a staggering $115 million legal bill linked to two convicted fraudsters who deceived the bank, causing a loss of $175 million.

In a court filing on Friday, JPMorgan contested a prior ruling that required it to cover the legal costs of its former business associates, Charlie Javice and Olivier Amar, who were found guilty of defrauding the bank of a substantial sum.

The legal representatives of Javice and Amar have reportedly invoiced JPMorgan approximately $60.1 million and $55.2 million respectively, amounting to the disputed $115 million.

As per the report by Insider, a spokesperson for the bank described the legal charges as patently excessive and egregious, and expressed readiness to present the specifics of this alleged exploitation to the court in the forthcoming weeks.

Javice and Amar were convicted of manipulating data to dupe the bank into disbursing a nine-figure sum. JPMorgans merger agreement with student-loan startup Frank, co-founded by Javice and Amar, necessitated JPMorgan to forward legal costs for the founders.

Also Read: Franks Founder Charlie Javice Accepts Responsibility For $175M Fraud Ahead Of Sentencing

Despite the founders conviction and dismissal, a Delaware court upheld the clause, obliging the bank to fund their defense in criminal, civil, and SEC cases.

JPMorgan is currently endeavoring to recoup these expenses as part of a $287.5 million restitution order, which also covers other merger-related losses.

The ongoing legal battle underscores the potential risks and liabilities that financial institutions like JPMorgan may face when entering into business partnerships.

The case also highlights the importance of thorough due diligence and robust legal safeguards to protect against potential fraud.

Read Next

JPMorgan, Charlie Javice Case Takes Center Stage In Court This Week: Report

Image: Shutterstock/Skorzewiak

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This article After $175 Million Scam, JPMorgan Battles $115M in Legal Fees: 'Patently Excessive and Egregious' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Key Points

One is a pharmaceutical industry powerhouse that has fallen out of favor with investors.

The other is a top REIT that cranks out a dividend far more often than the usual U.S. business.

10 stocks we like better than Pfizer 

It isn't all that difficult to find high-yield dividend stocks -- say, those paying out at more than 4%. The real trick is finding a company that produces sufficient profitability and free cash flow to keep the payout at such a lofty level.

A pair of stocks I feel meet these criteria sit in different industries but share certain characteristics. They have solid business models, resilient fundamentals, and a hard-to-beat set of assets. Oh, and they also pay generous dividends. Say hello to beaten-down pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and real estate investment trust (REIT) Realty Income (NYSE: O).

1. Pfizer

The 2020s have been quite an eventful decade for Pfizer, and they're not even halfway over.

Near the start of the decade, the company shot to fame and prominence among the public as the co-developer (with Germany-based biotech BioNTech) of the widely administered Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine. After the pandemic eased, the company's sales slipped from their pandemic-era peaks, and they have yet to bounce back to those levels.

Image source: Getty Images.

On top of that, Pfizer is on the edge of a scary patent cliff, with several of its blockbuster drugs about to lose exclusivity in the coming years. The loss of one popular medication can put some real hurt on any pharmaceutical company; this one will soon let go of several.

At the start of October, Pfizer got a shot of good news from the Trump administration. Concurrent with the announcement of the (apparently upcoming) TrumpRx drug marketplace, the president trumpeted a pricing deal with the company.

Under its terms, Pfizer promises to sell certain medications at "most favored nation" prices to U.S. consumers. In return for this, plus a pledge to increase capital spending in the U.S., Trump will exempt the company from pharmaceutical tariffs that are seemingly in the works. Yet after a mini-rally in the stock on this news, investors again got bearish on Pfizer's future.

I don't feel they should be. At the moment, the company is developing no less than 108 drug candidates for a dizzying number of indications, any one of which can be the next blockbuster, given the company's impressive history.

And with a still-considerable war chest, it's an active acquirer; a recent play with real potential is its purchase of biotech Metsera, which currently boasts four investigational drugs in the scorching-hot weight-loss segment.
A LENGTHY, robust and at times heated exchange of views took place between the presiding judge and a solicitor at Portlaoise District Court last week.

The exchange took place when a solicitor for a prisoner in Portlaoise Prison accused of threatening to kill or to cause serious injury to a prison officer on 1 July 202, asked the judge to direct the free legal aid board to provide travel expenses for his expert witness.

At a previous sitting of the case, John Cullen, solicitor for the accused, Gerard Manning (45) of 17 Upper Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick was granted approval by Judge Susan Fay to engage the services of an expert forensic engineer under the free legal aid scheme in his clients defence.

When the case resumed last week, Mr Cullen said that he had been approved the service of an expert forensic engineer, but was unable to acquire one in Ireland. He said he had sourced one from Britain and had agreed the going rate of 100 per hour for ten hours of his service.

However, Mr Cullen said that he had, to date, been unable to secure approval from the legal aid board to grant travel expenses for his forensic engineer and asked Judge Fay to direct the board to approve travel expenses for his expert.

However, Judge Fay said it was a matter for the defence to contact the board to seek such expenses, to which Mr Cullen said: The Free Legal Aid Board is effectively blanking me. If I cant get the travel expenses for my expert, then I cant get a fair trial. Judge Fay said that it was up to the legal aid unit of the Department of Justice to deal with Mr Cullens application for the travel expenses.

On numerous occasions, the judge asked the solicitor to show her in his pile of documents, where specifically the board had responded to his request for travel expenses, only for the solicitor to produce his pile, telling her to look through it herself to find the email that was sent to him.

At one stage in the hearing Judge Fay slammed the pile of documents down on her desk and said she was taking a recess.

On her return she said the case was before the court for Mr Manning to plead either guilty or not guilty to the charge, which Mr Cullen said his client was pleading not guilty.

I have asked you several times to show me the specific email where you received a reply to your request for travel expenses, said Judge Fay, to which Mr Cullen said: Its in there (pile of documents). He said the expert forensic engineer, said he cant come if he doesnt get travelling expenses. Judge Fay again impressed on the solicitor that it was up to him to engage with the Department of Justice about his application for travelling expenses, to which he replied: The Free Legal Aid Bord needs to clean up its act or it will end up just being a talking shop. This is an extremely serious charge of threats to kill, and it is absolutely necessary that I bring in objective evidence.

Judge Fay went on to remand Mr Manning on continuing bail to 17 November for the case to be mentioned and set 27 July for a full hearing into the case.

That, said Judge Fay, should give you ample time to engage with the Department of Justice.
TIMES STAFF WRITER

Ray Johnson, 62, an ex-convict who dedicated the last 20 years of his life trying to prevent the kind of crimes that had landed him in California jails and prisons since he was 7, has died at Scripps Memorial Hospital.

Johnson, who was born in New York and moved to San Diego with his family when he was 1, died Sunday of kidney failure. He had been in poor health for the past year, said Steve Casey, a longtime friend and spokesman for the San Diego district attorneys office.

Once characterized by a judge as a man too dangerous to be at large, Johnson emerged from the California correctional system as an example of a rehabilitated felon who went on to make a contribution to society.

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Paroled from Folsom Prison in 1968, Johnson wearied of living outside the law and transformed his criminal expertise, developed primarily from burglaries and armed robberies, into a tool for fighting crime. He became an anti-crime consultant for such firms as the Southland Corp., owner of the 7-Eleven convenience stores, and was an internationally known anti-crime lecturer. His efforts were credited by 7-Eleven with a 20% decrease in robberies and burglaries.

Johnson was recognized in 1978 by then-San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson for his community service and for maintaining a crime-free existence for 10 years. In 1988, Mayor Maureen OConnor presented Johnson with a similar honor, celebrating 20 years of anti-crime behavior and service.

The reformed felon co-authored an autobiography in 1975 and appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson on at least 30 occasions, said Casey, a former newspaper reporter who met Johnson when he covered San Diego courts and jails.

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When he died, Johnson, a resident of Del Mar, was working on an anti-robbery program for small businesses and a similar program for the elderly, Casey said.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Joanna.

A memorial service will be held at El Camino Mortuary in San Diego at 1 p.m. Monday.
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Welcome back to our Sunday edition, where we round up some of our top stories and take you inside our newsroom. It's gotta be the shoes! Why else would people be willing to drop at least $1,100 on a pair of sneakers? I'd never shell out that much but I am tempted to go try on Wall Street's favorite pair of kicks.

On the agenda today:

But first: Are you leaving the money on the table?

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Business Insider's app here.

This week's dispatch

Golden handcuffed

Getty Images; Rebecca Zisser/BI

Imagine you work for a company and your stock price has just skyrocketed. Think Nvidia, up more than 1,100% over the past few years to become a $4.5 trillion company. Or Broadcom and AMD, two other chipmakers whose shares are surging in the AI boom.

Employees of these companies must be feeling pretty good right about now. What could possibly go wrong?

As is often the case, though, there is a catch. In this instance, it's known as "golden handcuffs"  the notion of feeling stuck because it's too risky or expensive to move or change.

These compensation packages often include restricted stock units, or RSUs. Those who decide to leave their companies could forfeit any unvested stock, meaning they could miss out on a substantial form of compensation  potentially worth millions of dollars.

My colleagues Geoff Weiss, Hugh Langley, and Rosalie Chan wrote this weekend about the latest golden handcuff trend sweeping through Silicon Valley, particularly at the AI chip companies.

In one case, they reported that an equity package of $420,000 given to an Nvidia employee in 2023 is worth almost $2 million today, citing data from Levels.fyi. Even a more modest $66,000 RSU package reported by a Broadcom employee in 2023 has jumped in value to around $267,000.

Stock payouts unlock over time. Quitting before shares vest can potentially mean leaving a substantial amount of money on the table.

Although, it's worth noting that if you quit or lose your job, those unvested RSUs disappear.

Companies use restricted stock as a retention tactic. It's one that has been utilized from Wall Street to Big Tech, with a similar dynamic now occurring in the AI boom.
There were several food, car and product recalls you may have missed for the week of Oct. 20-26. Canva

You may want to take a closer look at the food youre storing in your pantry, the products you use in your bathroom and even the cars stored in your garage.

Six recent recalls spanning food, household products and even the vehicles you drive have prompted safety alerts nationwide.

These actions serve as stark reminders: the products we trust  from what we eat to what we drive  can harbor hidden risks.

Here are six of the latest recalls across food, consumer goods, and automobiles that made headlines this week  and what you need to know to stay safe.

6 food and product recalls between Oct. 20 and Oct. 26

Item Detail Start Date Week of Oct. 20-26 Whos affected? Drivers of Tesla cybertruck vehicles, sauna blanket users, people who have curling irons, consumers of a certain popcorn brand, consumers of a certain egg brand and people who have purchased select brands of Coca-Cola products Whats changing? See each specific food, car or product recall for more information. What will happen? People will have to stop consuming or using the products, return them to their place of purchase, and/or throw the products out.

Coke recall: Throw out these cans ASAP due to this safety hazard

Coca-Cola is recalling several brands of canned Coca-Cola products due to the presence of metal, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall, which was initiated by Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, LLC, impacts select 12-pack, 24-pack and 35-pack Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola and Sprite cans.

The Texas-based company first recalled the beverages on Oct. 3, 2025, and then the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on Oct. 20, 2025.

The FDA defines a Class II recall as something may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

It is advised that you not drink from the affected cans and discard them.

Drinking from these cans can cause internal injury, even though no injuries have been reported to date.

You can also return them to their place of purchase for a full refund.

To find out more about the specific products affected, you can check out our article here.

Popcorn recalled in 12 states due to life-threatening allergen

Cabot Creamery is recalling its Cabot Sea Salt Caramel Cheddar Popcorn due to the presence of peanuts that were not listed on the product, according to the company.

The problem occurred after the company was notified by its third-party manufacturer that customers had complained about peanuts being in the snack bags.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Cabot Creamery stated that the popcorn was manufactured by a third party, Jodys Inc. under a licensing agreement with The Farmer Companies. It was not produced in any Cabot Creamery facility, and no other Cabot products are affected.

The recalled product, Cabot Creamery Sea Salt Caramel Cheddar Popcorn, was packaged in 6-ounce bags, with a lot number of 2519907B1, and a sell-by date of July 15, 2026, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Jodys Inc. distributed the snack to warehouses in several states, including California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon and Texas.

People who have the affected product should throw it out or return it to its place of purchase for a full refund.

To learn more about this recall, read our article on the subject.

Egg recall: Throw out this brand of eggs ASAP due to contamination

Black Sheep Egg Company recalled several cartons of its free-range large eggs due to salmonella contamination after 40 environmental samples tested positive for the bacteria at its processing facility, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Arkansas-based Black Sheep Egg Company distributed the affected eggs to other companies in Arkansas and Missouri from July 9, 2025, to Sept. 17, 2025, with UPC codes 860010568507 and 860010568538, according to the FDA.

The products affected include 12-count and 18-count Free Range Large Grade A Brown Eggs.

The FDA notes that the eggs could have been distributed to other states, and it is possible that more states could be impacted in the recall.

The FDA is warning people not to eat, serve or sell the eggs.

Those who have the eggs are strongly urged to sanitize and clean the surfaces or containers that the eggs may have touched.

Additionally, consumers are advised throw away the recalled eggs or return them to their place of purchase.

For more information about this recall, you can read our published article.

Lifepro Fitness recalls 78K Bioremedy Infrared Sauna Blankets due to burn risks

Lifepro Fitness is recalling 78,000 Bioremedy Infrared Sauna Blankets after dozens of burn injuries were reported from using the product, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The company has received 65 reports of the sauna blankets overheating, with 32 of those reports resulting in burn injuries.

The affected model numbers include: LP-BRMDYL-BLK, LP-BRMDYL-GRY, LP-BRMDYR-BLK, LP-BRMDYR-GRY, LP-BRMDYR-BLU, LP-BRMDYR-PNK and LP-BRMDYR-PRPL.

Only blankets with a control pad with a grey face are subject to recall.

The recalled sauna blankets came in two sizes, 31 inches by 71 inches (regular) and 36 inches by 76 inches (large).

The sauna blankets came in black, grey, pink and purple, with Lifepro and the model number printed on the front of the blanket and the controller.

The blankets were sold at Lifepro.com and Amazon, Walmart, QVC and Dicks Sporting Goods from Sept. 2022 through June 2025, retailing between $179 and $199, according to the CPSC.

Consumers should stop using the sauna blankets, unplug them and go to Lifepro.com for instructions on how to dispose of them.

You can find out more about this recall at the CPSC notice.

Bio Ionic recalls 357K TikTok-famous curling irons due to burn hazards

J & D is recalling 357,000 of its Bio Ionic One-Inch-Long Barrel Curling Irons due to burn risks that have caused several injuries, according to the CPSC.

The curling irons barrel can snap and detach, posing a burn risk to consumers.

The affected product has a black handle and a black barrel, with model number LXT-CL-1.0 and a date code between 0722 and 1223 on the product.

The irons handle has a blue BIOIONIC logo and a black label with operating instructions.

The company has received 258 reports of the curling iron barrel detaching, with six of those resulting in minor burn injuries, according to the CPSC.

The recalled product was sold online at TikTok Shop, Amazon and Bioionic.com, as well as in-store and online at Salon Centric, Ulta, Sephora, and Nordstrom.

It was also sold in salons and beauty supply stores nationwide from Aug. 2022 through July 2024 for $165.

Consumers should stop using the curling iron, unplug it and contact Bio Ionic for a replacement curling iron.

You can read the full notice from the CPSC here.

Tesla recalling 63K Cybertrucks because its lights can potentially blind oncoming drivers

Tesla is recalling 63,000 Cybertrucks manufactured between November 13, 2023, and October 11, 2025, because their parking lights were so bright that it exceeded the brightness standard allowed by U.S. law, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects cars running software versions prior to 2025.38.3, according to the company.

The company released a simple software update to dim the lights, resolving the issue for owners at no cost.
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The countdown is officially on: Disneys fan-favorite Donald Duck Christmas Tree Sipper, a parks-exclusive collectible thats been dazzling holiday crowds since 2023, is finally making its online debut at the Disney Store on Oct. 27.

While theres no confirmed release time  just a teaser thumbnail in the Coming Soon section  if TikTok chatter is any clue, this festive fountain drink sipper wont be hanging around for long.

Disney Parks Donald Duck Christmas Tree Sipper $25 This Christmas spirited sipper is a Disney-adult and -kid favorite when Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party rolls into the parks. But he's only been available for ticket holders in 2023 and 2024. For 2025, he's going mainstream and will land on the Disney Store website early on Oct. 27. Shop the drop on Oct. 27

Donald Duck looks downright quack-tastic as he stands proudly in a full-on Christmas tree costume. Hes trimmed to the nines with colorful ornaments, twinkling lights and a golden star perched on top.

His smiling beak and wide-eyed expression peek out from the trees top tier, while his yellow duck feet anchor the base.

Hes also clutching a candy cane like hes ready to march straight into a holiday parade. The sipper lights up, and the straw cleverly pops out from the back  then tucks away to stay clean between sips.

This character sipper has become a must-have for Disney diehards, much like the iconic popcorn buckets that fans line up for year after year. And, historically, its only been available at select kiosks and souvenir shops inside Disney parks and resorts, which makes it a rare find for anyone outside the magic.

But starting Monday, Oct. 27, everyone  even those who havent booked a trip to Main Street USA  can try to snag one online.

How much will the Donald Duck sipper cost?

Disney Store usually doesnt reveal pricing details in its Coming Soon grid, but based on some of our own TikTok sleuthing, pricing looks to have jumped from $15 in 2023 to $25 in 2024.

So, wed expect the online price to land somewhere between $30 and $50. And yes, people will absolutely pay that much.

How to add one to cart before they inevitably sell out

For anyone whose heart is set on grabbing this yuletide feathered fellow, youll want to mark your calendar and get online first thing on Monday morning.

Hes likely to show up onsite around 11 a.m. ET, like other similar releases, including the Starbucks tumblers. However, we wouldnt be shocked if Disney Store surprise dropped him as early as 3:01 a.m. ET.

So, if you find yourself awake that late  or up that early  it couldnt hurt to take a peek at the site then. Because Douglas fir Donald isnt sticking around for long  and you dont want to be left saying Aw, phooey! when he sells out.

Shop this $25 holiday sipper now.

Festive hits of the holiday season available to shop now
A judge told a solicitor that the defence needed to engage with the legal aid board in relation to expert witness expenses.

The issue arose in the case of Gerard Manning(45) of 17 Upper Gerald Griffin Street, Limerick, who is accused of threatening to kill or cause serious harm at Portlaoise Prison on July 1, 2021.

Solicitor John Cullen said he had contacted an expert witness in Britain who was willing to work on the case. He said the legal aid board had agreed to pay the witness 100 an hour for ten hours but he had been unable to secure an agreement on travel expenses.

Judge Susan Fay asked the solicitor to show her where he had requested the expenses in an email. He handed in a bundle of papers and said just read it. Judge Fay asked for the specific email and Mr Cullen replied, you dont want to look at it.

After numerous requests to the solicitor to point out the relevant content, Judge Fay slammed down the documents and took a recess.

When she returned, Judge Fay said it was a matter for the defence to engage with the legal aid unit at the Department of Justice on the matter. She said disclosure was made almost a year earlier and it included CCTV and the case was listed for a plea or a date for mention.

Mr Cullen said you have never criticised the legal aid board once. He said he had tried to rationally negotiate with the legal aid board but his attempts had failed. He said the court had a duty to ensure a fair trial and he suggested .

What I want to do is call Mr Manning to explain, said Mr Cullen. He said his client maintains that the CCTV comes from a different landing in the prison.

Judge Fay said the case was not listed for hearing.

No, I insist on your hearing Mr Manning, said Mr Cullen.

Judge Fay asked if the defendant was pleading guilty or not guilty in the case.

Mr Cullen said: We may have to go somewhere else and I dont want to do that.

Judge Fay said the court had done its best to ensure a fair trial. She said she hadnt refused anything.

I specifically asked you to show me an email. You have not done that, she said.

I have, Mr Cullen replied.

Where is the email where you sent them the quote? asked Judge Fay.

Mr Cullen said he had explained to the board that the only matter outstanding was the travel expenses.

Judge Fay said there was nothing more that the court could do. She asked again whether the defendant was going to plead guilty or not.

You are refusing to indicate a plea or otherwise? she said.

Mr Cullen said he could call his client who would say that the landing shown in the CCTV was his prison landing.

Garda Sergeant Jason Hughes said the DPP had directed that the case was only to stay in the district court in the event of a plea of guilty.

Judge Fay adjourned the case back to Portlaoise District Court on November 17 for mention and listed it for hearing on July 27, 2026. She said there didnt appear to be any quotes for travel expenses and there are matters outstanding and she urged Mr Cullen to engage with the Department of Justice.

Mr Cullen said the Department come up with the same sort of formulaic answers to his requests.

He said: They have got a completely chaotic shambolic system in there of agreeing or not agreeing.

He repeated that the only outstanding matter was the travel expenses.
A woman who appeared before a Kildare court had not eaten in three days.

A Naas District Court hearing that because the woman is not entitled to claim social welfare payments because she has no address.

READ NEXT Kildare accommodation centre for Ukrainian refuges to reopen

She was prosecuted for three alleged incidents including theft and the court was told she was carrying a bag with plastic bottles which were intended to be returned for cash under the Deposit Return Scheme.

Shauna Lawlor, 32, whose address was given as no fixed abode and Peter McVerry Trust, Eyre Street, Newbridge, was before the court on allegations of burglary, assault and theft on dates between May 23-31 at three locations in Newbridge.

Garda Shane Lehane told of arresting the defendant.

He recalled that a premises was entered at Canning Place, Newbridge and two phones and a laptop were taken. He said when someone tried to retrieve the items, which were not recovered, they were struck with a bat.

Gda Lehane claimed she got into a physical altercation with a woman on Eyre Street on May 23 and on the same date took a jacket worth 85 from JD Sports. He said one of the witnesses stated the woman had no teeth.

Gda Lehane said she was seen on CCTV and he objected to bail being granted, describing her as a drug addict with a volatile lifestyle.

He feared that if granted bail, the woman would not appear in court.

Cross examined by solicitor Tim Kennelly, the garda accepted that the defendant denied two of the allegations and said she could not remember the other.

She has a long history of drug use and has a chaotic lifestyle," he said.

He said CCTV images indicate that the laptop was in a bag being carried by the defendant.

Mr Kennelly said she was collecting plastic bottles to return them and he disputed the claim that she had a laptop, saying that if she had this could have been sold for in excess of what she would receive for the bottles.

Referring to the CCTV images, Mr Kennelly said it would not be unusual for her to be in that area.

Mr Kennelly pointed out that there was a delay in bringing the case to court which suggested that there was little concern on the part of the gardai.

He also said the woman has an offer of a place in a treatment facility which she may lose if she goes into custody.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said he has known the defendant since she was very young.

He noted that the woman had lost teeth and said she is an example of the living hell on earth caused by illicit drugs.

The judge decided against granting bail, saying the garda objections to this were well founded and strict bail conditions "would not be appropriate.

He adjourned the ase and remanded her in custody, saying that he would consider allowing her to avail of in-house treatment if she secures a place in a treatment facility.
Sinn Fein is hoping to find a way for transfers between left-leaning parties in the by-election triggered by the next presidency.

President-elect Catherine Connolly will have to vacate her seat as a TD for Galway West when she moves into Aras an Uachtarain next month.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said her party will contest the resulting by-election in the constituency.

Ms McDonald has said Ms Connolly needed the support of Sinn Fein in her campaign for the presidency as the party rowed in with the Social Democrats, Labour, People Before Profit, the Greens and several independents.

The result of the presidential race has been hailed as a victory for a potential united left-wing movement which failed to offer a convincing combined alternative to Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in last years general election.

Ms McDonald said on Sunday: The first thing we have achieved is particularly for people after the last general election who may have despaired or doubted whether there was politics beyond Fianna Fail or Fine Gael, or rather, whether it was possible to win beyond Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

We have said to all of those people: Yes, we can.

When we come together, when we work collaboratively, when we show up for each other  we can win.

Pressed on whether there would be a left unity candidate in the Galway West by-election, Ms McDonald said: Sinn Fein will contest the by-election  were all individual around distinct parties.

She told RTEs The Week in Politics: Of course, we will go in and contest in that way.

I hope, in that contest as with others, we will find a way to transfer to and from each other, that we can still  on areas where we have common cause and common platforms  we can put that forward in a very, very constructive way.

However, Ms McDonald emphasised Sinn Fein topped the poll in the constituency in the last general election with Mairead Farrell, adding: Weve got a very strong mandate from there.

And not alone, will we contest that election, we will contest to win that seat and to make sure that it doesnt fall to the Government.

Asked if there would be a transfer pact with other parties in the absence of a unity candidate, Ms McDonald said: I cant be presumptuous, I have to go and talk to colleagues on that  but that would be my instinct on it.

On the same programme, Fianna Fail junior minister Timmy Dooley said the partys abandoned campaign for Jim Gavin shouldnt be fatal for leader and Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

He said: For sure, this has been a disruption. It has been a difficult time. The Taoiseach has well alluded to his role in that.

I think we have to move away in politics from somebody taking a decision with the best interests at heart, and ultimately it not working out.

It shouldnt be fatal. It shouldnt be a reason that theyve got to shuffle off at a particular time.

The Taoiseach is committed to working on behalf of the Irish people.
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Today's economic environment is forcing many young professionals to choose between saving for a down payment on a house or investing for retirement.

The challenge is amplified for a 30-year-old woman living in a high-cost-of-living area, where housing expenses consume a significant portion of her monthly budget.

A Reddit post from the woman, who has take-home pay of about $7,400 per month and $100,000 saved in a high-yield savings account, outlines her dilemma. She also has about $60,000 in her retirement account.

Don't Miss:

While her financial position is strong and she's contributing 5% to her 401(k) to secure her employer's 4% match, she's torn between putting more into her retirement account right now or continuing to add to her high-yield savings account for an eventual down payment on a house.

"Am I losing out on money for retirement since I'm not really putting much into my 401(k)?" she posted.

Responses from the Reddit community vary, with many posters advising saving for retirement, while others suggest that owning a home provides security in retirement.

"As a divorced woman, quite a bit older than you, I can say that I wish I could have put more in my retirement accounts than I did when I was your age," one person wrote. "Time is a big factor in how much you'll have for retirement. In your shoes, I'd load retirement accounts, including your 401k and a ROTH, and then save what you can for a house."

Trending: The ChatGPT of Marketing' Just Opened a $0.81/Share Round  10,000+ Investors Are Already In

Another commenter said owning a home outright is a source of security during retirement.

"That's that much less income you need to depend on, you won't be dealing with constantly increasing rents, changing landlords, more rapid turnover of neighbors," the person wrote. "Even if you have a major financial disaster, you can at least keep a paid off home (assuming you still have enough for taxes at least)"

Losing out on your employer's 401(k) match to increase your down payment or pay off your mortgage early, is generally a bad trade, according to Fidelity.
TWO men and a woman were arrested at a National Lockdown protest which blocked traffic in the city centre, Limerick Live has learned.

It was organised by Limerick Says No who invited people through a post on social media to join the day to make our voices heard!!!.

READ NEXT: Driver took over from terminally ill friend - Limerick court hears

It was held in Arthurs Quay Park at noon on Saturday before proceeding on foot to the Shannonbridge roundabout. There were a couple of dozen protesters, including children, at the protest.

A garda spokesperson said officers attended a public gathering at Arthur's Quay Park, Limerick, which subsequently proceeded to block traffic in Limerick city centre.

In the course of managing the gathering, two adult males (aged in their 30s and 60s) and an adult female (aged in her 30s) were arrested under the Public Order Act having failed to comply with directions of gardai. All three were brought to a garda station in Limerick, said a garda spokesperson.

Footage has emerged on social media of gardai escorting individuals around the corner to Henry Street garda station.

Those involved in the gathering dispersed a short time later. No one was injured. The three arrested individuals have since been released without charge and files will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the garda spokesperson.

They continued: An Garda Siochana respects the right of citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; however, this right does not extend to breaches of criminal law, interference with the rights of others to conduct their daily activities, or attacks on members of An Garda Siochana.

Any garda activity in relation to such events involves a graduated policing response, considering relevant legislation and public safety, with enforcement as a last resort.
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LIMERICK CITY and County Council (LCCC) has been ranked among the top three local authorities in the country for delivery of active travel infrastructure in 2024.

This comes after the release of the latest Climate Action KPI Report from the Local Government Management Agency.

The report highlights that 76 projects were delivered by the Active Travel team in Limerick over 2024, proving that there was a significant increase from 22 delivered projects in 2023.

READ MORE: New website launched to support flood relief efforts along River Shannon

In terms of physical delivery, Limericks Active Travel team completed 17.2 km of new active travel infrastructure in 2024, up from 15.6 km in the previous year.

These projects encompass a diverse range of initiatives, including Safe Routes to School scheme at Crescent College Comprehensive and Laurel Hill Avenue, as well as the installation of new zebra crossings at locations such as Ballycummin Road, Castlemahon Village, Knockainey National School, Kildimo National School, and Askeaton National School.

The projects also feature footpath and junction upgrades, the delivery of new segregated cycle lanes on Father Russell Road and in sections along Childers Road, public realm improvements at Castle Court in Castletroy, and the installation of new bus stops and shelters throughout the city and county.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran and James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport attended the launch of the Father Russell Road Active Travel Scheme in Raheen, Limerick, which was completed by Limerick City & County Council and funded by the National Transport Authority.

Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, said, This ranking is a testament to the hard work of our council in prior years and a clear sign that we are building a more sustainable and connected future for our residents.

A key pillar of the Mayoral Programme is to ensure we either achieve or are well on the way to achieving the status of Irelands first city with a fully integrated, safe Active Travel network. Tripling the number of projects this year shows we are not resting on our laurels, but are fully committed to continuing to make active travel a safe and attractive choice, concluded Mayor John Moran.

Additionally, Dr. Pat Daly, Director General of Limerick City and County Council, said, This marks a positive step forward in delivering sustainable transport infrastructure.

With every completed project we are closer to the connected and integrated active travel network that is built to high standards in terms of safety and accessibility, helping to reduce reliance on private cars and to ease congestion."
UNDER a new Government-backed scheme, just six councillors from across Limerick will sit on the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) committee, which will meet several times a year to advise on community safety issues.

However, members of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District say the system is unbalanced and fails to reflect the geographical size and rural challenges of both the district and County Limerick as a whole.

We want to work with you, said Cllr Adam Teskey during a briefing from Paul Moroney, the local coordinator for Limerick.

"We have serious concerns. I want to see how we could get two members (from Adare-Rathkeale) onto the board because of our geographical size, our proximity to the Shannon Estuary, and our access to international waters, he added.

His comments were backed by Cllr Stephen Keary, who said he was disappointed with the overall structure and questioned how the scheme would benefit communities outside the city.

Cllr John O'Donoghue also expressed concerns noting the size of the Adare-Rathkeale district, which extends from Ballyeety to Loughill.

READ NEXT: Anger as community safety wardens are earmarked for Limerick city but not the county

Representatives from the LCSP said they understood the councillors concerns and welcomed the opportunity to hear them directly.

The LCSP delegation told the October meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District meeting that they would bring back your queries and concerns.

Councillors also argued that the previous Joint Policing Committee system could have worked had it been properly funded, describing the new model as layers and layers of bureaucracy where cases will just end up on a table in Dublin.

The LCSP, which will replace the joint policing committee (JPC) framework nationally, aims to promote collaboration between Gardai, local authorities and communities, but councillors said they are determined to ensure that rural Limerick is not left behind.

It is expected the new committee, which will also include representatives of other State agencies and stakeholders will not be officially formed until early next year.

Up to 30 people can serve on the committee and all members must be approved by the Minister for Justice.
Mark Cuban said billionaires will exist as long as stock markets do.

The billionaire said forcing the rich to sell their stocks would "wipe out" Americans' savings.

He said taxing billionaires won't fix inequality and urged finding ways to help others earn more.

Mark Cuban says the only way to eliminate billionaires would be to destroy the stock market  and doing so would wipe out the savings of ordinary Americans.

In a string of posts on BlueSky on Thursday night, the billionaire investor and former "Shark Tank" star rebuffed users who argued that wealth inequality could be solved by taxing or capping billionaires' wealth.

Cuban  whose $6 billion fortune from tech startups, investing, and owning the Dallas Mavericks makes him one of the world's richest people  said that extreme wealth is an inevitable byproduct of the market system.

"Billionaires will exist as long as stock markets exist," he wrote. "Should we get rid of the stock market?"

When one user said they'd like to see the market go if it meant preventing "disgusting examples of extreme wealth," Cuban replied: "What should people do with the money they save?"

He warned that dismantling the market would have catastrophic effects for everyone, not just the rich.

Cuban was responding to another user who said that roughly 90% of the stock market is owned by the richest 10% of US households  a figure in line with Federal Reserve data showing that the top 10% hold about 93% of all stock market wealth.

He agreed with the statistic but argued that forcing those investors to sell would hurt everyone, not just the wealthy.

"Absolutely true," he wrote. "But that 90 percent is trillions and trillions of dollars, owned by everyone else. If you make the top 10 pct sell 90 pct of the market, how close to zero value do you think the ownership of the 90 percent goes? You would wipe out the savings of more than half the country."

While Cuban argued that billionaires are a necessary byproduct of thriving stock markets that benefit savers, organizations like Oxfam and the World Bank say ultra-rich accumulations are mainly driven by inheritance, monopoly power, and worsen inequality.

The billionaire tax debate

Cuban also argued that even if governments seized every dollar owned by billionaires, it wouldn't significantly improve public finances.

"You can take every penny that every billionaire has, and other than making a lot of people on here feel better, it wouldn't pay for the interest of the federal deficit or single-payer [healthcare]," he said.
THE LIMERICK branch of An Taisce will this week host a lecture focused on the thorny issue of trees in the city and their preservation.

The LPYMA building at 97, O'Connell Street in the city centre, will play host to the event on Wednesday, October 29 from 7pm.

Tree experts Dr Dealga O'Callaghan and Cormac Downey, who is president of the Tree Council of Ireland will address the lecture this week.

READ MORE: Calling all K-Pop fans: Superslayers Live! comes to Limerick venue

Entry is 10, or 5 for people who are not in employment. Tickets are available here.

A graduate of University College Dublin, Dr O'Callaghan is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Foresters and the Arboricultural Association. He is an honorary life member of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Based in Liverpool, he's written tree strategies and tree policies for local authorities across Britain.

Mr Downey has worked on, up and with trees for the last 30 years, beginning his career as a commercial climber before moving onto being a tree surgeon.

An arboricultural officer for the Office of Public Works, he is also the executive marks and landscape tree officer at Fingal County Council in Dublin.
Instagram's parent company Meta would lay off 600 employees in its AI division, with the aim to build new products faster, the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing a message from Meta's chief artificial intelligence officer to the employees on Wednesday.

By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, the report quoted Wang's internal memo.

Among the AI division layoffs, Meta cut 100 jobs in its risk review organisation, three people familiar with the development told NYT.

They further added that this group reportedly includes employees responsible for ensuring Metas products comply with an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and adhere to privacy regulations established by various regulatory authorities across the globe.

Livemint could not independently verify the report.

Also Read | Reliance partners with Meta's Facebook to develop AI services

Replacement with automated systems On Wednesday, Michel Protti, Metas chief privacy officer, informed employees through a note that the company will be downsizing the risk team and replacing the majority of manual reviews with automated systems.

By moving from bespoke, manual reviews to a more consistent and automated process, weve been able to deliver more accurate and reliable compliance outcomes across Meta, Protti said, adding, We remain committed to delivering innovative products while meeting our regulatory obligations.

Protti did not specify the number of roles being eliminated. However, insiders described the layoffs as a gutting of the employees for reviewing projects at Meta for privacy and integrity concerns, two employees familiar with the situation told NYT. Meta is cutting jobs from the risk review team in the London office and more than 100 people across the company's risk organisation.

We routinely make organisational changes and are restructuring our team to reflect the maturity of our program and innovate faster while maintaining high compliance standards, a Meta spokesman was quoted in the report.

Recent developments are part of a larger restructuring of Metas organisational structure. Over the last three years, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO, has been actively restructuring his company to stay competitive against emerging rivals such as OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.

However, Meta executives have grown frustrated with the pace of product development, three people told the NYT. One division causing delays by design was the companys risk organisation.

FTC guidelines on transparency In 2019, the FTC directed Meta, formerly known as Facebook, to implement new roles and policies to improve transparency and accountability regarding user data handling. Additionally, the agency imposed a historic $5 billion fine on Facebook for misleading users about their control over their personal privacy.

The risk organisation is tasked with supervising and auditing all new products to identify potential privacy threats or changes that might breach the FTC order the company committed to in 2019.

Notably, Protti in 2020 said the changes would lead to a new level of accountability and ensure that privacy was everyones responsibility at Facebook.

Doubts over efficiency Risk organisation employees have shown scepticism about the effectiveness of replacing them with automated systems, especially on sensitive issues like user privacy. Meta has been under close scrutiny by the FTC and the Justice Department in the US for most of the past decade, and also faces intense regulatory oversight in Europe.
Swiss pharmaceutical major Novartis AG is nearing a deal to acquire biotechnology company Avidity Biosciences Inc., according to a Bloomberg report citing sources.

Novartis is in discussions to buy Avidity for more than $70 a share, the source said. The deal could be announced as early as on October 26 (US time), if there are no last minute snags, the report added.

Spokespeople for both Avidity and Novartis did not immediately respond to queries on the matter. The report came outside of usual business hours, it added.

Novartis on deals spree? Tourmaline Bio, Regulus Therapeutics this year According to a Financial Times report, the Swiss pharma giant has been in active talks with Avidity for a potential acquisition since August 2025.

In September this year, Novartis acquired New York-based Tourmaline Bio, valuing the biopharmaceutical company at $1.4 billion on a fully diluted basis, as per a Reuters report.

Further, early in 2025, the Swiss drugmaker also agreed to buy Regulus Therapeutics for up to $1.7 billion. The agreement gave Novartis access to an experimental drug to treat a life-threatening kidney disease, the Reuters report added.

Novartis gets US approval for new chronic hives treatment In October, Novartis AG has also gained approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for a new treatment for a hives-like skin condition, as per another Bloomberg report.

The US FDA has cleared Remibrutinib (to be sold under the brand name Rhapsido), for sale to adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria, Novartis said. While the condition isnt usually life-threatening, it can affect patients sleep, work and mental health.

The drug has the potential to be approved for a number of different conditions and could become a blockbuster, Victor Bulto, president of Novartiss US unit, said in an interview. The drugmaker estimates it could help 1.7 million people suffering from chronic spontaneous urticaria in the US alone.

(With inputs from Bloomberg and Reuters)
EV giant Tesla, once considered to be the biggest disruptor in the automobile industry, now faces a grim future as the former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares believes that the Elon Musk-led company may exit the car business and may even cease to exist within ten years, according to a report by Fortune, citing French newspaper Les Echos.

Tavares mentioned that the EV manufacturer faces stiff competition from Chinese competitor BYD, which overtook Tesla in worldwide EV sales earlier this year. As a result of this challenge and with several projects underway, CEO Elon Musk might shift his focus to other areas.

Also Read | Elon Musk pleads with Tesla investors to approve his $1 trillion pay package

What did Carlos Tavares say about Tesla's future? We cant rule out that at some point, hell decide to leave the automotive industry to refocus on humanoid robots, SpaceX, or artificial intelligence, Tavares was quoted as saying. Elon Musk will have left the automotive industry,' he added.

According to Tavares, BYD is giving tough competition to Tesla through cost-effective vehicles.

Im not sure that Tesla will still exist in 10 years. Its an innovative group, but theyll be beaten by BYDs efficiency," he said.

Notably, Teslas market share in China has dropped to around 5% from 16% in 2020, partly due to competition from BYD. Last year, Musk said, Chinese car companies are the most competitive car companies in the world.

Also Read | Tesla Q3 Profit Misses Estimates As Tariffs Bite Despite Record EV Sales

Tesla's challenges The ex-Stellanties CEO's remarks come after Tesla's Billionaire CEO Musk dedicated much of this year to assisting US President Donald Trump in his role at the Department of Government Efficiency. He told Fox News at the time that he was managing his duties with great difficulty.

Meanwhile, the EV maker experienced supply chain setbacks, partly due to Trumps tariffs and increased sales pressure after the EV tax credit was cut down in the US.

Need to incentivise Elon Musk Tesla has continuously said that it requires Musk to be retained and rewarded to complete its long-term goals. A 10-year, $1 trillion pay package for the CEO, set for a shareholder vote on Nov. 6, is intended to incentivise Musk, while also building ambitious goals such as increasing the companys market capitalisation by 500% to $8.5 trillion, the report said.

However, last month, two proxy advisory firms advised shareholders to vote against the pay package, partly because they questioned the board's discretion in determining when and how Musk has achieved the specified targets. Teslas board denies this claim, the report said.
OpenAI recently inked hundreds of billions of dollars of deals to build data centers filled with chips it hopes will further its AI dominance. But one of its rivalsthe Amazon-backed developer Anthropichas a clearer path to making a sustainable business out of AI.

Anthropic and OpenAI do similar things: They develop advanced AI models upon which chatbots, image generators and a host of other AI tools are based.

But they have approached the question of how to generate revenueand, one would hope, profitfrom AI in different ways.

Outside of OpenAIs close partnership with Microsoft, which integrates OpenAIs models into Microsofts software products, OpenAI mostly caters to the mass market. Its user base is, in large part, replacing search-engine queries with bot conversations, which has proved immensely popular. ChatGPT had more than 800 million weekly users as of this month, according to the company, which has helped OpenAI reach an annual revenue run rate of around $13 billion, around 30% of which it says comes from businesses.

Anthropic has generated much less mass-market appeal. The company has said about 80% of its revenue comes from corporate customers. Last month it said it had some 300,000 of them.

View Full Image WSJ

That focus has helped put Anthropic ahead of OpenAI among business users. Its cutting-edge Claude language models have been praised for their aptitude in coding: A July report from Menlo Ventureswhich has invested in Anthropicestimated via a survey that Anthropic had a 42% market share for coding, compared with OpenAIs 21%. Anthropic is also now ahead of OpenAI in market share for overarching corporate AI use, Menlo Ventures estimated, at 32% to OpenAIs 25%.

Anthropic is also surprisingly close to OpenAI when it comes to revenue. The company is already at a $7 billion annual run rate and expects to get to $9 billion by the end of the yeara big lead over its better-known rival in revenue per user.

Both companies have backing in the form of investments from big tech companiesMicrosoft for OpenAI, and a combination of Amazon and Google for Anthropicthat help provide AI computing infrastructure and expose their products to a broad set of customers.

But Anthropics growth path is a lot easier to understand than OpenAIs. Corporate customers are devising a plethora of money-saving uses for AI in areas like coding, drafting legal documents and expediting billing. Those uses are likely to expand in the future and draw more customers to Anthropic, especially as the return on investment for them becomes easier to measure.

Demonstrating how much demand there is for Anthropic among corporate customers, Microsoft in September said Anthropics leading language model, Claude, would be offered within its Copilot suite of software despite Microsofts ties to OpenAI.

View Full Image WSJ

The mass-market consumer revenue model is more nebulous. OpenAI has yet to settle on a way to make money from it beyond charging subscription fees. It has a $20-a-month plus" plan and $200-a-month pro" plan for consumers, in addition to a free tier that comes with limits on queries and runs more slowly. Such subscription fees arent enough to offset the massive cost of developing and rolling out cutting-edge AI.

The obvious revenue stream for OpenAIs consumer business will be advertising. But it isnt clear how OpenAI or its competitors would inject ads into chatbots. It wont be as straightforward as search ads; users wouldnt likely welcome brand placement in their bot chats. And as it looks for an ad-revenue model, OpenAI is in the unenviable position of competing with Google, which has its own suite of mass-market AI tools and far deeper roots in advertising.

Of course, OpenAI is making a strong appeal to business customers too, both through Microsoft and on its own. And there is an argument that OpenAIs vast user base and exposure to a wider set of queries will give it an edge among corporate users.

Yet there is also a possibility that OpenAIs mass-market appeal becomes a turnoff for corporate customers who want AI to be more boring and useful than fun and edgy. OpenAI recently said it would begin allowing adults to have erotic conversations with ChatGPT, and has urged for a hands-off approach to AI regulation. Even if the company makes its products more constrained in corporate contexts, its freewheeling reputation seems likely to limit its inroads.

For all of OpenAIs spending, meanwhile, Anthropic has shown it is as good or better in AI arenas that companies care about. Vals AI, a startup that evaluates AI models, ranks the latest version of Anthropics large language model Claude as top in a business-focused benchmark that brings together finance, legal and coding tasks.

Anthropic is laser-focused on these agentic enterprise use cases and theyre playing a very competitive game with OpenAI right now," said Rayan Krishnan, a co-founder of Vals.

OpenAI and its chief-executive-slash-showman Sam Altman have been hogging the AI spotlight lately. Anthropics business prospectsand the shrewdness of its main investors, Amazon and Googlemay be more deserving of notice.

(News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.)

Write to Asa Fitch at asa.fitch@wsj.com
The 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit is underway in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and it offers India a chance to undertake discussion on the review of the free trade pact with the bloc, which hasnt worked in the countrys favour so far.

The Asean summit includes a wide array of high-level meetings, with Asean Plus One summits that will include key dialogue with partners like the US, China, and India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit virtually, while external affairs minister S. Jaishankar will represent India in person.

Against the backdrop of the US rapidly changing trade policies and demand for concessions in the ongoing trade deal, it has become necessary for India to diversify its export markets. Asean is one such market, but it will require more equitable adjustments in the ongoing free trade pact.

Varying benefits

Merchandise trade between India and Asean has more than doubled to $123.1 billion in 2024-25, from $56.2 billion in 2010-11, on the back of the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITGA) that came into effect in 2010. The trade is largely concentrated in five nationsSingapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailandthat accounted for 95% of Indias total Asean trade.

This rise in trade, however, has come mainly from Asean nations increasing their exports to India, while Indias exports to Asean nations have declined over the years.

During the signing of the pact, it was expected that India would benefit from the lower tariffs and other concessions. But that didnt turn out to be the case. Between FY11 and FY24, Indias exports grew at a 3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), while imports rose more than twice as fast, at 7.5% CAGR, expanding Indias trade deficit from $5 billion to $45.3 billion in FY25.





Trade dynamics



Asean is an important trade and strategic partner of India. Overall, some of the key products exported to Asean (the top five trading partners) in FY25 include petroleum products ($8 billion), electrical machinery ($4.6 billion), transport equipments ($3.5 billion), metals (ferrous and non-ferrous) ($2.1 billion), organic and inorganic chemicals ($1.6 billion) and gems and jewellery ($1.3 billion).

However, experts point out that they have faced multiple non-tariff barriers to enter the Asean markets. Indias manufacturing and agricultural sectors have been unable to cope with the product/process standards that are increasingly being used by the Asean members to ensure product quality." said Biswajit Dhar, trade economist and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Top imported items include coal, vegetable oils, electronic components and computer hardware, many of which make India import-dependent for both domestic use (vegetable oil, coal) and exports (electronic components and computer hardware).

Since India depends on these imports to meet its crucial requirement, cutting down on shipments from Asean nations may not be possible. The other way is to increase exports to these nations.

Also Read | India looks to deepen trade links with Germany amid widening trade deficit

Import check

An analysis of official trade data bears out Indias import dependence. Over 50% of India's imports from Asean comprise vegetable oil, coal and other raw materials. For instance, in FY25, 37.2% of Indias imports from Indonesia were coal and its forms (such as coke and briquettes). Indonesia accounted for nearly 30% of Indias imported coal last fiscal, though its share has fallen in the last three years from a high of 50.3% in FY23.

Similarly, over a fourth of Indias inbound shipments from Malaysia was vegetable oil, a major ingredient in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Four Asean nationsIndonesia, Malaysia, Thailand Singaporeaccount for 47.4% of Indias vegetable oil needs, underscoring concentrated imports.

India keeps hiking duties on edible/vegetable oils but it has not curbed imports due to the heavy reliance on Asean nations. Vietnam, with strong electronics manufacturing capabilities, is India's key source for telecom instruments. Thailand accounts for 55.8% of Indias base metal imports and is a big exporter in the jewellery industry to India.

Dragons influence

Paving the way for Indian exporters in a more substantial way will not be easy due to Chinas heavy presence in the region. When the US tariff hit, China banked on Asean nations to keep its exports from declining sharply. Between April and September, Chinas exports to Asean averaged $57 trillionup 17.3% year-on-year, even as shipments to the US fell 25.5% on-year to $34 trillion average per month.

Over the years, China has steadily deepened its economic and political influence in Southeast Asia through policies like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India has even raised the issue of Asean nations becoming a dumping ground of cheap Chinese raw materials and intermediaries products, which then make a way to India easily due to the trade pact.

Asean nations do tend to tilt towards China. A recent survey by Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute found that many Southeast Asian opinion leaders would align more closely with Beijing than Washington. While dragon offers a lesson in export diversification, charting a way to Asean will require competing with China.

Tariff asymmetry

The main reason India has not benefited from the trade pact is the unsuccessful experiment. Under the AITGA, India offered elimination of tariffs for 74.2% of tariff lines (list of products), while a reduction in tariffs was agreed for an additional 14.2% of tariff lines.

On the other hand, India had to contend with varying offers, with Indonesia being the least liberal, offering elimination on only 50.1%, Vietnam 69.7%, and Thailand 75.6%, according to an analysis by Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) in January 2024. It highlighted that Indias import liberalisation was broad, but reciprocal gains were uneven.

Moreover, key countries such as Singapore, Malaysia already were allowing a substantial part of their global imports under low-to-zero most-favored nation (MFN) duty. This is a tariff rate that a country applies to all its trading partners equally.

This meant that India gained little competitive benefit due to the FTA as most imports happen at zero or low MFN duties". The US policies and the need for export diversification now need more than ever to revisit the trade deal with Asean.

Products, both manufacturing and agricultural sectors, that have the potential to propel Indias exports to the Asean region need to be identified through government-industry partnerships," Dhar said.
US President Donald Trump on October 26 signed trade agreements with three Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia for critical minerals, in a bid to combat the rare earth limits announced by China, as per reports.

The announcement came during Donald Trump's visit to Kuala Lumpur for the 13th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States (ASEAN-US) summit.

US trade deals with Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia According to a Reuters report, these reciprocal trade deals will  work to address tariff and non-tariff barriers.

As part of the agreements, the US will maintain a 19 per cent tariff on most exports from the three SE Asian countries, a joint statement released by the White House stated.

Thailand and Malaysia will also cooperate on diversification of critical minerals supply chains, to counter rapid growth from China in the sector, the report said. It added that China too has been in talks with Malaysia for rare earths processing and to build a refinery in the country.

US-Malaysia trade deal: What's on offer? As per the joint statement, Malaysia has agreed to refrain from banning or imposing quotas on exports of critical minerals or rare earth elements to the US.

However, the statement did not include details on if this condition would be applied to raw or processed rare earths.

The agreement also allows significant preferential market access for agricultural imports and industrial goods, such as daily, poultry, chemicals, machinery, and passenger vehicles, from the US.

The report said that Malaysia, a majority Muslim country recognised as a global leader in halal certification, has also agreed to streamline requirements for US products such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Malaysia has also pledged to protect labour rights and strengthen environmental protections in the deal. Malaysia has an estimated 16.1 million tonnes of rare earth deposits, has banned companies from exporting raw rare earths to prevent the loss of resources as it looks to develop its downstream sector, the Reuters report added.

Also Read | Indias draft AI rules and how they could affect creators

Tariffs, labour rights, environment in Thailand, Cambodia trade deals The deal with Thailand will eliminate tariff barriers on around 99 per cent of goods, as per the joint statement.

Among the items covered include a full range of US industrial and food and agricultural products, the report added.

Thailand and Cambodia also pledged to protect labour rights and strengthen environmental protections in the deals, it said. (With inputs from Reuters)
US President Donald Trump co-signed a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia during the initial stop of his Asia tour, which is anticipated to conclude with discussions involving Chinese leader Xi Jinping, AFP reported

The ceasefire was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. As per the agreement, 18 Cambodian prisoners of war will be released.

On Sunday, Trump and Anwar Ibrahim signed a trade agreement and a critical minerals pact, as the US aims to enhance trade in the Southeast.

Malaysia is going to be modifying its tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and we intend to have a lot more trade, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

Also Read | Trump plans more sanctions on Russian banks, oil infra if Putin prolongs war

Meanwhile, the second day of trade discussions between the US and China was setting the stage for a productive meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, reported Reuters, citing Washington's chief trade negotiator in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. This has increased optimism about reaching an agreement between the world's largest economies.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during the ASEAN summit for the fifth in-person discussion since May, as both sides aim to reduce tensions in the trade war.

I think that we're getting to a spot where the leaders will have a very productive meeting, Greer was quoted as saying. China's top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, also participated in the discussions.

When questioned about the discussion of rare earths during the talks that began on Saturday, Greer responded that various topics were covered, including the extension of the trade truce.

Also Read | Cambodia joins list of countries to nominate Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Both sides aim to prevent their trade conflict from escalating further after Trump threatened to impose new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade restrictions beginning November 1. This move is in response to China's significantly increased export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

Trump-Xi meet Trump arrived in the Malaysian capital on Sunday morning for the summit, marking the start of his five-day Asia tour, which is expected to conclude with a face-to-face meeting with Xi in South Korea.

A successful resolution in Kuala Lumpur could clear obstacles, enabling the high-stakes meeting scheduled for October 30 to proceed smoothly.

Although the White House has officially announced the much-anticipated Trump-Xi talks, Beijing has not yet confirmed that the two leaders will meet.

What issues are in focus? Trump's discussions with Xi will likely include soybean purchases, concerns about Taiwan, which Beijing considers its territory and the release of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

The arrest of the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has emerged as the most prominent example of China's crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Asian financial centre, the report said.

Trump also stated that he would request China's assistance in Washington's negotiations with Russia, as Moscow's conflict in Ukraine nears its fourth year.

US-China tensions Tensions between the US and China escalated in recent weeks after a fragile trade truce, first reached during their first trade talks in Geneva in May and extended in August, failed to stop either side from imposing additional sanctions, export restrictions, and threats of stronger retaliatory actions.

The upcoming talks are expected to focus on China's increased restrictions on rare earths exports, which have led to a global shortage, prompting the Trump administration to consider restricting exports of "critical software" to China, Reuters reported.
New Delhi: Piyush Goyal, Union minister of commerce and industry, will visit Brussels, Belgium on 2728 October for talks with Maros Sefcovic, executive vice-president and European Commissioner for Trade of the European Union, to conclude a comprehensive trade agreement at the earliest.

Building on the momentum generated by the 14th round of negotiations held earlier this month, Goyals visit aims to provide strategic direction and political impetus to the talks, the ministry of commerce said in a statement on Sunday. Discussions are expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA (free trade agreement), including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. The visit will also serve to review progress achieved so far and to identify areas requiring further convergence.

India and the EU have intensified efforts to finalize the long-awaited free-trade pact as New Delhis negotiators stayed back in Brussels after the latest round, held earlier this month, to resolve the most contentious issues, including the rules of origin.

Also Read | Brussels talks intensify as India seeks balance in EU trade deal

FTA progress On October 16, Mint reported that the central government had directed its negotiating team, led by special secretary L. Satya Srinivas, to resolve impending issues in the FTA talks with the EU before returning to New Delhi, underscoring its push to conclude the deal by year-end.

At the heart of the dispute lies the EUs demand for tighter origin norms to ensure third-country goods dont enter the bloc through India, particularly in sensitive categories such as agricultural products, spirits, wines, and other products with Geographical Indication (GI) status prized for their cultural and commercial value.

Another major sticking point between New Delhi and Brussels is the mutual acceptance of agricultural products.

Without a recognition agreement in place, food and farm exports undergo repeated testing and certification, delaying clearances and inflating compliance costs. Agriculture remains one of the most challenging chapters to close in the ongoing negotiations.

Minister Goyals visit to Brussels thus marks an important step in translating that shared vision into concrete outcomes, the commerce ministry statement said. It reflects Indias steadfast commitment to deepening engagement with the European Unionone of its largest trading partnersand to advancing an agreement that contributes to resilient supply chains, sustainable growth, and a rules-based global trading system.

As things stand, India and the EU have completed 14 rounds of negotiations, with the latest held in Brussels from 6 to 10 October.

The latest round covered 12 policy areas through 91 technical sessions, including market access for goods and services, sanitary and phytosanitary standards, technical barriers to trade, and the contentious rules of origin.

Also Read | For India and EU, a deal is closer than ever

Key disputes The IndiaEU trade talks span 23 policy chapters, from investment protection and government procurement to dispute settlement, geographical indications, and sustainable development, underscoring the breadth and ambition of what both sides hope will be a landmark agreement.

India has accelerated efforts to clinch free trade agreements with major partners even as it works to resolve differences with the US following President Donald Trumps 50% tariffs on Indian goods.

Goods trade with the EU reached about $136.5 billion ( 11.6 lakh crore) in 202425 by value, accounting for roughly 10% of Indias global trade.
US President Donald Trump said he will likely discuss the decrease in Chinese imports of Russian oil with Xi Jinping, especially after US sanctions on two key oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil. He further claimed that both China and India have cut down their oil imports from Russia, reported Bloomberg.

I may be discussing it, but you know Chinas  you probably saw today  China is cutting back very substantially on the purchase of Russian oil, and India is cutting back completely, and weve done sanctions, Trump told reporters.

Trump's remarks come after his repeated claims that India would not engage in the Russian oil trade. Earlier, he said PM Modi had assured him India would stop purchasing Russian oil after the US levied additional tariffs on India over Russian imports.

Meanwhile, ahead of his meeting with Asian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump hoped that the discussions would result in a complete deal.

US-China tensions Tensions between the US and China over trade, technology, and raw material restrictions have heightened the importance of Trumps upcoming visit to Asia. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

Ahead of the meeting of the world's largest economies' leaders, US and Chinese negotiators conducted trade discussions in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, which a US Treasury spokesperson described as very constructive. Teams led by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng intend to continue talks on Sunday.

Trump-Xi meet Trump is hopeful about discussions with Xi, mentioning they will cover the agriculture sector and Chinas export of fentanyl components.

This meeting will be the first face-to-face discussion between the leaders since Trump returned to the White House in January. They have spoken at least three times this year, and Trump has emphasised that direct talks are the most effective way to address issues like tariffs, export restrictions, agricultural imports, fentanyl trafficking, and geopolitical hotspots such as Taiwan and Ukraine.

Well be talking about a lot of things. I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal, he said.

Trump calls out Putin While criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin for handling of Ukraine war, Trump said he is unsure if Russia would work with him to end the war in Ukraine.

Im not going to be wasting my time, Trump said after the recently cancelled talks with Putin. Ive always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing.

As Russia marks the fourth year of its invasion of Ukraine, the US on Wednesday implemented its first major sanctions targeting Russias petroleum sector. It also warned that foreign financial institutions risk being cut off from the US financial system if they continue to do business with Rosneft and Lukoil. Additionally, Trump withdrew from plans to meet with Putin in Hungary.
Deckers (DECK) stock tanked some 13% on Oct. 24 after the footwear designer and distributor posted a market-beating Q2 but issued disappointing guidance for the future.

The companys downwardly revised forecast for $5.35 billion in full-year revenue (below analyst estimates) reflects growing concerns about consumer behavior in response to tariffs and price increases.

More News from Barchart

Following the post-earnings plunge, Deckers shares are down nearly 60% versus their year-to-date high set in late January.

www.barchart.com

Jim Cramer Says Buy Deckers Stock at Current Levels

Famed investor Jim Cramer recommends buying the post-earnings dip in DECK stock, especially if youre in it for the long haul.

According to him, the NYSE-listed firm is being punished more than it deserves. At current levels, the Mad Money host sees much of the downside as priced in already.

Deckers stock is currently trading at a forward price-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 16x, significantly below 42x for Nike (NKE) at the time of writing.

Cramer expects seasonal tailwinds to benefit the California-based company as well, noting UGG sales could snap back if you get a really cold winter heading into 2026.

Why Else DECK Shares Are Attractive to Own

DECK shares appear attractive as a long-term holding at current levels also because the companys international performance remains robust.

In Q2, the footwear specialist saw an impressive 29.3% increase, suggesting strong global market potential, especially given the management is committed to retail expansion, with plans of opening new stores across various markets.

Deckers strong market presence, combined with strategic positioning in both metropolitan areas and smaller markets, provides a buffer against regional economic fluctuations as well.

Put together, its reasonable to conclude that the magnitude of the Deckers stock price decline appears disproportionate to the firms actual business performance, suggesting a potential overreaction to conservative guidance.

Wall Street Remains Bullish on Deckers Outdoor

Wall Street analysts also agree with Cramers positive view on DECK stock, especially now that its tanked to a compelling valuation.
The United States on October 26 unveiled an intended trade agreement framework with Vietnam, amidst President Donald Trump's visit to Southeast Asia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Bloomberg reported.

Notably, this development comes after the Trump administration in July announced a 20 per cent base tariff on Vietnam, down from the initial 46 per cent threatened. The Southeast Asian country is an export powerhouse, selling everything from coffee to clothing and engine parts, it said.

This announcement also comes on the same day that the US announced trade deals with Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia for rare earth metals amid curbs imposed by China. Notably, all three have bagged 19 per cent tariff deals from the US in exchange for raw and processed rare critical minerals.

US-Vietnam trade deal: What does the framework propose? As per the announced trade framework, Vietnam will give preferential market access for substantially all industrial and agricultural imports from the US into the country.

Further, the US will offer zero tariffs on some selected Vietnamese products.

It said that Vietnam has agreed to address issues including recognising US vehicle standards, easing import rules for US medical devices and pharmaceuticals and fulfilling international intellectual property commitments.

The two countries are also expected to finalise commitments on digital trade, services and investment, it said. The report added that the document released by the White House did not mention details on which products will likely be included in the tariff exemption, but a decision is expected to be finalised in the coming weeks.

What have Vietnam authorities said? In a statement from the Vietnamese government, authorities said that the country's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a brief meeting with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

It added that Chinh also invited the US president to visit Vietnam on behalf of the countrys top leader, To Lam.

What is the biggest challenge to Trump's Vietnam, SE Asia deals? The Bloomberg report noted that Donald Trump's deals with Vietnam, and other Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia), still face one crucial hurdle. This challenge is what the US considers transshipped goods, which are at present subject to 40 per cent tariffs.

It noted that Vietnam faces a tough situation as this uncertainty persists, as China is its biggest trading partner and main source of imported components and raw materials.

Over the next year, Vietnam is targeting a significant 10 per cent growth amid global trade volatility weighing on investments and exports, as per the Bloomberg report.

In the last quarter, the country's economy grew 8.2 per cent  its fastest in three years. This was largely due to factories jumping exports to the US before the higher tariffs kicked in. In 2025, Vietnam is aiming for 8.3-8.5 per cent growth, it added.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)
Top trade negotiators of the United States and China said on Sunday they had come to terms to a framework for a trade deal ahead of the meeting of Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

The agreement comes less than a week before the US was set to implement its sky-high tariffs on China at 157 per cent, which had triggered global trade tensions.

Trade negotiators for US and China said they had reached consensus on a wide range of conflicting points, laying the roadmap of a much-awaited trade deal as Donald Trump and Xi Jinping meet later next week.

We are moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to conclude together, US trade representative Jamieson Greer told reporters in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur, where the ASEAN Summit is being hosted.

Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang called the talks between the US and China candid and in-depth discussions on the upcoming trade deal, revealing that the two partners had reached a preliminary consensus.

The trade negotiators were in Kuala Lumpur for a meeting of the ASEAN summit, where Donald Trump began a nearly weeklong trip to Asia.

US-China trade deal: What was discussed? According to the Chinese side, as quoted by The New York Times, the talks between the countries regarding the US-China trade deal featured a wide range of topics including bilateral trade, export controls, extensions of reciprocal tariff, fentanyl-related tariffs and cooperation on combating fentanyl trafficking among other things.

According to Greer, the US and China also discussed the possible extension of the truces the countries had reached earlier this year in terms of tariffs.

The discussions also included the topic of rare earth exports, on which China has imposed strict curbs.

We talked about extending the truce, we talked about rare earths, of course, we talked about all kinds of topics, Greer said, as per NYT.

Is China going to face 157% tariff? US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the trade talk framework, and said that the two sides had reached a very substantial framework.

Speaking later in an interview with CBS News, the Trump aide said that the additional 100 per cent tariff that the US was supposed to implement from November 1 on Chinese goods is effectively off the table.

He further said that the US expects Beijing to make substantial soybean purchases and offer a deferral on sweeping rare earth controls. The US wouldnt change its export controls directed at China, he added.

So I would expect that the threat of the 100% has gone away, as has the threat of the immediate imposition of the Chinese initiating a worldwide export control regime, Bessent said in the interview, as per Bloomberg.

Separately, he told ABC News that he expected China to delay is rare earth restrictions for a year while they reexamine it.

Donald Trump himself predicted a good deal with China as he spoke with reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Kuala Lumpur, saying he expected additional leader-level follow-up meetings in China and the US.
Bihar polls: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday vowed to double the allowances of the representatives of Bihars panchayati raj system if the INDIA bloc was voted to power in the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections.

He also said that the representatives will be entitled to 50 lakh pension and insurance cover.

If the INDIA bloc is voted to power, monthly allowances of the representatives of Bihars panchayati raj system will be doubled. We will also substantially increase the margin money, per quintal, of distributors of the public distribution system (PDS) in the state, Tejashwi Yadav said while talking to reporters in Patna ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections.

He also promised interest-free loans to certain professionals.

Besides, we will provide 5 lakh interest-free loans to barbers, those engaged in the pottery business, and carpenters in the state, Yadav said.

How much salary do panchayati raj representatives get? There are three levels of governance in the panchayati raj system, including zila parishad, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayat. The chairpersons of these associations are known as mukhiya (gram panchayat), pramukh (panchayat samiti), and adhyaksha (zila parishad).

In June this year, the Nitish Kumar government had raised the allowances and other benefits of panchayati raj association functionaries and ward members across Bihar.

The monthly allowance of zila parishad presidents has been hiked to 30,000 from 20,000, vice presidents 20,000 from 10,000) and mukhiyas 7,500 per month from 5,000). Currently, Bihar has 8,053 gram panchayats, 533 panchayat samitis and 38 zila parishads functional in the state.

Also Read | Tejashwi Yadav declared Mahagathbandhans CM face for Bihar polls

The Nitish Kumar government has also established a gram kachahari in each gram panchayat, which are aimed at dispensation of justice at the doorstep of the rural populace.

Meanwhile, PDS distributors are paid 258.40 per quintal as commission in the state.

Nitish will not be made CM: Tejashwi Addressing a rally on Friday, Tejashwi Yadav also claimed that CM Nitish Kumar will not be made the chief minister if the ruling JD(U)-led NDA is again voted to power.

He also alleged that Nitish Kumar has been hijacked by the BJP, and two people from Gujarat are controlling Bihar, referring to Amit Shah and PM Narendra Modi.

Amit Shah has made it clear that elected legislators will decide the CM of Bihar after elections. Nitish Kumar will not be made the CM, if the NDA is voted to power again, he said.

Yadav, the chief ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc, accused the Centre of shielding corrupt leaders and criminals in the state.
The Election Commission is set to hold a press conference on Monday evening to announce pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters' list, it said on Sunday.

The official press invite for the meeting states it will start at 4:15 pm on Monday.

While the invitation does not mention the purpose of the press conference, officials confirmed it will be about the SIR across India.

The poll body is expected to announce the first phase of SIR, in which 10 to 15 states will be covered, including those going to Assembly polls in 2026.

Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry are scheduled to go to polls next year.

Also Read | Bihar SIR: SC asks Election Commission to consider Aadhaar as valid voter ID

The meeting will be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, according to the Election Commission.

EC to conduct pan-India SIR In the first phase of the pan-India SIR, states including Assam, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and West Bengal, which are set to go into polls next year, will be among the first ones where the exercise to clean up voters' lists will begin.

The EC will not hold the electoral roll cleanup exercise in states where local body elections are taking place or are due, as the grassroots poll machinery is busy with it and may not be able to focus on SIR, officials said earlier.

The EC will conduct SIR for such states during later phases.

Also Read | Bihar SIR: How to check your name in voter list as EC releases electoral roll

Supporting the SIR in West Bengal, state BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said that it must undergo a transparent and thorough revision of voter lists.

The people of West Bengal want the correct voter list to be presented before them. The names of the deceased, the names of infiltrators, and the elections being held by listing one name in four places should be stopped, he said.

However, the ruling Trinamool Congress has opposed the SIR exercise in West Bengal.

The EC had earlier this week directed the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) to finalise their preparations for the SIR exercise in their states and Union Territories.

According to the press release, the Commission assessed the progress made on the directions previously issued to the CEOs to map the current electors with the electors as per the last SIR in their respective States and UTs.

Also Read | Bihar SIR: Supreme Court declines blanket order

This comes in the backdrop of CEC Gyanesh Kumar's announcement for a nationwide SIR, after an SIR of the electoral roll in the poll-bound Bihar.

In Bihar, the total number of electors in the final list stands at 7.42 crore, while there were 7.89 crore electors as of June 24 this year. A total of 65 lakh voters were removed from the draft list. In addition, 3.66 lakh ineligible electors were removed from the final list while 21.53 lakh eligible electors were added via Form 6, taking the total to 7.42 crore voters.
Actor Rashmika Mandanna is basking in the success of Thamma. Amid this, she announced her upcoming project, The Girlfriend. The much-hyped romantic drama sees her with actor Dheekshith Shetty. Directed by Rahul Ravindran, the film focuses on the emotional turbulence of a toxic relationship faced by a girl.

Rashmika Mandanna's upcoming film The Girlfriend The trailer of The Girlfriend was dropped recently, offering a glimpse into a complex love story that delves deep into the shifting nature of a relationship and one's identity in it.

In the film, Rashmika Mandanna plays Bhooma, a woman torn between two haunting questions  is she in love with her boyfriend, or merely smitten by the idea of being in love?

The trailer of The Girlfriend begins with a tense exchange where Bhooma nervously tells her boyfriend, Vikram, that they should take a small break. When he misunderstands, she quickly clarifies that she wants a real break, not just a brief pause.

The video then cuts to a flashback of Vikrams impromptu proposal. Theres an auspicious time the day after tomorrow. Lets get married," he once told Bhooma. While Vikram sees Bhooma as his ideal partner, Bhoomas hesitation hints at deeper emotional turmoil.

The video takes the audience into the sweet romance between Bhooma and Vikram. Rashmika and Dheekshith Shettys characters share tender smiles, teasing banter like you kissed last night, and moments of joy. But soon, the tone shifts, revealing the cracks in their relationship. What follows is a montage of arguments, doubts, and emotional chaos. From the family's intervention to suppressed anger, and the struggle to hold on to love, their relationship is far from being perfect. The trailer wraps up as Bhooma begins to question not just her relationship, but also the meaning of being someones girlfriend.

The Girlfriend trailer Watch trailer here:

About The Girlfriend: Makers, cast The Girlfriend is written and directed by Rahul Ravindran. It also stars Anu Emmanuel, Rao Ramesh, and Rohini.

While the music of the film is helmed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, the cinematography is done by Krishnan Vasant.

When will The Girlfriend release? The Girlfriend will be released in theatres on 7 November in Telugu language. It is not known yet if the film will also have a Hindi-dubbed release. However, the trailer was also released in Hindi.

The teaser of The Girlfriend was released last year. It had Mandanna's rumoured fiance, Vijay Deverakonda's voiceover with her character's visuals at a college.

Also Read | Did Rashmika Mandanna confirm engagement to Vijay Deverakonda? She flaunts ring
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan created a stir on social media and landed in a controversy with his recent remarks about Balochistan in Abu Dhabi. Reportedly, the incident triggered outrage in Pakistan, placing him under the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997).

For the unversed, the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) is a list typically reserved for individuals who are suspected of links to terrorism.

Salman Khan declared terrorist by Pakistan The development was confirmed with a notification issued by the Government of Balochistan Home Department on 16 October 2025, according to a report by Money Control.

Why Salman Khan has been declared terrorist by Pakistan The reason behind declaring the actor 'terrorist' was mentioned in the document. It reportedly read that Khan is an 'Azad Balochistan Facilitator'.

Meanwhile, inclusion in the 4th Schedule comes with serious consequences, such as increased surveillance, limitations on mobility, and the possibility of legal proceedings against the individual.

The step comes days after Salman Khan mentioned Pakistan and Balochistan separately at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi. He was talking about people working in the Middle East.

What did Salman Khan say about Pakistan, Balochistan? Salman Khan attended the event alongsideShah Rukh Khanand Aamir Khan, where the three Khans of Bollywood made their rare appearance together to discuss the growing popularity of Indian cinema in the Middle East.

Talking about the influence of Indian cinema among the South Asian communities who live in the Middle East, Salman Khan said, Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan... everyone is working here.

Khan's statement gained mixed reactions from the internet. While many praised him for his stand, many from the neighbouring country reportedly were unhappy with it.

Additionally, Khan's remark was praised by Baloch separatist leaders. Interpreting as an acknowledgement of their struggles, Mir Yar Baloch was quoted as saying by multiple reports, By recognising Balochistan as distinct, Salman Khan has done what many nations hesitate to do. Its a powerful act of soft diplomacy that strengthens the global awareness of our identity.

Also Read | Dabangg director alleges Salman Khan refused to touch Om Puri's feet in a scene
President Trump put the world on notice in his first term that the U.S. was preparing for an era of intensified military and economic competition with Beijing.

But as he left for his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House, striking a new trade deal with Chinese leader Xi Jinping has moved to the top of Trumps agenda, spurring apprehensions among allies that the dealmaking might come at their expense.

Asian allies are experiencing strategic whiplash," said Craig Singleton, a former U.S. diplomat who directs the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Their central concern now is whether Trumps transactional instincts could lead to a grand bargain with Xi, especially one that sidelines Taiwan or dilutes allied leverage."

Trumps blitz through Asia begins Sunday in Malaysia at a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders, where the president plans to preside over the signing of a peace deal to settle the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, U.S. officials say.

Then it is on to Japan, where Trump will meet with Sanae Takaichi, the countrys new prime minister, who advocates close ties with the U.S. and a stronger Japanese military. Takaichi vowed Friday to boost military spending to 2% of gross domestic product two years ahead of schedule, a move that will sweeten the atmosphere for Trumps visit. But she lacks the established rapport that Shinzo AbeJapans longstanding prime minister, who was assassinated after leaving officeenjoyed with Trump.

Trumps third stop is South Korea, where he will meet President Lee Jae-myung and participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. While Trump has said that he is open to meeting at some point with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a senior U.S. official told reporters Friday that it isnt on the schedule for this trip.

But Trump has cast his Thursday morning meeting with Xi in South Korea as the acid test of his Asia trip.

This seems to be the one that people are very interested in," Trump said Monday. I think when we finish our meetings in South Korea, China and I will have a really fair and really great trade deal together."

Trumps agenda with China includes securing relief from its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and averting an all-out trade war with Beijing. An immediate goal, Trump has said, is to persuade China to resume its purchase of American soybeans, which Beijing has stopped buyingto the distress of U.S. farmers, an important Republican constituency.

The looming meeting between Trump and Xi has led to considerable anxiety as well as anticipation in the region, said Kurt Campbell, a longtime Asian specialist who served as deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration.

Asian allies like when relations between the U.S. and China are not too hot or cold," Campbell said. And they are uneasy about scenarios in which relations between Trump and Xi could escalate toward confrontation or lead to a partnership between Washington and Beijing in which decisions are made over their heads.

In the Cold War, the language of power was nuclear throw weights," Campbell said. Trump and Xi are inaugurating a new era in which technological prowess is at the core of the competition."

The first Trump administration was dominated by national-security hands who were tough-minded on China and underscored the need to prepare for a new era of great power competition. The 2018 National Defense Strategy, during then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattiss tenure in the Pentagon, described China as a revisionist" power bent on dominating the western Pacific and said the U.S. would strengthen alliances, grow its economy and field a more lethal military in response.

But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths forthcoming National Defense Strategy is expected to highlight the U.S. militarys expanding presence in the Western Hemisphere to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave office and try to stem the flow of narcotics.

The shift in strategy theyre talking about is looking like many more of our forces are not going to be in the Pacific," Todd Harrison, a defense budget expert at the American Enterprise Institute, said at a symposium on Thursday. They are going to be back here in the Western Hemisphere. And we are going to be much more focused on drug cartels than we are on the PRC," he added, referring to the country by its formal name, the Peoples Republic of China.

Even so, current and former Pentagon officials note that much of the defense budget is still aimed at developing new bombers, long-range missiles and semiautonomous drones that would strengthen U.S. military capabilities in the western Pacific.

More than 28,000 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea. The U.S. Air Force continues to fly bomber task forces to Japan and the western Pacific. Trump signaled Monday that a Biden-era dealcemented by the U.S., Australia and the U.K.to sell nuclear-power submarines to Australia has survived a Pentagon review intact. The U.S. aircraft carrier battle group that is being sent to the Caribbean is coming from the Mediterranean and not the Pacific.

On Friday, a senior U.S. official told reporters that the Trump administration has no intention of moving away from the longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity" about whether Washington would intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan. Xi, The Wall Street Journal reported last month, wants the Trump administration to formally state that it opposes" Taiwans independence as Washington and Beijing try to strike a trade deal.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is traveling with Trump to Malaysia, said Saturday that the Trump administration wouldnt make concessions on Taiwans security to get a good trade agreement with China.

I dont think youre going to see some trade deal wherewere going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan," Rubio said. No one is contemplating that."

Still, Trumps focus on resetting trade relations with Beijing has been felt in Taiwan, where a long-anticipated package in military assistance to Taipei has been delayed as the White House laid the groundwork for a meeting between Trump and Xi.

Washington also nixed a planned stopover in New York in August by Taiwans president. And while Taiwan has negotiated a reduced tariff rate from 32% to a temporary level of 20%, which took effect on Aug. 7, the rate is still higher than Japan and South Koreas 15%, and 19% for some of Southeast Asias biggest economies.

Facing pressure from the Pentagon, Taiwan has sought to show the U.S. that it is committed to spending more on defense. In August, Taiwan proposed its largest-ever military spending, which aims to reach 3.32% of its GDP for next year, using the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations definition of military spending. President Lai Ching-te has said he hopes to push the figure to 5% by 2030.

Taiwans recent efforts have featured a more explicit outreach to Trumps supporters on the far right. This month, President Lai gave a rare interview to conservative political commentator and radio talk-show host Buck Sexton in which he lavished praise on Trump and borrowed a page from other world leaders who have mentioned the Nobel Prize in a bid to win Trumps support.

If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize," Lai said.

Write to Michael R. Gordon at michael.gordon@wsj.com and Joyu Wang at joyu.wang@wsj.com
KIRYAT GAT, IsraelOn the edge of a small city in southern Israel, a cavernous warehouse is being remade into the headquarters of President Trumps Gaza peace plan.

Two hundred U.S. troops working with Israels military and other partners have scrambled over the past week to build out a new Civil-Military Coordination Center. It will monitor the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and coordinate the flow of aid and security assistance to Gaza, which lies roughly 20 miles away.

Like the plan itselfwhich freed the remaining live hostages in Gaza nearly two weeks ago and is now moving on to the more difficult task of creating alternatives to Hamas to administer and secure the enclavethe center is a work in progress.

Dozens of whiteboards partition the vast cement hall, flanked by large displays inscribed with the 20 points of Trumps Gaza peace plan. The floor of the hall, which is covered with new artificial turf, bustles with soldiers and civilian staff weaving through black panels as a loudspeaker reminds them to not smoke inside.

A makeshift command center projects maps and updates from social media and news reports onto the walls. They also display a message in green letters:

A new and beautiful day is rising. And now the rebuilding begins. President Donald J. Trump."

Trump and his envoys pushed the plan into existence with an unorthodox approach: Declare victory then work out the details later. The optimism overcame the parties reservations with the plan to free the hostages and brought the first sustained break in the fighting in seven months.

The administration kept up the broadly positive tone this week, even as it sent a string of heavy hitters to Israel to keep the process on track after a string of skirmishes between the combatants last weekend. Top Trump emissariesincluding Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushnerhave cycled in and out of Israel in recent days.

Rubio, the latest administration official to arrive, said Friday that the work being done in this warehouse in southern Israel is the key to holding it all together."

There is no Plan B," he said after he toured the site with military officials and greeted troops. This is the best plan. Its the only plan."

U.S. officials say the hub is a tangible symbol of Washingtons commitment to the Gaza peace deal, which hangs on Trumps guarantee that Israel wont resume the war as long as Hamas adheres to the deals terms.

It also is a way to keep close watch as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu navigates domestic pressure from members of his coalition who oppose ending the fight against Hamas, as well as to coordinate with a roster of uneasy regional partners.

Witkoff and Kushner delivered a strong message to Netanyahu in a meeting Monday that Israel must avoid escalation by ensuring responses to any alleged cease-fire violations by Hamas are proportional. Trump has also repeatedly warned Hamas to stop violating the agreement or risk being wiped out.

Military officers from partner countries milled about the new center in small clusters Friday, the flags on their sleevesincluding those of Germany, France, Greece, Cyprus, the U.K., Australia and Canadameant to underscore the international effort to keep the Gaza cease-fire from unraveling. U.S. troops from the Army, Marines and Space Force are represented.

Israeli media has remarked on the sudden influx of American soldiers wandering the streets and ordering restaurant deliveries.

The State Department is dispatching more diplomats to aid the effort. It said Friday that Steven Fagin, the U.S. ambassador to Yemen, will serve as the civilian lead at the center.

While U.S. officials have emphasized there will be no American soldiers on the ground in Gaza, it is assembling an international stabilization force of partner countries. Asked about one of the news headlines projected on the screen behind him reading U.S. accepted Israels veto of Turkish soldiers for ISF," Rubio said Israel will have to be comfortable with composition of the so-called international stabilization force as it is assembled.

While U.S. officials are discussing the makeup of the force with multiple countries, including Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan, Rubio stressed that basic questions are still being worked out. This includes what their mandate will be, the command structure, legal questions, how it will be paid for and the rules of engagement.

Theres a lot to work through," Rubio said. Thats why theres all these people working in this building."

Part of the monitoring involves following public information on developments in Gaza. On Friday, the roundup included updates on the return of the bodies of hostages and the availability of food in the enclave.

U.S. officials say the coordination effort is bringing together a mix of international and humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Program, to deliver aid. The day before Rubios visit, the center set up a working group on dual-use items to improve access to items needed for the winter and healthcare.

The efforts, which are being overseen by Lt. Gen. Patrick Frank, the commander of the U.S. Army Central Command, are still in the early stages. Before Trump announced the deal on Oct. 8, U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with Witkoff and Kushner in Egypt and assured them he could have a command center operational within 2 weeks, a senior administration official said.

Weve made more progress in 13 days than anyone thought possible," Rubio said. We have to make it work. There is no other alternative."

Write to Vera Bergengruen at vera.bergengruen@wsj.com
Bank holidays next week, October 27 to November 2: Banks will be closed for five days in the upcoming week in some parts of India, due to Chhath Puja and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday, according to the bank holiday calendar by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Banks will also be closed on Sunday, November 2, 2025 across the country.

Bank holidays in India differ from state to state and are based on national, regional, and religious observances.

Bank holiday for Chhath Puja Banks will be closed on Monday, October 27, for Chhath Puja in Kolkata, Patna and Ranchi and on Tuesday, October 28, in Patna and Ranchi.

Notably, banks in Patna and Ranchi will remain closed for four consecutive days, including this week's weekend holidays.

Chhath Puja 2025 Chhath Puja, a four-day festival honouring the Sun God, will be observed from 25 to 28 October this year. It is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal. During this festival, devotees express gratitude for sustaining life and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being through rituals such as fasting, bathing in sacred rivers, and offering prayers to the sun.

Bank holiday for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday Banks will be closed in Ahmedabad for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday on Friday, October 31, 2025. Patel played a leading role in India's freedom movement, served as the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister from 1947 to 1950.

Bank holiday for Kannada Rajyothsava and Igas Bagwal Banks in Bengaluru will be closed on Saturday, November 1, for Kannada Rajyothsava, celebrated to mark the formation of the state.

Meanwhile, banks in Dehradun will be closed on Saturday, November 1, for Igas Bagwal. This day is celebrated in Uttarakhand, 11 days after Diwali. Igas Bagwal is celebrated on Kartik Shukla Ekadashi, marking the conclusion of Lord Vishnus four-month rest period, a time considered auspicious for new beginnings. It is also believed that when news of Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya reached Uttarakhand, the locals celebrated their own version of Diwali 11 days post the festival.

Are all banks open or closed on Saturday, November 1? Banks across the country will be open on Saturday, November 1 2025, except in Bengaluru and Dehradun for Kannada Rajyothsava and Igas-Bagwal. Since it is the first Saturday of the month, banks in the rest of the country will remain open. As per the RBI calendar, banks are typically closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Notably, banks are closed on all Sundays of the month. Hence, banks will be closed on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Chhath Puja Bank Holiday: Banks will be closed for two days in Patna and Ranchi, while banks will remain shut for a day in Kolkata for Chhath Puja, according to Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) region wise holiday calendar.

Bank holiday for Chhath Puja Banks in Patna and Ranchi will be closed for two days for Chhath Puja on Monday, October 27 and Tuesday October 28. While banks in Kolkata will be closed on Monday, October 27 for Chhath Puja.

Hence, banks in Patna and Ranchi will observe four consecutive holidays, including this week's weekend holidays.

Chhath Puja 2025 Chhath Puja is a four-day festival celebrated from 25 to 28 October this year. Predominantly observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Nepal, on this day, devotees worship the Sun God, Surya, and his sister Chhati Maiya, who is believed to sustain life. They express gratitude for sustaining life and seek blessings for health, prosperity, and well-being through rituals such as fasting, bathing in sacred rivers, and offering prayers to the sun.

When are banks closed? Banks are generally closed across different parts of the country to observe national, religious, and regional holidays. Additionally, banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays and every Sunday of the month.

When are banks closed next? Banks in Ahmedabad will be closed on Friday, 31 October 2025, in observance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday. Patel was a prominent leader in India's independence movement and served as the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister from 1947 to 1950.

Are online banking services available on a bank holiday? Online banking services will most likely be available across the country to ensure access to banking services, even on bank holidays. Customers can use these services for convenient financial transactions.

Fund transfer requests can be made using NEFT/RTGS transfer forms, demand draft request forms and chequebook forms. Credit cards, debit cards, and ATM cards can be availed through card services. Services such as account maintenance forms, setting up standing instructions, and applying for a locker are also available.
Thomas Fuller / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images Shares of Comfort Systems are big gainers today.

Key Takeaways

Shares of HVAC company Comfort Systems were jumping Friday to extend a long upward run in 2025.

Comfort Systems is one of the companies to see growth and share-price appreciation as AI spending has excited investors in firms across a range of industries.

Comfort Systems shares are looking hot.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning company's stock was recently zooming higher, jumping nearly 18% on Friday to extend 2025 and all-time highs; the shares, recently trading around $971, finished last year at $422.82. Today's jump marks the second big one-day move in the second half of this year alone.

Some investors have seized on the stock as a beneficiary of AI-related growth and the belief that it can continue. Recent sources of demand, the company has said, have largely come from data centers and chip plant projects. That's attracted investors looking for different ways to benefit from booming spending.

Why This Matters to Investors

High-profile chipmakers get a lot of the attention when investors discuss the AI boom, but stocks in a wide range of other industries have also attracted noticeand big gains. Comfort Systems, which says demand has been lifted by data center and chip activity, is one example: Its shares have more than doubled this year.

It's showing up in the numbers. Yesterday Comfort Systems (FIX) reported substantial third-quarter year-over-year growth in revenue, net income and free cash flow, as well as a bigger backlog. That backlog, which implies sustained strength in sales, is likely a large reason for the stock's upward move today.

"This was the second consecutive quarter where backlog expanded [by more than $1 billion] sequentially, highlighting the strength of demand backdrop," wrote UBS analysts, who have a bullish rating on the stock, on Friday. The shares' valuation, meanwhile, was already rich by some historical measures before today's jump, William Blair analysts wrote today, though they found it "justified" by the company's performance.

The stock isn't too widely covered by Wall Street analysts, per Visible Alpha, despite a market capitalization north of $30 billion. But today's move has the current consensus price target, a few bucks under $920, in the rear-view mirror.



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Mumbai: Liquidity in Indias banking system has turned negative for the first time in a month, as the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) dollar sales to defend the rupee and higher cash withdrawals during the festive season drained funds from the market. The central bank could step in soon to ease the crunch, likely through open market operation (OMO) bond purchases or forex buy/sell swaps, market participants told Mint .

As of 23 October, liquidity in the banking system was in a deficit of 2,645 crore. Market participants warn that if the outflows persist, core liquiditysystem liquidity after accounting for government cash balancescould slip below 1% of the net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) by the March quarter. This will tighten funding conditions, push up short-term rates and strain banks ability to lend during the busy season.

Under its liquidity management framework, the RBI aims to maintain system liquidity, which includes government cash balances, at around 1% of NDTL.

Also Read | RBI cautions states on fiscal discipline as borrowing costs surge

The need for RBI action is heightened by the fact that benefits from the cut in cash reserve ratio (CRR)the percentage of a banks total deposits that must be kept with the RBI in cashearlier this year, with two tranches of 62,500 crore each released already, have largely been offset by heavy outflows of rupee liquidity.

Even after assuming no further drain from forex intervention in the remainder of FY26, there could be a need for durable liquidity infusion at the end of Q3 FY26," said Gaura Sengupta, chief economist at IDFC First Bank. Core liquidity is estimated to drop to below 1% of NDTL in the March quarter, which implies that system liquidity would be even lower, given a positive government cash surplus, added Sengupta.

OMO purchases happen when the central bank buys government bonds from banks and, in turn, injects money into the banking system.

With frictional liquidity already in deficit and durable liquidity declining by nearly 1 trillion, the central bank may soon resort to durable liquidity measures, most likely through OMO purchases, possibly starting as early as December," V. Ramachandra Reddy, treasury head, Karur Vysya Bank, said.

Durable liquidity refers to the long-term money supply conditions while frictional liquidity refers to the temporary fluctuations in money supply.

FX intervention offsets CRR benefits

In June, the central bank had announced a phased 100-basis-point CRR cut to 3% from September to November, which would release about 2.5 trillion worth of liquidity in the banking system.

Also Read | Why banks are not worried about RBI's new stress recognition plan

Despite these efforts, liquidity has been in deficit for three consecutive days from 20-22 October. The last time liquidity was in deficit was on 24 September, according to data by Bloomberg, on the back of quarterly advance tax outflows.

Core liquidity has dropped from 6 trillion on 23 May to 3.45 trillion as of 17 October, Sengupta said. She said the bulk of this decline so far in the current fiscal year has come from RBI's forex interventions, both in spot and forward markets.

The rupees defence around the 89-per-dollar level and a widening trade deficit led to sizable dollar sales by the RBI. These operations have absorbed more liquidity than what the CRR cut infused. Approximately, 1.5 trillion was drained through forex interventions from 26 September to 17 October, RBI data showed.

Since the government usually runs a cash surplus of 23 trillion parked with the RBI, system liquidity is typically lower than core liquidity.

The ongoing festive season has led to further tightening of liquidity due to increased currency leakage, as cash withdrawals rise to meet rural and consumption demand.

Almost 60,000 crore was drained due to FX intervention and 20,000 crore through currency leakage in the 10-17 October week, RBI data showed.

Overall, I don't think liquidity conditions will improve as much. However, if a rate cut comes in December, I expect that RBI will move to a more neutral liquidity scenario, where core surplus will be close to 2-3 trillion and overall headline system liquidity will be close to zero. So, we will probably come down to that kind of scenario," Shailendra Jhingan, head of treasury at ICICI Bank said.

Also Read | RBL-Emirates deal shows RBI is warming up to foreign capital

The RBI also faces forward dollar delivery obligations of about $20 billion through December, which could continue draining rupee liquidity as it unwinds its earlier buy-sell swaps.

Traders also believe that the 10-year benchmark government bond yield has stubbornly stayed around 6.50% level in recent weeks, reflecting tight liquidity, rather than any change in policy expectations.

Market expects RBI to step in with formal or behind-the-screen OMOs to stabilize liquidity and yields. This is a frictional drawdown that might reverse, but OMOs remain the best solution to anchor yields and support banks facing mark-to-market losses." another senior treasury official said.

While the RBI has been using variable rate repo and reverse repo operations to manage short-term mismatches, market participants believe these measures may not be sufficient if core liquidity continues its downward trajectory.
Buy or sell: The Nifty 50 ended the week on a strong note, gaining 0.33% to close at 25,795, supported by positive global cues and optimism surrounding U.S. President Donald Trumps weeklong tour of Asia  his first trip to the region during his second term  which includes visits to Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, culminating in a meeting with Chinas top leader, Xi Jinping. Broader markets also witnessed healthy participation, with several key indices advancing between 13%. Among sectors, Telecom led the rally with an impressive 5.5% gain, while Banking, Technology, and Metal sectors also posted notable advances, reflecting broad-based strength across the board.

Also Read | US Fed meet to Q2 results - Top five triggers for Indian stock market this week

Weekly market outlook Nifty 50 On the technical front, Last week Nifty broke above the key 25,600 resistance level for the first time in a long period and sustained comfortably above this crucial psychological mark on a weekly basis. The index also registered a higher high closing on the weekly chart, indicating continued bullish momentum in the near term. Although Nifty briefly surpassed the psychological 26,000 level, some profit booking was observed at higher levels. The index had earlier established a strong base near the 24,30024,400 zone, coinciding with the 200-day EMA, which now acts as a solid support area. Throughout the week, Nifty consistently traded above 25,50025,600, tested resistance near 26,00026,600, and eventually settled at 25,795. Fresh support is now placed at 25,50025,600, while resistance levels are seen at 26,000 and 26,500. For the upcoming week, Nifty is expected to trade within a range of 25,70026,500, with a decisive move above 26,000 likely to trigger the next leg higher toward 26,500.

Derivatives data also supports this view, with the highest Call open interest at the 26,500 strike, followed by the 26,000 level, indicating potential resistance zones. On the Put side, the highest open interest is concentrated at the 25,500 and 25,700 strikes, suggesting strong support levels for the index.

Bank Nifty The Bank Nifty continued its bullish momentum, closing above the 58,000 mark and hitting a fresh 52-week high. The index continues to find strong support in the 56,50057,000 zone, while resistance is placed at 58,50059,000 levels. Both PSU and private banks contributed positively to the uptrend, reflecting broad-based strength across the banking sector.

Overall, market sentiment remains upbeat, with sustained momentum likely as long as Nifty holds above 25,600 and Bank Nifty maintains strength above 57,000. Traders are advised to follow a disciplined buy-on-dips strategy in selective stocks while keeping a close watch on global developments and geopolitical cues for further directional clarity.

Also Read | Mukul Agrawal picks stake in a smallcap pharma stock: What investors should know

Weekly stocks to buy or sell JSW Steel Ltd: Buy at 1135-1140; Stop Loss at 1115; Target Price of 1180.

Indus Towers Ltd: Buy at 360-362; Stop Loss at 350; Target Price of 390.

UPL: Buy at 673-675; Stop Loss at 655; Target Price of 700.
Where do you get your information about the hottest new openings in town? For most of us chronically online folks, its probably Instagram. Increasingly and disturbingly, the social media platform is becoming the default source for all kinds of news, be it Mamdani or matcha. In a departure from the storytelling of earlier, which was largely restricted to how a dish gets made, restaurants are going the extra mile when it comes to content, creating everything from behind-the-scenes episodes of setting up an eatery to fictitious microdramas based on the hit series The Office.

Mokai, an Asian-inspired cafe tucked into the busy bylanes of Mumbais Bandra is extending its reach beyond the suburb with its microdrama series, #TheOfficeWithTeamMokai, where coffee is served with a side of drama. The main protagonist of the Instagram show is Suraksha Suvarna, the head barista at the cafe, playing a sassy drama queen who terrorises customers and staff members with her office politics and cheeky comebacks. What started as a fun way to engage with Mokais digital audience has extended into multiple seasons with cameos by other food creators such as Natasha Gandhi and Indu Icecreams Saloni Kukreja. Through the course of the series, viewers are introduced to new additions to the menu, limited-offer specials and other updates, making it a clever way to disseminate information. The comments and engagement on each post are testament to the series success.

Also Read | What is the point of a restaurant review?

View Full Image The staff at Nandhini Deluxe shooting meme content. (Instagram)

In Bengaluru, the Andhra restaurant chain Nandhini Deluxe creates meme content with its staff in trending formats and audio to showcase its pookie chef". Smart-mouthed servers teach customers the right way to eat biryani and spotlight best-selling dishes like Carrot 65.

Whats common between both Mokai and Nandhinis content is that they put staff members front and centre, building fan bases for specific characters". In an earlier conversation with Mokais founder Karreena Bulchandani, she revealed how customers come into the cafe to seek out Suraksha and take selfies with her. She has a fan following of her own, its very endearing to see how a small experiment on social media has taken its own shape and form."

Benne is another Mumbai-based brand that has taken to social media to tell their story, albeit with a different approach. Being self-confessed outsiders" in the industry, Bengaluru natives and founders Shriya Narayan and Akhil Iyer found themselves gobsmacked by the inner workings of the restaurant world and began to share their journey of launching their dosa-championing chain on social media. This build-in-public model pulled the curtain back on the challenges food entrepreneurs face on a daily basis. From early morning batter runs to water leakages and that first order slip at a new branch, Bennes followers have been privy to Shriya and Akhils journey every step of the way, and the results have been fascinating.

Comments of comfort, not judgment, flood a post about how Bennes Juhu branch lost power during the monsoon. On another post about the road being dug up right outside the cafe, heart emojis and messages of support appear. The idea to build in public came from co-founder Shriya, a psychologist, who felt that an honest approach to social media would help the cafe connect with its digital audience.
Most insurance policyholders believe that once they are admitted to a hospital, the insurer will pay the bills. However, health insurance policy documents often include a reasonable and customary" clause, which allows insurers to pay only for costs that they consider fair and standard.

Insurers can assess whether a treatment, its cost and the number of days spent in hospital were actually necessary.

Most claims pass smoothly through these filters, but for those that are rejected, the clause proves to be a primary reason, second only to declines due to pre-existing health conditions.

Patient's pain

Take the case of this driver living in a tier-two town who had gastroenteritis. The local hospital, which was on the insurers panel, admitted him to the intensive care unit (ICU). He was kept for over a day, and administered antibiotics and other medicines intravenously. The insurer rejected his bill for 25,000, saying the patient could have been treated without hospitalisation. The insurer was probably right.

Doctors agree it could have been treated without hospitalisation. Yet, when you are in acute pain and told to get admitted, you rarely argue. Leaving against medical advice" is also frightening. In this difference of opinion, it is the patient who bears the brunt of an unpaid claim.

In another case, a surgeon at a well-known hospital in Mumbai charged 15 lakhs for a coronary artery surgery, while the same would have cost about 5 lakhs in other hospitals. Many rejected claims of this surgeon reached the Ombudsman, which ruled that the claim was payable in full by the insurer because the surgeon was a skilled specialist.

Also Read | Hospital group urges creation of regulator as insurance disputes hit patients

Ideally, these costs, incurred in a panel hospital, should not have been questioned. If the insurer felt that surgical costs were high, they could have excluded that hospital from their panel.

The length of stay in a hospital is another point challenged under the clause. In allopathic hospitals, the disagreement is often about one or two days, and every extra day adds cost. But, patients rarely choose to linger in a hospital unless advised.

Ayurvedic hospitals are different, though. Here, hospitalisation is for low-severity chronic conditions and can often last over a week. Patients can come for wellness and feel-good treatments disguised as medical necessity; therefore, scrutiny during hospital stays is considerably higher and justified.

Due diligence

You can reduce the risk of rejection by conducting thorough due diligence before undergoing treatment. The red flags to watch for are a hospital increasing prices or modifying treatment protocols when you share that you have insurance. Ask questions, get second opinions and find out the expected length of stay. Most importantly, follow the advice of an experienced medical professional. The courts have consistently taken the view that the medical professionals recommendation is to be followed.

Insurers must also step up. With no regulated hospital pricing or protocols in India, insurers could offer a list of empanelled hospitals where claims are paid without dispute. Hospitals and insurers can jointly agree to package costs rather than billing linked to number of days in the hospital, removing incentives for unnecessary extensions.

Doctors can also help by ensuring that discharge summaries and medical justifications are clear and accurate. Often, this justification is left to an administrative person with little medical experience.

I am still dealing with a case where a discharge summary by a junior doctor said the patient had consumed alcohol, despite the hospitals own test showing none. The 30 lakh claim is now in the courts due to a poorly written discharge note.

In an ideal world, there would be no subjectivity in applying this clause because hospital protocols and costs would be transparent and regulated. Until that utopia is achieved, the next best thing is to ask yourself: would I still opt for this treatment if I were paying the bill? That question alone can keep your care within the boundaries of what insurers call reasonable.

Kapil Mehta is co-founder, SecureNow Insurance Broker. Views are personal.

Also Read | Cashless insurance is a promise, and the promise must hold
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to actively participate in the celebrations marking 150 years of Indias national song, Vande Mataram, on November 7. Addressing the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi recalled that the iconic song was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 and highlighted its role in fostering patriotism and nation-building.

The Prime Minister said the song evokes immense emotion and a deep sense of pride in the hearts of every Indian, adding that it continues to unite the nation and inspire devotion to the country.

Vande Mataram ignites boundless emotion and pride in every Indians heart. #MannKiBaat," he tweeted.

Modi described the song as a timeless expression of patriotism and unity that continues to inspire generations of Indians. Reflecting on its legacy, he said: Indias national song, Vande Mataram. A song whose very first word evokes a surge of emotions in our hearts. VandeMataram  this one word contains so many emotions, so many energies. In simple terms, it makes us experience the maternal affection of MaBharati."

He emphasised that chanting Vande Mataram has the power to unite 140 crore Indians, particularly in times of difficulty. If there is a moment of difficulty, the chant of Vande Mataram fills 140 crore Indians with the energy of unity. Patriotism love for Ma Bharati if this is an emotion beyond words, then VandeMataram is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling," Modi said.

Tribute to the composer The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the song in the 19th century to awaken national pride in an India weakened by colonial rule.

It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to infuse new life into an India weakened by centuries of servitude. Vande Mataram might have been written in the 19th century, but its spirit is connected to the immortal consciousness of India that is thousands of years old" he added.

Modi encouraged citizens to participate in the planned events and contribute to honouring the legacy and enduring spirit of Vande Mataram.

Ek Ped Maa ke Naam During the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, he also called on citizens to adopt sustainable practices and take part in the 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' tree planting campaign, while highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led environmental conservation efforts across the country.

The Prime Minister praised several local initiatives that combine innovation with environmental protection, including the unique waste management model in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh.
The Supreme Court is on Monday scheduled to hear the bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others in the UAPA case linked to the alleged conspiracy behind the Delhi riots in February 2020.

A two-judge bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria is likely to take up the matter for hearing.

Apart from Khalid and Imam, the bench will also hear bail pleas of Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the same case.

This comes over a month after the SC had sought response from the Delhi Police on the matter of the bail pleas of the jailed activists. The top court had issued the notice on September 22.

Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others had moved the apex court challenging a decision of the Delhi High Court that denied them bail in the 2020 Delhi riots case.

Also Read | Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam seeks interim bail to contest Bihar polls

2020 Delhi riots case: What did HC say? On September 2, the Delhi High Court denied bail to nine people, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, saying "conspiratorial" violence under the garb of demonstrations or protests by citizens could not be allowed.

Besides Khalid and Imam, those who faced bail rejection are Fatima, Haider, Mohd Saleem Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman, Athar Khan, Abdul Khalid Saifi and Shadab Ahmed.

The bail plea of another accused, Tasleem Ahmed, was rejected by a different high court bench on September 2.

The high court said the Constitution affords citizens the right to protest and carry out demonstrations or agitations, provided they are orderly, peaceful and without arms, and such actions must be within the bounds of law.

Also Read | Supreme Court defers Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam bail hearing in Delhi riots case

Also Read | Delhi HC denies bail to Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam in 2020 riots case

While the high court said the right to participate in peaceful protests and to make speeches in public meetings was said to have been protected under Article 19(1)(a), and couldn't be blatantly curtailed, it observed the right was "not absolute" and "subject to reasonable restrictions".

"If the exercise of an unfettered right to protest were permitted, it would damage the constitutional framework and impinge upon the law and order situation in the country," the bail rejection order said.

Khalid, Imam and the rest of the accused persons were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the erstwhile IPC for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

The violence erupted during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens.

If the exercise of an unfettered right to protest were permitted, it would damage the constitutional framework and impinge upon the law and order situation in the country.

The accused, who have denied all the allegations against them, have been in jail since 2020 and had moved the high court after a trial court rejected their bail pleas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the 21st century belonged to India and the ASEAN nations, reaffirming the Association of South East Asian Nations as a major pillar of India's Act East Policy.

Underscoring the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and civilisational ties, the prime minister pointed out that India and ASEAN jointly account for almost a quarter of the world's population.

"The 21st century is our century, the century of India and ASEAN," PM Modi said in his virtual address to the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

"India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world's population. We do not just share geography, but are also connected by strong historical ties and shared values," he said.

Fellow Travellers PM Modi also emphasised that India and ASEAN are fellow travellers in the Global South, collaborating to guarantee stability, growth, and prosperity for all.

"Even in this era of uncertainty, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has shown steady progress," Modi said, adding that the strong partnership is emerging as a key foundation for global stability and development.

During his six-minute address to the summit, the prime minister reiterated India's steadfast support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, stressing that collaboration between the two regions is pivotal for widespread peace and prosperity throughout Asia.

"ASEAN is not just part of our foreign policy but a cornerstone of India's Act East vision," PM Modi said, reaffirming New Delhi's commitment to building a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

He congratulated Malaysia and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on successfully hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and praised the Philippines for its role as the country coordinator for India. Furthermore, he welcomed East Timor's inclusion as the 11th member state of the ASEAN community. The Prime Minister also offered his condolences following the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit.

Also Read | Donald Trump Shows Off His 'MAGA' Dance Moves Ahead Of ASEAN Summit

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to stand in for the Prime Minister at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27th. The East Asia Summit will serve as a platform to deliberate upon the challenges to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and to exchange views on significant regional and international developments.

Prime Minister Modi had, on Thursday, shared details of his conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has declared a government holiday in Delhi on Monday in view of Chhath Puja  a Hindu festival celebrated to worship the Sun God. The CM also extended her greetings and detailed the elaborate security arrangements being made to ensure cleanliness. Through the worship of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya, Chhath conveys a message of purity, environmental protection and gratitude towards nature, Gupta said.

Whats open and whats closed in Delhi tomorrow Schools and Colleges All schools in Delhi will remain closed tomorrow. Most private colleges are also likely to stay shut on Monday.

Offices Offices under the Delhi government are expected to remain closed, while private offices will function as usual. However, no official circular has been issued yet.

Also Read | Bank holidays this week: Banks to be closed for 5 days from Oct 27 to Nov 1

Transport services Public transport will operate as normal. Delhi Metro, buses and autorickshaws will be running according to their regular schedules.

Hospitals and essential services All essential services, including hospitals, will continue to function without any disruption.

Markets and malls Markets, shops and malls will remain open unless shopkeepers choose to close voluntarily.

The four-day Chhath festival is widely celebrated by devotees from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Several other states, including Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, are also likely to observe a school holiday.

Also Read | Chhath Puja ghat near Yamuna Bank metro station in Delhi reopens after 5 years

The first day of Chhath Puja, known as Nahay-Khay, marks the beginning of the four-day festival dedicated to the Sun God and Chhathi Maiya. The day highlights purity, cleanliness and self-discipline, setting the tone for the days of fasting and worship that follow.

Chhath devotees worshiping at the bank of Ganga river.

On this day, devotees purify their bodies and minds in preparation for the rigorous fast and rituals ahead. Bathing in rivers or ponds is considered highly auspicious, while those unable to do so can bathe at home using Ganga water. After bathing, devotees wear clean or new clothes and begin the Chhath fast with devotion.

Devotees offering rituals and puja on the bank of the Yamuna river before the Chhath puja.

Nahay-Khay also symbolises new beginnings, representing spiritual purity and renewal of life. Devotees offer prayers for the well-being, peace and prosperity of their families. The fast begins with simple, sattvik food prepared with great care and devotion.

Chhath Puja 2025: Key date and timings Date: Monday, October 27, 2025

Sunrise: 6:30 AM

Sunset: 5:40 PM

Shashthi Tithi Begins: 6:04 AM, October 27
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked Maharashtra's BJP-led Mahayuti government following the suspected suicide of a woman doctor in the Satara district, describing the tragedy as a case of "institutionalised murder."

In a social media post on X, Gandhi asserted that the doctor's death exposed the "inhumane and insensitive" face of the Devendra Fadnavis administration. The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha lamented that a promising medical practitioner, who had dedicated herself to alleviating the suffering of others, had become a victim of persecution by criminals entrenched within a corrupt system.

"The suicide [of a doctor]in Satara, Maharashtra, driven to despair by rape and harassment, is a tragedy that shakes the conscience of any civilized society. A promising doctor daughter, who aspired to alleviate the pain of others, became a victim of the persecution by criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure," the social media post said.

Gandhi added that his party stands firmly with the victim's family in their pursuit of justice.

When power becomes a shield for criminals, from whom can justice be expected? he asked, adding that the death exposes the inhumane and insensitive face of this BJP government. We stand firmly with the victim's family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India--no more fear, we demand justice.

Two Suspects Arrested A note found on the hand of the doctor, whose body was discovered in Satara on Friday, named a police officer and two other individuals, claiming they had driven her to take her own life through sustained physical and mental harassment.

Satara Police have since arrested two people, identified as Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and Prashant Bankar. A case has been registered against the pair under allegations of rape and aiding and abetting suicide. The Police Sub-Inspector mentioned in the note was suspended immediately following this development.

Doctor Subjected to Political Pressure The deceased doctor's relative also claimed she had been subjected to political pressure relating to her work.

"There was a lot of police and political pressure on her to make wrong mortem reports. She tried to complain about it. My sister should get justice," the cousin told ANI.

Another cousin of the victim demanded strict punishment for those involved. "The accused should get the strictest of punishment," he said.
Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 320  in "very poor" category early Sunday, October 26, as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Earlier on Saturday, October 25, the AQI in Delhi was in "poor" category at 292, the CPCB said in an update.

The air quality index in Anand Vihar stood at 430 (severe category) on Sunday, while that in Burari Crossing, it was at 393. Near the IGI airport and NSIT Dwarka, the AQI was in the poor category at 266 and 292 respectively.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

Delhi-NCR sees rise in respiratory, pregnancy-related cases Days following Diwali have once again brought a sharp decline in Delhi-NCR's air quality, with hospitals reporting a noticeable surge in respiratory and pregnancy-related complications.

Doctors across the region have attributed this spike to the combined effects of air and noise pollution caused by the widespread bursting of firecrackers, particularly during late-night hours.

According to pulmonologists and gynaecologists, both outpatient and emergency cases saw a sharp rise between October 20 and 23, as pollution levels soared far beyond permissible limits.

Delhi's Air Quality Index remained in the "very poor" category in the period.

The sudden exposure to smoke, toxic gases, and fine particulate matter has left the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic respiratory or cardiac illnesses struggling to cope.

"The post-Diwali smog is particularly dangerous because it comes with a sudden, dense concentration of pollutants. We've seen a nearly 30 percent jump in patients with breathing difficulties, asthma flare-ups, and allergic bronchitis within just two days after Diwali," Dr Pulkit Agarwal,Consultant Pulmonologist, SilverStreak Superspeciality Hospital, told news agency PTI.

Echoing the concern, Dr Mohit Bhardwaj, Consultant Pulmonology, Shalby International Hospital, Gurugram said, "The combination of stagnant winter air and smoke from crackers traps pollutants close to the ground. People with pre-existing conditions must avoid outdoor exposure during peak pollution hours, wear N95 masks, and continue prescribed inhalers or medications without interruption."

Gynaecologists are equally alarmed about the less visible but serious effects of pollution on maternal and foetal health.

"High levels of particulate matter can cross the placental barrier and interfere with foetal growth and brain development. We have observed an increase in expectant mothers reporting shortness of breath, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure following Diwali festivities," explained Dr Astha Dayal Director Obstetrics and Gynecology, CK Birla Hospital Gurgaon Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon.

Post-Diwali, PM2.5 levels peaked at 675, a four-year high.

Dr Yashica Gudesar Director and unit head Obstetrician and Gynaecology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Dwarka highlighted that continuous exposure to polluted air during pregnancy could also raise the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.

Advisory for pregnant women "We advise pregnant women to stay indoors when air quality dips, use air purifiers at home, and increase fluid intake to flush out toxins.

"Working women should also ensure the use of air purifiers at home, in their offices, and even in cars to minimize continuous exposure to harmful pollutants," she said.

Health experts have collectively urged both citizens and authorities to adopt more responsible and sustainable ways of celebrating festivals.

They recommended switching to eco-friendly crackers, organising community firework displays instead of individual ones, and promoting quieter, greener celebrations.

With air quality dipping to "severe" levels across several parts of Delhi-NCR, medical professionals stress that preventive care, public awareness, and responsible celebration are the only ways to break this recurring post-Diwali health emergency.
Key Points

Investors are pouring unprecedented sums into quantum computing stocks.

However, many popular quantum computing stocks are speculative companies as opposed to the usual, megacap beneficiaries from the artificial intelligence (AI) boom.

D-Wave Quantum is an interesting quantum AI stock, and its popularity rhymes with that of the rise of Nvidia over the last few years.

10 stocks we like better than D-Wave Quantum 

As investors hunt for the next Nvidia, attention is shifting toward quantum computing -- a field that could mark the next major leap in processing power.

D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS) stands out as one of the few public companies focused on building practical quantum computers -- machines designed to tackle problems that are simply beyond the capabilities of today's classical systems.

The question for investors is whether comparing D-Wave to Nvidia is a bold insight -- or the start of another speculative bubble.

What D-Wave is trying to solve -- and why it matters

D-Wave's mission is to commercialize quantum annealing technology, a specialized form of quantum computing designed to tackle optimization problems -- the kind of complex challenges that involve countless independent variables, such as supply chain logistics, portfolio risk management, or traffic routing.

Unlike traditional computers that rely on binary bits, quantum systems use qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This property, known as superposition, enables quantum machines to evaluate vast numbers of possible outcomes at once -- providing a theoretical edge over even the fastest GPUs on the planet.

As AI workloads grow exponentially, the limits of classical computing -- even with Nvidia's most advanced chips -- will eventually run into physical and economic constraints. Quantum computing offers a potential way around those barriers, solving in seconds what might take today's supercomputers thousands of years.

If successful, D-Wave's technology could transform industries ranging from drug discovery and energy exploration to cybersecurity and AI model optimization. The company is already collaborating with partners across defense, automotive, and blockchain sectors to explore real-world applications through its platform.

Image source: Getty Images.

Could D-Wave be the next Nvidia?

Any comparison between D-Wave and Nvidia stems from their shared position at the forefront of computational innovation. Just as Nvidia's GPUs ignited the AI revolution, D-Wave's systems aim to spark the next wave: quantum acceleration.

The company's revenue growth has been eye-catching, with triple-digit percentage gains year over year. That momentum has fueled retail investor enthusiasm and social media buzz reminiscent of the early days of AI investing.
Four more children suffering from thalassemia were detected HIV-positive in the Chaibasa town of Jharkhand on Saturday during an investigation by a five-member medical team from Ranchi, taking the total number of affected minors to five.

The development came a day after the family of a seven-year-old thalassemia patient alleged that the local blood bank in Chaibasa had transfused HIV-infected blood, news agency PTI reported.

Initial investigation indicates that contaminated blood was transfused to a thalassemia patient. Some discrepancies were detected in the blood bank during the probe, and the officials concerned have been directed to resolve them

Probe on Soon after, the Jharkhand government formed a medical team to find out how the child received contaminated blood. Around 25 units of blood were transfused since the child started visiting the blood bank, officials were quoted as saying.

The five-member team led by Director (Health services), Jharkhand, Dr. Dinesh Kumar, inspected the blood bank in Sadar Hospital and the pediatric intensive care unit ward and gathered details from under-treatment children.

The director said some discrepancies were detected in the blood bank during the investigation and directed the officials to resolve it.

"Initial investigation indicates that contaminated blood was transfused to a thalassemia patient. Some discrepancies were detected in the blood bank during the probe, and the officials concerned have been directed to resolve them," Kumar said.

The probe team, headed by Kumar, includes Dr Shipra Das, Dr S S Paswan, Dr Bhagat, District Civil Surgeon Dr Sushanto Majhee, Dr Shivcharan Hansda, and Dr Minu Kumari.

Also Read | Doorstep care eyed for HIV patients in India

What did doctor say? District Civil Surgeon Dr Sushanto Majhee said the child had tested HIV-positive over a week ago.

He added that HIV infection could also occur due to other factors, including exposure to contaminated needles.

Also Read | When Yusuf Hamied defied Big Pharma in the battle against HIV/AIDS

Currently, West Singhbhum district has 515 HIV-positive cases and 56 thalassemia patients.
In a disturbing incident, a 22-year-old man's stomach was split open and his fingers were chopped off following an argument in Kanpur, reports said on Sunday.

According to reports by NDTV and News18, the youth, a law student, was admitted to a local hospital in a critical condition.

The first-year-law student needed 14 stitches in his head and is battling for his life, NDTV reported quoting police personnel.

The student has been identified as Abhijeet Singh Chandel, a first-year law student from the Kanpur University.

Heated argument turns deadly The incident occurred when Chanel got embroiled in a heated argument with a medical shop worker, police said.

According to the reports, the argument started over the pricing of medicines and soon got heated to take shape of a full-blown fight between the student and the shopkeeper, who has been identified as Amar Singh.

Soon after, Amar Singh called his brother Vijay Singh, and two others  Prince Raj Srivastava and Nikhil, who arrived at the spot.

The four men attacked the student, targetting his head as he fell down with blood trickling down his face.

The attackers overpowered the Kanpur law student and hit him in the stomach. They then proceeded to cut his stomach with a sharp object, News18 reported quoting police.

When Chandel managed to get up and run towards his house shouting for help, the attackers caught him and chopped off two fingers of one of his hands.

Hearing the students screams, locals rushed him to save him. However, the accused fled the spot as soon as they heard people coming.

A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation into the matter is underway.

6-year-old killed in Kanpur The shocking incident comes days after another disturbing case was reported from Kanpur, where a local youth kidnapped a six-year-old boy and killed him.

The boy, a resident of Barra locality of Kanpur's Hardev Nagar, was kidnapped from outside his house when he was playing.

Ayush Sonkar, son of Makhan Sonkar, disappeared around 3 pm on Friday. His family launched a search before alerting the Barra police, who also began searching for the missing child, police said.

Also Read | Bengaluru surgeon kills wife with anaesthesia overdose, shocking details emerge

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Deependra Nath Chowdhary said three police teams were formed, and CCTV footage from the area was thoroughly examined.

"In the footage, Ayush was seen walking with a local youth, later identified as Shivam Saxena, who was later spotted returning alone," the officer said.
The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, stated on Sunday that the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) would allocate a grant of 5 crore for the refurbishment and upkeep of Cubbon Park.

"Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh are iconic, and hence, announcing grants for them. The citizens have demanded a grant for Cubbon Park, and we will organise grants from the BDA and the Horticulture department. We will not allow construction of any kind in Cubbon Park. We will do everything to protect this park," Shivakumar said.

He added: "We are also thinking of organising some cultural programmes at Cubbon Park. I had brought my wife to Cubbon Park during the early days of our marriage. I used to spend time here during my days as a student leader. We are working on setting up tree parks on the lines of Cubbon Park and Lal Bagh around Bengaluru. We will not fell any trees for this initiative."

The Deputy CM also confirmed that the government would be reviewing the request to relocate the Karnataka High Court building.

However, despite several lawyers proposing the Race Course as a potential new site for the High Court, Shivakumar noted that there were "legal obstacles" inherent in moving the premises there.

"During a public function, the advocates and the Chief Justice had appealed for 15-20 acres of land for the shifting of the High Court. Will discuss this with the government. We will identify a suitable place, taking the Court also into confidence. Not much can be done as it is a historic monument and the space is a constraint now," he said.

"We can't set up the High Court outside the city, and hence we are trying to find the space within the city itself. Some of the lawyers mentioned the Race Course. But there are legal hurdles for that," he said.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chief Minister added that he has commissioned the fitting of high-specification CCTV cameras to carefully monitor public movement and activity within Cubbon Park.
Bengaluru-bound private bus that caught massive fire in Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district on October 24 killing 20 people may have been caused by drunk biker, a forensic report said, with DIG K Praveen asserting conclusive proof, according to Indian Express.

The ill-fated bus, carrying 41 passengers, collided with bike of B Shiva Shankar who lost his life in the accident. He was under the influence of alcohol when his two-wheeler slipped on a wet road and toppled. The police have reportedly gathered during questioning that the pillion rider, Swamy, had attempted to move the biker and the motorcycle to safety beforehand.

The driver was inebriated and the headlight of the bike was not working. As the result of rash driving under the influence of alcohol, the bike met with an accident, Indian Express quoted K Praveen, DIG Kurnool as saying.

The bus came in contact with the bike which was lying near the divider. The bus ran over the bike and dragged it for about 300 metres, after which the explosion that caused the fire took place. There was enough evidence to suggest that the biker was under the influence. But we now have conclusive proof because the viscera sample which we collected has tested positive for alcohol, DIG Praveen told Indian Express.

Shiva hailed from B. Thandrapadu village in Kurnool, roughly 20 km from Chinnatekur, where the accident took place. He was employed in the granite industry. He left home on Thursday evening, informing his mother, B. Yashoda, that he had some work in Dhone.

View full Image Kurnool: A JCB pulls the charred remains of a bus that catches fire following a collision with a two-wheeler near Chinna Tekur village in Kurnool on Friday. ( ANI Video Grab )

Passengers aboard Bengaluru bound bus Many passengers were asleep and lost their lives without realizing the bus had caught fire around 3 AM. The blaze completely destroyed the sleeper bus, leaving only a metal frame, a report by PTI noted. Several bodies were so badly burned that officials had to call forensic teams to collect DNA samples of those who lost lives.

View full Image Kurnool: Family members mourn over the death of passengers in the combusted bus tragedy as a bus bursts into flames near the Chinna Tekur village, in Kurnool on Friday. (ANI Video Grab) ( ANI Video Grab )

Among those on board were a few tech professionals, including one heading to Bengaluru for an interview at a leading IT company. District Collector A Siri said that the majority of the passengers were from Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, PM Modi paid condolences over the loss of lives in the incident. "Extremely saddened by the loss of lives due to a mishap in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh," PM Modi said in a post on X, adding, An ex-gratia of 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given 50,000.
When Shah Rukh Khan dropped a behind-the-scenes reel from Aryan Khans directorial debut Ba***ds of Bollywood , fans were puzzled to find it locked behind a password. The move wasnt a glitch  it was a test of Instagrams newest experiment: password-protected Reels, also known as Lockable Reels.

The feature lets creators restrict access to videos behind a password, turning fan engagement into a guessing game. For audiences, its a playful challenge. For creators and brands, its a new layer of exclusivity and interaction.

Mint explains how Instagrams Lockable Reels work, why Meta is testing them, and what they could mean for Indias creator economy.

What Are Lockable Reels?

Lockable Reels are a new Instagram feature that allows creators to post videos viewable only after entering a password. The idea is to spark curiosity and create a sense of exclusive access"  much like solving a riddle to unlock bonus content.

These Reels appear in a users feed like regular posts but remain blurred or locked until the correct password is entered.

Also Read | Snapchat bets big on Gen Z with localized content and creator push

Why were they introduced?

Meta says the password-lock feature is part of its broader push to make Reels more interactive.

We frequently collaborate with talent to create experiences that can be enjoyed by artists, creators, and people worldwide. This feature is one of several new Reels features that Instagram is testing to improve the Reels experience," a Meta spokesperson told Mint.

For creators, the feature addresses three key needs:

1. Privacy and control, allowing them to filter who accesses sensitive or limited content, such as work-in-progress clips or early teasers.

2. Exclusivity, giving creators a way to reward their closest followers or fan communities.

3. Engagement, turning posts into playful challenges that spark comments, shares, and speculation around passwords and clues.

Earlier this year, Meta tested the tool with The Weeknd for his film Hurry Up Tomorrow, and later with Tyler, the Creator. The Khan family test marks the features first rollout in India, where celebrity-driven engagement dominates Instagrams traffic.

How is it different from paid or subscriber-only content?

Instagram already offers subscriber-only content, where users pay monthly for exclusive access to Reels, Stories, or chats. YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) have similar tiers.

Password-protected Reels, however, are free to access  if the fan guesses the right password. They blend exclusivity with accessibility, letting creators experiment with scarcity without charging for entry.

What does this mean for brands?

For marketers, Lockable Reels open new avenues for targeted engagement. Brands could drop secret discount codes, password-protected product previews, or early access campaigns through such Reels.

Luxury and fashion labels, in particular, may find value in VIP-style previews that feel personal and selective.

Arsh Goyal, a tech creator with over 490,000 followers on Instagram, noted that password-linked content can also strengthen cross-platform strategy.

As the password links to audiences going and watching on some other platform  for instance, in Shah Rukh Khans reel, Netflix, to watch a particular scene of the given time stamp  its good for cross-platform content strategy and drives traffic, he said.

Exclusivity and FOMO building is what every brand and creator chases  this password thing does that. It feels more premium and rewarding for loyal fans," he added.

Brands, too, see potential in using Lockable Reels as a premium engagement tool.

Its a brilliant unlock to control and elevate premiumization of mass products. At one end, it leaves brands catering to multiple segments to talk to them in different tonalities. Exclusive drops, access to events or gold-base loyalty can all be driven through this," said L. Muralikrishnan, cofounder and chief marketing officer at WOW! Momo.

I am very positive about this from a brand perspective  its true engagement and community building, a truly pro-brand stance."

Also Read | Brands fret as negative influencers rise, pushed toward credibility

However, it also adds a layer of data complexity: password-locked views cant be easily benchmarked against open Reels, potentially making campaign metrics harder to standardize.

What could it mean for the creator economy?

If rolled out widely, password-protected Reels could become a precursor to micro-paywalls  allowing creators to better monetise exclusive access over time.

The model blends playful engagement with scarcity, aligning with Metas ongoing strategy to diversify creator income beyond ad revenue.

For Indias fast-growing influencer ecosystem, the feature signals a shift toward gamified fan interactions  where followers dont just watch, they unlock content.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told world leaders that India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) are strengthening ties across various sectors as well as people-to-people relations. He emphasized that New Delhi has always strongly supported the 11-member groups outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Modi said in his virtual opening address at the summit in Malaysia that its theme, inclusivity and sustainability', was clearly reflected in the joint efforts of nations, whether the digital inclusion, ensuring food security, or maintaining resilient supply chains amid global challenges.

India fully supports these priorities and is committed to advancing them together, Modi said.

Also Read | For India and EU, a deal is closer than ever

While Modi virtually attended the event, US President Donald Trump is attending it in person. Trump said in a social media post that he was on his way to Malaysia, where he would sign a peace deal, which he proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand.

India and the US are negotiating a trade deal, but contrary to initial expectations, a consensus still eludes given that the issues that the US brought to the table are not limited to bilateral trade but also include Indias purchase of oil from Russia.

Modi also said that India and Asean are companions in the Global South. We are not only commercial partners but also cultural partners. Asean is a cornerstone of Indias Act East Policy. India has always fully supported Asean centrality and Aseans outlook in the Indo-Pacific, the Prime Minister said.

Also Read | Why free trade pact with Asean nations hasnt worked for India so far

Regional cooperation Asean Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) finalized in 2019 underscores the strategic role of the grouping in regional cooperation and decision making amid geopolitical and geostrategic shifts.

It seeks to tap possibilities of cooperation to alleviate poverty and to elevate the living standards of people, while avoiding the deepening of mistrust amid the rise of economic and military powers.

The document states that it is in the interest of Asean to lead the shaping of the regions economic and security architecture.

India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of worlds population. We not only share geography; we are also bound by deep historical ties and shared values, Modi said.

Also Read | Why the World Bank's South Asia update addresses a world that no longer exists

Modi said that in an era of uncertainties, the India-Asean comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to make steady progress.

And this strong partnership of ours is emerging as a robust foundation for global stability and development, Modi said.

He said India has stood firmly with its Asean friends in every disaster.

Our cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), maritime security, and the blue economy is growing rapidly. In view of this, we are declaring 2026 as Asean-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, Modi said.

At the same time, we are steadily advancing our cooperation in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cyber security. We will continue to work together to preserve our shared cultural heritage and strengthen people-to-people ties, Modi added.
Two cryptocurrency entrepreneurs behind tokens promoted by First Lady Melania Trump have been accused of orchestrating a wide-ranging fraud scheme using celebrity association and borrowed fame to lure investors, according to an amended federal lawsuit.

Racketeering allegations The class-action suit targets Benjamin Chow, co-founder of crypto exchange Meteora, and Hayden Davis of venture firm Kelsier Labs. It was first filed in April alleging a multimillion-dollar scam tied to a single memecoin, $M3M3, Wired reported. The complaint has since expanded to include claims of racketeering and market manipulation involving multiple tokens.

The filing accuses the pair of engineering a system to inflate prices artificially and then offload their holdings for profit at the expense of retail buyers.

Celebrity-driven playbook The newly proposed version of the complaint submitted Tuesday alleges the duo pumped and dumped at least 15 cryptocurrencies, including $MELANIA, which leveraged Melania Trumps image and online following.

Chow and Davis had created a repeatable six-step playbook for pump-and-dump fraud, the filing states. Meteora allegedly handled the technical infrastructure, while Kelsier funded launches and managed promotions.

In the case of $MELANIA, the lawsuit claims Kelsier paid crypto influencers to hype the token online.

Melania Trump post boosted hype Melania Trump promoted the coin on X on January 19, the day before Donald Trumps second inauguration, writing:The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.

She is not named as a defendant. Lawyers say she was used as window dressing for a crime engineered by Meteora and Kelsier.

Investors, the complaint argues, reasonably interpreted the use of Melania Trumps name and likeness as evidence of legitimacy and due diligence  trusting that no one of her stature would knowingly associate with a fraudulent venture.

Market takeover behind the scenes According to the suit, wallets linked to Chow and Davis secretly amassed almost one-third of the tokens supply before public trading began, meaning insiders had already cornered the market before a single public buyer could act.

When the coin surged twelve-fold to a peak valuation of $1.6 billion, insiders allegedly began dumping their holdings, making millions and triggering a 95 percent crash that left ordinary investors with steep losses.

Political credibility misused The complaint says these tactics were also used in coins promoted by Argentinas President Javier Milei, including $LIBRA, which also tanked after launch.

The misuse of Melania Trumps name magnified the harm, the filing says. It corrupted public trust and injected an element of political and cultural credibility into what was, in reality, a standard pump-and-dump.

Also Read | Binance founder Zhao receives Trump's pardon after money laundering admission
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said demand for locally-made or swadeshi products has surged this festive season, with savings from goods and services tax cuts adding to the momentum. In his Mann Ki Baat radio address, he said there was a tremendous growth in the purchase of indigenous goods under the GST Bachat Utsav, reflecting the success of his Vocal for Local campaign.

His remarks come amid record Diwali sales of 6.05 trillionthe highest ever, according to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on 21 Octoberwith 87% of consumers opting for Indian-made goods over imports.

Festive demand "There is a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was observed during the festivals. The purchase of indigenous goods in the markets has increased tremendously," the prime minister said in his monthly radio address to the nation.

The renewed swadeshi pitch coincides with India's strained trade ties with the US, after President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports.

In his Independence Day address on 15 August and also in the 125th episode of the radio broadcast on 31 August, the prime minister had urged citizens to embrace swadeshi during the festivals season to back local industries, drive jobs and economic self-reliance.
Influencer MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, turned saviour for nearly 1,000 wild animals, including jungle beasts like lions and rhinos. In his latest YouTube video, the 26-year-old said it was his most ambitious mission yet, and gave his followers a glimpse into his part in saving the animals inside a wildlife clinic in Africa.

In the caption of his now-viral video, MrBeast acknowledged the wildlife organisations that helped him help in his mission to save these animals with their expertise, and said, Im just one person and without any kind of expertise, I look to these organisations and people for help in doing videos like this.

He shared that his latest video took months to put together. I can't thank these organisations enough for giving us the info we needed to be able to help!

Also Read | Pic: MrBeast sparks frenzy after posing with the iconic Khan trio

Here's what MrBeast did: In a 17-minute video titled I Saved 1,000 Animals From Dying, MrBeast helped a team of veterinarians perform a root canal on a lion suffering from a severe infection. If we dont fix this, he could literally die, he said before the team got to work.

The YouTuber and his crew also assisted in rescuing animals trapped in some damaged zoos in Ukraine. He flew them safely back to a sanctuary in South Africa.

In the video, Mr Beast can be seen helping the crew relocate rhinos in an overcrowded reserve using tranquillisers and ropes to ensure that the animals dont turn on each other in a fight for space. were helping them live, the YouTuber said as the team placed a microchip and an anti-poaching collar on the rhinos before relocating them.

As the team flew over the Savannah, they used dart rifles to vaccinate giraffes against disease. Sir, I promise it's good for you, he said jokingly as he ran after the giraffes in a bid to get them vaccinated.

Watch MrBeast's video here:

MrBeast helps shelter dogs find new homes After dealing with the wild, MrBeast and his team helped over a hundred shelter dogs find new homes in the US and also purchased miniature horses from slaughter auctions.

He also worked with local sanctuaries to rehabilitate injured birds, deer, and sea turtles.

The YouTuber made a stop at streamer Maya Higas Alveus Sanctuary in Texas to help rebuild after flooding, funding new enclosures and donating $50,000 to ongoing animal care.

Here's how netizens reacted: Social media users cheered on the influencer and praised him for his kind work. The comment section of this viral video was filled with prayers and good wishes for MrBeast.

We made The Right Person Famous, a user said.

Another added, That's how you use the power of money, not billion-dollar cars. Bless him.

You didnt just save lives, you gave hope to a thousand souls who couldnt speak for themselves. Truly inspiring! said a user.

Thank you so much. When I get old enough, I will become the best vet to ever live, added a user.

This literally made me cry. Love from Sri Lanka. Wish you get more and more chances to do this kind of work. I would love to contribute with even a small amount of money, another user added.
With a career spanning over two decades at Microsoft, 62-year-old Joe Friend was laid off in May, disrupting his retirement plans. Nearly six months after the layoff, he is still unsure about what to do next, except that his time in Big Tech is over, according to a report by Business Insider.

Earlier this year, Friend, who worked as a director of product management at Microsoft with a team of nine members, heard rumours of company restructuring that could impact the managers. However, he did not anticipate that his role would be at stake.

In May, he found out that he, along with 14 other members of his working group, including four managers, had been laid off.

"I wasn't entirely surprised by the layoffs. I was surprised to get caught up in them," the report quoted Friend, who lives in Washington.

For Friend, the layoff was "doubly shocking" as it disrupted his retirement plans. He intended to work at Microsoft until at least his 65th birthdaya key milestone that, according to company policy, allows most stock grants to keep vesting even after leaving. After turning 65, he planned to retire or explore new opportunities. However, that plan is no longer feasible.

"My plan was to figure out what I wanted to do over the next three years," he said. "Then all of a sudden I'm at the doorstep, and I have to make that decision now."

Microsoft layoffs Friend is one of the many Microsoft employees who have been laid off in the past year. Following the termination of approximately 6,000 jobs in May, Microsoft eliminated around 9,000 additional positions in July. A company spokesperson previously informed Business Insider that the company's focus was on reducing management layers and streamlining operations.

Apart from Microsoft, tech giants such as Google, Intel, and Amazon have announced their plans to cut back on managerial roles. While overall layoffs are still relatively low compared to earlier times, the impact on tech workers has been significant, with many facing difficulties in securing new positions due to a slowdown in white-collar hiring, the report said.

Life after losing job Amid these challenging times, Friend reflected on his life after leaving Microsoft. Following the layoff, he continued to receive paychecks until mid-July, when he received a "very comfortable" lump-sum severance payment that was nearly equivalent to what he would have earned if he had worked for the rest of the year. He mentioned that he was fortunate to be in a strong financial position, which allowed him the time to plan his next steps.

Speaking about layoff, Friend said,"It feels like a betrayal, and it impacts me financially, but it's not going to hurt."

Instead of rushing into his next move, Friend consulted a financial advisor to assess the possibility of an earlier retirement. He started exploring job leads that appeared to him, but none led to any success.

Now, Friend considers himself "semi-retired," and in recent months, he's been concentrating on assisting a young entrepreneur in developing a small business.

"It's not about making money," he said. "It's about supporting somebody who wants to transform their life."

\"It feels like a betrayal, and it impacts me financially, but it's not going to hurt.\"

Friend believes that he and his wife can manage financially without significant lifestyle changes after fully retiring, but he's not certain he's prepared to leave the workforce yet.
Laman Ismayilova

On October 25, the European Union Delegation to Azerbaijan inaugurated the "Study in Europe" Education Fair at the Hilton Hotel in Baku, Azernews reports.

The event showcases over 30 universities from 10 European countries, offering insights and guidance to prospective students. The opening ceremony was attended by EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Marijana Kujundzi?, Azerbaijan's Deputy Minister of Education and Science Hasan Hasanli, and ambassadors from EU member states.

Ambassador Kujundzic encouraged attendees to explore the diverse academic opportunities available across the European Union, emphasizing this year's theme: "Education Shapes Destiny  Taleyini Tahsil Yazsin." She highlighted education as a gateway to opportunity and invited Azerbaijani youth to take advantage of the EU's higher education offerings.

Deputy Minister Hasanli noted that under the "20222028 State Program," nearly 200 Azerbaijani students are currently enrolled in European universities. He stresssed the significance of this initiative and pointed to ongoing bilateral scholarship programs with countries such as Latvia, Hungary, and Romania. He also spoke about active collaborations between Azerbaijani and European institutions, including joint degrees, research partnerships, and exchange programs.

The fair is part of a broader EU education initiative and reflects the deepening EU-Azerbaijan cooperation. To date, the EU has supported 29 education-related projects in Azerbaijan.

Throughout the two-day event, European universities will host free presentations detailing their academic programs. Young European Ambassadors will also share information on EU-backed educational opportunities.

The "Study in Europe" Education Fair runs on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, from 10:00 to 18:00 in the Sevda Room at the Hilton Hotel. Interested students and young professionals are invited to register at: www.eu4azerbaijan.eu/europe-education-fair.
Crypto.com has officially filed an application with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a National Trust Bank Charter, a move that could place the company among a small group of crypto firms seeking federal recognition in banking.

The filing marks a major step in the exchanges long-term effort to expand its regulated financial services footprint in the United States.

Crypto.com Joins a Growing List of Firms Pursuing a Federal Charter

In its announcement, Crypto.com said the charter would allow it to advance its custody and staking technology while offering services across multiple blockchains, including its native Cronos network.

The company emphasized that a federal license would position it as a trusted custody destination for digital asset treasuries, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and institutional investors, all under the oversight of a U.S. federal regulator.

Building the Crypto.com product and service portfolio through regulated and secure offerings has been our focus since day one, said Kris Marszalek, the firms co-founder and CEO.

Marszalek described the new filing as a natural progression in Crypto.coms mission to build secure, compliant, and institutionally friendly crypto infrastructure.

Crypto.com now joins an elite list of firms, including Coinbase, Circle, Paxos, Stripe, Ripple, Sony, and others that have submitted similar applications.

Source: OCC

Anchorage Digital Bank is the only firm to hold a federal trust charter. The firm secured its license in 2021 but faced compliance challenges that led to a temporary cease-and-desist order in 2022, later lifted this August.

Why Are Crypto Companies Racing to Secure National Bank Charters?

The OCC, which operates as an independent bureau within the U.S. Treasury, is the only agency authorized to issue national bank charters.

These licenses allow companies to operate banking and fiduciary services across all 50 states under one legal framework.

For digital asset firms, a federal charter is seen as a gateway to legitimacy, providing access to Federal Reserve payment systems, including Fedwire, and preempting complex state-by-state regulation.

A National Trust Bank Charter, unlike a traditional banking license, allows firms to engage in fiduciary activities, such as asset custody and investment management, but prohibits them from accepting demand deposits or issuing general-purpose loans.

This structure keeps them outside the Bank Holding Company Act, avoiding Federal Reserve oversight while remaining under the OCCs supervision.

The surge in the number of crypto firms pursuing this license can be attributed to the OCCs current leadership, which has shown renewed openness to digital asset activity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of Thailands Queen Mother, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. PM Modi addressed the royal demise during his virtual address at the 22nd ASEAN Summit on October 26, 2025.

Queen Sirikit, the widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away in Bangkok on Friday at the age of 93. She was suffering from complications from blood sepsis.

King Bhumibol, who ruled Thailand for seven decades, was the worlds longest-serving head of state. He died in 2016. Their son, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, now sits on the throne.

PM Modi, conveying condolences on behalf of India, said the Thai royal family and people had the deepest sympathy of India. He also posted his condolence message on social media.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand. Her lifelong dedication to public service will continue to inspire generations. My heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King, the members of the Royal Family and the people of Thailand in this hour of profound grief," PM Modi wrote on Twitter (now X).

According to one user who replied to PM Modis tweet, the Late Queen Mother Sirikit had her last journey in the silver Volkswagen van that had also carried her late husband, King Bhumibol. Her body was taken from Chulalongkorn Hospital to the Grand Palace, where she would lie in state.

It's the way she seemed to champion the everyday craftspeople and uplift rural communities. That quiet support for local heritage feels like a foundation she really solidified for modern Thailand, wrote another user.

Another user called her a tireless advocate for rural communities, traditional crafts, and environmental conservation. Her legacy of compassion and service will inspire generations to come, the user added.

Queen Sirikits legacy of compassion, strength, and service will forever remain a shining example of leadership rooted in love for her people. May her soul rest in eternal peace, and may the Thai people find comfort in the enduring light of her legacy, came from another user.

Who was Queen Sirikit? Sirikit Kitiyakara, born on August 12, 1932, was the Queen of Thailand. She later became the Queen Mother.

Married to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, she was the worlds longest-serving queen consort, reigning from 1950 to 2016.

Also Read | India retains top spot among EM peers for the fourth consecutive month in July

Born into Thai nobility, she met King Bhumibol in Paris and married him shortly before his coronation. The couple had four children, including the current monarch, King Vajiralongkorn.

Appointed queen regent in 1956, she was admired for her charitable work and compassion. After suffering a stroke in 2012, her public appearances were reduced.
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom said he is weighing a run for US president in 2028, but will make a decision after the 2026 midterm elections.

"I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment," Newsom told CBS News.

When asked if he was considering a run, Newsom admitted, "Yeah, I'd be lying (if I said) otherwise."

Newsoms moves and party profile Newsom has taken several steps this year to test the waters for a presidential bid, raising his profile by confronting Trump on a range of issues. He has mocked Trumps social media style while also pursuing more serious actions, including lawsuits to block the deployment of the National Guard to California.

Democrats searching for a path forward Democrats have struggled to articulate a clear vision for governing after Trumps 2024 victory over President Joe Bidens successor, Vice President Kamala Harris. The Democrats have, however, criticised trumps policies on immigration, tariffs, and the military.

"I am not done," Harris said. "I have lived my entire career as a life of service and its in my bones."
The US government shutdown has caused disruptions in several key government functions. On Saturday, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would not be issuing food benefits next month due to scarcity of funds, Reuters reported.

Bottom line, the well has run dry," a post on the website of the USDA said. "At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01.

As per Reuters, more than 41 million people receive food benefits in the US. With federal funding having stopped due to the shutdown, more than 200 Democrats from the US House of Representatives called upon the agency to use emergency funds to continue the program. But seemingly, those emergency funds will not be used.

Food benefit program The Hill reports that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) contingency funds amount to somewhere between $5-$6 billion. However, the amount required to issue food stamps next month to the millions of beneficiaries comes to around $8 million.

In such a scenario, the use of emergency funds would not have sufficed fully but might have helped alleviate the troubles of those in need. But on Friday, the USDA announced that it would not be tapping into the emergency funds if the shutdown continues beyond October 31, as per The Hill.

What USDA says The argument being put forward by the USDA, as explained in a memo, reported through Axios, is that these funds are meant to be used in times of natural disasters. The shutdown does not fall in that category, hence using funds in the present scenario would be illegal, the agency argues.

However, this stand of the USDA stands in contrast to the position it took earlier this year.

Congressional intent is evident that SNAPs operation should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown, a policy statement given earlier this year had said. It has since been deleted, The Hill reports.

This latest development is leading to a blame game between Democrats and Republicans as to who is responsible for this conundrum. However, there does not seem to be an end to this logjam in sight.

FAQs How many people receive food benefits? The estimate is that around 41 million people receive assistance under the SNAP.

When will the funds for issuing this aid run out? The funds run out at the end of October.
Hurricane Melissa is strengthening and is now a major hurricane, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Sunday. It said in a press release that "Melissa [is] rapidly intensifying," and is expected to be a major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica.

Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti on alert The NHC said Melissa is a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

It warned that "life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides [are] expected in portions of Jamaica and southern Hispaniola through midweek...."

In a post on X, the National Hurricane Center said "...NOAA and Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft report that Melissa is now a major hurricane...life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides expected in portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into early next week..."

Where and when will Hurricane Melissa make landfall "Melissa is expected to be a major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday," the NHC said.

It added, Continued rapid intensification is forecast during the next day or so, followed by fluctuations in intensity.

Source: NHC

Hurricane conditions expected by Monday: What's the impact? The NHC said tropical storm conditions are likely to begin in Jamaica, with hurricane conditions expected by Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the warning area in Haiti on Sunday.

"The potential for hurricane conditions in the watch area in Haiti have diminished for today [Sunday], but there is still a possibility of hurricane conditions occurring there on Tuesday," it added.

Hurricane conditions are also possible in the watch area in eastern Cuba on Tuesday, into Wednesday.

Where is heavy rainfall expected? Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days.

Melissa is expected to bring total rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into Wednesday.

"Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday; uncertainty at that time range precludes exact storm totals. Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are probable across portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica," the NHC said.

US HC warns of life-threatening storm The NHC also warned of "life-threatening flash flooding and landslides" in eastern Cuba. It also said, "Life-threatening storm surge is becoming more likely along the south coast of Jamaica during the next few days."

This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used a Sunday cabinet meeting to push back on recent suggestions that the US is dictating security policy on Gaza.

"Israel is an independent state, the United States is an independent state," Netanyahu said.

"The relations between us are those of partners," he said, adding, "I want to make one thing clear -- it is our own security policy. We are not prepared to tolerate attacks against us, we respond according to our own discretion against attacks, as we have seen in Lebanon and in Gaza."

Netanyahu also said Israel is not seeking approval for military attacks and addressed the issue of international teams meant to monitor the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Israels security policy governed by its own discretion "We control our own security and we have made it clear to the international forces that Israel will determine which forces are acceptable to us, and that is how we operate and will continue to operate," he said.

Netanyahu's response comes after US vice president JD Vances Israel visit followed the arrival of Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Vance and the Israeli leader championed each others efforts in securing the ceasefire deal, which came into effect on October 10.

Vance reassures Israel of US partnership, not domination But as a succession of US representatives flocked to Israel this week after flares of violence threatened to undermine the ceasefire, Vance also appeared to seek to reassure the Israeli leader  and the world  that the US wasnt looking to overstep.

We dont want a vassal state and thats not what Israel is. We dont want a client state, he said. We want a partnership.

He later clarified the role of the Americans in Israel this week as the ceasefire looked fragile and the path to the second phase of the deal appeared uncertain.

It wasnt about monitoring in the sense of, you know, you monitor a toddler. Its about monitoring in the sense that theres a lot of work, a lot a good people who are doing that work and its important for the principles of the administration to keep on ensuring that our people are doing what we need them to do, Vance said.

International security force in Gaza remains unclear The planned international security force in Gaza has loomed as a major question mark.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday that numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, had explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force.

He added that he had told these countries, and Israel, NOT YET, but he warned that if Hamas did not do what is right, or it violated the ceasefire agreement, the militant group could meet a FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL end.

The President did not directly reference the international security force that he envisions entering Gaza to help maintain peace in the territory in the future under his 20-point plan, but appeared to be referring to the initiative.

Vance had said on Tuesday that the international stabilization force envisioned by the president was still in its early planning stages, as he acknowledged that coordinating troops from different countries could be a difficult task.

Hinting that Gulf Arab states, Turkey and Indonesia could be involved alongside the Israeli military, he said: How do you actually get those folks to work together in a way that actually produces long-term peace?

It remains unclear which nations, if any, have volunteered forces for the job, but Netanyahu appeared to counter any possibility of Turkish forces being involved, saying Wednesday that he had very strong opinions about that.

The news conference came after flashes of violence in Gaza in recent days threatened to unravel the ceasefire deal.

Israel accused Hamas of attacking Israeli forces in the enclave, a charge the militant group denied, with Israeli troops responding with deadly airstrikes.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he would not hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin unless the Russian leader showed genuine intent to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

I'm going to have to know that we're going to make a deal. I'm not going to be wasting my time, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he headed to Asia.

"I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing," the US leader said. "I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East."

On Wednesday, the United States slapped sanctions on Russia's two largest oil companies, saying that the talks with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine war don't go anywhere.

Day after slapping sanctions on two major Russian oil companies, teh Trump administration is now planning additional sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin prolongs the war on Ukraine.

A US official said the new sanctions on Russia are designed to target critical sectors of the Russian economy, with a focus on banks and oil infrastructure.

US officials have also indicated to their European counterparts that they back the EU using frozen Russian assets to purchase US weapons for Kyiv, and Washington has also begun internal discussions on using Russian assets held in the US to support Ukraines war effort, according to two officials Reuters quoted

Also Read | Trump plans more sanctions on Russian banks, oil infrastructure if Putin prolongs Ukraine war

Trump had held off pulling the trigger on sanctions against Russia for months, but his patience snapped after plans for a fresh summit with Putin in Budapest collapsed.

The Republican billionaire has however said he hopes that the sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil are short-lived and that the war will be settled.

What Putin said? Putin admitted the sanctions were "serious" but insisted they were not enough to significantly damage the Russian economy.

Putin said, They [sanctions] are serious for us, of course, that is clear. And they will have certain consequences, but they will not significantly impact our economic well-being.

But the Russian leader said he remained open to dialogue with Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the US sanctions a strong and much-needed message that aggression will not go unanswered. The European Union levied tough sanctions on the Russian oil and gas sector in parallel to the US measures.
Trade tensions between the United States and Canada escalated as President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, October 26, that he was hiking tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10 per cent above what they're paying now. The new tariffs were result of a recent fallout over a Canadian anti-tariff ad featuring late President Ronald Reagan, criticising tariffs.

The additional tariffs on Canadian imports have been slapped two days after Donald Trump ended all trade negotiations with the neighbouring country, citing the misleading and fraud advertisement.

Donald Trump announced the additional 10 per cent tariffs on Canada on Truth Social. Accusing the Canadian authorities of using the parts of Ronald Reagan's speech without permission, he said, Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagans Speech on Tariffs. The Reagan Foundation said that they, created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan. The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter.

"The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canadas hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their rescue on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States. Now the United States is able to defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!). Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didnt!

Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD, Trump said.

He continued, Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.

Soon after Trump announced end to all trade talks, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that he has decided to withdraw the anti-tariff advertisement that angered Donald Trump, but said that the ads will keep airing through the weekend.

Doug Ford said he took the decision after talking with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Weve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels," Ford said in a statement, adding, Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the finalization of an agreement on TikTok, following months of negotiations over Chinese control of the apps algorithm.

We reached a final deal and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, speaking to CBS from Kuala Lumpur, Bessent said, noting that the leaders would formalize the arrangement in South Korea.

Bessent said he could not share further specifics on the finalized agreement, emphasizing that he was not part of the commercial side of the transaction.

My remit was to get the Chinese to agree to approve the transaction, and I believe we successfully accomplished that over the past two days, he said.

Tariff truce ahead of Trump-Xi meeting Bessent says Washington and Beijing have reached a truce in their tariff standoff, easing fears of a major escalation in trade tensions. Bessent said President Donald Trumps threat of a 155% tariff on Chinese goods would no longer move forward.

Bessent described a very good two day meeting with Chinas Vice Premier He Lifeng, signaling a breakthrough before Trump meets Chinas President in South Korea this week.

I would expect that the threat of the 100% has gone away, he said, adding that Beijing had also stepped back from its own threat of a global export control regime on rare earths.

Rare earths pressure defused China had warned of possible export controls on rare earth elements critical for electronics and electric vehicles.

It was never imposed, Bessent said. President Trump decided that it would be a good idea for him to threaten a 100% additional tariff, and it did give us a great deal of leverage.

Soybean farmers extremely happy US soybean farmers, previously hit by Chinas boycott during the tariff war, could soon benefit from renewed purchases.

The soybean farmers are going to be extremely happy with this deal for this year and for the coming years, Bessent said.

No change on chip controls Despite concessions on tariffs, the US is not easing export restrictions on advanced semiconductors or Chinese investments, according to Bessent.
French authorities have detained two men suspected of being part of the four-person crew who stole precious jewellery from the world-famous Louvre museum last week, reported news agency AFP citing two sources close to the case.

One of the suspects was apprehended at approximately 10:00 pm (2000 GMT) on Saturday at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to board a flight abroad, reported French media outlets Le Parisien and Paris Match. The second individual was arrested not long afterwards in the greater Paris region, according to Le Parisien.

Also Read | Louvre robbers filmed escaping in new footage: Watch here

Dozens of investigators had been tasked with tracking down the thieves who successfully robbed the Louvre in broad daylight on October 19th, making off with royal jewels valued at an estimated $102 million in just seven minutes.

The robbers had clambered up the extendable ladder of a stolen removal van and, using cutting equipment, forced their way into a first-floor gallery. They dropped a diamond- and emerald-studded crown as they fled down the ladder and onto scooters, but still managed to steal eight other pieces, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon Bonaparte had gifted to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise.

The brazen theft has made headlines across the globe and sparked a debate in France about the security of its cultural institutions.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed on Sunday that one of the suspects in the daylight heist of some of France's crown jewels had been arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport, north of Paris, as he was about to leave the country on Saturday evening, reported Reuters.

Louvre Moves Crown Jewels to Bank of France The Louvre has transferred some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France, according to French radio station RTL, following last weeks audacious daylight heist which exposed the famous museum's vulnerability to security breaches.

The transfer of several valuable items from the museum's Apollo gallery, which houses the French crown jewels, was conducted on Friday under a secret police escort, RTL stated, citing unnamed sources.

The Bank of France, which stores the country's gold reserves in a sizeable vault 27 metres (88 feet) below ground, is located just 500 metres away from the Louvre, on the Right Bank of the River Seine.
President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said that Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-capable weapon that Moscow claims can bypass any defence system, and that the country plans to move forward with its deployment amid the Ukraine war.

While visiting one of the command centers of the Russian joint group of forces, as per the online newspaper The Moscow Times, Putin stated, It is truly a unique weapon, one that no other country in the world possesses."

What is Burevestnik missile? Russia claims that the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel), referred to by NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall, is "invincible" to current and future missile defences, featuring an almost limitless range and an unpredictable flight path.

How far did the Burevestnik missile travel during its October 21 test; how long was it in flight? Russia's top general, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff of Russia's armed forces, informed Putin that the missile covered 14,000 km (8,700 miles) and remained in flight for roughly 15 hours during its test on October 21. Gerasimov stated that the missile had flown on nuclear power and that this particular test was different because it covered such a long distance, with its range being essentially unlimited. He added that it could overcome any anti-missile defenses.

What did Putin say about uniqueness of Burevestnik missile compared to other countries weapons? Putin, wearing camouflage fatigues at a command post meeting with generals monitoring the war in Ukraine, said, "It is a unique ware which nobody else in the world has," according to comments released by the Kremlin on Sunday.

What did Putin say about Burevestniks testing and deployment plans? Putin said that he had previously been told by some Russian specialists that the weapon was unlikely to ever be feasible, but now, he said, its "crucial testing" had been completed, according to Reuters. He mentioned to Gerasimov that Russia needed to determine how to classify the weapon and prepare the necessary infrastructure for deploying the Burevestnik.

On Wednesday, Putin supervised a test of Russia's strategic nuclear forces across land, sea, and air to rehearse their readiness and command structure. "The so-called modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level," Putin said, asserting it was higher than that of any other nuclear power. "The strategic forces are capable of ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation and the Union State in full," Putin added.

Meanwhile, Russia and the United States together hold about 87% of the worlds nuclear weapons, enough to annihilate the world many times over, the report said. According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), Russia possesses 5,459 nuclear warheads, while the United States has 5,177.
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It was service expansion via acquisition this week for two registered investment advisors. First, Prime Capital Financial announced the purchase of a Texas-based tax advisory firm to launch a Prime Capital Tax Advisory division. Then, VestGen Wealth Partners launched a retirement plan advice division bolstered by acquiring a former Osaic team specializing in the space.

For others, the deals were based on the more traditional focus of expanding footprints. AlphaCore Wealth Advisory announced the acquisition of a $1.5 billion RIA in Rockville, Md., and 1099 affiliation platform Concurrent brought on a $1.3 billion team from Raymond James based in Savannah and Sea Island, Ga.

In the meantime, WealthManagement.com published some contributor advice on both the execution of acquiring a firm, as well as ways to gauge private equity backing that drives quality growth, not just pumped up AUM. You can read a piece on the first topic related to blind M&A auctions from Mariners Kevin Corbett, and an article on the second by OneDigitals Christian Mango.

But before you do that, be sure to catch up on other relevant deals and moves from the week below.

$866M Merrill Team Breaks Away to Kestra

Kestra Private Wealth Services, the hybrid registered investment advisor based in Austin, Texas, has poached a large team from Bank of Americas Merrill to join its platform.

David Barnett and Ashley Ament lead the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based team of four launching Ascend Private Wealth Partners, which will continue to offer wealth services ranging from investment management to tax planning.

Barnett had been a managing director and wealth manager at Merrill for about 25 years, and Ament had been with the wirehouse for about 21 years.

We strive to ensure every decision we make reflects our clients best interests, co-founder Ament said in a statement. Joining Kestra PWS gives us the freedom and flexibility to source high-quality solutions for our clients without being tied to specific products. That independence, paired with Kestras hands-on support, empowers us to serve our clients even better.

Kestra has built up its advisor base on the thesis of transitioning wirehouse advisors to W-2 roles. It also owns Bluespring Wealth Partners, its RIA acquisition arm.

Cetera Poaches $126M Advisor From LPL

Cetera Financial Group has brought on advisor Frank Mezzanotte and his $126 million FDM Wealth Management practice to its Cetera Financial Institutions division.
President Donald Trump said that he will sign a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia immediately upon his arrival in Malaysia on Sunday.

Trump, posting on Truth Social while aboard Air Force One en route to Asia, said that Thailands prime minister, who had asked to move up the signing following the death of the Kingdoms queen mother, will be present when we land".

I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival. See you soon! Trump said.

Thailand-Cambodia conflict The long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia intensified in July this year, when troops clashed over five days, resulting in casualties and displacing thousands on both sides.

Malaysia-mediated ceasefire was put in effect in late July 2025, with ASEAN observers coordinated by Malaysia overseeing the truce.

On October 23, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to accelerate efforts to demarcate their shared boundary following a two-day special meeting of the Joint Commission held in Chanthaburi, Thailand. According to local media reports from both countries, the joint statement was issued after the Cambodia-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary (JBC) convened on October 21-22 and reached several key agreements aimed at advancing and expediting the land demarcation process.

The statement, read by Bernama news agency, noted that both sides had agreed on several immediate measures, confirming that they have assigned the Joint Technical Survey Committee (JTSC) to immediately replace 15 Boundary Pillars at locations and with specifications decided by both sides.

Thailands Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow stated that both countries are approaching near to finalising the Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations to resolve the border issue. He added, "The ceremony will be witnessed by US President Donald Trump, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other ASEAN leaders," as reported in the Nation.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, while releasing the joint statement on the Thai-Cambodia JBC meeting that concluded in Chanthaburi on October 22, said the meeting was conducted "in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality," emphasising the two nations shared commitment to peacefully advancing the demarcation of their common land boundary through dialogue and technical cooperation, according to Khmer Times.

Lam Chea, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Cambodian side headed the Cambodian delegation, while the Thai delegation was led by Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Thai side.

Thailand and Cambodia have long disputed control over various non-demarcated areas along their more than 800-kilometre shared land border. Central to the dispute are competing claims of ownership over the ancient Hindu temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear, located on the Dangrek Mountains that form a natural border between the two countries.
The U.S. and China have reached a preliminary agreement on fentanyl and shipping levies, following two days of extensive talks, a Chinese official said, signalling a possible easing of tensions between the world's largest economies, Bloomberg reported.

Chinese Trade Representative Li Chenggang stated on Sunday that the discussions were constructive, covering issues such as export controls, extending the tariff truce, and expanding bilateral trade.

Li described the talks as intense and the US position as tough, but hailed progress in the talks. Both sides will now report the outcome back to their leaders ahead of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday.

The current turbulences and twists and turns are the ones that we do not wish to see, Li told reporters, adding that a stable China-US trade and economic relationship is good for both countries and the rest of the world, according to the report.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that the talks were constructive, far-reaching and in-depth and created a very positive framework for the leaders to meet. He did not mention any agreement on new US port fees on Chinese ships that has emerged as a new source of friction in ties.

The negotiations took place at the skyscraper Merdeka 118 as Trump met with Southeast Asian leaders at a nearby convention center. The US president signed a deal with Malaysias Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on trade and critical minerals as Washington looked to boost trade across the region and respond to Chinas tightening of access to rare earths.

The Chinese delegation was led by Vice Premier He Lifeng and included Vice Finance Minister Liao Min. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was part of the US team.

Trump landed in Malaysia on Sunday to begin his first tour of the region during his second term. He oversaw the signing of a peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia. Under the deal, the US is agreeing to a major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand, Trump said.

The US president is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings later in Japan and South Korea, where hes also anticipated to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, said he hopes the talks with Xi would yield a complete deal.

The meeting would be the first face-to-face between the leaders of the two biggest economies this year. Trump has said direct talks are the best way to resolve issues including tariffs, export curbs, agricultural purchases, fentanyl trafficking, geopolitical flashpoints such as Taiwan and the war in Ukraine.

Well be talking about a lot of things. I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal, he said.
The visiting Chairman of Pakistan's Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna late Saturday.

"During the meeting, they discussed a wide range of issues concerning Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, including the growing importance of bilateral trade, investment, and defence cooperation," the Chief Adviser's Press Wing said in a statement on Sunday.

"Emphasising the shared historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries, General Mirza expressed Pakistan's desire to strengthen cooperation in multiple sectors. He noted the vast potential for expanding trade, connectivity, and investment between Bangladesh and Pakistan," it added.

"Our two countries will support each other," General Mirza said, adding that a two-way shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong has already begun operations, while a Dhaka-Karachi air route is expected to open within months.

Both sides also underscored the need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and Europe. They exchanged views on the growing challenge of misinformation and the misuse of social media by non-state actors to undermine peace and stability across various regions.

"Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos. There must be a concerted global effort to combat this menace," the Chief Adviser remarked.

Bangladesh's National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider were present during the meeting.

The historically tense relationship between the two nationsa legacy of the 1971 Liberation War in which East Pakistan fought West Pakistan, leading to the creation of independent Bangladesh- has shown signs of improvement since Yunus assumed power following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government amid a student-led protest movement.

Also Read | As Bangladesh uprising turns 1, Sheikh Hasina pens open letter to her country

Speaking at the Aman Dialogue 2025, Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Hasan stressed the significance of the military exercise, stating, Land divides but sea unites.

Bangladesh is set to hold elections in February 2026, marking the first polls since a student-led uprising last year toppled Sheikh Hasina, ending her 15-year rule and forcing her into exile in India.

Three days after Hasina's ouster, Yunus assumed power, pledging to restore order and implement reforms. By May, his government had banned the activities of Hasina's Awami League and arrested many senior party leaders, while others, including former Cabinet ministers, fled to India and other countries. Hasina and her immediate family members, including Wazed and his sister, now face charges ranging from corruption to crimes against humanity.

Also Read | Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus announces elections in April 2026

Our two countries will support each other.

Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos.

The country's political landscape has also grown more fragmented, as the Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, re-entered politics more than a decade after being suppressed under Hasina. Over the past year, it has expanded its influence and is seeking to form alliances with other hard-line Islamist groups and parties.

(With inputs from ANI)
New Delhi: The first time I spoke with Nischal Shetty, the much-discussed founder of WazirX, was about five years ago, during the first wave of the covid-19 pandemic. WazirX was just breaking out into a publicly recognizable name.

The virtual chat, as far as I remember, was fairly pleasantcryptocurrencies were having their breakout moment in India, and Shetty, through recognizable television spots, was fast capturing the mind share of crypto investors in India.

Fast forward to now, and WazirX has become synonymous with the dark side of cryptocurrenciesespecially as the hack revealed that WazirX was, in fact, an offshore entity with its core properties based in Singapore.

On Friday, I wrote at length on the once-massive crypto exchange, after a fresh chat with Shetty. He sought to explain how the company has rebalanced" user investments, and plans to return balances over the next three years.

Interestingly, social media was abuzz with users alleging cases of mistrust by the exchangewith most users whom we spoke with stating that WazirX did not return 85% of their actual investments.

Claims of returns varied from 10% to 40%.

None of this really helps cryptocurrency firms in India in the collective sense. In 2022, when taxes were imposed on all crypto trades and transactions, investments by regular users decreased by over 90%. Now, with a hack and a staggered return of the hard-earned investments made by users, WazirX stands at a moment in time where winning back user trust will be the biggest challenge. Industry folks, such as CoinSwitch founder Ashish Singhal and Giottus chief Vikram Subburaj, agree too.

In a heavy, tech-laden post-Diwali week, heres Mints 1,000 words on the return of what was once Indias largest crypto exchange, what the top executives have to say, and what the biggest challenges are for the industry.

Furore over tracking AI deepfakes

In other news, the IT ministry released a draft set of guidelines last week on how to regulate artificial intelligence, purely from the perspective of harm. The target: taking out a rising volume of deepfakes on internet platforms.

Now, industry stakeholders are largely divided on the regulations. While we all agree that an anti-misinformation law is important, creators have flagged that a 10% watermark rule that the Indian government has suggested is rather difficult to implement.

Others have stated that theres no nuanced definition that segregates content generated by AI, and edited by AI. Still more people said a targeted curbing of AI was the need of the hourinstead of all AI content being flagged in a set manner.

Also Read | India takes the first shot at regulating AI

All of this has raised debates within Indias tech policy circles on what Indias first attempt to regulate AI will eventually look like. There are multiple takes to consider here, and until 6 November, the Centre is taking public comments on how you and I can use AI online, what kind of content needs to be flagged, what the right measures of regulation should be, and who should be liable for offending the law.

Here are the six most important questions (and their answers) on Indias first AI regulation that you need to know.

A  1 data plan has all telcos irked

Starting 15 October, BSNL, the state-run telco, began offering a 30-day prepaid recharge plan priced atyou guessed it 1. For the solitary rupee, users will get access to 2GB of 4G data everyday, along with unlimited telephony and 100 SMS messages a month. Now, as it turns out, other telcos in India have a sizeable problem with it.

Operators have flagged to the Centre that BSNLs plan is anti-competitive, because it is undercutting industry pricing to rope in new users, or make users port to BSNL from other networks. Industry stakeholders, however, state that theres nothing illegal happeningBSNL is not a market leader, and promotional tariffs, such as this 1 plan, are legally allowed by the Centre too.

The reason why this story is important is because of the way Indias telecom industry has grown over the years. In 2016, the advent of Reliance Jio sparked a tariff war that wiped out multiple telecom operators from the marketturning it essentially into a duopoly between Jio and Airtel. Now, telcos are highlighting court rulings to state that the very same action should not be allowed. It is all a bit of a corporate circus, one that is sure to evolve over time.

At the same time, Reliance Jio, Indias largest telecom operator, has decided not to hike its mobile telephony and data tariffs. In its recent call with analysts, the company stated that it will seek to increase profitability by nudging users to consume more. Is Jios move linked in some ways to BSNLs aggressive promo tariff? Is the Reliance group behemoth wary of the government operator? Jatin Grover from the Mint newsroom brings you all the details.

More doom for IT?

Last week, our IT correspondent Jas Bardia underlined a key point as most IT services firms wrapped up earnings: will this fiscal year really be any better than a miserable FY25 that the $300-billion IT sector mostly endured? It turns out that the question is a rather tough one.

For now, the markers all point to a difficult second half of the year for many reasons. Indias IT services firms, famous the world over for being a global back-office of operations across sectors, thrive on mammoth deals at scale. It is this strategy that most firms have built the core of their businesses upon.

Now, though, things have changed. Large deals are scarce, AI is changing everything for everyone, and more geopolitical divides mean that visas and foreign placements are under pressure, too. Jas sifted through the numbers from Indias top six IT firms for the first half of the fiscal, spoke with a number of analysts, and produced a guidance dossier of what to expect from this mammoth sector, which millions of investors bet upon everyday even now.

On the sidelines of yet another difficult fiscal year, Jas also spoke with experts to decode how and why the promoters of InfosysIndias second-largest tech firmare opting out of the companys $2-billion share buyback scheme. The answer: tax liability, which turns out could be higher than what the promoters would earn if they participated in the scheme. Heres your full lowdown.

Remember Akai, JVC and Olympus?

If the above names ring a bell, youre likely born at least in the early 1990sand grew up in an era of boxy televisions, low-resolution portable music players, and the first crop of compact point-and-shoot digital cameras with ultra-low resolution video cameras. My first-ever camera, in fact, was an Olympus digital camerawhich could only record 0.3MP videos, without any audio.

Those days are nearly three decades in the past. During this time, these old brands faded from prominence as an onslaught of Chinese competitors brought forth devices that were flashier, more cutting-edge, and made more modern technologies a common affair.

Last week, our startups correspondent Sakshi Sadashiv pegged an electronics report on the return of Olympus (now branded as OM System) to speak about how these once-iconic brands are reentering India, driven by the growing expanse of its electronics market. Akai is targeting ACs, while JVC is licensing smart TVs under its name.

But, Sakshis report isnt just a nostalgia driveit is a commentary on rising competition in Indias electronics market, which signals two things: one, that there is clear growth in the industry; and two, an upward surge in consumption patterns is expected soon.

In other news: Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and ChatGPT Atlas

I also spent some time with the latest foldable smartphone in Indiathe Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold. While I found its predecessor, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, to be the single-best smartphone in the world at the time, this years rendition appeared a bit stoic. The reason for this is Samsung likely out-innovating Google on foldable phones this year with a clear direction aheadone that felt more reasonable for consumers, and not just as a tech showcase. If youre interested in knowing how one of the most expensive smartphones in India fares, heres my piece for Lounge.

That said, Indias smartphone market appears to be continuing with its struggles. Last week, I reported that despite a 15% surge in Diwali sales over last year, Indias smartphone market is likely to remain stagnant this year as well. The reason: a complete lack of organic demand, and a drive for premium smartphones not sustaining beyond a while.

Finally, we also spoke about OpenAIs shiny new agentic AI browser, ChatGPT Atlas. With this, OpenAI is creating the hallowed ecosystem play that others such as Apple and Google have been known for. This ecosystem, as it seems, is of AI services that work in every phase of your lifefrom content recommendations to search, commerce and browsing.

But, OpenAIs AI browser play is now also about taking on the might of Google. This, experts state, makes for one of the most exciting battles in global techharking back to Windows versus Mac in the early 2000s, and Android versus iOS from the 2010s.

With this, we wrap up what was a tumultuous week in tech, even as the festive season hangover continues across most markets.

Transformer by Mint is a weekly newsletter that brings Indias most important and interesting technology updates under one umbrella. As the world transforms with every day of innovation, Transformer will keep a tab on the impact that technologies will make in each of our lives. Published every week, the newsletter brings some of Indias tech landscapes most insightful coverages until date.
Indias cities and towns are acutely feeling the strain of weak planning, as visible in infrastructure and governance systems that are one-size-fits-all and not context-specific. In my previous article  Indian cities are in urgent need of a complete systems overhaul  ( Mint , 23 April 2025), I made a case for a systems approach to cities focused on three city-systems: planning and design, participatory governance and state capacities.

In this piece, I detail three measures to strengthen local governments, unlock more effective planning and governance, and ensure Indias urbanization translates into better outcomes for all.

Reorient MoHUA and state urban departments for local governance and regional development: At present, the ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) dedicates most of its resources and efforts to disbursing funds to states and urban local governments (ULGs or municipalities) through Finance Commission grants and missions such as AMRUT, Swachh Bharat and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

This has made it, in effect, a schemes-and-infrastructure ministry, rather than one focused on the planning, economy and governance of cities.

Also Read | Urban renewal: Indian cities need a governance overhaul

MoHUA also oversees organizations such as the Central Public Works Department, National Buildings Construction Corp (NBCC) and the Delhi Development Authority, all of which follow mandates that mostly relate to infrastructure and service delivery, not governance. However, MoHUAs department of local self government, which was envisaged to strengthen urban local self-governments, remains all but defunct.

By contrast, rural India has the ministry of panchayati raj (MoPR), whose principal mandate is to strengthen panchayati raj institutions and, through them, local governance systems and processes in villages. MoPR is distinct from the ministry of rural development, which focuses on schemes covering rural employment, housing and roads.

To make MoHUA fit for purpose, it should be reorganized along two dimensions:

First, a regional/typology focus: Efforts must be adapted to the diversity of our cities, which range from metropolitan areas (with 4 million-plus populations) and cities in large urbanized states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat) to those in large less-urbanized states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal), small urbanized states (Goa), small less-urbanized states (Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh) and hill states (Uttarakhand and Northeast states).

This would lead to greater place-based specialization and an integrated approach across the three Es of economic growth and job creation, environment sustainability and equitable access to opportunities, urban infrastructure and services, unlike the current approach, which over-indexes urban infrastructure.

Sectoral expertise needs to be deployed as well. Specialized divisions in critical infrastructure areas such as mobility, water and sanitation and housing should be staffed with an adequate number of empowered subject-matter experts, rather than token advisors. This would differ from the current way that sectoral schemes are handled.

These principles apply to state governments as well. Many states have separate departments for housing and urban planning and for municipal administration, with development authorities and parastatals under the former while municipalities report to the latter. This creates further avoidable fragmentation.

Also Read | India could use quick inputs from citizens for better public policy responses

Adopt a differentiated approach to governance for metropolitan, emerging and small cities: Urban governance in India remains largely one-size-fits-all at both the Union and state levels. Yet, the 2011 Census reveals a clear pattern: we have 45 cities with populations above 1 million; 470 cities with headcounts between 100,000 and 1 million, and about 4,000 small cities with fewer than 100,000 residents. Each of these three categories hosts about one-third of the countrys urban population.

Despite stark differences in the planning, governance, infrastructure and financing needs of cities across these three categories, the legal framework, schemes and missions that serve them are by and large the same, with minor variations. This mismatch underscores the need to adopt a differentiated approach to urban governance based on city type.

Indias largest cities urgently need a metropolitan governance paradigm. The draft Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill proposed by the Brand Bengaluru Committee (rather than the diluted enacted version) is worth studying as a potential model. For emerging and small cities, districts can be leveraged as units of governance to achieve rural-urban convergence, integrate economic and environmental planning and governance, and coordinate shared capacities and services through municipal shared service models.

Such an approach would leverage Indias unique spatial pattern of urbanization, since half of our urban population lives within 60km of the 45 million-plus cities.

While districts have elected governments under the panchayati raj system, no equivalent exists for nagar raj. District planning committees, which are constitutionally mandated to consolidate rural and urban plans, therefore need to be reactivated.

Also Read | Finance Commission and Indian cities: A blueprint for municipal finance

Create and publish a framework for a model rural-urban transition policy: Another area that demands urgent attention is the transition of rural areas into urban centres. About 24,000 large urbanizing villages in India, home to 190 million people, are governed under panchayati raj institutions even though they may exhibit urban characteristics.

Further, 971 new ULGs have been created since 2011 without rural-urban transition planning. Too often, the switch is determined by the stroke of a pen, without serious consideration for the loss of rural welfare schemes, the status of master plans, institutional continuity or its impact on taxes and user charges.

We need a model rural-urban transition policy that addresses these challenges. It would help plan for continuity in fiscal transfers, safeguard service delivery and enable integrated infrastructure planning as villages evolve into towns. Odisha has shown the way by notifying such a policy in 2023, offering a potential template for other states.

Also Read | Cities that care: Incorporate caregiving infrastructure into urban planning

Taken together, these three measures would give Indias cities what they currently lack: stronger local governments, institutions built for their scale and diversity, and a planned system for managing urbanization.

Only by putting local governments at the centre of urban policy can India ensure that we achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 for all our cities and citizens.

The author is CEO, Janaagraha.
Ironically, Albanese had to wait months for this meeting. But it seems to have been worth it: Trump did not demand that Australia increase its defence spending and take care of its own security; he also signalled support for the $239.46 billion AUKUS pact, reached in 2023, under which Australia is to buy US nuclear-powered submarines. This was a major agenda point for Albanese, given that the Trump administration had previously announced a review of the deal, citing its own security needs.
Ireland has elected its first openly leftwing independent president in modern history, marking a seismic political shift. Catherine Connolly, a 68-year-old former barrister and Galway MP, has been declared the republics next president after securing a landslide 63% of first-preference votes  a stunning result that has shaken the political establishment and redefined the countrys centre of gravity.

Also Read | Japan gets its first female leader

I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, Connolly said in Dublin Castle on Saturday night, moments after being declared the victor. Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody, that values and champions diversity and that takes confidence in our own identity.

How did Catherine Connolly pull off this historic win? Of 1.44 million valid votes cast, Connolly won 914,143, far ahead of her nearest rival, Heather Humphreys of the ruling Fine Gael party, who secured 29%. A third candidate, Fianna Fails Jim Gavin, withdrew mid-campaign after a financial scandal but still drew 7% of the vote.

The landslide was, however, clouded by a record 213,738 spoiled or invalid ballots, reflecting widespread frustration with limited choices and political disillusionment. Turnout stood at just 46%, unusually low by Irish standards.

Political analysts attribute Connollys rise to a perfect storm of voter anger over housing and cost-of-living crises, fatigue with the centrist establishment, and her deft use of social media to connect with younger voters. Her podcast appearances and viral videos  including one showing her doing keepy-uppy  cemented her image as a relatable, grounded alternative.

Why does Catherine Connolly's victory matter? While Irelands presidency is largely ceremonial, the symbolism of Connollys triumph is profound. It represents a decisive rejection of the traditional Fine GaelFianna Fail duopoly, and a resurgent appetite for anti-establishment, socially conscious leadership.

Connollys election also signals renewed debate about Irelands foreign policy neutrality. She has pledged to ringfence Irish neutrality from western militarism and has accused the UK and US of enabling genocide in Gaza  comments that have divided opinion at home and abroad.

Critics have branded her radical and warned that her views could strain Irelands relations with Washington and Brussels. Yet her supporters hail her as a voice of moral clarity in an age of political cynicism.

Who is Catherine Connolly? Born in Shantalla, a working-class suburb of Galway, Connolly was the ninth of 14 children. Her mother died when she was nine, an experience she later said shaped her sense of empathy and justice.

After earning a masters degree in psychology from the University of Leeds, she returned to Galway, became a barrister and clinical psychologist, and entered politics through the Labour Party. Elected to Galway City Council in 1999, she later served as mayor in 2004 before leaving Labour to run as an independent.

Also Read | ECI delists 474 more political parties for not contesting polls in six years

In 2016, she was elected as an independent TD (member of parliament) and gained recognition for her outspoken criticism of inequality and Western intervention in global conflicts. In 2020, she became the first woman elected as the Dails deputy speaker, a milestone that expanded her national profile.

What kind of president will Connolly be? Though critics warn Connolly may test the boundaries of her office, Connolly insists she will respect the constitutional limits of the presidency. Our public and democracy needs constructive questioning, she said in her victory address.

During a televised debate, when asked whether she would confront Donald Trump over allegations of genocide, she replied:

If its just a meet and greet, then I will meet and greet. If the discussion is genocide, thats a completely different thing.

Supporters see in her a continuation of the activist tradition of Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D Higgins, all of whom expanded the moral authority of the presidency beyond ceremonial duties.

What comes next for Irelands new president? Connolly will be inaugurated next month at Aras an Uachtarain, succeeding President Michael D Higgins, who congratulated her on Saturday, saying:

The president-elect will have the full support of this office as she prepares for her inauguration next month.

Her seven-year term begins amid growing polarisation, with half the electorate feeling unrepresented by either main candidate. Yet, to her supporters, Connollys victory embodies a new, progressive Ireland  one that is both sceptical of militarism and fiercely protective of social justice.

As she put it on election night:

Together, we can shape a new republic that values everybody.
PARISFrench courts have delivered one shock ruling after another this year, testing the balance of power between the countrys fiercely independent judiciary and its political leadership.

In March, a court banned far-right leader Marine Le Pen from running for office for five years after finding her guilty of embezzling European Union funds. Then, on Tuesday, conservative Nicolas Sarkozy became the first former president to see the inside of a prison cell, after judges sentenced him to five years for conspiring to obtain campaign funds from Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi.

The rulings are the work of a judicial system that has long taken pride in being impervious to political pressure. In bringing landmark sentences against two of the countrys most influential politicians, however, judges have opened the door to a fraught debate over the limits of judicial authority.

Millions of Le Pen and Sarkozy supporters across the country now view the justice system as persecuting, rather than prosecuting, their leaders. Sarkozys punishment, supporters say, is an attempt to humiliate a former head of state whose abrasive style bucked convention. Le Pens supporters, meanwhile, say her court-ordered ban on running from office defies the will of voters by preventing her from entering the 2027 presidential race.

View Full Image A 2019 photo shows a cell inside the prison where Sarkozy is serving his sentence in isolation from other inmates.

Judges say they were simply applying the law in their handling of each case, and polls show that a vast majority of the French public support them. These voters instead view anger at the verdicts as an assault on a sacrosanct principle of French democracythat no one is above the lawdating all the way back to the French Revolution and the guillotining of King Louis XVI.

Its a divide that mirrors the political and judicial fight now playing out in the U.S., where Democrats have accused President Trump of weaponizing the Justice Department to pursue his enemies. Trump, in turn, has said his political opponents have sought to use the courts to persecute him.

Is this the last gasp of the executive in the face of the judiciary, or is this a new stage in our Western democracies, in the weakening of the judiciary?" said Alexandre Duval-Stalla, a law professor at LInstitut Catholique de Paris.

Le Pen and lawmakers in Sarkozys conservative party want to restrict judges ability to hand down sentences with provisional" enforcement. That compels convicts to start serving prison terms and other penalties before the appeals process has been exhausted.

In France, convicts are presumed innocent as long as an appeal is pending. Le Pen and Sarkozy say that judges, in punishing them with provisional sentences, have denied them due process. A bill introduced in parliament by a lawmaker from Sarkozys party aims to launch an appeals process for a provisional sentence.

Legal scholars, however, say the recent criticism of provisional sentences ignores more than a decade of legislation and jurisprudence aimed at toughening up a legal system that can take years to reach a final verdict. Provisional enforcement applied to 57% of prison sentences handed down in 2024, up from 43% in 2020, according to the Justice Ministry.

That rise has occurred amid pressure from conservative and far-right politicians to harden a justice system they have often derided as too soft and sluggish. Sarkozys trial opened in January, but prosecutors began investigating allegations that led to the trial more than a decade ago. The investigation that led to Le Pens conviction also began a decade earlier.

Its not a grand conspiracy orchestrated by the system," said Benjamin Morel, a professor of public law at Paris-Pantheon-Assas University. The irony is that politicians consistently push for the provisional execution of sentences, but when it concerns Nicolas Sarkozy, they suddenly find issue with provisional enforcement and fault the judge."

Le Pen has seized on Sarkozys incarceration in an attempt to make common cause with him and bridge the divide between her far-right supporters and the many establishment conservatives who see the former president as a hero.

After Sarkozy entered prison Tuesday, Le Pen reposted a video that she suggested was taken inside his prison with inmates hurling insults at him from across the cell block.

I have no doubt that some people must be delighted by this situation. But I want to believe that millions of French people feel, like me, disgust," Le Pen wrote on X on Wednesday.

View Full Image The Palais de Justice courthouse in Paris.

View Full Image Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from entering the 2027 presidential race after a court found her guilty of embezzlement.

Sarkozy is being held in the isolation ward of Paris-La Sante, a prison in the heart of the French capital. Two police officers have been assigned nearby for protection due to threats against Sarkozy, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry said.

The tensions have left President Emmanuel Macron struggling to thread the needle in his constitutional role as guarantor of judicial authority.

Macron invited Sarkozy to the Elysee Palace before his incarceration, only to find himself on the defensive days later as he fielded questions over why he hosted the former president.

Its normal, on a human level, to receive one of my predecessors in this context," Macron said during a visit to Slovenia. He later found himself weighing in on Sarkozys criticism of provisional sentencing.

I think this is a legitimate debate in a democracy, because everyone wants there to be avenues to appeal and recourse," Macron said, adding that the debate should take place amid calm and independently of specific cases."

Write to Stacy Meichtry at Stacy.Meichtry@wsj.com and Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com
New Delhi: The IT ministry has proposed amendments to social media intermediary guidelines to incorporate the impact of artificial intelligence.

The draft amendments, published on 22 October, seek to crack down on the rising menace of deepfakes. However, creators and other industry stakeholders have called for some alterations to what the ministry has proposed. Mint breaks down the proposals and their impact on AI users.

Will Indias attempt to regulate AI really curb creators?

Over the past four days, creators, through policy think-tanks, have raised concerns that Indias attempt to curb content manipulated by AI does not offer enough nuance. The draft of the law, which is now available in public domain, urges any platform creating and distributing AI content to mandatorily use watermarks and invisible tags, also known as metadata, to identify where AI has been used.

While almost everyone agrees to this format in principle, creators worry about the proposed 10% rule, where Meity has suggested that any AI content must put a disclaimer on 10% of the visible surface area of the content. This means that for a text snippet of 100 words, at least 10 words must disclose that the said snippet was generated by AI.

Similarly, for an image created with AI, 10% of its full resolution must feature a watermark disclosing that it was made with AI.

Musicians and artists who create original content with AI said the rule does not differentiate in terms of the intent of a piece of content, and how AI is used in conjunction with human skills. Furthermore, a 10% mandatory watermark may destroy the creative effect" of a content piece, potentially affecting the adoption of AI for commercial purposes.

A senior official directly associated with the proposed AI regulation framework said Meity has already taken note of this early framework, and much will depend on what stakeholders say in their submissions to the ministry, and what the top tech ministry decides henceforth.

What about AI providers like OpenAI, Google and others?

They, too, are accountable under Indias proposed AI rules, the official cited above affirmed. This has created a fresh round of concernsOpenAI, Google, Anthropic and others build the foundational AI models that are then used by other companies to build further sub-models, or applications.

Any platform that uses watermark to denote AI-generated content, faces the risk of having that content labelledno matter what the content is.

The IT ministry has also taken further cognizance that the current draft of AI regulations does not differentiate between truly harmful AI contentsuch as political misinformation created through an AI platform, versus a harmless group photograph where certain elements have been modified using AI.

Mandatory AI tagging, according to AI engineers, can be challenging for AI platforms to handle. This is because many AI platforms already deal with privacy concerns in terms of their data monitoring and usage. If they were to analyze every content generated through them for labelling, AI providers will need to play the role of a content monitor taking subjective callswhich industry stakeholders believe will be complicated.

A bigger point here is also the fact that for the first time, AI platforms are being clubbed under the same regulation as social media intermediaries.

In effect, the Centre is stating that AI providers such as OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Gemini are intermediaries, too. If this move is formalized, the very nature of AI usage through these services may changesince platforms will then need to be more stringent in tracking users who generate misinformation, and take actions against their accounts.

Is the law in line with what Europe has already done?

Indias AI regulation is much shorter than the European Unions Artificial Intelligence Act, which the region started enforcing since August last year. In the latter, Chapter IV, Article 50 of the Act clarifies that any AI-generated content should be identified on social media platforms as so via metadata tagging. This way, the EU puts the onus on social media platforms to monitor content through a moderation teamand assess whether any content is harmless in intent, or shows any form of misinformation and manipulation.

Can all of this be technically feasible?

Yes. A senior official at Meity said last week that the Centre has already consulted with tech firms before framing the rulesand the latter have already expressed confidence that technically, tagging AI content is possible through voluntary disclosures from users distributing the content, or at source itself when an AI content is generated.

Senior executives at Meta, OpenAI and Google, which run the most prominent AI and social media platforms Instagram, ChatGPT and YouTube, have all said that they are currently evaluating the impact these rules may have on the usage of AI itself. All of the above-mentioned tech firms are betting massive amounts of capital on the rise of AI among users. Getting AI moderation right, on this note, will be critical for their business growth as well.

Also Read | Eight brilliant AI tools to supercharge productivity

Would users face penalties for using AI?

While the liability to tag and identify AI-generated content will be on the platforms, users will have to voluntarily disclose if they are sharing any content that has been generated or altered with AI. While the penalties are not direct, social media platforms are expected to include AI usage rules into their respective community guidelinesclarifying to users what is legal, and what is not.

As a result, users sharing AI content that ends up being identified as a deepfake, or content that manipulates a fact into an alternate version using AI, may initially be warned by a platform for doing so.

Repeat offenders that face multiple content takedown orders, or warnings from the social media platforms themselves, may face stricter actionssuch as being banned from a platform, or more. However, the AI rules in India, for now, do not dictate specific punitive measures for users who repeatedly propagate misleading AI content.

How will the AI law be enforced?

Alongside framing rules to curb the spread of AI-driven deepfakes, the IT ministry last Wednesday also notified an amendment to social media takedown mechanism in India. Starting 1 November, only officers at the rank of Joint Secretary and above at the Centre, or Deputy Inspector General and above in the police forces, will be allowed to issue takedown orders against any form of content on social media platforms.

Further to this, the official cited above said the rules will work in the form of voluntary disclosures mandated on social media platforms before a piece of content is shared. In case any content is reported, the latter may be liable for takedown based on existing regulation for social media intermediaries.

The Centre will also review the effectiveness of this mechanism on a monthly basis, the official said, adding that there will be room for altering the law as neededsince AI is an evolving field.

AI deepfakes proliferation, impact and harm, be it to person or national security has now reached a critical scale, sufficient for the Centre to consider more robust and standalone AI laws. Criminal laws for instance act as deterrence and are not just intended for punishment and specificity and availability of AI specific criminal provisions may therefore be more efficacious to combat harms," said N.S. Nappinai, senior counsel at Supreme Court and founder of cyber security advocacy platform, Cyber Saathi.

Also Read: Mint Explainer | AI deepfakes are everywhere: What Bollywood's fight means for online platforms
Guillermo del Toros adaptation of Frankenstein has taken both the big screen and social media by storm.

Social media reactions to Frankenstein Audiences around the world are sharing heartfelt reactions to the 2025 gothic epic, praising everything from the cast performances to del Toros meticulous direction.

Fans are describing it as an emotional, unforgettable cinematic experience, with many calling it a masterpiece that elevates Mary Shelleys classic tale for a modern audience.

Also Read | Guillermo del Toro on Jacob Elordi replacing Andrew Garfield in Frankenstein

Social media has been flooded with reactions from viewers who saw the film in theatres ahead of its global Netflix release on November 7.

One user wrote, Guillermo del Toros Frankenstein was an absolute masterpiece. I loved every minute of it (sic).

Another shared their experience at the Kentucky Theatre: Watched Guillermo Del Toros Frankenstein at The Kentucky Theater. Well worth the drive, I was invested the entire time. Pulls on the heartstrings and all the changes to the book work quite nicely. What a beautiful film! (sic)

Jacob Elordis performance as the tragic creature has drawn particular praise, with one fan stating, Love just pours out of this film in gallons, and I have never been so deeply touched by a performance the way I was touched by Jacob Elordis in this film. I left that cinema happier than Ive felt in weeks (sic).

Also Read | Frankenstein director Guillermo del Toro opens up about generative AI for films

Many viewers expressed strong emotional responses, describing tears and moments of awe during the screening. Frankenstein has been my favourite story for a long time now, and Ive always loved Guillermo del Toros work. I had high expectations, but I was still blown away. Spent the whole movie in and out of tears and left the theatre sobbing. Strongest reaction Ive ever had to any art (sic), wrote one fan.

Others encouraged friends to experience the film in theatres, calling it a work of art, truly and urging, Please go see Guillermo Del Toros Frankenstein if you are anywhere near a theatre that is showing it (sic).

More about 'Frankenstein' The film, a 2025 American epic gothic science fiction adaptation of Mary Shelleys 1818 novel, stars Oscar Isaac as the brilliant yet egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the creature he brings to life.

The ensemble cast also includes Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Lauren Collins, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz. The story centres on Frankensteins daring experiment to defy nature, a choice that leads to profound consequences for both creator and creation.
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Deckers Outdoor (NYSE:DECK) shares are down 12.70% Friday after three major Wall Street firms reset price targets following the company's fiscal Q2 report, with outlooks now ranging from $81 to $120 with a consensus price target of $114. The downgrades reflect growing concern about HOKA's deceleration and softer U.S. market momentum, though strategists remain divided on the stock's near-term trajectory.

The Downgrade Cascade

Bank of America trimmed its target to $103 from $122 while maintaining a Neutral rating. The firm acknowledges that HOKA's low-teens growth guidance for the second half is "achievable," but flagged intensifying competition from both larger and smaller rivals as a headwind for market share gains next year. BofA's base case projects HOKA sales growth slowing to 7% in fiscal 2027 from 14% in fiscal 2026, a significant deceleration.

Citi analyst Paul Lejuez cut his target to $120 from $150 but kept a Buy rating, characterizing the Q2 report as "disappointing" and anticipating near-term weakness as investors digest softer second-half guidance.

Goldman Sachs struck the most bearish tone, lowering its target to $81 from $92 while maintaining a Sell rating. The firm believes Deckers' revenue growth "remains weak" in its core U.S. market, despite acknowledging "ample whitespace" for global brand expansion.

What the Fundamentals Show

The analyst calls reflect real operational headwinds. HOKA, which has been the company's growth engine, is facing margin pressure from competitive intensity. The brand's expansion into new categories and geographies, while strategically sound, is consuming marketing dollars and creating pricing pressure. UGG, the legacy franchise, remains profitable but faces seasonal volatility and mature market dynamics in North America.

The company's fiscal Q2 results beat Wall Street expectations on both the top and bottom lines, but management's second-half guidance suggesting caution on near-term momentum. Investors should monitor whether gross margins stabilize or compress further as the company manages HOKA's transition from hypergrowth to sustainable mid-teens expansion.

Consensus Shifts and Valuation

Deckers now faces a fractured analyst community. While Citi maintains conviction with a Buy rating, BofA's pivot to Neutral and Goldman's Sell stance signal meaningful debate about execution and competitive positioning. The $81 to $120 target range reflects that tension. At current levels, the stock trades below most 2025 price targets, suggesting the market has priced in some pessimism. However, the wide dispersion also indicates limited consensus on fair value.
Both backseat passengers, neither of which were arrested, said they noticed the suspects were passing a gun around, "playing with it," when Banks stuck the firearm out the window and began shooting.


A 33 year old man with an appalling history has been disqualified from driving for six years and ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service in place of six months imprisonment.

Father of two, Lee OConnell, with an address of 39 St Attracta Road, Cabra was originally arrested and charged on February 13 this year by Garda Allan Doherty of Longford Garda Station.

Recounting the details of the incident for the court, Sergeant Enda Daly acting for the state said Garda Doherty was on patrol when he observed a car acting suspiciously before taking off at speed and subsequently turning into a private dwelling to avoid Gardai.

Upon further investigation, it was established that the driver of the car, Lee OConnell, had been disqualified from driving.

Sgt Daly said the matter before court was that he was driving without license and insurance.

Speaking about Mr OConnell's previous convictions, of which he has 63, Sgt Daly explained a lot of them are drug related.

Addressing the accuseds solicitor, Mr Diarmuid Quinn, Judge Deirdre Gearty remarked, Mr Quinn, this is an appalling history! He doesnt get the message at all!

Mr Quinn replied that from speaking with his client, it was mainly drug issues that were the source of the problem.

He told the court, I do have some items to hand in with regard to the treatment he received mainly in the UK. He did inform me of the many previous offences he has in relation to driving. It really is inexcusable to be before the court again.

Mr Quinn added, He now has enrolled in a course and is learning how to be a chef in Dublin.

"He has been in residential treatment in the UK where he received treatment for drug addiction and he feels he has turned his life around. Hes a young man and he does have two young children.

When Judge Gearty queried how Mr OConnell could be finished his recovery treatment already, Mr Quinn added, He has come home to deal with court matters, so he has not finished it but once he has finalised matters, he does intend to go back into residential treatment.

Replied Judge Gearty, Im going to do a terrible thing to poor Michael from the probation service and ask about a same day assessment, adding that she did not want to put the probation officer under pressure as the charges before the court were serious in their nature.

Its a definite imprisonment situation, she said, I am checking to see if suitability for community service is an option. She added, I have a sentence in mind.



Probation services confirmed later that day for Judge Gearty that Mr OConnell was willing to carry out community service and that there were no medical issues to prevent him from doing so.

Judge Gearty sentenced Mr OConnell to 200 hours community service in lieu of six months imprisonment. She also disqualified Mr OConnell from driving for six years.

READ NEXT: Longford Gardai seize cannabis and cocaine worth almost 12,000 from town premises

READ NEXT: ALERT | Uisce Eireann to provide essential Longford upgrades for Granard residents
Tom Brady knows how Aaron Rodgers is feeling ahead of the latters game against his former Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.

If Im A-Rod, I want to crush the Packers. I want to make that really clear, Brady said on FOX.

Brady spent 20 seasons with the New England Patriots before he left the organization in 2020 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots and the Bucs played at Gillette Stadium in 2021.

Dont tell this to Mr. (Robert) Kraft, but I wanted to beat the Patriots by 100 when I was with the Bucs and we played them, Brady said. Fortunately, we squeaked away with a win, but that was the attitude you have to take.

The Buccaneers beat the Patriots, 19-17, on Oct. 3, 2021.

Rodgers was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2005 and spent the next 18 seasons in Green Bay, leading the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2011. He was traded to the New York Jets in 2023 and spent the next two seasons in the Meadowlands. Year 1 was lost to a torn Achilles and Year 2 ended with a 5-12 record.

The Steelers signed Rodgers to a one-year deal this offseason. The 41-year-old played the Jets in Week 1 as Pittsburgh won, 34-32.

I really only played 18 games here, Rodgers told reporters earlier this week. It doesnt come close to how its going to feel playing Green Bay, because that was 18 years of my career.
'MORE smoke', shouts someone.

The kitchen is crowded, about 15 people are packed around the table. Camera tracks are laid out, heavy metal tripods with monitors.

Instructions are bouncing off the walls, as an assistant fans the smoke emerging from a generator placed on the kitchen countertop.

In the middle of all this the two main actors of the film are seated around the table with a plate of chicken curry in front of them. By the time the shooting is over, they will have had several portions of it.

Just turn it off. Just make them disappear, quips Cameron Brady, one of the two protagonists. It helps, when everyone is really good at falling completely silent and disappearing into the walls.

Brady plays James. He is a school kid that is doing his leaving service and has fallen in love with this man, this other kid named Cillian, who is closeted and doesn't want to be in any way showing anyone that he is affectionate towards men.

In the drama called 'Collision' the two teenagers have a secret love affair. Then, late at night, they're involved in a car crash, in which the local teacher is gravely injured. The boys decide to flee the scene and have to deal with the consequences afterwards.

A tough but modern topic for the film they were shooting at locations in Mayo last week.

It's brilliant to film here in Westport, says Emer Durcan, Produces at Western Front Studio: This production is a particularly big one. It's a commission from RTE. There's 58 crew members, nine cast and 50 extras involved. It's the biggest production we've done ourselves.

Large parts of the crew are local and have worked their way up together with Emer and her husband Brian, who is cinematographer.

More experienced specialists were brought in for this production, and according to Durcan, it creates a mish-mash of the two levels and it's giving the Western Front Studio crucial training and experience.

And we're getting to make a high-end drama with a car crash here in Westport, says Durcan joyfully.

READ NEXT: Wins for Tidy Towns from across Mayo at 2025 national awards

The two main actors Cuan Hosty Blaney, Cameron Brady and Western Front Studios cinematographer Brian Durcan.

NO BLACK AND WHITE

One of the talents brought in for this production is director Michael Carolan. His drama work centres on creating provocative cinematic stories, blending realism with genre film to reflect personal and modern day societal issues.

The film was inspired by a report last year, about Mayo road deaths were the highest they've had in twenty years, explains Carolan, sitting on a couch during a break of filming scenes in a house in Aughagower:

There's a large proportion of accidents happening in the West of Ireland with a lot of young drivers and especially male drivers. And then there's these two young men taking their first steps of freedom, who aren't fully aware of their sexuality yet. That all sort of collides in the film.

The story taps into a lot of issues prevalent in our modern society. It's a repeating pattern in Carolan's work.

I kind of like morally grey characters. They're neither good or bad people and their choices aren't weighed that way. It's like most people in real life, it's more realistic that way.

A sentiment that's shared by Cuan Hosty Blaney. The actor from Armagh plays James, the other protagonist in 'Collision', alongside Cameron Brady.

There's no black and white to the two boys. But I would consider my character's journey a really maturing one, Blaney points out: The consequences of what Cillian does will be huge and they will stay with him. But by the end of the story, the decisions that he takes and the responsibility he's able to shoulder, are somewhat heroic. Even if they're grounded in the dastardly things he's doing.

Blaney was just recently seen by everyone who watched the Netflix series 'House of Guinness'. he played Patrick, one of Arthur Guinness' love interests.

He's having a great time, and his character in the film is a hurling ace so Blaney got to refresh his skills for some scenes out at St Patrick's Park in Westport.

It's been a few years, since I had a hurl in my hands, Blaney laughs. It was great filming with a couple of local boys who are hurlers themselves. They were some guys, really talented.

In general, the support from locals has been phenomenal, as Western Front Studios producer Emer Durcan explains: People here made life easier, they didn't put barriers up. It would be very difficult to do something of this scale without all the support that we've gotten. Mayo County Council, the permits for the shooting, Westport GAA, the community centre, all the extras that were involved, girls from Sancta Maria College Louisburgh. And there was a party scene here and there were loads of Mayo based extras participating.

Durcan lays out, Western Front Studios want to grow our team here and we want to do productions here. She hails the team spirit of everyone involved in the process.

Director Michael Carolan discussing next steps with Cuan Hosty Blaney on set.

MENTAL GYMNASTICS

Eithne McGreal is one of the local talent in front of the camera for 'Collision'. It's great being part of this.

The team are brilliant. They've left nothing to chance. We have the accommodation, the infrastructure and we have the talent here in Mayo. It's a great place for filmmaking.

Eithne has always been interested in the Arts, it's not her main gig, but whenever she gets the chance, she gets involved.

People probably having the idea of film being this glamorous pursuit when in actual fact, it's hard work. You do what it takes. If it's standing outside in the cold, in the rain, the waiting. But it looks glamorous on screen and everything is pointed towards that.

It's striking how much time actors spend waiting. While everyone's swirling around the kitchen, camera angles are being changed, lighting adjusted, then the make-up artist corrects a few bits, and then someone spots an empty window sill in the back and they move some props there to create more depth and structure in the shot.

As an outside, one might be forgiven to think 'of course they're going to film it chronologically', but far from it:

You might do the very last scene right on the first day of shooting. It's a wild world, says actor Cameron Brady. It's mental gymnastics but it's a great time. The first day we jumped into a scene that's halfway through the piece. You have to remember everything that's gone into the story before and bring it into your body.

It's Cameron's first time for work in Mayo: People here are so lovely. The weather has been pretty good. It's a very beautiful place. Western Front Studio are super efficient but also welcoming, calm, and great craic to work with.

It's fascinating to observe all these moving parts on set. Everyone knows there role. Camera operator, focus puller, sound engineer, script supervisor, hair and make-up artists and so many more all cater for their specific role in the film shoot.

But once the director calls the famous word 'action', everything has fallen silent, and bar actors speaking and moving, one could hear a pin drop.

And in case someone was wondering, what they needed all that smoke for. It's essential in some situations to create depth in the shot, it helps to sculp light. I'm told, the difference between a shot with and without smoke is striking.

If you want to find out, what it looks like, the production 'Collision' will air on RTE this side of Christmas, with plenty of Mayo involved in it.

READ NEXT: Rolling back the years at reunion in Mayo
Long before AI took the tech world by storm, Google was quietly embedding it into its core products, such as Search, YouTube, and Maps. Those early efforts have now come together in Gemini, the companys flagship AI model suite, which serves as the centerpiece of its strategy to lead the AI race. And on the quantum computing front, Google is making waves with its Willow chip, recently achieving the first-ever verifiable quantum advantage.

Fueled by a diverse mix of revenue streams, Googles tech dominance is hard to miss. The California-based powerhouse leaves its mark across nearly every corner of the digital world, from its lucrative advertising business and rapidly growing cloud division to ad-supported streaming, self-driving tech, and even healthcare innovations. Yet what truly sets Google apart today is its early and strategic bet on AI and quantum computing.

That being said, is now the right time to buy GOOGL shares?

Googles CEO, Sundar Pichai, shared the big news on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that this new algorithm can model how atoms interact in molecules using nuclear magnetic resonance, which would unlock massive breakthroughs in drug discovery and materials science. This breakthrough brings Google one step closer to harnessing the true power of quantum computing, a race that also includes competitors such as Microsoft (MSFT), IBM (IBM), and several ambitious start-ups in hot pursuit.

Fast forward to now, and Google has taken an even bigger leap. Its Quantum AI division has achieved the first-ever verifiable quantum advantage, marking a major breakthrough toward reaching the first-ever real-world application of quantum computing. Using its Quantum Echoes algorithm, the Willow chip performed calculations 13,000 times faster than the classical algorithm in the world's fastest supercomputer.

After making rapid strides in artificial intelligence (AI), Alphabets (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google is now racing ahead into its next big tech frontier, quantum computing. The tech giant first caught attention back in December 2024 when it introduced its mind-boggling Willow quantum chip, claiming it could tackle complex problems in just five minutes, tasks that would take even the worlds fastest supercomputers an unbelievable 10 septillion years to complete.

Story Continues

Currently valued at a massive market capitalization of about $3 trillion, shares of this search engine giant faced some turbulence recently as investors reacted to a bold new challenge from OpenAI. On Oct. 21, OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT Atlas, an AI-powered browser designed to rival Googles core search and browser businesses. By launching Atlas, the ChatGPT maker is making its most aggressive move yet into Googles territory.

With integrated AI chat and summary features, Atlas could shake up the way users interact with the web and potentially disrupt Googles traditional digital ad model, which depends on clicks and traffic. Still, despite this looming threat, Googles stock continues to perform strongly on Wall Street, buoyed by solid business fundamentals and the companys relentless innovation across AI, cloud, and quantum computing.

Over the past year, GOOGL stock has climbed a notable 60.4%, sailing past the broader S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 17.1% gain. In 2025, its up another 37.9%, again leaving the broader markets modest 15.6% return far behind. The stock just touched a record high of $261.68 today and is holding strong, just 0.2% below that peak, highlighting its impressive momentum.

www.barchart.com

A Look Inside Googles Q2 Earnings Report

The tech powerhouse dropped its fiscal 2025 second-quarter results on Jul. 23, which came in well ahead of Wall Street expectations, showcasing the companys resilience even amid competitive pressures. For the quarter, revenue climbed about 14% year-over-year (YoY) to $96.4 billion, sailing past the $94 billion consensus, while EPS also jumped 22% to $2.31, beating estimates by a 7.4% margin.

Operating income grew 14% annually to $31.3 billion, with a strong 32% operating margin driven by top-line growth and disciplined spending. By quarter-end, Google held a substantial $95 billion in cash and marketable securities, highlighting its financial firepower. Google also delivered significant value to shareholders during the quarter, with $13.6 billion spent on share repurchases and $2.5 billion paid in dividends, underscoring its focus on rewarding investors.

Digging deeper, we see continued strength in the Google Cloud division, with revenue surging 32% YoY to $13.6 billion, fueled by widespread adoption of Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offerings, AI infrastructure, and generative AI solutions. The cloud backlog hit a staggering $106 billion, up 18% sequentially and 38% YoY, underscoring strong demand from both new and existing clients.

Meanwhile, Googles core Search and advertising businesses also remained resilient despite rising competition in the AI arena. Search revenue grew 11.7% YoY to $54.1 billion, and total advertising climbed 10.4% to $71.3 billion, demonstrating the companys ability to defend its market dominance. During the companys Q2 earnings call, CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted the companys accelerating AI momentum.

Gemini, home to Googles AI chatbot, now boasts over 450 million monthly active users, while AI Overviews, the AI-powered search summarization tool, reaches over 2 billion monthly users across more than 200 countries and territories. Moreover, to support this growth, Google raised its fiscal 2025 capital expenditure plan to roughly $85 billion, up from the previous forecast of $75 billion, driven by surging demand for cloud services and AI solutions.

In fact, management expects Googles capital expenditures to rise even further in fiscal 2026, fueled by strong customer demand and growth opportunities across the companys various business segments. The tech giant is gearing up to release its fiscal 2025 third-quarter financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Ahead of this announcement, analysts are projecting a 7.1% annual increase in EPS to $2.27. Looking further ahead, Wall Street expects Googles fiscal 2025 earnings to climb 23.5% YoY to $9.93 per share,

How Are Analysts Viewing GOOGL Stock?

On Oct. 20, Bank of America reaffirmed its Buy rating on Google and raised the price target from $252 to $280 per share, setting the stage ahead of the companys upcoming earnings. The firms checks indicate that Q3 advertising spend is outperforming expectations, driven by improving macro conditions, rising data usage, and stronger ad investments.

The investment firm also anticipates steady growth in paid clicks for Google Search, which could help offset AI-related disruption risks and potentially support multiple expansions. BofA also highlighted growing traction for Googles Gemini AI platform and noted that recent Cloud deals could further boost backlog growth.

Overall, Wall Street remains highly optimistic about GOOGL, with the stock earning a consensus Strong Buy rating. Of the 56 analysts covering it, 42 see it as a Strong Buy, five view it as a Moderate Buy, and nine recommend Hold. The stock is trading just above its average analyst price target of $259.90, while the Street-high target of $310 suggests that the stock can rally as much as 19% from here.

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Anushka Mukherji did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Ron Field uncovers the role of Scots Americans in the war to free the slaves.

In the wake of the failed Union attack on the Tower Battery at Secessionville on James Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, on 16 June 1862, the Charleston Mercury reported, It was left to the brave 79th Highlanders, to test the virtue of unadulterated cold steel on our Southern nerves. Thank God, Lincoln had only one 79th regiment. In fact, the Union Army possessed several predominantly Scottish regiments between 1861 and 1865, mostly based on pre-war militia units.

Approximately 600,000 Scots migrated to the United States between 1851 and 1861, bringing with them a rich military tradition. Militia companies of Scottish origin wearing full Highland uniforms were formed in both Northern and Southern states, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Referred to as the sons of auld Scotia, a company called the Scotch Light Infantry was organized at Albany, the capital city of New York State, in August 1851, and was one of the first American units to wear a uniform based on that of the British 42nd Highland Regiment, or Black Watch.

According to the By-Laws of the Scotch Light Infantry, printed on 25 July 1854, they wore a Bonnet of black ostrich feathers, red hackle [or feather plume] and plaid band. Red coat, double breasted, with gold lace on the collar, cuffs, and skirts. Kilt of the Forty-second plaid. Spooran [sic] made of white hair, six black tassels, silver or German silver top [or cantle], with the Goddess of Liberty in the centre and a star at each end. Hose of red and white plaid. Shoes and silver buckles.

Highlanders for the Union

In Chicago, Illinois, the Highland Guard commanded by Captain John McArthur wore the regular old style, with red frock coats, tartans, huge overhanging caps, bare continuations, and other paraphernalia when first organised in 1856. With the outbreak of Civil War in April 1861, this company formed the nucleus of the 12th Illinois Infantry, or First Scotch Regiment, with McArthur as colonel.

Although the 12th Illinois received state-issue uniforms of gray at the beginning of its war service and later wore blue, its headgear until at least 1862 consisted of a Scottish tam-o-shanter with tartan, or plaid, band.

The 12th Illinois sustained heavy losses at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Corinth in 1862. In the defence of Allatoona, Georgia, on 5 October 1864, it suffered 57 casualties among its remaining 161 men. Survivors and replacements marched to the sea with General William Tecumseh Sherman, and then into the Carolinas to finish the war.

First organised in New York City during November 1858, a Highland regiment was subsequently designated the 79th New York State Militia, named after the 79th Regiment, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, of the British Army. Adopting the Cameron of Erracht tartan, which was specially shipped from Scotland, this regiment first paraded in undress uniform composed of plaid pants, polka jackets and small caps on 17 September 17 1860.

The uniform was further described by the regimental historian William Todd as consisting of handsome State [blue] jackets with red facings, blue fatigue caps and Cameron tartan pants. In February 1860, a few members of the 79th paraded in kilts for a Grand Military Fete held in New York City, and B Company of the regiment dressed in kilts, polka jackets, plaid stockings and bright buckled shoes escorted Elmer Ellsworth and the Chicago Zouave Cadets on their departure from the city six months later.

The 79th musters for war

With the onset of Civil War, the 79th NYSM was increased in size to 895 officers and men and mustered into Federal service on 29 May 1861, with many new recruits of Irish as well as Scottish origin. At this stage, the regiment found great difficulty in provided its whole compliment with kilted full dress. According to William Todd, All of the officers and many of the men wore the kilts while the rest [or new recruits] were dressed in handsome State jackets with red facings, blue fatigue caps and Cameron tartan pants

With the arrival of the regiment at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, en route for Washington DC, the Inquirer newspaper reported, The different companies were somewhat diversified as to style of uniform, but the national plaid marked all. Some were accoutred [sic] in the full Highland costume, kilt and bare knees; others were in plaid pants. When the regiment took part in the review of New York troops at the Federal capital in July 1861, only three or four of the officers wore the full Highland rig.

In a last effort to provide the whole of the 79th New York with complete Highland dress, Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Elliott wrote to the New York Tribune in July 1861, I purpose going to New-York on furlough to attend to the unfinished business of the regiment, which may occupy me some time, as I am anxious to obtain pipers, for whom I may have to go to Canada, and also to procure kilts for the entire regiment, without which the Highlander is shorn of half his martial spirit and all his martial splendors.

Battle honours

When McDowells army began its march to Manassas Junction prior to the Battle of First Bull Run four days later, Elliott clearly had had no time to fulfill his mission. Of that occasion William Todd wrote, At two oclock in the afternoon in light marching order the march began; our knapsacks containing our uniform jackets and tartan pants having been packed and left at camp in charge of the Invalid Corps. If any of our men wore anything other than the regulation dark blue blouses and light blue pants during the campaign they were few.

The 79th Highlanders fought bravely at Bull Run and later at Secessionville, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg, the Wilderness, and Petersburg. They became one of the most respected units from New York City during the Civil War, and earned themselves a fearsome reputation on the battlefield, where they lost 190 men killed in action or died of disease, and 747 discharged because of wounds or sickness, from a total roster of 1,374.

At the end of the conflict in 1865, the 79th returned to New York City, where they reverted to militia status and carried on their proud Highland military tradition.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that Israel, the U.S. and the other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire deal are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

The State Department said a week ago that it had credible reports Hamas could violate the ceasefire with an attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

We put out a message through State Department, sent it to our mediators as well, about an impending attack, and it didnt happen, he told reporters en route from Israel to Qatar, where he met up with President Donald Trump for a multistop tour in Asia. So thats the goal here, is ultimately to identify a threat before it happens."

Rubio said multiple countries are interested in joining an international stabilization force that aims to deploy to Gaza but that they need more details about the mission and rules of engagement.

The U.S. could call for a U.N. resolution supporting the force so more nations can take part, he said, adding that the U.S. has been talking with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey and noting interest from Indonesia and Azerbaijan.

Many of the countries who want to be a part of it cant do it without that, he said of an international mandate.

He also noted that next week the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is expected to be the latest in a parade of U.S. officials to travel to Israel.

Vice President JD Vance joined special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner earlier in the week in Israel in an effort to shore up the fragile ceasefire deal. Rubio arrived just as Vance was departing, meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and touring a U.S.-led coordination center monitoring the ceasefire.

Rubio touched on several other key foreign policy priorities in his remarks to reporters. Here's a look:

Sanctions on Colombia's president

A day after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade, Rubio said it was not about targeting the country itself, which is one of the closest American allies in the region.

This is not a U.S. vs. Colombia thing, he said. This is us reacting to the actions of whats turned into a hostile foreign leader.

He said the U.S. has excellent relations with Colombia's people and institutions and that the Trump administration didnt want to hurt the countrys economy, so it held off on tariffs. Trump last weekend had threatened to unleash them.

Asked if he would rule out tariffs, Rubio said Trump makes those decisions but obviously the president was aware of the options available to him and chose these instead.

The sanctions ramped up tensions with Colombia's first leftist leader, who has hit back at the Trump administration.

I believe the current U.S. government violated its rule of law by sanctioning me as if I were a mobster, when I dedicated my life to fighting the mafia," Petro wrote on X. "Their desperation will lead them to set traps for me. Im ready to fight. For myself and for my people.

Stance toward Venezuela

Reporters asked Rubio whether other leaders in the region may help urge Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down, with speculation swirling about whether recent U.S. military actions in Latin America are aimed at ousting Maduro.

Rubio responded that when the U.S. deploys assets in its own hemisphere, "everyone sort of freaks out."

The Trump administration has launched a series of strikes against alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and is deploying an aircraft carrier to South America, a major escalation of an already robust military buildup in the region.

Rubio insisted that the U.S. is taking part in a counterdrug operation. And he again accused Maduros government of allowing and participating in the shipment of narcotics.

This is a very serious problem for the hemisphere, and a very destabilizing one," Rubio said. "And that has to be addressed.

He says other countries in the region, including Ecuador, Mexico, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, cooperate in combating drug trafficking.

Maduro said the U.S. government is fabricating a war against him.

They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal and totally fake one, Maduro said Friday night in a national broadcast. Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves.

Taiwan and China

Rubio said it was important for the U.S. to remain engaged with China but that Taiwan would not become a bargaining chip for the world's largest economies to reach a larger trade agreement.

Trump says he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in the coming days during his Asia trip. Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and vows to seize it by force if necessary. The United States is obligated by its own laws to give military support to Taiwan.

If what people are worried about is were going to get some trade deal or were going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan  no one is contemplating that, Rubio said.
ISLAMABAD (AP)  U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he will solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis very quickly, as peace talks between the warring neighbors entered a second day.

The two countries are embroiled in a bitter security row, with each side saying they were responding to aggression from the other during clashes earlier this month.

It was the deadliest fighting between them in several years, marking a low point in relations while also causing alarm in a region where armed groups like al-Qaida are trying to resurface.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of turning a blind eye to militants who cross the border for attacks, a charge the countrys Taliban rulers reject.

The second round of talks between them began in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on transforming a fragile ceasefire, achieved earlier this month in Doha, into a durable framework for peace and border security.

I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, said Trump on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. But Ill get that solved very quickly.

He made the comments while attending the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, adding that the leaders of Pakistan were great people.

Pakistan's army said Sunday it had killed 25 militants while repelling two major infiltration attempts along the border, even as delegations were talking in Istanbul. It also said five Pakistani soldiers had died during exchanges of fire.

It was not possible to verify the casualty figures as the area is remote and off-limits to the media.

Fighting earlier this month killed dozens of people and injured hundreds in Afghanistan, although Pakistan denied attacking civilians and said it was targeting militants and their hideouts.

Taliban-controlled media RTA reported Sunday that, after 15 hours of continuous discussions, the Afghan side had submitted a draft focusing on Pakistan not violating Afghanistans territory and airspace and not allowing any anti-Afghan group or opposition to use Pakistani territory against our country.

There was also an expression of readiness to establish a four-way channel to monitor the ceasefire agreement and exchange information on violations, RTA reported.

The Pakistanis submitted a second draft to the Afghans on Saturday evening, according to RTA.

Nobody from the Pakistani government was immediately available for comment. But Trumps remarks are likely to energize the countrys political and military leadership, which wants closer ties with the White House.

Pakistan has also praised Trump for his role in defusing a crisis earlier this year with India.

Pakistans border regions have experienced violence since 1979, when it became a frontline state in the U.S.-backed war against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

___

Associated Press writers Sajjad Tarakzai contributed to this report from Islamabad and Abdul Qahar Afghan from Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
Soldiers are away more than ever, and long deployments come with stretches of silence, and the nights when the missions done, the days over, and you finally have a few hours to yourself. For many service members, movies arent just a way to pass the time; theyre a reminder of home, purpose, and perseverance.

And while streaming services have made it easier than ever to download favorites (complete with discounts), before heading out, the best deployment movies dont just entertain but inspire. From modern military classics like Hacksaw Ridge to old-school epics like Patton, these stories capture the grit, humor, heartbreak, and heroism that define the military experience.

So whether youre watching on your rack after a long shift or streaming back home with your family, here are the must-view military movies to queue up during deployment  a collection of films that honor the reality of service while keeping the human spirit front and center.

Andre Garfield as Desmond T. Doss in Hawksaw Ridge (2016). Image screen-capped and made available under fair use courtesy of Lionsgate.

1. Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Available on: Netflix

Lets start with the film that inspired this list. Mel Gibsons Hacksaw Ridge tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a World War II medic who saved 75 men in Okinawa  without ever carrying a weapon. Its brutal, unflinching, and deeply human, showing that courage isnt always about pulling the trigger but standing firm in your convictions.

For deployed service members, its a powerful reminder that strength takes many forms  and that bravery often comes down to protecting the person beside you.

Rami Malek as Charles Heller in The Amateur (2025), screen-capped and made available under fair use, courtesy of 20th Century Studios.

2. The Amateur (2025)

Available on: Disney+, Hulu

Laurence Fishburne and Bohemian Rhapsody actor Rami Malek star in this tense spy thriller about a CIA cryptographer forced into the field after tragedy strikes. The Amateur dives deep into themes of duty, revenge, and moral clarity  things anyone in uniform can relate to.

With sharp writing and a grounded portrayal of sacrifice, its one of 2025s most talked-about films, and a must-watch for anyone missing the thrill of purpose while away from home.

George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield in 1917 (2019), made available under fair use, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

3. 1917 (2019)

Available on: Netflix

Director Sam Mendes crafts an immersive World War I story told in what appears to be one continuous shot. The film follows two young soldiers tasked with delivering a message to save hundreds of lives.

Its a cinematic masterpiece that perfectly captures the exhaustion, camaraderie, and chaos of the front lines  and its one of the most visually stunning films ever made about combat.

Delroy Lindo starring as Paul in Netflix's Da 5 Bloods (2020), available under fair use, courtesy of Netflix.

4. Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Available on: Netflix

Spike Lees Da 5 Bloods follows four Vietnam veterans who return decades later to recover the remains of their fallen squad leader and a buried fortune. Its a meditation on brotherhood, trauma, and the cost of service that resonates long after the credits roll.

Its also a rare film that gives voice to veterans as they reckon with history and memory, making it a standout choice for those reflecting on their own experiences.

Beast of No Nation star Idris Elba as Commandant, available under fair use courtesy of Netflix.

5. Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Available on: Netflix

A harrowing but beautifully acted film about child soldiers in an unnamed African conflict, Beasts of No Nation explores how war shapes innocence  and how hope can survive amid horror. Idris Elbas performance as a ruthless commander is unforgettable.

Its not an easy watch, but its an important one that underscores the global reality of conflict and the human cost that soldiers witness firsthand.

Jeremy Renner stars in The Hurt Locker (2009), available under fair use courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

6. The Hurt Locker (2008)

Available on: Netflix, Starz

Kathryn Bigelows Oscar-winning thriller puts you in the boots of a bomb disposal expert navigating the chaos of Iraq. Its a study in adrenaline and addiction  what happens when danger becomes your normal.

Many service members have called it one of the most authentic portrayals of combat stress ever made, and watching it during deployment can feel like both therapy and validation.

Zac Efron in The Greatest Beer Run Ever, available under fair use courtesy of Apple TV+.

7. The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)

Available on: Apple TV+

Based on an unbelievable true story, Zac Efron stars as a Marine-turned-merchant seaman who sneaks into Vietnam to deliver beer to his buddies. Its equal parts absurd, funny, and heartfelt  a story about loyalty and friendship that hits home for anyone whos ever gone the extra mile for their unit.

Tom Hanks as Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan (1998), available under fair use courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

8. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Available on: Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video

No list of deployment must-watches is complete without Steven Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan. The D-Day opening alone remains one of the most realistic depictions of combat ever filmed.

At its heart, though, this isnt a movie about war  its about sacrifice, leadership, and the men who shoulder the impossible. Watching it overseas feels different. It reminds you why integrity, loyalty, and courage still matter.

Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessep in A Few Good Men (1992), available under fair use courtesy of Columbia Pictures.

9. A Few Good Men (1992)

Available on: YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video

You cant handle the truth! might be one of the most quoted lines in movie history, but A Few Good Men holds up as one of the most compelling courtroom dramas about honor and chain of command.

Its a rare film that captures both the moral gray areas and the personal convictions that shape military justice  and its endlessly rewatchable.

The terrifying Gny Sgt. Hartman, as played by R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket (1987), is available under fair use courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

10. Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Available on: MGM+, Apple TV+

Stanley Kubricks classic Vietnam film is divided into two unforgettable halves: the dehumanizing brutality of boot camp and the chaos of combat. R. Lee Ermeys drill instructor performance remains unmatched  terrifying and iconic.

Its a dark, satirical look at military culture, but one that resonates with anyone whos ever been yelled at by a superior and lived to laugh about it later.

Robert Duval smelling napalm in the morning as Lt. Col. Kilgore in Apocalypse Now (1979), available under fair use courtesy of United Artists.

11. Apocalypse Now (1979)

Available on: Apple TV

Francis Ford Coppolas surreal Vietnam masterpiece remains a haunting journey into the madness of war. With stunning cinematography and unforgettable performances from Martin Sheen and Marlon Brando, its both epic and deeply psychological.

Its the kind of film that stays with you  a cautionary tale about leadership, loyalty, and the thin line between order and chaos.

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle in American Sniper (2014), available under fair use courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

12. American Sniper (2014)

Available on: Apple TV+

Clint Eastwoods biopic of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle captures both the intensity of combat and the emotional toll of coming home. Bradley Coopers performance is empathetic and restrained, showing the inner battles many veterans face after service.

Its a must-watch for anyone trying to make sense of the shift between mission and normal life.

George C. Scott as General Patton in Patton (1970), available under fair use courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

13. Patton (1970)

Available on: Apple TV+

George C. Scotts portrayal of General George S. Patton remains the definitive military biopic. Bold, complicated, and brilliant, Patton embodies both the pride and paradox of leadership in wartime.

For those whove worn rank, its a fascinating look at what happens when ego, duty, and destiny collide.

Robin Wright (Jenny) and Tom Hanks (Forrest) in Forrest Gump (1994), available under fair use courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

14. Forrest Gump (1994)

Available on: Apple TV+

Yes, Forrest Gump belongs here. Its not a war movie per se, but its portrayal of service, survival, and resilience  along with Gary Sinises unforgettable Lt. Dan  makes it one of the most unexpectedly powerful military films ever made.

Its also the perfect morale boost: hopeful, funny, and deeply American.

Real-life World War I soldiers featured in the documentary They Will Never Grow Old (2018), available under fair use courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

15. They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

Available on: Apple TV+

Peter Jacksons restoration of World War I footage is nothing short of extraordinary. The film colorizes and brings to life 100-year-old battle footage, creating a visceral, human connection to history.

Its a tribute to those who served before us  and a reminder that their stories still echo through every generation of soldiers.

Robert De Niro as Michael in The Deer Hunter (1978), available under fair use courtesy of Universal Pictures.

Bonus Picks for History Buffs and Old-School Fans

Glory (1989): The powerful story of the first African American regiment in the Civil War.

The Dirty Dozen (1967): Classic, irreverent, and full of character-driven grit.

Dunkirk (2017): A masterclass in tension and survival, told through land, sea, and air.

The Deer Hunter (1978): Haunting, poetic, and emotionally raw  a masterpiece about the scars of war.

Born on the Fourth of July (1989): Tom Cruises best dramatic role, bar none, exploring the aftermath of Vietnam.

Final Thoughts

Theres something grounding about watching movies like Hacksaw Ridge or Saving Private Ryan while youre deployed. They dont glamorize war  they humanize it. They remind us of the people behind the uniforms, the sacrifices made, and the courage it takes just to keep moving forward.

So next time youre loading up your tablet or portable drive, queue up one of these classics. Whether youre looking for a morale boost, a reminder of home, or just a few hours to escape, these stories will meet you where you are  with heart, grit, and a little hope.
Students arrive at Huron High School during the first day of the school year for Ann Arbor Public Schools in Ann Arbor on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. The district has one of the highest number of students learning English as a second language in the state. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Michigan K-12 schools are serving more students learning English as a second language than at any point in the last two decades, but recent data tracking their progress showed those educating the highest numbers are in just a few areas of the state.

And in at least five cases, English learners make up the majority of schools student population. Of the 25 schools or districts with the most English-language learners, the five are Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in Wyoming, Star International Academy in Dearborn Heights, Cesar Chavez Academy in Detroit, Hamtramck Public Schools and Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools.

The Michigan Department of Education released the data tracking English-language learners improvement as of the 2024-25 school year earlier this month.

According to the numbers, more than 76,800 ELL students showed an average growth percentile of around 50% in an annual test measuring proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing  a rate that remained consistent over the previous five years.

Five years ago, roughly 25,000 fewer ELL students were tested.

The summative assessment used is WIDA ACCESS, and growth is measured when two or more consecutive tests are taken. Results of the test are typically available for schools by July, when educators can determine whether a student still needs support.

Students can exit the program when they achieve a certain proficiency score, such as 4.8. Because of how progress is tracked, school enrollment numbers categorizing students as English-language learners are typically higher than the total used in growth data.

Overall, there were 104,200 English-language learners in Michigan schools last year, making up 7.3% of the total student population. Thats an increase from 84,640 a decade ago when English learners were 5.46% of all students.

The rise comes amid a renewed scrutiny of ELL support programs under President Donald Trump. The president signaled pulling back on support earlier this year, declaring English as the official language in the U.S., terminating federal workers who supported millions of English-learning students and seeking to eliminate hundreds of millions in federal funds related to those services in his own budget proposal.

Federal guidance from the U.S. Department of Education first implemented in 2015 that helped schools teach students learning English as a second language was also reportedly rescinded as of late August.

Meanwhile, Michigan is seeing new investment in resources to support English-learner programs with a 25% bump in financing from state lawmakers for bilingual education resources in 2026. The state has also introduced new requirements for schools educating this population, including minimum instructional time.

The following are Michigan schools and districts with the top 25 highest number of WIDA-assessed English-learner students. Also included are districts average student growth percentile, total number of ELL students and what percentage ELL students make up of the student population.

25. Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

County: Kent

English-learners tracked: 666

Mean growth percentile: 53.9%

English-learners total: 834

Percentage of all students: 50.2%

24. Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 725

Mean growth percentile: 55.1%

English-learners total: 1,110

Percentage of all students: 6.9%

23. Wyoming Public Schools

County: Kent

English-learners tracked: 798

Mean growth percentile: 45.4%

English-learners total: 1,031

Percentage of all students: 26.9%

22. West Ottawa Public Schools

County: Ottawa

English-learners tracked: 800

Mean growth percentile: 49.1%

English-learners total: 1,090

Percentage of all students: 16.1%

21. Lincoln Park Public Schools

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 810

Mean growth percentile: 49.4%

English-learners total: 987

Percentage of all students: 20%

20. Star International Academy

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 853

Mean growth percentile: 47.2%

English-learners total: 1,059

Percentage of all students: 50.5%

19. Farmington Public Schools

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 904

Mean growth percentile: 57.5%

English-learners total: 1,226

Percentage of all students: 13.4%

18. Walled Lake Consolidated Schools

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 909

Mean growth percentile: 57.4%

English-learners total: 1,212

Percentage of all students: 10.2%

17. Rochester Community Schools

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 958

Mean growth percentile: 63.2%

English-learners total: 1,334

Percentage of all students: 8.9%

16. Pontiac City School District

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 1,018

Mean growth percentile: 46.7%

English-learners total: 1,406

Percentage of all students: 36.2%

15. Novi Community Schools

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 1,031

Mean growth percentile: 69.1%

English-learners total: 1,473

Percentage of all students: 21.7%

14. Kalamazoo Public Schools

County: Kalamazoo

English-learners tracked: 1,064

Mean growth percentile: 52.1%

English-learners total: 1,461

Percentage of all students: 11.9%

13. Chippewa Valley Schools

County: Macomb

English-learners tracked: 1,123

Mean growth percentile: 55.5%

English-learners total: 1,354

Percentage of all students: 9.5%

12. Ann Arbor Public Schools

County: Washtenaw

English-learners tracked: 1,202

Mean growth percentile: 55%

English-learners total: 1,783

Percentage of all students: 10.6%

11. Lansing Public Schools

County: Ingham

English-learners tracked: 1,263

Mean growth percentile: 48.4%

English-learners total: 1,676

Percentage of all students: 16.8%

10. Cesar Chavez Academy

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 1,298

Mean growth percentile: 49.8%

English-learners total: 1,519

Percentage of all students: 66.2%

9. Hamtramck Public Schools

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 1,325

Mean growth percentile: 47.2%

English-learners total: 1,847

Percentage of all students: 64.2%

8. Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Schools

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 1,332

Mean growth percentile: 46.3%

English-learners total: 1,659

Percentage of all students: 55.4%

7. Troy School District

County: Oakland

English-learners tracked: 1,427

Mean growth percentile: 57.5%

English-learners total: 1,981

Percentage of all students: 16.1%

6. Kentwood Public Schools

County: Kent

English-learners tracked: 1,711

Mean growth percentile: 50%

English-learners total: 2,277

Percentage of all students: 23.6%

5. Warren Consolidated Schools

County: Macomb

English-learners tracked: 2,720

Mean growth percentile: 50.9%

English-learners total: 3,445

Percentage of all students: 27.4%

4. Grand Rapids Public Schools

County: Kent

English-learners tracked: 2,946

Mean growth percentile: 49.9%

English-learners total: 3,759

Percentage of all students: 27.5%

3. Utica Community Schools

County: Macomb

English-learners tracked: 3,030

Mean growth percentile: 47.5%

English-learners total: 3,784

Percentage of all students: 14.9%

2. Detroit Public Schools

County: Wayne

English-learners tracked: 4,890

Mean growth percentile: 47.2%

English-learners total: 7,403

Percentage of all students: 15.1%

1. Dearborn Public Schools
(Reuters) -HSBC Holdings said on Monday it will recognise a provision of $1.1 billion in its third-quarter results after a Luxembourg court ruling in a long-running lawsuit tied to the Bernard Madoff investment fraud.

HSBC became entangled in the Madoff scandal through its role as service provider to several funds that invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Herald Fund SPC sued HSBCs Luxembourg unit in 2009 seeking restitution of assets it said were lost in the fraud.

The Luxembourg Court of Cassation on October 24 denied an appeal by HSBC Securities Services Luxembourg (HSSL) over the restitution of securities claimed by Herald Fund SPC, but accepted its appeal on a separate cash restitution claim, the bank said.

HSSL will now pursue a second appeal before the Luxembourg Court of Appeal. If unsuccessful, the bank said it would contest the amount to be paid in subsequent proceedings.

HSBC added it will book the provision in the third-quarter results, estimating an impact of around 15 basis points on its common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio.

The lender added that the provision will be treated as a material notable item and will not affect its full-year return on tangible equity excluding notable items or its dividend payout.

HSBC noted that given the pending appeal and the complexities around calculating the restitution amount, the eventual financial impact could differ significantly from the current estimate.

The case stems from Herald Fund SPCs claim for restitution of securities and cash lost in the collapse of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, which was at the centre of one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history.

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill)
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI - Police are investigating a Sunday, Oct. 26 hit-and-run crash after a man was found dead on the side of the road.

The St. Joseph County Sheriffs Office responded around 7:09 a.m. to a report of an unresponsive person on U.S. 12 and Burr Oak Road in Burr Oak Township, a news release said.

The victim, Kayden Gruver, 21, was found dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Gruver was struck by vehicle believed to be a 20072015 GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with front-end, passenger-side damage, according to the sheriffs office.

Police are asking for the publics help to identify the vehicle involved. Theyre also requesting anyone who had contact with Gruver on Saturday evening or Sunday morning to come forward.

Additionally, any residents or businesses in the area are being asked to review their security camera footage.

Anyone with information can contact St. Joseph County Central Dispatch at 269-467-4195.
The USCG Cutter Mackinaw gets a photo of two of its sister vessels, all breaking a trail through the ice. Photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard.

WASHINGTON DC - Two Michigan members of Congress are asking President Donald Trump to send a recently obtained icebreaker ship to the Great Lakes.

U.S. Reps. Tom Barrett, a Republican, and Hillary Scholten, a Democrat, sent an Oct. 21 letter after the Trump administration reached a deal to purchase 11 new icebreaker ships from Finland.

Theyre asking for at least one of the new ships to support the U.S. Coast Guard in the Great Lakes, facilitate winter navigation and secure the northern border.

The Great Lakes can easily be overlooked by some as part of the Coast Guards mission. Relentless winters on the Great Lakes often result in heavy ice accumulation that only icebreakers can navigate through, they wrote in the letter.

Without these USCG vessels consistently patrolling the water border between the United States and Canada, our federal law enforcement will be unable to effectively deter border crossings year-round.

The Trump administration announced on Oct. 10 that reached a $3.5 billion agreement with Finland to purchase 11 Arctic Security Cutters for the U.S. Coast Guard. The ships are designed to break though ice-covered waters.

Funding for the icebreakers came from a large tax and spending bill passed this summer.

Under the agreement, Finland will construct four icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. The remaining seven will be built and delivered by U.S. shipyards.

Its part of the ICE Pact, a collaboration between the U.S., Finland and Canada to strengthen the development, construction and delivery of icebreaker ships.
TRAVERSE CITY, MI  On a mid-summer day in a quiet northern Michigan community, absolute chaos erupted inside a local Walmart store as a man ran through the store stabbing shoppers at random.

Within two minutes, small puddles of blood covered different parts of the Traverse City store. One victim struggled to stand back up after she was stabbed in the back by the attacker.

Surveillance cameras captured different angles of the July 26 mass stabbing carried out by the suspect who police identified as 42-year-old Bradford Gille.

Gille was arrested that afternoon and charged with 11 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism two days later.

However, its been three months since the mass stabbings, and the case has been at a standstill. Few new details  including identities of those hurt in the attack  have been released by investigators.

There are still many unknowns about the attack, including the suspects motive.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea did not have any new information to provide on Thursday, Oct. 23, when contacted by MLive.

So, whats happened since Gilles arrest?

A Grand Traverse County judge ordered Gille to undergo a competency evaluation within weeks of his arrest.

In late August, Gille was found incompetent to stand trial but that didnt close the case.

The experts (at the state hospital) believe they will be able to provide treatment that will allow him to be deemed competent, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg recently told MLive.

Gille is currently being treated at the state Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Saline with no future court appearances set.

Heres everything we know about the case:

Battle with mental health illnesses

Gille has a long and complex history of mental health issues.

His struggles with mental illness have spanned 25 years and have been marked by repeated hospitalizations, criminal charges, and failed attempts at long-term treatment, his family says.

The most recent mental health order was approved by the Cheboygan County Probate Court, effective Oct. 11, 2023. It found that Gilles judgement was so impaired by mental illness that he didnt understand his need for treatment.

Bradford James Gille appears remotely in front of Chief Magistrate Tammi Rodgers, Monday, July 28, 2025, in Traverse City, Mich., on terrorism and assault with intent to murder charges in connection with stabbing attacks on Saturday at Walmart. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP) AP

It required Gille to comply with treatment and supervised living conditions, but mental health providers didnt file a request to extend the order and it expired in October 2024.

Gilles mental health history is also documented in previous criminal proceedings and help paint a broader picture of the illnesses he suffers from.

Court records show Gille was charged in Emmet County with disinterring and mutilating dead bodies, and malicious destruction of tombs.

Gille dug up numerous graves in 2016 based on a delusion that his father, who was alive at the time, may be trapped inside. Gille was later found incompetent to stand trial, and he was ruled not guilty by reason of insanity.

Authorities expressed concerns about Gilles welfare two days before the Walmart stabbings.

Petoskey police investigated Gille twice on July 24 for possible loitering violations. Police said Gille didnt make any threatening comments and appeared calm, so they had no legal basis to detain him.

An Emmet County judge signed an order the following day for Gille to undergo an immediate assessment because he presented a substantial risk of physically, or mentally, harming himself or others in the near future.

Police could not locate Gille prior to the attack.

All 11 victims have been released from care

Six men and five women were rushed to Munson Medical Center with various stab wounds. Of the victims, six were critical and five were in serious condition. The victims ages range from 29 to 84 years old.

One victim thought he was going to die.

Walmart employees and customers wait outside while law enforcement investigates the scene after a stabbing incident in Traverse City, Mich., Saturday July 26, 2025. (Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP) AP

I lost three liters of blood in definitely less than 40 seconds, Aaron Boudot told NBC News. I wasnt going to last long. I said my goodbyes.

Within two weeks of the attack, all 11 victims were released from the hospital.

Video shows suspect chasing, attacking shoppers

The Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office released surveillance video from inside the Walmart store.

Footage shows the suspect chasing customers and randomly slashing and stabbing with a 3.5-inch folding knife.

Once he was outside, he appeared to stab a woman in the back.

She dropped with blood visible on the back of her shirt. Moments later, two men rammed the suspect with shopping carts, before a man with a handgun brought the ordeal to an end.

Bystanders, including armed Marine veteran, subdued suspect

Bystanders became heroes that day.

Outside of the Walmart, a group of civilians confronted the suspect in the parking lot after he had already stabbed 11 people.

Matthew Kolakowski drilled the suspect with the shopping cart. The suspect tried to get up but another man with a shopping cart struck him from the other side.

Good samaritans confront the Walmart stabbing suspect in the parking lot with shopping carts and help from a CPL carrier, taking away his knife as law enforcement arrived to the mass casualty scene, where 11 people were stabbed. The suspect, Bradford Brad James Gille, the 42, faces possible life in prison after he was arraigned on 11 counts of attempted murder and one count of terrorism Monday, July 28. Bond was set at $100,000, and Gille remained in the Grand Traverse County Jail. His preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 12. Photo provided by Chris OBrien

Kolakowski, a disabled U.S. Marine who served in Iraq, was preparing to hit the suspect with the cart again when Derrick Perry showed up.

Perry, who served in the U.S. Marines Corps, was shopping at Walmart that day when screams drew his attention elsewhere in the store. He went to the parking lot where he saw the suspect holding a knife.

Perry, armed with a pistol, held the suspect at gunpoint. He repeatedly ordered the suspect to drop the folding knife. Cell phone footage of the incident quickly went viral online.

A Grand Traverse County sheriffs deputy arrived at the scene within minutes and took Gille into custody.
An East Lansing police car is seen in this MLive file photo. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com) Joel Bissell | MLive.com

EAST LANSING, MI - A 17-year-old is expected to recover after being stabbed multiple times early Sunday morning Oct. 26 in an East Lansing parking garage.

The East Lansing Police Department says the teen was stabbed around 1:35 a.m. after a large fight in the downtown Charles Street Garage, 121 Charles St.

Additional information about the fight was not immediately available.

After being stabbed, the victim left the ramp and went to the Ann Street Plaza for help. He was then taken to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries that required surgery.

The East Lansing Police Department is investigating and interviewing suspects.
DETROIT  One of the oldest and most complete collections of African American art in the nation just got a major upgrade - and you can see it now at Detroits world-class art museum.

The Center for African American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts was the first department of its kind in the nation when it was founded in 2000. Seven years later, the museum opened its first gallery dedicated specifically to African American Art, then located on the upper floor of the DIA in Midtown Detroit.

Now, 25 years after the historic founding of the department, the Detroit Institute of Arts has debuted an expanded, four-room gallery at the heart of the building. The reimagined Gallery of African American Art takes center stage, located directly next to the iconic Rivera Court, which features floor-to-ceiling frescoes of Detroit industry painted by muralist Diego Rivera.

The new African American Art gallery at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

DIA director Salvador Salort-Pons said the new gallery is the culmination of more than 80 years of work in collecting African American artwork. In that time, the DIA has led the way in curating and displaying work by African American artists, including becoming the first major American encyclopedic fine art museum to establish a department specifically for curating African American art.

We started to collect African American art in the 1940s, and over time weve been more strategic and purposeful about this to the point that we have, now, one of the best, largest collections of African American art in the world, he said. We just wanted to take this to the next level. Since we have this great history, we wanted to bring African American art at the center of the museum experience.

The exhibit includes artwork created between 1840 and 1986. It opens with a room full of Civil War-era pieces, many commissioned by abolitionists, that became some of the earliest publicized works by African American artists to achieve national acclaim.

The next room highlights the role of African American artists in movements like Social Realism and the Harlem Renaissance, as well as art created for the federally-funded Works Progress Administration.

Hughie Lee-Smiths 1953 painting The Piper is placed prominently as an example of work created during the Great Migration, during which six million African Americans moved from the South to cities in the Northeast, Midwest and West. The painting, which depicts a lone child playing a recorder on a Detroit street, is said to symbolize the hope and alienation migrants felt after moving away from the South.

at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

As visitors move through the space, theyre confronted with the activist artwork of the Civil Rights Era and its immediate aftermath, which occupies three sides of a room opposite a wall of Haitian artwork that addresses colonialism.

At the center of a gallery wall featuring work made during the 1960s and 1970s is a painting by Allie McGhee, titled Black Attack, which depicts an African American man defending himself from the violence around him. The painting was created in response to the Detroit Rebellion, also known as the Detroit Uprising or 1967 Detroit riot, when racial tensions in the city reached their peak.

Its placed next to Revolutionary (Angela Davis) by Chicago-based artist Wadsworth A. Jarrell, an internationally-famous depiction of the Civil Rights Era icon formed from colorful letters that spell works like Resist and Revolution as well as a quote from Davis herself: I have given my life in the struggle. If I have to lose my life, that is the way it will be. The mixed-media piece is a defining artwork of the Black Arts Movement.

The final room features abstract artwork created as recently as 1986, when African American artists helped lay the groundwork for contemporary abstract painting and sculpture. It includes work by abstract artists like Robert Reed, whose painting Plum Nellie on a pair of triangular canvases hangs next to Edward Clarks Maple Red. Clark became famous late in his career for pioneering the use of a push broom to spread thick acrylic paint over canvas.

Abstract artwork in the final room of the new African American Art exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Richard Hunts metal sculpture Field Section, which combines welded steel forms with automotive parts, takes center stage in the room. In 1970, Hunt became the first African American sculptor to have a solo show at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art.

When the visitor comes, theyll get the whole picture - the vision, the sequence of what has happened, Salort-Pons said. When you walk in these galleries, and you get to the end and you look back, you can see the development of the themes of the forms and the colors that these creatives have done over time.

The new exhibit, entitled Reimagine African American Art, is the first step in a renovation of the museums North Wing. The Modern and Contemporary galleries are currently undergoing a full renovation and are expected to reopen in Fall 2026.

Were upgrading our galleries, putting in new floors and a new ceiling, were really changing the navigation and were preparing an installation of our Modern and Contemporary art that is going to impress, he said. Works by contemporary African American artists will be incorporated into the upcoming space.

You will see Mickalene Thomas with Andy Warhol and [Anselm] Kiefer and others, Salort-Pons said.

In the meantime, visitors can see artwork from the Modern and Contemporary galleries - including famous works like Van Goghs self-portrait as well as works by Picasso, Cezanne and Monet - in a condensed salon-style special exhibition near Rivera Court.

Totems by George Morrison, left, and Jim Denomie outside the entrance to the Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation special exhbit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation

On the other side of the museums second floor is a new special exhibit highlighting contemporary artwork by Native American artists from the Anishinaabe group of peoples, which includes Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa artists. Those ethnic groups are also known as Chippewa, Ottawa and Pottawatomi.

Titled Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, the sprawling exhibit features a variety of media, from hand-crafted canoes and woven birchbark vessels to photographs of punk icon Iggy Pop and even a seven-minute short film by Anishinaabe filmmaker Ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby.

Denene De Quintal, Associate Curator of Native American Art at the DIA, said the goal of the special exhibit, which has been years in the making, is to challenge the viewers idea of what Native American art can be. Its designed to buck stereotypes of artwork created by Native Americans by presenting a varied collection of contemporary work alongside artist statements.

Its basically pushing back against the stereotypes that people have, De Quintal said. The preconceived notions of what they think Native American art is and can be and what it should look like.

A birchbark canoe by Ronald J. Paquin in the Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation special exhbit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

De Quintal worked with an advisory board of Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa artists to curate the exhibit. Anishinaabe artist Eva Oldman served as the graphic designer for the space, incorporating Anishinaabe material themes by depicting stars, sky, water and birch bark.

Our artist advisors and the DIA team wanted to show the depth and the breadth of Native American art, especially contemporary Anishinaabe art, she said. Thats why you see so many different media - painting, birch bark, quill work, et cetera. But its also all contemporary art.

With the help of translator Helen Peltier Fuhst, each plaque and artist statement in the exhibit was translated from English into Anishinaabemowin, an original Native American language of the Great Lakes region. Interactive QR codes throughout the exhibit encourage visitors to learn relevant words in the language.

In keeping with the theme of continuation, the exhibition features a number of works by mentor artist and their proteges, including works by parents alongside those of their children. Guests are greeted by a pair of larger-than-life columns immediately recognizable as totems - the word has roots in the Ojibwe language - a painted totem created by artist George Morrison, and a stained redwood column designed by Jim Denomie.

In his artists statement, Denomie calls Morrison an art-historical ancestor and mentor. Denomies student, Jonathan Thunder, provided a tableau called Basils Dream for the show, and Thunders own student, Michelle Defoe, has a painting of a Thunderbird - a mythological bird-like spirit.

The Waters of Tomorrow by Moira Villiard in the Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation special exhbit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025.at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

At different points throughout the special exhibit, guests can interact with life-sized video installations featuring artists describing their Anishinaabe heritage, their artwork and the messages they hope to convey.

We really wanted the artists to be able to express their point of view  why they make their work, how they themselves feel about stereotypes when it comes to Native American art. De Quintal said. Its life size, so it seems like youre actually having a conversation with the artist.

The two exhibits are linked by four marble busts - a pair in each - that were created by Mary Edmonia Lewis, a sculptor of mixed African-American and Anishinaabe descent.

The busts in the first room of the African American art exhibit depict Native American characters Hiawatha and Minnehaha from Henry Wadsworth Longfellows 1855 epic The Song of Hiawatha. The accompanying plaque describes how Edmonia Lewis sale of her artwork to abolitionists allowed her to move to Rome, Italy in 1865.

Edmonia Lewis central pieces in the Anishinaabe exhibit depicts Longfellow himself alongside Minnehaha. Hers is the only non-contemporary work in the exhibit.

Marble busts by Mary Edmonia Lewis depicting Hiawatha and Minnehaha in the new African American Art gallery at the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit on Thursday, Oct. 23 2025. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com

The Anishinaabe special exhibit opened on September 28 and will run through April 5, 2026. The new African American art exhibit, which opened October 18, will be a permanent part of the museum.

Admission to the Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, is free for residents of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. General admission costs $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and college students for those living outside the tri-county area.

During the run of Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, admission is free for visitors who show tribal-issued identification.

Both the African American Art and Anishinaabe exhibits are included with general admission to the museum.
Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen. (photo credit: Asaf Magal/GPO)

The planned length of the new line (Ramat HovavAshalimNitzana) is about 65 km., and will allow the transfer of approximately six billion cubic meters (BCL) of natural gas per year to Egypt.

Israel Natural Gas Lines Company (INGL) announced on Friday that it reached an agreement with the three main gas exporters, the Tamar Partnership, the Leviathan Partnership, and Energean, to develop a new export pipeline valued at NIS 2 billion.

According to the agreement, published by the director of the Natural Gas Authority at the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry, the project will be established with an investment fully funded by the exporters.

Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen said, Natural gas is a strategic asset that strengthens our economic and diplomatic standing in the world in general and in the Middle East in particular. The construction of the new line will enable increased exports, thereby strengthening our diplomatic position and the Israeli economy.

Therefore, my policy as energy minister is to bring international energy giants to invest in Israel and to expand natural gas production for the domestic market and for export.

The planned length of the new line (Ramat HovavAshalimNitzana) is about 65 km, and will allow the transfer of approximately six billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas per year to Egypt. Exports of this scale mean over 150 million shekels in annual revenues for the development of the natural gas sector, and, as noted, hundreds of millions more from taxes and royalties, INGLs statement announced.

THE LEVIATHAN gas field platform off the coast of Haifa. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

Expansion in cooperation and Israel's energy security

This new pipeline will not only expand exports to Egypt but also increase investments in the natural gas sector, including the search for additional reservoirs and the development of existing ones, thereby further improving Israels energy security. In addition, cooperation between Israel and Egypt has geopolitical, energy, security, and economic advantages, strengthening Israels position as an energy power in the region.

This announcement comes in the same week as maintenance work at the Tamar gas field, which was reportedly shut down for 12 days starting on Wednesday, prompting Egypt to buy liquefied natural gas cargoes to keep up with the countrys demand.

Egypt has requested suppliers to provide two additional liquefied gas shipments on top of the shipments designated for this month, estimated at about 15 shipments, to compensate for the decline in gas quantities coming from Israel, an Egyptian government official told Saudi site Asharq.
Chhath Puja School Holiday 2025: Schools to remain closed in Delhi, Bihar, UP, West Bengal & Jharkhand  check dates here

MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

Saurav Pandey

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After Balochistan remark, a look at Salman Khans most controversial statements over the years

Palak Vij

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Palak Vij

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Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas with daughter Malti Marie enjoy shopping in Miami, pics go viral

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Was Salman Khan declared a terrorist by Pakistan over his Balochistan comment? Read to know the truth

Salman Khan declared as terrorist by Pakistan because of his Balochistan comment

Palak Vij

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Sanjay Leela Bhansali to recreate Italy in Mumbai for Love & War after overseas schedule falls through: Report

Palak Vij

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Mark Cuban says that the elimination of billionaires would trigger a stock market crash, potentially erasing the savings of average Americans.

In a post on BlueSky last week, Cuban opposed the idea that wealth inequality could be mitigated by taxing or capping the wealth of billionaires.

Cuban, who has built a $6 billion fortune through tech startups, investments, argued that the existence of extreme wealth is a natural outcome of the market system.

Billionaires will exist as long as stock markets exist, he stated.

Billionaires will exist as long as stock markets exist. Should we get rid of the stock market ?

He warned that dismantling the market would have catastrophic consequences for all, not just the wealthy.

In response to a user who noted that about 90% of the stock market is owned by the wealthiest 10% of US households, Cuban concurred but contended that forcing these investors to sell would damage everyone, not just the affluent.

Also Read: Mark Cuban On His Kids And Downsides of His Wealth: Sometimes I Think They Dont Like It, Not That They Want To Be Poor, But It Sets An Expectation

Absolutely true, he wrote. But that 90 percent is trillions and trillions of dollars, owned by everyone else. If you make the top 10 pct sell 90 pct of the market, how close to zero value do you think the ownership of the 90 percent goes? You would wipe out the savings of more than half the country.

Absolutely true. But that 90 percent is trillions and trillions of dollars, owned by everyone else. If you make the top 10 pct sell 90 pct of the market , how close to zero value do you think the ownership of the 90 percent goes ? You would wipe out the savings of more than half the country

While Cuban maintains that billionaires are an inevitable byproduct of flourishing stock markets that benefit savers, organizations like Oxfam and the World Bank argue that ultra-rich accumulations are primarily driven by inheritance, monopoly power, and exacerbate inequality.

Cuban also expressed skepticism about the practicality of wealth taxes based on stock valuations, posing the question: If its the value of their stock, will you refund the tax if the stock market corrects or crashes?
Why Pakistan called Salman Khan a 'terrorist' after his Balochistan remark at Riyadh event?

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Indian coffee varieties: Known as the Coffee Cup of India, Coorgs beans are famed for their rich body, intense aroma, and robust flavour (Image: Canva)

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IPO Action: Five new public issues to open for subscription this week, taking total fund raising to over Rs 45,000 crore in October

Sunil Matkar

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Sudeep Shah is the Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities

Sunil Matkar

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SIAM has attributed the growth in passenger vehicle exports to stable demand across global markets, particularly robust performance in the Middle East and Latin America.

101Reporters

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Why unclaimed deposits keep growing  and how to track whats yours

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Homebuyers' body FPCE wants changes in RERA law, pitches for rules to verify promoters' track record

The association has also demanded a uniform rule for refund of money in case of cancellation of units by property buyers.

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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

Aryaman Gupta

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When Elizabeth Gildersleeve canceled a health insurance plan that let her down, she thought her troubles were over. Instead, her credit card kept getting hit again and again, resulting in charges that eventually totaled around $12,000.

I got to tell you, I lost sleep over it, Gildersleeve of Charlotte, North Carolina, told local station WBTV. (1) It was like a kick to the gut.

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She thought shed purchased a legitimate major medical plan through a company called Cambridge Health PHCS. What she actually got, according to state officials, was either a limited-benefit plan  a type of coverage that may only pay a small amount for a small number of conditions for a short period of time  or completely fake.

And when she called North Carolinas Department of Insurance for help? They couldnt step in.

These are not licensed insurance companies, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Insurance told her. The plans dont fall under our jurisdiction.

A $12,000 mistake

The trouble began in 2023, after Gildersleeves husband switched to contract work and the couple lost employer-sponsored coverage. When she checked the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the premiums looked too high.

I decided that I didnt want to do that, she said. She began looking into other options.

A representative for Cambridge Health PHCS suggested a policy that met all the criteria for Obamacare. It sounded legitimate.

Then came reality.

I had to have an MRI and I was told it would be paid at 70%, Gildersleeve recalled. Come to find out they didnt pay anything at all.

She canceled the plan  or thought she did. But the charges didnt stop. In fact, they multiplied, along with a confusing series of name changes.

When I first got the insurance it was Cambridge Health PHCS, she said. At one point it was QuickHealth When I tried to get my refund, it was called Benefits Now.

Each name came with new charges. Some refunds appeared, but fresh withdrawals would follow days later. By the time her bank froze the account, nearly $12,000 had cycled through her credit card.

This was just cruel, she said.
Trump targets complete deal with China when he meets with Xi

Trump said he was hopeful about talks with Xi, saying theyll discuss the agriculture sector and Chinas exporting of components of fentanyl.

Deblina Halder

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US has very constructive China talks as Trump jets to Asia

Vice Premier He Lifeng (Center) led the Chinese side and was joined by Trade Representative Li Chenggang and Vice Finance Minister Liao Min.

Deblina Halder

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20-year-old Delhi University girl suffers burns after stalker throws acid on her month after argument

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

Ria Kapoor

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Yeeshu Yadav

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101Reporters

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Brewed in India, loved by the world: How this homegrown coffee went global, and why PM Modis talking about it now

In Mann Ki Baat, Modi spotlights Odishas Koraput coffee, praises farmers who left corporate jobs to grow the brew now making India proud abroad

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

Rewati Karan

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Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

The IMD has also warned of heavy rain, strong winds, and rough sea conditions along the Andhra Pradesh coast during the period of landfall.

Tamal Nandi

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'Doesnt matter what he says': Tejashwi Yadav dismisses Chirag Paswan's attack on RJD over Muslim CM

Rewati Karan

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SIR exercise across India: EC to announce first phase dates today, may cover 10-15 states, says report

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

The Commission reportedly had instructed all states and Union Territories to start pre-matching previous and current electoral roll.

101Reporters

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Amid a geopolitical storm over its Dutch chip unit Nexperia, Wingtech Technology delivered stellar third-quarter earnings while warning of potential future disruptions.

The impact of the power struggle at Nexperia, the biggest revenue earner for Wingtech, was "difficult to quantify precisely", the Chinese company said in its filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange outside trading hours on Friday evening.

"Should control over Nexperia fail to be restored by the end of 2025, the company may face the risk of a temporary reduction in revenue, profits and cash flow," it warned.

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.

The remarks came as the company, which has divested most of its other businesses to focus on semiconductors, posted a 280 per cent surge in net profit in the third quarter to 1 billion yuan (US$149 million), although revenue declined 77 per cent to 4.4 billion yuan.

It attributed the decrease in revenue to the drop in "product integration" - its other revenue pillar - after Wingtech was added to the US export control list in December. The company said another reason for the revenue decline was that it divested four subsidiaries in that business, "resulting in a further year-on-year decrease in revenue".

Exterior view of the building that houses Nexperia's headquarters in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, October 13, 2025. Photo: EPA alt=Exterior view of the building that houses Nexperia's headquarters in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, October 13, 2025. Photo: EPA>

Wingtech's semiconductor operations posted revenue of 4.3 billion yuan in the quarter that ended September, accounting for 97 per cent of the total. Last month, the company's management had assured shareholders of its commitment to the chip sector.

That was just before its Netherlands-based chip unit Nexperia was taken over by the Dutch government on national security grounds. The move resulted in the ousting of Nexperia CEO Zhang Xuezheng, who also founded Wingtech.

"There remains uncertainty as to whether the semiconductor business can sustain the favourable momentum observed in the first three quarters," Wingtech said in the filing on Friday.

The saga escalated after Beijing imposed export controls that banned Nexperia China from selling products overseas. Auto industry groups in the European Union, Japan and the US have voiced concern over potential supply chain disruptions and called for a quick resolution of the issue.
Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

Deblina Halder

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If you vote for Jan Suraaj, no one will ...: Prashant Kishor's promise to Bihar ahead of election

Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party has announced its intention to contest all 243 assembly seats, positioning itself as an alternative to both traditional alliances.

Deblina Halder

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IndiaChina flights resume after 5 years; first plane from Kolkata to Guangzhou today at 10 pm

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Earlier, Trump announced fresh sanctions targeting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, a move aimed at tightening financial pressure on Moscow and limiting its ability to fund military operations through energy exports.

Deblina Halder

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PM Modi commends Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit.

PM and my friend Anwar Ibrahim, you have given me this opportunity to join the ASEAN family, and I am happy for it. I congratulate you on the successful summit, Modi said.

He also emphasized the deep connections between India and ASEAN, noting, India and ASEAN account for one-fourth of the world's population. We share more than just geography, we share historical cultural ties."
In her suicide note, reportedly written on her palm, she alleged that Badane had sexually assaulted her several times, while Bankar harassed her mentally. (Representative image)

101Reporters

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Maharashtra man slits throats of twin daughters after fight with wife, walks to police to confess

Ria Kapoor

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NC leader accuses Omar of going soft on statehood issue, cozying up to BJP

NC leader accuses Omar of going soft on statehood issue, cozying up to BJP

Yeeshu Yadav

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The monitoring of the Dual Degree Program (BMU-INHA DDP) jointly implemented by Baku Engineering University (BMU) and INHA University of the Republic of Korea has been completed, Azernews reports.

Rector of the Baku Engineering University Yaqub Piriyev met with the faculty members from INHA University who conducted the monitoring, and they discussed the results of the process. During the meeting, Professor Jeon Tae Joon, Executive Director of INHA's Global Strategy and Initiatives Office, provided information on the preliminary results of the monitoring.

He mentioned that interviews with BMU-INHA DDP teachers and students, as well as the observation of the teaching process, had created a positive impression. The students hard work, enthusiasm for learning, and active approach to subjects were seen as a solid foundation for the successful development of the program. Jeon Tae Joon added that student suggestions regarding the broader organization of internship programs would be taken into account, and the final monitoring report would be presented to the university management.

Other members of the delegation also shared their impressions, highly appreciating the students' knowledge level, participation in classes, and their interesting questions related to their fields of study. They also praised the modern educational environment created on the BMU campus, the technical capabilities of the laboratories, and especially the further development of the Technopark compared to previous years, as well as the collaboration with industrial enterprises. It was noted that this ecosystem plays a significant role in developing students' practical skills, applying scientific knowledge in real production, and realizing innovative projects.

Rector Yaqub Piriyev expressed satisfaction with the results of the collaboration so far. He also emphasized that work would continue consistently to further improve the quality of the program, align teaching with international standards, and provide students with broader practical opportunities.

The rector pointed out that the main goal of the Dual Degree Program is to train highly qualified engineers who can meet modern challenges and stressed the importance of expanding cooperation not only in the field of education but also in scientific research and academic exchange.

At the end of the meeting, the members of the INHA delegation were presented with commemorative gifts.
(Reuters) -Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Sunday said it agreed to acquire U.S. biotech firm Avidity Biosciences for about $12 billion in cash, as the company looks to bolster its portfolio of treatments for rare muscle disorders.

Avidity stockholders will receive $72 per share in cash, representing a premium of 46% to the company's closing on Friday.

Novartis has been proactively striking deals this year to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.

Under the terms of the deal, Avidity will separate its early-stage precision cardiology programs into a new company called Spinco, which is expected to be a publicly traded company, Avidity said in a separate release.

With this acquisition, Novartis is expanding into areas with limited treatment options, while strengthening its presence in the rare disease landscape.

San-Diego, California-based Avidity, a clinical-stage company, is developing treatments for various muscle disorders and advancing several first-in-class drug candidates.

Its lead drug, Del-zota, is in early-to-mid-stage development as a potential treatment for a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while the company is also working on two other drugs for serious muscle diseases.

This deal also helps Novartis to establish a stronger foothold in the U.S. market amid a potential hefty pharmaceutical tariff threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan and Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Ros Russell)
Red Corner Notice soon against 'conspirator' behind Sambhal riots: UP Police

Red Corner Notice soon against 'conspirator' behind Sambhal riots: UP Police

Yeeshu Yadav

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Samrat Choudhary accuses Lalu Yadavs family of corruption, says Bihar knows they are 'here to loot and commit crimes'

Ria Kapoor

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'Snakes in its own backyard: Ex-envoy calls Pakistan Terrors Frankenstein now facing its own creation

Mira Sen has covered Indian politics and national developments for over a decade, closely tracking elections, national parties, policymakers, on-the-ground developments  and their impact on citizens.

Former envoy says Islamabads policies have come back to bite as the TTP turns on its creators and unrest grows in PoK and Balochistan.

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Aishwarya Dabhade

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What is Mitakshara Hindu Law? Chhattisgarh HC invokes it to hold daughter ineligible for inheriting father's property

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran

The High Court framed substantial questions of law concerning whether the 1956 Act or its 2005 Amendment could be applied to the appellants claim, and whether she could inherit if partition had occurred before 1956.

Rewati Karan

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Japan launches its advanced Cargo Spacecraft to ISS for First Time

Gurpreet Singh

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100% tariffs off the table? US, China clinch substantial framework' to ease rare earth tensions before Trump-Xi meet

Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

Talks in Malaysia pave way for Trump-Xi summit as both sides move to cool trade tensions

Aishwarya Dabhade

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A courtesy call with subtext: Pakistan armys top General Mirza in Bangladesh after years of frosty ties

Tamal Nandi

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Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

Pragya Trivedi

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By Padmanabhan Ananthan and Angela Christy M

(Reuters) -Swiss drugmaker Novartis on Sunday said it agreed to acquire U.S. biotech firm Avidity Biosciences for about $12 billion in cash, as the company looks to bolster its portfolio of treatments for rare muscle disorders.

As per the terms of the deal, Avidity stockholders will receive $72 per share in cash, representing a premium of 46% to the company's closing on Friday. Bloomberg News reported on the deal earlier, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Novartis has been proactively striking deals this year to address the impending patent cliff for some of its blockbuster drugs, including Entresto for heart failure, Xolair for asthma and Cosentyx for autoimmune diseases.

Under the terms of the deal, Avidity will separate its early-stage precision cardiology programs into a new company called Spinco, which is expected to be a publicly traded company, Avidity said in a separate release.

RARE DISEASES

With this acquisition, Novartis is expanding into areas with limited treatment options, while strengthening its presence in the rare disease landscape.

San Diego, California-based Avidity, a clinical-stage company, is developing treatments for various muscle disorders and advancing several first-in-class drug candidates.

Its lead drug, Del-zota, is in early-to-mid-stage development as a potential treatment for a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, while the company is also working on two other drugs for serious muscle diseases.

Avidity, which has a market cap of nearly $6.7 billion, is working on three experimental drug candidates aimed at treating rare neuromuscular disorders. These candidates, expected to seek approval by 2026, use a special technology designed to deliver RNA therapeutics directly to muscle tissue.

Kathleen Gallagher, currently Avidity's chief program officer, will take the helm at Spinco after the spin-off, Avidity said.

The deal helps Novartis to establish a stronger foothold in the U.S. market amid a potential hefty pharmaceutical tariff threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.

In response to the tariff proposals put forward by the Trump administration, major pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson, Roche and Sanofi have pledged several billion dollars in U.S. investments as they look to navigate uncertain trade policies.

CONSISTENT WITH OTHER ACQUISITIONS

The Trump administration imposed 39% tariffs on Switzerland in August, triggering a sharp drop in Swiss exports to the United States that month. Pharmaceutical companies were, however, exempted from the initial U.S. duties.
China confirms preliminary agreement with US on trade ahead of Trump-Xi talks

China official confirms 'preliminary consensus' on trade with US

Pragya Trivedi

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Guns down, mines open: The rare-earth agenda behind Trumps peace in Southeast Asia

Aishwarya Dabhade Aish is Chief Sub-Editor at Moneycontrol, where she occasionally leads the news shift and homepage; writes explainers and long-form breakdowns on business, policy, markets and geopolitics. She began her career on CNBC-TV18s breaking news desk as Assistant Producer and went on to shape digital coverage at The Economic Times as Principal Content Producer, with stints at YouGov and WebEngage adding depth in data-driven storytelling.

The Real Story Behind Trumps ASEAN Triumph: Rare Earths, Trade Power and a Quiet New Cold War

Aishwarya Dabhade

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How a $130 million donation to US troops raised legal and political questions

Aishwarya Dabhade

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Kremlin says Trump-Putin summit not canceled, warns of 'overwhelming' response to strikes deep inside Russia

Pragya Trivedi

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New Japan PM tells Trump that US alliance is paramount in first phone call

Takaichi told Trump that Japan is "an indispensable partner" in terms of the US's strategies towards China and the Indo-Pacific

Arindam Roy

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The flames were so intense that smoke and fire were visible from miles away

101Reporters

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Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist attacks, especially in KP and Balochistan, predominantly targeting the police, law enforcement agencies personnel and security forces. (File photo)

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Kurdish PKK says withdrawing all forces from Turkey to north Iraq

Pragya Trivedi

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Rewati Karan

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President Trumps new efforts to sanction Russian oil could also hurt U.S. consumers. - MarketWatch photo illustration/Getty Images, iStockphoto

Oil prices this past week marked their biggest weekly gain since June, as new U.S. sanctions on Russias two largest crude producers triggered the rally  raising the potential for tighter global supplies.

Yet the Trump administrations decision to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine flies in the face of its promise to keep oil and gasoline prices low.

Most Read from MarketWatch

The new sanctions decision was a surprising move by the White House, given [President Donald] Trumps longstanding focus on bringing down energy prices, said Pavel Molchanov, investment-strategy analyst at Raymond James.

So theres an inherent tension between imposing serious economic pressure on Russia  and keeping oil prices down, Molchanov told MarketWatch.

U.S. and global benchmark crude futures climbed by more than 5% on Thursday, with both scoring their largest one-day percentage gains since June.

Read: Buyers of Russian oil now risk playing a high-stakes poker game, as fresh sanctions on Moscow lift prices

On Friday, December West Texas Intermediate crude CL.1 CLZ25 settled at $61.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, logging a 7.6% gain for the week. December Brent crude BRNZ25 ended at $65.94 on ICE Futures Europe, for a weekly gain of 7.6%.

New sanctions on Russia were a catalyst for oils price moves in the past week, as well those of energy stocks. The S&P 500s energy sector XX:SP500.10 gained about 2.5% for the week, trailing only the 2.9% jump of the stock indexs high-flying information-technology sector XX:SP500.45. However, gains for energy companies could raise costs elsewhere.

The price of oil is important because it takes away the purchasing power of consumers, said Peter Higgins, head of fixed income at Shelton Capital Management. It is effectively a tax on consumers.

What happened

On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russias two biggest oil producers, Rosneft Oil Company and Lukoil OAO, with the aim of pressuring Moscow to agree to a cease-fire in its conflict with Ukraine. Separately on Thursday, the European Union also adopted a wide range of fresh sanctions on Russia, targeting key sectors such as energy and finance.
Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

Further details and major announcements regarding the Ram Mandir and related initiatives will be revealed in the coming months. (File photo: Ayodhya Ram Mandir)

Deblina Halder

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Real victim was his aunt: US VP JD Vance mocks NYC mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani over 9/11 Hijab remarks

Pragya Trivedi

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Russia says the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) - dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO - is "invincible" to current and future missile defences, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

Tamal Nandi

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Residents buy groceries at a street market as smoke rises at the site of food warehouses hit by an overnight Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine October 25, 2025. REUTERS/Yan Dobronosov

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Trump aims to start his Asia trip with dealmaking in Malaysia

US President Donald Trump walks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur. AP

Arindam Roy

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US President Trump (R) looks at Cambodia's PM Hun Manet (C) and Thailand's PM Anutin Charnvirakul as they take part in the ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26.

Deblina Halder

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Conversations between Brazil and the US resumed last month after Trump and Lula briefly crossed paths at the UNGA in New York, paving the way for a resumption of high-level talks after a period of frozen relations.

Deblina Halder

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Deblina Halder

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By Jessica DiNapoli and Juveria Tabassum

(Reuters) -Procter & Gamble beat estimates for its quarterly results on Friday, as consumers continued to pay higher prices for its beauty and hair-care products, despite a broader slowdown in spending due to economic uncertainty.

The Tide maker halved its annual tariffs cost estimate to about $400 million after tax, largely due to Canada lifting retaliatory duties on U.S. goods.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday terminated all trade talks with Canada. The Canadian government was yet to respond to the move.

P&G CFO Andre Schulten said on a media call that "beyond the headlines, we have no information that would have any impact on how we view our tariff exposure at this point in time." The company recently rescinded price hikes it had placed on Canadian goods because the retaliatory tariffs were removed.

The results from P&G, whose CEO Jon Moeller will be replaced by another company veteran Shailesh Jejurikar on January 1, echo those from rival and Dove parent Unilever, which on Thursday disclosed double-digit sales growth from beauty brands in the U.S.

"Many people deem beauty and grooming products as essential items and shoppers might feel happy paying a little extra if they think the goods are superior to cheaper competition," said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell.

CONSUMERS 'NOT GREAT, BUT STABLE'

P&G has raised some prices in the U.S., its biggest market, by 2% to 2.5% to help offset tariffs, relying on demand for essential products such as Dawn dish soap and Pampers diapers.

Schulten said lower-income and higher-income U.S. consumers were both looking to save money on pantry staples. Those with higher incomes are buying bigger sizes, while those living paycheck-to-paycheck are seeking smaller pack sizes.

P&G is also facing more discounting from rivals in the U.S. and Europe in laundry detergents and diapers, and was looking to compete by enhancing its products.

"I would say the consumer environment is not great, but stable. If you want to quantify that in market growth rates, the U.S. consumption across our categories has slowed a little bit over the most recent reading," the finance chief said.

The investments to cater to value-conscious consumers and manage higher tariffs costs triggered a 50-basis-point fall in operating margins from a year earlier, despite the price hikes.

Still, P&G's operating margins continue to exceed rivals such as Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever and beat Wall Street expectations.

While not disastrous, the decline in margins puts more pressure on management to make sure it does not get any worse, Coatsworth said.
Asked if he had any plans to meet Carney during the two summits, the US president said as he began his trip that I dont have any intention of it, no.

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The negotiations took place at the skyscraper Merdeka 118 as US President Donald Trump met with Southeast Asian leaders at a nearby convention center. Bloomberg

Arindam Roy

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Violence, racism and Nazi praise: The dark side of US political group chats

The online posts have also deepened concern among civil society groups and political language experts that violent rhetoric and racist hate speech are becoming normalized in America. Reuters

Arindam Roy

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Who is Entisar al-Hammadi? Yemeni model released after nearly five years in Houthi prison

Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

Pragya Trivedi

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Why nearly 5 million US-bought contraceptives are gathering dust in Belgium instead of reaching women in need

Manish Rao is a seasoned journalist who has extensively covered global affairs, geopolitical developments, American politics, and all other things making news around the world.

Aid groups warn supplies meant for Africa could expire in warehouses, deepening family-planning crisis in developing nations

Aishwarya Dabhade

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October 26, 2025

The MoA Week In Review  OT 2025-248

Last weeks posts on Moon of Alabama:



Other issues:



Gaza:

Trumpistan:

Ukraine:

China:

The Bezzle:

Use as open (not related to the wars in Ukraine and Palestine) thread 
Make room in your budget for bruising healthcare premium hikes.

Whether youre on an employer-based plan or receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the monthly cost for having health insurance is on track to rise in a big way in 2026.

Healthcare costs are plenty high to begin with. This year, family premiums for employer-sponsored health plans hit an annual average of nearly $27,000, up 6% from a year earlier, with workers paying an average of $6,850 toward that total, according to a survey from the health policy nonprofit KFF. (The majority of Americans receive health coverage through their employers.)

Now, employers say theyre expecting the total health benefit cost per worker to increase by the largest amount in 15 years, according to Mercer, while some Americans on marketplace plans are receiving notices that their costs will spike massively if enhanced tax credits ultimately expire.

Sign up for the Mind Your Money weekly newsletter By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Subscribe

Healthcare costs are marching higher for a multitude of reasons, Sara Collins, a senior scholar at the Commonwealth Fund, told Yahoo Finance.

Growth in medical costs, driven by price changes for services, prescription drugs, and higher utilization of healthcare, typically leads insurers to set premiums higher. And employers have reported higher costs from bigger catastrophic claims, more spending on chronic illnesses, and workers using weight-loss drugs.

When it comes to higher premiums, some employers may just absorb all of that cost and just continue to ask employees to continue to contribute the same amount, Collins said. But it is likely that people will see, if not higher premiums, some changes in their cost-sharing in particular  maybe higher copays for physician visits and prescription drugs.

Meanwhile, for next year, the median premium increase proposed by insurers for Affordable Care Act-regulated plans is 18%, the largest one-year proposed hike since 2018.

Over 24 million Americans received their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace this year, and open enrollment for next year starts Nov. 1. A major driver behind the current government shutdown  the second-longest in US history  is that Biden-era enhanced premium subsidies for those plans are set to expire, meaning millions of Americans may get less help to cope with higher costs next year.

Learn more: Medicare open enrollment: How to adjust your coverage

Over the course of October, consumers are being informed of these higher net premiums because theyre going to be facing higher out-of-pocket net expenses without the enhanced subsidies, said Fredric Blavin, a senior fellow in the Health Policy Division at the Urban Institute. This will affect consumers right now in terms of their winter shopping for plans or reenrollment.
Conor here: The reported $130 million donation to the Pentagon sounds a lot like another privatization stepping stone. The amount is a drop in the bucket for the Department of War, and reportedly amounts to only about $100 per soldier, but is likely a trial balloon for other billionaires with big ideas. The marketing pitch:

And they try so hard to make rich capitalists look evil! This is literally what rich capitalists are for in Gods economy! https://t.co/vDoqeFME1Y  Garrett (@McGarrett50H) October 24, 2025

As it as now the plutocrats still need to buy members of Congress, the President, and fund think tanks pushing their pet projects. Imagine how much easier it would be to simply pay set prices for color revolutions, air strikes, invasions, etc. If that were the case in many ways it would be making official what already exists:

The main function of the US military is already to spread freedom for American capital abroad.

Billionaires apparently already tell Trump whether or not to send troops into their cities.

We have Zionist billionaires dictating much of US foreign policy.

Congress is already mostly sidelined from decision making on matters of war and intelligence operations.

The gift might be blatantly illegal but with judges who rule against the administration seeing their houses burn down, who knows? The source of the gift has since been revealed:

 BREAKING: The anonymous donor who gave $130 million to fund U.S. troops during the federal shutdown is reportedly Timothy Mellon  the same billionaire who gave $53 million to build Texass private border wall. Hes funded border enforcement, Trumps Super PACs, and  Amber Speaks Up (@AmberWoods100) October 25, 2025

The grandson of Andrew Mellon. Time is a haunted merry-go-round. As we yearn for whats next, my greatest fear is that well be duped into doubling down on corrupt billionaires and monopolists under the guise of a return to normal. It will be the biggest repeat con in history. pic.twitter.com/Qe9ratawVu  Lee Hepner (@LeeHepner) October 25, 2025

By Jessica Corbett, a staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams.

As the Pentagon plans to put a $130 million donation from an anonymous friend of President Donald Trump toward military salaries, the largest federation of unions in the United States on Friday demanded that federal lawmakers stop playing political games and pay all workers affected by the government shutdown.

As the government shutdown drags into its fourth week, 1.4 million federal workers and at least 1 million federal contractors have missed a paycheck and will soon miss another if Congress fails to act, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) noted in a statement.

The government shut down at the beginning of October because Republicanswho have majorities in both chambers of Congresswanted to maintain their funding plans, while Democrats sought to undo the GOPs recent Medicaid cuts and extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies so millions of Americans dont lose their healthcare.

Republicans were able to get their funding proposal through the US House of Representatives, but their narrow control of the Senate means they require some Democratic support to pass most bills. The AFL-CIO released a letter that its director of advocacy, Jody Calemine, sent to all senators on Thursday.

Calemine called on them to support Sen. Chris Van Hollens (D-Md.) True Shutdown Fairness Act, which would provide backpay and continued pay to federal workers, contractors, and military personnel during the shutdown, as well as Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, which would provide an immediate backpay installment.

These workersmilitary, civilian, and private sector alikeserve the American people day in and day out in myriad ways, Calemine wrote. Many federal workers, along with the military, have been required to perform their duties without pay. Other federal workers and contractors want to work but have been furloughed and locked out from their jobs. While the paychecks have stopped, the bills have not. Rent needs to be paid. Mortgage payments are due. Groceries must be bought.

Sadly, their financial pain is being used as political leverage. The Trump administration has been exacerbating their hardship and anxiety, announcing unlawful, permanent reductions-in-force while blaming a temporary shutdown and threatening to deny federal workers backpay in violation of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, Calemine continued. Workers and their families should not be used as pawns.

The letter was sent before the Senate voted on both bills, which Republicans blocked on Thursday. All Democrats except Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both of Georgia, also opposed Sen. Ron Johnsons (R-Wis.) bill that would have paid members of the military and some federal workers who are not furloughed.

Working families are facing a dual crisis: hunger, and their health insurance costs doubling, tripling or worse. Working people cant afford inaction. Fund the government.

Fix the health care crisis.

Put working people first.https://t.co/QFoJAe9ky4 https://t.co/sBMdh8TOpG pic.twitter.com/Dh2FrMQlm1  AFL-CIO  (@AFLCIO) October 24, 2025

Also on Thursday, Trump told reporters at the White House that a friend of mine who didnt want public recognition had made a donation toward military salaries, adding, Thats what I call a patriot.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesperson, confirmed in a Friday statement that the US Department of Defense had accepted the donation under its general gift acceptance authority.

The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members salaries and benefits, he said. We are grateful for this donors assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.

According to the Associated Press:

While the $130 million is a hefty sum, it would cover just a fraction of the billions needed for military paychecks. Trump said the donation was to cover any shortfall. Whats unclear, however, is the regulations around such a donation. Thats crazy, said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization focused on the federal government. Its treating the payment of our uniformed services as if someones picking up your bar tab.

CNN reported that critics have raised concerns that taking the $130 million may run afoul of the Pentagons gift acceptance authority and the Antideficiency Actand congressional appropriators on both sides of the aisle said Friday that they were seeking more information from the administration about the specifics of the donation, but had yet to receive any explanation.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), the ranking member on the chambers defense appropriations subcommittee, said in a statement that using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers.

Sharing CNNs report on social media, the watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wrote: This should go without saying, but the American government should be funded by the American people, not anonymous megadonor friends of the president. This is not how things should work in a democracythis raises all sorts of legal and ethical alarms.

Meanwhile, the House clerk on Friday read a message from Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) designating October 27-November 2 as a district work period. Responding on social media, Congressman Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said: Republicans just extended their vacation AGAIN. Trump is heading to Asia. All as the government is shutdown. A total failure of leadership.
Welcome gentle reader to another installment of the Sunday Morning Movie. Today its a tender-hearted coming of age story about two young French sisters set during the political turmoil of the early 1960s. Also, a bit of poetry, a dark image of modern America that seems even more relevant given the state of things.

Reviews:

Letterboxd says:

god, i love this movie so much. id love it even if it were just frivolous french adolescence cinema  with 13-year-old anne serving dreamy trench coat looks and shoplifting out of teen rebellion  but her 15-year-old sister frederiques radicalization as the schools antifa queen is an exhilarating kick. the kids are indeed alright. p.s. there is a brief slow dance scene set to sleep walk  ive declared on multiple occasions that if i ever made a movie i would want a sleep walk slow dance scene

and

I didnt live in Paris in the 60s but its so easy to relate to these bittersweet experiences. Peppermint Soda doesnt focus solely on one sister, but a balance of both. A three year age gap separates them, such a small yet dramatic difference. I appreciated the subtleties between peers. Little glances and shifts. This film has a lilting quality thats just out of grasp. Everything that occurs happens at a very natural pace. You can feel how personal this must have been for Diane Kurys. The problems and emotions are very sincere, though the film shows them with grace and restraint. Possibly the greatest female coming of age film of all time.

The Playlist says:

Yet in the 1970s, a handful of important voices emerged, with films that presented French women as more than living dolls, crafting these characters with depth and richness previously unseen. Kurys was one of those voices; Peppermint Soda was her debut film, released in 1977, drawing heavily on her own teenage years. Her unique voice and perspective are immediately present. Charting a school year after a summer at the seaside, a sequence of students merely hanging out and catching up on the first day of school is striking for its offhand naturalismKurys (and cinematographer Philippe Rousselot) beautifully capture the way these young women talk, interact, and react.

Alt Citizen says:

Director Diane Kurys beautifully captures this emotional time of adolescence while also addressing a turbulent political dichotomy in France. Peppermint Soda is an intimate account of the bond between women; sisters, friends and the mother. Yet the French director doesnt consider herself a feminist director, she is simply a director who recounts stories that she is familiar with  and her debut film, is quite autobiographical. Released in 1977 it quickly became a cult classic and won the prestigious Louis Delluc Film award. Although it takes places in the early 1960s around 1962-1963, this film is a timeless classic, while also bringing the French back to a moment of deep nostalgia, the schools segregated by gender, dancing to the twist, drinking peppermint sodas which became an even more popular pastime after the song Diabolo Menthe (Peppermint Soda) by popular French chanteur Yves Simon, who did the soundtrack for the film.

My take:

I really like this charming film. It doesnt have a straightforward narrative, a set story. Rather, it presents the daily life of two young girls, their adventures and travails, as they wend their way through school, friendships, and relations with the opposite sex. I definitely be watching this one again. See the interview with the director at the bottom of the page when you are done with the film.

Director: Diane Kurys

Writers: Diane Kurys, Alain Le Henry

Notable actors: Eleonore Klarwein, Odile Michel

Plot (Spoilers!):

The year is 1963 in Paris and sisters Anne (Klarwein) and Frederique (Michel) have a lot on their plates. Their parents are divorced and not on speaking terms. They attend a very strict school where Anne isnt doing very well and is openly mocked by some of her teachers. She desperately wishes to have her period to prove her womanhood and she explores the mysteries of boyfriends by reading her older sisters love letters and stealing photos.

Frederique is wrestling with her up and down feelings for her boyfriend. She breaks up with him when she starts to find him annoying and discovers politics. She raises the ire of her school administrators when she hands out political badges at school and is involved in a small riot where she is targeted for her Jewish background. She has also developed a small crush on a much older man, the father of a friend of hers who has gone missing.

The message is that adolescence is a hard road to travel. The girls navigate these stormy waters with a ethereal innocence that melts the heart. We are left with the sense that they will land on their feet.

***

On to the poetry. I wrote this about five years ago. About 20 years prior to that, I had thought of the last line shat from the ass of the Golgotha parade one day while in class. It just kind of popped into my head. Then, about 15 years later, I awoke one morning and knew in my heart that I was ready to write the poem. Enjoy! Or not

Sour milk brass band squirting

Curdled streamers of home and hearth.

Waxy residue sliding down the empty faces

Of the hollow, hungry mobs

Feasting on whipped sugar shit foam

Hope

And servile rage.

Pressing in, grasping at nothing.

Skeletal beasts prancing

Flowers and finger bones

Dragging wailing corpse wagons

Down fly-blown streets

Trailing barbed wire ribbons

Wrapped with shameful smiles.

Teeth cracking and popping

Under rough shod hooves.

Above, iron clouds

Booming drums of gray,

Lightning screams

Down the stairs headfirst

To frame the dire vision

Of the Machine.

Stacks spewing oily black processed love.

Gears screaming, choked with cries

And sooty grease from the Oven.

Brain flecked red wheels roll baby roll!

Engorged on white phosphorus



And the DU blues.

Laughing voids

Leering and winking

Riding high!

Gnawing and snapping

Insatiably satisfied

Beaming down with high pride

Upon the shattered eggshell skull fragments

Shat from the ass

Of the Golgotha Parade.
The FBI has arrested over 28,000 violent criminals since Trumps return to office

Under President Trump's leadership, the FBI has arrested over 28,000 violent criminals, seized 6,000 illegal weapons, rescued 5,000 children and confiscated 1,900 kilos of fentanyl  enough to kill 125 million people. Operation Summer Heat alone resulted in 8,700 arrests and a 20 percent drop in crime nationwide.

The administration has arrested 480,000 criminal illegal aliens, with 70 percent having prior convictions. Operation River Wall has fortified the southern border against illegal crossings and narco-terrorism, achieving what Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem calls the "most secure border in U.S. history."

Despite success in reducing crime (32 percent drop in Chicago), Democrats accuse Trump of "authoritarianism" and "fabricating chaos" to justify federal enforcement. Activist groups and vigilantes are resisting ICE raids, while allegations of misconduct (e.g., Deborah Brockman's wrongful detention) fuel controversy.

Chicago has become a battleground, with ICE raids triggering protests and neighborhood watch groups tracking agents. City officials condemn the tactics, claiming "unaccountable masked men" are destabilizing communities despite crime reductions.

The president vows to continue restoring "LAW AND ORDER", emphasizing safety from violent crime, drugs and illegal immigration. As the 2026 midterms approach, the debate over federal power vs. civil liberties intensifies, with supporters praising "historic" results and critics warning of government overreach.

President Donald Trump has hailed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its unprecedented crackdown on violent crime, announcing that more than 28,000 criminals have been arrested since his return to office on Jan. 20.

In a Truth Social post, Trump celebrated the agency's efforts that included seizing 6,000 illegal weapons, arresting 1,700 child predators, rescuing 5,000 children and confiscating 1,900 kilos of fentanyl  enough to kill 125 million people.

"Since January 20th, more than 28,000 Violent Criminals have been arrested (RECORD BREAKING!), with over 6,000 illegal weapons seized, more than 1,700 child predators and 300 human traffickers taken off the streets, 5,000 innocent children rescued, 2,000 Criminal Enterprises disrupted, 1,900 kilos of Fentanyl (Enough to kill 125 Million people!) taken outHISTORIC RESULTS," Trump wrote. He credited FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino and Co-Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, along with the agency's personnel, for "MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN."

BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that since Trump's return to office on Jan. 20, his mandate to the FBI as inferred from his public statements, executive orders and the actions taken by his administration, are the restoration of law and order; border security and immigration; election integrity; countering domestic terrorism; protecting free speech and privacy; and promoting American energy independence.

A cornerstone of the FBI's efforts was Operation Summer Heat, a nationwide initiative targeting violent offenders from June to September. The operation led to 8,700 arrests, with cities like Nashville and New Orleans seeing a 250 percent surge in apprehensions of violent criminals. Nationwide, crime rates plummeted by 20 percent compared to the same period in 2024, marking what Trump called the "safest and most peaceful summer in two decades."

Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reported that 480,000 criminal illegal aliens have been arrested, with 70 percent having prior convictions or pending charges. The administration has also launched Operation River Wall, deploying Coast Guard forces to secure the Rio Grande Valley against illegal crossings and narco-terrorist activity.

"President Trump delivered the most secure southern border in U.S. history in record time, and now, our goal is to make sure it stays that way for the long run," Noem stated.

Democrats cry "authoritarianism," but Trump vows to continue his law-and-order agenda

Despite the successes, Trump's aggressive law enforcement policies have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers. A group of senators, including Alex Padilla (D-CA), accused the administration of "stretching the limits of presidential authority" and pushing toward "authoritarianism."

"Whether in Los Angeles, Chicago or Portland, the Trump administration continues fabricating claims of chaos and crime on American streets to justify his false assertions that there is a 'need' to deploy troops into our cities," the lawmakers claimed.

Chicago has emerged as a flashpoint in the administration's immigration crackdown. While violent crime has dropped by 32 percent and shootings by 58 percent compared to last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have sparked fierce resistance from activist groups. Vigilantes have formed neighborhood watch networks, using social media to track and disrupt ICE operations.

City Council member Andre Vasquez condemned the tactics, stating, "Chicago's been doing just fine, and then these guys showed up. There is big concern about what these unidentified, masked men are doing in this city without accountability."

The enforcement actions have also led to allegations of misconduct: Veteran TV producer Deborah Brockman claims she was "violently assaulted" by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers while walking to a bus stop. Her legal team insists she was wrongfully detained for seven hours without charges. "This incident should be alarming and horrifying to every single person in this country," her attorneys said.

Trump vowed to continue his law-and-order agenda, emphasizing that "every American deserves to live in a community where they're not afraid of being mugged, murdered, robbed, raped, assaulted or shot." With the FBI's historic arrests, border security measures and crackdown on fentanyl trafficking, the administration insists it is delivering on its promise to restore safety  despite fierce opposition from critics who accuse Trump of overreach. For now, the president remains resolute: "We are bringing LAW AND ORDER back to America."

Watch InfoWars founder Alex Jones and Nick Fuentes discussing the FBI's arrest of two Democrat judges for aiding and abetting dangerous illegal aliens.

This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

BrightU.ai

TheEpochTimes.com

DailyMail.co.uk

Brighteon.com
Google faces defamation lawsuit over AI-generated false allegations against conservative activist Robby Starbuck

Robby Starbuck sued Google for defamation after its AI tools (Bard, Gemini, Gemma) fabricated articles falsely accusing him of sexual assault and murder  citing nonexistent sources like Rolling Stone and Newsweek.

Google acknowledged the errors as AI "hallucinations" but faced criticism for failing to implement fact-checking safeguards despite warnings over two years, allowing defamatory content to spread unchecked.

Starbuck claims strangers confronted him in public, believing the AI-generated lies, including absurd claims like him being a murder suspect at age two or linked to Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs.

The lawsuit highlights growing fears about AI weaponizing misinformation, citing examples like fake Biden robocalls and a counterfeit George Carlin comedy special, raising alarms about libel, political sabotage and ethical guardrails.

Starbuck's case could set a landmark precedent for holding tech companies liable for AI-generated defamation, forcing a reckoning between innovation and ethical responsibility in machine-generated content.

Conservative activist Robby Starbuck filed a defamation lawsuit against Google on Wednesday, Oct. 22, alleging the company's artificial intelligence (AI) tools fabricated news articles falsely accusing him of sexual assault, murder and ties to white supremacist groups.

Starbuck, a vocal critic of corporate diversity initiatives, claims Google's AI-generated responses cited non-existent articles from major outlets like Rolling Stone, Newsweek and the New York Post, damaging his reputation. The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court, seeks over $15 million in damages and raises urgent questions about AI accountability in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly.

According to Starbuck, Google's AI tools  including Bard, Gemini and Gemma  repeatedly generated false claims about him, complete with fabricated URLs mimicking legitimate news sources. One particularly egregious example alleged Starbuck was a "person of interest" in a murder case when he was just two years old. Another falsely stated he had been "credibly accused of sexual assault" and linked him to Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs  claims Starbuck vehemently denies.

Google acknowledged the issue, attributing the falsehoods to "hallucinations," a known flaw in large language models (LLMs). A spokesperson told the New York Post: "If you're creative enough, you can prompt a chatbot to say something misleading."

However, Starbuck argues that Google ignored warnings for two years while the AI continued to spread defamatory content. "Their AI consistently accused me of the most horrific crimes," he said, adding that strangers confronted him in public, believing the AI-generated lies."

This lawsuit highlights growing concerns about AI's potential to weaponize misinformation. Starbuck's case follows other high-profile incidents, such as AI-generated robocalls impersonating former President Joe Biden during the New Hampshire primary and a fake George Carlin comedy special created without his estate's consent. Legal experts warn that without stricter safeguards, AI tools could become conduits for libel, political sabotage and reputational destruction.

Starbuck's legal team contends Google failed to implement basic fact-checking mechanisms, allowing its AI to present fabricated claims as verified news. "What Google has done to my reputation during this two-year campaign of defamation can't be undone," Starbuck said. The case could set a precedent for holding tech companies liable for AI-generated defamation, especially as reliance on chatbots for information grows.

Historical context: Google's AI controversies

This isn't the first time Google's AI has faced backlash. "In 2023, the company temporarily disabled Gemini's image-generation feature after it produced historically inaccurate depictions, such as Black Vikings and racially diverse Nazi soldiers  errors critics labeled as 'woke' bias," BrightU.AI's Enoch recalls. Starbuck's lawsuit adds to mounting scrutiny over whether AI systems reflect institutional biases or simply amplify user prompts without ethical guardrails.

Meanwhile, Starbuck has emerged as a key figure in conservative activism, pressuring corporations like Walmart and Ford to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. His lawsuit against Google positions him as a test case for combating AI-driven defamation, regardless of political affiliation.

"No oneregardless of political beliefsshould ever experience this," he said. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, Starbuck's lawsuit underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in machine-generated content. While Google maintains that "hallucinations" are an inherent limitation of AI, critics argue the company must take responsibility for preventing harmful misinformation.

The outcome of this case could shape future regulations, forcing tech giants to choose between innovation and ethical safeguardsor face the legal consequences. For now, Starbuck remains determined: "I look forward to winning this case not only to restore my reputation but to help ensure a future where AI serves truth, not lies."

Watch this video about Google AI video manipulation.

This video is from the pacsteam.org channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Mediaite.com

X.com

NYPost.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
ICJ condemns Israel as data reveals only 15% of promised aid is reaching Gaza

The United Nations' highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has ruled that Israel is failing to meet its legal obligations as the occupying power in Gaza. It declared that Israel cannot use general security concerns as a blanket excuse to block all humanitarian aid.

The court ordered Israel to take concrete steps to ensure that Palestinians in Gaza receive essential life-saving supplies, including food, water and medicine. It must ensure the regular and fair distribution of these goods and fully support the relief work of UN agencies, especially UNRWA.

The ICJ explicitly rejected Israel's main argument for restricting aid through UNRWA: that Hamas had infiltrated the agency. The court found Israel's evidence insufficient and emphasized that UNRWA is an impartial and indispensable provider of humanitarian services that cannot be easily replaced.

The ruling was welcomed by the UN Secretary-General, who saw it as a potential way to improve the crisis. However, Israel condemned it as "shameful" and politically motivated, having chosen not to participate in the proceedings. Data from Gaza appears to support the court's concerns, showing a severe shortfall in the promised aid deliveries.

This landmark ruling places significant legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel, framing its aid restrictions as a violation of international law. However, a major gap exists between the court's orders and the reality in Gaza, creating a serious enforcement challenge that leaves the civilian population in a precarious situation.

In a landmark ruling, the United Nations' (UN) highest courtthe International Court of Justice (ICJ)has declared that Israel is failing to meet its legal obligations as an occupying power in Gaza, specifically stating that it cannot use security as a blanket excuse to block life-saving humanitarian aid.

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the ICJ declared that Israel cannot use general security concerns as a blanket justification for blocking all humanitarian aid in the area. The decision adds significant legal weight to long-standing accusations that Israeli policies are contributing to a severe humanitarian crisis for the nearly two million residents of the territory.

ICJ tells Israel it must ensure that Palestinians in Gaza receive essential goods

The ruling, delivered on Oct. 22, firmly establishes that Israel is legally required to ensure the Palestinian population in Gaza is adequately supplied with essential goods like food, water and medicine.

Furthermore, the court ordered Israel to fully support the relief efforts of United Nations agencies, most notably the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The court identified this agency as deeply integrated into Gaza's infrastructure and an indispensable provider of humanitarian services.

A central and powerfully worded part of the judgment addressed Israel's frequent justification for restricting aid. Presiding judge Yuji Iwasawa stated that Israel "may never invoke reasons of security to justify the general suspension of all humanitarian activities in occupied territory."

The court instructed the Israeli government to use all available means to ensure supplies are distributed regularly and fairly, and to refrain from any violence against civilians seeking that aid.

The judges directly rejected Israel's primary argument for limiting aid through UNRWA, which claimed that the Hamas militant group had infiltrated the agency. The court found the information Israel presented was "not sufficient" to prove UNRWA lacked neutrality and emphasized there was no evidence the agency, as a whole, had breached principles of impartiality.

It concluded that UNRWA is so critical to survival in Gaza that it cannot be replaced without a proper plan, a process Israel had failed to provide when it blocked aid for over ten weeks.

ICJ ruling sparks different reactions

The ruling was met with starkly different reactions. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, welcomed the decision, urging Israeli compliance and stating that the opinion could be decisive in improving the tragic situation in Gaza.

On the ground, data appears to support the court's concerns. According to Gazas Government Media Office, only about 15 percent of the agreed-upon aid trucks have entered the strip since a recent ceasefire began, far short of the 600 trucks per day that were promised.

Local officials have also accused Israel of maintaining a "policy of strangulation and starvation."

Israel's response was one of outright rejection and condemnation. Israels ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, called the ICJ's opinion "shameful," and he also accused UN institutions of being "breeding grounds for terrorists." Israel had chosen not to participate in the court proceedings, with its foreign minister having previously dismissed the hearings as a politicized "circus."

This ruling places Israel under intense legal and diplomatic pressure, framing its restrictions on aid not as a legitimate security measure but as a violation of its duties under international law. The stark contrast between the court's orders and the reality on the ground points to a significant enforcement challenge, leaving the fate of Gaza's civilian population hanging in the balance.

Watch the video below as a reporter asks President Donald Trump if there are any guarantees that Israel won't bomb Gaza again after the hostages are finally released.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

AlJazeera.com

HRW.org

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Republicans consider long-term funding extension as shutdown drags Into third week

Senate Republicans privately discuss extending current funding levels through December 2026, pushing budget negotiations past the next presidential electionan unprecedented move signaling desperation.

Despite unpaid federal workers and service disruptions, Democrats refuse to yield, leveraging the shutdown to push Affordable Care Act subsidies and other priorities.

While some Republicans (like Rep. Chip Roy) support a long-term CR if Trump enforces fiscal discipline, defense hawks warn it would cripple Pentagon planning and hardliners oppose it as fiscally irresponsible.

Democrats see an advantage in prolonging the shutdown, with polls showing rising approval among their base, while Republicans face midterm pressure to resolve the crisis before elections.

With the Nov. 21 deadline looming, negotiations remain deadlockedRepublicans debate short-term extensions vs. multiyear CRs, while Democrats distrust GOP promises of future talks.

As the federal government shutdown enters its third week with no resolution in sight, Senate Republicans are privately discussing a surprising concession: extending current funding levels through December 2026an unprecedented move that would push budget negotiations past the next presidential election.

The shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats repeatedly blocked a House-passed continuing resolution (CR), has left federal workers unpaid and critical services disrupted. Republicans initially hoped Democrats would relent under public pressure, but Democratic resolve has hardened insteadparticularly around demands to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year's end.

House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-MO) revealed to Bloomberg TV that some Republicans are considering a CR stretching into late 2026.

"I've been hearing this conversation from senators, from House members, that a CR not just for a year, but to Dec. 1 of next year," Smith said. "I strongly support a longer-term continuing resolution... I think that would allow more stability for our economy, stability for the American people."

However, divisions remain within the GOP. Hardline conservatives, who typically oppose long-term CRs as fiscally irresponsible, have signaled opennessbut only if tied to assurances from President Donald Trump, whom many trust to enforce spending discipline.

"If we can have a long-term CR so we have guaranteed funding at current levels, but we've got Donald Trump and the strong leadership over the executive branch using taxpayer funds wisely, then that's a good position to be in," said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).

Meanwhile, defense hawks warn that locking in funding would hamstring Pentagon planning. House Appropriations Committee staff told The Hill they remain committed to "regular order" budget talks rather than stopgaps.

Democrats, sensing political advantage, have refused to yield. Senate Democrats have filibustered 11 Republican funding bills, with only three crossing party lines to support GOP measures.

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) openly framed the shutdown as strategic leverage: "Shutdowns are terrible... But it is one of the few leverage times we haveit is an inflection point in this budget process where we have tried to get the Republicans to meet with us and prioritize the American people."

Republicans blasted the tactic.

"This isn't about leverage. This isn't a political game. It's about people's lives," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told NBC News.

Historical precedent and political stakes

Government shutdowns have historically ended when public frustration forces compromisebut this stalemate defies norms. The 2013 and 2018-2019 shutdowns lasted 16 and 35 days, respectively, before bipartisan deals were struck.

This time, Democrats appear emboldened by polling showing their base approves of their hardline stance. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, a Quinnipiac survey found Democratic voter approval of Congress rose from 41 percent in June to 58 percent in October.

Republicans, meanwhile, face mounting pressure to resolve the crisis before the midterm elections. Some, like Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), argue Trump should broker a deal: "We do need the president... There has not been an effort to say this is how we end the shutdown on a bipartisan basis."

With the Nov. 21 deadline loomingand half that time already wastedSen. John Cornyn (R-TX) admitted the current House bill is "more and more irrelevant." Discussions now center on whether to propose a short-term extension into January or gamble on a multiyear CR.

For now, both sides remain entrenched. As Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) put it: "I don't trust Republicans when they say, 'You concede, open the government, and then we'll talk.' That's just talk."

With federal workers facing mounting financial strain and public services eroding, the political calculus may soon shift. But for now, Washington's budget war shows no sign of endingand the GOP's surprising long-term funding gambit underscores just how desperate the situation has become.

Watch this video that brings you on a trip down government shutdown memory lane.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheMirror.com

NBCNews.om

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Regenesis on BrightU: Experts discuss systemic health sabotage and hidden environmental dangers

On Day 1 of the "Regenesis by Jonathan Otto," Jonathan Otto exposed the presence of hidden toxins, including formaldehyde, heavy metals and pesticides, in common items such as hospital curtains, tap water and food.

He detailed the alleged role of corporate greed and government negligence in creating what he described as a "toxic minefield" in modern life.

Otto and his guests explored how mineral deficiencies are driving chronic illnesses such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

The episode presented the series as a "data-driven rebellion," highlighting contributions from whistleblowers, leaked studies and political insiders to challenge a system they claimed prioritizes profits over patient safety.

On Day 1 of the "Regenesis by Jonathan Otto," aired on Oct. 25, host Jonathan Otto discussed mainstream medicine and global health authorities, alleging a coordinated effort by powerful industries to keep the public chronically ill. The series premiere, "Regenesis begins: Break free from a system built to keep you sick," and its accompanying bonus episode, "The unseen connection: How environment, emotion and energy secretly shape your health," pull no punches in outlining what they describe as a hidden epidemic driving a surge in environmental illnesses.

Episode One delved into a sweeping conspiracy, following a money trail that it claims connects big industries like pharma, food and the military-industrial complex in a collaborative effort that works against your health. The episode uncovered a shocking truth about how these sectors profit from public sickness rather than promoting genuine wellness.

The premiere also tackled specific, long-standing public health policies, taking aim at the widespread use of fluoride in municipal water supplies. It exposed what it calls the flawed original studies that initially convinced cities to add the chemical, framing it not as a dental health measure, but as a decision to poison the water supply.

Adding a tangible, immediate threat to its narrative, the episode highlights a hidden mold crisis affecting up to 50 percent of buildings. Otto argued that water damage in homes and workplaces creates a pervasive environment for toxic mold, which it identifies as a silent destroyer of health, contributing to the fatigue, pain and chronic conditions plaguing an estimated 20 percent of the population.

Further escalating its claims, Otto explored the growing concern around international health authorities claiming unprecedented powers to control global health crises, a topic that taps into ongoing global debates about governmental overreach and medical freedom.

The companion Bonus Episode 1 shifted focus to the internal and often invisible factors shaping health. It launches a direct assault on the modern food system, asserting that real nutrition doesnt come in wrappers or ingredient lists and boldly declaring that ultra-processed products arent food at all.

The bonus content also delved deep into the mind-body connection, arguing that trauma, both major and minor events, creates a hidden trauma connection that triggers dangerous stress responses. A central, alarming claim of the episode is that most people never return to a normal stress response, instead mentally reliving traumatic events and perpetuating harmful physiological reactions that keep the body trapped in a perpetual state of survival mode.

Offering a solution, Otto highlighted alternative therapies focused on the spine, suggesting that creating elasticity in the spinal system is crucial for supporting cerebrospinal fluid flow, which in turn optimizes millions of body processes.

With its stark warning that the time to act is now and its framing of chronic illness as a wake-up call rather than just a health scare, "Regenesis by Jonathan Otto" is making a clear bid to become a rallying point for those disillusioned with conventional healthcare.

Want to know more?

If you're on a path to healing and transformation, you want to dive in deepon your schedule, not a streaming schedule. That's why we're offering a powerful alternative for the truly committed. Own your own copy of "Regenesis by Jonathan Otto" Gold Package here.

When you purchase the complete Gold Package, you will receive immediate lifetime access to the complete video series, expert interviews, six-week health reset sessions, live masterclasses, uncensored masterclasses, nine Regenesis eBooks, live Q&A sessions and so much more.

Sources include:

BrighteonUniversity.com 1

BrightU.com

BrightU.ai

BrighteonUniversity.com 2
Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao amid White Houses U-turn on crypto

President Donald Trump pardoned Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, the billionaire founder of Binance who served four months in prison for Bank Secrecy Act violations. The White House framed the pardon as a rebuke of Biden's "war on cryptocurrency."

Trump allies criticized the Biden DOJ's push for a three-year sentence as excessive, arguing Zhao's case lacked "identifiable victims" and reflected regulatory overreach rather than criminal fraud.

Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 as part of Binance's $4.3 billion DOJ settlement but denied fraud charges. His pardon aligns with Trump's pro-crypto agenda and follows Zhao's financial support for Trump-linked ventures.

Critics like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called the pardon corrupt, while Trump allies defended it as correcting regulatory persecution. Zhao's case highlights tensions between innovation and enforcement in crypto.

The pardon signals a potential policy shift toward deregulation under Trump, raising questions about Binance's future and the balance between financial sovereignty and accountability in crypto.

President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, the billionaire executive who served four months in prison for Bank Secrecy Act violations.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the pardon Thursday, Oct. 23, telling reporters that Trump "exercised his constitutional authority by issuing a pardon for Zhao, who was prosecuted by the Biden administration in their war on cryptocurrency." She emphasized that the Binance founder's case lacked "identifiable victims" and that the Biden-era Department of Justice's (DOJ) push for a three-year sentence exceeded sentencing guidelines.

The Binance founder's pardon marks a sharp rebuke of what Trump allies describe as the Biden administration's politically motivated crackdown on the crypto industry  a sector increasingly seen as a battleground for financial sovereignty and technological innovation. Zhao, once the most powerful figure in global crypto markets, pleaded guilty in 2023 as part of a $4.3 billion settlement between Binance and the DOJ.

Prosecutors alleged the exchange enabled illicit transactions tied to terrorism, sanctions evasion and criminal enterprises  claims Zhao's legal team contested as regulatory overreach. Though Zhao admitted to compliance failures, no fraud charges were filed and Trump's pardon framed the prosecution as part of a broader Biden-era campaign to stifle crypto innovation.

Zhao, who stepped down as Binance CEO as part of the plea deal, expressed gratitude on social media, vowing to help make America "the Capital of Crypto." The pardon aligns with Trump's pro-crypto agenda, which has reversed key Biden-era enforcement actions and disbanded the DOJ's crypto task force.

It also reflects the industry's growing political clout. Crypto firms spent heavily in the 2024 election, backing Trump and pro-digital asset lawmakers. Notably, Zhao and Binance supported Trump-linked ventures  including a $2 billion investment in Binance facilitated by World Liberty Financial, a crypto project founded by Trump and his sons.

Zhao's pardon: Justice or cronyism?

Critics, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), denounced the pardon as cronyism, warning it sets a dangerous precedent. "First, Zhao pleaded guilty to a criminal money laundering charge  then he boosted one of Trump's crypto ventures and lobbied for a pardon. Today, Donald Trump did his part." she said, urging Congress to impose ethics rules on crypto legislation.

Yet Trump's allies argue the pardon corrects an injustice. Former prosecutor Mark Bini noted Zhao's offense was regulatory, not criminal fraud, while Zhao himself highlighted the unprecedented nature of his prison term for a single Bank Secrecy Act charge. "Better to ask for forgiveness than permission," Zhao once told employees  a philosophy that ultimately led to his downfall under Biden but now finds redemption under Trump.

According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, "the Biden administration aggressively targeted cryptocurrencies through regulatory crackdowns and hostile policies to dismantle decentralized finance in favor of centralized control."

The pardon raises questions about Binance's future. Though Zhao's influence over the exchange remains unclear, his release signals a potential thaw in U.S. crypto policy  one that could accelerate the industry's push for deregulation. Meanwhile, Zhao's case serves as a cautionary tale for crypto entrepreneurs navigating America's shifting legal landscape.

As the Biden administration's regulatory assault fades, Trump's embrace of crypto marks a pivotal shift  one that champions innovation over enforcement but leaves lingering concerns about accountability. While the pardon offers a second chance for Zhao, it serves as a warning for the industry. The rules have changed, but the stakes have never been higher.

Watch Miles Guo revealing that Binance is fraudulent and controlled by the Chinese Communist Party below.

This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

APNews.com

POLITICO.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump weighs sanctions against Russia as Putin warns of escalation over missile supplies

U.S. President Trump signaled a potential shift in policy, threatening "massive sanctions or tariffs" against Russia following a missile strike on an American-owned factory in Ukraine. This marks a reversal from his earlier reluctance to escalate economic pressure.

Russian President Putin downplayed the impact of sanctions, calling them ineffective, while issuing a stark warning: any Ukrainian use of U.S.-supplied Tomahawk missiles would trigger an "overwhelming" response, potentially expanding the conflict beyond Ukraine.

The U.S. has reportedly supported Ukrainian long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian soil, raising tensions. Putin framed sanctions as damaging to U.S.-Russia relations, which had shown signs of improvement under Trump's first term.

Despite past sanctions failing to alter Russia's strategy, Trump suggested new measures like a 500 percent tariff on third-party buyers of Russian oil. Meanwhile, Ukraine argues advanced weapons are necessary to counter Russian aggression, despite risks of widening the war.

With Trump considering harsher sanctions and Putin threatening retaliation over arms supplies, the conflict enters a volatile phase. Experts warn that military escalationespecially if Ukraine gains long-range strike capabilitiescould destabilize global security.

In a sharp reversal from his earlier stance, President Donald Trump signaled he may impose "massive sanctions or massive tariffs"  or both  against Russia in response to its ongoing war in Ukraine. The shift comes after a Russian missile strike injured workers at an American-owned factory in central Ukraine, hardening Trump's position.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the impact of potential sanctions while issuing a stark warning. Any Ukrainian strikes using U.S.-supplied Tomahawk missiles would trigger an "overwhelming" response, potentially expanding the conflict beyond Ukraine's borders.

Trump's threat of new sanctions marks a departure from his previous reluctance to escalate economic pressure on Moscow. Earlier, Trump had argued that sanctions would only push Russia further from negotiations. However, the attack on the American facility appears to have changed his calculus.

Putin, however, downplayed the significance of the sanctions, calling them "nothing new" and insisting they would not "significantly impact our economic health." Russia has weathered extensive Western sanctions since its 2014 annexation of Crimea, adapting its economy to withstand financial isolation.

The Russian leader also framed the sanctions as politically damaging to U.S.-Russia relations, which had shown tentative signs of improvement under Trump's first term. "This is an unfriendly act against Russia," Putin said. "It does not strengthen Russia-U.S. relations, which have just started recovering.

Tomahawk threat: Putin's red line

The prospect of Ukraine acquiring long-range Tomahawk missiles  nuclear-capable with a range exceeding 1,000 miles  has drawn fierce opposition from Moscow, BrightU.AI's Enoch notes. Putin warned that any Ukrainian strike using such weapons would provoke a "very serious if not outright overwhelming" retaliation, potentially targeting sites outside Ukraine.

Trump, however, cast doubt on Ukraine's ability to deploy Tomahawks effectively, citing the lengthy training required. "The only way a Tomahawk is going to be shot is if we shot it," he told reporters.

Despite this, reports suggest the U.S. has supported Ukrainian long-range drone and missile attacks on Russian soil  a claim Trump denied, though Ukraine has acknowledged using British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles with U.S. targeting assistance.

The U.S. and Russia have long engaged in a tit-for-tat cycle of sanctions and military posturing. Under Trump's first administration, sanctions reached unprecedented levels, yet failed to alter Moscow's strategic calculus in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Putin's latest warning echoes Cold War-era brinkmanship, where the threat of escalation served as a deterrent against Western arms shipments.

Experts caution that supplying Ukraine with advanced missiles risks widening the war, particularly if Russia retaliates against North Atlantic Treaty Organization territory. Yet Ukraine argues such weapons are necessary to counter Russian aggression and reclaim occupied land.

As Trump weighs tougher sanctions and Putin threatens retaliation over missile supplies, the U.S.-Russia standoff enters a dangerous new phase. While sanctions may inflict economic pain, Putin's regime has proven resilient. The greater risk lies in military escalation  particularly if Ukraine gains long-range strike capabilities, prompting Russia to expand its targets.

Watch Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement of new types of intercontinental weapons in this clip.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

News.Antiwar.com

TASS.com

NDTV.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com
Polymarket has confirmed plans to launch its long-awaited POLY token alongside an airdrop, marking a key step for the fast-growing prediction market platform.

The confirmation came from Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber, who said during an interview on the Degenz Live podcast Thursday that the project would definitely include both a token and an airdrop.

Source: X

There will be a token, there will be an airdrop, Modabber said. We could have launched a token whenever we wanted, but we want it to have true utility and longevityto be around forever. Thats what we expect from ourselves, and thats what everyone in the space expects from us.

The remarks put to rest months of speculation following founder Shayne Coplans October 9 post hinting that a native $POLY token could eventually rank among the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

It also represents the first official acknowledgment from the company after a year of steady user growth, record trading volumes, and major institutional backing.

Polymarket Bets Big on the U.S. Market Before Rolling Out Its Token

The confirmation comes as Polymarket cements its position as the leading prediction market platform, commanding over 95% of total market volume, according to recent Dune Analytics data.

In the week ending October 13, Polymarket processed around $690 million in trading volume, outpacing rivals Kalshi, Limitless, and Myriad combined.

Source: Dune Analytics

The companys dominance reflects renewed trader engagement and a broader resurgence in the prediction market sector after a mid-2025 slowdown.

Despite the excitement surrounding the upcoming token, Modabber emphasized that Polymarkets immediate focus remains on its long-awaited U.S. app launch.

The company recently secured regulatory clearance to re-enter the American market after being forced to halt operations in 2022 due to a Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) enforcement action.

Why rush a token if we need to prioritize the U.S. app? Modabber said. Weve been dying for this app for the past five years. A lot has happened because of thisregulatory issues and whatnot. After the U.S. launch, there will be a focus on the token and getting that live and making sure its well done.

Polymarkets return to the U.S. follows its $112 million acquisition of QCX LLC earlier this year, granting it a Designated Contract Market license.

This allows the company to self-certify prediction markets for American users, including those tied to sports, elections, and geopolitical events.

CEO Coplan confirmed in September that the platform had been given the green light to go live in the USA, calling it a major breakthrough after years of uncertainty.
Unexploded bombs will haunt Gaza for generations, experts warn

Beneath the widespread destruction in Gaza lies a massive threat from ordnance or unexploded bombs. Experts warn it could take 20 to 30 years to clear these hidden weapons, turning the area into a dangerous, unmapped minefield for generations.

The United Nations estimates there are tens of millions of tons of rubble, with over 90 percent of residential buildings damaged or destroyed. The recovery cost is estimated at $70 billion and will take decades.

The destruction of roads and infrastructure is complicating rescue work. Furthermore, aid agencies are blocked from importing specialized equipment and lack the permits needed to remove or destroy the unexploded bombs, crippling their ability to make the area safe.

Even after active conflict, unexploded bombs continue to kill and injure Palestinians returning to their homes.

Recovery is more than just rebuilding Gaza. It requires a massive, long-term mobilization. The first steps involve clearing rubble and unexploded bombs, then repairing buried water and sewer systems to prevent disease outbreaks, before large-scale construction of homes and hospitals can even begin.

The widespread destruction of infrastructure and roads is complicating rescue efforts in Gaza, but a far more sinister and long-lasting threat lies hidden beneath the millions of tons of rubble: unexploded bombs.

As explained by the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, clearing these hidden weapons could take decades, effectively turning the area into a dangerous and unmapped minefield for generations. The sheer scale of the problem is staggering. According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), between five to 10 percent of weapons fired into Gaza have failed to detonate, leaving behind deadly hazards.

Since October 2023, at least 92 people have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance. Luke Irving, Chief of the UNMAS, has said that there have been 24 victims since the ceasefire began in the occupied Palestinian territories. UNMAS has also reported that there are tons of ruins in Gaza because of intense attacks on residential buildings over seven months.

It could take decades to clear the rubble and unexploded ordnance in Gaza

Clearing the debris could take up to a decade, and that daunting timeline does not even account for the painstaking and dangerous work of locating and neutralizing unexploded ordnance (UXO) buried within that wreckage.

An official with the humanitarian group Humanity & Inclusion has described a far grimmer prognosis for this specific task, stating that clearing Gazas surface of unexploded bombs could take between 20 and 30 years. The reality may be even more permanent.

Nick Orr, an explosives expert with the organization, noted that a full clearance is impossible because much of the dangerous material is subterranean, meaning it will be found for generations to come. A surface-level cleanup might be achievable within a generation, but only if access is granted and the necessary specialized equipment is allowed into the territory.

The human cost of this hidden war is already being tallied. More than 53 people have been killed and hundreds injured by leftover munitions, according to a UN-led database that is widely believed to under-report the true toll. These are not just statistics; they are Palestinians returning to the remnants of their homes, only to be killed or maimed by a conflict they thought had moved on.

Efforts to address the crisis are being hampered at every turn. A seven-member team from Humanity & Inclusion is preparing to begin identifying unexploded ordnance in critical locations like hospitals and bakeries. However, Israel has yet to issue the permits required for the actual removal or destruction of these weapons.

Aid agencies remain barred from importing key supplies that Israel classifies as having "dual use" potential, further crippling their ability to work effectively.

In a bid to overcome these obstacles, the organization is seeking permission to use a method of burning away explosives rather than detonating them, hoping to address Israeli security concerns. Despite these efforts, the work will amount to a very small chipping away at a very big problem.

A reconstruction challenge beyond money

The broader picture of Gazas recovery is one of almost unimaginable devastation. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimates that Gazas recovery will cost $70 billion and will take decades, with $20 billion required in the next three years just to begin reconstruction. The agency reports that 55 million tons of rubble must be cleared, of which a negligible fraction, only 81,000 tons, has been removed so far.

The numbers paint a portrait of utter ruin. The UNDP states that around 500,000 housing units have been destroyed, along with 835 mosques, three churches and 40 cemeteries.

A staggering 92 percent of all residential buildings have been damaged or demolished. With 83 percent of all structures in Gaza City affected, the very ability of the land to support life is in question. The Gaza Strip has been razed to the ground.

Yet, Gaza needs more than money to rebuild. It is a disaster zone on a scale comparable to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane.

The immediate priorities are, of course, sustaining life with food, medicine and clean water. But the reconstruction phase presents challenges that cash alone cannot quickly solve.

The first step is reconstituting buried assets like power lines, water pipes and sewerage systems. While the original layouts may be known from city maps, the infrastructure itself is likely cracked, broken, or destroyed. Failure to repair it will lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases like typhus and dysentery.

Furthermore, damaged houses and public buildings present huge public safety risks of collapse, requiring massive demolition and clearance efforts for millions of tonnes of debris.

Simultaneously, the clearance of unexploded ordnance must proceed before large-scale construction can safely begin. Following these immediate tasks will be the monumental effort of constructing or repairing hospitals, houses, schools and road systems, all of which have been massively compromised.

The effort is likely to be a major mobilization exercise for many years, no matter how much money is donated. The path forward is fraught. Efforts to begin the cleanup have been repeatedly disrupted, and the recent ceasefire, while holding for now, is fragile.

The people of Gaza are trapped not only in the ruins of their past but in a present filled with invisible threats that will define their dangerous and challenging future for the next 30 years.

Watch this clip as thousands of residents return to the wastelands of Gaza City.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

Reuters.com

TheConversation.com

News.UN.org

BrightU.AI

Brighteon.com
Bengal: One held for attempting to burn youth alive in South Dum Dum

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

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Kolkata, Oct 26 (PTI) One person was arrested from West Bengals North 24 Parganas district in connection with the alleged attempt to burn a youth alive in South Dum Dum area, an officer said on Sunday.

The accused, a close aide of a local Trinamool Congress councillor, was apprehended from Naihati late on Saturday, he said.

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The alleged incident occurred on Wednesday in Ward No. 11 of Bediyapara in Taraknath Colony under the South Dum Dum Municipality in the North 24 Parganas district, the policeman said.

As per the complaint, Ranjit Karmakar was attacked, doused in petrol and set alight. He suffered around 20 per cent burn injuries and is undergoing treatment at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. His condition is critical," the police officer said.

The incident took place during the immersion of an idol of Goddess Kali in the locality, he said, adding that Karmakar was allegedly assaulted by the councillor and his supporters.

Eyewitnesses claimed that petrol was taken from a nearby motorbike and poured on him.

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Following the attack, all three accused went into hiding, the officer said.

A search was underway to arrest the other accused persons, he added. PTI SCH BDC

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

News agency-feeds Bengal: One held for attempting to burn youth alive in South Dum Dum

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Cyber fraud: Resentful son siphons off Rs 26 lakh from father, arrested

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

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New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) A 25-year-old man, driven by jealousy and resentment towards his stepbrother, allegedly defrauded his own father of over Rs 26 lakh by exploiting his digital inexperience, an official said on Sunday.

According to police, the accused, Shivam Sharma, executed the fraud over four months after stealing the SIM card linked to his 68-year-old fathers bank account.

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The victim, a retired parking operator from Azadpur Mandi, had trusted his son to manage his online banking due to his poor health and limited digital literacy, officials said.

Harbouring anger after his father handed over the familys parking business to his son from his first marriage, Sharma devised a plan to misappropriate his fathers savings. On March 23, while his father was attending the last rites of his first wife, Shivam discreetly took the SIM card associated with the bank account," a senior police officer said.

Using the SIM, he created a fraudulent UPI ID and began transferring money through digital platforms, according to the officer.

He purchased gold coins from e-commerce sites and hid them inside a wall-mounted almirah at home. He also routed about Rs 6 lakh in cash through cyber cafe operators, paying 2 to 10 per cent commissions to them for facilitating withdrawals," the officer said.

To erase digital footprints, Shivam later destroyed both the SIM card and his mobile phone, police said. According to police, despite being the perpetrator, he pretended to be a victim alongside his father, and even helped file a cybercrime complaint.

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Police said they used advanced cyber analytics and field intelligence to crack the case, recovering 100 grams of gold, and froze Rs 3 lakh in his bank account.

Shivam, a BA graduate and former BPO employee with no previous criminal record, was arrested on Saturday at his residence. He initially denied the charges but later confessed during interrogation, leading to the recovery of the stolen assets, police said. PTI BM PRK PRK

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

News agency-feeds Cyber fraud: Resentful son siphons off Rs 26 lakh from father, arrested

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Ripple, the developer of cryptocurrency XRP, just became the first crypto company to own a global prime broker.

The firm completed its $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a non-bank prime broker. The platform, now rebranded as Ripple Prime, will offer institutions clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed income.

Since Ripple first announced the deal back in April, Ripple Primes business has grown threefold, said the firm.

Owning a prime broker signals that crypto is settling into the very center of institutional finance. Prime brokers are the gatekeepers of professional trading. They determine who gets access to leverage, which assets qualify as collateral, and how risk is managed.

By controlling that infrastructure, Ripple can ensure crypto  and especially its native XRP or RLUSD  gets the same treatment as stocks and bonds. Indeed, its not about buying market share, but rather about legitimacy and the power to set standards.

XRP is up 8% to $2.48 in the past seven days.

We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption, Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO, said when the acquisition was announced.

The US market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end.

Collateralising RLUSD

At the centre of the deal is increased utility for Ripples stablecoin, RLUSD.

Right now, RLUSD is being used as collateral for prime brokerage products, with certain derivatives customers already holding their balances in RLUSD.

One of RLUSDs highly touted features is its regulatory compliance. In July, Bluechip ranked RLUSD the number one stablecoin for stability, governance, and asset backing.

But the market doesnt agree. Of the $308 billion stablecoin sector, RLUSD has fallen to 20th place, with $898 million in market value  about 0.3% of the total market.

Tether and USDC lead stablecoins by a wide margin.

Ripple also announced that The Bank of New York Mellon will serve as the primary reserve custodian of RLUSD, underscoring the companys commitment to meeting institutional and regulatory expectations.

Shopping spree

Ripple has been doling out cash lately.

The deal with Hidden Road is one of five major acquisitions inked by Ripple in the past two years.

Just last week, Ripple announced plans to acquire treasury management system provider GTreasury for $1 billion. And earlier acquisitions include the stablecoin-powered payment platform Rail in August 2025, Standard Custody in June 2024, and Metaco in May 2023.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta greets residents on Chhath

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:14 IST

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New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday extended her greetings to the people of Delhi on the occasion of Chhath Puja and said the festival is a radiant symbol of Indian culture that conveys a message of unity, harmony and devotion.

It is also a reflection of discipline, faith and collective goodwill, she said.

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Gupta joined the Kharna Puja celebrations with the wife of Delhi Assembly chief whip Abhay Verma.

This year marks the first time the Delhi government is celebrating Chhath Puja on such a large scale across the city, Gupta said.

Chhath is not just about faith, it symbolises unity, cooperation and our shared cultural values. Our goal is to make it a festival that reflects cleanliness, culture and good governance," she said.

The government has made all arrangements to ensure that devotees can perform their rituals comfortably. This years Chhath celebrations will be grand, divine and unforgettable," she added.

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The chief minister said Chhath is a festival that expresses gratitude to nature and celebrates faith and purity. It teaches discipline, sincerity and collective harmony.

Delhi is not just Indias capital but a living example of cultural diversity and unity, she said. The spirit of this festival can be seen in every street, ghat and home across the city. Delhi is modern yet deeply rooted in tradition and that makes us proud." PTI SLB DIV DIV

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:14 IST

News agency-feeds Delhi CM Rekha Gupta greets residents on Chhath

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Delhi police recovers banned cigarettes worth Rs 12 lakh; two held

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 12:29 IST

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New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Two persons have been arrested by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police for allegedly selling banned foreign cigarettes and recovered contraband worth Rs 12 lakh, officials confirmed on Sunday.According to police, the Crime Branch received secret information on Saturday, around 1:10 AM, about a large consignment of prohibited foreign cigarettes being delivered near the bus stop at Palam Dwarka Road in Delhi Cantonment.Acting on the tip-off, a special team was constituted and a trap was laid at the location to intercept the consignment. During the operation, two individuals were apprehended from Prehladpur, near Palam Flyover, who were found in possession of a large quantity of banned foreign cigarettes that were meant for retail supply.The investigation revealed that the cigarettes had been smuggled from Cambodia into India and did not carry the mandatory pictorial health warnings prescribed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.The recovered consignment included 332 dandas" (each containing 10 packets), totalling 66,400 cigarettes, of international brands such as Davidoff and Dunhill.The arrested accused have been identified as Praveen Sehgal and Mukesh Khatreja. Both are residents of Delhi.Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 12:29 IST

News agency-feeds Delhi police recovers banned cigarettes worth Rs 12 lakh; two held

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Man accused of raping 5-year-old held after encounter in UPs Kanpur

Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 00:14 IST

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Kanpur (UP), Oct 26 (PTI) A 28-year-old man accused of raping a five-year-old girl in Ghatampur area here was arrested after an encounter on Sunday, a police official said.

The accused, identified as Anurag alias Sulkhan, a resident of Ghatampur, was shot at in the leg during the exchange of fire.

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According to police, Anurag had allegedly assaulted and raped the minor girl on Saturday.

Following a complaint from the girls father, a case was registered under sections 137(2) (kidnapping) and 65(2) (raping a girl aged under 12 years) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and provisions under the Protection Of Children against Sexual Offences Act.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Krishnakant Yadav said that acting on a tip-off, police traced the accused to the Ratanpur-Balahapara forest, where he allegedly opened fire on police personnel.

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Police retaliated, injuring him on the right leg. They also recovered a pistol and cartridges from his possession, Yadav said.

The arrested accused is undergoing treatment at a community health centre in Ghatampur, he added. PTI COR NAV RUK RUK

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First Published: October 27, 2025, 00:14 IST

News agency-feeds Man accused of raping 5-year-old held after encounter in UPs Kanpur

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Man held in Navi Mumbai for sexually assaulting minor girl

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

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Thane, Oct 26 (PTI) A 54-year-old man was arrested in Navi Mumbai for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl, a police official said on Sunday.

The Taloja police station official identified the accused as Vilasrao Patil of Panvel.

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He was held on Friday under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused took the girl to a dark corner of a parking lot on October 23 and exposed himself," the official said. PTI COR BNM

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:14 IST

News agency-feeds Man held in Navi Mumbai for sexually assaulting minor girl

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Pakistan security forces kill 25 terrorists in northwestern KPK province

Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 01:29 IST

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Peshawar, Oct 26 (PTI) Pakistan security forces gunned down 25 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, while preventing two major infiltration attempts from neighbouring Afghanistan in Pakistans Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the militarys media wing said on Sunday. Five security personnel were also killed in clashes with the terrorists, the media wing said in a statement.

The security forces seized a large cache of weapons and explosives in both operations conducted in North Waziristan and Kurram districts on Friday night.

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Security forces detected movements of two large groups of terrorists attempting to infiltrate Pakistan from Afghanistan near Ghaki in Kurram District and Spinwam in North Waziristan District.

The statement said that the troops effectively engaged these groups" of terrorists, killing fifteen khwarij, including four suicide bombers belonging to Fitna al Khwarij." The Pakistan government last year notified the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al-Khawarij", a reference to a group in earlier Islamic history which was involved in violence.

It added that another ten infiltrating terrorists were killed in Ghaki, Kurram District, on the same day, and a large cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives was recovered from the slain militants.

It is significant to point out that these infiltration attempts by Fitna al Khwarij are being carried out at a time when delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan are engaged in talks in Turkiye," the statement said.

Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any remaining terrorists in the area, it said.

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Pakistan has seen a surge in terrorist attacks, particularly in KP and Balochistan, mostly targeting police, law enforcement personnel, and security forces. The spike followed the banned TTPs breach of a ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022.

Last week, security forces neutralised 34 terrorists during multiple operations across KPK. PTI AYZ RD RD

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First Published: October 27, 2025, 01:29 IST

News agency-feeds Pakistan security forces kill 25 terrorists in northwestern KPK province

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This is not new: Ex-diplomat Yash Sinha on Pakistans air raids on Balochistan

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:14 IST

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New Delhi [India], October 26 (ANI): Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha on Sunday said that Pakistans reported air raids in Balochistan are not new", recalling that similar actions have taken place in the past, including during the tenure of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.Speaking to ANI on Pakistans recent air raids in Balochistans Khuzdar district, Sinha said, Even Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did that. This is not new. In the 70s, Bhutto used the Pakistani Air Force to strafe Balochistan. They have done this in the past, and they will do it again."He said Pakistans leadership has historically resorted to using force to suppress the people of Balochistan and will try at any cost to retain" control over the region.Sinha also criticised Pakistan for repeatedly blaming India for unrest in Balochistan.They will try at any cost to retain Balochistan, and they will find scapegoats, like India, which is a scapegoat," the former diplomat said.Sinha further rejected Islamabads accusations of Indian involvement, pointing out the geographical and ideological absurdity.We dont even have a contiguous border with Balochistan, but they accuse us of being responsible for supporting Balochistan and the Taliban. How absurd can that be, because what India stands for and what the Taliban stands for are antitheses completely," he added.The diplomats remarks come weeks after reports of alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Balochistan, where shelling and bombardments orchestrated by Pakistan Army drones and helicopters took place in the Moola Pass area of Bel Chari on October 5, leading to at least five immediate fatalities and numerous injuries, according to The Balochistan Post (TBP).Earlier, on October 1, an alleged drone strike by the Pakistan army near Trassani, Zehri, resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including two women, and left five others injured, among whom was a four-year-old child. Communication lines remain disrupted, complicating efforts to verify the extent of the operation or the total number of casualties, TBP reported.Balochistan is a region rich in natural resources, yet its people have consistently faced a lack of basic services. There are no hospitals available in Balochistan, and even where they do exist, medical facilities and equipment are grossly inadequate. The situation is similarly dire in education, transportation, water supply, agriculture, and nearly every aspect of life.Residents of Zehri tehsil in Khuzdar district have accused the Pakistani military of carrying out indiscriminate air and drone strikes that have killed civilians, including women and children, amid a siege that has continued for over a month.The strikes have devastated several villages, leaving families trapped without food, water, or medical aid under an indefinite curfew, as reported by The Balochistan Post.The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) reported that the siege began in early September after clashes between Baloch fighters and government forces. In response, the military launched widespread raids, blocked roads, and severed communications, isolating entire communities.HRCB stated that these retaliatory" strikes have disproportionately affected civilians.It documented multiple attacks: a September 15 airstrike that killed three villagers, a September 17 drone attack that killed four people, including two women and an October 1 strike near cotton fields that claimed four more lives. (ANI)

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First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:14 IST

News agency-feeds This is not new: Ex-diplomat Yash Sinha on Pakistans air raids on Balochistan

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Capricorn Horoscope Today, October 26, 2025

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 06:55 IST

Capricorn Daily Horoscope, October 26, 2025: Moderate gains, family issues, and business adjustments. Patience and smart planning will bring gradual success.

Capricorn Horoscope Today: Astrological predictions by Chirag Daruwalla for makara rashi on October 26 2025. (AI generated image)

Capricorn Daily Horoscope Today, October 26 2025: Ganesha says that the first half of the day will bring you slightly less profit than you expected, but you will still strive to do your work better. You will have to work harder to earn money, but you will see results before noon. Getting involved in government matters can waste money and time, so its best to postpone them for today.

The afternoon will be a stressful time. Theres a possibility of disputes within the family regarding movable and immovable property. To avoid any serious situation, remain a silent spectator. Doing so may result in a favorable outcome. You will receive support from your daughters.

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Positive- Ganesha says your cooperation will be positive in solving any problem of the child. You will also dominate the social activities of the neighborhood. If any property-related proceedings are going on, then work on them seriously. Negative- It is better to postpone any kind of travel today. Because there is a greater possibility of loss than profit in it. Do not let laziness dominate you; some of your work may also stop due to this. Business- Business activities will be slow due to circumstances. At this time, there is also a need to bring changes to the internal system in the business. It will be appropriate to seek the cooperation of your employees in this. Do not invest too much in any business activity. Finance- Today is going to be an average day from the financial point of view. You will get a chance to earn good money in an investment today. You will look for new options in the workplace to improve your financial condition. Today, you may also get a chance to help someone financially. You can consider new plans to take your business forward. You will also get a chance to spend money on financial comforts today. You may feel like shopping today to increase your material happiness. But due to an increase in expenses, your pocket may become loose. So be careful and keep your expenses under control from time to time. Some unwanted situations may suddenly arise in front of employed people. In some cases, you may be upset due to not getting help from the officers. There are chances of a significant change in daily routine. Keep working honestly. If you have patience and peace, everything will become normal. Love- There may be some bickering between husband and wife regarding some arrangement of the house. It will be better if you resolve the misunderstanding through harmony. Health- Get regular blood pressure and diabetes related tests done. Do not be careless about treatment.

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Lucky Colour- Dark Green

Lucky Number- 1

(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 26, 2025, 06:55 IST

News astrology Capricorn Horoscope Today, October 26, 2025

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Virgo Horoscope Today, October 26, 2025

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 06:35 IST

Virgo Daily Horoscope, October 26, 2025: Mixed results. Health is good, work yields steady income, patience is key, and careful financial planning brings gains.

Virgo Horoscope today: Astrological predictions by Chirag Daruwalla for kanya rashi on October 26 2025. (AI generated image)

Virgo Daily Horoscope Today, October 26 2025: Ganesha says that today will be a day of mixed results. Youll be physically healthy, but untimely anger may cause your blood pressure to spike. Prioritize responsible tasks. After some obstacles at work, you will earn a steady income. Avoid unnecessary arguments with coworkers, which could lead to work delays.

Only seek advice before investing in risky ventures. Investing in the right place will bring future benefits. There will be a lack of harmony in the family environment. Disagreements with elders or women in the family may lead to discord.

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Positive- Ganesha says implementing a new plan will prove to be beneficial. Some more new ideas will come to mind. At this time, you will feel auspicious energy inside you, and there will be a lot of emotionality in your thoughts. Sweetness will also increase in the mutual relationship between siblings. Negative- Make adverse circumstances favorable to you with patience and calmness. Anger and passion can worsen the circumstances. If any land-related activity is going on, some misunderstandings may arise regarding paper-related proceedings. Business- Planetary position is favorable. There are chances of favorable conditions in foreign-related business. You will get success in work like commission, insurance. There will be proper cooperation among employees and staff in the office. Finance- Today can be an average day from the financial point of view. Your income today will be good, and you will get good profits. You will make gradual progress in your business, and new and profitable opportunities may come to you. You have to pay attention to your expenses to handle the financial situation. You should take time to understand and promote your investments today. You have to manage your budget to achieve your financial goals. You have to clear your thinking to invest your money in the right way. You have to take your partner along to fulfill your financial goals. Your horoscope today will help you achieve your financial goals. This is the best time for you to start new projects in your business. There are chances of your luck shining in the job as well. You will be full of enthusiasm, energy, and excitement as compared to before. There are signs of good results for students engaged in competitive examinations. You can take a loan to fulfill the comforts of yourself and your family. A family member, especially parents or siblings, will have to take care of their health. Love- Guidance of senior people in the family will maintain proper arrangements. Meeting with friends will be spent happily. Health- Stress can affect your sleep, and due to this, you will also feel mental fatigue.

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Lucky Colour- Sky Blue

Lucky Number- 9

(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 26, 2025, 06:35 IST

News astrology Virgo Horoscope Today, October 26, 2025

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Centre Clears Confusion On Rs 25 Lakh Gratuity Cap, Says It Wont Apply To These Employees

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 10:59 IST

The Rs 25 lakh gratuity cap applies only to central government civil servants, not to PSU, bank, or RBI employees, officials clarified.

Centre clears confusion on gratuity cap.

The central government has issued a key clarification on gratuity payments. In a recent order, the Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) stated that the revised gratuity ceiling of Rs 25 lakh will apply only to central government civil servants covered under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, or the Central Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021, according to Financial Express report.

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This means the enhanced limit will not apply to employees of public sector undertakings (PSUs), banks, port trusts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), autonomous bodies, universities, state governments, or societies.

The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoPPW) is the central government body responsible for formulating policies and providing guidance on matters related to pensions, retirement benefits, and other welfare measures for central government employees.

It oversees the implementation of pension rules, gratuity payments, and related schemes, ensuring that retirees and serving civil servants receive their entitlements accurately and on time. The department also issues clarifications, updates, and notifications regarding changes in pension laws, rules, and benefits.

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The government had decided to raise the gratuity limit in May. The retirement and death gratuity limit has been increased by 25 per cent. This raises the limit from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. The new gratuity limit became effective from January 1, 2024.

An Office Memorandum dated May 30, 2024, announced this decision. This follows the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. The maximum limit for retirement and death gratuity under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 2021, or the Central Civil Services (Payment of Gratuity under National Pension System) Rules, 2021, is now Rs 25 lakh. The decision was originally made on April 30, but it was stayed by a circular on May 7.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 10:00 IST

News business Centre Clears Confusion On Rs 25 Lakh Gratuity Cap, Says It Wont Apply To These Employees

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Mutual Funds Reopen Silver ETF FoFs Amid Price Correction, High Demand

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:31 IST

Kotak Mutual Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, and Axis Mutual Fund reopened Silver ETF Fund of Funds after price correction.

The resumption in silver ETFs came amid the correction in prices over the past few days.

Several mutual fund companies have reopened their Silver Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Fund of Funds (FoF) schemes for new investments, after imposing temporary restrictions earlier this month.

Kotak Mutual Fund resumed subscriptions to its Kotak Silver ETF Fund of Fund from October 23, allowing investors to invest via lump-sum, switch-ins, or start new SIPs and STPs.

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Likewise, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund reopened its Aditya Birla Sun Life Silver ETF Fund of Fund from October 23, permitting fresh investments through lump-sum, switch-ins, SIPs, and STPs. Axis Mutual Fund had resumed subscriptions to its Axis Silver Fund of Fund slightly earlier, from October 20.

The resumption in silver ETFs came amid the correction in prices over the past few days. Silver ETFs corrected over 18 per cent last week, marking a steep fall after the record rally.

At the International spot market, silver was trading at $48.6 per ounce with a fall of 0.72 per cent around 1:30 PM on October 26.

Silver prices were rising due to a combination of strong demand and limited supply. The gold-silver ratio currently stands at 83:1, well above its historical average of 60:1, making silver relatively cheaper than gold and attractive for investors. Institutional and retail interest was also driving prices up, with global silver ETP holdings reaching record highs of over US$40 billion in June 2025 and Indian retail demand growing 7% year-on-year.

On the supply side, silver has faced a structural deficit for five consecutive years, with a projected 21% shortfall in 2025. Above-ground inventories have fallen sharply from 22 months of supply in 2020 to just 13 months in 2023, and known reserves could be depleted by 2050 if current consumption continues. This imbalance of high demand and constrained supply was putting upward pressure on silver prices, noted Kotak Mutual Fund in its report.

Aksha Kamboj, Vice President, India Bullion & Jewellers Association (IBJA) and Executive Chairperson, Aspect Global Ventures silver has continued its downswing after consecutive price drops, with domestic prices trading around Rs 1,47,033 per kg. The decline is mainly due to profit-taking and weaker industrial demand. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Long-term factors, like supply constraints and industrial use, remain strong, but at the moment, the market is looking at consolidation rather than growth. Silver is better at this point as a strategic buffer than a short-term momentum trade," Kamboj added.

About the Author Varun Yadav Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the I... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 13:31 IST

News business savings-and-investments Mutual Funds Reopen Silver ETF FoFs Amid Price Correction, High Demand

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. has taken its biggest step yet into crypto finance, announcing plans to let institutional clients use Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) as collateral for loans by the end of the year.

The move drew an immediate response from one of Bitcoins most vocal advocates.

MicroStrategy (MSTR) co-founder and Bitcoin evangelist Michael Saylor, whose business intelligence firm holds over 640,418 BTC on its balance sheet, used the opportunity to take a jab at the banks change of heart.

Posting on X, Saylor wrote, Dont wait until your banker tells you to buy Bitcoin.

The remark was widely read as a thinly veiled jab at JPMorgans about-face, given CEO Jamie Dimons long history of dismissing Bitcoin.

A symbolic shift for Wall Street

The pivot is particularly striking since CEO Jamie Dimon has shown hostility toward crypto in the past. Dimon once called Bitcoin a fraud and said he would fire any employee trading it.

Yet now, under easing U.S. regulations and surging institutional demand, JPMorgan is formalizing Bitcoins role in mainstream finance.

Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., during a Bloomberg Television on the sidelines of the JPMorgan Tech Stars Conference 2025 in London, UK.

While Dimon later backtracked on his earlier remarks, saying in a Fox Business interview that he regrets calling Bitcoin a fraud and acknowledging that the blockchain is real, the crypto community has never quite forgotten his skepticism.

Many investors see JPMorgans latest policy as a full-circle moment - the same institution that once dismissed Bitcoin traders as stupid is now accepting the asset as collateral.

Saylors counterpoint: 'Be your own bank'

Saylors post wasnt just mockery. It carried a broader message. The billionaire has long argued that Bitcoins true power lies in self-custody, not in its validation by legacy banks.

By reminding investors not to wait for bankers, he reinforced the Bitcoin ethos of financial independence.

Related: What is Crypto? Cryptocurrency explained

In an interview in 2021, Saylor summed up his long-term conviction, saying, Bitcoin is digital property and will eventually be adopted as a store of value in every nation that allows private ownership.

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Aurangabad Railway Station Renamed As Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Station

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 12:02 IST

Aurangabad railway station in Maharashtra has been officially renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar railway station to honour Maratha heritage and Chhatrapati Sambhaji.

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The station comes under the Nanded Division of the SCR. (Image: X/@consciousman0)

Nearly three years after Aurangabad city in Maharashtra was renamed, the South Central Railway (SCR) on Saturday announced that the Aurangabad railway station has officially been renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar railway station.

The new station code will be CPSN, according to an official release. The station comes under the Nanded Division of the SCR.

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The competent authority has approved the change in the name of Aurangabad" Railway station of Nanded Division over South Central Railway as CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR" Railway station with the Railway Code for Station as CPSN," the SCR said in a press release.

Accordingly the Aurangabad" Railway station shall henceforth be called CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR" Railway station and station code will be CPSN," the press release further stated.

The renaming follows a gazette notification issued by the BJP-led Mahayuti government on October 15, approving the change. This development aligns with the earlier decision of the erstwhile Eknath Shinde-led state government to rename Aurangabad city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in honor of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the second ruler of the Maratha Empire.

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Originally named after Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, the city received its new name to reflect Maratha heritage and pride.

Opened in 1900 during the reign of the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the station now serves as a gateway to the historic city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar  a popular tourist destination surrounded by many historical monuments, including the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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 : Aurangabad, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 12:02 IST

News cities Aurangabad Railway Station Renamed As Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Station

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Mother Of Four Found Dead With Body Wrapped In Bedsheet Inside Auto In Bengaluru

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 07:52 IST

Salma was found dead in an autorickshaw in Bengalurus Tilaknagar. Police suspect murder and have gathered leads to identify the killer.

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Police suspect Salma was killed by someone she knew. (Representative image)

A 35-year-old woman was found dead inside an autorickshaw in Bengalurus Tilaknagar area on Saturday, prompting a police investigation.

The deceased, identified as Salma, was discovered around 4 pm by locals who noticed the parked vehicle on a busy stretch of the main road and alerted authorities, police said.

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As per preliminary findings, Salma, a mother of four who recently lost her husband, is believed to have been killed by someone she knew. Investigators suspect she sustained a fatal head injury before the assailant wrapped her body in a bedsheet and abandoned it in the stationary autorickshaw.

The body of a woman was found in an auto rickshaw in Tilak Nagar police station limits. The deceased, Salma, was a 35-year-old widow with 4 children and was allegedly murdered," Sarah Fathima, DCP, South East Bengaluru, told news agency ANI.

The DCP stated the accused was known to the deceased. Without offering more details, she added that the motive behind the womans murder was also known.

Police said they have gathered significant leads regarding the suspect and are expecting to nab the killer soon.

Further, Tilaknagar police, along with a forensic team, inspected the scene and collected evidence. The body was later sent to Victoria Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

Meanwhile, a case of murder has been registered at Tilak Nagar police station. Police have launched an investigation into the death. More details are awaited.

In a separate incident, a seven-year-old girl was allegedly murdered by her stepfather at their residence in the city on Friday evening. The incident occurred when the childs mother was away at work, police said on Saturday.

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According to police, on returning home, the woman found her daughter, Siri, dead and suspected her husband, Darshan, who has been absconding since the incident, to be behind the killing, news agency PTI reported.

Based on the womans complaint, a case of murder was registered against Darshan at Kumbalagudu police station, a senior police officer said, adding that preliminary investigation suggested that he allegedly smothered the girl to death.

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 26, 2025, 07:52 IST

News bengaluru-news Mother Of Four Found Dead With Body Wrapped In Bedsheet Inside Auto In Bengaluru

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Andheri-Goregaon Bridge To Solve Mumbai's SV & Link Road Traffic Woes? All Details Here

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 10:58 IST

Goregaon-Andheri Bridge: The 542-metre cable-stayed bridge will span Goregaon Creek and connect the Link Road with Bhagat Singh Nagar (Goregaon) and Oshiwara in Andheri

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The Goregaon-Andheri bridge will serve as a vital connector for commuters between Andheri, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala, and Goregaon. (PTI)

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to soon begin construction work for a Rs 418-crore cable-stayed bridge connecting Goregaon and Andheris Oshiwara across Goregaon Creek, to ease traffic congestion on SV Road and Link Road.

The project, which will provide a new north-south corridor parallel to the existing route, is targeted for completion by October 2028, according to The Indian Express. It will eventually connect to the proposed Mumbai Coastal Road (North).

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Goregaon-Andheri bridge: The route

The 542-metre-long bridge will span Goregaon Creek along a 36.6-metre-wide DP Road, and connect the Link Road with two congested areas  Bhagat Singh Nagar in Goregaon and Oshiwara in Andheri.

The cable-stayed span will cover 238 metres.

The bridge will be 28.55 metres wide, featuring six lanes three carriageways on each side. Apart from the main carriageways, the bridge is proposed to comprise a 0.45 metre median as well as a 1.5 m-wide utility corridor along each carriageway, reported IE.

It will serve as a vital connector for commuters between Andheri, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala, and Goregaon, and provide an additional access route to Bhagat Singh Nagar.

Goregaon-Andheri bridge got approval in 2022: Why the delay?

According to BMC records, the 500-metre cable-stayed bridge over the Oshiwara Creek was approved at the end of 2022.

The bridge project encountered a lengthy approval process. Its path through sensitive environmental areas, including Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) and No Development Zones (NDZ) containing mangroves, marshland, and a creek, necessitated numerous clearances.

Permissions were awaited from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the forest department, and the high court.

The MCZMA granted its approval in May 2023, but with specific conditions. The BMC was required to comply with the CRZ Notification, 2019, and construct the bridge on stilts to lessen its environmental impact on the mangroves.

The authority also warned that the bridges construction should not interfere with local fishermens activities, disrupt the creeks water flow, or lead to the dumping of solid waste in the creek.

In 2024, the BMC sought the High Courts permission adhering to a 2018 High Court order that necessitated judicial permission for building in mangrove and buffer zones. The BMC said that 31 mangroves would need to be cut down, proposing to plant 444 new ones as compensation.

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In May 2025, the court granted its approval, deeming the bridge a matter of public interest.

The BMC said that is equipped with a plan for the slums.

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 26, 2025, 19:17 IST

News mumbai-news Andheri-Goregaon Bridge To Solve Mumbai's SV & Link Road Traffic Woes? All Details Here

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Stray Dog Lands Mumbai Airport Staff In Trouble For 2 Hours: The Great CSMIA Chase In Detail

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 15:57 IST

Mumbai's CSMIA: Multiple teams from the security department, airside operations, and airport operators chased the dog

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Another officer told News18 that the dog had entered from gate number two on the cargo side. (File)

Authorities at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai were thrown into chaos early Sunday morning after a stray dog managed to sneak into the airside area, running amok for nearly two hours.

However, flight operations were not interrupted and the canine was chased away following a strenuous exercise, officials said.

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The incident was reported early morning. Officials aware of the event told News18 that the dog was spotted at the airside close to the perimeter wall around 7:50 am. After this, an alert was sent to departments concerned to contain the situation.

For the next two hours, multiple teams from the security department, airside operations, and airport operators chased the dog, which was also spotted close to the runway, at least twice, when the runway was in operation.

It was only around 9:40 am that the dog was finally chased out of the perimeter wall of the airport.

An official from the airport, however, denied the dog reaching close to the runway but confirmed the incident.

The official told News18 that if the dog had come onto the runway it would require an SoP to be enacted that requires brief shutting down of runway operations. This was not called for which implies that the dog must have not come over the runway," the officer said, accepting, Yes, the dog had entered the airside and was chased out successfully."

Another officer told News18 that the dog had entered from gate number two on the cargo side.

This gate is close to a garbage dumping site which attracts canines and other strays. This site close to the airport needs to be done away with as it makes such intrusions a recurring concern," the official said.

The Mumbai airport, however, is not the only one where the issue with stray dogs has been raised.

Recently, there were multiple reports from Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport of stray dogs swarming terminal areas to food courts.

In a recent social media post, BJP leader Vijay Goel also highlighted the issue urging authorities to act. Goel wrote on Facebook, there are dogs everywhere near T3 of Delhi airportthey bark at travellersloiter around food stalls near the metro station gates and around escalatorssuch a sight at busiest airports is worrying," he wrote in Hindi.

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The countrys apex court is also scheduled to hear a suo motu case relating to stray dogs on Monday after it had expanded the scope of the stray dogs case beyond the confines of Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and directed that all states and Union Territories be made parties in the matter on August 22.

In this order, the Supreme Court had modified its earlier direction prohibiting the release of vaccinated stray dogs from pounds in Delhi-NCR, calling it too harsh" and ordered the canines to be released post sterilisation and de-worming.

About the Author Anvit Srivastava Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited jou... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 15:57 IST

News mumbai-news Stray Dog Lands Mumbai Airport Staff In Trouble For 2 Hours: The Great CSMIA Chase In Detail

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Acid Attack On 21-Year-Old Woman Near Delhi College, Police Launch Manhunt

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Shobhit Gupta



Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:31 IST

A 21-year-old woman suffered burn injuries in an acid attack near Lakshmibai College, Delhi.

Acid attack. (Representational)

In a shocking incident, a 21-year-old woman suffered burn injuries on her hands in an acid attack near Lakshmibai College in northwest Delhi on Sunday, police said.

According to police, a call was received from Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital regarding the admission of the victim, a resident of Mukundpur. The woman, a second-year non-college student, told police she had gone to Lakshmibai College for an extra class when the incident took place around 10 am.

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She told the police that one of the accused, Jitender, a resident of Mukundpur, arrived on a two-wheeler along with two friends, Ishan and Arman.

As per the victim, Ishan allegedly handed a bottle to Arman, who threw a flammable substance at her. She managed to shield her face but sustained burns on her hand.

The trio fled the spot immediately after the attack.

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As per preliminary information, Jitender had been stalking the victim for some time, and the two had an argument about a month ago.

The crime team and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials inspected the scene of the crime. Based on the victims statement and medical examination, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said efforts are on to trace and arrest the accused. Raids are also being carried out at several locations to locate him.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 19:49 IST

News new-delhi-news Acid Attack On 21-Year-Old Woman Near Delhi College, Police Launch Manhunt

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Delhi Man Smothers Wife While Daughter Slept in Same Room, Tries To Frame It As Suicide

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:34 IST

Dinesh Sharma, a priest, killed his wife Sushma and then told the cops that she had died by suicide. After interrogation, he confessed that he had smothered her with a pillow.

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Representative Image

In a shocking incident from Delhi, a man allegedly smothered his wife to death at their home in Keshav Puram while their daughter was sleeping in the same room, and then called the police and claimed she had died by suicide.

Police said the man, identified as Dinesh Sharma, a priest, killed his wife Sushma and then told the cops that she had died by suicide. The police found the body of the 40-year-old woman on the floor, with the couples 11-year-old daughter in the same room, reported NDTV.

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Police said the child was sleeping at the time of the crime. After interrogation, the man revealed that he had killed his wife by smothering her with a pillow.

The womans family alleged that the primary reason behind the murder was the accused husbands extramarital affair. The police says that the couple had a domestic quarrel over food and that our brother-in-law killed our sister. But the real reason is our brother-in-laws extramarital affair. Our sister had been complaining to the family about it for years," said Sushmas brother, Ashok Kumar.

The accused has been taken into custody and the womans body was sent to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital for a post-mortem. However, the womans family claimed the police were attempting to hush up the matter, saying they were informed of Sushmas death several hours after the incident.

In a separate incident, a 21-year-old woman suffered burn injuries on her hands in an acid attack near Lakshmibai College in northwest Delhi on Sunday. The accused had reportedly been stalking her for some time. The police have launched a manhunt.

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She was intercepted by the accused and two of his associates on a motorcycle. The main accused has been identified as Jitender, a resident of Mukundpur, where the victim also resides. He was accompanied by Ishan and Arman," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said in a statement.

Furthermore, a nine-year-old girl was found dead under suspicious circumstances at her residence in Delhis Shakti Nagar Extension, an official told news agency PTI on Sunday. During inspection, no external injuries were found on the body except for partial ligature marks around the neck.

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 26, 2025, 21:34 IST

News new-delhi-news Delhi Man Smothers Wife While Daughter Slept in Same Room, Tries To Frame It As Suicide

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Tejashwis Big Promises For Bihar: Insurance, Pensions, Pay Hikes, Govt Jobs, Allowances & More

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:36 IST

Bihar elections: Tejashwi Yadav is trying to woo Panchayati Raj representatives, PDS distributors, govt staff, women, Jeevika Didis and elderly with schemes and jobs

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Bihar election: Tejashwi Yadav is the CM face of the Mahagathbandhan. (PTI)

As the battle for Bihar heats up, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has been making several promises to woo voters. The 243-member Bihar assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the results set to be announced on November 14.

The grand Mahagathbandhan alliance on Thursday declared Yadav as the chief ministerial face.

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News18 looks at all promises Yadav has made so far.

1. Panchayati Raj representatives to get double allowances, insurance cover and pension: Yadav on Sunday said allowances of the representatives of Bihars panchayati raj system will be doubled if the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state. He also announced Rs 50 lakh insurance cover and pension for them. The panchayati raj system consists of three levels of governance  zila parishad, panchayat samiti, and gram panchayat. The chairpersons are known as mukhiya (gram panchayat), pramukh (panchayat samiti), and adhyaksha (zila parishad).

2. For PDS distributors, barbers: If the INDIA bloc is voted to power, we will also substantially increase the margin money, per quintal, of distributors of the public distribution system (PDS) in the state," Yadav said. Besides, we will provide Rs 5 lakh interest-free loans to barbers, those engaged in the pottery business, and carpenters in the state," he added.

3. BETI and MAA schemes for education, housing and income support: Yadav announced two new schemes. The BETI Yojana which stands for Benefit, Education, Training, and Income focusing on the education, skills, and livelihood opportunities for girls and the MAA Yojana which represents Makaan (housing), Ann (food), and Aamdani (income), designed to ensure that every family has a home, access to food, and a stable income source.

4. Permanent status for contractual and temporary government workers: Yadav promised that all contractual and temporary employees working in various departments of the Bihar government such as education, health, and administration will be made permanent staff members.

5. Regularisation and pay hike for Jeevika Didis: To woo women voters, Yadav promised to make all Jeevika Didis, who work as community mobilisers under Bihars rural livelihood programme, permanent government employees. Their monthly salary would be raised to Rs 30,000. Yadav said these women will receive interest-free credit for two years, a waiver on the interest of their existing loans, a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000, and an insurance cover worth Rs 5 lakh.

6. Pension of Rs 1,500 per month for elderly, widows, and disabled: Yadav pledged to increase the monthly pension for senior citizens, widows, and people with disabilities to Rs 1,500.

                         ????.  ???????????? ( )             ????????????????????/-   pic.twitter.com/7TdOWONPYV  Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) October 22, 2025

7. Rs 2,500 monthly support for women under the Maai Behan Maan scheme: For women, especially mothers, sisters, and homemakers from poor and lower-middle-class families, Tejashwi Yadav announced a scheme called the Maai Behan Maan Yojana. Under this programme, each eligible woman would receive a direct cash transfer of Rs 2,500 every month.

8. Free electricity up to 200 units per household: Yadav has promised that every household in Bihar will receive 200 units of electricity free of cost every month.

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9. One government job per family: Yadav made the headlines with the promise that every household in Bihar will have at least one member in a government job. He said he would pass a new law called the Special Job Employment Act within 20 days of taking office.

With PTI Inputs

About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 12:38 IST

News elections Tejashwis Big Promises For Bihar: Insurance, Pensions, Pay Hikes, Govt Jobs, Allowances & More

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'A Criminal Family Or Nitish Kumar?': Samrat Choudhary's Bihar Question Drops A Big CM Hint

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:16 IST

Once again attacking the RJD over its "jungle raj" politics, BJP leader Samrat Choudhary said Lalu Prasad Yadav failed to deliver development despite being in power for 15 years

Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said the RJD has simply manipulated the Congress into supporting Tejashwi Yadav's bid for CM. (Image: PTI)

Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary has said it is up to Bihar to decide if it wants a family of criminals" to lead it or a clean and capable" leader like Nitish Kumar at the helm.

Choudharys suggestion that Nitish Kumar will lead the NDA comes amid an attack by the opposition that the ruling alliance will not be going with him as the chief minister if it returns to power in Bihar after the assembly elections.

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On the Mahagathbandhan choosing RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its CM face, Choudhary said the people of Bihar have witnessed what happened in Uttar Pradesh when Mulayam Singh Yadav made his son (Akhilesh Yadav) the leader of the state.

Now, it is up to Bihars people to decide whether they want to hand over power to a criminal family or to a clean and capable leader like Nitish Kumar ji," Choudhary told News18 in an exclusive interview.

Once again attacking the RJD over its jungle raj" politics, he said Lalu Prasad failed to deliver development despite being in power for 15 years.

His tenure was defined by corruption and propaganda rather than progress and good governance," he said.

The BJP leader said RJD has simply manipulated the Congress into supporting Tejashwis bid for CM, while Mukesh Sahani has declared himself as a claimant to the deputy post.

He said there is a strong partnership" between the BJP and JD(U), which is contesting an equal number of seats in the upcoming polls.

The BJP and JDU are working together like twin brothers to strengthen Bihars future; Nitish Kumar has previously formed the government with the BJP twice and became chief minister, even when his party had fewer seats than the BJP. This shows the BJPs commitment to ensuring stability and development in Bihar," he said.

The BJPs election campaign in Bihar has solely focused on drawing a comparison between the RJD regime and the NDA government. Painting Lalu Prasads family as villains", the saffron party has claimed that Nitish Kumar is the hero".

The BJP has highlighted how the RJD plundered Bihar, worsened its economic condition, and destroyed its prosperity". In fact, on Saturday (October 25), at a poll rally in Khagaria, Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged the voters to elect a government committed to development and law and order, warning against the return of jungle raj if the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan comes to power.

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We have worked to free Bihar from Naxalism. This election is the one that will decide whether to bring back jungle raj to Bihar or the rule of development. Do you want jungle raj? If the Lalus Rabri government comes to power, jungle raj will also come with it. If the NDA government is formed, a developed Bihar will be recognised throughout India. Use your vote wisely," Shah said.

The voting for the 243-seat Bihar assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, while the results will be declared on November 14.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 16:48 IST

News elections 'A Criminal Family Or Nitish Kumar?': Samrat Choudhary's Bihar Question Drops A Big CM Hint

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Nitish Kumar Visits Chirag Paswans House For Chhath Ritual In Show Of Unity Amid Bihar Polls

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 20:40 IST

Nitish Kumar visited Chirag Paswan's Patna residence for Kharna prasad during Chhath, signaling NDA unity ahead of Bihar Assembly polls.

The photographs show Kumar with Paswan and his close family members, including mother Reena and brother-in-law Arun Bharti. (X)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday visited Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswans residence in Patna and partook of Kharna prasad as part of Chhath Puja ritual, in a gesture that comes amid new political alignments and speculation over internal equations within Bihars ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Paswan shared photographs of the gathering in a post on X and expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for visiting him.

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Thank you, Honorable Chief Minister, for visiting my residence today and partaking in the Kharna Prasad. Heartfelt gratitude for meeting my family members during this time and extending best wishes for the Chhath Mahaparv," Paswan wrote in his post, accompanied by pictures of the meeting.

   ,                               @NitishKumar pic.twitter.com/hy1EbuqHFK     (@iChiragPaswan) October 26, 2025

The photographs show Kumar with Paswan and his close family members, including mother Reena and brother-in-law Arun Bharti, the LJP(R) MP from Jamui, the Lok Sabha seat the Union Minister had represented twice before shifting base to Hajipur, his fathers pocket borough.

He also dismissed oppositions claims of rift between the JD(U) and his party.

I would especially like to thank CM Nitish Kumar ji, as on the second day of the Chhath festival he came and ate Prasad here. This holds great significance for me. Regarding seat sharing, there were narratives being set by the opposition suggesting that the CM was upset and there was tension between JDU and LJP I want to clarify that this is not true; there has never been any problem between the two parties," Paswan told news agency PTI.

VIDEO | Patna: Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Chhath Festival says: I would especially like to thank CM Nitish Kumar ji, as on the second day of the Chhath festival he came and ate Prasad here. This holds great significance for me. Regarding seat sharing, there were narratives pic.twitter.com/FdT3PooVYV Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2025

This year, the four-day Chhath festival, dedicated to Lord Surya (Sun), is being celebrated from October 25 to October 28. The festival began with Nahay-Khay on Saturday, followed by Kharna on Sunday, continues with Sandhya Arghya on Monday, and concludes with the Usha Arghya and Parana rituals on Tuesday.

The Chief Ministers visit to the LJP chiefs house in the midst of the assembly elections demonstrates the NDAs unity and quells rampant speculation about leadership conflicts within the NDA, following their past friction.

Earlier, Paswan affirmed the coalitions leadership and said, We are going to the elections under the leadership of Nitish Kumar ji, and Nitish Kumar ji, of course, will be the Chief Minister."

In a recent interview, Paswan said that his party is contesting elections for the first time to make Nitish Kumar the Chief Minister. The LJP has never before contested elections in alliance with the JD(U).

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Under the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Bihar assembly polls, the JD(U) and the BJP will contest 101 seats each, while Paswans LJP (R) has been given 29 seats. The smaller allies, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) , will contest six seats each.

The elections to the Bihar Assembly will be conducted in two phases, covering all 243 constituencies in the state. The first phase of polling will take place on November 6 for 121 constituencies, while the second phase on November 11 will cover the remaining 122 constituencies. The counting of votes will be held on November 14.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 20:40 IST

News elections Nitish Kumar Visits Chirag Paswans House For Chhath Ritual In Show Of Unity Amid Bihar Polls

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Why The Western Ghats Are On IUCNs Watchlist And Why You Should Care

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 15:25 IST

The Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas, formed over 150 million years ago and are home to nearly 7400 plant species.

In 2025 climate change is the most prevalent current threat for natural World Heritage in Asia. (Image: UNESCO)

The Western Ghats, a majestic mountain range spanning over 1,600 kilometres along Indias western coast across six statesGujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Keralais a global biodiversity hotspot. Recognised as a UNESCO natural World Heritage Site, this ecological gem is vital for its rich ecosystems and unique species, yet it faces growing threats that demand attention.

However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Western Ghats and two Indian national parksManas Wildlife Sanctuary and Sundarbans National Parkas areas of significant concern" in its World Heritage Outlook 4 report, highlighting urgent conservation challenges.

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Its inclusion on the IUCN watchlist signals serious threats to its survival. Lets understand why the Western Ghats are at risk and why their preservation is important.

What Are the Western Ghats?

The Western Ghats, often called the Great Escarpment of India," are older than the Himalayas, formed over 150 million years ago. This ancient range is a biodiversity hotspot, hosting an estimated 7400 plant species, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, and countless invertebrates, many of which are endemic (found nowhere else on Earth).

According to the Botanical Survey of India, nearly 1500 plant species in the region are unique. The Ghats also serve as the origin for major rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, which sustain millions of livelihoods through agriculture, fishing, and drinking water.

Beyond its ecological role, the Western Ghats influence Indias monsoon patterns, acting as a barrier that intercepts moisture-laden winds, ensuring rainfall for vast swathes of the subcontinent.

The regions forests also sequester carbon, mitigating climate change, and its indigenous communities, such as the Todas and Soligas, rely on its ecosystems for their cultural and economic survival.

Why Are the Western Ghats on IUCNs Watchlist?

The IUCN, a global authority on species and ecosystem conservation, places sites on its watchlist when they face significant threats that could degrade their ecological integrity. The Western Ghats earned this designation due to a combination of human-induced pressures that jeopardise its biodiversity and functionality.

Here are the key reasons, based on reports from organisations like the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):

Deforestation and Habitat Loss: Rapid urbanisation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure projects have led to significant deforestation. A 2023 study by ATREE estimated that the Western Ghats lost approximately 5% of its forest cover between 1985 and 2020. Activities like tea, coffee, and rubber plantations, as well as illegal logging, have fragmented habitats, threatening species like the lion-tailed macaque and the Malabar civet.

Mining and Industrial Activities: Unregulated mining for iron ore, bauxite, and other minerals has scarred the landscape, particularly in states like Goa and Karnataka. The Central Empowered Committee, appointed by Indias Supreme Court, reported in 2022 that illegal mining in the Ghats has polluted rivers and disrupted ecosystems, endangering aquatic species and downstream communities.

Climate Change: Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns are altering the Ghats delicate ecosystems. A 2024 report by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) highlighted that climate change is shifting the distribution of endemic species, with some high-altitude plants and animals moving upward, only to face shrinking habitats.

Extreme weather events, like the 2018 Kerala floods, have also caused landslides, further destabilising the region.

Invasive Species and Pollution: Non-native plants like eucalyptus and lantana have invaded the Ghats, outcompeting native flora. Pollution from industrial effluents and agricultural runoff has degraded water quality in rivers originating from the Ghats, affecting both wildlife and human populations. The Central Pollution Control Board noted in 2023 that several river stretches in the region are critically polluted.

Human-Wildlife Conflict: As human settlements encroach on forest areas, conflicts with wildlife, such as elephants and leopards, have increased. The Wildlife Protection Society of India reported over 200 human-wildlife conflict incidents in the Western Ghats in 2024 alone, often resulting in harm to both animals and people.

The IUCNs watchlist status reflects these cumulative threats, signalling that without urgent action, the Western Ghats could lose its World Heritage status and, more critically, its ability to sustain biodiversity and human livelihoods.

Why Should You Care?

The Western Ghats decline is not just a regional issue; it has far-reaching implications. Heres why everyone, from local communities to global citizens, should care:

Global biodiversity at stake: The Western Ghats are one of only 36 global biodiversity hotspots, as recognised by Conservation International. Losing species heresuch as the critically endangered Nilgiri tahr or the Malabar gliding frogreduces the planets genetic diversity, weakening ecosystems resilience to global challenges like climate change.

Water security for millions: Over 245 million people depend on rivers originating in the Western Ghats. Degradation of these watersheds threatens water availability for drinking, irrigation, and hydropower. For instance, the Kaveri River, vital for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is already under stress due to reduced forest cover, as noted in a 2023 MoEFCC report.

Climate regulation: The Ghats forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing greenhouse gases. Their destruction accelerates climate change, affecting global weather patterns. Protecting these forests aligns with international climate goals, such as those outlined in the Paris Agreement.

Economic and cultural impacts: The region supports industries like tourism, agriculture, and fisheries, which employ millions. For example, the tea estates of Munnar and coffee plantations of Coorg rely on the Ghats climate and soil. Indigenous communities also face cultural erosion if their ancestral lands are degraded, as highlighted by the National Centre for Biological Sciences in 2024.

A global responsibility: As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Western Ghats belong to humanitys shared heritage. Their preservation is a collective responsibility, especially for nations committed to the UNs Sustainable Development Goals, which emphasise biodiversity and ecosystem protection.

What Can Be Done?

The Western Ghats place on the IUCNs watchlist is a wake-up call. This ancient, vibrant ecosystem is under siege from deforestation, mining, climate change, and more. Its preservation is not just about saving a mountain range; it is about securing water, food, and climate stability for millions while protecting a global biodiversity treasure.

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By understanding the threats and supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure the Western Ghats continue to thrive as a lifeline for India and a heritage for the world. Your awareness and actions matter because losing the Western Ghats would be a loss for us all.

Efforts to save the Western Ghats are underway, but they need broader support. The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), led by Madhav Gadgil, recommended in 2011 that large parts of the Ghats be declared ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) to restrict destructive activities. While some areas have been notified as ESAs by the MoEFCC, implementation remains patchy.

About the Author Surbhi Pathak Surbhi Pathak, subeditor, writes on India, world affairs, science, and education. She is currently dabbling with lifestyle content. Follow her on X: @S_Pathak_11.

First Published: October 26, 2025, 15:22 IST

News explainers Why The Western Ghats Are On IUCNs Watchlist And Why You Should Care

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By 2032, the Social Security Administration projects that its OASI Trust Fund will become insolvent.

Social Security reform is inevitable and could take many forms. The SSA could cut benefits, or freeze or slow cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). They could start means-testing recipients to deny or reduce their benefits. Tax attorney and accountant Chad Cummings of Cummings & Cummings Law notes that Congress could raise the retirement age for benefits: Lawmakers in both parties have proposed raising the full retirement age from 67 to 69.

Be Aware: Social Securitys Biggest Lie: Why Full Retirement Age Isnt What You Think

Read More: 10 Cars That Outlast the Average Vehicle

Congress could also attack the problem from the revenue side, raising FICA taxes or eliminating the income ceiling on them. With all of these daunting options on the table, how should workers revise their retirement strategy?

Save a Larger Nest Egg

No one wants to hear it, but you might need more money saved for retirement than you previously thought.

Anyone under 40 should plan for retirement as if Social Security will only be a small supplement, not the foundation, advises financial planner Adam Spiegelman of Spiegelman Wealth Management.

Find Out: Need To Cut Expenses While on Social Security? Heres the First Thing To Get Rid Of

Reduce Structural Costs

Aim to reduce or knock out your largest fixed monthly expenses. That could mean paying off your mortgage before retiring, downsizing to a less expensive home, or paying off all auto loans and other debts.

Financial strategist Linda Jensen of Heart Financial Group puts it succinctly: Entering retirement with fewer fixed expenses gives you breathing room if your benefits change.

Maximize Roth Accounts

Roth accounts let you pay taxes once, then never pay them again on your retirement savings. Your investments compound tax-free, and you pay no taxes on withdrawals in retirement.

That protects you from rising tax rates in the future  which most financial experts see as likely, given the federal governments growing spending, debt, and debt-to-GDP ratio.

Convert traditional IRA funds to Roth while tax brackets remain low, urges Cummings. Lock in todays tax rates, because they will almost certainly rise in the future.

Putting more of your money in Roth accounts could also shield you from means-testing. Roth withdrawals dont count toward your modified adjusted gross income: the likely metric for means-testing and excluding higher earners.

Prepare To Work Later in Life

You cant count on the same Social Security benefits or tax rates by the time you retire. When Social Security reform comes, the new math could require you to work years longer than you planned.
5 Children With Thalassemia Test HIV-Positive After Blood Transfusion At Jharkhand Hospital

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 08:31 IST

Five Thalassemia children in Chaibasa tested HIV-positive after alleged transfusion of contaminated blood. A five-member medical team is probing discrepancies.

5 Children With Thalassemia Test HIV-Positive (Photo: Dr Gopal Solanki/X)

In a shocking case of medical negligence reported from Jharkhands Chaibasa town, five children have tested HIV-positive. These children were Thalassemia pateints. Family of a seven-year-old child alleged that the local blood bank in Chaibasa had transfused HIV-infected blood. A five-member medical team from Ranchi is probing into the matter.

Jharkhand government formed a medical team to determine how the children received contaminated blood.

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As per the officials, around 25 units of blood has been transfused since the child started visiting the blood bank. District Civil Surgeon Dr Sushanto Majhee, however, said the child had tested HIV-positive over a week ago.

He added that HIV infection could also occur due to other factors, including exposure to contaminated needles.

The five-member team, led by Director (Health services) Jharkhand, Dr Dinesh Kumar, inspected the blood bank at Sadar Hospital and the pediatric intensive care unit ward, collecting details from children under treatment.

Dr Kumar mentioned that some discrepancies were found in the blood bank during the investigation and directed the officials to address them.

Initial investigation indicates that contaminated blood was transfused to a thalassemia patient. Some discrepancies were detected in the blood bank during the probe, and the officials concerned have been directed to resolve them," Kumar said.

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Currently, West Singhbhum district has 515 HIV-positive cases and 56 thalassemia patients.

The probe team, headed by Kumar, includes Dr Shipra Das, Dr S S Paswan, Dr Bhagat, District Civil Surgeon Dr Sushanto Majhee, Dr Shivcharan Hansda, and Dr Minu Kumari.

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 : Jharkhand, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 08:11 IST

News india 5 Children With Thalassemia Test HIV-Positive After Blood Transfusion At Jharkhand Hospital

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Actor Vijay To Meet Families Of Karur Stampede Victims At Mamallapuram Tomorrow

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:26 IST

Karur stampede occurred on September 27 during a TVK meeting addressed by Vijay, resulting in 41 deaths.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay addressing a rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur. (PTI)

Actor-politician Vijay is set to meet the families of the victims of the Karur stampede on Monday, a month after the tragic incident, according to a source in his party. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 27 at a resort in Mamallapuram, near Chennai.

Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has reportedly booked 50 rooms at the resort to ensure the actor can meet the bereaved families personally. The initiative aims to provide an opportunity for the families to convey their grievances and receive condolences directly from the party chief.

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A family member in Karur said, They have arranged a bus for us," adding that the media and party members are barred.

Karur stampede

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The Karur stampede occurred on September 27 during a TVK meeting addressed by Vijay, resulting in 41 deaths and leaving over 60 people injured. The tragedy sparked widespread grief and calls for accountability across the state.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the incident. Families and the public are closely following the investigation, seeking clarity on the causes of the stampede and accountability for the loss of lives.

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 : Karur, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 13:26 IST

News india Actor Vijay To Meet Families Of Karur Stampede Victims At Mamallapuram Tomorrow

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Andhra Bus Tragedy: Hyderabad Top Cop Calls Drunk Drivers Terrorists, Vows No Mercy

Curated By :

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 15:03 IST

VC Sajjanar described the incident as a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds.

20 Killed as Bus Catches Fire in Andhra Pradesh

Following the Kurnool bus fire in Andhra Pradesh that claimed 20 lives, Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar declared that drunk drivers are terrorists" and will face the full force of the law.

Posting on X, Sajjanar said, Drunk drivers are terrorists. Their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific Kurnool bus accident was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre caused by the reckless behaviour of an intoxicated biker."

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What do we know about the Kurnool tragedy?

The top police officer described the incident as a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds." CCTV footage revealed that the biker, identified as B Shiva Shankar, refuelled his motorcycle at 2:24 a.m., before losing control at 2:39 a.m. The collision resulted in the devastating bus fire.

Shankar and his pillion rider, Erri Swamy, had been returning from dinner and drinks at a dhaba. Both admitted to being intoxicated. Shankar lost control of his bike, collided with a divider, and died on the spot. The bus then ran over the two-wheeler, dragging it along the road. The fuel tank sparked a fire that claimed the lives of 19 passengers.

Drunk drivers are terrorists. Period.Drunk drivers are terrorists and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific #Kurnool bus accident, which claimed the lives of 20 innocent people, was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable pic.twitter.com/oXTp0uOt2k V.C. Sajjanar, IPS (@SajjanarVC) October 26, 2025

Zero-tolerance for drunk drivers

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Sajjanar stressed Hyderabad polices zero-tolerance stance on driving under the influence. Every single person caught driving drunk will face the full force of law. There will be no leniency, no exceptions, and no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives," he said.

He added, It is time society stops calling drunk driving a mistake. It is a crime that shatters lives and must be punished accordingly. Drunk drivers destroy lives, families, and futures. Such acts will never be tolerated."

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 26, 2025, 15:03 IST

News india Andhra Bus Tragedy: Hyderabad Top Cop Calls Drunk Drivers Terrorists, Vows No Mercy

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Cyclone Montha: IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert For Odisha, Andhra; Landfall Expected On Oct 28

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 09:13 IST

Disaster management teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have been placed on high alert.

Cyclone Montha Approaches Bay of Bengal.

Disaster management teams in Odisha have been put on high alert as Cyclone Montha forms over the Bay of Bengal, with landfall expected near the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the severe cyclonic storm is likely to develop by October 26 and intensify before hitting the coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, on the evening or night of October 28.

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Heavy rainfall and strong winds predicted

The IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning for several states in anticipation of the cyclone. Andhra Pradesh is expected to experience heavy to extremely heavy rainfall from October 27 to 28, particularly in Yanam and Rayalaseema. A yellow alert has been declared for the entire state on October 26.

Odisha is also likely to face heavy to very heavy rain in districts such as Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri between October 28 and 29. Wind speeds could reach 6070 km/h, with gusts up to 80 km/h in some areas. Tamil Nadu is expected to witness light to moderate rainfall at most places, with isolated heavy showers on October 2526 and again on October 28.

Where is the cyclone?

As of 11:30 pm on October 25, the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal had shifted slightly west-northwest, located approximately 850 km east-southeast of Chennai, 890 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, and 890 km southeast of Kakinada. Authorities are closely monitoring the storms trajectory to prepare for potential impact.

Emergency preparedness in Odisha

Disaster management teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu have been placed on high alert. Fishermen have been ordered not to venture into the sea from October 2529 due to extremely rough conditions.

In response to the cyclone warning, Odishas fire department has been placed on high alert. Fire Officer Prabhat Kumar stated that the department is ready with the SRC boat and draft team to respond immediately. Health facilities have been readied, and special efforts are being made to safely shift pregnant women expected to deliver in the coming days.

Authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant, follow official advisories, and avoid unnecessary travel during the period. Early preparation and coordinated disaster management measures aim to minimise damage and ensure public safety as Cyclone Montha approaches the eastern coast.

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Residents in coastal and vulnerable districts are advised to stock essential supplies, secure loose objects, and remain indoors during high winds and heavy rain. Officials continue to coordinate with state and central agencies to ensure timely evacuation and relief if necessary.

The name Montha" was suggested by Thailand, meaning fragrant flower" or beautiful flower".

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 : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 09:13 IST

News india Cyclone Montha: IMD Issues Heavy Rain Alert For Odisha, Andhra; Landfall Expected On Oct 28

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Driver Of Private Bus That Caught Fire In Kurnool And Claimed 20 Lives Arrested

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:02 IST

Miriyala Lakshmaiah, driver of the Bengaluru-bound bus that caught fire in Kurnool killing 20, has been arrested.

20 Killed as Bus Catches Fire in Andhra Pradesh

Kurnool Bus Tragedy: In a significant development, the driver of the ill-fated Bengaluru-bound bus, which caught fire and killed 20 people in Andhra Pradeshs Kurnool, has been arrested.

The driver, identified as Miriyala Lakshmaiah (42), along with the additional driver, was in police custody, and a case was filed regarding the incident on Friday, NDTV reported.

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The police found that Lakshmaiah, who studied only up to Class 5, managed to get a heavy vehicle driving licence with fake Class 10 certificates, the report added.

As per police, Lakshmaiah escaped the blaze by jumping out through the passenger door but failed to grasp the severity of the situation.

Once the fire started (and) the bus came to a halt, through the passenger door he (Lakshmaiah) jumped out. He did not understand the intensity," Kurnool superintendent of police Vikrant Patil told PTI.

After escaping the fire, Lakshmaiah woke up the additional driver, who had been sleeping in the luggage compartment beneath the bus. Realising they could not enter the vehicle, both men used a rod meant for changing tyres to break window panes, helping some passengers flee the burning bus, Patil said.

Police later detained him in Kurnool and held him responsible for the disaster, booking him for negligence and overspeeding under sections 125(a) (endangering human life) and 106(1) (causing death by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act.

Kurnool Bus Tragedy

19 passengers and a motorbike rider were charred to death when the private bus collided with a two-wheeler at Chinnatekuru village in Kurnool district. Out of 44 passengers on board, several managed to escape the flames.

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CCTV footage revealed that the biker, identified as B Shiva Shankar, refuelled his motorcycle at 2:24 a.m., before losing control at 2:39 a.m. The collision resulted in the devastating bus fire.

Shankar and his pillion rider, Erri Swamy, had been returning from dinner and drinks at a dhaba. Both admitted to being intoxicated. Shankar lost control of his bike, collided with a divider, and died on the spot. The bus then ran over the two-wheeler, dragging it along the road. The fuel tank sparked a fire that claimed the lives of 19 passengers.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

Location : Kurnool, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 15:53 IST

News india Driver Of Private Bus That Caught Fire In Kurnool And Claimed 20 Lives Arrested

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EC To Announce First Phase Of Pan-India SIR Covering 10-15 States Today

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Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 07:29 IST

The states likely to be included are Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, along with a few others

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Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. (PTI file photo)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) will hold a press conference on Monday evening to announce the first phase of a pan-India Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, officials said. The revision is expected to cover 10 to 15 states, including those scheduled for Assembly elections in 2026.

The states likely to be included are Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, along with a few others.

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According to sources cited by The Indian Express, the exercise could begin on November 1. Some states where local body elections are ongoing or there are peculiar circumstances" may be excluded for now.

A senior official told PTI that the EC may appoint volunteers to assist booth-level officers (BLOs) during the SIR in West Bengal. These volunteers, primarily government employees, will support polling stations with more than 1,200 voters.

The official added that due to a cap on the number of voters per booth, West Bengal may see an increase of around 14,000 polling booths, taking the total from 80,000 to roughly 94,000.

The Special Intensive Revision is a comprehensive exercise where electoral rolls are prepared afresh, requiring all registered voters to submit new enumeration forms. This differs from the Special Summary Revision (SSR), which is conducted annually or before elections and only updates voter names.

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Due to the computerisation of electoral rolls, an intensive revision has not been carried out in about two decades across India. In Bihar, for example, the last SIR was conducted in 2003.

(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 26, 2025, 18:40 IST

News india EC To Announce First Phase Of Pan-India SIR Covering 10-15 States Today

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She Harassed Me, Sought Sex, Marriage: Arrested Techie On Maharashtra Doctor Who Died By Suicide

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 10:53 IST

The deceased Maharashtra doctor had left a suicide note written on her palm, which directly named PSI Badane and techie Prashant Bankar.

Techie Claims Doctor Harassed Him, Pressed for Marriage and Physical Relationship

In connection with the case of alleged rape and abetment of suicide of a 28-year-old doctor employed at Maharashtras Phaltan Subdistrict Hospital, Satara police have arrested a techie and a police sub-inspector. The doctor reportedly took her life after allegedly pressuring the techie, repeatedly contacting him and insisting he marry her and maintain a physical relationship, according to police.

She had left a suicide note written on her palm, which directly named PSI Badane and techie Prashant Bankar.

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The techies family also denied reports that he was arrested from a Pune farmhouse, clarifying that he surrendered at their Phaltan home. We had asked him to surrender. His social media and call records have been shared with the police. My brother never called the doctor; it was she who contacted him repeatedly," said his brother to TOI.

Deceased doctor lived with accused techies family

The incident reportedly began when the doctor allegedly proposed marriage to the techie, who refused, leading to repeated harassment claims. The techies family insisted that it was the doctor who repeatedly contacted him.

The deceased doctor had been residing with the techies family for the past year, paying a monthly rent of Rs 4,000.

According to the techies younger sister, the doctor treated him during a dengue infection last month, and they exchanged numbers. Around two weeks ago, she allegedly proposed marriage, which he declined.

The techies younger sister said, Last month, my brother came to Phaltan to recover from dengue. The doctor treated him, and they exchanged numbers. About 15 days ago, she proposed marriage, which he declined. During Diwali, she seemed tense, but we thought it was work-related. She was like family to us."

Police confirmed that the arrested techie claimed the doctor had harassed him, insisting he marry her and maintain a physical relationship. A large number of chats and call recordings have been recovered, showing the doctor discussing stress and pressure," said a police officer.

A senior police official added that the sub-inspector, who hails from Beed district like the doctor, surrendered voluntarily. A suicide note found on the doctors palm named both the sub-inspector and the landlords son as responsible for driving her to take the extreme step. Based on the note and digital evidence, an FIR has been registered under Sections 64 (rape) and 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Ongoing probe

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Police confirmed the techie was remanded in four-day police custody until October 28. The investigation continues to verify the authenticity of technical evidence and WhatsApp chats, while probing whether there was any blackmail angle. A woman ended her life, and there may be some truth to her allegations. We are trying to establish everything. It is a challenging case as she had not complained earlier," Doshi said.

Authorities emphasise that the inquiry remains ongoing, with all digital and testimonial evidence under scrutiny.

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 : Satara, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 10:33 IST

News india She Harassed Me, Sought Sex, Marriage: Arrested Techie On Maharashtra Doctor Who Died By Suicide

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Increased Duty Hours, No Seat Recline: Pilots Body Flags Safety Concerns Over Boeing 787 Rules

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 23:57 IST

ALPA urges DGCA to withdraw extended FDTL for Boeing 787, citing safety risks.

The Airline Pilots Association of India (APAI) has raised serious safety concerns with the DGCA regarding the extension of Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL) for Boeing 787 two-man crews. (File)

The Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPA) on Sunday urged the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to withdraw its recent extension of Flight Duty Time Limits (FDTL) for Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft operations, citing serious safety risks.

In a letter addressed to the aviation watchdog, the pilots body said that the decision to extend the already stretched Flight Duty Time Limit (FDTL) for Boeing 787 Dreamliners creates a scenario ripe for fatigue-induced errors".

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For the Boeing 787, two-man flight crew operations, the Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) has been increased to 10:30 hours from 10 hours, and the Flight Duty Period (FDP) to 14 hours from 13 hours.

FDP is the time duration for which a flight crew member is on duty for operating an aircraft and ends when a plane comes to rest at the end of a flight.

The letter to the DGCA also highlighted the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Airworthiness Directive (AD), FAA-2024-0218, which has restricted the seat recline function of the flights captain on the Boeing 787 owing to safety concerns.

In the letter, ALPA further said the whole idea of formulating a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on FDTL was based on extensive research and scientific study on human fatigue and its operational consequences.

The present deviation gives the impression that the DGCA is placing greater consideration on operator convenience and commercials rather than prioritising the core objective of flight safety," it said, adding that the move is a matter of grave operational and safety concern.

According to the pilots body, there is a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directive that restricts reclination of the captains seat recline function on the Boeing 787 due to safety concerns. It said that the inability to recline the seat has reduced the effectiveness of in-flight rest, particularly during long sectors.

Extending duty hours instead of mandating an augmented crew, particularly so soon after a recent fatal accident, raises serious questions about the prioritisation of flight safety over operational costs and convenience," it said.

Apart from seeking withdrawal of the decision, ALPA India has asked the regulator to mandate augmented crew (three-man operations) for all flights exceeding eight hours or operating through the WOCL, until the corrective seat modification is implemented and the FAA AD is superseded.

It also demanded the DGCA to undertake a comprehensive fatigue risk assessment in consultation with flight crew representatives before approving any further deviation from established limits.

It further raised concerns on the DGCA placing greater consideration on the convenience of flight operators and commercial airlines rather than prioritising flight safety.

India witnessed one of its worst aviation tragedies on June 12 after a London-bound Air India plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from Ahmedabads Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. 275 people lost their lives including 120 men, 124 women, and 16 children.

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Operating long routes with restricted rest capability, compounded by adverse weather and night operations, creates a scenario ripe for fatigue-induced errors," the letter said.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 23:57 IST

News india Increased Duty Hours, No Seat Recline: Pilots Body Flags Safety Concerns Over Boeing 787 Rules

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India-China Direct Flights To Resume Today After 5 Years; First Plane To Take-Off At 10 PM

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:55 IST

Direct flights between India and China resume after five years, with Kolkata to Guangzhou launching today and Shanghai to New Delhi starting November 9.

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Direct flights between India and China finally resume from today, after five years. China had earlier said the resumption of direct flights between the two countries is a positive step to boost people-to-people exchanges. The first flight between the two countries is scheduled to take off today at 10 pm.

The IndiGo flight between Kolkata-Guangzhou is scheduled to take off on October 26. Flights from Shanghai to New Delhi will resume from November 9. Meanwhile, IndiGos Delhi to Guangzhou flight will begin from November 10.

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India had announced on October 2 that direct flights to China would resume from October 26. Marking the development, Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy in India, Yu Jing, took to X and posted, Direct flights between China and India are now a reality. Kolkata  Guangzhou launches today. Shanghai  New Delhi starts Nov 9, flying 3 times a week."

Direct flights between China and India are now a reality. Kolkata  Guangzhou launches today. Shanghai  New Delhi starts Nov 9, flying 3 times a week. pic.twitter.com/rxa0ag4jFd  Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) October 26, 2025

The flight services between the two sides were suspended following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. They were not resumed in view of the over-four-year border face-off in eastern Ladakh.

After the ice-breaker meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinas President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Indias Ministry of External Affairs announced the resumption of direct flights.

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In a media briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said that it was the latest progress in implementing the understanding reached between the two countries.

China is willing to work with India to view and handle China-India relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and promote the continued healthy and stable development of bilateral relations," Jiakun said.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

First Published: October 26, 2025, 13:55 IST

News india India-China Direct Flights To Resume Today After 5 Years; First Plane To Take-Off At 10 PM

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Kurnool Bus Tragedy: CCTV Footage Shows Two Bikers Purchasing Alcohol Before Accident

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 16:38 IST

Days after the fatal Kurnool bus fire, CCTV footage surfaced showing the two people on the two-wheeler involved in the collision buying alcohol just hours before the accident.

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Kurnool bus fire: Two bikers were seen purchasing alcohol before the accident.

A devastating bus fire in Andhra Pradeshs Kurnool, following its collision with a two-wheeler, claimed the lives of 20 people. Hours after the tragedy, CCTV footage had surfaced showing the biker, who is suspected to have caused the inferno, was drunk at the time of the accident.

Kurnool police on Saturday identified the biker as Bucchalu Shiva Shankar of B Thandrapadu village in Kurnool, who was killed in the accident. He was driving with a pillion rider, identified as Yerruswamy, who is currently under police custody.

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Now, new CCTV footage has surfaced showing the two bikers purchasing alcohol at a wine shop and consuming it, hours before the accident. The footage showed the duo consuming alcohol before departing on the two-wheeler for their destination.

Police said they left Lakshmipuram village around 2 am after midnight, as Shiva Shankar was taking Yerruswamy to his native place, Tuggali. They also stopped at a petrol pump located near the car showroom on their way.

Earlier, CCTV footage had emerged that showed the biker unable to balance the two-wheeler as he exited the petrol pump, giving the impression that he was intoxicated while driving.

ALSO READ: How A Consignment Of 234 Smartphones Aggravated The Deadly Kurnool Bus Fire

Biker Lost Control Of Two-Wheeler

A short while later, Shiva Shankar lost control of his bike, which skidded and collided with the divider on the right side of the road. Shiva Shankar, who was riding the bike, died on the spot, while Yerruswamy escaped with minor injuries.

Yerruswamy pulled Shiva Shankar away from the middle of the road and checked his breathing, realising he had already died. When he attempted to drag the two-wheeler away from the road, a bus came from behind and hit the bike, dragging it for some distance.

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The ill-fated bus was carrying 44 passengers at the time of the accident. The bus caught fire after the motorbike, with its fuel cap open, was dragged underneath the bus. Several passengers were fast asleep and died without even realising what had happened as the fire quickly spread through the bus. The accident was so grave that most of the victims were charred beyond recognition.

Fearing for his life, Yerruswamy fled the scene and went back to his native place. A case has been registered by the Ulindakonda Police, and further investigation is underway. Meanwhile, the Andhra government announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for the injured.

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 : Kurnool, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 16:21 IST

News india Kurnool Bus Tragedy: CCTV Footage Shows Two Bikers Purchasing Alcohol Before Accident

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Target recently highlighted its ongoing partnership with a group dedicated to Black founders, following a turbulent year marked by backlash, boycotts, and leadership changes.

The retailers renewed spotlight on Black businesses could signal a recalibrationand perhaps an effort to mend relations with communities that once helped define its brand ethos.

Partnership in the spotlight

In an Oct. 20 statement, Target pointed to its tie-up with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), which supports Black small business founders with education, mentorship, and access to retail opportunities. Through RICEs Retail Readiness Academy, Target has helped fund initiatives that train emerging entrepreneurs in retail strategy and business scaling. The company also extended support through HBCU programs under its HBCU, Always seriesan ongoing effort to connect graduates with Targets mentorship network.

The timing is significant, notes journalist Habiba Katsha in a blog post for People of Color in Tech. The announcement arrives just months after the resignation of CEO Brian Cornell, amid falling sales and customer traffic. Cornells leadership had been central to Targets post-2020 DEI expansion, including its $2 billion Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative. Yet in January 2025, the company abruptly moved to end many of those DEI goals, citing a realignment of strategy and a focus on business neutrality.

DEI rollback and retail fallout

Targets rollback of DEI initiatives set off a firestorm. As Fortune reported in early 2025, civil rights activists organized a nationwide boycott in protest of the companys decision to scale back its DEI infrastructure, which had been celebrated in the wake of George Floyds murder. 

The boycott came during Black History Monthsymbolically amplifying the controversyand led to dramatic declines in store traffic. Black business owners whose products were featured in Target stores voiced concern that the boycotts might inadvertently harm their own sales, prompting activists to urge consumers to buy directly from those brands online instead.

Target sales have declined in 2025, and the stock has dropped 61% from its 2021 peak. The company also announced its first major layoffs in a decade and plans to cut 1,800 corporate jobs. While consumer boycotts have played a role, company leadership has also cited competition from Amazon and Walmart as factors in its decline.

Pressure for companies

Targets retreat mirrors a larger pattern across corporate America. Fortune has chronicled the growing pressure on companies to either scale back or quietly rebrand DEI programs amid shifting political and cultural winds. By mid-2025, only a small fraction of Fortune 500 firms continued to publish detailed diversity reports, as others transitioned to euphemistic inclusion or corporate responsibility frameworks.
Not Wasting My Time: Trump Says No Meeting With Putin Without Ukraine Peace Deal

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 09:28 IST

Trump made it clear that future dialogue would depend on Russia showing a genuine willingness to compromise.

US President Donald Trump with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Image: Reuters/File)

US President Donald Trump has cancelled his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he would not waste time" on talks unless there was a genuine possibility of achieving peace in Ukraine. The decision marks a striking turnaround, coming less than a week after Trump had announced plans for an in-person summit in Budapest following what he described as a positive" phone call with Putin.

However, five days later, the White House confirmed that the meeting had been called off. In its place, Trump unveiled new sanctions, the first of his second term, targeting Moscow. Senior US officials told reporters that the move followed a realisation that Putins stance on Ukraine remained largely unchanged since their last meeting at a US air base in Alaska.

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What Trump said on meeting with Putin?

Speaking to reporters, Trump made it clear that future dialogue would depend on Russia showing a genuine willingness to compromise. We have to know that were going to make a deal. Im not going to be wasting my time," he said. While reaffirming that he had a great relationship" with Putin, Trump expressed disappointment over the lack of progress.

I thought this would have gone long before peace in the Middle East," he added, referencing earlier diplomatic efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Putin told me on the phone, Boy, that was amazing, because everybody tried to get that done, and they couldnt. I got it done."

No breakthrough on Russia-Ukraine war

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Trump suggested he had underestimated the depth of mistrust between Russia and Ukraine. If you look at India and Pakistan, I thought those deals were more difficult. But it didnt work out that way. Theres a lot of hatred between the two, between Zelensky and Putin, theres tremendous hatred," he said.

While Moscow condemned the cancellation as unhelpful," US allies in Europe welcomed the tougher line, viewing it as a sign that Washington intends to maintain pressure on the Kremlin.

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 26, 2025, 08:25 IST

News india Not Wasting My Time: Trump Says No Meeting With Putin Without Ukraine Peace Deal

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One Dead After Landslide On National Highway Buries Houses In Kerala's Idukki

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 12:06 IST

The landslide occurred around 10:00 PM on the national highway near Adimali. IMD has issued warnings of "heavy rain to very heavy rain" in Kerala.

A landslide at Koombanpara, Adimali trapped a couple under debris. (Photo: X)

In a devastating landslide that occurred on the national highway near Adimali in Keralas Idukki district, one man lost his life, while his wife sustained injuries. She was rescued and taken to the hospital. The mans body was recovered.

The deceased has been identified as Biju, a resident of Laksham Veedu, Adimali. His wife, Sandhya, was rescued after more than six hours of intense efforts by local residents, police, and rescue personnel. She has been shifted to a private hospital in Kochi for advanced treatment.

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The district administration had moved people from this area two days ago as there was a threat of landslide. The couple had come back to their house to take some documents when the tragedy hit them.

As per the officials, the landslide occurred around 10:00 pm on the national highway near Adimali, bringing down large volumes of earth and debris over local houses.

Massive Landslide In Keralas Idukki | Video

Kerala: A landslide struck the national highway at Koombanpara in Adimali, Idukki district, trapping a couple under a concrete slab. Rescue operations are in the final stage, according to MP Dean Kuriakose. Police, fire force, and locals are assisting, while an NDRF team is on pic.twitter.com/32YXAAi9MX IANS (@ians_india) October 26, 2025

Two houses were completely destroyed, and six others suffered partial damage. A total of 22 families were relocated to safer locations.

The rescue operation, supported by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continued through the night.

IMD Issues Warning For Kerala

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of heavy rain to very heavy rain" in Kerala for the next three days, till October 28.

The Regional Meteorological (Met) Centre Thiruvananthapuram forecast Heavy Rain with Thunderstorm & Lightning, Squall, etc." for today and October 28, followed by very heavy rain" on October 27.

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 : Idukki, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 12:06 IST

News india One Dead After Landslide On National Highway Buries Houses In Kerala's Idukki

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Shivakumar Meets Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Mohandas Pai Amid Bengaluru Potholes Row

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:01 IST

Mohandas Pai commended Shivakumar for what he described as a transformative step in urban governance, the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

After Weeks of Criticism, D.K. Shivakumar Meets Kiran Shaw, Mohandas Pai Over Bengalurus Civic Mess (Photo: X)

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday hosted a dinner meeting in Bengaluru with industry leaders Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and TV Mohandas Pai. The meeting came days after both had publicly criticised the citys crumbling infrastructure.

Former Infosys Chief Financial Officer TV Mohandas Pai has heaped praise on Shivakumar after a meeting with him.

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Pai commended Shivakumar for what he described as a transformative step in urban governance, the creation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), an initiative aimed at revamping the administrative framework of Indias tech capital.

The Deputy Chief Ministers approach to meeting citizens, understanding their issues, and finding solutions reflects true political leadership," Pai wrote on X (formerly Twitter). You have completed the largest urban reform for any Indian city in decades by creating GBA! We look to the future with hope," he added, tagging fellow leaders Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and R.K. Misra among others.

After the meeting Biocon chief Kiran Majumdar Shaw took to X. She said, We had a very constructive meeting with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to agree to an action plan to fix key infra bottlenecks in roads, ORR, PRR drainage traffic n garbage," reads her post.

The GBA, introduced by Shivakumar, seeks to decentralise city management and streamline civic services across the growing Bengaluru metropolitan area. The reform aims to strengthen coordination among various civic agencies, enhance accountability, and accelerate infrastructure projects that have long suffered from bureaucratic delays.

Thank you DCM @DKShivakumar for this wonderful initiative.meeting citizens,understanding their issues,giving succour to them,solving their problems is the tasks of great political leaders. you interactions are bridging the gap between voters and their representatives. You have https://t.co/FiAkwaLefp Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) October 26, 2025

For Bengaluru, a city often criticised for its traffic chaos, crumbling roads, and civic neglect, the new governance model promises a much-needed structural shift.

The meeting between Shivakumar, Pai, and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw came amid rising public concern over Bengalurus deteriorating infrastructure. Both corporate leaders had earlier voiced frustration about poor civic conditions and urged the government to take corrective measures.

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According to officials, the government assured the technocrats that steps are being taken to address key challenges such as potholes, delayed development works, and inefficient coordination among municipal agencies.

This dialogue marks a possible thaw after weeks of tension between the corporate community and the administration. As per reports, business leaders expressed willingness to support the governments initiatives, provided visible improvements are made on the ground.

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 26, 2025, 12:52 IST

News india Shivakumar Meets Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Mohandas Pai Amid Bengaluru Potholes Row

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UP Shocker: Law Student's Stomach Cut Open, Fingers Chopped Off After Heated Argument In Kanpur

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 20:16 IST

The student, identified as Abhijeet Singh Chandel, was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition after a heated argument with a medical shop attendant turned violent.

The law student required 14 stitches to his head after the violent fight. (Representative image)

In a disturbing incident, a 22-year-old law student was admitted to a hospital in critical condition after his stomach was cut open and his fingers chopped off following a heated argument with a medical shop operator in Uttar Pradeshs Kanpur, according to police.

The student, identified as Abhijeet Singh Chandel, is a first-year law student from Kanpur University. He required 14 stitches to his head after he was embroiled in a heated argument with a shop owner over the price of a medicine, NDTV reported.

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The argument escalated into a full-blown fight between the student and the shop attendant, Amar Singh, who called his brother, Vijay, and two others at the scene. The four attacked the law student, after which he fell to the ground with blood trickling down his face.

The attackers overpowered Chandel and hit him in the stomach, then proceeded to cut it open with a sharp object, police said. When the student ran towards his house and shouted for help, the attackers caught him again and chopped off two fingers in one of his hands.

The accused fled the spot after people intervened to save Chandel after hearing his cries. A case was filed and further investigation is underway.

The incident happened days after a six-year-old boy kidnapped from outside his house in Barra locality of Kanpurs Hardev Nagar was found dead on Friday, according to police. The accused, who lived in the same area, was arrested.

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Ayush Sonkar, son of Makhan Sonkar, disappeared around 3 pm on Friday while he was playing outside his home. His family launched a search before alerting the Barra police, who also began searching for the missing child, they said. The police suspect that personal enmity and resentment towards the childs mother may have motivated the crime.

Initial findings point to strangulation as the cause of death. The exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem report," Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Deependra Nath Chowdhary told reporters.

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 : Kanpur Cantonment, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 20:16 IST

News india UP Shocker: Law Student's Stomach Cut Open, Fingers Chopped Off After Heated Argument In Kanpur

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PM Modi Calls For Celebrations To Mark 150 Years Of Vande Mataram: 'Ignites Emotions, Pride'

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 11:50 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on citizens to contribute as India prepares to celebrate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, on November 7.

File photo of PM Narendra Modi (Image: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to actively participate in the celebrations marking 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, on November 7.

Addressing the 127th episode of his radio program Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi recalled that the iconic song was first sung by Rabindranath Tagore in 1896 and emphasized the importance of embracing its spirit in nation-building.

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The Prime Minister urged citizens to actively participate in the various events planned for the occasion and encouraged everyone to contribute to honor the legacy and glory of Vande Mataram.

Further, in a post on X, PM Modi expressed that Vande Mataram evokes immense emotion and a deep sense of pride in the hearts of every Indian. Sharing this message under the hashtag #MannKiBaat, he highlighted the enduring significance of the patriotic song in uniting the nation and inspiring a spirit of devotion and commitment toward the country.

Vande Mataram ignites boundless emotion and pride in every Indians heart. #MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/D2C7AtkPsa PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 26, 2025

Vande Mataram ignites boundless emotion and pride in every Indians heart. #MannKiBaat," he tweeted.

The BJP leader described Indias national song as a timeless expression of patriotism and unity that continues to inspire generations of Indians.

Reflecting on the songs enduring legacy, the Prime Minister stated, Indias national song, VandeMataram. A song whose very first word evokes a surge of emotions in our hearts. VandeMataram  this one word contains so many emotions, so many energies. In simple terms, it makes us experience the maternal affection of MaBharati."

He noted that the chant of Vande Mataram" has the power to unite 140 crore Indians, especially in times of difficulty. If there is a moment of difficulty, the chant of Vande Mataram fills 140 crore Indians with the energy of unity. Patriotism love for Ma Bharati if this is an emotion beyond words, then VandeMataram is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling," he said.

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He also paid tribute to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who composed the song in the 19th century to awaken a sense of national pride in an India weakened by centuries of colonial rule.

It was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay to infuse new life into an India weakened by centuries of servitude. Vande Mataram might have been written in the 19th century, but its spirit is connected to the immortal consciousness of India that is thousands of years old" he added.

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 26, 2025, 11:34 IST

News india PM Modi Calls For Celebrations To Mark 150 Years Of Vande Mataram: 'Ignites Emotions, Pride'

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Dreaming Of Living In Italy? The Golden Visa Can Make It Happen

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 18:14 IST

Indians planning to work and live in Italy should learn about the country's Golden Visa program that allows you to fulfil your dream upon investing in their economy.

Italy's Golden Visa allows Indians to live and work in Italy.

Italy, with its beautiful cities, stunning landscape, delicious cuisine and diverse offerings, is one of the dream destinations for globetrotters around the world. Now, imagine getting the opportunity to work, study and stay there on a long-term basis? Yes, you read it right!

Italy is now offering visitors a Golden Visa or the Investor Visa that allows you to fulfil this dream, provided you are a tourist willing to invest in the countrys economy. Here is what you need to know as an Indian hoping to live in Italy about the Golden Visa.

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Italys Golden Visa

Introduced in 2017, the Golden Visa is an Italian government program that promotes foreign direct investments in the country and boosts its economy. Non-EU nationals, including Indians, who are looking to secure a residence visa can do so by acquiring the Golden Visa and investing in Italys economy. The initial validity period for this visa is two years. It can be renewed for up to three years.

Italy, being a dream country to visit, should make the Golden Visa an enticing option for many wealthy Indians. This visa helps you stay, work and study in the country with an initial two-year residence permit, which can be renewed for longer periods if the investment is maintained or extended. You can travel the entire Schengen Area via the Golden Visa.

Investment Options

The Golden Visa program offers these four investment options for those looking to move to Italy in the near future:

250,000 (approx Rs 2.57 crore) investment in an Italian innovative start-up.

500,000 (approx Rs 5.15 crore) investment in an Italian limited company.

2 million (approx Rs 20.6 crore) investment in Italian government bonds.

1 million (approx Rs 10.3 crore) donation to a philanthropic initiative in Italy.

Along with these investment amounts, Golden Visa holders may be required to pay additional residence permit fees, legal fees and renewal fees depending on the investment option chosen.

Who is Eligible?

The following are the eligibility criteria to acquire Italys Golden Visa to work and live in the beautiful country:

The candidate should be 18 years or older.

They must hold a valid passport.

Be a non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen.

Have sufficient funds to invest.

Have invested within three months of entering Italy.

Provide documentation of your funds.

Have a clean criminal record.

Have comprehensive health insurance coverage.

Documents Required

The documents required to acquire the Golden Visa in Italy fall into three different categories: (a) documents for Nulla Osta (certificate of no impediment) application, (b) documents for Italian Investor Visa application and (c) documents based on the investment option chosen.

Applicants are required to provide all the necessary documents in these respective categories during the procedure, including a valid passport, an updated job CV, consent proof of the investment, bank statements, a signed declaration of commitment to the investment and intended stay in Italy.

How To Apply

Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can apply for Italys Golden Visa.

Step 1: Create a personal account on the Italian investor visa portal.

Step 2: Fill in the online application forms.

Step 3: Upload all required documents.

Step 4: Download and sign the final declaration before submitting it.

Step 5: Wait for the Committees preliminary check and evaluation. It usually takes about 30 days or more.

Step 6: Once approved, download your Nulla Osta (certificate of no impediment).

Step 7: Apply for a 2-year investor visa at the nearest Italian consulate or embassy within the next six months.

Step 8: Enter the two-year visa validity period.

Step 9: Make sure to complete the investment requirement within three months of arrival in Italy.

Step 10: Based on the investor visa, apply for the residency permit within 8 days of your arrival.

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Step 11: At the official portal to validate residency, provide the complete investment proof.

Step 12: You can renew the residency permit every 3 years by maintaining the investment and applying with a new Nulla Osta.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 18:14 IST

News lifestyle travel Dreaming Of Living In Italy? The Golden Visa Can Make It Happen
Dubais Next Icon: A Floating Museum That Redefines Art And Architecture

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:01 IST

Offering panoramic views of the Dubai Creek, the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA) is set to become a living, breathing dialogue between art, architecture, and the citys soul.

The Dubai Museum of Art has been designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Dubais architectural landscape is never short of spectacle, but its newest project, the Dubai Museum of Art (DUMA), might just outshine them all. Floating gracefully above the waters of Dubai Creek, this upcoming landmark will be more than a museum; its poised to become a living, breathing dialogue between art, architecture, and the citys soul.

With a design that mirrors both Dubais futuristic spirit and its rich heritage, DUMA is set to redefine what a cultural space can look and feel like  where modern creativity and history flow seamlessly together.

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Unveiled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the project is described as a museum that floats above Dubai Creek to reflect the citys culture, civilisational spirit, and artistic brilliance." He added that DUMA will add a new dimension to Dubais landmarks and architectural beauty," while also commending Abdullah Al Futtaim and his son Omar for their role in turning this artistic vision into reality  calling it a model of private sector responsibility towards its community."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (@hhshkmohd)

The museums design is the brainchild of Japanese architect Tadao Ando, whose minimalist yet monumental style has shaped some of the worlds most revered art spaces. For DUMA, Ando draws inspiration from Dubais elemental landscape: the movement of water, the expanse of sky, and the interplay of wind and light.

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Its curving structure resembles a shell cradling a pearl, a poetic tribute to the citys pearl diving roots and its evolution from a humble coastal village to a global hub of design and creativity. Inside, the museum will house five expansive floors of contemporary and classical art, bringing together international and regional artists. Visitors can also expect a library, learning centre, cafe, and panoramic terraces offering breathtaking views of Dubai Creek.

Positioned to join icons like the Museum of the Future, Burj Khalifa, and Mohammed bin Rashid Library, DUMA aims to be a global hub where the world gathers for art and culture." Beyond being an architectural marvel, it signals Dubais continued investment in creative dialogue, cross-cultural exchange, and the democratisation of art in the region. Once completed, the floating museum will not just reflect Dubais skyline; it will redefine it.

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:01 IST

News lifestyle travel Dubais Next Icon: A Floating Museum That Redefines Art And Architecture
Laughter Chefs Season 3 Shoot Begins; Sandhya Mridul Reveals Not Getting Work Due To THIS Reason

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:57 IST

Tejasswi Prakash, Vivian Dsena, and others join Laughter Chefs season 3. In other news, Sandhya Mridul revealed she is not getting work due to fewer social media followers.

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Laughter Chefs Season 3 Shoot Begins; Sandhya Mridul Reveals Not Getting Work Due To THIS Reason

After two successful seasons, Laughter Chefs will return with a fresh season soon. While the premiere date of the show is yet to be announced, today the cast has begun shooting. First, Kashmera Shah took to her Instagram and shared pictures from her dressing room as she announced the commencement of the shoot, and now videos from the cast on the shows set have made their way to social media.

For More: Laughter Chefs Season 3 Shoot Begins: From Tejasswi Prakash To Vivian Dsena, THESE Actors Join The Show

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Sandhya Mridul shared a candid reel on Instagram, expressing her frustration over not getting work due to fewer social media followers. She also pointed out the vicious cycle many actors face, as they need followers to get roles, but also need roles to get famous and gain followers. Sandhya Mridul took to Instagram to share a video expressing her frustration over not getting work due to her low social media following. In the video, she pointed out the catch-22 situation and said, Theres a new situation that if you dont have followers, you would not get work. But if you dont give me work, how will I get famous? If I were not famous, how would I get followers? If I did not have followers, how would I get famous, and then how would I get work? You are understanding, right?"

For More: Sandhya Mridul Reveals Not Getting Work Due To Fewer Social Media Followers: Kindly Help | Video

Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have finally put rumours to rest by confirming their relationship. The duo made their first public appearance as a couple in Paris, no less, and on Katys 41st birthday. According to TMZ, Katy and Justin were spotted enjoying a night out at the iconic Crazy Horse Paris cabaret. When they stepped out of the venue, the couple couldnt stop smiling as they walked hand-in-hand, much to the delight of fans and paparazzi waiting outside.

For More: Katy Perry And Justin Trudeau Make It Official, Step Out Hand-In-Hand for First Public Appearance

Satish Shahs demise has left the entire industry in a state of shock, and more than anyone else, it has been really tough for the cast of his cult show Sarabhai vs Sarabhai to deal with the loss of the actor. Today, Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, and Rajesh Kumar, was seen at the funeral of the late actor. Now, videos of them breaking down are being circulated on social media.

For More: Rajesh Kumar And Rupali Ganguly Break Down, Cry Inconsolably At Satish Shahs Funeral | Video

In an emotional moment, Satish Shahs Sarabhai vs Sarabhai co-stars Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, Rajesh Kumar, Deven Bhojani, producer JD Majethia, writer Aatish Kapadia sang the iconic title track of the show as they bid farewell to the late actor. Now, director-actor Deven Bhojani has reacted to it, stating that while it may have looked mad and dark, the team would always sing this song whenever they gathered. He further wrote that they could feel Satish Shahs presence, and it felt as if his beloved character, Indravadan himself had joined them in the tribute.

For More: May Look Mad, Dark, Weird: Deven Bhojani Reacts To Sarabhai Team Singing At Satish Shahs Funeral

First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:57 IST

News movies bollywood Laughter Chefs Season 3 Shoot Begins; Sandhya Mridul Reveals Not Getting Work Due To THIS Reason
May Look Mad, Dark, Weird: Deven Bhojani Reacts To Sarabhai Team Singing At Satish Shahs Funeral

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:36 IST

Deven Bhojani reacted to an emotional moment at Satish Shahs funeral when Sarabhai vs Sarabhai team sang the shows song. He said it felt as if Indravadan himself had joined them.

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Deven Bhojani Reacts To Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Cast Singing At Satish Shahs Funeral

Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai actor Satish Shahs funeral took place in Mumbai today, and was attended by the entire team of the show. In an emotional moment, Satish Shahs Sarabhai vs Sarabhai co-stars Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, Rajesh Kumar, Deven Bhojani, producer JD Majethia, writer Aatish Kapadia sang the iconic title track of the show as they bid farewell to the late actor. The video of the cast singing the shows title song as a tribute to Satish Shah left fans extremely emotional. Now, director-actor Deven Bhojani has reacted to it, stating that while it may have looked mad and dark, the team would always sing this song whenever they gathered. He further wrote that they could feel Satish Shahs presence, and it felt as if his beloved character, Indravadan himself had joined them in the tribute.

Deven Bhojani Reacts To Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai Cast Singing At Satish Shahs Funeral

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Deven Bhojani shared a video on social media showing him, Rupali Ganguly, JD Majethia, Aatish Kapadia, Sumeet Raghavan, and Rajesh Kumar in tears as they sang the Sarabhai vs Sarabhai title song at Satish Shahs funeral. Deven Bhojani, who directed the sitcom, reacted to the emotional moment and wrote, May look mad, dark, weird whatever .. but we always sing this when were together & today was not an exception. Felt as if INDU himself insisted and joined us. #SatishShah ji I am blessed to have directed you in #sarabhaivssarabhai Youll live forever in our hearts."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deven Bhojani (@devenbhojani.official)

After he shared the post, one netizen wrote, No doesnt look mad or weird at all. Friends have their own ways amongst themselves such a beautiful heartfelt goodbye to Indravardhan," while another one wrote, The best way to give an artist a final goodbye he would be smiling from heaven." A third comment read, honestly, this is the best way to pay tribute to someones outstanding work i am certain he would be smiling from heaven."

Satish Shahs Death

Satish Shah passed away on October 25 due to kidney failure. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit revealed that his health suddenly deteriorated in the afternoon, and he was rushed to Hinduja Hospital, where he passed away.

Over a career spanning more than forty years, Satish Shah became a household name in Indian cinema and television through his memorable roles. He achieved cult status with his iconic performance in the 1983 film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. He also starred in films such as Shakti, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Main Hoon Na, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Fanaa, Om Shanti Om, and many others. On television, Shahs role as Indravadan Sarabhai in Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is remembered as one of Indian TVs most iconic comic performances.

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:36 IST

News movies television May Look Mad, Dark, Weird: Deven Bhojani Reacts To Sarabhai Team Singing At Satish Shahs Funeral
Samay Raina Apologises To People With Disabilities On His Birthday After Indias Got Latent Controversy

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 14:37 IST

On his birthday, Samay Raina apologized to people with disabilities for his controversial jokes on Indias Got Latent, pledging to create more sensitive and inclusive content.

Samay Raina apologised to people with disabilities.

Samay Raina is one of the most famous and talked-about stand-up comedians in the country currently. While he has been quite popular among the youth for a long time, his show Indias Got Latent and the controversies that followed brought him into the limelight. The comedian faced severe backlash for his below-the-belt jokes after his show went viral. Now, on his birthday, October 26, Samay Raina has taken to his social media to apologise for his joke on people with disabilities.

On his birthday, taking to his social media, Samay Raina shared, Today is my birthday and instead of celebrating just myself, I want to use this daythe most special day of the year for meto apologize to the people with disabilities."

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We, Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar, Balraj Ghai, deeply regret the pain caused due to our show. Going forward, we will be more mindful and do our best to spread awareness about the challenges faced by the community. Your strength inspires us to grow. With respect and gratitude, Samay, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, Nishant Tanwar," he further added.

About Samay Rainas Controversy

During the show, one of the most talked-about remarks was when he joked and referred to a charity drive for a two-month-old baby who needed an injection priced at 16 crore for a rare disease. After this, he not only faced social media backlash but the Supreme Court also criticised five social media influencers, including stand-up comedian Samay Raina, calling their comments on their shows insensitive jokes" and ordered them to apologise to individuals living with disabilities and rare genetic disorders.

Later, in an affidavit, Samay Rainawho hosted the now-defunct Indias Got Latent showsaid he never intended to belittle anyone and was committed to inclusive and sensitive content creation." He pledged to ensure better conduct, content sensitivity, and legal compliance" in the future.

Samay Rainas affidavit came ahead of a Supreme Court hearing in which a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed five social media influencers to issue unconditional public apologies for mocking vulnerable groups. The Supreme Court also asked the Centre to frame guidelines to curb offensive content targeting persons with disabilities, women, children, and senior citizens.

First Published: October 26, 2025, 14:37 IST

News movies television Samay Raina Apologises To People With Disabilities On His Birthday After Indias Got Latent Controversy
Famous Azerbaijani choreographer in Italy, People's Artist of Azerbaijan, and President of the "Azeri" Azerbaijani Cultural Association in Italy, Mais Nuriyev, has passed away, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Diaspora.

Mais Nuriyev, a professor at the "Aida" and "Orizon" Dance Academies in Milan and at the Milan Conservatory, closely collaborated with the committee, playing a significant role in bringing together Azerbaijanis living in Italy and promoting Azerbaijani culture in Europe.

For many years, he brought Azerbaijani folk dances to international stages, presenting our rich cultural heritage, history, and national values with professionalism in Italy and other countries, making significant contributions to cultural diplomacy. Thanks to his tireless teaching efforts, many young choreographers were trained, expanding the reach of our cultural heritage to a broader international audience.

Through his work, the choreographer gained significant recognition among the Italian public and played a key role in strengthening the cultural bridge between the two countries, earning friends for Azerbaijan.

Mais Nuriyev was honored with the title of People's Artist by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and was also awarded the "Heydar Aliyev's 100th Anniversary (1923-2023)" jubilee medal and the "For Service in Diaspora Activities" medal of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
By Xinghui Kok

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said he was confident of hashing out a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he is expected to meet next week, after top economic officials from both countries reached a preliminary consensus in trade talks that concluded on Sunday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.

"I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday," Bessent told reporters.

Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he anticipated the agreement would defer China's expanded export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets and avoid a new 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods threatened by Trump.

He said Trump and Xi would discuss soybean and agricultural purchases from American farmers, more balanced trade and resolving the U.S. fentanyl crisis, which was the basis of 20% U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his first stop in a five-day Asia tour that is expected to culminate in a face-to-face with Xi in South Korea on October 30.

After the talks, he struck a positive tone, saying: "I think were going to have a deal with China".

China's Li said both sides had reached a "preliminary consensus" and will next go through their respective internal approval processes.

"The U.S. position has been tough," Li said. "We have experienced very intense consultations and engaged in constructive exchanges in exploring solutions and arrangements to address these concerns."

Both sides are looking to avert an escalation of their trade war after Trump threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade curbs starting on November 1, in retaliation for China's vastly expanded export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

Beijing and Washington rolled back most of their triple-digit tariffs on each other's goods under a trade truce, which is due to expire on November 10.

The U.S. and Chinese officials said they discussed trade expansion, an extension of the truce, fentanyl, U.S. port entrance fees, rare earths, TikTok and more.

Li described the discussions as "candid", while Bessent said they were "very substantial negotiations".

Bessent said the truce could be extended, pending the president's decision, marking a second extension since it was first signed in May.
Opinion | Lighting Lives, Not Just Lamps: How Swadeshi Revives Bharatiya Livelihoods

Written By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 18:49 IST

Since the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, the PM has promoted reducing dependence on foreign goods and embracing self-reliance via initiatives like 'Make in India'

Recognising that global economic instability could impact Bharat, PM Narendra Modi reiterated his commitment to Swadeshi and atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in his Independence Day address, 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, and various other events. (Image: PTI/File)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been encouraging the citizens of India for the past three to four months to adopt Swadeshi (use of indigenous products) and self-reliance. Since his government came to power in 2014, he has promoted reducing dependence on foreign goods and embracing self-reliance through initiatives like Make in India and Make for the World. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he also emphasised the importance of being Vocal for Local.

Recognising that global economic instability could impact Bharat, Modi reiterated his commitment to Swadeshi and atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in his Independence Day address, Mann Ki Baat radio programme, and various other events. He has consistently appealed to people to embrace Swadeshi.

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Indias festival season, spanning two to three months, includes celebrations such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Vijayadashami, Deepawali, Chhath Puja, the New Year in some states, and Eid. These festivals bring joy and enthusiasm to society. Traditions like lighting homes, exchanging greetings and sweets, wearing new clothes, and giving gifts are integral to these celebrations. October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, is also celebrated as Khadi Day.

To integrate Swadeshi and atmanirbharta into these traditions, Modi urged people: We will buy only Swadeshi goods, decorate our homes with Swadeshi, and enrich our lives with Swadeshi."

He suggested using Bharat-made products and gifts during Ganeshotsav, wearing attire woven in Bharat, crafting decorations from Bharat-made materials, and using Bharat-made lights. Emphasising the importance of labour and the working class, he stated: The money may belong to someone, but the products will be ours; whatever is produced will carry the fragrance of my countrys soil, the essence of my Bharat mata."

Modis call was not merely emotional; it aimed at the economic empowerment of the socially and economically backward sections of society. Ancient Bharatiya society functioned as a self-reliant unit, with each class having a specific role defined by tradition.

Mahatma Gandhi also mentioned this in his book Hind Swaraj. Most festival essentials are traditionally made by the marginalised and underprivileged communities, constituting more than 50 percent of the backward classes.

For instance, during Diwali, items like lamps (diyas), khadi and handloom products, candles, firecrackers, flower garlands, toys, worship materials, shoes, ornaments, jewellery, and sweets are made by potters (Prajapatis), cobblers, women working in cottage and small industries, small artisans, tribal communities producing local forest-based goods, and artisans from Bengal known for their craftsmanship. Although jewellery is sold in large showrooms, local craftsmen often make it.

Vendors who sell small products on handcarts, roadside stalls, or footpaths rely on the income they earn during the festive season. However, as these items began to be imported from foreign countries, the poor lost their means of livelihood. Toys, decorative lights, firecrackers, and festive decorations dominated by foreign markets turned the Diwali of the poor into a festival of despair.

According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), business activities across the country generated a turnover of Rs 5.40 lakh crore during Diwali 2025, compared to Rs 4.25 lakh crore in 2024  a 25 percent increase in trade. This trade, excluding corporate and agricultural sectors, represents about 9 crore small business units. The service sector also recorded business worth Rs 65,000 crore. Around 72 percent of traders believe this surge in business resulted from a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Additionally, 87 percent of consumers expressed their gratitude towards the Prime Minister by purchasing Swadeshi products. It is estimated that around 50 lakh people gained short-term employment during this period. Small towns and rural areas contributed about 28 percent of the total sales.

Government initiatives like the Kumhar Empowerment Programme and the promotion of textiles, metalwork, woodcraft, and bamboo industries under the MSME sector have received a boost. According to the latest market analytics report, consumer spending during Indias festival season is expected to reach between Rs 12 lakh crore to Rs 14 lakh crore.

Thanks to Modis call for Khadi for nation, khadi for fashion, khadi sales have increased by 447 percent compared to 2014. In 2014, total khadi sales stood at Rs 3,154 crore, whereas in 2025, they have reached Rs 1.71 lakh crore. This growth has created over 10 lakh new jobs in the khadi sector.

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyayas philosophy placed the concept of antyodaya  the welfare of the poorest  at the centre. As a result of the PMs call, this Diwali has not only brought joy and enthusiasm to all sections of society but has also become a means of empowerment and employment for the backward classes, Dalits, and women. The income generated during the festival will increase market purchasing power, strengthening our economy.

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This economic resilience will enable us to withstand global challenges and adverse cycles. To strengthen the economy, the principles of Swadeshi and atmanirbharta should not be observed only occasionally but must become a permanent mantra of our lives.

(The writer is the national joint general secretary, organisation, of the BJP. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 18:49 IST

News opinion Opinion | Lighting Lives, Not Just Lamps: How Swadeshi Revives Bharatiya Livelihoods

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Opinion | Patel Revisited: The Forgotten Architect Of Hindu-Muslim Harmony In Modern India

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News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:25 IST

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel emphasised that Hindu-Muslim unity is like a tender plant. We have to nurture it extremely carefully over a long period...

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Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. (News18 Hindi)

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, whose 150th birth anniversary falls on 31st October, was among the lodestars of the first-generation leaders that navigated India before and after independence. Reminisced as the Iron Man of India, his case, however, has been different from that of Nehru and Gandhi, the two icons considered, and rightly so, secularists with hardly any blemish.

Patel carries the burden of historical (mis)judgment and is often labelled as anti-Muslim. Does this charge stand the honest audit of the past?

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Lets first understand what made Patel a villainous figure in some quarters. While Sardar started as a true lieutenant of Gandhi Ji and a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity from 1917 onwards, French orientalist author Christophe Jaffrelot writes that he meandered to Hindu fundamentalism in the later phase. Perhaps as a reactionary to the Muslim Leagues aggressive separatist politics! The change in Patels attitude came about when Jinnah took over the League leadership in 1937; his diatribes against Hindus and the Congress upset him considerably. The two-nation theory shook his faith, says late Muslim scholar Rafiq Zakaria in his book, Sardar Patel and Indian Muslims.

At the same time, Patel also began to show some sympathy to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and said publicly in Jaipur in 1948 that he willed to turn the enthusiasm and discipline of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh into right channels". At this time, many in the Congress, including Nehru and Maulana Azad, felt that he was drifting towards the Hindu right. Azad, though, later subdued his views and praised Patels administrative skills in his autobiography.

The picture of Patel as a communalist" was etched more in the Muslim psyche when, as a Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, he ordered Operation Polo to crush pending rebellion in the state of Hyderabad after Nizam refused accession into India and instead mulled to secede to Pakistan or run as an independent state in the heart of India.

But beneath the veneer of perceived facts and believed notions has been lying the truth.

Sardar, as noted by Jaffrelot himself, made a firm solidarity among all Indians a kernel of his faith quite early in his career as a political and social worker. When the Khilafat Movement was at its peak and it was solely a Muslim cause, Patel was among those who followed Gandhi in supporting Muslims. Jaffrelot quotes Sardars sentiments at that moment: As a matter of fact, it has been a heartbreaking episode (the annihilation of Turkish Caliphate) for the Indian Muslims, and how can Hindus stand by unaffected when they see their fellow countrymen thus in distress?" Muslims, Patel averred, originally belonged to India and thus their cause would be shared by Indians.

Patel was a leading barrister in criminal law at the Ahmedabad bar when he joined Gandhi ji and changed his style and appearance completely. He quit the Gujarat Club, dressed in the white cloth of the Indian peasant, and started following a more traditional Indian lifestyle. He led mass campaigns of peasants, farmers, and landowners of Kheda, Gujarat, against the decision of the Bombay government to collect the full annual revenue taxes despite crop failures caused by heavy rains. It benefited all, including Muslims.

In his leadership, he was ruthless only against the authorities and genial towards his fellow countrymen. It earned him the sobriquet Sardar, which, even though commonly known then, is actually a word that resonates most among Muslims.

During the freedom struggle, Patel emphasised that Hindu-Muslim unity is like a tender plant. We have to nurture it extremely carefully over a long period, for our hearts are not as yet clean as they should be". He actually echoed Gandhi when it came to communal harmony. Like Gandhi, he could chastise both Hindus and Muslims for carrying divisive ideas.

His brusque tone in the 1948 Calcutta speech was directed against any residue of separatism that Indian Muslims must have nurtured even after the painful partition. His anger targeted Pakistan rather than Muslims: Let Pakistan become heaven itself, we will enjoy the cool breeze coming from it but they must know that they are a different country." This was the only time when he spoke about any possibility of Indian Muslims having sympathy with Pakistan but made it clear that it was a different country and Indian Muslims are out to take part in building future India, as equal Indians.

Dr KM Munshi, a key member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, and Rajarishi Purushottamdas Tandon, a former president of the Congress, both closest to Sardar, argued vehemently against the incorporation of the word propagate" in the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution of India during debates in the Constituent Assembly. But despite stiff opposition, Patel used all his prestige and influence to ensure that the word propagate" was incorporated in Article 25 of the Constitution as a part of the Fundamental Rights of all religions in India. He was also the Chairman of the Minorities Committee of the Constituent Assembly, where he championed the cause of Sarva Dharma Maitri, aka Inter-Faith Harmony.

Even as head of the advisory committee of the Constituent Assembly, he allowed debate and vote on reservation to Muslims in legislature and government jobs that demanded rigorous recruitment tests like Indian Civil Services. Interestingly, Muslim members like Syed Sadulla opposed such a proposition.

Gandhi Ji, Patels mentor, would dismiss any charge of communal bias against Patel. For Gandhi, it was Patels roughness that emitted a wrong signal, but deep down he was a staunch secularist. Sardar has a bluntness of speech which sometimes unintentionally hurts, though his heart has expansion enough to accommodate all," Gandhi once responded to questions posed to him about Patels perceived communal tendencies.

Gandhis scion, Rajmohan Gandhi, who wrote a biography of Patel, writes that Patel should be judged by his actions, not words which often are interpreted out of context. In his actions, writes Rajmohan Gandhi, there was little to fault Patel, who as Home Minister would often personally travel to communal flashpoints to ensure that Muslims are not attacked.

Like in September 1947, as reports emerged of threats to those taking shelter in the Dargah of Nizamuddin Auliya in south Delhi, Patels private secretary Shankar records Patels response. Sardar wrapped his shawl round his neck and said Let us go to the saint before we incur his displeasure. We arrived there unobtrusively. Sardar spent a good 45 minutes in the precincts, went round the holy shrine in an attitude of veneration, made enquiries here and there of the inmates, and told the police officer of the area, on pain of dismissal that he would hold him responsible if anything untoward happened," as quoted by Rajmohan Gandhi.

Patels visit actually restored calm in the area immediately.

Later in the same month, as reports came that Sikhs in Amritsar intended to attack Muslim convoys on their way to Pakistan.

Patel, writes Rajmohan Gandhi, travelled to Amritsar and famously made this appeal: Here in this very same city, the blood of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims mingled in the bloodbath of Jallianwalla Bagh. I am saddened to think that things have come to such a pass that no Muslim can go about in Amritsar and no Hindu or Sikh can even think about living in Lahore."

In fact, when Pakistan became a reality, there was constant pressure on Vallabhbhai to declare India a Hindu state. He resisted it to his last breath. Noted historian S. Gopal has observed, Patel is usually depicted as a supporter of Hindu chauvinism but actually his major concern was national unity".

He was as scathing with kings, princes and nawabs of princely states as he was with communally extremist groups. He feared none, spared none so long as the integrity of India was at stake. United India was his sole mission. He was not patronising towards Muslims and neither had he expected them to prove anything other than integrating themselves into India.

Indias first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, noted in his diary on May 13, 1959: That there is today an India to think and talk about is very largely due to Sardar Patels statesmanship and firm administration".

The only lacuna, according to Rafiq Zakaria, was that Patel didnt write his own accounts unlike Gandhi and Nehru and even scholars paid sombre attention to record his life and statesmanship. It left leeway for both who venerate him and violate him.

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Today, as the BJP-led central government strives to cherish his legacy, Patels image by default turns somewhat murky to Muslims. But, as Rafiq Zakaria commented in his book, if Hindus adore Patel, Muslims have to understand him. Once they will understand, claims Zakaria, they will know that Sardar all his life emphasised on the unity of hearts" between Hindus and Muslims.

The author is the National Chairman of Muslim Students Organisation of India MSO. He writes on a wide range of issues, including Sufism, Public Policy, Geopolitics and Information Warfare. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:25 IST

News opinion Opinion | Patel Revisited: The Forgotten Architect Of Hindu-Muslim Harmony In Modern India

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:39 IST

Halloween 2025: From deserted forts to abandoned mansions, these places promise a mix of history, mystery, and spine-tingling experiences.

1 / 8 Bhangarh Fort, Rajasthan: Known as one of the most haunted places in India, this 17th-century fort is surrounded by legends of curses and paranormal activity. However, entry after sunset is strictly prohibited. (Image: Wikimedia Commons) + Follow us On Google

2 / 8 Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune, Maharashtra: It is famous for the ghost of a young prince who was brutally murdered here. Locals claim to hear his cries echoing at night. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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3 / 8 Kuldhara Village, Rajasthan: An abandoned village with a dark past. Legend says it was cursed by its villagers, and anyone trying to settle here is doomed. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

4 / 8 Jatinga, Assam: Known as mysterious village of bird suicides, many birds are said to inexplicably die here, attracting paranormal enthusiasts. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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5 / 8 Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad: While mostly a film studio, some sets are rumoured to be haunted, especially abandoned buildings, with staff reporting strange sightings. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

6 / 8 Agrasen Ki Baoli, Delhi: An ancient stepwell with eerie vibes and tales of ghost sightings. The deep, dark waters and narrow steps make it a creepy exploration spot. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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7 / 8 Dow Hill, Kurseong, West Bengal: This hill station has a reputedly haunted school where ghostly sounds of children have been reported late at night. (image: Wikimedia Commons)
Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 09:00 IST

1 / 12 A shocking incident from the early days in a popular actress career has recently come to light. + Follow us On Google

2 / 12 The incident took place in Delhi when she was just 19, trying to make her mark in acting.

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3 / 12 The actress is Dolly Singh, a well-known Instagram content creator whose reels have over 10 million views.

4 / 12 Dolly had long been interested in acting and met a casting director while struggling in Delhi.

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5 / 12 The initial phone conversations felt strange, but she felt pressured to respond to opportunities.

6 / 12 As a young woman, she was unsure if his offers were about her talent or something else.

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7 / 12 The casting director invited her to a five-star hotel in Delhi to meet a producer.

8 / 12 After the meeting, while sitting in the car with the casting director, he suddenly kissed her and reached under her shirt.

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9 / 12 Dolly was shocked, scared and didnt know how to respond or speak up immediately

10 / 12 She was about 19, while the man was around 3540, creating a terrifying power imbalance.

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11 / 12 Dolly managed to push him away, shake him and begged to be dropped at the metro station.
'Decency Still Exists': Bengaluru Rapido Driver Wins Hearts After Returning Woman's Earphones

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 19:13 IST

A woman shared her experience in a Rapido ride and how the driver contacted her via Google Pay after she accidentally left her earphones behind.

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A woman left her earphones behind in a Rapido ride, but the driver made sure she got them back. (Photo Credit: X)

A heartwarming gesture by a Rapido driver in Bengaluru has won him praise on social media after a woman shared her experience. Sambhavi Shrivastava took to LinkedIn to share her story, starting with booking a short ride via Rapido in Indiranagar, and accidentally leaving her earphones behind.

Friday evening I took a short Rapido auto in Indiranagar. Barely two kilometres, ten minutes tops, just to meet my brother for dinner after work. Somehow I managed to leave my earphones behind," she said in the post.

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However, within minutes of her ride ending, the woman received a message from the driver via Google Pay, telling her that she had left her earphones behind. He told me he would keep them safe and asked when I would be around again. I said Monday, totally forgetting it was Diwali," she said.

I ended up calling him this morning around eight thirty to say I would be in the office if he was ever close by. Half an hour later, he called and said I could come get them. Just like that," she added.

Shrivastava described the incident as a reminder that the worlds not all that bad".

Jahrul did not have to bother. He could have thrown them away or sold them. But he chose to return them. It sounds like such a small thing, but it really reminded me that decency still exists. Rapido  people like Jahrul make your platform and this world a little better."

Rapido responded to the post, asking to share ride details so they can thank the driver for his exceptional service. Thank you for sharing such a heartwarming experience, Sambhavi. Were thrilled to hear about Jahruls honesty and kindness. Its people like him who truly make a difference, and were proud to have him as part of the Rapido family. Wed love to pass on your appreciation to Jahrul," it said.

In another comment, Rapido said, Were pleased to inform you that Captain Jahrul has been rewarded for his kind gesture in returning your earphones. We truly appreciate you bringing this positive experience to our attention, as it aligns with the values we uphold on the Rapido platform. Thank you for sharing, and we hope your future rides are just as enjoyable."

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Other social media users also commended the driver for his gesture. Good to see people like this still EXIST," a user wrote. Another said, This sounds unreal."

I left my purse in the cab. There was cash, my atm card and my PAN card. The driver called me up at 9 pm. I didnt receive the call initially, but then I thought of receiving it. He informed me I left my purse, and since he was very far away from home, he wont be able to come to return it; however, he will submit it to his nearest police office," a third person commented.

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 26, 2025, 19:13 IST

News viral 'Decency Still Exists': Bengaluru Rapido Driver Wins Hearts After Returning Woman's Earphones

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3 Chinese Citizens Arrested In Georgia For Trying To Buy Uranium Illegally

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 08:49 IST

A Chinese citizen, who was in breach of Georgian visa regulations, brought experts to the country to search for uranium.

Image used for representational purpose only

Three Chinese citizens have been arrested in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, for attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of uranium, according to the countrys State Security Service on Saturday.

The suspects intended to transport the nuclear material to China via Russia, the security service reported in a statement. They also released video footage showing the detention operation.

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Three Chinese citizens have been detained in Tbilisi while attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms of nuclear material  uranium," the agency was quoted as saying by the Reuters. Sharing further details, Georgia State Security Service also said that members of the criminal group planned to pay $400,000 (Rs 3,51,29,600) for the radioactive material.

As per the authorities, a Chinese citizen already in Georgia, who was in breach of Georgian visa regulations, brought experts to Georgia to search for uranium throughout the country.

Other members of the criminal group coordinated the operation from China, the statement said.

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The perpetrators were identified and detained while negotiating the details of the illegal transaction," the security service said.

The agency did not disclose when the arrests took place or the identities of the suspects.

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 : Georgia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 08:49 IST

News world 3 Chinese Citizens Arrested In Georgia For Trying To Buy Uranium Illegally

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Albanias AI Minister Pregnant With 83 Children: PM Edi Ramas Bizarre Announcement

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 18:36 IST

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama announced AI minister Diella is "pregnant" with 83 AI "children" to assist Socialist Party MPs.

The AI minister, named Diella (meaning "Sun"), was appointed in September. (File)

Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the countrys first AI-generated government minister, Diella, is pregnant", and is expected to give birth" to 83 AI children," one for each Socialist Party member of parliament.

While addressing the Global Dialogue (BGD) in Germanys Berlin, Rama said, We took quite a risk today with Diella here and we did very well. So for the first time, Diella is pregnant and with 83 children."

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Rama explained that the children," or assistants, will document all parliamentary proceedings and update legislators on any discussions or events they were unable to attend.

Each onewill serve as an assistant for those who will participate in parliamentary sessions, and will keep a record of everything that happens, and will suggest members of parliament. These children will know their mother," he said.

He anticipated that the system would be completely functional by the close of 2026.

All About Diella

Albania, in September, officially appointed an artificial intelligence-powered minister to ensure that the countrys public procurement framework operates with complete transparency and without corruption.

Initially introduced as a virtual assistant in January on the e-Albania portal, she has been assisting citizens and businesses in acquiring state documentation. The AI minister is depicted as a woman dressed in traditional Albanian costume.

Introducing her to the public, Rama described Diella as the first member of the cabinet who does not physically exist but is created virtually through AI."

According to Rama, Diella will play a central role in removing decision-making around tenders from government ministries and transferring that responsibility to an incorruptible AI system. She is the servant of public procurement," he stated, emphasising that Albania is taking a step-by-step" approach to ensure public tenders become 100 percent incorruptible" and that every public fund involved is 100 percent legible."

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Diella will not only evaluate tenders but will also have the authority to hire talents here from all over the world," helping to break down the fear of prejudice and rigidity of the administration."

Rama highlighted that the ultimate goal is to ensure full transparency in tender procedures and to reduce corruption throughout the government supply chain. The appointment also signals a major step toward integrating artificial intelligence into everyday governance.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

Location : Berlin, Germany

First Published: October 26, 2025, 18:30 IST

News world Albanias AI Minister Pregnant With 83 Children: PM Edi Ramas Bizarre Announcement

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Can Solve Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict Very Quickly: Decoding Trumps Statement | Exclusive

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News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi



Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 14:26 IST

I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, but I will solve it very quickly. Pakistan Field Marshal and PM are great people, said US President Donald Trump

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US President Donald Trump said his administration ended eight wars, helping millions stay alive. (File)

Even as US President Donald Trump participated in the signing of a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday, he hinted at mediation in the Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict.

The Cambodia-Thailand agreement was signed soon after Trumps arrival at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur.

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I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, but I will solve it very quickly. Pakistan Field Marshal and PM are great people," said Trump, adding, We are proud of the Gaza peace plan. We are also signing trade deal with Cambodia and critical minerals deal with Thailand. It is one of the eight wars my administration ended in eight months. Nothing like this has been done in history. Millions of people are alive today because of the peace deals. I prioritise trade over wars."

VIDEO | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: USA President Donald Trump (@POTUS) said, "Ended 8 wars in 8 months. I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, but I will solve it very quickly. Pakistan Field Marshal and PM are great people."(Full video available on PTI Videos- pic.twitter.com/l8yYpyZo8h  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2025

What Pakistan, Taliban sources say

Top Pakistani establishment sources said they are closely observing Trumps remarks. They are seeing this as a potential diplomatic opening to regain Washingtons attention after years of strategic neglect under Joe Biden.

The reference to Field Marshal Asim Munir is seen as deliberate. Naming Asim Munir is a signal that White House wants to deal with GHQ not Islamabad," sources said.

Meanwhile, top Taliban sources said they are cautious if the US is again trying to enter Kabul. Kabul fears that a Trump-led mediation could tilt in favor of Pakistans security rather than Afghanistans sovereignty narrative. Kabul fears that USA especially on the Durand Line issue and the sheltering of anti-Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) elements will ask Kabul to bend," they said.

VIDEO | Kuala Lumpur: US President Donald Trump, in a working session with US-ASEAN leaders, says, The United States is committed to a free, open, and thriving Indo-Pacific. My message to Southeast Asian nations is that the US is with you 100% and will remain a strong partner pic.twitter.com/uLeLTk2WNb Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 26, 2025

The Afghanistan-Pakistan clash

The fighting erupted after Pakistan reportedly launched cross-border airstrikes in Kabul on October 9, targeting TTP camps. Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants, responsible for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021.

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In response, Taliban mounted a major counteroffensive across the border, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and destroying 20 security outposts over the weekend. Hostilities briefly paused after mediation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar but resumed. Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed to an immediate ceasefire on October 19.

Afghanistan on Wednesday announced it was ready to agree to a full ceasefire and resolve all issues through dialogue with Pakistan, in a bid to ease tensions between the two neighbours. According to a statement from Afghan authorities, the agreement includes a complete ceasefire, mutual respect, a ban on attacks against each others security forces, civilians, and infrastructure, and a commitment to settle all disputes through dialogue.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

First Published: October 26, 2025, 13:20 IST

News world Can Solve Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict Very Quickly: Decoding Trumps Statement | Exclusive

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Egypt Joins Search For Deceased Israeli Hostages In Gaza

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Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 02:58 IST

Egypt and ICRC teams, permitted by Israel, are searching Gaza for bodies of hostages from the October 7 attacks, as part of a US-brokered ceasefire

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel will determine which foreign forces will be allowed as part of a planned international force in Gaza to help secure the ceasefire under Trump's plan. | File Image: AFP

Teams from Egypt and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have joined the search for bodies of deceased hostages taken during the October 7, 2023, attacks, Israel said.

BBC quoted the Israeli government as saying that the teams have been permitted to search beyond the so-called yellow line" in the area controlled by Israeli forces in Gaza.

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Till now, Hamas has transferred 15 out of 28 deceased hostages under the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire deal, which requires it to transfer all hostage bodies.

US President Donald Trump has warned Hamas to return the bodies quickly, or the other countries involved in this great peace will take action".

The militant group said it is working with the Egyptian authorities to search for the bodies. They added that it was facing difficulty in finding the bodies under rubble of buildings bombed out by the Israeli military in Gaza.

BBC quoted an Israeli spokesperson as saying that the Egyptian team has been permitted to work with the ICRC to locate the bodies, and would use excavator machines and trucks for the search beyond the yellow line".

The yellow line" is the boundary along the north, south and east of Gaza that Israel withdrew to, as part of the first stage of the ceasefire deal.

The spokesperson said: If Hamas made more of an effort, they would be able to retrieve the remains of our hostages."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel will determine which foreign forces will be allowed as part of a planned international force in Gaza to help secure the ceasefire under Trumps plan.

We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate," he said speaking at the start of a cabinet meeting.

Egypt, Qatar and Turkey are key parts of the Trump-brokered Gaza peace plan, which was signed in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh earlier this month.

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Meanwhile, the Red Cross has already been involved in the return of the hostages.

According to BBC, Hamas does not hand over its captives  living or deceased  directly to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), but rather to the ICRC, which in turn escorts them through Gaza and hands them on to the IDF.

Location : Israel

First Published: October 27, 2025, 02:49 IST

News world Egypt Joins Search For Deceased Israeli Hostages In Gaza

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'Great Peace Deal': Trump To Preside Over Thailand-Cambodia Pact In Malaysia

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 07:11 IST

Trump will witness the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal in Malaysia on Sunday. The Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Thailand will attend the ceremony.

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US President Donald Trump. (Image: X/@WhiteHouse)

US President Donald Trump is set to witness the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia in Malaysia on Sunday.

He landed in the Asian nation on Sunday morning, where he received a rousing welcome.

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Earlier, in a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that he was on his way to Malaysia to sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand".

Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand," Trump wrote on his social media platform from aboard Air Force One.

In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival," he added.

Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who had requested an earlier signing following the death of the Kingdoms Queen Mother, will be present for the ceremony.

On Saturday, Anutin confirmed that he had postponed his departure for the ASEAN summit in Malaysia but would still attend the peace deal signing, to be witnessed by Trump and Malaysias Prime Minister.

I cancelled my trip to Malaysia today. However, regarding the peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia with the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the US President, Ive asked them to rescheduled for tomorrow morning instead," Anutin told reporters broadcast on local television.

The Thai royal palace announced that Queen Sirikit, the mother of King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away late Friday at the age of 93.

It is a great loss to the nation," Anutin said before an emergency cabinet meeting on Saturday.

Malaysias foreign minister said last week that Trump would attend the ceremonial signing of the peace agreement during the ASEAN summit.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia flared in July, leading to the deadliest border clashes in decades. The fighting left more than 40 people dead and displaced around 300,000 residents.

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A ceasefire was reached after five days of hostilities, brokered in part by Trump, though both sides have since accused each other of violating the truce.

The Thai royal family holds a deeply revered status, often regarded as semi-divine and honored through glowing media coverage and gold-framed portraits displayed across the country.

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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 07:11 IST

News world 'Great Peace Deal': Trump To Preside Over Thailand-Cambodia Pact In Malaysia

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Lenders are preparing to seize control of the Very Group - Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

The Very Group has slumped to a 500m loss after writing off a major loan to the Barclay family, as lenders prepare to seize control of the shopping empire.

Very, which owns Littlewoods.com, said an intercompany loan transferred to the familys business empire several years ago had been wiped out because it would not be repaid  pushing the group into the red.

The impairment on the loan  which was worth 525m and made to Verys parent company, which is fully owned by the Barclay family  meant the retailers losses spiralled to 505m for the year ending June from a 16.3m loss last time.

It comes as lenders attempt to recover debts from the business in a move that is likely to see the Barclay family lose control of the Very business.

The process is expected to see one of Verys main creditors, the US private equity group Carlyle, work with Abu Dhabi-based IMI to launch a complex debt-for-equity swap before the end of the year.

The Very Group itself was created 20 years ago through a merger of retail businesses Littlewoods and Shop Direct, which had both been acquired by the Barclay brothers, Sir Frederick and the late David Barclay, just a few years earlier.

The retailer is considered a core part of the Barclay family business empire and has remained so despite growing strains on other parts of the familys sprawling empire, which has caused a major retrenchment.

In 2023, the Barclay family lost control of the Telegraph Media Group, which owns The Telegraph newspaper, after failing to pay back loans to Lloyds Banking Group.

Delivery business Yodel, which had formerly operated as the logistics arm of The Very Group, was also sold by the family.

Earlier in 2015, the Barclay brothers struck a deal with Qatars sovereign fund to sell their majority stake in Coroin, a company that owned London five-star hotels including The Connaught, Claridges and The Berkeley.

They also sold the Ritz Hotel to Qatari businessman Abdulhadi Mana Al-Hajr for around 700m in 2020.

The Very Groups adjusted earnings increased by 15.9pc to 307.1m, accounts show.

Sales rose 1.8pc to just over 2bn in what the company described as a challenging retail market.

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'Great People': Trump Praises Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir, Vows To End Pakistan-Afghan Conflict

Curated By :

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:42 IST

Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, where he witnessed the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia

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US President Donald Trump during a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House.

US President Donald Trump praised Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling them great people", while expressing confidence that Washington will soon help resolve the ongoing Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.

Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he witnessed the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia  a deal he said marked the end of yet another regional conflict.

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This is going to be a very long peace," Trump told journalists, adding that his administration had ended eight wars in eight months. Were averaging one a month," he claimed.

Turning to South Asia, Trump said he was aware of the recent fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which erupted about two weeks ago and has claimed several lives.

I know them both," he said. Pakistan the Field Marshal and the Prime Minister are great people, and I have no doubt we are going to get that done quickly. That one started up a few days ago. And I just feel its something I can do."

Trump, who has taken a personal interest in peace mediation since returning to power for a second term, added that he hoped to resolve the dispute soon.

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If I can take time and save millions of lives, thats really a great thing. I cant think of anything better to do," Trump said.

The eight wars that my administration has ended in just eight months  theres never been anything like that. Never. There never will be, either. I cant think of any President who ever solved one war. I dont think anybody they start wars," he added.

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 : Malaysia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:23 IST

News world 'Great People': Trump Praises Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir, Vows To End Pakistan-Afghan Conflict

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Have Pak-Afghan Istanbul Talks Failed? Deadlock Over Refugee Repatriation, Guarantees Persists

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Aveek Banerjee



Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 00:24 IST

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed to meet again in Istanbul on October 25 and 26 to continue discussions aimed at addressing mutual security concerns, after deadly border clashes.

Taliban security personnel stand over military vehicles as Afghan men gather in their support during a rally, amid heavy cross-border clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Image: AFP)

The ongoing peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul appear to have failed, as discussions hit a deadlock over written guarantees, refugee repatriation and broader security concerns, top Taliban sources told CNN-News18.

The breakdown in talks between the former allies is believed to be primarily because of Pakistans high-handedness and its mistrust of the Taliban leadership. Islamabad has demanded written assurances that Afghan soil will not be used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is responsible for a fresh wave of violence in Pakistans border districts, but the Taliban refused.

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Taliban sources said Afghanistan asserted its sovereignty and emphasised the importance of the Pashtun tribal brotherhood. It also argued that Pakistans insistence on mass deportation of over 1.5 million undocumented Afghans has created a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis.

Afghanistan also accused Pakistan of using the issue of refugees as a tool for political blackmail to extract counter-terror guarantees. This came after fresh clashes were reported on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, killing at least five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants.

TTP Expected To Regain Operational Influence

With peace talks hitting a roadblock, the TTP is expected to regain operational confidence, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas along the Balochistan border, which they have turned into a no-go zone for the Pakistan Army, according to top Indian intelligence sources.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government of not doing enough to control militants, particularly the TTP, as it has faced a renewed violence in border districts since the Talibans takeover in 2021. In response, Kabul has rejected the accusations, stating that Pakistan is responsible for its own security.

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Intelligence intercepts indicate TTP factions have resumed cross-border movement since mid-October, and are moving through the Khost and Paktika routes. Furthermore, the failure to secure even a minimal joint statement has weakened Turkeys position as a neutral peace broker.

Turkish diplomats are now saying that both sides used Istanbul only as a symbolic venue to display diplomatic engagement as a Muslim brotherhood. This is also a blow for China, as Beijing sees the breakdown as a setback to its security corridor vision under the CPEC-Afghanistan extension.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Turkey

First Published: October 27, 2025, 00:08 IST

News world Have Pak-Afghan Istanbul Talks Failed? Deadlock Over Refugee Repatriation, Guarantees Persists

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'I Got It Done': Donald Trump Again Takes Credit For India-Pakistan Ceasefire

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 09:38 IST

US President Donald Trump on Sunday once again took credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

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US President Donald Trump (Image: AFP/File)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday once again claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after days of deadly clashes in May this year.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, I got it done (ceasefire). There are others. If you look at India and Pakistan. I could say almost any one of the deals that Ive already done I thought would have been more difficult than Russia and Ukraine, but it didnt work out that way."

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Although the Indian government has consistently rejected any third-party involvement in the ceasefire process with Pakistan, Trump has repeatedly made such claims in recent months.

The US President made the remarks in response to a question about the possibility of rescheduling a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had earlier been postponed indefinitely, news agency ANI reported.

Trump further stated that Putin had commended him for his role in helping achieve peace in other regions, including between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He added that despite those successes, resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict remains the most difficult challenge.

Im going to have to know that were going to have a deal (with Putin). Im not going to be wasting my time. Ive always had a very great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing. I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East. We have Azerbaijan, Armenia  that was very tough. In fact, Putin told me on the phone he said, Boy, that was amazing because everybody tried to get that done and they couldnt," Trump mentioned.

On Sunday, Trump arrived in Malaysia to attend the upcoming ASEAN summit. Earlier, he stopped at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar, where he welcomed Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Qatars Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani aboard the plane, ANI report mentioned.

During the press gaggle, Trump expressed confidence in achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, while warning Hamas of serious consequences if the ceasefire agreement with Israel is violated.

I think it (ceasefire) will hold. Well, if it doesnt hold, its Hamas. Hamas will not be hard to deal with very quickly. I hope it holds for Hamas too because they gave us their world on something, so I think its going to hold, and if it doesnt, then theyll have a very big problem," he said.

Trump On Three-Nation Visit

The US President is on a three-nation visit, during which, after Malaysia, he is set to visit Japan and South Korea. While in Kuala Lumpur for the summit, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will hold talks to prevent an escalation of their trade war.

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The threatened tariffs and other trade curbs would take effect on November 1 in retaliation for Chinas expanded export controls on rare-earth magnets and minerals. Recent actions include an expanded US export blacklist covering thousands more Chinese firms.

Through engagement with Asian leaders, Trump aims to negotiate favourable trade agreements, reduce tariffs, and boost US exports, with his return to Asia potentially redefining regional trade and diplomacy.

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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 09:38 IST

News world 'I Got It Done': Donald Trump Again Takes Credit For India-Pakistan Ceasefire

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'We Are In Control': Netanyahu Says Israel Will Choose Which Foreign Troops Can Enter Gaza

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 19:16 IST

While the composition of the proposed international force is still uncertain, Israel has expressed concerns over which countries might participate

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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu | File Image: AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that Israel will decide which foreign troops it allows as part of a planned international force in Gaza, under US President Donald Trumps initiative to secure an end to the ongoing conflict.

Speaking at a cabinet session, Netanyahu stressed, We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate."

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This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days," the Israeli Prime Minister added.

While the composition of the proposed international force is still uncertain, Israel has expressed concerns over which countries might participate. The Trump administration has ruled out sending US troops into Gaza, but the force could include soldiers from Egypt, Indonesia and Gulf Arab countries.

Netanyahu has previously indicated opposition to any involvement of Turkish forces in Gaza, amid worsening relations with Ankara following the conflict. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has strongly criticised Israels air and ground operations in the territory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visiting Israel to support the fragile ceasefire, said the multinational force should comprise countries Israel is comfortable with, but declined to comment directly on Turkeys role. He added that Gazas future governance still needs to be negotiated, excluding Hamas, which has not agreed to disarm and has been cracking down on rival groups since the ceasefire began two weeks ago.

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Rubio also confirmed that US officials are considering a possible UN resolution or international agreement to authorise the force, with discussions planned in Qatar. The Trump administration is seeking contributions of troops and funds from Arab states.

(With inputs from Reuters)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : Israel

First Published: October 26, 2025, 19:15 IST

News world 'We Are In Control': Netanyahu Says Israel Will Choose Which Foreign Troops Can Enter Gaza

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'Not At India's Expense': Marco Rubio's Big Remark On US-Pakistan Relationship

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 17:27 IST

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington's efforts to strengthen its relationship with Pakistan would not come at the expense of its "good" friendship with India.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Reuters Image)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the US efforts to strengthen its relationship with Pakistan would not come at the expense of its deep, historic and important" friendship with India.

Speaking to the press en route to Qatar, Rubio addressed concerns over growing US-Pakistan ties. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and I think weve made  thats our job, is to try to figure out how many countries we can find how we can work with on things of common interest. So, I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature."

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I dont think anything were doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important," he said.

Responding to a question on whether US-Pakistan ties had grown based on Islamabads recognition of US President Donald Trumps unsubstantiated claim of mediating a ceasefire, Rubio said he had reached out to both sides and said the US was interested in rebuilding a strategic partnership with both countries.

ALSO READ: Great People: Trump Praises Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir, Vows To End Pakistan-Afghan Conflict

Fully Aware Of Challenges With India

Were fully aware of the challenges with regards to India and everything else, but our job is to try to create opportunities for partnerships with countries where its possible. And weve had a long history of partnering with Pakistan on counterterror and things of that nature."

Wed like to expand it beyond that, if possible, and understanding that therell be some difficulties and some challenges. But I think its a very encouraging thing that that relationship has strengthened the way that it has, and I dont think it comes at the expense or instead of a good relationship with India, or anybody else for that matter," he added.

This came amid concerns of Washingtons diplomatic approach towards Pakistan in the aftermath of the India-Pakistan conflict in May. Pakistans Army Chief General Asim Munir recently held a series of meetings with Trump and senior defence officials.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he used trade as a bargaining chip to secure a peace deal between the two sides, a claim rejected by India. Pakistan, instead, hailed Trumps intervention and nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize at the time.

US On Indias Russian Oil Purchase

Relations between India and the US have been strained by Trumps tariffs on Indian goods, including 25% over New Delhis purchase of Russian oil. The US has demanded that India halt purchases from Russian energy, saying it is financing Moscows war in Ukraine.

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Rubio, who is expected to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday at the ASEAN Summit, acknowledged trade issues with India but said the two countries will always be allies and friends. He also repeated Trumps claim that India has expressed an interest in diversifying their oil portfolio from Russia, which had been a cause of strain between India-US trade relations.

India only needs so much oil. So, if they diversified their portfolio, the more they buy it from us, the more theyll buy it from someone else," he 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

Location : Qatar

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:25 IST

News world 'Not At India's Expense': Marco Rubio's Big Remark On US-Pakistan Relationship

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Pakistan Top General Meets Yunus In Bangladesh; Discusses Trade, Connectivity, Defence

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 14:33 IST

General Mirza said a two-way shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong has commenced operations.

General Mirza Meets Yunus, Discusses Trade, Connectivity, and Defence Cooperation

The Chairman of Pakistans Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), General Sahir Shamshad Mirza met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Saturday. The high-level meeting focused on enhancing bilateral ties, connectivity, and regional stability.

BangladeshPakistan Relations

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During the meeting, both leaders discussed a wide array of issues concerning Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. General Mirza expressed Pakistans interest in expanding cooperation in multiple sectors. He noted the vast potential for trade, investment, and defence collaboration.

Our two countries will support each other," General Mirza said, adding that a two-way shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong has already commenced operations.

According to Yunus office, plans are also underway to inaugurate a Dhaka-Karachi air route within the coming months, further enhancing connectivity between the nations.

Trade, investment and connectivity

Both sides emphasised the growing importance of bilateral trade and investment as a cornerstone of stronger relations. The meeting explored opportunities for Pakistani businesses to invest in Bangladesh and vice versa, while also identifying areas for joint ventures in logistics, transport, and port infrastructure.

The discussions also highlighted how enhanced connectivity could facilitate not only commerce but also cultural exchange, tourism, and stronger people-to-people contacts.

In addition to bilateral issues, the leaders exchanged views on pressing global concerns, including de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and Europe. The challenge of misinformation and the misuse of social media by non-state actors was a key topic.

Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos. There must be a concerted global effort to combat this menace," Yunus remarked.

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The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider.

Yunus office said that both sides expressed commitment to maintaining regular dialogue and pursuing practical initiatives to strengthen mutual understanding, economic collaboration, and strategic cooperation.

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 : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: October 26, 2025, 14:33 IST

News world Pakistan Top General Meets Yunus In Bangladesh; Discusses Trade, Connectivity, Defence

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5 Pakistani Soldiers Killed In Fresh Clashes On Afghan Border Amid Peace Talks In Turkey

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 22:11 IST

Fresh clashes took place on the Afghan border, killing five Pakistani soldiers, as delegations from the two countries are meeting in Istanbul to negotiate a peace deal.

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Fresh clashes broke out between Pakistani security forces and the Afghan militants. (Representational Image/AFP)

Clashes resumed on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, with the deaths of at least five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants reported so far, as delegations from both countries met to defuse the deadliest fighting in years between the former allies.

According to the Pakistani military, the militants tried to cross over from Afghanistan on Friday and Saturday in the Kurram and North Waziristan districts. Islamabad said the attempted infiltrations cast doubt on the intentions of the Afghan government to address the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil".

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Pakistani forces also claimed to seize a large cache of weapons and explosives during Sundays clashes. In Afghanistan, the Taliban governments chief spokesman and the defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported attacks.

Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Talks

The clashes broke out as officials from both countries were meeting in Istanbul to negotiate a peace deal and prevent a relapse into conflict after deadly clashes between their armies broke out earlier this month.

The talks follow a temporary restoration of calm along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after the first round of discussions was held in Doha on October 19. The dialogue was facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, and both sides had agreed to meet again in Istanbul on October 25 and 26 to continue discussions aimed at addressing mutual security concerns.

On Saturday, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the truce was holding and he believed Afghanistan wanted peace. However, he declared that Islamabad would launch an open war" if the ongoing peace talks failed.

Tense Situation At Border

The violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated dramatically this month as the Talibans foreign minister began a visit to India. Forces from both countries engaged in fierce fighting on the ground, while Islamabad also launched airstrikes along the contested border, with both sides claiming dozens of casualties.

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After Dohas peace talks resulted in a brief truce, Pakistan abruptly launched fresh airstrikes inside Afghanistan, killing 10 people. The Taliban accused Islamabad of breaking a 48-hour ceasefire and promised to respond, before agreeing to a full ceasefire.

Pakistan has accused the Taliban-led government of not doing enough to control militants, particularly the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as it has faced a renewed violence in border districts since the Talibans takeover in 2021. In response, Kabul has rejected the accusations, stating that Pakistan is responsible for its own security.

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 : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:59 IST

News world 5 Pakistani Soldiers Killed In Fresh Clashes On Afghan Border Amid Peace Talks In Turkey

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'We Stand Together In Every Crisis': PM Modi In Virtual Address To Malaysia's ASEAN Summit

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 16:15 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 47th ASEAN Summit virtually, where he reflected on the progress in the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Image: PTI/File)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually addressed the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where he congratulated Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim for chairing the summit and called ASEAN a major pillar of Indias Act East Policy.

India and ASEAN together represent almost a quarter of the worlds population. We do not just share geography; we are also connected by the thread of deep historical ties and shared values. We are fellow travelers of the Global South," said PM Modi at the global summit.

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The Prime Minister appreciated Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos for fulfilling the role of Indias country coordinator and welcomed East Timor as a new member of ASEAN. He also used the opportunity to express condolences to Thailand over the passing of the countrys Queen Mother Sirikit at the age of 93.

My remarks during the ASEAN-India Summit, which is being held in Malaysia. https://t.co/87TT0RKY8x Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2025

Even in this period of uncertainties, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to make steady progress. Our strong partnership is emerging as a robust foundation for global stability and development. The theme of this years ASEAN Summit is inclusivity and sustainability, which is clearly reflected in our shared efforts," he continued.

21st Century Is Our Century

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also emphasised that India had stood firmly with its ASEAN allies in every crisis and would continue to do so. Our cooperation in HADR, maritime security and the blue economy is rapidly expanding. In this context, we are designating 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation," he added.

At the same time, we are strengthening collaboration in Education, Tourism, Science and Technology, Health, Green Energy, and Cyber Security. We will continue to work together to preserve our shared cultural heritage and reinforce People-to-People ties."

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The PM concluded his speech by saying, The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEANs century. I am confident that the aim of ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and Viksit Bharat 2047 will develop a bright future for the entire humanity."

On Thursday, PM Modi confirmed that he would not be travelling to Kuala Lumpur for the 47th ASEAN Summit but would attend it virtually. It was widely expected that the ASEAN Summit would provide an opportunity for a meeting between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump, who landed in Malaysia today, as relations between New Delhi and Washington remain strained over punitive tariffs.

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 : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 15:57 IST

News world 'We Stand Together In Every Crisis': PM Modi In Virtual Address To Malaysia's ASEAN Summit

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She Isnt Muslim': MAGA Activist References JD Vance's Wife In Jibe At Journalist Mehdi Hasan

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 18:42 IST

Laura Loomer and Mehdi Hasan clashed online over JD Vance's remarks mocking Zohran Mamdani's account of post-9/11 discrimination against Muslims.

Laura Loomer and Mehdi Hasan Lock Horns Again Over JD Vance's Remarks. (File)

A war of words erupted between American far-right MAGA activist Laura Loomer and journalist Mehdi Hasan over US Vice President JD Vances comments about New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

The row began after Hasan criticised Vance for mocking Mamdani on his emotional remarks about post-9/11 discrimination against Muslims in the United States. Hasan called him out for making such offensive remarks despite being married to a Brown woman."

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Imagine being married to a Brown woman and having mixed-race kids and then publicly mocking other Brown people as they talk publicly and emotionally about their experience of racism. Vance is just a bad person," he said in a post on X.

Imagine being married to a Brown woman and having mixed-race kids and then publicly mocking other Brown people as they talk publicly and emotionally about their experience of racism. Vance is just a bad person. https://t.co/UQoKGkn3h4 Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 25, 2025

Vance had shared a clip of Mamdani recalling how his aunt stopped taking the subway after 9/11 because she didnt feel safe wearing a hijab. According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks," Vance had posted on X.

Loomer responded and targeted Hasans defence of Mamdani.

JD Vances wife isnt a Muslim. If she was, he never would have been Vice President because MAGA isnt going to ever support a Muslim being in the White House. Do you think Hindus and Muslims are the same? Usha Vance is an accomplished Hindu American. Our problem isnt with brown people. Its with Islam," she said in a post on X.

.@JDVances wife isnt a Muslim.If she was, he never would have been Vice President because MAGA isnt going to ever support a Muslim being in the White House. Do you think Hindus and Muslims are the same? https://t.co/s2kOye92QB  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 25, 2025

This comes days after Loomer told Hasan to go back to the Islamic country" he comes from, saying, You are a Muslim immigrant. You can go back to the UK and the Islamic countries your parents were born in at any time you want." Afterwards, the Indian-origin former MSNBC host reminded her that India is not an Islamic country."

Mamdani Says Muslims Were Hit Hard After 9/11

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The Democratic mayoral candidate recounted the challenges faced by New Yorks Muslim community during a recent campaign event outside a Bronx mosque. Speaking to local leaders, Mamdani shared how his aunt stopped taking the subway after the 9/11 attacks because she did not feel safe in her hijab."

He also revealed that he had been advised to downplay his faith upon entering politics. These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught," he said, highlighting systemic pressures and subtle discrimination over the years.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 17:41 IST

News world She Isnt Muslim': MAGA Activist References JD Vance's Wife In Jibe At Journalist Mehdi Hasan

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'Return Dead Hostages Or Face Action': Trump Warns Hamas, Gives Them 48-Hour Deadline

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 09:12 IST

Trump warns Hamas to return bodies of deceased hostages within 48 hours or face action by countries involved in peace efforts.

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Trump added that countries involved in the current peace arrangement would take action if Hamas fails to comply. (Image: Reuters/File)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued a fresh warning to militant group Hamas, asking them to quickly return the bodies of deceased hostages, who were taken during the October 7 attack against Israel, to ensure peace in Gaza.

Suggesting the militant group to comply with its obligations," Donald Trump warned that he would be watching their actions very closely" over the next 48 hours.

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In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, the US President stated that the Middle East is experiencing a very strong peace" which he believes has the potential to be everlasting," while warning Hamas to ensure both sides are treated fairly."

Trump added that countries involved in the current peace arrangement would take action" if Hamas fails to comply.

Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," Trump wrote.

He added that while some of the bodies may be in difficult-to-access areas, others could be returned immediately but the group has been choosing not to hand over the bodies. Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming," he noted.

Trump also referred to his earlier remarks about treating both sides fairly, clarifying that such fairness was conditional on compliance with peace commitments. When I said, Both sides would be treated fairly," that only applies if they comply with their obligations."

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Concluding his statement, Trump suggested that developments in the next two days would be crucial. Lets see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely," he added.

The ceasefire agreement brokered by the US requires Hamas to return all hostages, living and dead. The group has so far released 20 surviving captives and bodies of 15 hostages. The bodies of 13 others, including two Americans, remain held in Gaza.

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 : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 09:12 IST

News world 'Return Dead Hostages Or Face Action': Trump Warns Hamas, Gives Them 48-Hour Deadline

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Spencer Platt / Getty Images The AI rally has boosted the sales and stocks of companies across a range of industries.

Key Takeaways

Optimism about artificial intelligence has lifted the prices of stocks across various industries, but nuclear power providers have seen their valuations become the most untethered from the bottom line.

Investors, aware of how much electricity is required to train and run AI models, are willing to pay three times more for AI-exposed power stocks than they were just two years ago.

The stocks of nuclear tech companies with little to no revenue, like Oklo and NuScale Power, have pulled back over the last week, but the companies still sport multibillion-dollar market values.

AI boom or AI bubble? That's been one of the most pressing debates on Wall Street of late.

Some investors see echoes of the Dotcom Bubble in Nvidia's (NVDA) and OpenAI's recent circular dealmaking bonanza and soaring stock prices. Others note the AI boom is being financed by hugely profitable tech companies, whose valuations aren't nearly as high as their Dotcom peers.

As Big Tech's AI spending has ballooned, so have the ranks of companies claiming a piece of the pie. The AI buildout has turbocharged the sales of unsexy, slow-and-steady businesses and transformed their stocks into buzzy growth names. It has also juiced the stocks of nascent companies that are years from self-sufficiency, creating pockets of exceptional froth within a pricey AI ecosystem.

Why This Is Important

The stocks that gain the most during sharp market rallies are often the stocks that, when sentiment turns negative, have the farthest to fall. That is especially true of young companies that, without substantial sales, rely on debt and equity markets to fund their growth.

To understand where the AI trade has become most bubbly, Investopedia identified 75 companies regularly referred to as "AI beneficiaries" by Wall Street analysts, and sorted each into one of five categories: cloud computing providers; semiconductor makers; software companies; power providers; and networking, storage, and cooling equipment makers.

A few companies, like Microsoft (MSFT), fit in multiple categories, in which case we've placed them in the one that feels most central to their AI business today. At present, Microsoft's cloud revenue is the best metric for assessing its AI business, so it's classified as a cloud provider instead of a software company.

Power Provider Stocks Seem The Frothiest

All five categories have seen their valuations rise over the past few years, but none more than power providers. The median price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of our power basket in 2025 is 4.53, nearly three times the median in 2023 (1.52). The next largest P/S expansions over that period were in networking, storage and cooling (4.45 in 2025 vs. 2.09 in 2023) and cloud providers (10.5 vs 6.34). (Cloud providers have a higher P/S ratio in absolute terms because the category is composed of tech stocks that have historically commanded higher valuations. This is why we've compared change over the past three years rather than absolute P/S ratios.)
Russia Arrests Ukrainian Biologist For Backing Curbs On Antarctic Krill Fishing

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 23:00 IST

Leonid Pshenichnov, a Ukrainian scientist, was arrested in Crimea by Russia for alleged treason over his Antarctic krill research, sparking condemnation

Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko. (X)

Ukraine, Australia, and the UK condemned Russia over the illegal" arrest of a Ukrainian scientist, who has been accused by Moscow of undermining Russias industrial trawling for krill in Antarctica.

Ukrainian biologist Leonid Pshenichnov (70) has made significant contributions to scientific research and conservation, including support for marine protected areas in the region.

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According to The Guardian, the scientist was preparing to travel to Australia to attend a conference on protecting Antarctic marine life when he was arrested in the Russian-occupied territory of Crimea. He has since been accused by the Russians of high treason.

According to a document by the Russian authorities to Pshenichnovs lawyers, the scientist has been called a citizen of the Russian Federation" who defected to the enemys side" by assisting Ukraines delegation to the Antarctic conference, organised by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart, Tasmania.

Russia also accused the scientist of using his research to undermine Russias fishing of krill in Antarctica by encouraging, via a Ukrainian proposal, the restriction of krill harvesting. Such proposals would harm the economic interests of Russia, The Guardian reported.

Following the arrest, Australia condemned the incident and said it was gravely concerned". The UK urged Moscow to release all arbitrarily detained civilians".

The Guardian quoted Ukraines ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, as saying: Hes a scientist, not an official, not a politician. These are trumped-up charges, his detention is groundless."

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While calling for members of the commission to condemn Russias actions, he said: Is it acceptable for the CCAMLR community to stand by while a Ukrainian biologist, who has devoted his life to the study, conservation and rational use of Antarctic marine living resources, faces persecution and imprisonment by Russia?"

He was forced to take up a Russian passport while staying with family in temporarily occupied Crimea and has been arbitrarily charged with threatening the security of the Russian Federation," he added.

Location : Ukraine

First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:58 IST

News world Russia Arrests Ukrainian Biologist For Backing Curbs On Antarctic Krill Fishing

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Spain Seizes 6.5 Tonnes Of Cocaine On Ship Off Canary Islands After US Tip-Off

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 23:32 IST

The operation was carried out after crucial information was shared by the US Drug Enforcement Administration

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Packages of cocaine that were found in a container from Ecuador. (AFP file photo)

Spanish police on Sunday said that they seized 6.5 tonnes of cocaine and arrested nine people after receiving a tip-off from US authorities that led them to raid a ship near the Canary Islands a few days ago.

In a statement, the Spanish police said the drugs were hidden inside the ships hold. The vessel, sailing under a Tanzanian flag, had departed from Panama and was headed for the port of Vigo in north-west Spain.

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The operation was carried out after crucial information was shared by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which helped Spanish authorities track and intercept the ship, the statement stated.

Spain serves as one of the main entry points for cocaine smuggled from Latin America into Europe, owing to its close historical and trade ties with the region and its strategic position in south-west Europe.

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Last October, Spanish police made their largest-ever cocaine seizure when they found around 13 tonnes of the drug concealed in a shipment of bananas at the southern port of Algeciras.

(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 : Spain

First Published: October 26, 2025, 23:32 IST

News world Spain Seizes 6.5 Tonnes Of Cocaine On Ship Off Canary Islands After US Tip-Off

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Tensions Rise Over Pakistan Army Chief's Extension: Govt Says 2027 Set, Asim Munir Wants 2030 | Exclusive

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 27, 2025, 00:04 IST

Sources said by demanding a new five-year term, Field Marshal Asim Munir is aiming to dominate Pakistan's next political cycle to ensure military influence through two governments

Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is pushing for a five-year extension starting now to 2030. (Image: AFP/File)

The tension between GHQ and Islamabad has escalated over the extension of Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munirs term.

While the Pakistan government insists that no new notification is necessary as the term has already been extended until 2027, Field Marshal Asim Munir is pushing for a five-year extension starting now to 2030.

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According to top intelligence sources, the ongoing rift between GHQ Rawalpindi and Islamabad is not merely about tenure but control of the transition. By demanding a new five-year term starting now, Field Marshal Munir is aiming to dominate Pakistans next political cycle, ensuring military influence through at least two civilian governments, the sources said.

The sources told News18 that for the PML-N, the proposal of a two-year deal appears less of a compromise and more of a survival tactic. It has argued that extending Field Marshal Munirs term for five years now will make it impossible to rein in his influence, as he would dominate the establishment and play political games, they said.

They said Field Marshal Munir, on the other hand, has promised to bring the PML-N into power within five years  an assurance that the party is not ready to accept. Instead, it has suggested a new formula  give him two years now, with a promise of an additional five years starting 2027, they added.

The strategy behind the PML-Ns proposal is to hold early elections before the Pakistani army chiefs extended term ends in 2027, the sources said. Once in power, they could then consider granting him the five-year extension that he wants, they said.

Reports suggest that Field Marshal Munir is seeking support from foreign powers, including Qatar, which is attempting to broker a deal with Shehbaz Sharif.

There is, however, not much internal opposition in the military to his term extension for another five years, they said. He has already positioned his young generals in key roles and is reportedly planning to change some top corps commanders soon to prevent any seniority issues, they added.

DG ISI General Asim Malik has been given an extension extension till indefinite time.

Lt General Amer Ahsan Nawaz has been made military secretary at GHQ in August; he was corps commander Rawalpindi and is a close aide of Field Marshal Munir.

DG-C ISI General Faisal Naseer was supposed to be transferred in June-July but is still at his position and may remain or will be promoted to a key position.

DGMO Major General Kashif Abdullah is the Field Marshals blue-eyed boy"; he was with him on China, United States and Pak-Saudi defence deal signing ceremony in Riyadh.

A key general to the Field Marshal, Lt General Aamer Raza was appointed in February and is also a close aide.

ISI INTERVENTION

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The sources said this matter has become a major problem, with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) mobilising the TLP on the streets to demonstrate government failure. It has noted that the ban on the TLP is via an executive order, not a constitutional one, and can be scrapped at any time, they said.

They said in a significant move, the ISI has orchestrated a petition through a citizen against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alleging multiple frauds disqualifying him as an member of national assembly (MNA). Notably, this petition has been accepted by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), they added.

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Islamabad, Pakistan

First Published: October 27, 2025, 00:04 IST

News world Tensions Rise Over Pakistan Army Chief's Extension: Govt Says 2027 Set, Asim Munir Wants 2030 | Exclusive

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Top Pakistani General Meets Yunus: What Does Islamabad's Outreach To Dhaka Mean For Bangladesh?

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee



Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 21:57 IST

Intelligence sources said Pakistan aims to dilute India's regional influence by reopening old diplomatic channels with Bangladesh

Pakistan Army's top general, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during his official visit to Dhaka on October 25. (Image: @ChiefAdviserGoB/X)

Pakistans outreach to Bangladesh is a calculated effort to re-engage with Dhaka, sources told News18.

Pakistan Armys top general, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus late on Saturday (October 25), during his official visit to Dhaka. He is the chairman of Pakistans Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC).

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A press note issued by Dhaka on Sunday said Muhammad Yunus and General Sahir Shamshad Mirza discussed a wide range of issues concerning Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, including the growing importance of bilateral trade, investment, and defence cooperation.

While this meeting highlights Pakistans continued efforts to strengthen regional dialogue and foster collaboration through defence diplomacy and mutual understanding, top intelligence sources said General Mirzas move is a calculated effort to re-engage with Dhaka.

According to the sources, Pakistan aims to dilute Indias regional influence by reopening old diplomatic channels with Bangladesh, projecting itself as a moderate player and testing Dhakas willingness to diversify beyond New Delhi. This marks the first high-level Pakistan military engagement in Bangladesh since 1971, the sources said.

The sources said Pakistan likely aims to explore intelligence-sharing or military training arrangements in the future, using Yunuss interim position to create openings before Bangladeshs next electoral transition. The meeting also attempts to form an OIC-type bloc to align South Asian Muslim-majority states, seeking to align Bangladesh and Afghanistan with Pakistans positions on Palestine and other grievances within the Islamic world, they said.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MEETING?

Apart from their own bilateral relations, Yunus and General Mirza also engaged in talks about regional and global developments including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

Emphasising the shared historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties between the two countries, General Mirza expressed Pakistans desire to strengthen cooperation in multiple sectors. He noted the vast potential for expanding trade, connectivity, and investment between Bangladesh and Pakistan," said the press note issued by Dhaka.

General Mirza, meanwhile, said the two countries will support each other, adding that a two-way shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong has already begun operations, while a Dhaka-Karachi air route is expected to open within months.

Both sides underscored the need to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and Europe. They exchanged views on the growing challenge of misinformation and the misuse of social media by non-state actors to undermine peace and stability across various regions.

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Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos. There must be a concerted global effort to combat this menace," Yunus said.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: October 26, 2025, 21:57 IST

News world Top Pakistani General Meets Yunus: What Does Islamabad's Outreach To Dhaka Mean For Bangladesh?

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Trump Claims India Cutting Back Completely On Russian Oil; Hopes For Complete Deal With China

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 07:47 IST

Trump announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, a move intended to tighten financial pressure on Kremlin.

US President Donald Trump . (Reuters File)

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that India is cutting their purchases of Russian oil following new US sanctions on Moscows energy sector.

He also said that he will discuss multiple key issues, including the purchase of Russian oil, agricultural trade, and the fentanyl crisis, during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. The high-stakes visit, expected to take place next week, comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade restrictions, technology bans, and raw material supplies.

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Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Trump suggested that China had already begun reducing its imports of Russian oil and that India had cut back completely," following US sanctions imposed on Moscows energy sector. I may be discussing it (purchase of Russian oil)," Trump said. Chinas cutting back very substantially on the purchase of Russian oil, and Indias cutting back completely, and weve imposed sanctions."

Sanctions on Russian energy giants

Earlier Trump announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, a move intended to tighten financial pressure on the Kremlin. The measures are part of Washingtons broader strategy to restrict Moscows ability to fund its military operations through oil exports.

However, India has repeatedly rejected Trumps claims, maintaining that its energy policy remains guided by national interests and the need to secure affordable supplies. New Delhi continues to assert that it has not agreed to any US-led reduction in Russian oil imports.

Agriculture and Fentanyl on agenda

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Trump said the meeting with Xi would also focus on US agricultural exports and Chinas role in the global fentanyl trade. I want our farmers to be taken care of, and he wants things also," Trump said, adding, Were going to be talking about fentanyl. It is killing a lot of people, it comes from China."

Despite growing friction between the worlds two largest economies, Trump expressed optimism that the talks could lead to a complete deal" addressing multiple trade and security concerns. Well be talking about a lot of things," he said, describing the meeting as an opportunity to reset" US-China relations.

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 26, 2025, 07:47 IST

News world Trump Claims India Cutting Back Completely On Russian Oil; Hopes For Complete Deal With China

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Trump Dances With Performers In Malaysia, Netizens Praise His Energetic Moves | Watch

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 13:26 IST

Trump landed in Malaysia on Sunday morning and danced with local performers as Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim received him.

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Trump's dance moves uplifted the spirit of the performers. (Image: X)

US President Donald Trump landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on Sunday morning as he kicked off his three-nation tour. President Trump was received by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. In a light-hearted moment, Trump joined a group of Malaysian performers in a traditional dance, briefly waving his arm in rhythm before the start of official engagements.

The video of his dance moves has gone viral on social media, with netizens praising his energetic dance moves. The video shared on X by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has amassed over 600k views. The video was captioned, MUST WATCH: President Trump has ARRIVED in Malaysia!"

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MUST WATCH: President Trump has ARRIVED in Malaysia!  pic.twitter.com/GIRi1KRmLs Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) October 26, 2025

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, Man of the people right there. Notice how the dancers energy changes after he joins them(sic)."

Another commented, Our Presidents dance can break ice around the globe (sic)."

I was waiting for YMCA to start playing(Sic)," joked a third user.

The visit marks the first leg of Trumps three-nation tour, which also includes stops in Japan and South Korea, as well as a proposed meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The US president arrived in Malaysia to attend the ASEAN summit and a ceremony commemorating the signing of an expanded ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailandtwo Southeast Asian nations that clashed along their disputed border earlier this year.

Trump has claimed credit for brokering the peace deal, describing it as a key achievement of his administration. In July, following five days of border conflict that left dozens dead and displaced thousands, Trump had warned both Thailand and Cambodia of potential trade repercussions if hostilities continued.

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Thailands Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul nearly missed the ceremony after the death of Queen Mother Sirikit on Friday but later confirmed his attendance.

In addition to the peace ceremony and ASEAN engagements, Trump is expected to hold bilateral discussions with several world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, focusing on trade and tariff-related issues during the summit weekend.

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 : Malaysia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 13:26 IST

News world Trump Dances With Performers In Malaysia, Netizens Praise His Energetic Moves | Watch

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Trump Meets Lula Da Silva, Predicts 'Pretty Good Deals' For US, Brazil

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 15:00 IST

US President Donald Trump met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, expressing hope for promising deals between the United States and Brazil.

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The two leaders met in Malysia. (Image: X/@LulaOficial)

US President Donald Trump, who is on a visit to Malaysia, met his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on Sunday and expressed optimism for future US-Brazil collaborations and potential pretty good deals."

Its a great honor to be with the President of Brazil I think we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries We always have had a good relationship  I think it will continue," Trump said during the meeting.

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In response, Lula said he was also optimistic that US-Brazil relations would advance during the meeting. Theres no reason for having any other kind of conflict between Brazil and the United States," Lula said through a translator.

The two leaders exchanged views ahead of their meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur later in the day.

In a post on social media platform X, the Brazilian President said his meeting with Trump focused on strengthening bilateral trade ties and resolving ongoing economic disputes.

I had a great meeting with President Trump on this Sunday afternoon in Malaysia. We discussed the bilateral trade and economic agenda in a frank and constructive manner. We agreed that our teams will meet immediately to advance in the search for solutions to the tariffs and sanctions against Brazilian authorities," Lula da Silva tweeted.

The Brazilian Presidents statement suggests that follow-up meetings between officials from both nations will begin immediately" to identify potential resolutions.

The interaction between the US and Brazil marks one of the first high-level engagements between the two nations in recent months, signaling potential progress in reviving trade relations that have been impacted by global economic headwinds and policy disputes.

In early August, Trump raised tariffs on most Brazilian imports from 10 percent to 50 percent, linking the move to what he called a witch hunt" against the South American countrys former President Jair Bolsonaro.

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Lula da Silva has criticized the decision, calling the tariff hike a mistake," and noting that the US has enjoyed a $410 billion trade surplus with Brazil over the past 15 years.

The steep increase in tariffs has already begun to reshape global trade dynamics, particularly in the beef sector, where US import costs have surged. The shift has also encouraged indirect trade routes through third countries such as Mexico, even as Brazils exports to China continue to thrive amid rising demand.

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 : Malaysia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 14:53 IST

News world Trump Meets Lula Da Silva, Predicts 'Pretty Good Deals' For US, Brazil

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Trump Slaps Canada With Additional 10% Tariff Over 'Fraudulent' Ronald Reagan Ad, Calls It 'Hostile Act'

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 08:00 IST

The advertisement featured audio of former US President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs as harmful to the economy and warning against trade wars.

Trump Raises Tariffs on Canada After Ontarios $75 Million Anti-Tariff Ad

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that his administration would raise tariffs on Canadian imports by an additional 10 per cent, escalating tensions between Washington and Ottawa. The decision followed a controversial $75 million television advertisement aired by the Ontario government during Game 1 of the World Series, which Trump called fraudulent" and hostile."

The advertisement featured audio of former US President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs as harmful to the economy and warning against trade wars. Trump accused the Ontario government of deliberately misusing Reagans words to criticise his protectionist trade policies.

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Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford later confirmed that the advertisement would be withdrawn after the weekend, though he defended its message as a call for fair trade and open markets." The intention was never to attack, but to encourage cooperation," Ford said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded cautiously, saying Ottawa remained committed to dialogue. We prefer negotiation and diplomacy over escalation," Carney stated, while urging the United States to maintain mutual respect" in trade matters.

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The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation also criticised Ontario for using excerpts from Reagans 1987 speech without permission, claiming that the quotes were taken out of context. The Foundation emphasised that Reagans stance on tariffs was complex and should not be used for political advertising.

The White House has reportedly suspended ongoing US-Canada trade talks following the tariff announcement. American business groups have warned that higher import duties could increase consumer prices and disrupt cross-border supply chains.

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 26, 2025, 07:02 IST

News world Trump Slaps Canada With Additional 10% Tariff Over 'Fraudulent' Ronald Reagan Ad, Calls It 'Hostile Act'

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100% Tariffs On China 'Off The Table' As US Eyes Sweeping Trade Deal In Trump-Xi Meeting

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 18:27 IST

The US and China are looking to avert an escalation of their trade war after Beijing announced new export curbs and Donald Trump announced 100% tariffs on Chinese goods.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2019. (Reuters/File)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trumps threat of 100% tariffs was effectively off the table" as top negotiators from both countries held what they called very constructive" trade talks in Malaysia ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week.

The talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit will chart a path forward on a sweeping trade deal between Washington and Beijing, after Trump threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade curbs starting on November 1, in retaliation for Chinas vastly expanded export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

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Speaking to CBS News, Bessent said Trumps threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods is effectively off the table" and he expected the Asian nation to make substantial" soybean purchases as well as offer a deferral on sweeping rare earth controls. "

We had a very good two-day meeting. I would believe that the  so it would be an extra 100% from where we are now, and I believe that that is effectively off the table," he said. So I would expect that the threat of the 100% has gone away, as has the threat of the immediate imposition of the Chinese initiating a worldwide export control regime."

Bessent said the US would not change its export controls with China. He separately told ABC News that he believed China would delay its rare-earth restrictions for a year while they reexamine it."

The US Secretary also said China would delay export controls for a year until they re-examine it", and also agreed on substantial" purchases of soybeans from US farmers. China had halted soybean exports from the US after the trade war erupted.

US Eyes Trade Deal With China

Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.

This came as Trump arrived in Malaysia to kick-start his Asia tour, saying he was confident of a great" deal when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week. I think were going to make a deal. Its going to be great for China, great for us," he said.

According to Bessent, Trump and Xi would discuss soybean and agricultural purchases from American farmers, more balanced trade and resolving the US fentanyl crisis. They are also expected to discuss the sale of TikTok and the issue of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory.

Chinas Li said both sides had reached a preliminary consensus" and will next go through their respective internal approval processes. The US position has been tough. We have experienced very intense consultations and engaged in constructive exchanges in exploring solutions and arrangements to address these concerns," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Trumps Tariff Threat

The encouraging signs of a trade deal are in stark contrast to recent weeks, when China announced new export curbs and Trump warned China of staggering 100% tariffs that threatened to pull the two countries again into an all-out trade war.

The US President accused Beijing of extraordinarily aggressive" and hostile" trade actions after China announced restrictions on exports of nearly all its products, particularly rare earth elements. However, Trump struck a conciliatory tone soon afterwards, saying the United States wants to help China, not hurt it."

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Tensions between the worlds two largest economies have flared recently as a delicate trade truce, reached after their first round of trade talks in Geneva in May and extended in August, failed to prevent the two sides from hitting each other with more sanctions, export curbs and threats of stronger retaliatory measures.

(with agency inputs)

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 : Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

First Published: October 26, 2025, 18:27 IST

News world 100% Tariffs On China 'Off The Table' As US Eyes Sweeping Trade Deal In Trump-Xi Meeting

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Zohran Mamdani Says His Aunt Felt Unsafe In Hijab After 9/11, JD Vance Responds

Curated By :

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Last Updated: October 26, 2025, 12:20 IST

Mamdani shared how his aunt stopped taking the subway after the 9/11 attacks because she did not feel safe in her hijab.

JD Vance Ridicules Mamdanis Story of Aunt Feeling Unsafe After 9/11

Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani recounted the challenges faced by New Yorks Muslim community during a recent campaign event outside a Bronx mosque. Speaking to local leaders, Mamdani shared how his aunt stopped taking the subway after the 9/11 attacks because she did not feel safe in her hijab."

He also revealed that he had been advised to downplay his faith upon entering politics. These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught," he said, highlighting systemic pressures and subtle discrimination over the years.

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Mamdanis remarks come amid a tense mayoral race in New York, where he faces Republican Curtis Sliwa and Independent Andrew Cuomo. Both opponents, along with outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, have recently made statements targeting Mamdanis faith.

Cuomo reportedly laughed along with a conservative radio hosts suggestion that Mamdani would be cheering" another 9/11 attack, though a spokesperson later denied agreement with the comment. Adams warned, New York cant be Europebecause of Islamic extremism," while Sliwa accused Mamdani of supporting global jihad." Many Democrats have accused these political attacks of veering into Islamophobia, diverting attention from policy debates.

Vance replies

In response to Mamdanis story, US Vice President JD Vance posted a snarky comment, suggesting that according to Mamdani, the real victim" of 9/11 was his aunt, who merely received some allegedly critical looks.

According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks https://t.co/UGeKANSAH2 JD Vance (@JDVance) October 25, 2025

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Despite the attacks, Mamdani reaffirmed his commitment to his faith and identity. I will not change who I am, how I eat, for the faith that Im proud to call my own," he said. He added that while he initially tried to minimise his religious identity to avoid prejudice, he now intends to fully embrace it in public life.

I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light," Mamdani declared, signalling a resolute stance on personal dignity and equality in the citys political landscape.

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 : New York, United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 26, 2025, 11:58 IST

News world Zohran Mamdani Says His Aunt Felt Unsafe In Hijab After 9/11, JD Vance Responds

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Ethena Crypto Stablecoins. Photo by BeInCrypto

Zelle announced plans to expand its $1 trillion US payments network internationally using stablecoins. The plan promises to make international money transfers faster and cheaper.

Doubts arise about the initiatives substance and whether it represents yet another banking consortiums unsuccessful attempt to adopt blockchain technology.

Zelle Moves Beyond US Borders

Zelle, one of the most widely used payment networks in the United States, is going global.

Early Warning Services (EWS), the bank-owned operator of Zelle, announced today a new initiative that aims to extend its $1 trillion payments system beyond US borders by leveraging stablecoins.

The plan promises to make international money transfers faster, more reliable, and less costly by leveraging blockchain-based stablecoin technology.

"Zelle transformed how Americans send money at home. Now, we're beginning the work to bring that same level of speed and reliability to Zelle consumers sending money to and from the United States, building on what we have learned from the market, our users, and our network banks and credit unions, said EWS CEO Cameron Fowler in a press release.

The move represents Zelles most ambitious step since its domestic launch in 2017. As consumers increasingly demand cheaper and more efficient ways to send money abroad, traditional banks are under pressure to compete.

Still, supported by major US banks such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, EWS operates at a scale few fintech firms can match.

However, while the announcement generated excitement among institutional players, it left many critical questions unanswered.

Zelles Scale May Test Old Limits

EWSs announcement today lacked several key details. Fowler did not disclose whether the consortium plans to create a unified stablecoin or allow individual member banks to issue their own.

He also didn't clarify which foreign banking partners would participate in the international rollout  a crucial detail for assessing how far Zelles global ambitions might reach.

The projects launch date also remains unknown, though the company offered that further announcements would arrive soon.

Skeptics were quick to argue that Zelles stablecoin expansion runs the risk of following a familiar pattern of institutional signaling over substance. The complexity of coordinating thousands of financial institutions, each with its own risk and compliance frameworks, often leads to delays, fragmentation, or outright abandonment.

Simon Taylor, a fintech analyst who discussed the topic on X, pointed to Fnality's example to illustrate how banking consortia have historically struggled to turn blockchain initiatives into lasting, functional systems.
Parents can easily spend north of $150,000 to have a child through a surrogate, and many turn to specialty escrow companies who handle the money: vouching that expenses sync with the terms of the contract and doling out the parents' payments to the surrogate so long as they do. Except as Ben Foldy writes for the Wall Street Journal , these companies operate in a regulatory void, with no federal laws on the books regarding the financial (and other) components of surrogate pregnancies. That's allowed fraudsters to walk away with clients' money more than once.

Foldy zeroes in on Surrogacy Escrow Account Management, or SEAM, one of a number of companies managing surrogacy funds. But instead of paying bills, SEAM's owner allegedly used up to $16 million in client money to bankroll a luxury vegan clothing brand and a rap career, per a civil lawsuit. Hundreds of families and surrogatessome mid-pregnancywere left high and dry: "Already-pregnant surrogates must carry through with labor that they know they may not be paid for, while potentially being on the hook for medical bills they may not be able to afford," writes Foldy. "Parents face the prospect of messy litigation from unpaid surrogates."

Foldy relates three more horror stories involving owners and employees of other companies who used client money for a yoga studio, to purchase bitcoin, and to cover online gambling debts; all ended up being sentenced to years in prison. When the money vanishes, parents and surrogates often have nowhere to turn. Federal authorities are now investigating SEAM, and some families have filed lawsuits, but the odds of recovering lost money are slim. (Read the full story for much more, including stories of would-be parents who saw their funds disappear.)
Three Chinese citizens were arrested in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi while attempting to illegally purchase 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of uranium, the country's State Security Service said Saturday. The suspects planned to buy the nuclear material for $400,000 and transport it back to China through Russia, the officials said, per the AP . The Georgian authorities did not identify the suspects or elaborate on a motive.

The scheme allegedly began when a Chinese citizen already in Georgia, who was in breach of visa regulations, brought in experts to search for uranium throughout the country. Others coordinated the operation from China, said the security officials.

Georgia is a former Soviet republic, and Reuters notes that the security of nuclear materials has been a concern since the 1991 fall of the USSR. Back in July, authorities charged a Turkish national and a Georgia resident with the illegal purchase of radioactive material that could have been used to build a bomb.
President Trump began his Asia tour in Malaysia on Sunday by overseeing the signing of a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodiaa ceremony that allowed him to boast of his peace-making efforts. "On behalf of the United States, I'm proud to help settle this conflict and forge a future for the region," Trump said, per NBC News . At one point, he joked about receiving calls about the conflict in July while at his Scottish golf resort. "Turnberry is a great place, but I said this is much more important than playing a round of golf," Trump said. "So we sat there all day long, making phone calls."

Among other things, the agreement calls for Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers and for ASEAN observers to monitor the truce. Both Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet hailed the deal, with the latter reiterating a promise to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. A BBC analysis notes that while the deal is indeed progress, "historic differences over the border remain unresolved and are at risk of flaring up again."

After the ceasefire was formalized, Trump signed new trade agreements with both countries. Thailand will drop tariffs on 99% of US goods, while Cambodia will lift tariffs entirely. However, the US will keep a 19% tariff on imports from both nations. Separate agreements on critical minerals were signed with Malaysia and Thailand, reflecting US efforts to secure alternative supplies as China tightens its grip on those materials amid trade tensions. Trump is expected to meet with China's Xi Jinping at some point this weekand maybe North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
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Top US and Chinese negotiators struck an optimistic tone after two days of trade talks in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend, signaling progress ahead of a meeting between President Trump and China's Xi Jinping. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the discussions produced "a very successful framework" for the summit, scheduled for later this week, while Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Li Chenggang said the two sides had reached a "preliminary consensus" on key disputes. The talks, held in the Malaysian capital, covered an array of issues, the Wall Street Journal reports: export controls, the future of suspended tariffs, fentanyl trafficking, agricultural purchases, and access to China's rare earth minerals.

The US pressed China to resume buying American soybeans and crack down on chemicals used in fentanyl production, while China defended its economic interests. "The US position has been tough," Li said, per Reuters. The two sides agreed to continue a temporary truce on tariffs, set to expire Nov. 10, though Bessent said any extension would ultimately be up to Trump, who arrived Sunday for the meeting of Southeast Asian leaders. Li said the next step is for each country to seek internal approval on the preliminary agreements, but he didn't share specifics.

The backdrop to the talks is a volatile trade relationship that has seen both countries repeatedly raise and then reduce tariffs, rattling global markets, per the Journal. The Malaysia meeting was the fifth round of high-level negotiations this year, following several flare-ups, including new US restrictions on Chinese tech firms and tighter Chinese controls on rare earth exports. Trump has said he's seeking "a really comprehensive deal" with China. Unresolved questions include whether the US will proceed with a threatened 100% tariff on Chinese goods next month, and if restrictions on American technology exports to China will be eased.
Russia carried out a successful test of its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday, claiming the nuclear-capable weapon can defeat any existing missile defense system. Putin said the test, conducted Tuesday, demonstrated the missile's ability to fly 8,700 miles over 15 hours using nuclear propulsion, Reuters reports. Russian officials describe the Burevestnik, which NATO calls Skyfall, as having an almost unlimited range and an unpredictable flight path, making it difficult to intercept; outside observers have said it might also be difficult to handle. Addressing military commanders, Putin said the weapon was once thought impossible but is now ready for deployment consideration.

Western experts over the years of development have doubted the missile's strategic value and claims of successful tests, per the BBC. Putin said he directed his generals to determine how the missile should be classified and to begin preparing deployment infrastructure. "It is a unique ware which nobody else in the world has," Putin, wearing camouflage fatigues at a meeting with generals about the war on Ukraine, said in remarks released by the Kremlin, per Reuters. The test follows a series of strategic nuclear drills overseen by Putin, including the launch of other intercontinental ballistic and cruise missiles.

Putin framed the Burevestnik as a response to US missile defense initiatives and NATO expansion, referencing the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2001. The announcement follows other nuclear messaging from the Kremlin, which has resisted pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine and warned the US and NATO against sanctioning strikes deep inside Russia with longer-range Western weapons, per the AP.
UPDATE

Oct 27, 2025 7:10 PM CDT

The vice president of Venezuela called Monday for canceling energy agreements with Trinidad and Tobago over that nation's military cooperation with the US. A warship involved in President Trump's campaign to destroy Venezuelan speedboats he says are carrying drugs is being hosted by Trinidad. "The prime minister of Trinidad has decided to join the war mongering agenda of the United States," Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said Monday on national television, per the AP. She described the island nation's actions as hostile. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar dismissed the statements, saying, "Our future does not depend on Venezuela and never has."

Oct 26, 2025 2:01 PM CDT

A US warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago's capital on Sunday as the Trump administration increases its military pressure on neighboring Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro. The arrival of the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, in the capital of the Caribbean nation adds to aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is moving closer to Venezuela. Maduro criticized the movement of the carrier as an attempt by the US government to fabricate "a new eternal war" against his country, the AP reports. President Trump has accused Maduro, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organized crime gang Tren de Aragua.
The man who just took charge of Rome's top tourist attraction wants to set the record straight: The Colosseum will not be hosting any electronic dance music parties on his watch. Simone Quilici, director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, shared his plan to bring concerts to the almost 2,000-year-old amphitheater in an interview with an Italian newspaper, the AP reports. Then social media posts took hold: "Massive raves" were imminent, multiple accounts trumpeted, including AI-generated images of multicolor light beams shooting from the arena into the heavens.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Sunny skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High -28F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Cloudy. Snow likely late. Low -26F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Low -28F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of snow after midnight. Low -28F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.
Bahrain integral to Germanys Gulf tourism plan

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Germanys tourism board is set to launch its much-anticipated return to Bahrain today, unveiling the Germany Roadshow in Bahrain as part of a renewed push to strengthen ties with the Kingdom and highlight new travel opportunities across the Gulf region.

The roadshow will showcase the latest updates from Destination Germany, introduce new travel connections, and present GCC-focused campaigns while bringing together representatives from German destinations, airlines, hotels, and destination management companies.

Renewed Presence

GNTO GCC Director Yamina Sofo told The Daily Tribune that the decision to bring the roadshow back to Bahrain follows steady growth in Gulf travel to Germany, with the Kingdom forming a significant part of that momentum.

She said expanded flight schedules and stronger hub connections are making trips easier and more frequent, creating the right time to return in person to Bahrain to brief partners on new products ranging from citynature combinations to family- and halal-friendly services.

Sofo explained that the roadshow will help align joint marketing plans for 202526, deepen ties with Bahrains travel trade and media, and convert rising interest into year-round, higher-quality travel to Germany. It allows us to share practical planning tools, including the Halal Travel Guide, and to strengthen cooperation that turns interest into bookings, she said.

GCC Strategy

Describing Bahrain as an integral part of Germanys broader Gulf tourism strategy, Sofo said it is a quality-seeking market with strong travel propensity and close connections to regional hubs that efficiently link to Germanys gateways.

By engaging Bahrain alongside other GCC countries, GNTO aims to diversify demand beyond the largest source markets, encourage year-round travel, and promote balanced itineraries that combine cities with nature, wellness, shopping, and culture.

She said GNTO works closely with Bahraini travel partners on co-operative marketing, product training, and Arabic-first content so agents can build privacy-minded, family-friendly, rail-connected trips.

Bahrain helps deepen our Gulf footprint, spread visitors across more German regions, and convert interest into longer stays and repeat visits, she noted.
Bahrains National Institution for Human Rights (NIHR) marked a significant presence at the 10th Eurasian Alliance meeting of Ombudsman Offices and National Human Rights Institutions, held over two days in Moscow under the patronage of Russias Federal Human Rights Commissioner. The opening session was inaugurated by Professor Tatiana Moskalkova, Chairperson of the Russian Human Rights Commission, who welcomed participating delegations from across the region.

Representing Bahrain, Dr. Mal Allah Al Hammadi, NIHR Deputy Chairperson, and Ms. Rawda Salman Al Aradi, Commissioner, actively contributed to discussions on modern human rights challenges.

Dr. Al Hammadi delivered a keynote at the 9th International Scientific and Practical Conference on "Human Rights Protection Challenges: Exchanging Best Practices of Ombudsmen," highlighting Bahrains efforts to safeguard human rights in the digital age. He outlined the Institutions initiatives to address digital transformation, including awareness programs on privacy rights, anti-cyberbullying campaigns, monitoring human rights issues via social media, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure digital safety.

Meanwhile, Ms. Al Aradi presented a paper on "Exchanging Best Practices for Protecting Residents in Remote and Rural Areas," emphasizing the Institutions commitment to aligning national policies with the Sustainable Development Goals. She underscored Bahrains inclusive human rights approach, which extends protections to all residents, and highlighted NIHRs key initiatives: field monitoring through both announced and unannounced visits, preparing reports and recommendations, running awareness campaigns, engaging with civil society, communicating in multiple languages, and harmonizing legislation with international human rights standards.

The NIHR is a proud member of the Eurasian Alliance and holds the distinction of being the first Arab institution to join this platform. The Alliance serves as a pivotal forum for dialogue, cooperation, and the enhancement of human rights practices among ombudsman offices and national institutions worldwide.
Super VC Marc Andreessen talks with Blake Masters and Amjad Masad, CEO and co-founder of Replit, a cloud-based coding platform. They talk about the transformative role of AI in democratizing programming, technical breakthroughs in agentic AI, historical parallels in computing evolution, debates on AGI timelines, economic implications, and Masads personal journey from Jordan to Silicon Valley.

AI is magical but there are limitations and AI coding is at the vanguard of progress.

There is a paradoxical sentiment toward AI: its the most amazing technology ever, achieving feats unimaginable 510 years ago, yet users feel its not moving fast enough and is on the verge of stalling.

Masad attributes this to mismatched expectationsAI operates at person speed not instantaneous computer speed.

He vividly compares watching an AI agent code to observing John Carmack (legendary programmer behind Doom and id Software) on stimulants. Hyper-productive but deliberate, with pauses for reflection, tool use (web searches for compatibility issues), and self-verification.

This sets the stage for Replits mission: making software creation as intuitive as describing an idea.

Last year AI passed the 3-5 minute reasoning time. Replit made a bet that long horizon reasoning time would increase and they would be able to use this to solve more complex programming problems with AI. Long context reasoning lets you roll out trajectories in AI. Trajectory  a step by step reasoning chain to get to a solution.

Replits Vision is to take us from Accidental Complexity to English as the Programming Language.

Masad recounts pitching Replit ~710 years ago with a vision of universal software creation, inspired by Fred Brooks distinction between essential complexity (core business logic) and accidental complexity (setup drudgery like environments and packages).

Replit abstracted the latter over nearly a decade, supporting any language via robust infrastructure. The breakthrough came last year: code syntax itself was the remaining barrier.

Now, usersnovices or Excel macro tinkerersinput plain English prompts (I want to sell crepes online or a paragraph-long startup idea.

The AI agent parses it, auto-selects the optimal stack (Python/Streamlit for data viz, JS/Postgres/Stripe for e-commerce), and builds iteratively

.For non-experts, the experience is seamless: no dev setup nonsense. Prompts can be casual (I want to sell crepes) or specified (e.g., in Python for school).

It supports major languages like Japanese, leveraging AIs multilingual prowess.

Masad ties this to Grace Hoppers 1950s compiler invention, which aimed to replace machine code with English-like programming (COBOL). Higher-level languages (Python, JS) were steps forward, but AI completes the arc: typing thoughts instead of syntax.

Resistance persistsassembly coders scorned BASIC kids in the 1970s; JS purists hated React (which Masad helped build at Facebook). Now, veterans decry AI as sloppy. Yet abstractions democratize, echoing Masads JS revolution.

The Agentic Workflow: Building, Testing, and Deploying AppsOnce prompted, the agent builds a shared understanding via a task list (Set up Postgres DB with migrations and integrate Stripe for payments).

Users choose: iterate on UI design or full build (2040 minutes). The agent executes autonomouslywriting SQL, provisioning resources, testing in a spun-up browser, and iterating on failuresthen notifies: App ready; test on phone. Bugs? Describe in English; it fixes.

Publish with two clicks: cloud VM, production DB deployed.

What took days (local env, AWS signup, CI/CD pipelines) now takes minutes, empowering kids or laypeople.

Replits IDE heritage shines: Inspect files, Git diffs, push to GitHub, or open in VS Code/Emacs.

A key shift: The agent is now the programmer, using tools like file edits, package installs, and DB/object storage provisioningmirroring humans but bot-like.

Anecdote: Post-launch, Asian latency worsened because U.S.-hosted AIs became the remote worker, routing requests across oceans.

Technical Deep Dive: Coherence, RL, and the Verification Loop

The holy grail is long-horizon reasoning: agents maintaining coherence over extended runs (5200+ minutes) without derailing into errors, rabbit holes, or derangement (hallucinating in Chinese).

Early agents lasted 12 minutes.

by late 2023, 35 minutes

Agent 1 (2 min),

Agent 2 (Feb 2025, 20 min),

Agent 3 (200 min, up to 12 hours for some).

Metric: Real-user success (paid publishes signaling economic value), not just benchmarks.

Enablers: LLMs context window (up to ~200K tokens effectively, despite 1M claims) with compression (summarizing logs/DB setups).

Internal self-talk for reasoning: Need DB? Use Postgres tool.

read feedback

Core breakthrough: Reinforcement Learning (RL) from code execution.

Pre-training (predict next word) lacks reasoning.

RL rolls out trajectories (step-by-step chains) in envs like Replit

rewarding solutions (e.g., bug fixes verified by GitHub PRs/unit tests).

This extends chains, per nonprofit METRs benchmark (doubling coherent minutes every ~7 monthsfaster in practice).

Verification loops amplify: Nvidias 2025 paper showed verifiers enabling 20-min runs for optimized GPU kernels.

Replits multi-agent relay:

Agent A builds (20 min),

Agent B tests (browser/computer use), flags bugs, compresses summary for Agent Cs new trajectory.

Infinite via relay; coherent at 23 hours.

Speed: Faster than humans, with visible diffs/reflectionsfascinating to watch.

Evolution from Stochastic Parrots to Verifiable Reasoning

Early LLMs were stochastic parrots- Fluent at sonnets/conversation but failing basics (strawberrys 3 Rs, simple math).

Critique: Mirroring inputs without logic.

RL + verifiers (AlphaGo-style: neural gen + discrete tree search) unlocks reasoning in verifiable domainswhere truth is binary (true/false, compiles/outputs correctly).

Coding surges: SWE-Bench from 5% (early 2024) to 82% (Claude 3.5).

Near-saturation via GitHub corpora/synthetic data.

Human experts generate verified tasks for RL loops.

Why coding > others?

Easy verification (compile + tests)

softer fields (law/healthcare) too squishy (no auto-run diagnosis).

Concrete problems (math proofs in Lean, physics sims, protein folding, robotics outcomes) accelerate.

Transfer learning weakcustom RL per domain.

Foundation firms hire experts for data; synthetic gen scales but finite.

Expect rapid gains where verifiable.

Pace, Future of Coding, and Domain Disparities

Coding rips to the moon in 2026

By 2026, lay users match senior Google engineers via multi-agents (parallel: Add social to storefront; refactor DB).

Multimodal UIs (visuals/charts) for creative oversight.

Disparity: Code/math/bio/physics/chem fast.

healthcare/law/essays slower.

Broader: Verifiable domains (robotics) boom

~30% human effort verifiable.

AGI Debate: On Track?

Transfer, Bitter Lesson, and Functional Equivalents

Hype vs. reality:

U.S. economy bets on AGI (human-level generality), but no cross-domain transfer (code gains dont auto-boost bio).

Bitter Lesson (scale compute/data infinitely) questionedSutskever/Sutton: Human data exhaustion (fossil fuel analogy)

annotation dependency.

Humans suck at transfer (economists on fax vs. internet. Einsteins Stalinism).

AGI as above-human everything idealized; humans lack it.

Turing Test passed unnoticed

AI definition is always the next impossible thing.

GPT-5: Robotic vs. GPT-4s humanity

Excels verifiable (40-page econ syntheses rival PhD work) but stalls on controversy (COVID origins, WTC7)RLHF censors.

Great for steelmanning but not first-principles truth amid propaganda.

True AGI: Efficient continual learning (drop in env, learn driving in months).

Masad bearish: Good enough economics (Replit thrives sans AGI) traps in local max, relieving pressure. RL exciting but known 10+ years

watch bootstrappers like Inflection.

Conformism pays lesschart own paths in AI era.

Advice on empowerment: AI tools let kids bypass traditional gates.

The 2025 AI Index Report by Stanford HAI (2025): Annual benchmark shows compute doubling every 5 months, datasets every 8faster than Moores Lawvalidating Masads RL trajectory claims. Economic angle: $33.9B genAI investment (up 18.7%), projecting $4.4T productivity gains by 2030, but warns of $1.4T U.S. power infra spend. Pace: Verifiable domains (code/math) lead, with 2026 as agent year for 90% synthetic content.

The Projected Impact of Generative AI on Future Productivity Growth by Wharton Budget Model (Sep 8, 2025). Models AIs deficit reduction ($400B, 20262035) via coding automation, aligning with Replits layperson = senior engineer thesis. Explores scaling: Inference costs drop 30x via distillation, but energy bottlenecks (gigawatt-scale training) cap growth. 2026 prediction: $2T AI services market, with coding agents capturing 15% via verifiable ROI.

Exponential agent autonomy will have full-day runs by mid-2026 but transfer lags in soft domains. $100B AI software market by end-2025 (34.9% CAGR), with codings verifiability driving 60% returns from 3% investments from VC data)
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The Starbucks would be located at 71 County Road in Tenafly, according to the plans submitted to the borough planning board on Oct. 8. AFP/Getty Images

Starbucks has proposed opening a new store with a drive-thru in Bergen County.

While Starbucks recently announced the closing some New Jersey stores, plans have been submitted for a new store to open Tenafly.

The proposed Starbucks would be at 71 County Road, according to the plans submitted to the borough planning board earlier this month.

Plans call for a drive-thru lane along with parking on the property.

The project has not yet received approval from local officials.

Starbucks said at the end of September that it would close more than 500 North American stores, including five in New Jersey, as part of a $1B restructuring to cut costs.

The closing list included two Starbucks stores in Fort Lee, and one each in Morristown, Manchester and West New York.
Burlington County plans to use the recommended Preservation New Jersey grant monies to stabilize and repair fourteen structures and the wall surrounding Smithville Mansion, seen here. Burlington County

Burlington County will receive $750,000 to continue preservation work at historic Smithville Park under grant recommendations announced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The grant will fund stabilization and repair work on 14 structures and the wall surrounding Smithville Mansion in the former 19th-century industrial village that now serves as a county park in Eastampton.

Burlington Countys historic sites are precious assets and Smithville is unquestionably one of the most important, Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks, said in a statement.

The grant comes as Burlington County marks the 50th anniversary of its purchase of Smithville for just over $595,000.

The county transformed what had become practically a ghost town into its first county park.

It was a visionary decision in 1975, and decades later, the park is still the crown jewel of our expanded park system, Eckel said.

The planned restoration work includes repairs to the Thomas Merritt House, also known as the Pike farmhouse, which was built in 1786 and stands as the oldest property in Smithville.

The site is believed to have once housed a Lenape village and operated a grist mill during the American Revolution.

Smithvilles industrial heritage traces back to 1865, when industrialist Hezekiah B. Smith purchased what was then known as Shreveville.

Smith transformed the mill town into a thriving industrial center that manufactured woodworking machines and American Star bicycles for national distribution.

The H.B. Smith Machine Company factory operated until the 1950s.

Since acquiring the property, Burlington County has invested more than $17.5 million in preservation and restoration work at Smithville, along with park enhancements, including Smiths Woods Park, a floating trail across Smithville Lake, fishing docks, pavilions, and a playground.

The park now houses two art galleries in the Smithville Mansion Annex and a restored workers house, plus the Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County in a former workers cottage.

The Smithville grant represents one of 67 projects recommended by the Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The total recommended grants amount to $13.8 million for historic preservation statewide.

Other Burlington County projects recommended for grants include $94,387 for the Roebling Museum in Florence, $21,712 for the Whitesbog Preservation Trust in Pemberton Township, and $39,465 for Willingboro Townships City Federal Savings and Loan Space Bank Futuro site.

Additional recommendations include $57,188 for Saving Historic Moorestowns Thomas Cowperthwaite House, $40,722 for The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America for Old Schoolhouse preservation work in Mount Holly, and $49,500 for the Community House of Moorestown.

The grants draw funding from New Jersey corporate business tax revenues dedicated to open space, farmland, and historic preservation.

The Historic Trusts recommendations must still receive approval from the New Jersey Legislature and Governor through the normal appropriations process.
Tom Lozinski, a local photographer, was at Inlet Beach in Manasquan as a powerful noreaster battered the Jersey Shore for a second day on Oct, 13, 2025. Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Ocean City has declared a local state of emergency after a noreaster eroded much of the islands beach earlier this month, according to Mayor Jay Gillian.

The Oct. 12-13 storm swept away dunes and caused serious beach erosion from 1st to 13th streets, officials said.

The emergency designation could be a tool to help our legislators who are fighting to fund a scheduled Army Corps beach replenishment project, Gillian said Friday in his weekly community update.

Gillian said city officials discussed the erosion on Thursday with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist.

We are continuing to explore every available option, Gillian said.

Gillian said the city also has awarded a professional services contract to help us get the permits necessary to do some emergency work before the summer season.

New Jersey officials have said much of the shoreline from southern Ocean County to Cape May County experienced moderate to major sloped erosion during the storm two weeks ago that brought heavy rains and flooding.

The storm damaged a wide swath of beaches, including in North Wildwood, Atlantic City and the Strathmere section of Upper Township.

Van Drew, who represents much of the Jersey Shore, has said he is working to coordinate a sand loss response with the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that leads projects to restore the states beaches.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie along with his family sing with the B Street Band a Bruce Springsteen cover band in this file photo. (Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger) SL

Chris Christie can now add film critic to his resume, alongside other venerable titles like former New Jersey governor and two-time presidential also-ran.

Christie was recently given the opportunity to review Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere for The Free Press, the commentary site recently acquired by CBS News.

As the 55th Governor of New Jersey, it is just another one of the great opportunities the job has given me, Christie wrote in a Friday social media post sharing the review.

Gubernatorial bona fides aside, Christie is an avowed Springsteen superfan, so it makes sense that The Free Press would come to him with this assignment.

Even less surprising is the fact that, in response, Christie cranked out less of a movie review and more of a 1,300-word love letter to the Boss that reads like a man confessing his sins at the altar of Asbury Park.

The headline: Bruce Springsteen Has Done It Again. The subtext: Please, Bruce, text me back.

Christie opens with a disclaimer that hes not objective about Springsteen, sharing that the number of concerts hes now attended has ticked north of 170. (He does not address that its long been less clear if those mushy feelings are reciprocated.)

What follows is a praise song for the new Springsteen biopic, filtered through the lens of a man who seems convinced the album Nebraska personally saved his life and maybe couldve saved the Republican Party too, if anyone had listened.

In Christies telling, the film is unexpected, dark, and deeply emotional. He talks about the depiction of Bruces relationship with his father and his struggle with depression in tones usually reserved for Vatican miracles.

But then he shifts abruptly to his own experience of watching the movie, and how it brought memories of the release of Nebraska rushing back.

He recounts, with trembling reverence, the time he waited in line at a Delaware record shop to buy the album at midnight, only to discover it wasnt full of stadium anthems but a lone acoustic guitar and the depressing lyrics about a mass murderer.

Chris, thats the album. Thats the whole point.

But Deliver Me from Nowhere, Christie goes on to say, has a lesson to impart. It teaches us to face our demons. He wants us to feel Bruces pain, to see ourselves in his journey and triumph. Hes moved by the scene where Jon Landau (Jeremy Strong) declares, In this office, my office, we believe in Bruce Springsteen. You can almost see Christie whispering that line to his reflection in a diner window.

And yet theres something almost sweet about it. Christies not wrong that Nebraska is Bruce at his most raw and vulnerable. Its just funny that a guy who once shut down a beach for everyone but himself wants to talk to us about loneliness.

Hes not wrong: In a way, Bruce Springsteen has done it again. And so, apparently, has Chris Christie  turning an ode to blue-collar angst into a deeply weird, faintly spiritual personal essay that sounds like a campaign stump speech for the soul.
The man was stabbed Friday in Jersey City and died after being taken to the hospital, police said. Getty Images

A man was killed in a stabbing Friday in Jersey City, and police have a person of interest in custody, according to authorities.

Police were called after 12:20 p.m. to the area of Jersey Avenue, 1st Street and Maxwell Street, finding the man with a stab wound to his abdomen, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said in a statement.

The man, who was not named by authorities, was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after 1 p.m.

During the initial investigation, a person of interest was identified and taken into custody, authorities said.

The killing is under investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the prosecutors office at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip through the prosecutors website.
The signs sounded familiar to Jim Piazza.

The anti-hazing activist says hes been certain for some time that the 19-year-old who was critically injured last week at a Rutgers University fraternity house was the victim of hazing.

Piazza has been fighting the practice since 2017, when his son, Tim Piazza, died following a binge-drinking hazing ritual at Penn State.

They know its wrong. They know its intentional, and they do it anyway, the Monmouth County resident told NJ Advance Media on Saturday.

A fraternity-led investigation found hazing was involved on Oct. 14 when a pledge from Matawan was shocked by an electrical wire, the Alpha Sigma Phi national organization announced Friday.

The organization closed the Rutgers chapter, according to a spokesperson.

Piazza called for the chapter to be terminated if hazing was involved.

If there is hazing going on in a chapter, especially when it rises to the level of something dangerous, the national fraternities need to shut it down, he said.

Timothy J. Piazzas Law, signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021, requires New Jersey schools to adopt anti-hazing policies as well as penalties for violations of those policies. It was created after Tim Piazzas death once again cast a spotlight on the dangers of hazing.

Piazza said its now up to law enforcement and the district attorney to bring charges against fraternity brothers who might have been directly or indirectly involved in the alleged hazing.

He believes the only way to reduce hazing on college campuses is if police prosecute perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

Its unfortunate that these individuals would be brought up on felony hazing charges, but they shouldve thought about that before they engaged in the behaviors, Piazza said.

He and his wife, Evelyn, have spoken at Rutgers several times in past few years and shared the story of losing their son, as well as their initiatives to prevent hazing.

Piazza said he was frustrated after he read accounts last week that claimed students were listening to music in the dark when the incident occurred.

He emphasized that it clearly sounded like a case of hazing.

Piazza said that it does not make sense to have that type of gathering under those circumstances, referring to the night of Oct. 14.

Piazza said universities and national fraternities need to take a tougher stance against hazing and work together to prevent any additional injuries from occurring.
Milt Horowitz stands in front of Parabolic Performance & Rehab in Montclair on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Michael Dempsey | For NJ Advance

At age 84, Milt Horowitz is a scrappy fellow.

Hes not one to get pushed around.

The retired mathematics teacher from Montclair is very active, taking classes in music, sculpture and even running for a seat on his local board of education this November.

But he also has tight hip flexors, weak ankles and kyphosis, a condition where the spine curves. Thats why he goes to physical therapy. But at a recent visit, he had a surprise.

When he tried to pay his co-pay with cash, the business  Parabolic Montclair, which also has facilities in Hackensack and Little Falls  refused to take the payment.

The employees said it was their policy not to accept cash. Credit card or check only, Horowitz said of the Sept. 19 visit.

He was perturbed, noting that U.S. bills say: This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private.

As there was a 4% surcharge on the use of a credit card, and since I did not have a check, I said I would pay on the next visit. That was accepted, he said.

Horowitz paid with a check for his first two visits.

But it gnawed at him.

So he did some research, coming across a state law he believed supported what he thought was his right to pay cash.

Signed into law in 2019, it says: A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall not require a buyer to pay using credit or prohibit cash as payment in order to purchase the goods or services. A person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall accept legal tender when offered by the buyer as payment.

Violations are costly: up to $2,500 for the first offense and up to $5,000 for the second offense.

There are a few specific exceptions involving some retailers at airports and certain parking facilities, for example. But the provision says nothing specific about medical providers, one way or the other.

I provided a copy of the law to the company which begrudgingly granted me an exception to their policy, Horowitz said.

Now he could pay cash.

But he still didnt think it was fair. What about other people?

I believe it is important for people to know this, especially people who do not have the resources that `wealthier people have, he said. He asked Bamboozled to take a closer look.

DIVING IN

Its easy to understand why some businesses would prefer to refuse cash. Payment apps are increasingly common and credit cards abound  and with those pesky credit card surcharges being shouldered by the consumer, taking credit cards is more economical for businesses than they used to be. No cash also means a company doesnt have to worry about theft or making large cash deposits at the end of the day.

But theres another side to the issue, said Sen. Paul Moriarty, the primary sponsor of the legislation when he was in the Assembly.

He said many New Jerseyans are unbanked or dont have credit cards but still have money in their pockets.

Theyre being treated like second-class citizens, he said. I find it deplorable that places would stop taking cash.

Plus, he said, he doesnt want credit card companies tracking his every transaction so they can sell his information to make money.

Good point.

We asked Parabolic Montclair about the policy.

We dont accept cash but we do accept cash from him, an employee said of Horowitz. She said a supervisor would get back to us about the law.

Parabolic Performance & Rehab in Montclair on Friday, October 17, 2025. Michael Dempsey | For NJ Advance

We quickly heard from Brandon Horton, an assistant manager at the Hackensack location.

The law doesnt apply to medical practices, he said.

Medical providers are not classified as retailers under this law, and therefore, they are permitted to implement a cashless payment policy if they choose, he said.

We took that back to Moriartys office, which went to the Office of Legislative Services, a provider of nonpartisan staff support to lawmakers.

It said a physical therapy office or doctors office would probably be exempt from the requirement to accept cash. Thats because the Consumer Fraud Act  which the no-cash law falls under  does not apply to health care services rendered by professionals.

There is also an argument that physical therapists and doctors are likely not offering their services `at retail when they collect co-payments or other amounts for services, as health care services are generally not offered to the public at large, the office said.

But importantly, it noted the state attorney generals office hasnt issued a statement or regulations addressing this one way or the other, and there have been no court cases that specifically address the question.

We asked the attorney generals office to confirm that, and its Division of Consumer Affairs responded, saying whether an entity is violating the Consumer Fraud Act is fact sensitive.

However, the Consumer Fraud Act generally does not apply to health care services rendered by licensed professionals, so a physical therapy facility, as a health care provider, would most likely be exempt from the requirement to accept cash, spokeswoman Lisa Coryell said.

This all leads us to ask if, perhaps, the question of whether health services should be exempt from the no-cash law should be more clearly addressed, once and for all.

Back to Moriarty we went.

I think health providers that are collecting routine co-pays should be accepting cash. I dont believe they are exempted, Moriarty said. On the other hand, a hospital bill for $10,000 might be different.

We also asked Parabolic about the cash exception made for Horowitz and if other customers can get the same.

Parabolic did not respond to the question.

Horowitz, who said hes been feeling better with his physical therapy, didnt like that.

I think that for those less fortunate, it is important for us to stand up and speak out when others are being taken advantage of, he said.
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Philadelphia Union faces Chicago Fire in the MLS Playoffs on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 (10/26/25) at Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania.

HOW TO WATCH: Fans can watch the match on Apple TV+, via a subscription to the MLS Season Pass. You can also watch via a free trial to fuboTV or DirecTV.

Heres what you need to know:

What: MLS playoffs

Who: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire

When: Oct. 26, 2025

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Subaru Park

TV: N/A

LIVE STREAM: Apple TV+, MLS Season Pass, fuboTV, DirecTV

Heres a recent AP story on the MLS:

Chicago Fire (15-11-8, seventh in the Eastern Conference during the regular season) vs. Philadelphia Union (20-8-6, first in the Conference during the regular season)

Chester, Pennsylvania; Sunday, 5:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Philadelphia -120, Chicago +282; over/under is 2.5 goals

BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Union host the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Union are 17-5-4 in Eastern Conference play. The Union have a 6-2-2 record when they score a single goal.

The Fire are 12-8-7 against conference opponents. The Fire are 11-0-0 when they record at least three goals.

Sundays game is the third meeting between these teams this season. The Union won the last meeting 4-0.

TOP PERFORMERS: Thai Baribo has 16 goals and two assists for the Union. Mikael Uhre has scored four goals over the last 10 games.

Hugo Cuypers has scored 19 goals and added two assists for the Fire. Philip Zinckernagel has five goals and five assists over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Union: 6-3-1, averaging 1.7 goals, 5.4 shots on goal and 6.0 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.2 goals per game.

Fire: 6-2-2, averaging 2.4 goals, 6.1 shots on goal and 5.0 corner kicks per game while allowing 1.9 goals per game.

NOT EXPECTED TO PLAY: Union: Jeremy Rafanello (injured).

Fire: Leonardo Barroso (injured), Viktor Radojevic (injured), Chris Mueller (injured), Andre Franco (injured).
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

Tony is taking his show to Tokyo.

Tony Shalhoub Breaking Bread is already nearing the 4th episode of its first season on Sunday, Oct. 26 at 9 p.m. on CNN. The 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 4th will take place in Tokyo, where Shalhoub will experience some of the famous craftsmanship of Japanese bread. He will also learn about kaizen, the philosophy of continuous improvement which is such a staple of Japanese culture.

Sling TV Sling TV offers tons of channels at the best price in the industry. Buy Now

Heres a look at Shalhoub discussing 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

RELATED STORIES ABOUT TV STREAMING PLATFORMS
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A number of local councillors have raised concerns over plans for another wind farm in Offaly.

In recent weeks, a planning application has been submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala for the construction of a wind farm in the townland of Ballinla, close to Edenderry.

The application, which was submitted by Statkraft Ireland, details plans for seven wind turbines and a 100kW substation.

The turbines, if approved, will stand at a height of approximately 185m and will be located at least 740metres from the nearest house in the area.

Statkraft says the turbines will produce over 50MW of renewable energy for the Irish electricity grid.

READ NEXT: Offaly teenager sent to prison for number of offences including theft of groceries

Associated works will include access tracks, turbine foundations and hardstanding areas, drainage works, a temporary site compound and underground electrical and communications cables.

The project has been designated as a Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID), which requires the developer to submit the planning application directly to An Coimisiun Pleanala.

The developer does not need to seek permission from Offaly County Council for the development, although the council has been invited to submit a report to the commission outlining its concerns.

Una McCafferkey, a planner with Offaly County Council, delivered a presentation on the proposed development at the councils October plenary meeting.

She outlined the main concerns of the council executive which include potential non-compliance with noise regulations, the visual impact and the impact on birds.

Ms McCafferkey also highlighted the fact that a local road that would run through the middle of the development, which she said needs extra consideration.

A number of councillors went on to raise their own concerns regarding the project.

Fianna Fail councillor Claire Murray-Smale said: I think its extremely important that the views and opinions, fears and worries of people set to live around these turbines are taken into consideration.

There are many reasons why I feel this proposed Statkraft windfarm is not suitable for the townland of Ballinla.

Our countryside is already completely saturated with turbines. Our roads and our infrastructure cannot withstand any more loads.

Cllr Murray-Smale said that other counties are not putting in the heavy lifting when it comes to renewable energy.

She added that the most worrying part of the project was around noise levels, accusing Statkraft of failing to comply with noise regulations on other developments.

This sentiment was shared by Sinn Fein councillor Aoife Masterson, who said she is very worried that the developer would not comply with noise regulations.

Fine Gael councillor Noel Cribbin said the proposed development was causing great concern to people living in the nearby houses, adding that no matter what window they look out, theyre looking at a turbine.

He also noted the quality of the land in the area, which he described as one of the best farms in the country.

Independent councillor Sean OBrien also highlighted the potential of the site in question, saying the development would have a serious impact on the potential for future housing in the area.

This proposal going ahead would utterly negate that and the potential for development would be completely wiped out, he added.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fail councillor Peter Ormond expressed his concern over the huge amount of wind turbines in the area, adding that Offaly was becoming a place with an excessive amount of wind farms.

After contributions from a number of other councillors, it was agreed that the council planners report would be submitted to An Coimisiun Pleanala for consideration.

Offaly County Council must submit its feedback on the development to the commission by November 13.
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Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Israel has once again been accused of stealing the organs, and eyes, of Palestinian bodies in their possession. The newest claims by health officials in Gaza have mirrored past confessions by Israeli forensic experts in Tel Aviv.

A high-level health official in Gaza has reported that a specialized committee is working to identify the bodies of 90 Palestinians returned by Israel as part of a recent ceasefire and hostage-exchange agreement. The remains, transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, have sparked accusations of war crimes, including torture, field executions, and organ theft, by Gaza officials.

Allegations of Organ Theft

The Gaza Government Media Office issued a formal accusation on Friday, alleging the Israeli military had stolen organs from the corpses. Ismail Thawabteh, the office's director, told Anadolu Agency that the occupation had "desecrated" the bodies.

"Parts of many martyrs' bodies are missing, including eyes, corneas, and other organs," Thawabteh said, calling it a "heinous crime" and demanding an international investigation.

Dr. Munir al-Barsh elaborated on this, claiming that many bodies had been "emptied of vital organs (heart, liver, kidneys, cornea) and stuffed with white cotton to hide the extraction."

This is not the first time such accusations have surfaced.

The L. Greenberg National Institute of Forensic Medicine, commonly known as the "Abu Kabir Forensic Institute," is in Tel Aviv.

Dr. Yehuda Hiss served as the chief pathologist and director of the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute from 1988 until his removal from administration in 2004, though he remained chief pathologist until 2012.

Dr. Nancy Scheper-Hughes, an American medical anthropologist, conducted an interview with Yehuda Hiss in 2000. Hiss admitted that the institute was taking organs and tissues "informally" and without permission. This included the harvesting of corneas, heart valves, bones, and skin.

In 2009, Swedish journalist Donald Bostrm, writing in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, found that young Palestinian men killed by the Israeli army during the First Intifada in the late 1980s and early 1990s were subject to Israeli organ-harvesting practices.

In December 2009, the Israeli military (IDF) admitted that the Abu Kabir Institute had, during the 1990s, "harvested" tissues, including corneas, skin, and bones, from bodies, including those of Palestinians, without family consent.

Israeli law mandates an autopsy for anyone who dies in "unnatural" circumstances or "while in custody," including prisoners. This autopsy is performed exclusively at the Abu Kabir Institute.

The identification process is fraught with challenges. Dr. Mohammed Zaqout, Director-General of Hospitals in Gaza, stated that while some bodies from the initial batch were recognizable, many others are in an advanced state of decomposition, making identification extremely difficult.

The committee has received no information to aid their work, such as names or circumstances of death. "What we received are bodies carrying only symbols and numbers," one committee member said.

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He is tearing down the East Wing of the White House, after saying he would not, to build a garish ballroom. Republicans say nothing.

He is using our military to murder people on the high seas, in the name of fighting drugs, with no evidence offered of any wrongdoing. Republicans say nothing.

He is using ICE as a violent private army to kidnap people off the streets of American cities in the guise of fighting illegal immigration, locking them up in private prisons with no charges filed or sending them to other countries. Republicans say nothing.

He is three weeks into a government shutdown, with federal employees going unpaid and services curtailed, having made no attempt to reach a budget compromise with Democrats. Republicans say nothing.

He has scared House Speaker Mike Johnson into keeping the House out of session to work on a budget that will not cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance because that would also require Johnson to swear in a new Democratic representative, who would be a deciding vote to require release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which are believed to contain the names of prominent figures (including his) involved in a worldwide sex-trafficking scandal involving teenaged girls. Three Republicans complained.

He has ordered federal prosecution of persons whom he feels have disrespected him in word, in print or in court, offering none or flimsy excuses for evidence of wrongdoing. An enemies list. Republicans say nothing.

He is ordering the National Guard into American cities governed by Democrats, over the opposition of governors, while claiming crime is rampant when it is not and ignoring judicial rulings to cease. The Guardsmen are used as stage props. Republicans say nothing.

He is suing the news media for daring to report the truth and seeking exorbitant sums to settle the suits as a way of silencing the press. Republicans say nothing.

He is demanding payments from colleges for admission policies and courses that recognize the wide spectrum of people living in this country, as well as its history. Republicans say nothing.

He is asking the Justice Department, which he has seeded with sycophants and lackeys and inexperienced lawyers, to pay him $230 million restitution for being the subject of several investigations and indictments, which ceased when he became president. Republicans say nothing.

He has made enemies of America's traditional allies, such as NATO, Canada and Mexico, through insults and accusations, while cozying up to Vladimir Putin of Russia and other authoritarian leaders. Republicans say nothing.

He has filled his cabinet with the worst collection of incompetent, publicity-seeking misfits in the history of the country. Planes are colliding; people are getting measles again. Republicans say nothing.

He has played games with tariffs, imposing and threatening huge ones against various countries, disrupting trade, raising the price on imported goods, increasing supermarket shopping costs and causing hardship to farmers already hurting because of the kidnapping of their workers and undoubtedly resulting in profits to family and close associates who know ahead of time when he's going to change his mind on a tariff and cause some stock to soar or sink because of his illegal market manipulation. Republicans say nothing.

He pardoned the January 6 rioters, who lay waste to the nation's Capitol over his false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Republicans say nothing.

He has hawked watches, sneakers, bitcoin and coins with his name on it, held invitation-only dinners for ultra-wealthy influence seekers and accepted a jet from Qatar, which will cost a fortune to refurbish to use as president and as his personal aircraft in civilian life, all in violation of the law forbidding the office holder from profiting off the presidency. Republicans say nothing.

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Portland police seized this handgun from a 16-year-old suspect in a shooting that happened Oct. 22, 2025. Portland Police Bureau

At about 3:40 p.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a shooting near Southeast 174th Avenue and Haig Street and found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the torso, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau.

The victim was taken to the hospital; his injuries are not life-threatening, police said.

The intersection the shooting occurred near is one block away from Powell Butte Elementary School and Centennial High School.

Police identified the suspect as a 16-year-old boy who lives in Portland. Thursday, they arrested him on allegations of unlawful possession of a firearm and seized a handgun. He is in custody at the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Center. Police said additional charges are possible.
Portland police ordered protesters near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building to clear a path on the sidewalk Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. Fedor Zarkhin

Portland police officers shocked entrenched protesters outside the citys U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Saturday night by ordering the immediate removal of tents and supplies that had fully blocked sidewalks.

The chaotic scene took place starting at 8:30 p.m. amid pouring rain, as more than 30 officers arrived and ordered a path be cleared along the sidewalk.

Officers told protesters who accused them of aiding federal immigration officials they were merely enforcing city laws. Police also warned they will soon begin enforcing low-level violations such as blocking sidewalks, consuming alcohol or drugs in public, jaywalking and the like in the coming days.

The Portland Police Bureau has been criticized for months for not doing enough ensure livability for nearby residents amid the protests.

But Police Bureau spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen said Saturdays intervention didnt represent a major shift in posture.

At the direction of the Crowd Management Incident Commander, officers requested the group ensure access to the sidewalk and advised them of the legal consequences if they did not, he wrote in an email. The City of Portland has abated this encampment several times over the past few months. This was simply an effort to maintain compliance.

Portland Police Bureau officers ordered protesters to clear a path on the sidewalk near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland Oct. 25, 2025. Fedor Zarkhin

Officers told protesters they were issuing warnings Saturday but would subsequently start enforcing city code.

What we havent been enforcing is, like, the drinking in public, standing in the middle of the street, the blocking vehicles, just kind of stuff like that, one officer told a protester across from the ICE building. If you can stand on this sidewalk and peacefully protest, thats great. If you want to be over here with an open can, blocking traffic, doing all this stuff, then were going to start enforcing those things.

Allen added that police officers monitoring the protests had been issuing warnings to people consuming open containers of alcoholic beverages for more than a week.

Some protesters downplayed how much the tent clearing would deter the effectiveness of their protests.

Its not stopping us from protesting, said Pamela Hemphill, a former supporter of President Donald Trump jailed for participating in the 2021 U.S. Capitol Riot. She has since become a regular at the Portland protests criticizing Trumps policies. You can have your (expletive) sidewalk.

Vancouver-based protester Kelly Clark, right, offers to take home a protester who uses a wheelchair. The person in the wheelchair, who gave her name only as Heather, was under a canopy as police took it down and removed some of her possessions. Fedor Zarkhin / The Oregonian

The scene remained chaotic for more than an hour, punctuated by thunder and lightning. As protesters worked to clear items from the encampment, a jeering crowd of counterprotesters gathered around them streaming the proceedings live, and some hurled invective at the Portland police officers standing watch.

The city has treated the encampment near the ICE facility much as it typically treats homeless camps, posting written warnings prior to its occasional removal, which has been handled by the same private contractor that clears homeless encampments. After the several previous times the protesters encampment has been cleared  most recently Oct. 23  its returned within days.

Police typically assist in removing camps only when weapons are known to be present or when there is fear of physical violence.

A protester walked away carrying a propane tank after Portland police ordered the sidewalk near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland to be cleared. Fedor Zarkhin

On Saturday, police stood watch as protesters removed their materials. Allen, the police spokesperson, said no property had been confiscated by officers.

After the surprising tent removals, protesters regrouped across the street to inventory the items they had moved  which included a gas grill, medical supplies, masks and other equipment.

We will rebuild this! some chanted on repeat.

Seth Todd, who said he has been protesting near the ICE building since early June  usually in what has become his trademark inflatable frog costume  said he arrived Saturday to see police near the camp. He crossed the street, but not at a crosswalk, and said a police officer warned he would be arrested the next time.

Portland police ordered protesters near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in South Portland to clear a path on the sidewalk. Protesters' supplies, a tent, and sundry items had made the sidewalk impassable, police said. Oct. 25, 2025. Fedor Zarkhin

I think that its pretty lame that theyre going to enforce something as small as jaywalking when they could be spending their time focusing on actual crimes, Todd said.

He said he understood the concerns of people who live near the building, including residents of a large nonprofit-operated apartment building across the street from where the encampment stood.

I get their frustration, I genuinely do, he said. But I really think its more important that we stick up for our community members.

Portland police reported three arrests Saturday on allegations of misdemeanor crimes. Two men were arrested on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct after police said they continued to walk in the street after being told to return to a sidewalk. Later, police said officers saw one person push another. The alleged aggressor was arrested on suspicion of harassment.
Vancouver police are looking for a suspect who assaulted a woman while she was jogging in southeast Vancouver on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred around 7:16 a.m. in a tree-lined residential neighborhood just north of State Route 14, said the Vancouver Police Department. The woman reported that a male on a bicycle approached her from behind, grabbed her genital area and pushed her to the ground, causing her to hit her head.

The victim told police she fought off her attacker during a struggle on the ground. The suspect then fled the scene on his bicycle. The victim suffered a bump on her head but no other serious physical injuries.

Investigators said the assault appeared to be random. Police have obtained video footage from a nearby camera showing the suspect to be a white male in his late teens or early 20s, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, wearing black jeans and a gray hoodie.

The police ask anyone who can identify the suspect to contact them.
Mindan Ocon dashed in from her apartment balcony, quickly shut the sliding door and grabbed one gas mask from her dining table for herself and another one for her 3-year-old daughter who had started to cough.

Ocon has learned to recognize the signs that mean she needs to act: the metallic clink of canisters on the pavement below or the amplified voice of federal officers warning to clear the area.

Even though she moved within seconds, tear gas from the protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building still seeped into Ocons living room.

She scrambled to light incense to mask the acrid odor.

Ocon, 32, lives in a corner apartment several floors up at Grays Landing, a 209-unit affordable housing complex with 238 residents. It sits kitty-corner across South Bancroft Street from the ICE building  a flashpoint between protesters and federal officers since June.

The ICE office has drawn national attention  and larger crowds  since President Donald Trump announced plans in late September to send National Guard troops into the city to quell the protests of his administrations immigration crackdown.

Mark Graves/The Oregonian

On active nights, it also has drawn tear gas, smoke bombs and pepper balls aimed at the crowds by federal officers, sending toxic fumes pouring into Grays Landing spaces. Flash-bang grenades thrown by the officers rattle dishes in the sink. An earthy, metallic smell sometimes lingers long after the streets have cleared.

The Oregonian/OregonLive spent a recent evening with people in three separate apartments, seeing how residents are coping with the tumult, listening as they tick off the damaging health effects and documenting the jackhammer-level noise they cant completely drown out by turning up their TVs.

Tenants described sleepless nights, breaking into coughing fits and having the feeling of being constantly watched, with drones skimming past windows, helicopters circling overhead and federal officers standing on the rooftop of the ICE building.

26 1 / 26 Gray's Landing Perspective of Portland Ice Protest

Residents have contacted the city, complained to property managers and asked elected officials for help. They cant easily relocate because of limited income in an expensive real estate market. So people wait, feeling unheard, caught between the tactics outside and lingering irritants inside.

Ocon has watched and recorded scenes of arrests, confrontations and dispersals  close enough to hear the chants, bullhorn harangues of officers, all kinds of shouting and the sound of flash-bangs echoing through the neighborhood along the Willamette River south of downtown.

On Saturday a week ago, the ICE facility attracted a big group following a No Kings rally that drew 45,000 people to downtown streets. Around 400 to 500 people ended up outside Grays Landing.

Most protests dont reach this scale, residents said. Some evenings pass with no more than 50 demonstrators or counterprotesters along the sidewalk on Bancroft Street. Still, the tenants dont know when tensions might escalate. Even modest crowds have prompted federal officers to issue warnings and fire pepper balls.

At one point on this night, Ocon jolted with a scream. Flash-bangs  crowd control munitions that emit piercing light and huge booms  shook the apartment.

It becomes routine, she said. You just get used to it.  But the flash-bangs still make me scream because they catch me off guard.

The thump of music penetrated her closed windows and doors, along with yelling and intermittent pops of pepper balls. Sometimes Ocon adds to the noise by heckling the federal officers and counterprotesters from her apartment, earning the nickname the Balcony Lady.

Ocon said she has lost weight from anxiety and her daughter, Angelise, has suffered burning eyes from the gas.

Amid the cacophony, her toddler sat calmly on the couch watching TV and eating fruit snacks.

It scares me sometimes that my daughter can sleep through flash-bangs now, Ocon said.

So much hate going on

Mindy King placed wet towels below the main door to seal her apartment last Saturday evening, closed all her windows and turned on a store-bought air purifier, as well as a DIY version made with air filters and a box fan.

It cost me around $500 just to make my apartment breathable, she said. Unfortunately, many families in the building cant afford to do that kind of thing on their own.

King, 50, lives in a corner apartment on the second floor of Grays Landing facing Bancroft Street with her 13-year-old son, two cats and a 5-month-old puppy.

Tear gas has repeatedly entered her apartment, she said. Like other residents, she keeps a pair of gas masks in her living room.

Also like others in the building, King often films and streams live video from her balcony to social media to document what unfolds outside. King said shes also in the process of installing security cameras at her front door and balcony.

King described interrupted sleep  not from noise, but from anxiety.

Its not about the number of people, its about whats going around us, she said.  Its really hard when theres so much hate going on, the volume of the language and the aggression level thats literally under my sons window.

On nights when King anticipates more activity  including after the recent No Kings march  she has her son stay with his father because of safety concerns. She said shes faced harassment from what she described as agitators who gather across the street that face her sons bedroom window.

Ive never told my son he couldnt come home until this year in this current situation, she said. I dont know what the end game looks like.  These are moments that I know a lot of the residents here feel really alone because their voices cant be heard.

Earlier this summer, a resident in the building sued the city of Portland, arguing that local police should be required to enforce nighttime noise limits around the ICE office.

In court filings, the resident said she had called emergency dispatch more than 40 times since demonstrations began but received little relief from the sound onslaught.

A Multnomah County judge declined to compel Portland police to intervene, ruling that officers arent legally obligated to enforce noise ordinances in these circumstances. The judge, however, said police could use discretion to curb excessive noise late at night. Under city code, sound in open-space zones is meant to stay near 50 decibels after 10 p.m.

The Oregonian/OregonLive has been monitoring noise levels on South Bancroft Street near the ICE building since Oct. 10, using a downloadable cellphone app for workplaces that was created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Readings have frequently exceeded allowable levels, hovering around 70 decibels but occasionally reaching 90.

A week ago, the noise levels measured from 10 p.m. Saturday to 1:30 a.m. Sunday inside an apartment at Grays Landing ran between 50 to 70 decibels. Measurements taken from outside, on a balcony, during that period measured much higher, at one point going above 110 decibels, similar to a jackhammer or a rock concert.

Crisis at their doorstep

Built in 2012, the U-shaped apartment building offers space for veterans who have experienced homelessness and others who meet income guidelines.

The nonprofit REACH Community Development runs the complex and has scrambled to blunt the health and quality-of-life impacts on the residents. The six-story building also houses the nonprofits headquarters.

CEO Margaret Salazar said the agency has spent at least $150,000 on relief measures, including renting industrial air filters to put in hallways and replacing the buildings HVAC filters.

She said REACH staff have installed sticky pads, placed like doormats at the main entrance on South Lowell Street, meant to catch the powdered tear gas residue and keep chemicals from being tracked inside on peoples shoes.

Tenants can pick up earplugs at the office.

REACH also has contracted with Echelon Protective Services to have a person monitor the building in the evenings and weekends, not as security, Salazar said, but to make sure that folks arent getting inside when they shouldnt be getting inside.

The big thing that were hearing from folks is that the noise is really challenging  the ICE agents are using flash-bang tactics and the helicopters go on all night long, she said. We hear about the tear gas or whatever other substances are being released, especially at night, that are getting into residents units.

Salazar said people often find debris from pepper balls and residue from smoke grenades on the sidewalks outside the building. The tenants and REACH staff who work at the building all have to deal with the aftermath of the federal response, she said.

Residents are dealing with this crisis at their doorstep, that the federal government has brought upon us, she said. Ultimately, we need the federal agents to stop deploying these harmful agents in a residential area.

Salazar said REACH hasnt directly contacted or appealed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to stop its use of chemical munitions for crowd control because the nonprofit has been working with the city as its main contact and believes the government shutdown will impede communication.

Homeland Security officials have declined to detail specific policies and procedures over the use of force or the volume of munitions used in Portland. They didnt respond to questions about whether federal officers are taking measures to limit chemical exposure to nearby residents or whether theyve consulted public health experts about repeated chemical use in a residential area.

Salazar said her staff has asked city and county officials for additional funding to buy more air purifiers and increase cleaning around the perimeter sidewalks.

Mayor Keith Wilson said hes aware of residents concerns and criticized the indiscriminate use by federal officers of tear gas, pepper balls and other munitions against demonstrators, calling the tactics unnecessary when you have people that are peacefully protesting.

While Wilson has publicly urged federal authorities to stop or curb the use of the munitions and to follow Oregons restrictions on tear gas and crowd control measures, the mayor has limitations on his ability to control the action of the federal government, said his spokesperson, Cody Bowman.

Bowman said the Portland Housing Bureau this week amended a grant it awarded to REACH to include more money for air purifiers, but he didnt specify an amount. Bowman said the city has also sent staff to remove trash and graffiti near the ICE facility and Portland police are a regular presence nearby to de-escalate disturbances at the protests.

REACH has turned to the general public for help and has set up a fundraising campaign to cover escalating health and security costs, Salazar said. The nonprofit hopes to get enough money to hire public health experts and scientists to advise staff on decontaminating the area and how to better help residents.

Weve ordered air purifiers for residents, but theyre coming in batches and arent readily available to everyone, she said. REACH has ordered 72 so far and she said the goal is to eventually provide one portable HEPA purifier per unit.

Wed love to be able to do more for residents  beyond what were currently doing, she said. We dont have a budget for any of this.

Choking on the gas

Around 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, bright beams from the rooftop of the ICE office blazed into Lashawnda Shavers fifth-floor apartment as she cooked bacon and French toast for dinner. The TV was up, muting the sounds of the helicopter overhead and noise from the streets.

Her 23-year-old son who lives with her had left the apartment earlier in the afternoon to stay over at a friends house.

Im always up so late because its hard to fall asleep with all thats going on, said Shavers, 49.

The loudspeaker warnings coming from the ICE building  This is the federal government  trigger panic, she said.

Every time I hear that, I know tear gas could be coming, she said. The crowds are never so violent they need chemical weapons, but were the ones choking on the gas.

Sometimes she steps out on her balcony to yell at the federal officers for shining lights on the apartment building or for surveying the crowd and apartment dwellers with binoculars.

Shavers, who has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that has left her with a pulmonary condition, said there are times when she failed to close her windows quickly enough and her apartment has filled up with tear gas.

She said some nights shes had to sleep with a gas mask on and hasnt gotten one of the air purifiers from REACH.

We dont even feel safe in our own homes, she said. This building is full of American citizens  but we are absolutely being treated as collateral damage.

Sven-Eric Jordt, a toxicology professor at Duke University who has studied the health effects of tear gas for over two decades, said people repeatedly exposed to tear gas could face lingering health effects long after protests end, including chronic irritation of the eyes, nose and mouth, coughing, skin rashes and respiratory problems.

We dont know much about the long-term effects of tear gas, he said. Theres very little studies on what happens to a broader civilian population and most of the research is outdated. It would not stand up to modern toxicology techniques.

Despite its common name, tear gas is a powder that settles on surfaces after its deployed, he said. He added that the particle size of the powder is so small that most commercial filters arent sufficient to filter them out and can contaminate HVAC systems in a building spreading the powder even more.

If its not washed away or blown away, it kind of falls to the ground and forms a type of dust, he said. It can blow into surrounding buildings if the windows are open or go into air conditioning and accumulate indoors and on surfaces.

Without professional cleanup, it can sit there for weeks or months, he said. Children are especially vulnerable because they are closer to the ground and inhale more and small injuries to their lungs can have more serious effects, he said.

A 2021 study by researchers at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research surveyed over 2,200 adults who had been exposed to tear gas during the 2020 racial justice protests in Portland. Researchers found that a majority of respondents reported experiencing physical and mental health effects, some for days and even weeks after.

Dr. Ilya Ivlev, who led the study and is now a professor at Oregon Health & Science University, said his team found that more than half of respondents who menstruate reported irregular menstrual cycles after tear gas exposure.

I think one thing people need to understand is that tear gas is not as safe and non-lethal as claimed, he said. Its a chemical weapon that was banned in warfare in 1993 and now its used on civilians.

Ivlev said that the chemical ingredients of the substances used along with tear gas are proprietary but often have volatile chemical compounds and heavy metals.

I couldnt eat

Ocon, the resident with the 3-year-old, said she doesnt let her daughter spend much time on the balcony, even though her little girl begs to see the people in the inflatable costumes that have become a signature of the Portland resistance.

She wants to go outside and shes drawn to the music and likes watching the people in costume dancing, like she loves seeing the chicken, she said.

In late July, Ocon said she took her daughter to see a pediatrician at OHSU Doernbecher Childrens Hospital after she screamed and cried of a painful burning feeling in her eyes. Her daughters medical chart shows doctors attributed it to daily exposure to aerosolized chemicals and smoke used in crowd control at the ICE protests.

Ocon said her health has suffered, too. Shes lost nearly 30 pounds since June, her hair is thinning and shes experienced intense cramping and increased bleeding during menstruation, she said.

There are certain chemicals they use, like tear gas  and then theres this smoke thats red, green or orange that comes with it that all burns when I inhale it and I feel like Im dying inside, she said.

My stomach is constantly hurting and there are some days when I couldnt eat because I wasnt hungry I just feel so sick.
Seated at a long table on the stage of a North Portland churchs vaulted auditorium, a panel of four people looked out at a crowd seated in the pews.

But the gathering wasnt a Sunday service: The roughly 100 people assembled in the pews were there for Saturdays Black Community Town Hall at Emmanuel Church, which featured Black Oregonian leaders from the city, county, state and congressional levels of government.

U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Dist. 5, and Portland City Councilor Loretta Smith were there, as was Oregon Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, and Multnomah County Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon. To the left of their table sat rows of pastors from the Albina Ministerial Alliance and the Interfaith Peace and Action Collaborative, who helped facilitate the unprecedented event.

From 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m. topics including the proposed deployment of the National Guard by the Trump administration, recent crackdowns by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement administration and federal budget cuts that could impact people across the state were discussed.

Speaking to a small gathering of reporters before the town hall began, Bynum said that her involvement started with a phone call from Pastor Mark Jackson of the Coalition of African and African American Pastors.

And within, I dont know, 90 seconds, we said yes, she said. Its really exciting to be able to come to the community, hear exactly what people have on their minds, and for people to come to a place that feels safe and trusted.

Saturday, Jackson said the town hall was unprecedented in Oregon for having a panel of Black leaders from all the different levels of government.

Smith said the decision to hold a town hall focused on the needs of Oregons Black community was especially important in light of the federal budget cuts such as those included in the Big Beautiful Bill that was signed into law in July.

We have the highest disparities on every level of education, health care, being able to have access to capital for jobs and businesses, so were going to get hit the worst, she told reporters before the town hall. We need to make sure that our leaders are listening to us and saying, Hey, stand up for us, give us an opportunity to have an opportunity.

Multiple faith leaders opened the town hall with a series of speeches, including an address from Rev. Dr. Leroy Haynes Jr., president of the Albina Ministerial Alliance and a longtime civil rights activist who worked with the likes of former Rep. John Lewis.

The black church has a history of being the voice and advocate for social justice and redeeming the soul of America, Haynes told reporters shortly before his speech. As Dr. King has expressed, were in that crisis situation once again. It is critically important that our voices are heard and that we, in turn, once again engage the nation at its moral compass.

After the religious leaders closed out their speeches, each of the panelists made opening remarks before the floor opened to audience questions, most revolving around the Trump administrations recent actions. Dixon used some of his time to decry the missions that ICE has been conducting in and around Portland, including a mission in Rockwood, one of the Portland areas most diverse neighborhoods. Smith spoke of the tens of thousands of Oregonians who lost their jobs due to the Trump administration s aggressive slashing of the federal workforce, and Frederick talked about the improvement of Black representation in the Oregon Legislature.

The event was held at Emmanuel Church in North Portland. Tatum Todd

When it came time for audience questions, attendees asked about gentrification, displacement and job losses.

But one question came from an unexpected source: Mary Beth Miller, director of finance for the conservative Oregon Freedom Coalition.

Republicans care about the fact that Oregon has been ruled by Democrats for 40 years, Miller said as she addressed the panelists through a microphone. Can immigration reform make this community safer and have less crime? Can it open up more jobs? Can it open up more housing?

Millers comments and questions were met with visible disapproval by the majority of the attendees and prompted a swift rebuke from the panelists.

Explain to me why the child who lives just three doors away from me is now fearful of walking to school because shes clearly Latino and she has darker skin. Shes afraid to go to school because shes afraid shes going to be picked up by some thugs, Frederick said in response. I have yet to hear a Republican condemn this. Certainly I havent seen anybody condemn it in the state of Oregon. And I am waiting. Ill wait for that. But until that happens, dont tell me about how much you care.

All the panelists had similar responses  as did some of the audience members.

She perpetuated the myth that brown people, undocumented, what they quote, unquote, call illegal, are taking jobs from us, Lisa Saunders, an associate pastor at the church, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. We already know thats a lie, so dont come into our space and perpetuate that lie.

Miller declined to respond when The Oregonian/OregonLive asked her for comment.

Nevertheless, Saunders said after the event that her experience of the town hall was overwhelmingly positive despite the tense but brief interaction.

This was an inspiration, she said. Because of gentrification and displacement, we are all over the place. So gatherings like this are really important.
Police are investigating a crash in Northeast Portland that seriously injured a pedestrian early on Sunday morning.

The incident occurred at around 4 a.m. at Northeast Lombard Street and Northeast 13th Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found an injured man who had been struck by a vehicle. The victim was immediately transported to a hospital by ambulance with life-threatening injuries.

The driver involved in the crash remained at the scene and is cooperating with police investigators. Police have not released the name of either the victim or the driver.

Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact them via email at crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov, referencing case number 25-293949.
Portland authorities are investigating a "suspicious" fire at the home of city councilor Candace Avalos that happened early on Sunday morning. Dennis Weis, Portland Fire & Rescue

UPDATE: Investigators say fire at city councilors home was not targeting her

Portland fire officials are investigating a possible arson after a fire damaged the home and cars of Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos early on Sunday.

Portland Fire & Rescue crews responded to the blaze at Avalos home in the Mill Park neighborhood at 2:40 a.m. on Sunday. Firefighters found multiple cars and a carport engulfed in flames.

Crews extinguished the fire and no one was injured. Investigators determined the vehicle where the fire originated belonged to Avalos. Police said the cause of the fire remains undetermined, but investigators consider it suspicious.

Firefighters fight blaze at the home of Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos overnight on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Dennis Weis Portland Fire & Rescue

On social media, Councilor Avalos reported she woke up to her car, carport and home engulfed in flames. I was able to get out safely with my cat Valentino, she wrote.

Avalos thanked fire crews for their efforts. Im grateful for the quick response from Portland firefighters who prevented the fire from spreading even further, she said.

On Sunday, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and city councilors released a joint statement in support of Avalos.

As public servants, we each stepped forward to serve Portland, and today, we stand united in support of our colleague. We thank Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Police Bureau for their quick response and ongoing investigation into a fire incident involving Councilor Avalos. We are working closely with Councilor Avalos to provide her with the resources and security she needs, the statement said.

In January 2024, a car belonging to the parents of former City Council member Rene Gonzalez was set on fire outside of his home. The fire destroyed the vehicle and authorities launched an arson investigation but no arrests were ever made.

And in 2020, demonstrators demanding former mayor Ted Wheelers resignation during the height of Portlands 2020 racial justice protests smashed windows and set fires inside his condo building, prompting the mayor to move. That fall, former Commissioner Dan Ryans home was also vandalized multiple times after he voted not to cut the police budget.

Avalos, a Black Latina who for years has been a staunch and outspoken progressive on issues such as immigration, community policing and homelessness, had routinely been the recipient of online vitriol, including death threats, even before she was elected. Before joining the city council, she headed the Northeast Portland-based environmental justice group Verde.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson wrote an opinion piece published in Newsweek, (Feds are courting disaster at Portland ICE facility, Mayor Wilson warns,) Oct. 20). Titled ICE facility Is a disaster waiting to happen, his piece is authoritative (rather than authoritarian), well-reasoned and compassionate toward everyone whos been caught up in this unnecessary scenario. You can find it online at https://www.newsweek.com/portland-mayor-ice-facility-disaster-opinion-10892062/.

This isnt the issue I voted for Wilson to tackle, but its one thats been added to his workload, and hes the right person for the job. As he says in his piece, Words create outcomes. In my opinion, that applies to the mayors wise words as well as to the Trump administrations incendiary words about Portland.

Janine ONeill Robben, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
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A Pennsylvania bar posted a picture of one of its customers in a Ku Klux Klan costume with a noose as part of a post showing customer costumes at a Halloween party.

The Redneck Bar and Grill in Middleburg, Snyder County, posted the photo in a slideshow on Saturday, saying Here are some of our customers who came in to party!! Dont they look great?

Its since deleted the picture of the customer in the KKK outfit, but PennLive has independently verified that the photo was posted. The picture can still be found in the comments of the original post, posted by community members calling out the bar.

The photo shows a man with a white sheet over his body that has eye holes cut out and is shaped in the KKKs hood over his head. Its clear that the costume represented the KKK. The man also had a noose made out of rope draped over his shoulder in the photo.

Later Saturday night, the bar posted To those who were offended by the guy in the white sheet...it was just a costume with no hate behind it. He is not a racist nor did he intend on upsetting anyone. He was just here to have fun. Were sorry we should not have posted this pic. Sorry that we offended everyone.

On Sunday, the bar admitted that it was an individual dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

In an apology post that backpedals the bars original wording, the bar said the person who wore the costume was permanently banned and the person who posted the photos would lose access to the bars Facebook page.

To everyone in our community  please know that we hear you, we see you, and we are deeply sorry. We stand firmly against racism, hate, or discrimination of any kind, and we are committed to doing better from this day forward, the bar posted.

The post has more than 150 comments, with former customers saying they will never frequent the bar again and questioning why a man dressed in a racist outfit was even allowed inside the bar. It was also widely discussed on multiple Snyder County community Facebook grounds.

Owner Roger Jordan said he was working on Saturday night. He said a patron showed up, and asked if it was alright to put a sheet over his head. Jordan said he thought the man was going to dress as a ghost.

When he went and got the rope, I said get it the hell out, Jordan said. He was one blooming idiot.

Jordan said the photo was posted by his wife, who also didnt know that it was a KKK costume.

She didnt even think about it, she was just taking pictures of people dressing up and having fun, Jordan said.

Jordan said he and his wife are not racist and wanted to open a bar and restaurant to help the community so there would be something to do in Middleburg.

Jordan said most of the negative comments were not left by customers of the bar, but by people creating drama.
The Pennsauken Brownfield (15.2 megawatts) solar farms were placed in service in Aug 2019. They, like other New Jersey installation, show how the state has gotten creative when plugging into the sun. Photo courtesy of PSE&G

By State Reps. Chris Pielli and Elizabeth Fiedler

Imagine picking up a DIY solar kit on your way home from work, plugging it in to your regular household outlet, and instantly capturing energy from the sun  all without having to worry about interconnection to the grid and extra fees. At a time when Pennsylvania families are struggling to keep up with rising electricity bills, expanding this new tool, known as plug-in solar, is a powerful way to fight back.

This isnt about politics: its about putting money back in family budgets and its about regular people taking control of their energy future in whatever space they have.

Rooftop solar is an excellent investment for those who can access it, lowering or eliminating decades worth of energy bills while averting the need for fuel sources that harm our health and environment. But unfortunately most Pennsylvanians are hemmed in by barriers to access, including upfront costs, permitting delays, and roofs that arent well-suited for solar  not to mention the fact that more than 30% of Pennsylvania households rent rather than own.

Against this backdrop, electricity bills keep climbing, and those who dont generate energy at home are stuck on the receiving end of volatile and escalating prices.

Pennsylvania has long been an energy-producing state, but thats not protecting us from dramatic energy price increases, which are being driven primarily by a rise in energy demand from data centers and a lack of new energy supply that can quickly meet that demand.

Plug-in solar offers households a hedge against rising electricity rates and energy market disruptions.

The economic case for plug-in solar extends far beyond individual savings. When Pennsylvania families spend less on electricity, they have more to spend at local businesses. When we generate more of our own power, we send fewer dollars to out-of-state companies and keep that economic activity here at home.

Generating energy closer to home will also lower overall energy costs for those who dont go solar themselves. Energy costs are highest when we near our energy grids maximum capacity, such as on summer afternoons when everyones air conditioning is running. When residents can generate their own power, the strain on the grid is eased, and costs for all ratepayers are reduced.

While legislation is needed to fully clear the way for plug-in solar in Pennsylvania, we dont need to reinvent the wheel: this idea and technology is commonplace in other countries. Clear regulations, high safety standards, and escalating energy bills have driven adoption abroad, like in Germany, which boasts over half a million plug-in solar systems.

Utah passed bipartisan legislation earlier this year to unlock the same trajectory. Their law was incredibly simple: it exempted small solar energy systems from expensive utility processes and allowed small amounts of power to flow back to the grid at no cost to utilities or consumers. The bill in Pennsylvania will be similarly straightforward and wont require any state funds.

There is an excellent safety track record among the millions of users across these case studies, and our legislation follows suit, ensuring plug-in solar systems automatically shut off during outrages and meet rigorous national safety certification standards. Were not experimenting with untested technology; were adopting proven solutions.

This legislation isnt about choosing sides in energy debates  its about expanding choices for Pennsylvania families. Plug-in solar makes clean energy accessible, immediate, and personally empowering. Whether youre a conservative who wants energy independence, a progressive who cares about clean energy, or a pragmatist who simply wants lower electricity bills, plug-in solar advances those goals.

We urge our fellow legislators to back this common-sense solution that puts families first. More importantly, we encourage every Pennsylvania family facing rising energy costs to make sure their elected officials understand this is a priority.

Pennsylvania has always been a state of innovators and practical problem-solvers. Lets prove it once again by leading the nation in energy accessibility and affordability.

State Rep. Christopher Pielli (D) represents the 156th legislative district.

State Rep. Elizabeth A. Fiedler (D) represents the 184th legislative district.
Ashley N. Walkowiak is the Executive Director of the Governors Advisory Commission on Women.

By Ashley N. Walkowiak

The Governors Advisory Commission on Women recently brought together health professionals, advocates, and community members for a fireside chat focused on menopause - the universal biological milestone women experience but rarely talk about.

The discussion was led by menopause expert Dr. Sharon Malone and Commissioner Dr. Sharee Livingston, who shared insights that can benefit us all.

Menopause is far more complex than the stereotypical hot flashes: symptoms can include brain fog, mood changes, disrupted sleep, and cardiovascular shifts.

Studies show that timely intervention, whether through hormone therapy, lifestyle adjustments, or peer support, can significantly improve quality of life during this time of biological change for women. But a lack of open dialogue and reliable information create barriers to effective treatment.

Despite its reach, menopause is often absent from discussions about critical issues like health equity and economic competitiveness. A combination of data and lived experience should guide the policy discussions to ensure we are giving women the resources they need to be healthy and succeed.

For many women, menopause begins just as theyre hitting their stride professionally  at a time when theyre leading teams, mentoring others, and spending most of their waking hours at work.

When workplaces understand and support women through this stage  by raising awareness, reducing stigma, and offering resources  employees can better navigate the transition and thrive. These efforts also improve workplace retention and morale.

Studies show that women are greatly helped if their workplaces raise awareness about menopause and provide suppport for employees experiencing it. With such support, women can better navigate the physical and emotional challenges menopause may bring to maintan health and productivity at work.

Such efforts also improve workplace retention and morale. We are seeing a rise in workplace wellness programs that incorporate menopause education and benefits that offer menopause resources and care coverage, but such efforts should be expanded.

Ensuring complete and unbiased medical and scientific data regarding menopause is also critical to supporting women with effective care and resources. Were beginning to see action in that area at the federal level with the proposed "Menopause Research Act," which aims to improve the understanding of menopauses health impacts and expand research funding.

As we continue to break the stigma around menopause, it is important communities create safe spaces for conversations -- like the one we held earlier this week  to educate women and advocate for more inclusive policies in the workplace.

Ashley N. Walkowiak is Executive Director of the Governors Advisory Commission on Women.
It is truly sad that Congress and our president always seem more concerned about passing a budget without reducing our national debt, especially as each Americans share of the $37 trillion debt is over $110,000. We owe $2.6 billion each day in interest alone. At the rate our debt is increasing, it is projected that we the people will owe $40-47 trillion in five years. Is this the legacy we want to leave those that come after us?

Congress and our president should take heed from past presidents about debt. In past presidential Farewell Addresses, George Washington cautioned against accumulating debt and leaving the burden to future generations.

Thomas Jefferson considered public debt a canker fatal to the nation.

Dwight D. Eisenhower believed payment on debt was necessary to avoid burdening future generations and warned that mortgaging material assets risked the loss of political and spiritual heritage.

Ronald Reagan called deficit spending an immoral path and argued the choice was between leaving massive debt or liberty to children.

Perhaps the best example for future presidents and Congress to follow is from Andrew Jackson, who did more than just talk about the debt. He was the only president to completely pay off the national debt.

MATT DROZD, Author LT Colonel (ret veteran), Pittsburgh, Pa.
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Lifetimes new movie 'Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie is shedding light on the stories of missing women of color who have disappeared without a trace. The movie will premiere Saturday, October 25 at 8 p.m. and follows the story of Kai, who leverages her network to launch a grassroots rescue to find her niece.

Kai (played by Garcelle Beauvais) gets thrown into a harrowing manhunt after an online predator abducts her neurodivergent niece. When law enforcement hits a dead end, she leverages her loyal trucking network and social media influence to launch a grassroots rescue mission.

For those who have cut the traditional cable cord and are opting for streaming service, you can stream 'Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie on Philo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

What is the movie about?

According to Lifetimes official synopsis, "Kai is thrown into a harrowing manhunt after her sister Madisons neurodivergent daughter is abducted by an online predator. Kai leverages her loyal trucking network and social media influence to launch a grassroots rescue mission to find her niece."

How to watch 'Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie' on Philo

You dont need cable to watch Lifetime. You can stream 'Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie 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 and more.

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.

Pro tip: Sign up for the 7-day free trial to watch the premiere episode without paying anything upfront.
The penultimate starting flight is in the books in the $1,100 Main Event here at the PokerStars Open Maryland hosted by Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Day 1d had a huge turnout, with 238 total entries being recorded. Only 36 players will return for Day 2 on Sunday, all of whom have locked up a min-cash.

Gregory Bowling was on a roll all throughout the day and didn't spare any opponent that got in his way. He finished as the player on top, bagging an impressive 575,500 - good for second in the overall standings thus far.

Sitting in second, not far behind Bowling is Torsten Boker, who ended the day with 527,500. Rounding out the podium is Eric Ladny with 457,000.

Day 1d Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count 1 Gregory Bowling United States 575,500 2 Torsten Boker United States 527,500 3 Eric Ladny United States 457,000 4 Matthew Molino United States 408,000 5 Jimmy Born United States 359,000 6 Joel Lanning United States 354,000 7 Brandon Friedman United States 316,000 8 Roie Sheskin United States 280,000 9 Darin Parker United States 279,000 10 Andy Bartalone United States 276,000

Notable Eliminations

Jen Shahade

PokerStars ambassadors Jen Shahade and Arlie Shaban were both in the mix on Day 1d but neither were able to find a bag for Sunday. Shahade couldn't find any momentum and was eliminated during the middle of the day, while Shaban made it past the dinner break but exited not long after.

Arlie Shaban

Joe McKeehen fired another bullet after falling short yesterday on Day 1c. He was put in a tough spot later in the day where he got it all in with a plethora of outs for a big portion of his stack but was unable to get there. Left short-stacked, McKeehen busted shortly thereafter.

Day 1e began at 6:15 p.m. local time, and chip counts will be posted once the flight is completed. Of the 61 players who registered, 11 remain at the time of writing, with 10 bagging for Sunday.

Of the 599 entries tallied across all five starting flights, 91 competitors will be returning for Day 2 on Sunday, October 26 for their shot at glory. Day 2 levels will commence at the lowest finishing level among all Day 1 flights and the event is scheduled play down to a winner.

Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the entirety of the $1,100 Main Event here at the 2025 PokerStars Open Maryland.
Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia.
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NEW YORK CITY, NY AND NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESS Newswire / October 26, 2025 /Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have untilOctober 28, 2025to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Dow Inc. (NYSE: DOW), if they purchased the Company's securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Dow as above and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-dow/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court byOctober 28, 2025.About the LawsuitDow and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On July 24, 2025, the Company disclosed a 2Q 2025 non-GAAP loss per share of $0.42, much larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts, and net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, "reflecting declines in all operating segments" due in part to "the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties." Further, the Company disclosed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for "financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment." On this news, the price of Dow's shares fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025.The case is Sarti v. Dow Inc., No. 25-cv-12744.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, and a representative office in Luxembourg.TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action ServicesTo learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partnerlewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163CONNECT WITH US: Facebook || Instagram || YouTube || TikTok || LinkedInSOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 26, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dow Inc. ("Dow" or the "Company") (NYSE:DOW) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, and docketed under 25-cv-12744, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities during the Class Period, you have until October 28, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Dow is an American materials science company, serving customers in the packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications industries. Dow conducts its worldwide operations through six global businesses organized into three operating segments: (i) Packaging & Specialty Plastics, (ii) Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and (iii) Performance Materials & Coatings.Historically, Dow has touted its "industry-leading dividend," which is of particular importance to investors. On conference calls with investors and analysts, Dow's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Jim Fitterling ("Fitterling"), has variously stated that the Company's "dividend is a key element of our investment thesis," and that "north of 65% of our owners count on that dividend." Notwithstanding an ongoing slump in the materials science industry, as well as the recent onset of tariff-related market uncertainties, at all relevant times, Defendants represented that Dow was well positioned to weather macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds while maintaining sufficient levels of financial flexibility to support the Company's lucrative dividend. Specifically, Defendants cited various purported strengths and advantages unique to Dow in its industry, including, inter alia, the Company's purported "differentiated portfolio," "cost-advantaged footprint," and "industry-leading flexibility to navigate global trade dynamics." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Dow's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dow's ability to mitigate macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds, as well as to maintain the financial flexibility needed to support its lucrative dividend, was overstated; (ii) the true scope and severity of the foregoing headwinds' negative impacts on Dow's business and financial condition was understated, particularly with respect to competitive and pricing pressures, softening global sales and demand for the Company's products, and an oversupply of products in the Company's global markets; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 23, 2025, BMO Capital downgraded its recommendation on Dow to "Underperform" from "Market Perform" while also cutting its price target on the Company's stock to $22.00 per share from $29.00 per share, citing sustained weakness across key end markets and mounting pressure on the Company's dividend.On this news, Dow's stock price fell $0.89 per share, or 3.21%, to close at $26.87 per share on June 23, 2025.Then, on July 24, 2025, Dow issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Therein, Dow reported a non-GAAPloss per share of $0.42, significantly larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts. Dow also reported net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, "reflecting declines in all operating segments." The Company further reported, inter alia, that "[s]equentially, net sales were down 3%, as seasonally higher demand in Performance Materials & Coatings was more than offset by declines across the other operating segments." Defendant Fitterling blamed these disappointing results on "the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties," while providing a dour outlook marked by "signs of oversupply from newer market entrants who are exporting to various regions at anti-competitive economics." In a separate press release issued the same day, Dow revealed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for "financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment." Following these disclosures, Dow's stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 26, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Fluor Corporation ("Fluor" or the "Company") (NYSE:FLR) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, and docketed under 25-cv-xxx, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Fluor securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Fluor provides engineering, procurement, and construction ("EPC"), fabrication and modularization, and project management services worldwide. The Company operates through three segments: Urban Solutions, Energy Solutions, and Mission Solutions.Throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, Fluor's Urban Solutions segment accounted for the largest portion of the Company's revenue and profit. The Urban Solutions segment offers EPC and project management services to the advanced technologies and manufacturing, life sciences, mining and metals, and infrastructure industries, as well as provides professional staffing services. The Company's infrastructure projects in this segment include work on, inter alia, the Gordie Howe International Bridge ("Gordie Howe"), as well as the Interstate 365 Lyndon B. Johnson ("I-635/LBJ") and Interstate 35E ("I-35") highways in Texas.In February 2025, Fluor provided financial guidance for the full year ("FY") of 2025, including adjusted EBITDA of $575 million to $675 million and adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share. Defendants reaffirmed the foregoing financial guidance in May 2025, notwithstanding their acknowledgement of the potential negative impacts of ongoing economic uncertainty on Fluor's business resulting from trade tensions and other market conditions. Contemporaneously, Defendants touted, inter alia, the purported health and stability of Fluor's and its customers' operations and the strength of the Company's risk mitigation strategy, both for itself and its clients.The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Fluor's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) costs associated with the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects were growing because of, inter alia, subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays; (ii) the foregoing, as well as customer reduction in capital spending and client hesitation around economic uncertainty, was having, or was likely to have, a significant negative impact on the Company's business and financial results; (iv) accordingly, Fluor's financial guidance for FY 2025 was unreliable and/or unrealistic, the effectiveness of the Company's risk mitigation strategy was overstated, and the impact of economic uncertainty on the Company's business and financial results was understated; and (v) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On August 1, 2025, Fluor issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter ("Q2") of 2025. Among other results, the press release reported Q2 non-GAAP EPS of $0.43, missing consensus estimates by $0.13, and revenue of $3.98 billion, representing a 5.9% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $570 million. Defendants blamed these disappointing results on, inter alia, growing costs in multiple infrastructure projects due to subcontractor design errors, price increases, and scheduling delays, as well as reduced capital spending by customers. The same press release also provided a negatively revised financial outlook for FY 2025, guiding to adjusted EBITDA of $475 million to $525 million, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $575 million to $675 million, and adjusted EPS of $1.95 per share to $2.15 per share, down significantly from Defendants' prior guidance of $2.25 per share to $2.75 per share, citing "client hesitation around economic uncertainty and its impact on new awards and project delays and results for the quarter[.]"The same day, Fluor hosted a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Company's Q2 2025 financial results. During that call, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant James R. Breuer, disclosed that the infrastructure projects that had negatively impacted Fluor's Q2 2025 results were the Gordie Howe, I-635/LBJ, and I-35 projects.Following the foregoing disclosures, Fluor's stock price fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
A chef in Nigerias southern Cross River, Emmanuel Green, desperately wants Davido to taste a Nigerian dish called Ekpang Nkukwo.

The Afrobeats superstar is expected to perform in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Sunday, 26 October, as part of his 5ive Alive Stadium Tour in Nigeria.

Ekpang Nkukwo is a Cameroonian and Nigerian dish common among the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom. Its main ingredients are freshly grated cocoyam wrapped in cocoyam leaves, fresh or smoked fish, meat, periwinkle, crayfish, and palm oil.

The chef, Mr Green, published an open letter on Facebook on 25 October, calling the tour organisers to ensure that Davido does not leave Uyo without eating Ekpang Nkukwo, which he calls the pride of our pot.

Akwa Ibom is not just another stop on the tour map. This is the kitchen of West Africa, a land where food tells stories, where every spoon carries heritage, and where hospitality is not a gesture but a lifestyle.

Here, Ekpang Nkukwo doesnt just sit on the menu; it reigns. It is the king of indigenous cuisine, a royal dish that has fed legends, hosted kings, and turned first-time tasters into lifetime believers, Mr Green wrote in his open letter.

If Davidos 5IVE Tour is about connecting deeply with the people, the culture, and the soul of Nigeria, then he deserves to meet the taste that defines our essence.

Mr Green recommended a restaurant in Uyo city, Esa Ndidia, for Davido to stop by and have just one spoon of Ekpang Nkukwo. He says he is willing to pay the restaurant owner, Blessing Akpan, N50,000 for a plate of Ekpang Nkukwo for Davido.

Mr Green told a PREMIUM TIMES reporter on Sunday that the chef in Uyo, Ms Akpan, has been his mentor and that he can vouch for her Ekpang Nkukwo.

I am the only chef in Calabar who does Ekpang Nkukwo every day, from Monday to Saturday, for the past seven years. I believe in Ekpang Nkukwo.

Davido, in early October, announced the Nigerian leg of his 5ive Tour, with the tour kicking off in Akwa Ibom on 26 October. The next stop will be Adamawa on 29 October, Enugu on 1 December, and Ibadan on 9 November. The grand finale will be in Lagos on 25 December.

I am blessed to perform all around the world, and everywhere I go, Nigeria goes with me. But this time, Im bringing it home. After an unforgettable North American tour, its only right that we bring that energy back where it all began, Davido had said when he announced the dates for the tour.

Some Akwa Ibom music stars expected to share the stage with Davido are Fiokee, Ikpa Udo, Lybra, Disasta, Aquilla Bellz and Sagas.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested Nigerian socialite and entrepreneur, Mike Pretty Mike Nwogu, alongside former BBNaija housemate, Tuoyo Ideh, and 100 other persons.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NDLEAs Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed that the duo were apprehended at Proxy Nightclub, located at 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Mr Babafemi added that they were arrested during a drug-themed party at the venue.

The statement partly read: Over 100 suspects, including the owner of the club, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu alias Pretty Mike, were arrested and taken into custody for screening. Cartons of illicit substances, including Loud and laughing gas, were recovered from suspects at the party and the clubs store.

The raid followed intelligence about the drug party. However, NDLEA operatives who were embedded in the party between 11pm on Saturday, 25th October, disrupted the gathering at 3am on Sunday, 26th October based on Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Tuoyo

However, Tuoyo confirmed in a post on his Instagram page on Sunday that he was among those arrested.

However, the anti-drug agency did not mention his name in its official statement.

The reality TV star revealed that he was among more than one hundred people apprehended by the NDLEA and alleged that they were treated like criminals.

Confirming his arrest, Tuoyo wrote, I have been arrested by the NDLEA from a nightclub in Lagos for basically nothing at all since around 4am; they made us sit down like criminals.

We have over 150 people here up till now, who were carried to the NDLEA headquarters in Ikoyi. We didnt commit any crime, they came with guns inside the club and told everyone to lie down, this is actually crazy.

The agency further disclosed that several arrests were made nationwide, including in Lokoja and Ondo.
Title: Farmers Bride

Released Date: 17 October 2025

Director: Adebayo Tijani and Jackenneth Opukeme

Cast: Gbubemi Ejeye as Funmi, Femi Branch as Odun, Tobi Bakre, Mercy Aigbe, Wumi Toriola and Efe Irele.

The aphorism, the evil that men do, live with them, is beautifully captured in the movie,  Farmers Bride.

Farmers Bride borrows from Charlotte Mews famous 1916 poem, which tells a haunting story of unrequited love, fear, and emotional distance in a loveless marriage.

The film, directed by Jackenneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani, follows a similar path but adds its own intriguing twist, bringing the story to life in a more dramatic and culturally rooted way.

Released in cinemas on 27 September 2024, Farmers Bride began streaming on Netflix on 17 October 2025.

Plot

Set in 1980s Ibadan, Farmers Bride follows Funmi (Gbubemi Ejeye), a young woman forced by her mother (Wunmi Toriola) to marry Odun (Femi Branch), a wealthy and well-respected farmer, in exchange for farmland.

Trapped in an unwanted marriage, Funmi struggles to find happiness. Her discomfort grows around Morenike (Mercy Aigbe), Oduns sister-in-law, closest confidant, and the communitys priestess, who seems to have a constant presence in their home. Despite his reputation as a kind and generous man loved by everyone in the village, he was unloved by his bride. Yet, Oduns affection for Funmi shines through his efforts to make her happy despite her resentment.

Amidst Funmis frustration, Oduns nephew, Femi (Tobi Bakre), returns from school. He chooses to drop out to continue his fathers craft as a woodworker. Soon, Funmi falls in love with Femi, which leads to extramarital affairs.

Their affair soon spirals into betrayal, guilt, and the murder of Odun, and she marries Femi, an ally of Odun, who would pose a threat to Funmi. Will Funmi eventually enjoy her new home?

Character analysis

One of the films greatest strengths lies in its performances. Gbubemi Ejeye brilliantly embodies Funmis quiet rebellion and deep unhappiness, drawing viewers into her emotional world.

Tobi Bakre gives a convincing performance as Femi, capturing his guilt, innocence, and passion with impressive balance. Femi Branch, as Odun, perfectly fits the role of the ageing, charismatic farm owner whose charm hides his inner coldness.

But Mercy Aigbe truly steals the spotlight as Morenike, the priestess torn between loyalty and vengeance. Her performance adds depth, tension, and mystery to the story, making her one of the films most memorable characters.

Review

One of the most remarkable things about Farmers Bride is its simplicity. The storytelling remains clear and focused, with the films tone consistent from start to finish. It avoids unnecessary dialogue and overdramatised moments, allowing the story to breathe naturally.

Kudos to the directors, Jackenneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani, for keeping the audience hooked. The film sustains emotion and tension without slipping into predictability, proving that less can sometimes mean more.

Beyond its love triangle, Farmers Bride is ultimately a story about consequences. It explores the ripple effects of forced marriages, the illusion of power, and the inevitability of retribution. The narrative draws a thin line between desire and destruction, showing that no one truly escapes the weight of their choices.

Although the final scene feels significantly weakened, the plot remains steady, revolving around the tragic connection between Funmi and Femi.

Visually

Visually, Farmers Bride is stunning. The cinematography captures the rustic beauty of rural Ibadan with breathtaking sharpness. Every frame feels intentional and beautifully composed. The attention to detail, from costumes and makeup to set design and props, is impressive, recreating the 1980s atmosphere with care and authenticity.

The films background music and soundtrack enhance the mood, perfectly complementing its emotional tone without overpowering the scenes.

The film is thematic as it teaches that those who live by the sword die by it, that one cannot eat ones cake and have it, as Funmi painfully learns, and that deceit and betrayal inevitably lead to destruction.

While the film succeeds in storytelling and visual appeal, it occasionally sacrifices character depth for action. Some motivations are not fully developed, which makes a few performances feel slightly theatrical rather than emotionally layered.

So, if youre looking for a deep psychological exploration of its characters, Farmers Bride may sometimes feel surface-level. But this is a solid pick if you prefer a fast-moving narrative rich in cultural context, romance, and supernatural intrigue.

Farmers Bride is a well-crafted, engaging Nigerian film that balances romance, moral conflict, and haunting retribution.

It may not reach the deepest emotional depths in every scene, but its ambition, production quality, and storytelling make it one of the standout Nollywood dramas of recent years.

Verdict

Rating: 7.5/10

Farmers Bride is now streaming on Netflix.
Cast: Ibrahim Yekini, Akinfolarin Olamide, Kevin Ikeduba, Jumai Sanni, Ogboluke, Irewole Olaniyan, Kemi Apesin, Adeniyi Stephen, Ololu Damilola, Jimoh Uthman Olamilekan, Ojumola Bello, Adegbite Adewale Oluwaseun, Orekoya Keji, Samson Folarin, Victoria Adeboye, Aderoju Olarinre, Taofeek Adewale, Muhammed Aremu, Toyin Emperor, Ko Oluwatosin, Babatunde Bernard Tayo, Yemi Elesho

Director: Ibrahim Yekini

Run time:

Streaming Platform: YouTube

In the months since the fifth part of Koleoso, the movie seems to have generated a cult following.

This is visible in the buzz the sixth part of the film generated upon its release.

To recap the events so far, Koleoso (Ibrahim Yekini) had been in a battle with the Aroni Initiates, who cast a spell on him that left his arm transfixed and holding a machete.

His father, Oshogbemi, and siblings Efun (Akinfolarin Olamide) and Oshobola (Oluwakemi Apesin) also had private battles they fought in the spirit realm.

Oguta, acting on the orders of the Aroni Initiates, lures Koleoso and his father to their shrine by kidnapping Oshobola and Efun.

Plot

Not much has changed since the initial trilogy, which started as a family drama but quickly escalated into spiritual warfare.

With the Aroni Initiates now completely decimated by Koleosos grandmother, the entire family regains their freedom and returns home.

Not only do they return to an estate agent trying to sell their house. Believing they are dead and gone, the streets have gone rogue, attempting to burn down the house.

Meanwhile, Koleosos wife, Osun (Yetunde Barnabas), delivers a child but dies in the process.

In a twist of events, Koelosos family has sued for peace and has vowed not to use their powers for anything negative.

But trouble comes knocking when Osobola is swindled, and Koleosos enemies keep trying to take shots at him.

Koleoso and his siblings decide to ditch conflict avoidance as they embark on what is expected to be the showdown in the next part of the movie.

Review

Part six of Koleoso continues on its path of intrigue, but unfortunately waters down the hype the movie has received in the past months.

Although the film continues with its fast pace and engaging storyline, whats a Koeoso movie without striking lightning and throwing fire?

However, viewers are not left hanging. One of the most intriguing moments of Part Six is Koleosos child growing by the minute. Literally, he even names himself at his naming ceremony.

As they return from captivity, Koleoso and his family lose their memories but begin to regain them little by little.

In a turn of events, Oracle (Kevin Ikeduba), a businessman who works with politicians, approaches Osobola to give him three girls from her brothel to accompany his clients to Singapore.

He pays her in hard currency, which turns into a bag of stones.

As she prepared for the showdown in part 7, this drew the witchs ire.

Nothing is to be said about this episode other than that it lays the foundation for an expected epic finale.

Verdict: 6/10
The Joint Committee of the National Assembly on the Review of the 1999 Constitution has approved the creation of an additional state in the South-east geopolitical zone, a move aimed at addressing long-standing agitation over the regions perceived marginalisation in Nigerias political structure.

The decision, which, if ratified, will increase the number of states in the South-east from five to six, was reached during the committees two-day retreat held in Lagos from 24 to 25 October.

The retreat was convened to consider wide-ranging proposals for constitutional amendments, including 55 separate requests for new states across the federation.

Equity, fairness for South-east

The South-east is currently the only geopolitical zone in Nigeria with five states, compared to seven in the North-west zone and six in the remaining four zones.

This disparity has, over the years, fuelled demands for a new state to ensure equitable representation in federal appointments, resource distribution, and legislative representation.

The five states in the South-east are Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Enugu.

During the retreat, the committee, chaired by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and co-chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, deliberated extensively on the proposal.

Lawmakers from both chambers reportedly reached a consensus that the South-easts request met the principles of equity, justice, and fairness, which have guided the current review process.

Mr Kalu, who has been a vocal advocate for correcting the regional imbalance, reaffirmed that the agitation for an additional state in the South-east was not a political demand but a constitutional necessity to promote inclusiveness and unity.

Motion for approval

After prolonged debate, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) moved a motion for the creation of the new state, which was seconded by Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun State).

The motion received unanimous approval from members of the joint committee, signalling rare bipartisan consensus on what has long been a politically sensitive issue.

Lawmakers who contributed to the debate reportedly spoke in support of the motion, stressing that addressing structural imbalance would strengthen national cohesion and reduce feelings of marginalisation among federating units.

Next steps in review process

In line with procedure, the approval by the Joint Committee represents an initial stage in the process. For any new state to be constitutionally created, it must receive two-thirds approval from members of both chambers of the National Assembly and the support of at least two-thirds of the State Houses of Assembly.

Mr Jibrin, in his closing remarks, urged committee members to rally their colleagues across both chambers and within state legislatures to support the proposal during plenary consideration and voting.

We need to strengthen what we have started so that all parts of the country will key into this process, Mr Jibrin said. By the time we get to the actual voting, we should already have the buy-in of all stakeholders from both chambers and the State Houses of Assembly.

Broader proposals under review

Beyond the South-east issue, the joint committee also announced the establishment of a subcommittee to examine the creation of additional states and local government areas across all six geopolitical zones.

According to the committee, a total of 278 proposals were submitted by Nigerians and interest groups on the creation of new states, local councils, and boundary adjustments.

The subcommittee will screen, harmonise, and prioritise the proposals before presenting recommendations to the main committee for further consideration.

The constitution review process, which commenced earlier this year, is one of the most comprehensive in recent history. It covers critical areas such as devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, judicial reform, gender inclusion, and local government autonomy.

If passed, the development would mark the first constitutional amendment leading to state creation in Nigeria since 1996, when former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, created six new states to bring the number to 36.

The provision for the creation of a new state is spelt out under Section 8, sub-section 1 (a) to 1(d) of the constitution.
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review has approved the creation of six new states, one in each of Nigerias geopolitical zones, as part of its resolution in the ongoing review of the nations constitution.

If ratified, the number of states in the country will rise from 36 to 42, with the North-west having eight, and the North-east, North-central, South-west, and South-south having seven each, and the South-east six.

The decision was reached during a two-day retreat held in Lagos from Friday to Saturday.

The committee also resolved to establish a sub-committee to determine the specific areas from which the six new states will be created. Chief Whip of the Senate, Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), was appointed to chair the sub-committee.

The retreat reviewed 55 proposals for new states, two boundary adjustment requests, and 278 requests for the creation of additional local government areas from various interest groups across the country.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the committee resolved to create a state for the South-east to bring the number of states in the zone to six. It currently has five states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

Chairpersons of both chambers of the National Assembly, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, are expected to present the committees resolutions when lawmakers reconvene for plenary.

The proposals will then be debated at the Committee of the Whole, where members will vote to approve or reject them.

Constitutional procedure for creating new states

Section 8 of Nigerias constitution outlines the procedures and requirements for the creation of new states.

It stipulates that the process must begin with a formal request signed by at least two-thirds of the elected representatives (Senators, members of the House of Representatives, and members of the State House of Assembly) from the area seeking the new state.

According to Section 8(1)(b), the proposal must then be approved in a referendum by at least a two-thirds majority of the people in the area demanding the new state.

Under Section 8(1)(c), the outcome of the referendum must subsequently be endorsed by a simple majority of all the states in the federation, supported by a simple majority of members of the State Houses of Assembly. This means that the referendum must receive approval from at least 19 states and not less than 51 per cent of state lawmakers nationwide.

Finally, Section 8(1)(d) requires that the proposal be approved by a two-thirds majority of members in each chamber of the National Assembly.

Once these steps are completed, the resolutions are transmitted to the President for final assent.

Possible challenges

The joint committee had earlier pledged to conclude the constitution review process and transmit its final recommendations to state Houses of Assembly before the end of the year.

Since Nigerias return to democratic rule in 1999, the 1999 Constitution has faced widespread criticism for being outdated in light of the nations technological, social, and political evolution. Although the National Assembly has amended the document five times, many proposed changes have been rejected by state legislatures.

Over the years, the review has also attracted public concern over its cost, as each phase of the exercise has been allocated significant funds.

The approval for six new states is expected to generate fresh political contestation among governors and influential political figures seeking to have the new states located within their regions.

For instance, in the South-west, a bill proposing the creation of Ibadan State has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, while another seeking to establish Ijebu State is also under consideration.

Similarly, there is a bill proposing the creation of Anioma State, currently part of Delta State. The bill is sponsored by Ned Nwoko (APC, Delta North). There have been agitations that Anioma should be recognised as the sixth state in the South-east geopolitical zone, given that it is a predominantly Igbo-speaking area, rather than approving any of the other ongoing state creation proposals in the South-east.
The Chief Judge of Enugu State, Raymond Ozoemena, has granted bail and ordered the discharge of 86 inmates from the Enugu Custodial Centre.

Among those discharged was an 86-year-old man (name withheld) from Okpanku in Aninri Local Government Area who was granted bail on health and humanitarian grounds.

Speaking during the flag-off of the 2025 Jail Delivery on Saturday in Enugu, Mr Ozoemena said that jail delivery was a sacred judicial responsibility aimed at upholding the rule of law.

The chief judge noted that the exercise was meant to protect the human rights of persons awaiting trial.

He noted that the exercise allowed the judiciary to review cases of inmates whose trials had been delayed or stalled, ensuring that no one is unjustly deprived of liberty.

This is a statutory duty imposed on the chief judge of every state to ensure that inmates at custodial centres are afforded the opportunity to have their cases reviewed where the wheel of justice has been slow.

I consider this a sacred obligation to protect the constitutional rights of every citizen and to ensure that justice is both fair and timely, he said.

The chief judge commended his predecessors for sustaining the tradition of jail delivery, adding that it remained an essential mechanism for maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

He appreciated the judges of the state, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Director of Public Prosecutions, and the management of Enugu Custodial Centre for their continued collaboration and commitment to justice delivery.

The chief judge thanked Governor Peter Mbah for his administrations unwavering support of the judiciary, particularly the financial assistance provided to facilitate the 2025 Jail Delivery.

He reaffirmed the judiciarys commitment to ensuring that justice remained accessible, fair, and humane, especially for the underprivileged and vulnerable members of society.

Earlier, the Controller of Corrections in Enugu State, Valins Obizue, commended the chief judge and the state government for their intervention through the jail delivery.

Mr Obizue described the exercise as a significant step towards decongesting custodial facilities and promoting the rehabilitation of inmates.

He appealed for the extension of the exercise to the Nsukka and Oji River Custodial Centres, where several inmates remained on the awaiting-trial list.

The event was attended by judges, senior officials of the state Ministry of Justice, representatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service, members of the Nigerian Bar Association and other judicial stakeholders.

(NAN)
Nigerias removal from the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) grey list marks a significant milestone in restoring confidence in the countrys financial system, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Saturday, after the global watchdog acknowledged reforms that strengthened regulation, transparency, and enforcement across the financial sector.

In a statement signed by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Ali, the CBN said the FATFs decision followed an extensive review of Nigerias reform efforts to improve compliance with international anti-financial crime standards.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), at its October 2025 plenary in Paris, officially removed Nigeria from its list of countries under increased monitoring after the country successfully implemented a 19-point action plan to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing framework.

Nigeria had been placed on the grey list in February 2023, when the FATF identified strategic weaknesses in its systems for combating financial crimes.

The FATF, which sets global standards for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, announced Nigerias exit following a successful on-site evaluation of the countrys anti-financial crime framework.

The decision means Nigeria is no longer among jurisdictions under increased monitoring, a category that had placed it under extra scrutiny by international partners and investors.

According to the CBN, the FATF decision recognises significant improvements in Nigerias regulatory and supervisory systems and marks progress in efforts to enhance financial integrity and international confidence.

The bank said the outcome followed a two-year reform programme coordinated by the federal government and involving several agencies, including the CBN, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Under the process led by the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), the FATFs regional assessment body, Nigerias progress was measured against global compliance standards.

The CBNs contribution focused on strengthening oversight of financial institutions through updated anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations, risk-based supervision, and fit-and-proper assessments for key financial operators.

Other measures included expanded compliance reporting across bureaux de change, remittance channels, and fintech platforms to improve fund traceability and enhanced inter-agency coordination between the CBN, NFIU, EFCC, and law enforcement agencies. The CBN also introduced market governance tools such as the Foreign Exchange Code (FX Code) and the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS) to boost transparency in currency operations.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso described the FATFs decision as a validation of Nigerias reform path.

The FATFs decision to remove Nigeria from the grey list is a strong affirmation of our reform trajectory and the growing integrity of our financial system, he said. It reflects a clear policy direction and the coordinated efforts of key national institutions working together to deliver sustainable, standards-based reforms. Our priority now is to consolidate these gains, ensuring that compliance, innovation, and trust continue to advance hand in hand to reinforce financial stability and strengthen Nigerias global credibility.

The bank said the decision will yield tangible benefits for businesses and households by lowering compliance costs, improving access to international finance, and making cross-border transactions faster and more affordable. Over time, these gains are expected to support trade, quicken remittance inflows, and enhance access to foreign exchange, thereby boosting enterprise growth and financial inclusion.

The FATFs decision, the CBN noted, reinforces growing international confidence in Nigerias economic management. It comes amid recent upgrades by global ratings agencies, Moodys and Fitch, which cited more substantial external balances and improved policy credibility. The International Monetary Funds 2025 Article IV Consultation also commended Nigeria for improved reserve adequacy and a reform agenda aligned with global standards.

Nigeria now joins South Africa, Mozambique, and Burkina Faso as the latest African countries to have exited the FATF grey list, reflecting a broader trend of progress in financial transparency across the continent.

The CBN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining collaboration with domestic and international partners to sustain a sound, transparent, and trusted financial system that safeguards stability while advancing inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
There was a solemn atmosphere at Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State as family members of renowned academic, Isawa Elaigwu, a political science professor, gathered to bid him farewell on Friday.

Governor Hyacinth Alia extolled the virtues of the deceased teacher who until his passing was President of the Institute of Governance and Social Research, and Professor Emeritus (Political Science), University of Jos.

Mr Elaigwu, 77, passed away on 22 July in Jos, Plateau State.

Tributes pour in

In a condolence message at Mr Elaigwus funeral service on Friday, Mr Alia described the deceased as an illustrious son of the state and a tall figure in the academic world.

He noted that the famed professor of political science made his mark in nation-building through teaching, research, public lectures and publications.

We will remember him for his integrity, intellectual brilliance, and commitment to the unity of our nation, the governor said.

Similarly, the deputy governor of the state, Sam Ode, represented by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Edeh Ogwuche, said the deceased left an indelible mark in the academia, shaping minds and informing policies rooted in justice, equity and altruism.

As a distinguished scholar of political science and international relations, his voice resonated in academic halls, policy fora, inspiring countless individuals to pursue excellence, integrity and service, Mr Ode said.

In his funeral oration, the deputy governor recalled the late scholars contributions in bridging the gap between the tiers of government, aimed at deepening federalism.

As Mr Elaigwus casket laid at the Isawa Memorial Academy at Otukpo, a high school he founded as symbol of his legacy in knowledge production, the immediate-past deputy governor of Benue, Benson Abounu, said the late academic inspired him and generations of scholars to pursue their dreams.

We were looking up to Professor Elaigwu because of his academic brilliance. He contributed to the development of federalism in Nigeria, particularly during the military government of President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, he recalled.

The officiating minister at the funeral service, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church in Benue State, Joshua Ngbede, urged Christians to imbibe the virtues of love and forgiveness which Christ embodied.

The cleric lauded Mr Elaigwu for his life of service and integrity.

He urged mourners and sympathisers at the funeral service to recommit their lives to the promotion of peace and development of Nigeria.

Students mourn

One of the highlights of the event was a rendition by students of the Isawa Memorial Academy depicting Mr Elaigwu as their hero.

The students dressed in their colourful uniforms, lined the hilly way to the academy as pallbearers conveyed the remains of the deceased in a brown casket to the funeral grounds.

As Mr Elaigwus remains were being interred in the precinct of the school in accordance with the deceaseds death wish, the distraught students watched from the school balconies, while the professors grieving children and relatives wept uncontrollably.

The national burial committee of the late Elaigwu, led by Sunday Ochoche, a professor, received dignitaries including Ejembi Eko; a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Monday Morgan, a retired air vice-marshal, and academics from the University of Jos, where the deceased lived much of academic life.

Nights of tributes were earlier held in the deceaseds honour in Abuja and Jos where former Nigerian Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and two ex-Senate Presidents  David Mark and Iyorchia Ayu, paid glowing tributes to Professor Elaigwu for the remarkable life he lived.

At the event in Abuja, daughter of the deceased, Victoria Elaigwu, described him as an accomplished international scholar who mentored several younger scholars.

He taught us the values of hard work, integrity, and compassion, leading by example in everything he did. His legacy is one of patriotism, resilience, kindness and unyielding love.

We will carry his memory in our hearts forever, she said.

Born in 1948, Mr Elaigwu served as a teacher, researcher and adviser to successive governments in Nigeria.

He was globally recognised for his expertise in federalism, political stability, and democratic governance.

Mr Elaigwu was an alumnus of the Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Stanford.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi has rejected the reported nomination of Kabiru Tanimu as the partys national chairman.

The partys spokesperson in the state, Sani Dododo, stated this while briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.

Mr Dododo said the decision followed speculations that Mr Tanimu had been solely appointed to contest for the position of PDP National Chairman without consulting stakeholders in the North-west zone.

He stressed that all states in the North-west zone should be allowed to present candidates for the position, in line with the partys zoning arrangement.

We support the position of the North-west Elders that they should be allowed to select the candidate for the position of the National Chairman of the party, Mr Dododo said.

He explained that the state leadership of the party had met and discussed the issue, noting that at no time did Mr Tanimu consult PDP members in the state before declaring interest in the position.

The elders in the North-west should be allowed to sit down, deliberate, and produce a candidate that will represent the zone in line with the partys zoning system, he added.

Mr Dododo said the party in the state had dissociated itself from what it described as the imposition of Mr Tanimu.

He urged the partys National Working Committee (NWC) to allow the North-west to choose its preferred candidate.

We call on the NWC to give us in the North-west the opportunity to come up with our consensus candidate to represent us, he pleaded.

(NAN)
Environmental activists, civil society groups, and community representatives across the Niger Delta have demanded an urgent review of Nigerias Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to set a definite deadline for ending gas flaring.

The demand formed part of the resolutions from the Climate Justice Assembly held on Friday in Benin City during the launch of Yasunize and Ogonize the World for Socio-Ecological Wellbeing.

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) organised the assembly.

The stakeholders described the current provisions as unjust and environmentally destructive.

In a declaration signed by Stanley Egholo, Cadmus Atake-Enade, and Kome Odhomor, the groups said that the PIA has failed the region by permitting gas flaring and unfairly blaming communities for pipeline protection.

They called on the National Assembly to amend the law by removing the power to grant gas-flaring permits from regulatory agencies.

They called for legislation that would fix a date for ending gas flaring and allow exceptions only for rare and clearly defined emergencies.

Gas flaring fines should be equal to the market value of the gas and directed to host community funds, the statement read.

Remove community responsibility for protecting oil installations. Remove laws criminalising community protests. Let host communities, not oil companies, control development funds, the coalition said.

The coalition also demanded a comprehensive audit of the environmental, health, and economic impacts of oil and gas extraction across the Niger Delta.

They referenced the 2011 UNEP Report on Ogoniland, which revealed pollution and environmental degradation.

The destruction across the entire Niger Delta requires immediate clean-up, restoration of damaged ecosystems, and reparations for 64 years of harm, they said.

They further called for reforms to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urging the government to release the commissions forensic audit report and prosecute offenders.

Projects must be based on community-approved needs assessments. Prioritise completing abandoned projects over starting new ones, the resolution added.

Speaking at the event, Nnimmo Bassey, the executive director of HOMEF, said the campaign aligned with global calls for climate justice and community-centred ecological recovery.

Continuing extraction while promoting cleaning up is total foolishness. The major drivers of the climate crisis are greed and convenience.

This meeting feeds into frontline communities demands ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

Although we are not expecting much from COP, we must not give up on advocacy and our demands, Mr Bassey said.

The HOMEF director added that the Yasunise and Ogonise social media campaign aims to connect local struggles for environmental justice in Africa with similar movements in Latin America and Southeast Asia.

Other speakers included Osagie Obayuwana, Celestine Akpobari of Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative, and representatives of the Edo Civil Society Coalition and Gelegele community.

Academic perspectives were shared by Ofuani Sokolo of the University of Benin, who spoke on Gender, Climate Change and Community Mobilisation.

Messrs Egholo and Atake-Enade of HOMEF discussed Understanding NDAC Manifesto and NSAC Charters and Centering Community Voices for Climate Justice.

(NAN)
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) has announced the panel of judges for the 2025 CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards following the close of its regional call for entries.

At the end of the submission period, the centre received 275 entries from journalists across West Africa, reflecting the growing impact and recognition of the awards as a benchmark for quality journalism in the region.

From these submissions, five finalists in each of the seven categories were shortlisted for final evaluation by an independent panel of judges made up of seven distinguished media professionals who have demonstrated excellence and integrity in their careers.

The panel is chaired by Manasseh Awuni, an award-winning investigative journalist and editor. Other members include: Ajibola Amzat, Africa editor, Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ); Kent Mensah, Chief Ghana correspondent for The Africa Report; Tessy Igomu, deputy editor, Punch Weekend Titles; Hamadou Tidiane Sy, a seasoned journalist and media manager, Francophone Africa editor, Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), and Hewete Haileselassie, editor-in-chief, Bird Story Agency and former BBC senior journalist

The awards, which recognise exceptional contributions to journalism, fact-checking, media innovation, and community-centred reporting across West Africa, form a central part of CJIDs ongoing commitment to strengthening independent media that drive accountability, transparency, and sustainable development.

The 2025 edition of the awards is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, whose partnership shows a shared commitment to press freedom, democratic accountability, and the sustainability of independent media in the region.

Announcing the shortlist, CJIDs Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, commended the quality and diversity of submissions received this year.

The number and calibre of entries reflect a growing vibrancy and resilience within the West African media space, Mr Babatunde said. Across the region, journalists are working under challenging conditions to expose injustice, deepen accountability, and tell stories that truly matter. Through this award, CJID reaffirms its belief that a free, innovative, and ethical press remains vital to Africas democratic and developmental aspirations.

READ ALSO: CJID Excellence in Journalism Awards 2025 now open for entries

Kemi Busari, chair of the Awards Committee, also praised the exceptional quality and depth of entries received this year.

We received some outstanding entries this year, and we are pleased to see journalism continuing to uphold its accountability role in West Africa. As we did last year, we will once again be celebrating great journalism on November 27, he said.

The shortlisted entries will now proceed to evaluation by the independent panel of seven judges.

The award ceremony will be held on 27 November in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of the CJID Media and Development Conference 2025  a flagship convening that explores the intersection of democracy, development, and data in shaping Africas future.
Residents of Ojulari in Oworonshoki, Lagos, reported that demolition teams returned late Saturday night to pull down houses in their community, and operations continued into Sunday morning despite protests and local resistance.

Eyewitnesses told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday morning that two bulldozers were deployed for the demolition.

According to them, about 50 police officers sent to the community fired teargas at residents throughout the night. They said the exercise had not stopped as of early Sunday.

We didnt sleep at all because the demolition people and police came back after we stopped them in the morning. Even until now, Sunday morning, they are still demolishing, said Olarenwaju Segun, a resident.

More than fifty police officers were shooting teargas at protesters as they destroyed buildings. People dont know where to go. This is unfair to humanity.

PREMIUM TIMES confirmed that an earlier attempt to demolish homes in the Udi Araba area on Saturday morning was blocked by residents.

Residents first mobilised to stop an early-morning demolition attempt in the Araba and Koka areas, densely populated clusters overlooking the Lagos Lagoon.

They started demolishing without marking any building, Adeyemi Lanre, a community mobiliser told PREMIUM TIMES. We quickly mobilised and blocked them. That was how they stopped and left.

Some residents accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Babatunde Saliu, of backing the demolitions to reclaim waterfront land for private development  a claim PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify. But the traditional ruler has denied having a hand in the demolition, explaining that he had himself been a victim of such actions when he ignorantly built on a piece of land that was already acquired by the government.

But Baale of Oworonshoki, Olorunwa Luwa, said the operations were not government-approved.

If it were the government, they would not come at 12 midnight or 3 a.m. to demolish buildings. People with proper documents are losing their homes, he said in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday.

Residents reported damage to homes, fences, and walls. Olu Adewusi said, Children are sleeping on rubble. People have nowhere else to go.

Victims reject compensation exercise

The Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims condemned a compensation exercise organised by the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), describing it as propaganda and selective.

In a statement, the group said only 79 people were shortlisted for compensation out of more than 10,000 affected residents.

They alleged that cheques were handed to palace loyalists who were not affected by the demolitions. The source of the funds remains unclear.

We reject this mockery of justice, said Olanrewaju Olusegun and Adewale Ogunnusi in a joint statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday night.

We demand transparent enumeration, an independent investigation, and adequate compensation for all victims whose homes, shops, and livelihoods were destroyed.

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES reached out to LASURA, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), and the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning for comment.

Calls and messages to officials went unanswered as of press time.

LASURA had previously said compensation had begun for verified property owners as part of an urban regeneration programme.

Director-General Oladimeji Animashaun said 80 beneficiaries received cheques ranging from N3 million to N5 million between Thursday and Friday.

Displaced residents rejected the process as selective and opaque, alleging many genuine victims were left out while palace affiliates dominated the list.

PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify these claims.

Residents further claimed a court order restraining further demolitions exists, but this newspaper has yet to see the document.

Background

Demolitions in parts of Oworonshoki have been ongoing since 2023, displacing hundreds of households.

Earlier operations in Araba and Koka were halted by residents. Displaced families have complained of inadequate compensation, destruction of property, and poor coordination by authorities.

Earlier this month, hundreds of protesters marched on Alausa, the seat of the Lagos State Government, in protest against the Oworonshoki demolitions.

The protest coincided, which coincided with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, saw demonstrators accusing the government of worsening poverty and homelessness.

Thousands of residents in Oworonshoki have been rendered homeless, with women and children sleeping on the streets, said Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement.

Hassan Soweto of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) alleged confiscated land was being used for luxury real estate projects.

Addressing the protesters, Chief Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Fatai Mojeed, said the legislature was unaware of any demolition notices allegedly issued by the Oba.

I will report all your messages to the Speaker when the House resumes from recess, he said.

Members of the Take It Back Movement and other civic groups said they would continue monitoring Oworonshoki to prevent illegal demolitions.

But the government has justified the demolition, saying Oworonshoki is one of the communities earmarked under the states comprehensive urban renewal and regeneration plan. The government maintained that the affected structures were unsafe for habitation and constituted environmental hazards.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed the federal governments commitment to building strategic global partnerships to counter negative narratives aimed at damaging the countrys reputation.

Mr Idris stated this at the UK Edition of the Renewed Hope Global Dialogue, which had the theme Strengthening Global Partnerships for Economic Renewal and National Rebranding under the Renewed Hope Administration.

This is contained in a statement by the ministers Special Assistant on Media, Rabiu Ibrahim, on Saturday in Abuja.

According to him, partnerships and collaboration remain central to Nigerias efforts at rebranding and repositioning itself on the world stage.

Let me now highlight one of the reputational challenges we are currently confronting, which is a disinformation campaign, falsely and maliciously alleging state-sponsored and targeted religious attacks and discrimination in Nigeria.

We have been very robust in our rebuttals, making it clear that these are despicable narratives being peddled by people who know nothing about Nigeria.

We need international friends and partners who know our country very well and understand our nuances and complexities and who can add their voices to ours, to present an accurate, believable and credible picture of the country, he said.

Mr Idris emphasised that the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation was deeply involved in national rebranding, working with strategic partners to project Nigeria positively.

A national brand does not emerge by accident; it has to be designed, crafted and marketed in a deliberate and painstaking way, he said.

The minister said that the ministry, in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), had launched the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG).

According to him, the partnership aims to maximise Nigerians national pride and promote a positive global reputation in all spheres.

The NRMG has recently unveiled the Nigeria Global Reputation Management Project, managed by renowned branding experts and professionals, and you will hear much more about it in the coming weeks and months, he said.

Mr Idris further disclosed that the federal government had designated 15 October every year as Nigeria Reputation Day, to commemorate and raise awareness about the importance of national reputation.

He also announced that Nigeria would host the 2026 African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja, making Nigeria the first African country to host both global events in the same year.

Highlighting key diplomatic and economic milestones, the minister said President Bola Tinubus foreign policy vision is encapsulated and anchored on the 4Ds.

They are Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, and are already yielding tangible results.

At the beginning of this year, Nigeria was admitted as a BRICS partner country, opening up a new chapter of cooperation with some of the worlds biggest and fastest-developing nations.

Just this week, a Nigerian was elected Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

Another Nigerian, my colleague, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), emerged as president of the 2026 GECF Ministerial Meeting, he added.

The minister added that on Friday, Nigeria was delisted from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, affirming the success of President Tinubus bold reforms to strengthen the nations Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Financing of Terrorism framework.

He commended the efforts of government agencies and international partners whose collaboration under President Tinubus leadership made these achievements possible.

This demonstrates very clearly to the world that Nigeria is serious about financial transparency and enforcement, he stated.

On the domestic front, Mr Idris highlighted the administrations reform momentum, noting that Nigeria currently has a unified exchange rate regime and a national student loans programme that has benefited over half a million students and counting.

He added that there was a new national minimum wage, a national consumer credit programme, a presidential CNG initiative, four new Tax Acts, five new Regional Development Commissions and a Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

He reiterated that these initiatives were fast-tracking the countrys ambitions to be a leading global economy.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria was reclaiming lost ground, both at home and abroad, under President Tinubus leadership.

The country will continue to forge and strengthen strategic partnerships to sustain and accelerate the progress being achieved.

We are a listening, engaging government, and we invite you to seek out more information about the fantastic things happening in Nigeria and to explore ways of partnering with us to take the transformation to the next level, he stated.

(NAN)
On 22 September, the Nigerian Government submitted its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The enhanced pledge  estimated to require about $337 billion to implement  was unveiled less than two months before the COP30 Climate Conference scheduled for 1021 November in Belem, Brazil.

While the submission reaffirms Nigerias commitment to global climate targets, concerns abound regarding the viability of translating the ambitions into desired outcomes, especially their prospects of delivering long-lasting succour to communities at the mercy of the climate crisis.

NDCs, country-level pledges under the Paris Agreement, outline strategies for paring down greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change impacts.

The overarching goal of the Paris Agreement is to keep global temperature rise significantly below 2C above pre-industrial levels as efforts are advanced to limit its surge to 1.5C.

Signatory countries have a duty to periodically review, update and submit their pledges every five years to reflect new data and emerging national trends.

In 2004, Nigeria ratified the Kyoto Protocol and, in 2017, the Paris Agreement, committing to play a part in the global effort to moderate temperatures and step up climate resilience without undermining food security.

From business-as-usual to economy-wide reduction

The NDCs submitted by Nigeria in 2015 and 2021 focused on emission control relative to a business-as-usual trajectory. The latest document is even more ambitious, having introduced a major strategic shift from relative reductions to economy-wide absolute emissions cuts.

In the 2021 submission (NDC 2.0), Nigeria vowed to cut emissions by 20 per cent unconditionally and 47 per cent conditionally by 2030, depending on international financial support. That plan covered four greenhouse gases  carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and hydrofluorocarbons  and incorporated the waste sector for the first time.

The label, unconditional, implies the countrys independent commitment to scale back emissions, using its own resources. Yet, with ample financial and technical backing from international partners, the target could climb to 47 per cent.

With NDC 3.0 now in place, President Bola Tinubu said Nigerias new framework builds on the foundations of NDC 1.0 and 2.0 but introduces absolute emissions targets that are in line with the countrys net-zero-by-2060 goal.

This approach better fits and aligns with the net-zero emissions target of the country as well as our methane reduction commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow, the government stated.

It has been revealed that the review was informed by outcomes from the 2023 UNFCCC Global Stocktake, findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, and Nigerias national development priorities.

Nigerias new targets

According to the document, Nigeria has committed to lower emissions by 32.2 per cent by 2030, while targeting 100 per cent electricity access, 50 per cent renewable energy share in the power mix and 9 per cent annual growth in new electricity connections by that date.

The NDC 3.0 also highlights intermediate targets of absolute emissions reductions of 168.2 MtCOe by 2030 and 184.9 MtCOe by 2035  both relative to 2018 levels  on the path to net-zero by 2060.

In simple terms, Nigeria plans to release 168.2 million tonnes less carbon by 2030 than it did in 2018, and by 2035, it hopes to cut that volume further to 184.9 million tonnes.

These objectives are part of a broader long-term plan to completely stop discharging more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than it can absorb  a goal known as net-zero  by the year 2060.

The 70-page document hints that Nigeria will maintain its 20 per cent unconditional commitment, while the remaining 80 per cent of reductions is dependent on international financial and technical support.

The document also includes new climate commitments such as decreasing deforestation by 60 per cent, reforesting 250,000 hectares and planting 25 million trees.

For the first time, health and climate education have been designated as priority sectors  a move to integrate environmental sustainability into public health and civic development.

Financing the ambition

To deliver on these commitments, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) said Nigeria will seek to mobilise $2025 billion by 2030 through green bonds, blended finance, and public-private partnerships.

Of the total $337 billion required, Nigeria plans to raise $67 billion (20%) locally and seek $270 billion (80%) in concessional finance, grants, and technology support from international partners.

Delivering on these commitments will require partnership, technology, and finance at scale. Ambition alone is not enough, said Tenioye Majekodunmi, the director-general of the NCCC, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly last month.

We call on the international communitygovernments, the private sector, and development partnersto stand with us and invest in this journey, she said.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led Nigerias delegation to the UN General Assembly on behalf of Mr Tinubu, lauded the updated plan as a statement of ambition and accountability.

Nigeria is firmly in control of its climate destiny, he said. We are prepared to lead the continent with development-friendly, economy-wide climate governance.

Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal described the milestone as the culmination of over a decade of effort to mainstream climate change into national development planning.

With this framework, the ministry and the National Council on Climate Change will work with the private sector and global partners to turn this plan into visible action, he said.

Concerns and realities

Barely two years into President Bola Tinubus first term, Nigeria is in the middle of a severe food crisis largely fuelled by the abolition of petrol subsidies, a much weaker naira from currency devaluations and insecurity in key food-producing states.

These policies have sharply driven up the costs of transportation and agricultural inputs. In like manner, devastating flash floods in key agrarian areas over the past three years have had dire implications for food availability and affordability.

Similarly, Nigeria faces a huge climate financing gap, a rising debt profile, and recurring governance challenges that could hinder implementation. A history of poor project accountability and mismanagement of climate funds is also stoking worries about institutional readiness.

The target translates to roughly $6.7 billion per year, at a time when debt-service costs consume a large share of federal revenues and public borrowing space is tightening, Razaq Fatai, head of research and advisory at agriculture-focused consultancy Vestance, told PREMIUM TIMES.

While recent improvements in tax collection and subsidy reforms have created some fiscal headroom, they remain insufficient to fund large-scale climate investments from the budget alone, he also noted.

He is suggesting that the government embrace a broad mix of financing options that will combine public revenues with private and institutional capital, sovereign and corporate green bonds, sub-national financing and carbon-market revenues to fund its capital-intensive climate goals.

Nigerias ability to raise $67 billion locally will depend less on the fiscal space alone and more on policy credibility, investment readiness, and the capacity to crowd in domestic private capital, Mr Fatai said.

While NDC 3.0 has set a new regional benchmark  Nigeria being the first in West Africa and fifth in Africa to present its third NDC  execution is the litmus test.

How well emission control mechanisms are deployed, monitored and regulated in the energy industry is critical to these ambitions, particularly to the drive to attain the net-zero target and transition to cleaner energy.

Nigerias economy is heavily dependent on fossil fuels as the main income source for the government. Like his predecessors, President Tinubu has reiterated the need to diversify the countrys economy by reducing reliance on oil & gas and developing alternative sustainable renewable energy sources like solar power.

He is also backing increased oil and gas production for domestic consumption and export, though, amid pressures to boost foreign exchange earnings and shore up revenue.

The start of the 650,000 bpd-Dangote Petroleum Refinery at a time when countries around the world are battling pressures to shift away from fossil fuels is perceived as a game-changer for Nigerias long-standing fuel crisis.

While Nigerias Energy Transition Plan, launched in 2022, is aiming for near-universal electricity access by 2030, experts have warned that a continuous reliance on gas as a transition fuel risks locking in carbon-intensive infrastructure (stranded assets).

The country has the largest population of persons without electricity access globallyabout 86.8 million lacking power in 2023, or over 40 per cent of its populace. According to the World Bank, that marked the third consecutive year Nigeria has had the highest electricity access deficit in the world.

The pace of population growth is arguably outpacing electrification efforts across the country, while chronic outages due to recurrent grid failures in recent years are forcing households and businesses to rely on petrol-powered generators. That recourse costs the economy roughly $22 billion annually in fuel expenses, about five per cent of the GDP.

As climate impacts intensify  from flooding and droughts to heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall  communities on the frontlines of the crisis will be watching to see whether these new pledges translate into real resilience and relief.

Experts have argued that to actually reduce emissions to a level that is consistent with the global target of 1.5C, countries must take the decarbonisation of their economies seriously.
But EFCC was set up to punish crime, otherwise it might have been named Economic Assets Recovery Commission. Its reporting is for Nigerians to be informed perpetually, as I detailed previously. That EFCC appears to be institutionally unperturbed that NASS never debates its reporting may confirm that the reports are fictitious.

In October 2023, a remarkable event occurred in the Nigerian National Assembly (NASS). It was a citizen presenting the most eloquent testimony against corruption to the Senate.

Let the fight against corruption begin from this hallowed chamber, he advocated.

His identity: Ola Olukoyede. He got his confirmation, detonating a live political landmine as he unwittingly used the EFCCs investigation of Senate President Godswill Akpabio as an example.

Mr Akpabio laughed. Mr nominee, leave the Senate President for now, he chuckled.

But EFCC was prosecuting Akpabio. Yes, the very man I had used as an example of Nigeria scrubbing out character, citing his years-long demonstration of ethical emptiness and efforts to evade prosecution (EFCC first arrested him in 2015), had become the Senate President.

Come with me, then, to the website of the EFCC. Search for Patience Jonathan.

James Ibori? Sambo Dasuki? Godswill Akpabio? No results found, right?

I use these four examples because I can think of no other Nigerians who have been paired more frequently or intensively with the EFCC in news reports in the last 20 years.

But it is Year 18 since I wrote Patience Jonathan, Nigerias most powerful woman, following the EFCCs seizure of $13.5 million dollars from her in September 2006.

Parallel narratives exist for the other three searches you have just conducted. And yet: the mighty commission doing the seizing and arresting and charging has no records? No results found?

One month ago, EFCC approached various media houses with an article about me, aiming to abort my annual reminder of its reporting obligation.

Now, a lot of Nigerian institutions are far less pivotal than EFCC are glad to report: A sample: The Financial Reporting Council; Auditor-General of the Federation; NIMASA; Bureau of Public Procurement; Fiscal Responsibility Commission; and the National Pension Commission.

Welcoming the first EFCC report in September 2006, Senate President Ken Nnamani stressed the reporting date, asking: If the report of the Number Two citizen in our country is a public document, why should the report [concerning] state governors, councillors not be available?

At that event, Mr Nuhu Ribadu, the pioneer EFCC chairman, unveiled corruption in high places, listing several governors by name.

That first report, sadly, was the last time any EFCC leader has officially filed the comprehensive, professional and audited report demanded by law.

I have personally searched. I have invited entire news organisations to do so. How can two decades worth of reporting elude the mass media of Nigeria, unless someone is trying to call them lazy or stupid?

In 2007, unnamed officials of the commission declared that the agency would shift focus to asset recovery, not prosecution. Translation: deals, not justice. In October 2012, I described that tragedy as the EFCC moving Nigeria backwards.

This is exactly what I remembered when EFCC last month tried to persuade a few newsrooms that opinions  not reporting  are the first business of journalism and the journalism business. To prove this wrong, its writer quoted from a report that no journalist had seen! Imagine: they have not even leaked a single report in the past 19 years but had no compunction about quoting from one!

He wrote: A glimpse of the 2024 EFCC Annual Report shows that the total financial recoveries stood at N364.579,370,151.35 and $326.496,959.95

No Nigerian should be insulted this way by an EFCC employee, particularly as he implies, falsely, that the information is available to be shared. The law does not classify the EFCCs obligatory report as a secret, let alone a perpetual one.

On the contrary, EFCC hides behind technicalities to keep the purveyors of Nigerias economic and financial criminal enterprises potent, present and thriving.

I am not the only one who has noticed this. The 2009, 2016, 2020 Nigeria Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the US Department of State described the EFCC as focused on low- and mid-level government officials. They refer to allegations that it targeted individuals who were out of favor with the government, while those that were in favor continued their activities with impunity.

Similarly, in 2011, Human Rights Watch pointed out that while EFCC had indicted around 30 prominent political figures and recovered about $11 billion, yet convictions and prison sentences for the elite were rare, with only four convictions secured, and little or no jail time.

The problem is EFCCs conspicuous consumption of its lavish legal authority, with no commitment to earning the public trust. The collusion with the National Assembly and the elite over its obligation to report betrays the people.

The commission exposes itself principally because it is a poor manager of its political and legal assets and information, beginning with its website, from which it is currently purging many elements in a new design.

For instance:

When EFCC says  ARCHIVES Where are its true archives?

Where are its true archives? When EFCC announces  Operational Statistics Convictions

The commission reports interim forfeitures

In 2022, EFCC recorded 3,785 convictions but over 90 per cent of these were the low-level fraudsters the commission likes to hide behind. Most of them ended in plea bargains and just months-long sentences.

Keep that in mind when an EFCC official celebrates funds recovered, the question is: Recovered from whom? Why is EFCC judge and jury over itself?

Where are the big economic and financial criminals? Consider the fiasco of the EFCC January 2025 Motor Vehicle Auction, which involved an astonishing 820 vehicles (yes, I counted them), including 141 luxury brands such as Porsches, Jaguars, and Range Rovers.

The chaos was probably because it was the original owners and their proxies who were choking up the system to buy back their property. We will never know from the records because EFCC simply wants to announce recoveries, avoiding the identification of privileged criminals.

But EFCC was set up to punish crime, otherwise it might have been named Economic Assets Recovery Commission. Its reporting is for Nigerians to be informed perpetually, as I detailed previously. That EFCC appears to be institutionally unperturbed that NASS never debates its reporting may confirm that the reports are fictitious.

To advance Nigeria, the fairness and excellence of public institutions is critical. But like excellence, accountability must be lived, not preached. To hold others to account, EFCC must be accountable.

This is not a game, as I wrote in 2015. EFCC openly telling its story to Nigerians and to history is non-negotiable.

Sonala Olumhense is a syndicated columnist.
The sad reality of Nigeria is not a Christian genocide but the genocide of BOTH Christians and Muslims by a handful of savage and barbaric terrorist militias that falsely claim to be Muslims, but that do not in actual fact represent any faith They represent only Satan, their insatiable bloodlust and sadistic, depraved, delusional, psychotic and psychopathic disposition.

There is no one in Nigeria who has spoken up for the rights of Christians, against their marginalisation and persecution, and warned about the reality and dangers of Islamic fundamentalism and Islamist terror, more than I have done over the last 30 years.

Whether it be the sharia debates, the debate on the secularity of the Nigerian State, the debate on the plight of Christians in Northern Nigeria or the debate on ethnic and religious hegemony and domination, I have been deeply involved and invested in these matters right from the beginning.

In each of these prolonged and often acrimonious and volatile debates, I have played a leading role and held my corner.

For those who doubt this, the records are clear and I suggest that they go back and read all that I have written and said about these vexing issues over the last three decades.

I have also made it perfectly clear over the years that it would be an honour for me to sacrifice all, including my life, in defence of my faith, and that will never change. That was my position then and it is my position today.

My knowledge about the experiences of Christians in Nigeria is extensive, and my insight and understanding of the history of our country is next to none.

This places me in a unique position and gives me the ability to speak with authority about the ongoing debate on whether or not what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is indeed a Christian genocide.

In the last three weeks, I have written two widely published essays on this matter.

The first is titled The fiction of Christian genocide and the conspiracy against Nigeria and the second is titled, A Warning To Senator Ted Cruz.

For those who have not read them already, I recommend them both in order to get a clearer and deeper perspective on the matter.

This contribution is my third to this increasingly contentious and volatile debate, and I sincerely hope that it brings more insight and understanding to the issues under consideration.

Permit me to get to the meat of the matter.

There is no doubt that Christians are being targeted and slaughtered in massive numbers in Nigeria.

No one can deny that. It is a reality that we as Christians have lived with for many years.

What needs to be understood, however, is that in the last 15 years, as many Muslims have been targeted and slaughtered by the same group of heartless terrorists as well.

To mischaracterise what is going on in our nation as a Christian genocide is a knee jerk and emotional reaction to a very complex and profound problem.

It is an eloquent testimony to the sordid and divisive disinformation, misinformation and falsehood that those who insist on describing it in such terms have resorted to.

It is a gross, perfidious and unforgivable mischaracterisation of the facts on the ground, a Goebellian misrepresentation of reality, and a perverse inversion of the truth.

It is also a specious, simplistic, shallow and flawed perspective, which is deeply rooted in ignorance, mischief, malevolence, malice, deceit and intellectual dishonesty, which does not in any way define the very real problems or provide a lasting solution to the monumental challenges that Nigerian Christians are facing. This is designed to divide us and pave the way for a well-orchestrated and carefully scripted attempt to destabilise our nation, thrust us into a volatile season and cycle of mutual suspicion, sectarian violence and calumny, and set us up for an unconstitutional regime change before or by 2027.

To send arms to the Nigerian government to assist in our fight against the terrorists is one thing and would, of course, be a welcome and laudable initiative and development, but to send arms and private mercenary armies from the West to fight for Christians in our country and kill our Muslim brothers, or for Christian communities to receive arms directly from the Americans, whilst the Muslims are bombed out of existence by Western jets, is madness and an open invitation to chaos and fratricidal butchery in Nigeria.

To insist on perpetuating and propagating this mischaracterisation and falsehood is an extremely dangerous path to tread which, if care is not taken, will ultimately make matters far worse.

For example, the frantic public call by Mr Eric Prince (the notorious founder of the discredited American private security company of murderous and savage Western mercenaries that wreaked havoc in Iraq after the American invasion, known as Blackwater) to the Vatican, the Pope, prominent Christian leaders from all over the world, and President Donald Trump, to fund and support a private Christian army, which he will gladly put together and lead to come to Nigeria to protect the Christian community and kill Muslims, is not only irresponsible and unhelpful but is also fraught with many dangers.

Again, the call by US Congressman Chris Smith to Trump to arm Christians in Nigeria with American weapons and use the American Airforce to bomb Muslim communities in our country, will lead to a further escalation of violence and open armed conflict between hitherto law-abiding Christians and Muslims, who are not only fully integrated but who have also lived peacefully together over the years. Sending arms to aide one community and US war planes to bomb the other cannot possibly augur well for us.

To send arms to the Nigerian government to assist in our fight against the terrorists is one thing and would, of course, be a welcome and laudable initiative and development, but to send arms and private mercenary armies from the West to fight for Christians in our country and kill our Muslim brothers, or for Christian communities to receive arms directly from the Americans, whilst the Muslims are bombed out of existence by Western jets, is madness and an open invitation to chaos and fratricidal butchery in Nigeria.

It would indeed mark the end of our country as we know it and the beginning of a civil war, which will last for the next 50 years and which will have cataclysmic consequences for the Nigerian people, the west African sub region, the African continent, and indeed much of the world.

Such insane and provocative rhetoric from the likes of Prince and Moore must cease forthwith. They do not love our country more than we do and we must not allow them to light a fire or ignite a bomb that will consume us all.

Outside of this, the mischaracterisation of our situation has an additional three obvious and immediate consequences.

First, it negates the idea that Muslims are being targeted by the same terrorists that are killing Christians.

Second, it belittles and underplays the massive loss of Muslims lives and suggests that those lives count for nothing.

Finally, it runs the risk of further dividing our people along religious lines by casting all Muslims as the perpetrators and only Christians as the victims.

This cannot augur well for the unity of our country and for our collective fight against terror.

The American and Western leaders who are propagating and spouting it, with the help of the CIA and their local assets, obviously have an insidious hidden agenda and a sinister ulterior motive for doing so.

You do not have to be a bright bulb or a professor of world history to appreciate that.

All you need to do is to have a little common sense, a good memory, an understanding of the times we are living in and to observe what the Americans and their Western allies have been doing in the Middle East, North Africa and indeed much of the world ever since 9/11.

The sad reality of Nigeria is not a Christian genocide but the genocide of BOTH Christians and Muslims by a handful of savage and barbaric terrorist militias that falsely claim to be Muslims, but that do not in actual fact represent any faith.

They represent only Satan, their insatiable bloodlust and sadistic, depraved, delusional, psychotic and psychopathic disposition.

Some of them, like Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al Qaeda and Ansaru, operate mainly in the North, murdering and displacing both Christians and Muslims with impunity and no remorse, whilst others, like ESN, who claim to be championing the cause of Christians and Jews, operate mainly in the South-East, again murdering and displacing both Christians and Muslims.

They, like the Haramites and their genocidal partners in crime, do not represent any faith other than that of the devil who has sent them.

Our duty, as Christians, is to foster national, religious and ethnic unity by closing ranks with our Muslim brothers and fighting our common enemy, which these terrorist groups represent.

Anything less than that will only divide us further and take us down the brutal and bloody road to Kigali and, God forbid, a Rwandan-style and horrific showdown and a genocidal storm of cataclysmic carnage.

Our security agencies have worked extremely hard over the last two years in containing the scourge of terror that has afflicted us.

This is proved by the fact that a record number of terrorists have been killed and many of their most dangerous and wanted commanders and leaders have been captured and detained.

We are a nation at war and the Federal Government must do far more by breaking the ranks of the terrorists with an iron fist, ripping out their hearts, killing them in even larger numbers than they are already doing and by effectively, courageously and vigorously countering the American and Zionist-sponsored Christian genocide in Nigeria propaganda and disinformation campaign that is spreading like wild-fire throughout the world.

We must commend and encourage them in their endeavours. However much more needs to be done.

We are a nation at war and the Federal Government must do far more by breaking the ranks of the terrorists with an iron fist, ripping out their hearts, killing them in even larger numbers than they are already doing and by effectively, courageously and vigorously countering the American and Zionist-sponsored Christian genocide in Nigeria propaganda and disinformation campaign that is spreading like wild-fire throughout the world.

This can best be done not just by continuously issuing press statements and conducting television interviews in our local media but by engaging the services of seasoned and experienced American lobbyists in Washington DC itself and more importantly by giving our very able Foreign Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, the full support that he needs and allow him to take up and lead the initiative fully without hinderance.

He is an exceptionally brilliant and incisive diplomat who is highly experienced, who knows the history of world politics inside out, who was educated in the West from an early age and therefore cannot be intimidated by them, who is a skilled negotiator, who is a diehard patriot that will never betray our national interest and cause and who has nerves of steel.

I know this because I have known him for well over 40 years!

Outside of that our government must refuse to allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the words of middle-ranking American government officials who are not members of the MAGA inner circle and who do not truly represent the very hardline and extreme views of the right-wing Christian fundamentalist and anti-Muslim forces that Trump holds dear.

If they really want to know what Trump is thinking but has so far refused to voice about Nigeria it would be wise for our government to consider the words of Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, Congressman Riley Moore and Congressman Chris Smith, far more than the soothing and encouraging words and expressions of support from friendly faces in the Trump administration, who have deep ties with and a soft spot for Nigeria but who are not at the heart of the MAGA power configuration like Trumps Lebanese brother in-law and Special Advisor on African Affairs, Massad Boulos.

American doublespeak and subterfuge is an art and we must never take them for their word or drink from their poisoned chalice.

As the Bible says their speech is as smooth as butter but war is in their heart.

A word is enough for the wise.

In an additional step to protect ourselves and secure our future, we must also build stronger ties with China and Russia, and enter into a defence pact with either one or both.

We should also become a full-fledged member of BRICS and join the rest of the Global South in attempting to regain our self-respect and dignity.

This would be a step in the right direction which will enable us to have a fighting chance to resist the very real threat that America and her Western allies have presented to us.

The die is cast and, as Shakespeare observed in his play titled, Julius Caesar, Caesar has crossed to Rubicorn.

We need the manifestation of strength and courage as we face these complex and formidable challenges to our essence and being and not weakness and cowardice.

Rather than always going on our knees, constantly grovelling, playing the fool and attempting to secure their validation, regardless of the gratuitous insults and indignities that they have regularly subjected us to, it is time for us to recognise the fact that they have never wished us well, and that they have NO intention of allowing us to fulfil our full potentials or achieve our manifest and God-given destiny.

This is the bitter truth that few care to admit.

Permit me to end this contribution with the following questions:

How would the Christians of Nigeria react if the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE and the OIC described what is going on in Nigeria as Muslim genocide, and not only downplay but ignore with contempt the fact that Christians are being killed in equal, if not more, numbers?

Would such a mischaracterisation not be regarded as being rooted in ignorance and mischief and would it not be rightly deemed as being inaccurate and unacceptable?

If the answer is yes, then it would be equally inappropriate to refer to the terrible and collective plight that we, as Christians and Muslims, are jointly facing as Christian genocide.

The monumental challenges that we face when it comes to this matter are grave: We must not make matters worse and allow ourselves to be plunged into an avoidable and unnecessary full scale religious war as a consequence of the reckless and unrestrained expression of uncontrollable and pent up passions, loose talk and an indulgence in extravagant and costly semantics.

What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander.

We are all victims of the terrorists, both Christian and Muslim, and we must all join our hands and collectively resist them.

That is the way forward.

Anything less will lead to catastrophe for us all and will represent a massive victory for the terrorists and the foreign hegemons that sent them and that seek to divide and destroy us.

On a final note I challenge my readers to consider the following.

When we collectively opposed the genocide in and total destruction and decimation of Gaza over the last two years, no one in the world referred to what was going on there as Muslim genocide.

This is because thousands of innocent and defenceless Palestinian Christians were also subjected to genocide, mass murder, ethnic cleansing, displacement and crimes against humanity and had their Churches, homes, farms and hospitals bombed into rubble and burnt to the ground by the Zionist terrorists of the Israeli Defence Force.

In the same vein, when we oppose the barbarism and genocide that we are witnessing in Nigeria, we must not refer to it as Christian genocide because hundreds of thousands of innocent and defenceless Muslims are also being subjected to mass murder, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and displacement, and have had their homes, farms, Mosques and hospitals bombed into rubble and burnt to the ground by the terrorists of Boko Haram, ISWAP, Al Qaeda and Ansaru.

We cannot make reference to or condemn the genocide that is being unleashed on our Christian population without making reference to and condemning that which is also being unleashed on our Muslims.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander and we must not inflamme peoples passions with reckless and nonsensical rhetoric that seeks to place one set of victims on a higher pedestal and the other on a lower one.

The monumental challenges that we face when it comes to this matter are grave: We must not make matters worse and allow ourselves to be plunged into an avoidable and unnecessary full scale religious war as a consequence of the reckless and unrestrained expression of uncontrollable and pent up passions, loose talk and an indulgence in extravagant and costly semantics.

The bottom line is as follows:

Do we have a terrorist problem in Nigeria? Yes!

Are Christians being killed by the terrorists? Yes!

Are Muslims being killed by the terrorists as well? Yes!

If that is the case let us call it what it is: the genocide of BOTH Christians and Muslims by a group of heartless beasts from hell who seek to wipe us all out and impose their barbaric ways and values on those of us that they conquer, enslave and leave alive.

The solution to the problem is for us to come together and eliminate every single one of them and to expose and target their foreign and local sponsors and supporters.

The solution is NOT to sit in the comfort of our homes, fuelling further division and joining a bunch of excitable, bellicose, intellectually challenged and low intelligence quota reprobates in screaming the worn-out and increasingly irritating battle cry and mantra of a Christian genocide at the top of their voices, whilst fantasising about some far-fetched, infantile and puerile crusade in Nigeria to be led by a group of illusionary Christian Knights and Knight Templars galloping in on white horses from Trumps America who, whilst singing Onward Christian Soldiers, will storm our shores and attempt to deliver our Christian community from evil.

Such vainglorious and delusional fantasies and masturbatory dreams are indeed profound symptoms and glaring evidence of some form of mental illness on the part of those who share them and provide a veritable source of comic relief for the rest of us.

May God heal their broken minds and grant them good health.

Femi Fani-Kayode is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, the Wakilin Doka Potiskum, the Otunba Joga Orile, the Ajagunle of Otun Ekiti, a former minister of Culture and Tourism, a former minister of Aviation, a former senior special assistant and spokesman to President Olusegun Obasanjo and a lawyer.
The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda, has congratulated Mohammed Khalid Othman, a professor, on his appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA). Mr Othmans appointment was announced by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Universitys Governing Council, Ali Abubakar Jatau, following the 36th Special Meeting of the Council held at the Grand Amber Hotel and Suites, Dutse, Jigawa State.

Governor Radda described the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of Mr Othmans distinguished academic career and leadership record, noting that his vast experience as a scholar, researcher, and administrator will greatly benefit both the University and the wider education sector. He commended the Governing Council for conducting a rigorous and transparent selection process, which saw Mr Othman emerge from a pool of highly qualified candidates through merit and competence.

Prof Othman is a respected academic and an outstanding son of Katsina State whose contributions to agricultural research and higher education are widely acknowledged. His emergence as Vice Chancellor reflects excellence, integrity, and years of dedicated service, the Governor said. Gone expressed confidence that under Mr Othmans leadership, FUDMA will witness stronger academic performance, improved research capacity, and deeper community engagement, in line with the Universitys founding vision.

Mr Othman, a proud son of Katsina State from Bindawa Local Government Area, is a renowned Agricultural Engineer and an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained his first, second, and third degrees. He has served in various capacities, including as Executive Director of the National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), ABU Zaria, and is currently a member of the FUDMA Governing Council representing the Senate.

Governor Radda assured the new Vice Chancellor of his administrations continued support and collaboration with the University toward strengthening education, research, and innovation in the state. On behalf of the Government and the good people of Katsina State, I congratulate Prof. Mohammed Khalid Othman on his appointment as the new Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma. We pray for Allahs guidance and wisdom as he leads the institution to greater excellence, Governor Radda said.
The Katsina State Government has once again reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment, innovation, and industrial growth under the visionary leadership of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda. The governor has approved a specialised technical training programme for mechanics of the Central Mechanical Workshop at the Katsina Youth Craft Village (KYCV), alongside establishing collaboration with Autogig International Resources Limited, Lagos.

The specialised training, which commenced weekend and will run until 3 November, is designed to upgrade the technical competence, innovation mindset, and hands-on skills of KYCV mechanics in line with global automotive standards. The programme focuses on modern vehicle systems, advanced diagnostics, electric and hybrid technologies, IoT-enabled diagnostics, CNG kit installation, and workshop management. It combines rigorous classroom learning with hands-on sessions, giving participants practical exposure to emerging automotive technologies.

Speaking on the initiative, the Coordinator of the Katsina Youth Craft Village, Kabir Abdullahi, an engineer described the governors approval as a visionary and transformative gesture that reflects the administrations deep belief in the power of technical education to transform lives and communities. He said, What His Excellency has done is more than just approving training; it is an investment in the future of Katsinas young people.

This programme will open doors for our mechanics to learn the most modern automotive techniques that align with global best practices. They will be exposed to innovations reshaping the vehicle industry, including hybrid systems, digital diagnostics, and alternative energy technologies. This kind of practical training is what turns ordinary craftsmen into master technicians.

Mr Abdullahi further explained that the Central Mechanical Workshop is being repositioned to serve as a centre of excellence for automotive innovation and training, where young mechanics can continually upgrade their knowledge and become self-reliant professionals contributing to the states industrial development.

We are grateful to Governor Radda for his foresight and his continuous investment in the Katsina Youth Craft Village. He is not just providing opportunities; he is building capacity, restoring dignity to technical labour, and giving our youths a platform to dream beyond the ordinary. This is how societies grow, through knowledge, skill, and vision, the Coordinator added.

A major highlight of the initiative is the discussion between Autogig International and the Katsina Youth Craft Village, aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration and ensuring sustainable technical development. The discussions which will lead to signing an MoU, covers key areas such as authentic and affordable spare parts supply, joint technical research, staff training, and industry linkages with major automotive manufacturers.

This partnership will help reposition the Katsina Youth Craft Village as a trusted, government-backed hub for modern vehicle repair, diagnostics, and innovation in Northern Nigeria. Facilitated by top industry experts, the training exposes participants to the latest innovations in electric and hybrid vehicle systems, digital fault detection, and clean energy conversion. It also emphasises leadership, teamwork, and workshop management, skills essential for building professional discipline and sustainable workshop operations.

The Youth Craft Village Transformation Programme, under which this initiative falls, remains one of the flagship interventions of the Katsina State Governments Building Your Future agenda. Its objective is to nurture a generation of skilled, self-reliant, and entrepreneurial youths equipped with the technical knowledge to drive industrial and technological advancement across the state. Through the programme, the Katsina State Government continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to empowerment through education and skills, ensuring that young people are not only employable but also capable of creating opportunities, innovating, and leadership.

Governor Radda administration remains steadfast in transforming vocational and technical training centres across Katsina State into vibrant, innovation-driven institutions where practical learning meets industry demands. This initiative reinforces the foundation for a stronger, self-reliant Katsina that thrives on knowledge, skill, and creativity.
Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Boko Haram, Terrorism, Nigeria Cardinal Pietro Parolins remarks on Nigerias violence were calm and factual, yet they disrupted an entire industry of outrage. His insistence that the crisis is social, not religious, has revealed how global lobbying is reshaping Nigerias story for profit.

Cardinal Parolins comments on Nigerias violence did not make headlines because they were loud.

They made them because they were true. At the Rome launch of Aid to the Church in Needs 2025 Religious Freedom Report, the Vatican Secretary of State described the conflict tearing through Nigeria as a social crisis, not a holy war.

He said extremist groups make no distinction between Christians and Muslims, and that many Muslims are themselves victims of the same violence. It was a simple statement, yet it challenged months of foreign storytelling that has cast Nigeria as a nation at war with its faiths.

Inside Nigeria, Parolins words resonated with those who live the consequences of the conflict. Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Northern Nigeria, said that the killings have long since crossed religious lines. These terrorists moved beyond just killing Christians and started killing virtually everybody, he said.

Mosques have also come under attack, and they kill Muslims who do not agree with them. From the Muslim community, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar III, has repeatedly cautioned that there is no genocide against any group in Nigeria. He warned that careless language and imported labels could inflame tension and undo years of interfaith peacebuilding.

Khalid Aliyu, a professor and Secretary General of Jamaatu Nasril Islam, has said the same that criminals should be treated as criminals, not as representatives of any faith. Together, they paint a picture more complex than the one exported abroad.

Marta Petrosillo, author of Aid to the Church in Needs Religious Freedom Report whose report was used by some lobbyist to counter the Cardinal, later clarified that Parolins comments had been taken out of context.

In her interview on EWTN, she said Cardinal Parolins speech was one of the strongest defences of religious freedom, and it also recognised the layered social and economic causes of Nigerias insecurity.

The report itself recorded violations across faiths, noting that both Christians and Muslims who reject extremist ideology are being targeted. That nuance, however, was quickly drowned out in Washington. For months, lobbyists tied to the self-styled Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile an affiliate of the proscribed IPOB began citing Nigeria as a country persecuting Christians.

Public filings under the US Department of Justice show that Moran Global Strategies is registered to represent that group. Its leader, Simon Ekpa, was convicted in Finland this year for terrorism-related offences linked to deadly attacks in Nigerias South-East mostly against christians. Yet, in Washington, the same network funds lobbying efforts under the banner of religious freedom and self-determination.

Documents filed under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act describe the firms mission as advocacy for human rights. Those words now appear almost verbatim in congressional briefings from US congressmen including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas who is said to have met with the groups representatives, and press statements.

The pattern is unmistakable: a proscribed group using paid lobbying to recast its armed campaign against Christians as a moral crusade for christians.

By turning terrorism into advocacy, it becomes easier to attract sympathy, funding, and foreign political cover. Independent data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project show that over seven thousand Nigerians were killed in violent incidents in the past year.

That is about 319,000 deaths less than the number of those killed by gun violence in the US in 2025 alone. The dead in Nigeria include Christians, Muslims, and those of no faith.

Most attacks were driven by local resource disputes, criminal gangs, Sahel terrorism and manipulation. To call that a Christian genocide, as some lobby groups like MGS do, is to erase the wider truth of shared suffering. The Vaticans message, far from political, was moral. It called for empathy without distortion. Nigerian faith leaders have made the same appeal.

Across Plateau, Kaduna, and Niger States, Christian and Muslim groups continue joint peace initiatives, rarely noticed by the international press. Their work is slow and human, grounded in community rather than ideology. Those who profit from inflamed narratives have no patience for that kind of truth.

They rely on foreign outrage to raise funds and on simplistic headlines to sustain relevance. In that economy, suffering becomes strategy, and faith becomes a tool of influence.

Cardinal Parolins statement was not a denial of persecution. It was a defence of proportion. Every life lost in Nigeria, be they Christian, Muslim, or otherwise, carries the same value. To frame the entire crisis as the persecution of one faith is to trade truth for convenience and compassion for politics.

Nigerias conflict was never a holy war. It is a human one. And until the world learns to see it that way, the merchants of distortion will keep finding buyers.

* Otega Ogra is the senior special assistant to President Bola Tinubu on digital media
It is no longer news that the National Economic Council, NEC, has appointed the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, to chair a new committee tasked with overhauling all institutions for the training of security agencies across Nigeria. That appointment followed NECs endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus proposal for a comprehensive reform of security training facilities nationwide.

The proposal was presented during the 152nd NEC meeting held on Thursday 23 October at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Other members of the committee include Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Kefas Agbu (Taraba); Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom); Dauda Lawal (Zamfara) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), while a former Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, will serve as Secretary.

Mr Tinubu, while addressing the NEC Council, stressed the urgency of the assignment, saying: We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees. According to Governor Sani of Kaduna State, who briefed the press, the Mbah-led committee has just one month to submit a detailed blueprint for the renovation and modernisation of police and other security training institutions.

Only a few days ago, the president, in a further demonstration of a renewed effort to reinvigorate the security of lives and property, relieved the service chiefs of their assignments and appointed new ones. So, Governor Mbahs new assignment, which came just about a day or two ahead of this major development, no doubt places him at the centre of President Tinubus renewed effort to strengthen Nigerias internal security architecture through institutional reform, improved training conditions, and enhanced capacity development for security personnel.

This is no doubt a demonstration of President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and NECs confidence in the governors leadership qualities. But even more importantly, it is an affirmation of his giant strides in the security of lives and property barely 29 months in the saddle.

Yet this did not come as a surprise, at least to those who have keenly followed developments in Enugu since Mbah took charge at the Lion Building, as the office of the Enugu State Governor is known. For instance, on 4 October, 2024, Vice President Shettima was in Enugu to commission the Enugu State Garment and Fashion Hub as well as unveil the 5th Expanded National Micro, Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) clinics. Both are collaborative efforts of the Federal Government and Enugu State Government to boost MSMEs in the state.

The Vice President also used the opportunity to tour some of the infrastructural projects by the Mbah administration, including the Command and Control security infrastructure built by the governor from scratch in just a little over one year in office. Then Mr Mbah had not crossed over to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. But it did not matter to the Vice President. According to him, the time for politics was over and the federal government was ready to work with visionary leaders like Governor Mbah anywhere they were found, party divides notwithstanding, in order to move the country forward.

On the Command and Control Centre and Mr Mbahs investment in the security sector in general, Mr Shettima said, If I say I was impressed by what I saw in Enugu, it is an understatement. I was overwhelmed by the giant strides recorded by Governor Mbah and his team. He has embraced modernity. He has embraced digital technology. Most of the things I saw are avant-garde technologies, state-of-the-art security infrastructure. He is doing excellently well and he is worthy to be emulated by other governors across the length and breadth of this nation. He is one of the few CEOs who are versatile in the potentiality of the Information Technology industry.

A few months later, the President himself was in Enugu on 4 January, 2025, to inaugurate some of the breathtaking projects accomplished by Governor Mbah in one year and six months, including the Command and Control Centre and over 150 security vehicles. For context and in brief, the Enugu Command and Control Centre, adjudged by many security experts as the biggest and most modern in the country at the moment, is the endpoint of many fibre optic cables laid across the state and connected to AI-embedded cameras for effective surveillance of Enugu State.

The cameras are capable of face and number plate recognition, among others. The security vehicles are manned by the Distress Response Squad, DRS, a special police unit. The vehicles are equally fitted with AI-enabled cameras. In addition, the DRS operatives wear bodycams while on duty to ensure proper monitoring.

On the occasion, Tinubu said, He (Mbah) is doing a fantastic job. I am glad that Enugu got a very good tomorrow, today. I salute Peter Mbah for his commitment to development. You have encouraged me on the technological advancement of the state. The commitment you have from the private sector is commendable. The election is over and we have to move the nation forward. I dont care which party you come from. You are my friend.

Besides the President and Vice President, Governor Mbahs strides in security had even much earlier been acknowledged by no less a person than the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu himself. That was during the commissioning of the reconstructed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission South East zonal office in Enugu on 19 December, 2023  barely six months after Mr Mbah was inaugurated as governor.

Narrating what difference Governor Mbah had made in so short a time, Mr Ribadu declared, Before the coming of this administration, police stations were being attacked, law enforcement personnel were being attacked. People were giving selfish orders. Those who are not even in Nigeria would sit somewhere in the comfort of the countries where they live and selfishly give instructions that people should not go to work; that people should not go out to look for their own livelihood, and people used to take such orders. But no more; it is no longer happening.

Back to President Tinubus push for the revamp of all institutions for the training of security agencies. It is noteworthy that it was never a whimsical venture, but flows from a well-thought-out plan to improve security sector infrastructure and manpower, especially the security training institutions that have been so neglected over the decades that they have become thoroughly decrepit and an embarrassing assault on human dignity.

In 2013, Channels TV aired a damning report on the inhuman state of the Police Training College in Ikeja, Lagos. A Punch newspaper report of 23 April, 2016, entitled Decay, filth rule police training colleges as new recruits warm up for resumption recalled the eyesore as captured by Channels TV.

The documentary showed the sad state of the dormitories, the toilets and other vital facilities needed to address the daily needs of occupants. Some students were seen urinating at the back of the building where the drainage system had broken down completely, while the toilets and bathrooms in many of the hostels were seen to be in terrible conditions. Electricity supply within the college was also a big issue. The Police College, Ikeja, which was initially built to accommodate only 700 students, housed over 2,554 occupants as at January 2013, Punch recollected.

However, under the Tinubu administration things are changing. Only earlier this October, the President assented to the Nigeria Police Training Institutions Establishment Bill, 2024, which is a comprehensive legislation that provides statutory backing for 48 police training institutions across the country. These include Police Colleges, Police Training Schools, Police Tactical Schools, Police Technical Training Schools, and other specialised institutions scattered across the six geopolitical zones.

But the police training institutions are just emblematic of the rot affecting those of other security agencies. The good news is that this will soon become a thing of the past, for not only is it good thinking, the assignment has been handed to a well-selected team headed by Governor Mbah, a man that has exhibited not only the political will to wage war against insecurity with demonstrable success, but who has also invested heavily in modern security infrastructure and human capital development in that sector.

With this, Nigerians expect nothing but positive results that will change the narrative not just in the quality of training our security agencies receive, but also in the quality of the facilities where they are trained.

* Mr Anichukwu writes from Enugu
Two communities  Iheakpu-Awka and Uhunowerre  in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu Stateheld their annual homecoming and reunion on Saturday, 25 October.

The Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Council, Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze, was there in person to celebrate with the people of Iheakpu-Awka and Uhunowerre.

Mr Ukwueze said the celebration in Iheakpu-Awka truly reflected the strength, unity and resilience that define the Awka NObara people.

It was heartwarming to witness their collective commitment to preserving harmony and fostering development through a shared sense of identity and purpose. The people of Iheakpu-Awka demonstrated that unity remains the cornerstone of progress, and I commend their steadfastness in sustaining this invaluable tradition, the chairman said.

Mr Ukwueze said he was warmly received by the Uhunowerre community during the homecoming celebration.

Once again, I saw the deep bond that holds our people together, anchored on a strong communal spirit and mutual understanding. Such commitments remind us of the enduring spirit that drives Igbo-Eze South forward.

Later in the day, the chairman visited the Palace of HRH Igwe Vincent Ugwuanyi, Chimerem Eze I of Ekoyi Iheaka Autonomous Community, as he celebrated his New Yam Festival.

The colourful occasion was another testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo-Eze South people and the pride the people take in upholding traditions.

Culture remains a vital instrument for social cohesion, serving as a reminder of our shared history and values, Mr Ukwueze said.

As a local government authority, we are intentionally aligned with the transformative governance model of the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and our policy thrust and strategy shall remain people-centred, ensuring that our developmental programmes and interventions are tailored to meet the genuine needs and aspirations of our communities.

Our focus will remain on fostering unity, promoting cultural preservation and advancing inclusive growth across Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, he added.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau has elected new officials to oversee its affairs in the next four years.

The officials were elected during the congress of the party held in the state on Saturday in Jos.

David Umbugadu, chairman of the Electoral Committee, returned 39 persons who contested for various positions as the partys duly elected officials in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, though all the newly elected officials emerged via consensus, delegates still voted for the aspirants who contested for various positions.

Mr Umbugadu, who announced the votes scored by each newly elected official, explained that the process was transparent and clear.

The process of this election is transparent and clear.

We did this in the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all other election stakeholders.

So, by the powers conferred on me by our great party, the PDP, I hereby declare all of you returned elected, he declared.

In a brief acceptance speech, Raymond Dabo, the newly elected chairman of the party in the state, promised to serve with dedication and commitment.

READ ALSO: Kebbi PDP rejects nomination of Kabiru Tanimu as National Chairman

Governor Caleb Mutfwang, who congratulated the newly elected officials, urged them to work towards leading the party to victory in 2027.

He urged them to unite members of the party, resolve all existing grievances and the ones that may arise in the future.

Your first job is to unite the party; ensure that the division in the party is resolved.

The time of exclusion is over. Lets give everybody the opportunity to resolve their grievances.

I want to plead with you, set aside any selfish interest and pursue the general interest of the party.

There are no more factions in the party, Mr Mutfwang said.

(NAN)
Terrorists, locally known as bandits, have kidnapped nine passengers and injured three other people, including a commercial driver, in separate attacks on a highway connecting Kogi and Kwara States.

According to a community blog post on Facebook, the attacks happened on Saturday between Egbe and Eruku on the Egbe-Ilorin highway

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the nine people kidnapped were travelling from Isanlu Makutu in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State to Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.

Two of the kidnapped passengers are white-garment church leaders identified as Prophet Micheal and Iyabode Asubiojo.

In a separate attack, the terrorists waylaid a commercial vehicle returning from Ilorin, opening fire on the driver.

Two other peoplea Hausa trader and another person from the Egbe communitywere injured in that attack.

An aftermath video of the attack seen by our reporter shows a goods-laden vehicle, riddled by bullets. The drivers seat was stained with blood.

According to the driver, he said the bandits came out in numbers, shooting straight at him, the community blog post read.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the driver, who hails from Isanlu, the headquarters of Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State, is in a hospital.

He is critically injured and urgently needs family care and community support, Egbe Mekun Parrot said in an update posted two hours after it reported the attack.

We appeal to Isanlu people to please check on him, gather the necessary details and offer every possible assistance, it added. We specifically call on the Yagba East LGA Chairman to collaborate with his counterpart in Yagba West and immediately swing into action on this issue.

The police in Kwara and Kogi States have not issued an official statement about the incident. Police spokespersons in these states, William Aya (Kogi) and Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi (Kwara), have not responded to enquiries sent to them.

Insecurity in Kwara and Kogi

Both located in the North-central, Kogi and Kwara have become a banditry hotspot, with frequent reports of kidnapping since the beginning of this year.

Although the Nigerian government has deployed security forces to these states, resulting in the rescue of kidnapped victims, highway abduction and violent raids on remote villages continued unabated.

From Yagba West, Yagba East LGAs in Kogi, to Patigi, Edu, and Ifelodun LGAs in Kwara, residents of local communities live in fear amid worsening, underreported kidnappings and killings.

On 10 September, three police officers and two vigilantes were killed in Egbe community, Yagba West LGA. Three days later, terrorists gunned down two police officers in Ilafin-Isanlu, Yagba East.

In Kwara, locals told PREMIUM TIMES that more than 50 people have been killed in attacks on 41 communities in Edu and Patigi LGAs alone.

In Ifelodun LGA, villages like Eka, Upper Eka, Lower Eka, Kudagbari, Gbanmu, Oloruntele, Baba Sango, Ibudo Idowu, Ibudo Olosun, Ayetoro, and Apata Olosun have been deserted following repeated bandits attacks.
The Cross River Government says it will host an international investment summit in London from 17 to 19 November aimed at attracting global investors and engaging the diaspora in sustainable development.

The summit, themed Unlocking Opportunities and Driving Sustainable Growth with the Peoples First Agenda of Senator Bassey Otu, will highlight strategic sectors and investment-ready projects across the state.

Ignatius Oli, chairperson of the Central Planning Committee, Cross River State Diaspora Commission, disclosed this in a statement issued to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

We are positioning Cross River as a competitive investment destination in Nigeria and West Africa.

This summit is a strategic move to unlock partnerships that will fuel economic growth and align with the states Peoples First Agenda, Mr Oli said.

He said the event would bring together investors, policymakers, diaspora professionals, and development partners to explore opportunities in agriculture, tourism, ICT, manufacturing, renewable energy, infrastructure, and the green economy.

We aim to mobilise both domestic and foreign capital into high-growth sectors, Mr Oli said.

It will also promote bankable projects and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models that can drive long-term development.

Mr Oli said the summit would serve as a platform for business-to-business and business-to-government networking.

Diaspora engagement is central to our strategy. We want to connect with Cross Riverians abroad and create channels for investment, mentorship, and knowledge transfer, he added.

He noted that the summits outcomes would align with the states development goals and support Nigerias Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

The event will be moderated by Nero Ughwujabo, a public policy expert with a background in stakeholder engagement and strategic communications.

Otu Okor, chairman of the Cross River Diaspora Commission, described the summit as a turning point for the states global re-engagement strategy.

We are deliberately creating a platform that links our diaspora community to viable investment opportunities back home, Mr Okor said.

Cross Riverians abroad are not just spectators; they are vital partners in the states transformation agenda.

He said the Commission was working closely with the summits planning committee to ensure effective diaspora participation across all sessions.

Our people in the diaspora have the networks, skills, and capital needed to accelerate economic growth in Cross River, Mr Okor added.

This summit provides a concrete pathway for them to contribute meaningfully.

Oli highlighted several investment opportunities across strategic sectors.

In agriculture, we are focusing on commercial farming, agro-processing, and export value chains, he said.

Tourism prospects include hospitality, eco-tourism, and cultural festivals. We are also promoting manufacturing opportunities in agro-allied industries, light production, and export growth.

He said ICT and renewable energy, especially solar mini-grids, hydro, and biomass, would also feature prominently, alongside infrastructure such as roads, industrial parks, and urban renewal projects.

We are targeting responsible investments in forestry and mining, including sustainable timber, eco-products, carbon credits, and minerals like barite and limestone, he added.

We are also creating pathways for diaspora-led investments through bonds, joint ventures, and mentorship programmes.

Mr Oli said the governor would deliver the keynote address and officially declare the summit open.

The programme will feature a policy showcase on investment incentives and ongoing regulatory reforms, he said.

Panel discussions will focus on tourism, infrastructure, health, agriculture, ICT, and renewable energy, while a special diaspora session will address skills transfer, strategic investments, and long-term partnerships.

The summit is expected to attract investors, business leaders, development agencies, diplomatic missions, and senior government officials.

This is not just an event; it is a gateway to partnerships that will define the future of Cross River State, Mr Oli said.

He also commended the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Nigeria, led by Sharon Dimanche, for its strategic support in mobilising multilateral partners and fostering collaboration to advance the vision of the governor.

Mr Oli noted that IOMs continued engagement underscores the importance of migration and diaspora investment as key drivers of sustainable development in Cross River State.

Registration details are available via https://cridcom.crossriverstate.gov.ng/crs-investment-summit.

For further enquiries, contact: Hon. Ignatius Oli, Chairperson, Central Planning Committee, Cross River State Diaspora Commission.

The Email [email protected].

Tel: +49 152 1614 8256, he said.

(NAN)
The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday denied reports alleging that policemen attacked residents during the demolition exercise in Oworonshoki, saying officers were deployed solely to protect government officials and maintain law and order.

In a statement posted on X, the Police Public Relations Officervin the state, Abimbola Adebisi, said the demolition, carried out by the state government agencies responsible for urban development and planning in collaboration with the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, followed due legal processes.

She stated that official notices had been served to both legal and illegal occupants over several months, and compensation for affected residents had been completed.

The presence of police personnel during the exercise was purely to prevent any breakdown of law and order and to protect public officials while carrying out their lawful duties, the statement read.

It added, At no time did officers engage in violence, harassment, or collaborate with hoodlums, as falsely reported.

The command emphasised that officers were under strict instructions to act professionally, with restraint, civility, and respect for human rights, ensuring the demolitions were conducted peacefully.

Mrs Adebisi described the social media reports as unfounded, baseless, inaccurate, and false.

She said the command led by Commissioner of Police Olohundare remains committed to upholding the rule of law, protecting lives and property, and supporting lawful government policies that promote safety, public order, and urban development.

Residents lament ongoing demolition

However, residents of Ojulari and Araba said demolition teams returned late Saturday night and continued operations into Sunday morning despite protests.

Eyewitnesses said two bulldozers were deployed, while about 50 police officers fired teargas at residents throughout the night.

We didnt sleep at all because the demolition people and police came back after we stopped them in the morning. Even until now, Sunday morning, they are still demolishing, said Olarenwaju Segun, a resident.

Earlier Saturday, residents had blocked an attempt to demolish homes in the Udi Araba area.

They started demolishing without marking any building, said Adeyemi Lanre, a community mobiliser. We quickly mobilised and blocked them.

Some residents accused the Oba of Oworonshoki, Babatunde Saliu, of backing the demolitions to reclaim waterfront land for private development, a claim he has denied.

READ ALSO: Midnight demolition hits Oworonshoki in Lagos

Baale of Oworonshoki, Olorunwa Luwa, said the operations were not government-approved, adding,

If it were the government, they would not come at 12 midnight or 3 a.m. to demolish buildings. People with proper documents are losing their homes, he said.

Residents reported damage to homes, fences, and walls, with some children sleeping on rubble.

The Coalition of Oworonshoki Demolition Victims rejected a compensation exercise organised by the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), calling it propaganda and selective. According to the group, only 79 people were shortlisted out of more than 10,000 affected residents.

Demolitions in Oworonshoki have been ongoing since 2023, displacing hundreds of households. Earlier operations in Araba and Koka were halted by residents, who have complained of inadequate compensation, destruction of property, and poor coordination by authorities.

Earlier this month, hundreds of protesters marched on Alausa, accusing the government of worsening poverty and homelessness.

The Lagos State Government maintains that Oworonshoki is part of its urban renewal plan, and that affected structures were unsafe and constituted environmental hazards.
The Ondo State Police Command says it has uncovered a suspected baby factory and human trafficking syndicate operating within Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said this in a statement on Sunday.

He said the case, transferred from the Ore Division to the Commands Gender-Based Violence Unit, is under active investigation.

The incident came to light on the 21st of October, 2025, at about 1950hrs, when one Vivian Peter, a 17-year-old girl from Ikot Ekpan, Akwa Ibom State, who is presently pregnant, reported at Ore Division that she had been trafficked from Akwa Ibom to Ore under the guise of being offered a job opportunity, the statement read.

Upon her arrival in Ore, she was taken to a supposed clinic, which later turned out to be a baby factory, where she met other pregnant girls allegedly being held for exploitation.

She further revealed that the owner of the facility, identified as one Ada Clement F, later instructed that she be taken to another hospital in Ore for a medical scan. However, she escaped and sought refuge at Ore Division, where she reported the incident to the police.

Mr Ayanlade said the police, acting swiftly on the report, police operatives from Ore Division, in collaboration with the Gender Unit, raided the said facility, leading to the successful rescue of five pregnant girls and a baby boy.

It was discovered that one of the victims had already given birth and is presently receiving post-natal treatment at the General Hospital, Ore, while the remaining rescued victims are in safe protective custody of the Police, he further said.

According to the police, preliminary investigation revealed that the prime suspect, Ada Clement, and her accomplices have confessed to the crime, admitting that the facility was being used as a baby factory, where young pregnant girls were kept until they delivered, after which their babies were sold to individuals seeking children.

Mr Ayanlade further revealed that the babies were sold for 400,000 and above for female children, and 600,000 and above for male children, respectively.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, psc(+), mnips, has ordered a comprehensive and discreet investigation into the case to ensure that all members of the trafficking ring are apprehended and prosecuted accordingly, the statement said.

The statement noted that frantic efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate, who are currently being trailed by detectives from the commands Gender-Based Violence Unit.

Meanwhile, the command also announced the smashing of a kidnapping gang notorious for terrorising travellers along major highways in the South-west.

READ ALSO: Lagos police react to allegation of attacking residents during Oworonshoki night demolition

Mr Ayanlade said one Abdullahi Ibrahim, aged 20, and resident in Ore, was apprehended by officers of the Command following credible intelligence.

Upon interrogation, the suspect made a confessional statement admitting to being part of a kidnapping gang responsible for several abductions along the BeninOre Expressway as well as other criminal activities on the SagamuLagos Expressway, he said.

He further confessed that the gangs operations cut across several states in the southern region of Nigeria, operating strategically along state lines to evade detection.

His confession provided valuable leads that guided operatives of the State Anti-Kidnapping Section (SAKS), Akure, to Benin City, Edo State, where two additional suspects linked to the syndicate were arrested.

He said the suspects are currently in custody and assisting investigators with information aimed at tracking down other members of the gang believed to be operating between Lagos and Edo States.
SELUTION DeNovo Trial - the largest randomized Drug Eluting Balloon trial - demonstrates a SELUTION SLR DEB strategy is non-inferior to a Drug Eluting Stent treatment strategy in de novo lesions.

SELUTION4ISR, a randomized controlled trial, proves SELUTION SLR DEB is an alternative to current standard of care for In-Stent Restenosis (ISR) treatment.

MIAMI LAKES, Fla., Oct. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cordis, a global leader in interventional cardiovascular technology, today announced the groundbreaking results from the SELUTION DeNovo and SELUTION4ISR trials at Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2025, the annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF).

Cordis Unveiled Breakthrough Results from SELUTION DeNovo and SELUTION4ISR Randomized Trials at TCT 2025, Transforming Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Treatment Beyond Stenting

Both randomized clinical trials demonstrated positive outcomes that met primary endpoints for the SELUTION SLR Drug-Eluting Balloon (DEB) compared to the current standard of care in treating de novo and ISR coronary lesions. These results highlight SELUTION SLR DEB as a compelling alternative to drug-eluting stents (DES), offering physicians the ability to minimize the need for stents.

SELUTION DeNovo Trial: Randomized with 3,323 Patients Across 62 Sites and Demonstrated Non-Inferiority to a DES strategy

In the highly anticipated SELUTION DeNovo trial, a SELUTION SLR DEB treatment strategy in real-world coronary de novo lesions was compared to the current standard of care, a systematic DES treatment strategy. With 3,323 patients enrolled across 62 international sites, it is the largest randomized coronary DEB trial to date. The SELUTION SLR DEB treatment strategy demonstrated non-inferiority to a DES treatment strategy with target vessel failure (TVF) at 12-months of 5.3% as compared to the DES arm with 4.4%. Evidence from this study supports a SELUTION SLR DEB treatment strategy of de novo lesions as an alternative to traditional DES treatment.

"These findings signal a paradigm shift in how we approach Percutaneous Coronary Intervention," said Co-Principal Investigator, Professor Christian Spaulding, Hopital Europeen Georges-Pompidou, Paris, France. "SELUTION SLR DEB achieved results comparable to drug-eluting stents while reducing the need for stents. With this minimal stenting approach, patients can benefit from an effective and safe sirolimus drug-eluting balloon treatment today, while keeping more options available for tomorrow."

SELUTION4ISR Trial: Enrolled Patients Across Diverse Global Sites and Confirms Non-Inferiority to Standard of Care

The SELUTION4ISR trial, a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled study evaluating SELUTION SLR DEB in patients with coronary in-stent restenosis, demonstrated non-inferior performance against ISR standard-of-care treatment. Target lesion failure (TLF) at 12-months was 15.2% with SELUTION SLR DEB vs. 13.5% in standard of care control which was comprised of 80% DES. These results will be leveraged to support a submission to FDA for coronary ISR indication of the device.

"With the sirolimus-based SELUTION SLR DEB, clinicians now have a proven option that delivers durable efficacy while avoiding additional metal layers and the long-term challenges they pose in treating ISR," said Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Roxana Mehran, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA.

The evidence from these two groundbreaking trials presented at TCT on the SELUTION SLR DEB represents Cordis' enduring commitment to innovation in cardiovascular intervention. By meeting the primary endpoints in both the SELUTION4ISR and SELUTION DeNovo trials, Cordis is poised to lead the expansion of drug-eluting balloon use within Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) treatment strategies. Cordis looks forward to continuing clinical investigations to elevate the standard of care and deliver meaningful innovations for patients. With the SELUTION SLR DEB clinical portfolio that includes more than 17,000 patients, Cordis remains committed to advancing science and innovation through collaborationtransforming the way physicians treat patients.

"I applaud Cordis for again moving the coronary interventional field forward with the successful SELUTION DeNovo and SELUTION4ISR trials. These trials demonstrate safe and efficacious results for SELUTION SLR DEB in treating complex de novo and ISR lesions, providing a real alternative to a DES," said Dr. Martin Leon, Chair of the Cordis Clinical Advisory Board, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center & Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology.

About SELUTION SLR DEB

Commercially available in more than 65 countries, and investigational in the U.S., SELUTION SLR DEB stands out for its Sustained Limus Release (SLR) technology, which is designed to provide controlled and sustained drug release through 90-days, covering the restenosis cascade.

About Cordis

From the first guidewire to the first drug-eluting stent, Cordis has been at the heart of cardiovascular innovation for more than 60 years. Today, Cordis drives transformation through internal development, Cordis-X partnerships, and strategic acquisitionspowered by a global footprint and deep operational expertise. With a focus on better clinical outcomes, customer-centered service, and impactful education, Cordis will go beyond to relentlessly pursue its mission to transform cardiovascular care.

Media Contact:

Kelly May

Director, Corporate Communications

Cordis

[email protected]

www.cordis.com

SOURCE Cordis
CESSA Phase 3 Clinical Trial Results Earn ACG Presidential Poster Distinction Among Nearly 6,000 Abstracts

Next-generation Hydrocortisone Acetate (ngHCA) Suppository Administered with Sephure Suppository Applicator Demonstrates Statistically Significant Rates of Clinical Remission in Patients with UC in CESSA Phase 3 Trial

Additional Findings Reinforce Rapid and Sustained Drug Release of ngHCA

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cristcot, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company advancing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that the Company is presenting three posters highlighting pivotal new data in ulcerative colitis (UC) of the rectum research at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

"We are excited to present Cristcot's data at ACG 2025, which showcases our meaningful contributions across the spectrum of UC research and reinforces the transformative potential of our ngHCA suppository - the first investigational agent to show rapid clinical remission in UC," said Jennifer J. Davagian, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cristcot. "As we progress towards FDA submission and commercialization of our novel therapy, we are focused on close collaboration with the gastroenterology community through forums like ACG to ensure we are best positioned to address the needs of patients, providers, and payers in this field. We look forward to continuing to advance our innovative, patient-centric solutions."

ACG Presidential Poster Distinction Recognizes Excellence in Clinical Research

The CESSA abstract was selected as an ACG 2025 Presidential Poster Recipient among nearly 6,000 abstracts. The distinction is reserved for approximately five percent of submissions and recognizes high-quality, novel, and clinically meaningful research contributing to advances in gastroenterology.

Pivotal Phase 3 CESSA Trial

Poster Title: Efficacy and Safety of a Novel Investigational Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation and Optimized Applicator for Treatment of Active Ulcerative Colitis: Results of the Phase 3 CESSA Trial

Key Findings: The Phase 3 CESSA trial evaluated efficacy and safety of Cristcot's ngHCA 90 mg suppository administered with the proprietary Sephure suppository applicator in adults with confirmed active moderate to severe UC.

Efficacy

The trial achieved its primary endpoint of clinical remission at Day 29 and secondary endpoint of clinical response at Day 15, both using modified Mayo Score (MMS) criteria, demonstrating statistically significant improvements for patients treated with the ngHCA 90 mg suppository compared to those who received placebo. Clinical and endoscopic remission was achieved by 21.2% (p=0.0005) of study participants in the ngHCA QD (once-daily) arm versus 1.5% of patients in the placebo arm. Secondary efficacy analyses showed that treatment with ngHCA QD resulted in greater improvement in rectal bleeding and stool frequency scores at Day 15 and Day 29 versus placebo. Concomitant medication for UC (stable dose) was taken by 63.5% of patients throughout the study. No non-study corticosteroids were permitted.



Safety and Compliance

ngHCA was well tolerated.

There were no treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs).

Treatment-related adverse events (TEAEs) were reported by 4.5% of patients in the QD treatment group and 7.6% in the placebo group.

The majority of TEAEs were mild and moderate in severity.

Compliance was very high - 100% of subjects in the ngHCA QD group had greater than 90% adherence with the required dosing.

Additional details on the CESSA trial can be found in Cristcot's January 2025 press release, available on the News page of its website.

"There is an urgent need for a fast-acting, localized, and easy-to-administer option to manage patients with active ulcerative colitis," said Raj Devarajan, MD, Global Medical Advisor, Cristcot, and presenting author. "I'm thrilled to share the pivotal CESSA trial results as a Presidential Poster at ACG, which marks a meaningful advancement in this area. The efficacy demonstrated in CESSA, notably clinical responses within two weeks and endoscopic remission by four weeks, has never been achieved in the moderate to severe UC population. Combined with a favorable tolerability profile, these data support this novel HCA combination product to treat UC exacerbations alongside maintenance therapies or as a monotherapy. I look forward to its continued evaluation as a new option for the many patients who continue to face gaps in effective management of this disease."

Innovation in Pharmacokinetics

Title: Pharmacokinetics and Relative Bioavailability of an Investigational Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Administered with a Novel FDA-Cleared Applicator Versus Hydrocortisone Liquid Enema

Key Findings: In this Phase 1 study, the ngHCA suppository administered using the Sephure suppository applicator demonstrated sustained release with optimal bioavailability that is expected to provide consistent efficacy over the intended treatment period.

New Data Highlights: Clinical Trial Methodology

Title: Recent Recall as an Alternative to Daily Study Participant Diaries in Ulcerative Colitis Trials: Evidence from a Phase 3 Clinical Trial

Key Findings: This prespecified exploratory analysis from the Phase 3 CESSA trial demonstrated that participant-reported UC symptom data collected through recent (3-day) recall correlated with data collected through daily participant diaries. These findings indicate that recent recall offers a reliable, lower-burden alternative to daily diaries for collecting patient-reported outcomes in future UC trials.

Cristcot's presence at ACG 2025 underscores its commitment to advancing evidence-based, patient-focused solutions that address persistent gaps in ulcerative colitis care.

Additional information, including abstracts, can be found on the ACG 2025 Annual Meeting website.

About Cristcot's HCA 90 mg Suppository

Cristcot's investigational hydrocortisone acetate (HCA) 90 mg suppository formulation is a novel corticosteroid therapy delivering a small volume suppository using the Sephure applicator to ensure precise placement, minimizing discomfort and leakage. Rectally administered topical treatments, including topical corticosteroids, are important treatment options (either alone or in combination with other therapies), for directing delivery to inflammation sites and limiting systemic drug exposure, though there is no FDA-approved corticosteroid suppository on the market. Unlike traditional corticosteroid treatments, Cristcot's advanced HCA formulation allows for rapid, sustained release with optimal bioavailability, consistent and localized efficacy, and very limited systemic exposure. The innovative delivery system may enhance patient compliance.

About Ulcerative Colitis

UC is a life-long, chronic gastrointestinal autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and ulcers in the lining of the large intestine, including the rectum and sometimes, all or part of the colon. Symptoms often include rectal bleeding, profuse diarrhea, bowel urgency, tenesmus, and abdominal pain significantly impacting patients' quality of life. UC flares frequently originate in the rectum, and untreated inflammation can progress to more extensive disease, leading to hospitalization or surgery. There is no cure for UC and, breakthrough flares, even while taking maintenance medication, is a known characteristic of the disease profile. Over 55% of UC patients experience 3-5 flares annually, with many reporting debilitating effects on daily activities, work, and mental health. Despite existing treatments, patients experience intermittent flares and often change therapies as a measure to treat increased disease activity. The time of transition between one treatment to another is further complicated while waiting for the new therapy to reach full efficacy potential. Gaps remain in addressing flares quickly and effectively, highlighting the need for targeted therapies that can provide rapid symptom relief and remission.

About Cristcot

Cristcot is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing targeted therapies for gastrointestinal diseases. The Company's lead asset, a novel hydrocortisone acetate suppository, is positioned to become an important therapeutic option for ulcerative colitis. Cristcot's diversified pipeline includes investigational development programs for ulcerative colitis, acute pancreatitis, hemorrhoid disease and other inflammatory gastrointestinal indications with an emphasis on innovative, patient-centric solutions. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please visit www.cristcot.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this press release contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) market prospects and potential future sales for the Company products; (iii) expected development of the Company's products, business and projects; (iv) availability of competing products in the market; (v) prospects for regulatory approval of the Company's products; (vi) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy; and (vii) availability of protections under applicable intellectual property laws.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts

Jenny Gizzi, Chief Administrative Officer

Cristcot

[email protected]

Tanner Kaufman / Katie Harris

FTI Consulting

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Cristcot
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
Disney/Pamela Littky

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/26/2025



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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.

Taylor Frankie Paul's mother Liann May, who apparently played a role in casting for Season 22, has revealed what type of man she wants to see her daughter end up with."Oh, she's not a good man picker. She isn't," Liann quipped during a recent appearance on Ashley Iaconetti and Ben Higgins ' "The Ben & Ashley I: Almost Famous" podcast.When asked to share what kind of guys she was hoping ABC -- who announced Taylor's potential bachelors a few days ago -- would cast to date Taylor, Liann admitted she had personally spoken to the casting director."Well, I have talked to the casting director. [We chat] all the time. I mean we're on the phone all the time. She probably thinks I'm crazy -- and I might be a little bit, every now and then," Liann said with a laugh.Ashley expressed surprise that Liann had a hand in the casting process and that producers were even willing to listen to her suggestions."They haven't [showed me pictures]. They haven't shown me anything, but I send them guys that I would like her to be set up with," Liann shared, adding how she searched for guys with potential on Instagram and TikTok.However, Liann said she has no idea if the casting department will actually take her advice and select some of her picks."[The guys] haven't come into my DMs at all, but I just know her type," Liann said of Taylor, a 31-year-old divorced mother of three children who has joked about having two "baby daddies."Liann continued, "I'm trying to, like, weed them out, [checking] that they look somewhat decent. I just know those guys that are good looking and their body, they're always showing it, and I'm just like, 'No, you're not it.'""But yes, I send [ones I like] to one of the casting directors," she added. "I mean, they have a couple of them."In terms of the qualities and values she would like Taylor's future partner or husband to have, Liann said she'd like the man to believe in God or some kind of higher power."I want somebody who... has some kind of belief... But he doesn't have to be Mormon," Liann noted."I mean, obviously I would like that, but it's not [a dealbreaker]. There are so many great people that aren't Mormon. My father wasn't an LDS guy, and he converted, like, years later, but he was a great guy and probably one of the best people."Liann said a lot of people she meets these days are outside of her Mormon religion."Taylor has said, 'I'm down to go to some other religion,' or whatever. [She wants] just a good guy, [but]... you obviously still want him to be decent looking, you know, because you want that appeal," Liann explained."And I'm sure she does too, but just somebody who's like really humble and caring and puts her in front of them. And her first husband was like that, so I guess she did pick someone good."Taylor was married to Tate Paul from 2016 to 2022, and they welcomed two children together: daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5.Taylor previously admitted to violating the rules of the couple's soft-swinging arrangement by becoming more intimate with another man in their friend group, which led to their separation and eventual May 2022 divorce.Taylor's first post-divorce relationship was with Dakota Mortensen. Taylor and Dakota made their romance public in July 2022, and then the pair welcomed a son, Ever True, in March 2024.Taylor and Dakota split in late 2024, but Taylor didn't confirm their relationship was over until earlier this year. (Liann admitted the pair are still in love and Dakota would sabotage her experience if given the chance).Liann admitted to Ashley on the "Almost Famous" podcast that Taylor gets "bored" quickly with men "So that's the thing, and then she meets Dakota, who's just this crazy, chaotic, and toxic relationship," Liann recalled."But those are the kind of guys she really likes, so I don't know. We'll see."Liann also said it "doesn't really matter" if Taylor's suitors have kids or not."She doesn't mind [the man] having kids because she still wants more kids," Liann confirmed. "And I'm just like, 'Ugh, you want another baby daddy?!' But she does!"Liann explained how a man would probably be able to "relate more" to Taylor if he has kids of his own."If he has kids, he already knows how it works and what the plan is, and maybe he would possibly want another kid, you know?" Liann reasoned."But I really do want her to feel secure and know what she wants this time. I just hope she doesn't keep repeating that same toxic, I don't know, mess of her life."Liann, however, pointed out how Taylor has grown a lot since Season 1 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which is set to release new episodes on November 13 on Hulu."She is getting better. She's had a lot of therapy. She's just gone through so much that her life has just been such a mess for the last few years, and so now, I think that's probably why she got pregnant," Liann explained."She's like, 'Well, what's one more kid? What's the big deal?' But she doesn't think about it long term, and so I'm hoping she goes in and really finds somebody that's great. But you don't have that much time. You're only in there for so many weeks, so is that even possible?!"Even if Taylor doesn't end up finding The One , Liann predicted that 's 22nd season "is going to be so good" when it premieres in 2026."I think [ABC]'s ratings are going to be so high. I'm hoping they're the highest [ever], of course, because I'm the mom. And so, I'm excited for it," she concluded.'s official premiere date 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
After a three-month slowdown, India's oil imports (already landed) from Russia bounced back in the first 15 days of October to 1.8 million barrels per day.

Photograph: Bing Guan/Reuters

Owing to lower international rates, India's crude oil import bill dropped 14.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to $60.7 billion in the first half (April-September) of 2025-2026 (H1FY26).

The country's crude oil import bill stood at $71.2 billion in H1FY25, according to data from Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC).

Lower crude oil import bill is on account of falling prices this year due to oversupply in the market as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (Opec+) has been increasing supplies.

The Indian basket crude price averaged $69.61 per barrel (bbl) during September, as against $73.69/bbl last year.

India's oil bill for H1FY26 declined even though import volumes stayed largely unchanged. The country's crude oil imports increased marginally to 121.2 million tonne (mt) in the six months ended September 2025, compared to 120.7 mt in the same period last year.

India was dependent on crude oil imports for 88.4 per cent of its domestic requirements during April-September.

India's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import bill also dropped 10.5 per cent Y-o-Y to $6.8 billion in H1FY26.

Unlike crude oil, dip in gas bill was primarily due to lower domestic demand as natural gas consumption fell to 34,265 million standard cubic metres (mscm) in the period.

Russian oil imports rebound in Oct

After a three-month slowdown, India's oil imports (already landed) from Russia bounced back in the first 15 days of October to 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd), showed data sourced from maritime intelligence firm Kpler.

Defying pressure from the West, Indian refiners maintain robust sourcing of crude oil from Russia due to attractive pricing.

India's import of Russian oil had marginally slumped in the last three months -- 1.59 million bpd in July, 1.68 million bpd in August, and 1.54 million bpd in September.

"Russian barrels remain deeply embedded in India's energy system -- economically attractive, contractually entrenched, and strategically aligned with New Delhi's energy security priorities," said Sumit Ritolia, lead research analyst-refining & modelling, Kpler.

"With October imports tracking around 1.8 million bpd, there is no visible sign of a reduction or policy shift," Ritolia added.

Oil supplies from the US have witnessed a major uptick. India imported 655 thousand bpd (kbpd) of crude oil from the US in October, as against 207 kbpd in the previous month.

Supplies from traditional suppliers Iraq and Saudi Arabia stood at 965 kbpd and 841 kbpd, respectively, in October, showed Kpler data.

The Indian government on October 16 denied US President Donald Trump's claim of New Delhi agreeing to halt Russian oil supplies.
The Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday confirmed that the two bike-borne persons connected to the Bengaluru-bound bus fire accident, which claimed the lives of 19 passengers, were drunk.

IMAGE: Police personnel present at the spot where a Bengaluru-bound bus caught fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Photograph: ANI Photo

In the wee hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met with an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district.

There were 44 passengers on the bus and several managed to escape.

The two-wheeler was dragged forward underneath the bus, leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent ignition and intensification of the blaze with the explosion of the bus's two 12 KV batteries.

"We just received the forensic confirmation that the two bike-borne persons (Siva Shankar and Erri Swamy) were drunk," Kurnool Range deputy inspector general of police Koya Praveen told PTI.

Though the police were aware that the duo was in an inebriated condition, they did not confirm this fact as they were waiting for forensic evidence.

The DIG on Saturday night said that the duo had food in a dhaba and Swamy had admitted to consuming liquor.

According to the police, Shankar and Swamy had started off on the two-wheeler from Lakshmipuram village around 2 am on October 24 to drop the latter at Tuggali village in Kurnool district.

En route, the duo had halted at the HP petrol bunk near Kia car showroom to fill petrol at 2.24 am, said Kurnool superintendent of police Vikrant Patil.

A video of their halt at the petrol bunk went viral and Shankar was seen riding the two-wheeler rashly.

Shortly after resuming their journey, the two-wheeler skidded, resulting in Shankar falling to his right and hitting the divider. He died on the spot.

Over the past few days, the southern state witnessed widespread rainfall, leaving wet and muddy roads amid inclement weather.

When Swamy had pulled Shankar from the middle of the road and checked him, he realised that the latter had died on the spot, Patil said.

"Even as he was thinking of pulling the bike aside from the road, the bus rushed in and ran over it, dragging it forward to some distance," said Patil.

Since Shankar's body was pulled off the road by Swamy before the bus could run over it, it was mostly intact and not burnt like the bus victims, enabling the forensic investigation to confirm that he was drunk, said Praveen.

Following the two back-to-back accidents and the bus engulfing in a raging fire, Swamy got scared and left for his native village of Tuggali.

Later, the police picked up Swamy and questioned him to unearth crucial details of the ghastly accident.

Further, Miriyala Lakshmaiah (42), the driver behind the wheel during the accident, told the police that he "couldn't see until he went near the motorbike".

"The driver's version was that visibility was less. 'I couldn't see till I went near the motorbike. I couldn't see at all. When I heard the sound, I applied the brakes and pulled over the bus'," said the DIG, quoting Lakshmaiah.

"And when I reversed the bus, the fire started," Lakshmaiah told the police, adding that he alighted through the fire and woke up another driver Siva Narayana.

Later, a panicked Lakshmaiah had left the accident spot, the police said.

The second driver's version was that the driver's side door got jammed and there was also a fire at the main passenger door. Narayana told police that they first broke the emergency door.

Meanwhile, he heard an exploding sound and thought that it was a tyre burst, but that was actually explosion of batteries, the DIG said.

Later, Narayana broke several other windows with a jockey rod and 19 passengers managed to escape from the bus.

Earlier, the DIG noted that the explosion of two 12 KV batteries located behind the passenger door was the major cause of the inferno.

Further, he said that the DNA profiling was completed for all the 19 bodies and they were handed over to their families.
Students have been sharing with me their reasons for deciding to pursue a career in internal medicine, a fitting topic for this years upcoming Internal Medicine Day. The most moving stories are those describing them seeing the person behind the patient, often for the first time.

Many students also mention, of course, their attraction to solving puzzles, the thrill of making a diagnosis, and their desire to have impact, wanting to change the practice of medicine for the better. All of this bodes well for the internal medicine physicians of the future.

Many of the students at our medical school have an engineering background, and one of the soft concerns expressed early on was but will the students be able to take care of patients? How will they connect with patients, since after all, they are fundamentally engineers? This, of course, reveals a blatant bias about the skill set and behaviors of engineers (full disclosure, I am married to one). One leading national faculty member even warned us, that in their experience, medical students with engineering backgrounds either are spectacularly good or amazingly, not so good. I am pleased to report that indeed our students have heart and soul. Moreover, they are as dedicated to the compassionate care of patients, and can express this, just as well as other more traditional students.

Some of the stories I especially love hearing from our students are those about their connections with patients, and how and why they found these experiences meaningful. Often the students were moved, either by seeing a patient in a new and unexpected way, or by recognizing how the simple ways they contribute, such as sitting and listening, can have a profound effect on a patient. Patients frequently express gratitude, having valued the students time, concern, and attention. There is something precious, dare I say sacred, about these early connections our medical students make with patients.

Their stories are numerous.

There is the one about a man with chest pain, who opened up to the student about the recent loss of his wife and his overwhelming grief; he had not shared this with anyone, and certainly not to anyone in the hospital. He thanked the student for listening and for making him feel comfortable enough to speak up.

Theres another story about a patient the student came to know well during a multi-week hospitalization. The student helped coordinate an in-hospital party for the patient, and they were delighted to bump into each other in the community after the patients discharge.

And another story, one about a patient with a severe pain disorder, who was eventually discharged with greatly improved pain and spirits. The student was their detective and advocate, helping to coordinate their work-up with specialists and ensuring they had appropriate resources during and after their stay in light of their uninsured status.

As we all know, many such moments will continue to occur throughout our students careers. The rewards lie in the relationships we build with patients, learning who they are behind the veneer of their disease, and realizing that our efforts to care make a difference, even if the outcome is not what we had expected or hoped. All of this is what our students are coming to appreciate. Medicine is not black and white. This is the challenge and beauty of internal medicine.

Our students are telling stories, and their stories remind us of the importance of human connection in patient care. Their stories also remind us of the mission of the American College of Physicians, to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine.

Stories carry power, and all of us have stories to tell, whether we are students seeking a residency or are physicians who have been in practice for decades. Stories make our messages come alive. In primary care, we know our patients, and can use storytelling as a tool, permitting us to be our patients advocates. On behalf of our patients and for our patients futures, we must all use our voices as storytellers, especially today.

It is time to celebrate Internal Medicine Day, and the future of our profession as represented by our rising students. We celebrate and thank our students, our residents, our fellows, and our colleagues. We thank our patients, our most important teachers. We tell their stories, because our commitment to serve our patients remains steadfast. And we tell their stories, because we care.

Janet A. Jokela, MD, MPH, completed her term as ACP Treasurer at IM 2025. She serves as professor and senior associate dean of engagement at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL. She may be reached on BlueSky @drjanetj.bsky.social.

The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States, boasting members in over 145 countries worldwide. ACPs membership encompasses 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who utilize scientific knowledge and clinical expertise for diagnosing, treating, and providing compassionate care to adults, spanning from those in good health to individuals with complex illnesses. Stay connected with ACP on X @ACPIMPhysicians, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @acpimphysicians.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would get the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan solved very quickly, calling Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army chief Asim Munir great people.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir meets US President Donald Trump at the White House. Photograph: White House

Addressing an event on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia, he talked about the latest tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"I know them both -- the Pakistan field marshal and the prime minister are great people, and I know we're gonna get that done quickly. That one started up a few days ago," he said.

When the fighting broke out between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the US president was quick to express interest in assisting with establishing peace, although he was at the time occupied with overseeing a hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel.

"I said, 'I'll have to wait till I get back. I am doing another one," he told reporters at the time.

"Because I'm good at solving wars, I'm good at making peace," the US President added.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghanistan held the second round of talks in Istanbul to establish a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb terrorist movements across the border, even as Islamabad warned that war was still an option if talks failed to address its chief concern about terrorism.

Dozens of soldiers, civilians and terrorists were killed in clashes earlier this month, creating a war-like situation; however, peace was restored temporarily on October 19 after the two sides held talks -- facilitated by Qatar and Turkey -- in Doha.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday warned of an

all-out war

with the Afghan Taliban if the talks failed, adding that the outcome of the negotiations would be known by tomorrow, if not today.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the probe of the Karur stampede, in which 41 people were killed during a political rally of actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, officials said Sunday.

IMAGE: Massive crowd gather for actor-politician Vijay's rally during a public event, in Karur. Photograph: TVK/ANI Photo

A special team of the CBI has already visited the site at Velusamypuram in Karur, Tamil Nadu, they said.

Forty-one people lost their lives and over 60 injured in the stampede that occurred at the TVK meeting addressed by Vijay on September 27.

As per procedure, the CBI has re-registered the FIR of the state police and also informed the local court about the development, they said.

The case was handed over to the CBI by the Supreme Court on a petition filed by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam for an independent probe.

The apex court directed the director of CBI to appoint a senior officer to take over the investigation and appoint some other officers for the assistance of the officer.

The court also set up a three-member supervisory committee headed by former apex court judge Ajay Rastogi to monitor the CBI investigation.

A bench, comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and N V Anjaria, said the September 27 stampede has left an imprint in the minds of citizens throughout the country.

It has wide ramifications with respect to the life of the citizens, and enforcing the fundamental rights of the families who lost their kith and kin is of utmost importance, the court said.

Noting the political undertones of the case, the court said top police officers have made comments before the media "without having regard for the gravity of the incident", which may create doubt in the minds of the citizenry regarding an impartial and fair investigation.

"The faith and trust of the general public in the process of investigation must be restored in the criminal justice system, and one way to instil such trust is by ensuring that the investigation in the present case is completely impartial, independent and unbiased," the court said.

"Looking to the fact that the issue involved certainly has a bearing on the fundamental rights of the citizens, the incident, which has shaken the national conscience, deserves fair and impartial investigation. There cannot be any doubt that fair investigation is the right of a citizen," the bench said.
The Indian Coast Guard said it rescued 31 fishermen stranded aboard the fishing boat IFB Sant Anton-I, which had been adrift in the Arabian Sea for 11 days due to a steering gear failure.

IMAGE: The 31 fishermen after being rescued by the Coast Guard. Photograph: ANI Photo/Coast Guard

The Goa-based vessel was reported missing about 100 nautical miles off New Mangalore, prompting swift action from the ICG's Karnataka headquarters.

According to a press release issued on Sunday, the ICG deployed ICGS Kasturba Gandhi, a patrol vessel, and a Dornier aircraft from Kochi to locate the distressed boat, which had drifted significantly due to rough seas and adverse weather.

"Using real-time weather data and the Integrated Operations Centre, we calculated the vessel's probable location," the release said.

On Saturday, the Dornier aircraft spotted the boat, enabling ICGS Kasturba Gandhi to reach the site and provide critical assistance, including damage assessment, on-site steering repairs, and ensuring the vessel's watertight integrity.

The Coast Guard then coordinated with another fishing boat to tow IFB Sant Anton-I to Honnavar fishing harbour, ensuring the safety of all 31 crew members.
Police have arrested sub-inspector Gopal Badane in connection with the alleged suicide of a woman government doctor in Maharashtra's Satara district, officials said.

Image used strictly for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

Badane surrendered at the Phaltan Rural Police Station in Satara on Saturday evening following which he was arrested, district Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi said.

Earlier, on Saturday morning, a team from the Phaltan police arrested software engineer Prashant Bankar, whom the doctor had named along with Badane in her suicide note, from Pune.

Bankar, accused of mentally harassing the victim and facing abetment of suicide charge, was produced on Saturday before a Satara district court which sent him to police custody for four days.

The doctor, hailing from Beed district in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra and posted at a government hospital in Satara district, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night.

In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that police sub-inspector Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her.

A case of rape and abetment of suicide had been registered against the duo in Phaltan in Satara district.

According to the police, Bankar is the son of the landlord of the house where the doctor resided.

She had allegedly called him over the phone and chatted with him before ending her life, they said.

Sub-inspector Badane was suspended from service after his name came up during the probe into the case.

The doctor, meanwhile, was cremated at her native place in Beed's Wadwani tehsil on Friday night.

Her relatives demand capital punishment for the accused in the case.

She complained multiple times about harassment, but her grievances were not addressed, a relative alleged while talking to a news channel.

Another relative claimed the victim was pressured to change medical reports at the sub-district hospital where she worked.

"Political people in Phaltan often asked her to change medical reports as she used to be regularly on autopsy duty. She had complained multiple times against the PSI (named in the note), but her complaints were not looked into," the relative stated.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Ambadas Danve accused former BJP MP Ranjitsingh Naik Nimbalkar of pressuring the doctor on one occasion in the past. Nimbalkar, however, denied the allegation, saying it had no truth, and his name was being dragged into the case deliberately.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Suresh Dhas demanded that the MP who allegedly tried to pressurise the woman doctor be made an accused in the case. He did not name any leader, though.

As per a purported reply submitted by the woman doctor earlier this year to authorities in Satara district after a subordinate police official complained about her, she faced threats from police officials over her way of working, and also taunts over crime in Beed, her native district.

The woman's two cousins, also doctors, alleged that the hospital administration assigned her post-mortem duties only to harass her.

According to the victim's family, she wanted to pursue the MD (Doctor of Medicine) course, and was preparing for it.

A loan of Rs 3 lakh taken for her MBBS course was yet to be repaid, her uncle told PTI.

"Her father is a farmer, he is not an educated person. I am a teacher and I took her to Beed for schooling....she did not want to stop at MBBS, but wanted to pursue MD in medicine, ENT or non-clinical branches," he said.
In the wake of the latest bus fire in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad police commissioner V C Sajjanar on Sunday described drunk drivers as "terrorists" and warned that those caught driving under the influence here would face the full force of the law, with no mercy for anyone endangering innocent lives.

IMAGE: Policemen present at the spot where a Bengaluru-bound bus caught fire in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Photograph: ANI Photo

Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday confirmed that the two bike-borne individuals linked to the Bengaluru-bound bus fire, which claimed 19 lives, were intoxicated.

In the early hours of October 24, the sleeper bus ran over a two-wheeler that had already met with an accident at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district.

Referring to the incident, Sajjanar said in a post on 'X', "Drunk drivers are terrorists and their actions are nothing short of acts of terror on our roads. The horrific Kurnool bus accident was not an accident in the truest sense. It was a preventable massacre caused by the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of an intoxicated biker."

The commissioner added, "This was not a road mishap but a criminal act of negligence that annihilated entire families within seconds."

Further, he said, "The biker, identified as B Shiva Shankar, was under the influence of alcohol. CCTV footage shows him refuelling his motorcycle at 2.24 am, minutes before he lost control and caused the devastating collision at 2.39 am. His decision to drive drunk turned a moment of arrogance into a tragedy of unimaginable scale."

He reiterated, "I stand firmly by my statement that drunk drivers are terrorists in every sense. They destroy lives, families, and futures, and such acts will never be tolerated."

Sajjanar said the Hyderabad police are adopting a zero-tolerance stance on drunk driving.

"Every single person caught driving under the influence will face the full force of the law. There will be no leniency, no exceptions, and no mercy for those who endanger innocent lives. It is time we, as a society, stop calling drunk driving a mistake. It is a crime that shatters lives and must be punished accordingly," he added.

The two-wheeler was dragged under the bus, causing its fuel tank to burst and igniting the blaze, which intensified with the explosion of the bus's two 12 KV batteries.

"We just received forensic confirmation that the two bike-borne individuals, Shankar and Erri Swamy, were drunk," Kurnool Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Koya Praveen told PTI.

The DIG on Saturday night said that the duo had food in a dhaba, and Swamy had admitted to consuming liquor.

According to police, Shankar and Swamy had started on the two-wheeler from Lakshmipuram village at around 2 am on October 24 to drop the latter at Tuggali village in Kurnool district.

A video of their halt at a petrol bunk went viral, and Shankar was seen riding the two-wheeler rashly.

Shortly after resuming their journey, the two-wheeler skidded, resulting in Shankar falling to his right and hitting the divider. He died on the spot.
A Customs officer was injured when a mob allegedly barged into his residence and beat him up, following a reported altercation with an autorickshaw driver over rash driving in Rajpur area near Kolkata, the police said.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo

Four people have been apprehended in connection with the alleged assault on customs inspector Pradeep Kumar on Saturday, they said.

Kumar said he had an altercation with the autorickshaw driver after the latter's vehicle dashed against his car.

Subsequently, a large group of men broke into my flat, beat me up and heckled my wife. As the assault continued, we thought our end was near, the Customs officer claimed.

Kumar said he suffered injuries on the forehead, neck and chin, and was taken by his colleagues to AIIMS-Kalyani in Nadia on Sunday for further treatment.

He also alleged that police did not arrive on time on Saturday even after frantic calls for help.

CCTV footage from the flat showed the officer with a bloodied forehead, as household materials lay scattered around.

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.

A police officer said an investigation into the incident is underway, and four people have been arrested.

"All four were granted bail by a court in Baruipur. A counter case of assault was lodged against the Customs officer," he said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, visited Kumar at his residence, and demanded immediate action against the perpetrators.

Questioning the law and order situation in the state, Adhikari alleged that goonda raj was prevailing in West Bengal.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that Islamabad will enter into an 'open war' with Kabul if the ongoing peace talks in Istanbul fail, TOLO News reported.

IMAGE: Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. Photograph: Salahuddin/Reuters

The meetings aim to solve the dispute and rising tensions along the Afghan-Pak border after weeks of deadly clashes and ceasefire violations.

"In a conversation with reporters, Khawaja Asif added that although no incidents or clashes have occurred in recent days, indicating that the Doha Agreement has been somewhat effective," TOLO News said.

However, officials from the Afghanistan government have not responded to these remarks by Pakistan's Defence Minister, it said.

Delegations from both countries are in Turkey for the second round of discussions. The talks focus on implementing the Doha agreement, stopping cross-border attacks, and rebuilding trust.

According to TOLO News, the dialogue is covering four main points: creating a joint monitoring system to prevent future violence, ensuring respect for each other's sovereignty, addressing the roots of Pakistan's security issues from the past two decades, and removing trade restrictions.

The talks also include a discussion on stopping the forced deportation of Afghan refugees and keeping the refugee issue out of politics.

Asif, who led Pakistan's earlier Doha negotiations, said the situation at the border had been calm recently but warned it could change quickly if diplomacy fails.

The meeting follows the first round of talks, jointly mediated by Qatar and Turkiye, which took place in Doha on October 18 and October 19.

During this period, both parties agreed to an 'immediate ceasefire' following days of intense border clashes.

Last week, Qatar announced that Pakistan and Afghanistan had agreed to an 'immediate ceasefire' following intense border clashes.

In a statement issued by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the follow-up talks in Tukriye are to ensure the 'sustainability of the ceasefire and verify its implementation in a reliable and sustainable manner'.

"A round of negotiations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Afghanistan was held in Doha, mediated by the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye. During the negotiations, the two sides agreed to an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries," the statement said.

Asif reminded that Pakistan had supported Afghanistan for decades by hosting millions of migrants and sheltering them. Though earlier this week, Pakistani security forces shut down several long-standing Afghan refugee camps in Balochistan, displacing thousands of residents and demolishing their homes and shops.

Camps in Loralai, Gardi Jungle, Saranan, Zhob, Qala-e-Saifullah, Pishin, and Muslim Bagh have been affected.

Refugees told they were forced out suddenly without being allowed to gather their belongings.

The clashes erupted earlier this month after Islamabad demanded that the Taliban government curb militants attacking Pakistan from inside Afghanistan.

Pakistan launched airstrikes across the border and both countries exchanged heavy fire, killing dozens.

However, Taliban officials denied claims that Afghan soil was being used to attack Pakistan. They said the Islamic Emirate 'does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries' and remains committed to regional peace.
The US sees an opportunity to expand strategic relationship with Pakistan but it will not be at the expense of its historic and important ties with India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.

IMAGE: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photograph: @SecRubio/X

Ahead of his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, Rubio, referring to India's energy ties with Russia, said New Delhi has already expressed a desire to diversify its procurement of crude oil.

The US secretary of state was interacting with journalists ahead of his trip to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit.

Rubio, to a question on the US' ties with Pakistan, New Delhi is "concerned for obvious reasons".

"But, I think they (India) have to understand we have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan," he said.

"I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. Look, they have some relationships with countries that we don't have relationships with. So, it's part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy," he said.

"I don't think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important," Rubio added.

The US-Pakistan ties have witnessed an upswing in the last six months, especially after US President Donald Trump's meeting with Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir following the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May.

While India rejected Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between the two countries, Pakistan credited the US president for ending the hostilities between the two countries.

To another question on if India will be willing to really shove off its purchases of Russian oil for a trade deal with the US, Rubio said New Delhi has already expressed an interest in diversifying its oil portfolio.

"If they diversified their portfolio, the more they buy it from us, the more they'll buy it from someone else. But I wouldn't prejudge or -- I'm not negotiating trade deals. So I'm not going to speak on that," he said.

"But I know they've (India) already expressed a desire to diversify their oil portfolio, even before all of this came up. So, obviously the more we sell them, the less they'll buy from someone else. And, but, we'll see where we wind up on all that," he said.

Last week, the US sanctioned two Russian oil exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil, a move that is expected to discourage Indian refiners to procure Russian crude oil.

Rubio, responding to a question on the latest US action in the context of India, said both sides have "broader trade issues".

They (India) will always be our allies and friends, he said.

New Delhi's continuing procurement of Russian crude oil has been a major issue in the India-US ties.

The relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe strain after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent levies for New Delhi's procurement of Russian oil.

India described the US action as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

In the couple of weeks, Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him that India will stop buying Russian crude oil. Following Trump's first claim, India suggested that there was no such conversation.

Last week, the US president dialled Modi and extended Diwali greetings.
If the INDIA bloc is voted to power in Bihar, the Waqf (Amendment) Act would be "thrown into the dustbin", the opposition coalition's CM candidate Tejashwi Yadav said on Sunday.

IMAGE: Leader of Opposition in Bihar assembly, Tejashwi Yadav (third from left) addresses a press conference, in Patna, October 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing a public rally in the Muslim-dominated Katihar district, Yadav said his father, Lalu Prasad, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief, never compromised with communal forces in the country.

"But Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has always supported such forces, and it is because of him that the RSS and its affiliates are spreading communal hatred in the state as well as in the country. The BJP should be called 'Bharat Jalao Party'. If the INDIA bloc comes to power in the state, we will throw the Waqf Act into the dustbin," he said.

The Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed by Parliament in April. The ruling BJP-led NDA has described the law as a force for transparency and empowerment of backward Muslims and women from the community, but the opposition claimed that it infringes on the rights of Muslims.

On Saturday, RJD MLC Mohammad Qari Sohaib stirred a controversy by stating that if Yadav becomes the CM of Bihar, "all bills will be torn apart, including the Waqf bill", inviting a barrage of attacks from their opposition, who questioned how a central law could be changed by the chief minister of a state.

Yadav, meanwhile, claimed people of the state are tired of the 20-year-old Nitish Kumar government.

"The CM is not in his senses. Corruption is rampant in each and every department of the government. The law and order situation has completely collapsed in the state," he alleged.

Yadav claimed that the NDA government has done nothing for the development of the Seemanchal region.

"If we come to power, we will constitute the Seemanchal Development Authority for the overall development of the region," he said.

The region, comprising Purnia, Araria, Kishnaganj and Katihar districts, has a significant Muslim population.

The RJD leader alleged that the NDA government was copying the election promises he was making.

"We promised an increase in the old-age pension. The Nitish Kumar government increased it from Rs 400 per month to Rs 1100 per month. I promise, we will increase it to Rs 2,000 per month," he said.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Scattered snow flurries and snow showers possible this evening. Becoming mostly clear later. Low 14F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%..

Tonight

Scattered snow flurries and snow showers possible this evening. Becoming mostly clear later. Low 14F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti failed to secure enough support in Kosovo's parliament to form a new government, plunging the country further into political chaos and bringing it closer to its second elections this year.

Only 56 parliamentary deputies voted in favor of Kurti's proposed administration on October 26, five short of the number needed for approval. Fifty-two voted against the government and four abstained.

The country has been wracked by political paralysis since inconclusive elections in February, with dozens of attempts to even start the parliamentary session since the vote scuppered by a political stalemate with the opposition.

That impasse was broken earlier this month, but discord between parties has made it impossible to form a government at a time when the country is looking to make progress on its path to European Union membership.

Parliamentary speaker Dimal Basha said that the responsibility for what happens next moves to President Vjosa Osmani. According to the constitution, Osmani must appoint a second prime minister-designate within 10 days.

However, Memli Krasniqi, the leader of the second-largest party in the assembly, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, has said that he will ask Osmani to go to the polls immediately.

Other parties and some political analysts agreed.

"This result is a direct consequence of the lack of political dialogue and the failure to reach agreements that would enable the normal functioning of the country's institutions," the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), a nongovernmental organization that promotes democratic governance and transparency, said on social media.

"Under these circumstances, early parliamentary elections represent the most sustainable and credible option to end this crisis and restore to citizens the opportunity to determine the political direction of the country."

Fresh Elections Very Likely

Kurti's Vetevendosje (VV) party won 48 seats in the February 9 elections but has not been able to cobble together enough support to reach the 61-seat majority needed to approve a government.

With his options appearing to have been exhausted, even Kurti admitted earlier this week that fresh elections may be the only answer left.

Some analysts said even that option may not solve the crisis.

New elections wont bring major changes when it comes to the distribution of mandates," Agon Maliqi, a Kosovo analyst and fellow at the Atlantic Council told RFE/RL in a statement.

But, he added, parties will likely be forced to reach some form of consensus and compromise.

The failure comes at a critical time for Kosovo, one of Europes poorest countries.

Ambassadors from the Quint countries -- the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy -- have urged the swift formation of a stable and functional government -- essential, they emphasized, for unlocking frozen funds, addressing key domestic and international priorities, and advancing Kosovos path toward Euro-Atlantic integration.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has said progress is needed if Kosovo is to take advantage of the bloc's 6 billion euros ($6.8 billion) Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

The past year has had a very negative impact because the international community hasnt had a real partner in Kosovo for a positive agenda," Maliqi said.
The Pakistani military says soldiers and militants have died in clashes near the Afghan border, as diplomats from both countries meet to prevent violence from erupting again after the worst fighting in years.

Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) extremist group were killed overnight on October 25, Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement sent to the media on October 26.

ISPR added that the clashes occurred when militants tried to enter the countrys Kurram and North Waziristan districts along the northwestern border with Afghanistan.

While the Taliban has not yet commented on the situation, ISPR said the infiltrations into Pakistani territory raised questions about the Taliban governments intentions to tackle terrorism originating from its soil.

Afghan-Pakistani Peace Talks

Pakistani and Afghan delegations met in Istanbul on October 25, the same day new clashes were reported, to enforce a cease-fire between the two countries mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha last week.

The recent violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been the worst since the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021. Air strikes and ground clashes left dozens of people dead on both sides.

The fighting between the one-time allies was triggered after Islamabad demanded that Kabul rein in militants who had stepped up attacks in Pakistan, saying they operated from havens in Afghanistan.

The Taliban denied harboring militants to attack Pakistan and accused the Pakistani military of spreading misinformation about Afghanistan and sheltering Islamic State-linked militants.

Speaking in a televised address on October 25, Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said he believed Afghanistan is seeking peace but warned that failure to reach an agreement during the talks in Turkey would result in "open war."

Visiting Malaysia for the signing of a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, US President Donald Trump said he might "soon" get involved in the resolution of the conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, but I'll get that solved very quickly," Trump added, giving no further information.

With reporting by Reuters
VICTORIA, Romania -- At the base of Romanias Fagaras Mountains, a sprawling chemical plant that was founded in 1938, in part by weapons giant Rheinmetall to produce gunpowder for Nazi Germany, stands rusting and unused. Now Germanys Rheinmetall is returning. The German armament company plans to build a gunpowder plant, which locals hope will revive the fortunes of Victoria in the central Transylvanian region. Plans for the 535 million euros ($626 million) gunpowder plant in Victoria come amid a massive rearmament drive from Brussels to help Ukraine fight its ongoing war against Russia. The ReArm Europe Plan has seen several industrial towns throughout Europe buoyed by deals to invest hundreds of millions of euros to reequip the blocs militaries. Romania is set to receive some 16.7 billion euros ($19.4 billion) from the fund, largely for defense-focused reindustrialization projects.

Ioan Muntean worked for 50 years at the now mothballed Victoria Chemical Complex. He summarizes its complex history through World War II in one succinct sentence as he picks his way through his former worksite. Until 1944, Russian prisoners worked here, then from 1944, German prisoners worked here." After Romania switched sides late in that war, the country was occupied by Soviet troops and the Victoria factory became the Stalin Chemical Plant until shortly after the Soviet rulers death in 1953. Under Romanian communist dictator Nicolae Ceausuescu, the Victoria plant produced methanol and formaldehyde, among other industrial products. The factory employed some 2,700 people in the 1950s, but began a slow decline through the late communist era which accelerated following the 1989 revolution that overthrew Ceausescu.

Muntean reaches out to touch some of the familiar pipes of the silent factory. I know all of these by heart, he says, I know them inside and out. After clambering up to a platform on one of the towers of the plant, the former worker points out the various components of the factory which are slowly being subsumed under weeds. Beyond the factory grounds, Victoria, the workers town that was built up around the factory, is visible over the trees. The population of Victoria has plunged, roughly in line with the declining output of its factory. From 10,000 in 1992, the population dropped to just 6,500 in 2021.

In the tidy but empty streets of Victoria, local resident Doru Cioata says that at the end of the 1990s many people left for Italy and Spain. An entire generation of residents disappeared. The business owner says finding workers for any local enterprise is now all but impossible. The planned German gunpowder factory is likely to herald a turn of fortunes for the town. The factory plans to employ some 700 people, many of whom would arrive with families, meaning many hundreds more may relocate to Victoria. As he clambers back down to the ground, Muntean lets out a sigh. While there is now hope for the town outside, the factory that he knows so well is likely to continue its decay. It was shut down completely in early 2025 following years of wrangling over its fate.
US President Donald Trump said he is not going "to be wasting my time by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin if the Kremlin leader is not ready to make a deal to end his war on Ukraine.

"You have to know that we're going to make a deal. I'm not going to be wasting my time," Trump told reporters on Air Force One during a stop in Doha en route to Malaysia, where he kicks off an Asia trip on October 26.

"I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing. I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East," he added.

Trump spoke to Putin last week and said he planned to meet him in Budapest within the next few weeks. However, the US president later canceled the meeting, although he said it could take place at another time.

Will There Be Even More Sanctions?

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a US official and another person familiar with the matter as saying Trump's administration has prepared an additional series of sanctions against Russias economy that could be imposed if Putin refuses to reach a peace deal.

However, Reuters quoted an unidentified senior US official as saying Trump would prefer to have European nations make the next big move against the Kremlin -- either in the form of additional sanctions or tariffs.

The United States sent shockwaves across global energy markets on October 22 when it said it was sanctioning state-controlled Rosneft and privately owned LUKoil -- Russias two largest oil companies, whose exports go a long way toward filling the Kremlins coffers used to fund the war.

A day later, the European Union targeted Rosneft and Gazpromneft, another major oil company that is a subsidiary of state-controlled gas giant Gazprom.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on October 26 described the sanctions as an "unfriendly step" and said they "have indeed damaged the prospects of resuscitating our relations" with Washington.

Speaking on state-controlled Rossiya 1 TV, Peskov added that there were no preconditions for a summit between Putin and Trump, blaming Ukraine and Europe for halting the process.

"Trump understands that there are currently no reasons to believe that any progress could be made in the peaceful settlement in the near future," he said, adding that talks laying the groundwork for a summit continue.

"Presidents cannot meet for the sake of meeting, they cannot just waste their time, and they are open about that. That's why they instructed [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov and [U.S. Secretary of State Marco] Rubio to prepare this process. The process is complicated," he said.

Observers are watching closely to gauge reactions by India and China -- the two biggest buyers of Russian oil exports. China is one of Moscows top allies and trading partners, sourcing much of its Russian energy via Siberian pipelines.

New Delhi has so far resisted US pressure to curtail its use of Russian energy, and Trump has lashed out at India on the issue, imposing punitive tariffs and threatening more actions.

Trumps latest remarks appear to throw cold water over comments by Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, who told CNN on October 24 that he believes the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have made strong progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

"I believe Russia and the US and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution, Dmitriev said, although he did not explain in detail why he believes a diplomatic solution is close. The public positions of Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key issues including territory and security guarantees.

Dmitriev was in the United States to meet with US officials. No details of the talks were immediately available, although Reuters quoted a source as saying the discussions were to resume on October 26.

Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on the final day of his regional trip that is expected to focus mainly on trade.

He also stopped in Malaysia, where he presided over an agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on their border conflict. The US president is also expected to visit Japan on the trip.

Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv, Other Regions

In the meantime, Ukraine continues to endure nearly nightly attacks by Russian drones and missiles that hit apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other major cities far from the front line.

Asked about an attack this week that hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv, Putin envoy Dmitriev said the Russian military is not targeting kindergartens but that the military should be asked about this specific situation.

"Im not a military guy," he said. "Im just working to have dialogue and make sure that the conflict is ended as soon as possible."

Early on October 26, Ukrainian officials said an overnight attack by Russian drones on a high-rise building in Kyiv killed three people and injured at least 33 people, including seven children.

As RFE/RLs Ukrainian Service spoke with local residents at the scene of the attack, one woman said her neighbors were among those killed.

"The smoke was overwhelming. We were breathing through wet towels.... I thought we were doomed," she said, adding that her neighbors had suffocated while hiding from the attack in the bathroom.

Ukrainian officials have also reported Russian strikes causing damage to civilian and energy infrastructure in a number of other regions, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that in the past week, Russia has carried out "thousands" of strikes using various types of weapons.

Zelenskyy claimed Russia has used "nearly 1,200 attack drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of various types."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and AFP
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Russian air strikes hit Ukrainian cities overnight on October 26, continuing a week of deadly attacks on civilian sites across the country. In Kyiv, drones hit two apartment buildings, killing at least three people and wounding more than 30 others, including seven children.
A County Roscommon secondary school has announced that a new class for young people with additional needs will open next September.

Elphin Community College is set to open the class in September 2026, a move it described as "a significant and positive step that reflects the schools belief that every student matters".

The school added: "This development underscores ECCs commitment to inclusion and to providing a supportive learning environment for all learners. Further details will be shared once all confirmations are in place, but for now, this marks a proud moment for the school community and the wider Elphin area."
Together Since College but Unaware of Kidney Issue: Actor Tej Sapru Expresses Shock, Sorrow Over the Demise of Actor Satish Shah

"...but it hurts when you are this attached to someone.

Actor Tej Sapru Expresses Shock, Sorrow Over the Demise of Actor Satish Shah Latest news: Veteran actor Tej Sapru, with a heavy heart, on Sunday expressed deep sorrow over the demise of veteran Bollywood and TV actor Satish Shah. He revealed that they had known each other since their college days and that he was unaware of Shahs kidney transplantation.

Actor Tej Sapru said, Satish and I have been together since college. We have worked in four to five films together. He was an amazing human being and an outstanding actor. We didnt even know he had undergone a kidney operation. It was a shock.

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#WATCH | Mumbai: On the demise of veteran Bollywood and TV actor Satish Shah, actor Tej Sapru says, "Satish and I have been together since college. We have worked in 4-5 films together. He was an amazing human and an outstanding actor. We didn't even know he had his kidney https://t.co/Qw6BkMQ5c9 pic.twitter.com/LDH7y4mL5U  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2025

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He added, One after the other  Pankaj Dheer, Asrani, and now him. This is the ultimate truth, but it hurts when you are this attached to someone.

Satish Shah passed away on October 25 after being found unresponsive at his residence. Doctors later confirmed that he died of kidney failure. The actor had previously undergone a kidney transplant and later developed an infection.

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The funeral of the late actor was held today in Mumbai.

Read Satish Shahs death reason in detail here.

(For more news apart from Together Since College but Unaware of Kidney Issue: Actor Tej Sapru Expresses Shock, Sorrow Over the Demise of Actor Satish Shah," stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Qatar Airways Increases DohaToronto Operations To Daily; Punjab And The Punjabi Diaspora Now Have More Flight Options To Canada With One Stop

The actor's body was kept at his residence, Gurukul from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on October 26 for friends and well-wishers to pay their respects

Last Rites TV Actor Satish Shah Performed Today; Died of Kidney Failure Latest News: The funeral procession of veteran Bollywood and TV actor Satish Shah, who passed away yesterday, was performed at Pawan Hans, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai.

Indian actor Jamnadas Majethia, who attended the last rites of the departed soul, told ANI, "This is a big loss. He was a very knowledgeable person. I spoke to him the day before yesterday. He was absolutely fit, but we couldn't meet him that day as he said he was very tired and wanted to sleep..."

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The late actor Satish Shah passed away at the age of 74 on October 25. He reportedly died of kidney failure, according to a report by the Times of India.

Mumbais P.D. Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, in its official statement confirming the news, revealed that an emergency call was received from Shahs residence after he was found unresponsive.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of veteran actor Mr. Satish Shah. Earlier today, the hospital received an emergency call regarding Mr. Shahs health. An ambulance with a medical team was immediately sent to his residence, where he was found to be unresponsive. CPR was started in the ambulance itself and continued on arrival at P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre. Despite the best efforts of our medical team, Mr. Shah could not be revived, the hospitals statement said, according to the TOI report.

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According to reports, the actor had been ailing for some time and had undergone a kidney transplant earlier. Later, he developed an infection.

The actors body was kept at his residence, Gurukul, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on October 26 for friends and well-wishers to pay their respects.

His last rites were performed at Pawan Hans Cremation Ground, S.V. Road, Vile Parle (West), Mumbai, at 12 p.m.

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(For more news apart from Qatar Airways Increases DohaToronto Operations To Daily; Punjab And The Punjabi Diaspora Now Have More Flight Options To Canada With One Stop" stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Qatar Airways Increases DohaToronto Operations To Daily; Punjab And The Punjabi Diaspora Now Have More Flight Options To Canada With One Stop

The development is expected to bring greater convenience and flexibility for travelers from Toronto.

Qatar Airways Increases DohaToronto Operations To Daily; Punjab And The Punjabi Diaspora Now Have More Flight Options To Canada With One Stop: Passengers from Punjab and the Punjabi diaspora now have more flight options to Canada, as Qatar Airways has increased its DohaToronto operations to daily, effective October 26, further enhancing one-stop connectivity from Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, according to a press release by Fly Amritsar Initiative.

Sameep Singh Gumtala, Global Convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, and Anantdeep Singh Dhillon, Convener (North America), cited in the press release, stated in a joint press statement that the expanded schedule marks an important step for travelers flying between Punjab and Canada, especially following the suspension of Neos Airs AmritsarToronto service via Milan earlier this month.

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Passengers traveling from Amritsar will now enjoy daily one-stop connections to Toronto via Doha, while continuing to access Montreal and over 100 global destinations through Qatar Airways extensive international network, they noted.

The airline, which launched its DohaToronto route with three weekly flights in December 2024 and increased to five in June 2025, has now made it a daily servicea clear sign of sustained demand, they added.

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The development is expected to bring greater convenience and flexibility for travelers from Toronto.

Qatar Airways daily AmritsarDoha flights already connect Punjabis to North America, Europe, and Australia with world-class service and reliability. The expansion of daily DohaToronto flights now gives passengers more choices, especially during peak winter travel periods, while avoiding the congestion, long queues, and baggage recheck hassles often faced at Delhi Airport, Gumtala is quoted as saying in the report.

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Highlighting the wider connectivity challenges, Gumtala added, While airlines like Qatar Airways are ready to expand connectivity through Amritsar, Indian long-haul carriers such as Air India and IndiGo have yet to start direct flights from Amritsar to key international destinations with large Punjabi populations like Toronto, Vancouver, Milan, and Rome. The Government of India must adopt a more open and regionally balanced aviation policy to support Amritsar and Punjab.

The press release added that Dhillon explained that despite strong passenger demand, Qatar Airways continues to face capacity restrictions under the IndiaQatar bilateral air services agreement, which allows the carrier to transport only around 1,259 passengers each way per week from Amritsar. The consistently full flights and high demand often drive up fares and clearly show the need for more capacity and liberalized policies, he said.

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Dhillon further emphasized the need for more liberal policies, according to the press release. Amritsar is Punjabs only major international gateway, and the demand for global connectivity continues to rise. Yet, airlines such as Emirates, Etihad from the UAE, and other Middle Eastern countries remain restricted from operating from Amritsar due to Indias current policy barriers. Opening Amritsar to these carriers would expand travel options, boost tourism and trade, and strengthen Punjabs ties with the global diaspora.

Fly Amritsar Initiative is a civil society advocacy for development &direct flights from Amritsar International Airport.

(For more news apart from Qatar Airways Increases DohaToronto Operations To Daily; Punjab And The Punjabi Diaspora Now Have More Flight Options To Canada With One Stop" stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
The latest round of repression of leading activists of the Ladakh Apex Body (LAB)---putting them under house arrest when they sought to organize a peaceful protest march---shows once again the ugly face of the Modi government. This action was earlier preceded by the unjustified and condemnable detention of Sonam Wangchuk under the draconian National Security Act (NSA) ridiculously accusing him of conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Ladakh is close to 60,000 square kilometres in size but with a total population of around 3 lakhs. Some 90% are tribals, an ethnicity that cuts across the religious difference between mostly Buddhists in the Leh region and mostly Muslims in the even more mountainous region of Kargil. This ethnic similarity has overridden so far any religio-political tensions and the other main political body, the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) has stood with the LAB to put forward four common key demands. These are first, the call for separate statehood. The second demand is for the application of the Sixth Schedule that would provide for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) having their own legislative, executive and judicial powers to enable safeguarding of tribal land, forests and cultural rights. These rights are enjoyed by other tribal areas in the northeastern states. Third, is the establishment of a full-fledged Public Service Commission that would prioritise gazetted jobs at all levels for the local youth and population. Fourth, is the demand for two Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil respectively.

When Ladakh was part of J&K the sense of ethnic separateness meant that the annulment of Art. 370 in 2019 and granting Ladakh Union Territory (UT) status was extremely popular and welcomed. Over time, however, it became clear that this was in many ways a turn for the worse. As part of J&K, Ladakh had greater autonomy with its own revenue section, Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police. Art. 35A, now abrogated, then gave special rights to locals regarding job recruitment and property acquisition.

Why is the Central government behaving this way?

One can point to three main reasons. First, being a border state next to both Pakistan and Chinese Tibet, New Delhi wants to maximize its political and military control especially after its 2020 setback vis-a-vis China in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh. This aim goes counter to the granting of more local powers and rights though it could be argued that giving such rights would enhance the loyalty of Ladakhis politically and militarily. But here comes the problem. Overall, Muslims are in a slight majority in the total population of Ladakh making it the second UT (after J&K) to have this demographic character. The second reason then is that Hindutva in the longer run, and even in the shorter term, wants to alter this by encouraging entry of non-Muslims into Ladakh. Accordingly, it is to be expected that New Delhi will do its best to weaken, indeed destroy, the existing unity and collaboration between Leh and Kargil by all means including promoting religion-based conflict and polarization. Furthermore---and this is the third reason---accepting the demands in toto would reinforce the principle of asymmetric federalism which is something that has long been an anathema to this Hindutva government. It has currently had to suffer this reality in the Christian majority Northeastern states but this asymmetry is not something it is happy about or wanting to extend. Rather, the aim is to eventually eradicate it.

Now even as we recognize the Centres ambitions and oppose its repression of Ladakh, what would a more just resolution that we should advocate? While respecting the right to political self-determination by all parts of the original J&K province (including the Pakistan occupied part) we can, if considered necessary or desirable, express our concerns or reservations regarding the four demands as they stand.

Our Stand

Regarding statehood, Ladakh has a population less than half of that of Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DDDNH) that is a UT. So this demand is unlikely to be accepted. While Sikkim with a population of over 7 lakhs has statehood, this reflects its very distinctive history. After British withdrawal its protectorate status was passed on to newly independent India which meant that while Sikkim had full internal autonomy, its foreign policy and defence would be under Indian control. In 1975 this autonomy was destroyed by an unjustified military takeover that then provided the sop of statehood. In the case of Ladakh, it is quite likely that LAB and KDA would settle for the compromise of remaining a UT but having its own legislative assembly like Puducherry which has a five times higher population.

Regarding the Sixth Schedule and its rights, this should be fully supported.Automatic word wrap

The same applies to the demand for a Public Service Commission of its own that prioritizes jobs for locals but does not completely exclude others where there is an absence of qualified personnel locally.

Finally, the demand for two Lok Sabha (LS) seats contrasts with the situation prevailing in the two other more populated UTs of DDDNH and Puducherry that have just one LS seat each. Should there be one seat allotted or one each for Leh and Kargil? A reasonable case can be made either way. Having one seat would push candidates for selection to try and speak for and represent the interests of the Ladakhis across religious differences helping thereby to prevent it from becoming a religious divide. On the other hand, a Central government that continues to remain in the control of Hindutva forces could find it more difficult to oppress the Muslim community if Kargil has separate representation. Perhaps better then, the second more pragmatic perspective than the first more ideal one. Forcible imposition of any final outcome by the Centre is never a just solution and must be forthrightly condemned.

[October 19, 2025]
Glaciers are pushing back against global warming by chilling the air that flows over their surfaces. But how long can this natural defense last? Researchers from the Pellicciotti group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) have reexamined a massive global collection of glacier data. Their study, recently published in Nature Climate Change, reveals that glaciers will likely reach their maximum self-cooling ability within the next decade. After that, near-surface temperatures will rise sharply, speeding up melting across the world's ice fields.

Thomas Shaw remembers a particular summer day in August 2022 vividly. The postdoctoral researcher in Francesca Pellicciotti's lab at ISTA was high in the Swiss Alps under clear skies and a comfortable 17 degrees Celsius. Yet he stood atop the Glacier de Corbassiere, more than 2,600 meters above sea level, taking measurements to assess the glacier's condition.

Although global air temperatures continue to climb, the surfaces of many glaciers appear to be warming more slowly. Some, such as the immense Himalayan glaciers, even send cold air streaming down their slopes, cooling the valleys below. This natural refrigeration may seem like a sign of resilience, but scientists say it's only temporary.

Shaw's new study indicates that glaciers' cooling response will reach its height in the 2030s. "The more the climate warms, the more it will trigger the glaciers to cool their own microclimate and local environments down-valley," says Shaw. "But this effect will not last long, and a trend shift will ensue before the middle of the century." After that point, melting and fragmentation caused by human-driven warming are expected to intensify, with glaciers heating faster near their surfaces and shrinking at an accelerating pace.

Large glaciers and cold winds

Studying these effects in some of the world's most isolated regions is no small task, especially since field data are scarce. This lack of information makes it difficult for scientists to fine-tune climate models. When Pellicciotti's team first examined records from a weather station 5,000 meters up Mount Everest, they were astonished. "Upon examining the data thoroughly, we understood that the glaciers were reacting to the warming air in summer by intensifying their temperature exchange at the surface," Pellicciotti says. The vast Himalayan glaciers cool enormous air masses that slide downslope under gravity, creating what scientists call katabatic winds. Similar patterns are seen at other major glaciers around the world.

Scientists going out of their way

To better understand this phenomenon globally, Shaw designed a new statistical model that could work even where data were limited. "We compiled data from past and recent projects across our research group, pooled them with all published data, and reached out to other researchers to request that they share with us their unpublished data," says Shaw. "Using this unprecedented dataset, we reassessed the physical processes to find generalizable aspects and developed a statistical framework that can give us a glimpse into the evolution of glacier cooling worldwide."

Peak cooling

Shaw and the team compiled an inventory of hourly data from 350 weather stations located on 62 glaciers worldwide, representing a total of 169 summer-long measurement campaigns. They specifically examined the ratio of near-surface temperature to ambient, non-glacier temperature right above each station and analyzed it over space and time. "We call the difference in temperature 'decoupling,' because it seems at odds with the warming of ambient temperatures," says Shaw. They showed that, on average, the near-surface temperature on mountain glaciers worldwide warmed 0.83 degrees Celsius for every degree rise in ambient temperature.

They also investigated the glacier properties most likely to limit the decoupling effect, such as the presence of a debris mantle on the lower part of a glacier, and refined their model with this information. By modeling future projections, they demonstrated that this cooling effect will peak between the 2020s and 2040s, before the glaciers' steady mass loss leads to their large-scale retreat, reversing the cooling trend. "By then, the worn-out and considerably degraded glaciers will 'recouple' to the steadily warming atmosphere, sealing their fate," says Shaw.

Accepting the loss and coordinating future actions

While the projection paints a bleak future for the world's majestic water towers, there are pragmatic consequences if the current trend continues. "Knowing that the glaciers' self-cooling will continue a little longer could buy us some extra time to optimize our water management plans over the next decades," says Shaw.

However, the team is fully aware that they can neither salvage nor recover the world's mountain glaciers. "We must accept the committed ice loss and put our full efforts into limiting further climatic warming rather than into ineffective geo-engineering strategies such as seeding clouds and covering glaciers. These are like putting an expensive Band-Aid on a bullet wound. The coming decades are a time for reflection, effective water management, and action to change public consciousness about human-caused climate change." The researchers further underline the need for coordinated global climate policies to drastically reduce emissions and safeguard human life on Earth from the unforeseeable effects of global warming. "Every bit of a degree counts," says Shaw, echoing the words that scientists have been stressing for decades.
Hippos, now found only in sub-Saharan Africa, managed to survive in central Europe far longer than anyone previously believed. A new analysis of ancient bones shows that hippos lived in the Upper Rhine Graben between about 47,000 and 31,000 years ago, during the depths of the last ice age. The findings come from an international research team led by the University of Potsdam and the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim in collaboration with the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archaometrie, and were recently published in Current Biology.

Extinction Timeline Rewritten

Until recently, scientists thought the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) disappeared from central Europe roughly 115,000 years ago, when the last interglacial period ended. However, the new study -- conducted by researchers from the University of Potsdam, the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim, the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archaometrie Mannheim, ETH Zurich, and several international partners -- reveals that hippos actually persisted in the Upper Rhine Graben of southwestern Germany tens of thousands of years later, well into the middle of the last ice age.

The Upper Rhine Graben serves as a vital record of ancient climate conditions. Animal bones buried for millennia in layers of gravel and sand offer rare windows into the past. "It's amazing how well the bones have been preserved. At many skeletal remains it was possible to take samples suitable for analysis -- that is not a given after such a long time," said Dr. Ronny Friedrich, a specialist in age determination at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archaometrie.

Genetic and Radiocarbon Clues

Researchers examined numerous hippopotamus fossils using both genetic and radiocarbon dating methods. Ancient DNA sequencing revealed that these Ice Age hippos were closely related to modern African populations and were part of the same species. Radiocarbon dating confirmed their presence during a warmer phase of the middle Weichselian glaciation, when conditions temporarily allowed the animals to survive in central Europe.

Further genome-wide analysis showed that the European hippo population had extremely low genetic diversity, suggesting it was both small and geographically isolated. Fossil evidence also revealed that these warm-adapted hippos lived alongside cold-climate animals such as mammoths and woolly rhinoceroses -- an unusual ecological mix that highlights the complexity of Ice Age environments.

Rethinking Europe's Ice Age Ecosystem

"The results demonstrate that hippos did not vanish from middle Europe at the end of the last interglacial, as previously assumed," summarizes first author Dr. Patrick Arnold. "Therefore, we should re-analyze other continental European hippo fossils traditionally attributed to the last interglacial period."

Prof. Dr. Wilfried Rosendahl, general director of the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim and project leader of "Eiszeitfenster Oberrheingraben" is convinced that ice age research still holds many exciting questions: "The current study provides important new insights which impressively prove that ice age was not the same everywhere, but local peculiarities taken together form a complex overall picture -- similar to a puzzle. It would now be interesting and important to further examine other heat-loving animal species, attributed so far to the last interglacial."

The research was carried out as part of the "Eiszeitfenster Oberrheingraben" project, supported by the Klaus Tschira Stiftung Heidelberg. This interdisciplinary effort aims to shed light on climate and environmental evolution in the Upper Rhine Graben and southwestern Germany over the past 400,000 years. The study focused on Ice Age bones from the Reis collection, housed at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen, which continue to reveal remarkable insights into Europe's dynamic prehistoric world.
Labour's new deputy leader, Lucy Powell, has said the government must listen to its members instead of being guided by a "narrow group of voices" as it battles to stave off electoral disaster in next Mays local elections. Powell defeated the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, in the deputy leadership contest, which concluded on Saturday. She said she had been given "a clear mandate that members want their voice to be heard at the top of the party". The Manchester Central MP won 54% of the vote, polling 87,407 votes, while Phillipson received 73,536. Turnout was just 16.6%, which some Labour insiders say points to widespread disillusionment within the party. The result was announced on Saturday against the backdrop of Labour's catastrophic byelection performance in Caerphilly. The party came third, behind Plaid Cymru and Reform, polling just 11% of the vote in a previously safe seat that had been held by Labour since the creation of the Welsh Senedd in 1999. - Guardian

Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will raise US tariffs on Canada by 10% in retaliation for an anti-tariff advertisement sponsored by the Ontario government, which has further strained one of the world's largest trade partnerships. The statement, posted on Trump's Truth Social account, came after several days of public disputes over the ad, which referenced Ronald Reagan's support for free trade and provoked the US president's anger. "Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now," Trump said Saturday on social media. He further accused the ad of being a "fraud" and said the "sole purpose" of it was "Canada's hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their 'rescue' on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States", he added. - Guardian

As hospital beds fill up, seriously sick patients are sent to makeshift wards  cupboards, offices and corridors  to be treated by a doctor. Others are left languishing in waiting rooms, sometimes for days on end. In one particularly hard-hit hospital, a Costa Coffee cafe is turned into an emergency ward as medics struggle to cope with rising demand. It's only October, yet the picture across NHS wards up and down the country is one of concern, with medics telling The Independent they fear a winter crisis on a scale only seen at the height of the pandemic. One A&E consultant warns the health service is facing something akin to "armageddon". - The Independent

Wes Streeting appeared to put further pressure on Keir Starmer's leadership after Labour's defeat in the Caerphilly by-election last Thursday. The health secretary told the Sunday Times that the defeat in the Welsh Senedd election was the prime minister's "Hartlepool [by-election] moment" in a significant parallel to a defeat which almost saw Sir Keir quit as Labour leader. Although he insisted that the prime minister can bounce back, Mr Streeting's comparison has added fire to speculation over Sir Keir's leadership to some in the party. With Labour now polling below 20 per cent in a number of different polls, discussions about ousting him among MPs and ministers are heating up. - The Independent

Prince Andrew faces a pincer movement from parliament and Buckingham Palace to strip him of his dukedom and banish him from his 30-room mansion in Windsor. MPs are set to discuss Andrew's future, defying years of convention that usually prevents politicians from criticising the royal family. The Liberal Democrats have signalled that they intend to use their next Opposition Day debate to allow members to consider officially removing Andrew's Duke of York title and discuss his continued use of Royal Lodge. Although such debates are rarely binding, it will allow the Commons to "express its will" and heap pressure on the government and the King to act. Andrew, 65, agreed last weekend that he would no longer use his title after the spiralling scandal over his links to Jeffrey Epstein, the late paedophile financier. However, an act of parliament is required to formally remove the dukedom. - The Times

An aggressive cannabis lobby is fuelling a dangerous complacency about the risks the drug poses to teenagers mental health, Britain's top psychiatrist said. Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said young people were damaging their brains by smoking high-strength cannabis and risking psychotic episodes that could ruin their lives. "When you start smoking with your mates at 14 or 15, you are literally growing your brain in a cannabis soup," she said. "There's no doubt at all. Cannabis is a cause of psychosis." Cannabis is consistently the most consumed illegal drug in England and Wales. In the year to March last year, 2.3m people were estimated to have used it. - The Times

Labour's flagship workers' rights bill risks crippling the jobs market, the party's "favourite" think tank has warned in a fresh challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. The Resolution Foundation has told The Telegraph it would come out against plans championed by Angela Rayner, the former deputy prime minister, that will give workers a day one right against unfair dismissal. It said the policy risked blighting the job prospects of millions of people while offering "little obvious gain to workers". It also warned that the new rule would "inhibit hiring", risked plunging tribunal courts into crisis and would "only benefit employment lawyers". The foundation warned that the jobs market was already slowing down, with the number of employees on payrolls falling by 127,000 over the past year in the wake of increases to National Insurance. - The Telegraph

Britain must support China's ownership of Taiwan or risk a breach in diplomatic relations, China's ambassador to the UK has suggested. Writing in The Telegraph, Zheng Zeguang said that the "key to ensuring the sound and steady development of UK-China relations" lay in the British government accepting that "Taiwan has never been a country" and that "both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to [...] China". The intervention comes at a time of heightened tension between London and Beijing over the Chinese spy case, and amid calls to cancel the construction of a "super-embassy" in London amid fears it could be used to tap into sensitive data cables. In the article, Mr Zheng writes that Britain made an "unequivocal commitment" to defend China's ownership of Taiwan when diplomatic relations were established with the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1972. "This history must not be forgotten," he said. - The Telegraph
As the days get shorter and the end of Daylight Saving Time approaches in 2025, many of us are already looking forward to its return, bringing with it more sunlight to enjoy.

In New York, we will fall back at 2 a.m. on Nov. 2, and Standard Time will begin.

We wont spring forward,' into Daylight Saving Time again until March 8, 2026.

Daylight Saving Time, often referred to as Daylight Savings Time, always begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday of November.

Once we pass that November 2025 milestone, well see days continue to shorten until the winter solstice on Sunday, Dec. 21.

This day marks the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Then the days will gradually begin to grow longer again as warmer days approach in New York.

After the winter solstice in 2025, well see a bit more daylight each day until the next time change on March 8, 2026, allows us to spring forward again into Daylight Saving Time.

Not all states participate in the annual time changes. Two states, Arizona and Hawaii, opt out of participating in Daylight Saving Time entirely.

Both states remain on Standard Time throughout the year, avoiding the biannual shifts that the rest of the country follows.

And not everyone thinks the time change is such a great idea.

In 2023, New York lawmakers attempted to address the issue by introducing a pair of bills in the State Assembly and Senate aiming to make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the state. But both pieces of legislation failed to advance, remaining stuck in committee until they expired without a vote.

Six new bills have been introduced in the state Assembly and Senate. The bills currently await action in committee when the legislature reconvenes in 2026.

Opinions are divided in the state.

Three of the six bills advocate for making Standard Time permanent year-round. The other three bills propose making Daylight Saving Time the permanent standard for the state.
Babies under 6 months of age can get COVID-19, though they cannot be vaccinated. (Getty Images/Damircudic)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Children under 6 months of age cant be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19)  but they can catch it, with potentially serious consequences, medical research has shown.

In fact, newborns may be at an increased risk for COVID-19 because of their underdeveloped immune systems, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, which found that 12% of infected newborns required intensive care treatment, while 3% of older children needed it.

All children, including newborns, are at risk of acquiring COVID 19 if exposed to COVID-19 virus, said Dr. Ana Mendez, chief of ambulatory pediatrics at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton.

Which is why physicians and health agencies continue to urge parents, siblings and everyone eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or booster to do so, reducing the spread of the virus to all compromised individuals, including infants.

Infants infected with COVID-19 may show symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, and changes in feeding or elimination,' said Dr. Anna Cornish, director of Ambulatory General Pediatrics at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze. In some cases, COVID-19 can lead to severe illness requiring hospitalization, particularly if the infants have underlying health conditions.

Pregnant women can help lower an infants risk by getting the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, according to the Mayo Clinic, since some evidence suggested protection can pass to the unborn baby and continue after birth.

Newborn infection can also take place in the final weeks in their mothers womb. But it most often takes place early in life after birth, with the majority of transmission caused by respiratory secretions from the infected mother, exposure to infected health-care workers, family members and others, according to medical experts.

Difficulty breathing may occur, which is a serious symptom requiring immediate medical attention, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Infants have increased susceptibility if they are premature, have underlying medical conditions, and/or co-infections with other respiratory viruses, Cornish said.

Older children

In the initial stages of the pandemic, children and adolescents were more likely to have mild cases and more favorable short-term outcomes compared with adults. But that has changed as new variants emerge, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

And as the number of children and adolescents infected with SARS-CoV-2 continues to increase significantly as new variants emerge, the AAP and top local pediatricians are urging parents to have their children vaccinated, preventing illness and spread to siblings, many of whom are immunocompromised or too young to have developed immunity.

It was thought at first that the pediatric population was relatively spared from the long-term effects of the virus after infection, but this changed rapidly with increasing reports and studies of pediatric patients not fully recovering from acute COVID-19, according to the AAP.

Children who get infected with COVID-19 may experience long-term health burdens after infection, which is referred to as postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, or long COVID.

For this reason, doctors and medical agencies continue to stress the importance of getting the most up-to-date vaccination booster available each year, preventing illness and potential spread to others, including children.

Those eligible include all children over the age of 6 months, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From age 5 through 11, children should get a booster vaccine, as should all adults, the CDC stated.

And the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended completion of an initial vaccination series for everyone ages 6 to 23 months, or a single dose for those under age 2 who previously completed their initial series.

Long COVID is heterogeneous and likely under diagnosed, but symptoms such as brain fog, dyspnea, gastrointestinal dysfunction, generalized pain, and fatigue can cause significant burden for children, even after mild COVID-19, said Mendez.

Parents reluctance

Yet, despite the risks to themselves and others, many parents are still reluctant to get their family vaccinated and receive boosters accordingly, Mendez said. This is due to misinformation in all media, but mainly in social media she said.

Quoting the AAP, she said, In a study, 50% of caregivers reported fear of their child getting COVID-19 vaccine. In the same study, only a third believed that the vaccine was safe. Vaccine novelty and perceived lack of need were associated with refusal.

Yet the AAP asserted that COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe and effective. Millions of children and teens have been safely vaccinated since COVID vaccines were recommended for those aged 6 months and up, the agency reported.

The vaccines continue to be monitored very closely and continue to meet their primary goal among children and adults: prevention of hospitalizations and severe outcomes of COVID-19.

All authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy against severe COVID-19, according to the AAP. They have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.

Its important to discuss any concerns with your pediatrician to make an informed decision for your child, Cornish said.

Side effects

There are potential side effects to vaccination, doctors reported.

These include pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, chills, fever, joint pain or nausea, especially after the second dose, according to reports.

But the side effects signal that the body is reacting to the vaccine and that it is working to develop immunity to the virus.

And though death after vaccination has been reported, no concerning patterns have emerged, the AAP stated. Among the deaths that have been investigated, none have been causally linked to the vaccine, the agency reported.
In this file photo, a subway train approaches an above ground station in Brooklyn with the New York City skyline in the background on June 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File) AP

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The MTA is celebrating two major feats: The three billionth contactless payment tap and its highest two-day ridership since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gov. Kathy Hochul applauded the agency for its bounce back as the MTA prepares to axe the sale of MetroCards at the end of the year.

With significant progress in safety and reliability this year, its no surprise that we are breaking yet another ridership record on the subway, Hochul said in a written statement. To top it off, the increased convenience riders now have to tap and go is paying real dividends. Reaching major milestones for tap and go and daily ridership in the same week is the latest proof that the investments New York has made in mass transit are helping the lifeblood of New York City thrive.

Russell Levy, an Upper East Side resident, tapped his card to board the subway at the 47th50th StreetsRockefeller Center BDFM station  and unknowingly became the three billionth contactless payer.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the following in the statement, Three billion taps is undeniable proof that New Yorkers are ready for a new era of fare payment. Tap and Ride, like the MetroCard did 30 years ago, opens the door to new discounts and promotions that will strengthen transit affordability  no speed arithmetic required.

Oct. 22 saw 4.52 million people on the trains, while Oct. 23 saw 4.55 million riders. This beats the previous record set on Dec. 12, 2024, with 4.53 million boarding the subway.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to protect Planned Parenthood and its patients after congress usurped the organizations ability to provide care to Medicaid recipients.

Washington Republicans have shown time and again that theyll stop at nothing to undermine womens health care and restrict access to reproductive rights, Hochul said in a statement. In the face of Congressional Republicans voting to defund Planned Parenthood, Ive directed the state to fund these vital services, protecting access to health care that thousands of New Yorkers rely on. I will always stand up for reproductive rights and the health care that New Yorkers deserve.

In New York state alone, Planned Parenthood operates a network of five subdivisions that is made up of 47 locations.

Among these 47 locations  spread across Greater New York, the Hudson Peconic, Central and Western New York, North Country, and the Upper Hudson  more than 200,000 patients are treated. Of this number, 100,000 are Medicaid recipients.

Over 60 percent of Planned Parenthood health centers are in rural or medically underserved areas, and these centers are often the only option available to New Yorkers living in these rural areas. They are a critical source of affordable health care to Medicaid and non-Medicaid recipients, the statement explained.

Congressional representatives who voted for H.R. 1  better known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act  allowed for a one-year prohibition on federal Medicaid funding for organizations that provide abortions and that received $800,000 or more in federal Medicaid funds in 2023.

In response to this, Hochul is allocating state funds to cover lost federal funding to Planned Parenthood affiliates in New York, the statement detailed.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Joseph Bubba Anger, 57, died on Tuesday morning. The Port Richmond native was a loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, and a cherished friend to many. He graduated Ralph R. McKee Career and Technical Education High School and spent his younger years playing softball for Buddys Wonder Bar, where he made lifelong friendships and memories. A proud New Yorker through and through, Bubba was an avid Yankees and Giants fan, says his obituary. He worked for the Metropolitan Transit Authority for more than 25 years, driving in Staten Island and Manhattan. His full obituary can be read here.

RECENT OBITUARIES

Elaine Marino, 86, passed away on Oct. 18, 2025. Born on July 9, 1939 in the Bronx, she later made her home in Staten Island. Elaine was married to her devoted husband, Anthony Marino, who predeceased her in 1997. She was a proud grandmother and a longtime Staten Island resident known for her warmth, sharp wit, and delight in lifes simple joys. Elaine spent many happy years working at her neighborhood hair salon. Her full obituary can be read here.
H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths co-founder Heather Butts led the event bringing together Staten Island organizations to discuss challenges facing young people. Sydney Maldonado

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A dynamic youth forum brought together community members, organizations, and local leaders Wednesday night at the Gerard Carter Center in Stapleton to discuss empowerment, opportunity, and the challenges facing Staten Islands young people.

The event was organized by leaders from H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths, the Central Family Life Center, Bay Street & Beyond, the Stapleton Houses Ad Hoc Committee, the Healthcare Education Project, the Veronica Gambon Project, Neighborhood STAT, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and the Gerard Carter Center YMCA.

Heather Butts, co-founder of the nonprofit H.E.A.L.T.H for Youths, led the event, which aimed to give young people a chance to be heard and discuss the challenges facing Staten Island neighborhoods and beyond.

Its important to get people in a room to dialogue with each other and really start to see some of the underlying issues, including the trauma that young people experience in these neighborhoods and others, Butts said.

The discussion set the stage for Superintendent Dr. Roderick Palton, who oversees Staten Island schools in District 31. Palton has worked with youth throughout his career, including as a former principal for District 75, and has dedicated his career to supporting students.

In his keynote speech, Palton emphasized that connections and relationships, both inside and outside the classroom, are essential for students success. Palton also highlighted the districts intentional strategies to provide students with foundational skills.

Our approach is very simple: Build that strong foundation, Palton said.

Such strategies include the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and expanded programs across schools, including teaching and business pathways. These initiatives are designed to support young people toward future opportunities.

Panelists Michael Williams, director of program performance at the NYC Office of Neighborhood Safety; Michael DeVito, executive director of the New York Center for Interpersonal Development; Jen Larsen, associate executive director of On Your Mark; Jocelyn Lebron, youth coordinator with the Healthcare Education Project; and Rachel Ullah of True2Life Staten Island. Sydney Maldonado

The forum also featured an open panel with representatives from several local organizations.

Panel members included Michael Williams, director of program performance at the NYC Office of Neighborhood Safety; Rachel Ullah of True2Life Staten Island; Michael DeVito, executive director of the New York Center for Interpersonal Development; Jen Larsen, associate executive director of On Your Mark; and Jocelyn Lebron, youth coordinator with the Healthcare Education Project.

The panelists addressed a range of topics related to supporting Staten Islands youth, including current challenges, ways to encourage leadership, and new community initiatives.

Challenges facing Staten Islands youth

Panelists highlighted challenges facing young people today. Ullah noted that young people are often expected to overcome trauma without adequate support, facing pressures at school and beyond. Other issues included the impact of community violence, difficulties socializing with one another, and managing emotions, which DeVito and Lebron linked to constant screen time.

They also discussed ways their organizations are working to address these challenges, highlighting initiatives to meet youth where they are and provide resources and guidance tailored to their needs. They cited programs, such as art competitions to engage students creatively and reduce screen time, therapeutic opportunities, and public speaking visits to schools that inform students and families about future educational and career options.

Empowering young people to lead and get involved

Panelists were asked how local youth can be encouraged to take an active role in their communities.

DeVito noted that while there are many opportunities available, they often go unused because young people arent aware of them. He also emphasized the importance of empowering youth to lead and encouraging them to get involved in community efforts.

Panelists highlighted several opportunities for youth to take more active roles in their communities. Programs such as the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and the evening program at McKee High School were cited as ways to both engage and compensate young people for their time. Panelists also mentioned the importance of providing mental health resources and community support, helping young people feel safe, connected, and motivated to get involved.

Collaboration among organizations

Panelists explained how their organizations collaborate with schools, families, and community stakeholders to support youth well-being.

Larsen said On Your Mark works directly with schools to connect parents and students with programs, such as its Respite Program, which helps guide youth in planning for their futures.

Williams added that the NYC Office of Neighborhood Safety has reinvested and restructured its youth management services initiative, expanding violence intervention and safe passage programs in several schools to ensure students feel supported and protected.

Looking ahead: New initiatives for 2026

Panelists highlighted an array of upcoming programs and partnerships aimed at supporting youth next year.

Williams discussed a roundtable bringing together four partner organizations to coordinate responses to crises and a collaboration with NYCID analyzing shootings over time to address the root causes of community violence.

Larsen shared plans for her organizations new campus at the New Brighton-based St. Peter & St. Pauls Elementary School. This will include a day program and a public recreation area with a walking path, pool, and pavilion set to break ground this spring.

DeVito mentioned upcoming after-school enrichment programs, while Ullah highlighted ongoing partnerships and a new podcast to engage local youth. Lebron noted her organization will offer mental health first aid training tailored specifically to youth to help improve emotional well-being.

Butts said she plans to continue these discussions with additional youth forums and conduct long-term community needs assessments to better understand what young people need to succeed.
"A lot of this stuff doesnt have tremendous value, but its stuff that I like," said Mike Pacello, a 59-year-old landscaping company owner from Great Kills who's filled his "lair" with an extensive and unique collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Mike Pacello describes himself as a forever 10-year-old boy.

Step into his collection space  which he refers to as his lair  and the nickname makes a little more sense.

The 59-year-old Great Kills resident has spent over two decades amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities  items that might make the average person scratch their head, but for Pacello, each piece tells a story.

I go into a place and its exhilarating, Pacello said. Its like my Spidey sense starts tingling.

His enthusiasm for collecting began to take shape alongside his career as the owner of Mikes Landscaping of Staten Island, a business hes run for 34 years. About 20 years ago, after binging episodes of Pawn Stars and American Pickers  reality shows centered on antique hunting and the business of buying and selling historically significant or unique items  Pacello found a new passion taking root.

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

That passion also led to an unexpected friendship through a routine eBay transaction, as an exchange of emails between strangers blossomed into a 13-year friendship with Frank Fritz of American Pickers, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 60.

Frank and I were cut from the same cloth, Pacello recalled fondly. He was like the everyman collector. He collected what he liked, and it wasnt always about valuable stuff.

What started as casual weekend treasure hunts soon became a full-blown obsession  one thats taken Pacello across the country and landed him on television.

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

You can say Im a frugal buyer, he noted. A lot of this stuff doesnt have tremendous value, but its stuff that I like.

Pacellos collecting philosophy is simple and sincere: The collection will never be complete, because I dont even know what Im looking for sometimes.

That open-ended curiosity has led him to discover everything from 1920s cast iron toys and quirky advertising pieces to a taxidermied turtle cigar ashtray from the Victorian era.

Sometimes I dont even know what Im looking for until I see it, he explained. And then Im like, holy s---, whats that?

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

His dedication means weekends are often packed with early mornings at the Chelsea Flea Market in Manhattan before moving on to other flea markets and collector shows in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Between stops, his phone buzzes with fellow collectors and dealers calling with invitations to private viewings and estate sales throughout the region.

Pacellos network extends far beyond the tri-state area thanks to his management of a Facebook group called I Love Old Junk, which boasts more than 20,000 active members. Established around 2019, the group serves as a space where members can buy, sell, trade and share photos of their most unique weekly finds that at a minimum, are pre-1980.

Its mostly people showing off their hauls, he said. Like, Hey, check out this devil thing I found today, or Look at this army helmet. It could be anything.

Pacellos expertise and reputation in the collecting community eventually caught the attention of TV producers, resulting in appearances on Comic Book Men, produced by filmmaker Kevin Smith, and nine episodes of the Las Vegas-based Pawn Stars between 2013 and 2024. During these segments, he sold some early comic strip character toys and salesman samples but turned down offers for pieces he decided were too sentimental to part with.

Back in the lair, Pacello proudly displays one of his most cherished finds  an 1878 mechanical bulldog savings bank, discovered in pieces inside a dust-covered box while antiquing in Florida with his son, Michael. After extensive restoration, the clockwork mechanism came back to life: a bulldog leaps up, eats a coin, and drops it into the bank.

Interestingly, dog-themed items are sprinkled throughout his collection  a nod to his 2-year-old Boston terrier, Hubley, named after the historic Hubley toy company that operated from the late 1800s through the 1950s.

A display of "Popeye the Sailor Man." (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

A particular draw for Pacello is cast iron collectibles. That old cast iron patina just grabs me  theres something special about it, he said. Theres nothing like it, man; its just phenomenal.

His appreciation partly stems from frustration with modern throwaway culture. This is a disposable society now. You buy something, and it lasts five, maybe 10 years. They make appliances like that these days.

Many pieces in his collection also carry personal memories. A blue section of a Coca-Cola sign reminds him of the paint in his grandmothers Brooklyn kitchen. A poster for the 1963 B-movie The Day of the Triffids transports him back to childhood, when he and his grandfather watched the invasion of carnivorous plants that both thrilled and freaked him out. Even his first soda-bottle find  a rare Sweetie from Philadelphia  sparked a lifelong fascination with advertising collectibles.

One of Mike Pacello's most cherished finds  an 1878 mechanical bulldog savings bank featuring a bulldog that leaps up, eats a coin, and drops it into the bank. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

While Pacello stores his most valuable pieces safely off-site, he surrounds himself at home with items he enjoys looking at and that simply make him happy.

Beyond collecting, he and a close circle of friends regularly explore abandoned areas across Staten Island, from the old Sea View Hospital to Annadales Spanish Camp to Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Charleston to parts of Fort Wadsworth.

These urban adventures occasionally yield rare finds, though they come with risks  he said a fall suffered in early 2024 at Sea View left him with a souvenir scar from a severe facial laceration requiring 38 stitches.

I dont even know what I landed on, but I had a hole in my face, he said. I was weirdly calm though and went straight to the ER.

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

When hes not out treasure hunting or exploring, Pacello can usually be found researching his latest acquisitions. I say it all the time  Im like an encyclopedia of useless information. But its not useless, because knowledge is extremely powerful in this hobby.

For newcomers eager to start collecting, Pacello offers straightforward advice: Knowledge is power. Do your research. Know what youre looking at. Get familiar with your prices. Be patient  slow your roll, because youll find another one for a better price or something else you like even better.

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

His wife Anna, who has been married to him for 38 years and only occasionally joins him on hunts, said, Its something he got into a long time ago, and Im happy that it turned into a passion that brings him a lot of joy.

After decades of collecting  and the endless search for a spare spot in the lair to display new acquisitions  Pacello shows no sign of slowing down. The thrill of the hunt keeps him going.

Its always something to look forward to, he said. I work my a-- off all week, and I cant wait for the weekend to get back out there.

If you are or know a Staten Islander with a unique hobby or profession, please email Scott R. Axelrod at saxelrod@siadvance.com.

Dog-themed items are sprinkled throughout Mike Pacello's collecton  a nod to his 2-year-old Boston Terrier, Hubley, named after the historic Hubley toy company that operated from the late 1800s through the 1950s. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)

Mike Pacello, 59, of Great Kills, has spent years amassing an eclectic collection of cast iron toys, vintage advertising, Americana, pop culture memorabilia and curious oddities. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott R. Axelrod)
Once again, markets are becoming uneasy about an opaque corner of the financial system that has evaded regulation and is experiencing a bonanza.

In the past, these sorts of worries have centred on cryptocurrencies, buy-now-pay-later loans, or shadow banks. Lately, however, the catchphrase getting huge amounts of attention from the regulators around the world is private credit. And this isnt just some technical discussion for finance wonks. It indirectly affects all of us, to some degree, through our superannuation.

Markets have been jittery about the risks posed by private credit lately. Credit: Bloomberg

Many of us have probably never heard of private credit, but lately these two words have been cropping up a lot  most notably after the collapse of two little-known US companies, auto lender Tricolor and car parts supplier First Brands.

Both companies were funded by private credit, which is where fund managers raise money from investors and lend the cash outside the banking system, generally to businesses. The failures of these two companies earlier this month sparked jitters on Wall Street and raised worries that this could be the start of something much more significant.
His comments came weeks after a financial update that sent the stock plunging again after a shock earnings drop and weak outlook. It was followed by an embarrassing ASX query seeking assurances that the group was not in breach of its continuous disclosure obligations over the disclosure and subsequent market meltdown. James Hardie did not consider that any difference between its expected earnings and market expectations would have a material effect on the price or value of James Hardies securities, it said. Proxy advisers are among those struggling to understand how a supposedly growth-focused, transformative deal led the board to actually lower the financial performance hurdles for Erter, who was already the ASXs second-highest-paid chief executive last year at $US20 million. They were not the only ones. Market analysts from Jarden issued a scathing assessment on both the chief-executive pay and a $US1 million increase in board fees to cover director pay rises that have already been awarded.

[If] successful, this would represent the largest and most expensive board across our Basic Industries coverage universe. This is despite the underwhelming share price performance, leverage and earnings profile, Jardens report said. James Hardies chairwoman Anne Lloyd and CEO Aaron Erter have a fight on their hands. Credit: In our view, it would appear neither the CEO or board are being held accountable to realise appropriate returns befitting the premium price paid for Azek and/or the increased investment risk [business complexity, leverage] inherited. The annus horribilis began in March when management blindsided investors with the news it was spending $14 billion to acquire US group Azek and move its primary listing to the US. This involved raising billions of dollars in debt to pay Azek investors, as well as giving them the equivalent of 35 per cent of James Hardies listed shares.

It was only later that James Hardie investors learnt that the ASX gave James Hardies board permission to avoid giving investors the right to approve the deal. In August came James Hardies market meltdown of the year, after management shocked the market by revealing its earnings sank for the June quarter with order volumes going backwards  and the demand outlook for the US housing market remained challenging. The contrast between the board seeking higher director fees, the lowering of performance hurdles for Erter, the downgrade in August  and the boards emasculation of investors  helps explain why all four of the most influential proxy advisers have recommended shareholders vote out all five directors up for re-election at the meeting. This includes the chair who has presided over this debacle: Anne Lloyd. ISS criticised the materially misaligned bonuses and said that Lloyd needed to go over the disastrous governance failures that meant shareholders had no say in the Azek deal. As chair, she is ultimately responsible for corporate governance at the company.

Two other long-term James Hardie directors, Peter-John Davis and Rada Rodriguez, are also being targeted for their role in the financially destructive acquisition of Azek. The Azek deal raised James Hardies exposure to a US housing market that is in crisis. Credit: Bloomberg It is our view that shareholders would be best served by a board reset, the Glass Lewis report says. Even the two new James Hardie directors who joined Azek were targeted over their previous ties to Erter when they all worked together at another group. There were also raised eyebrows from ISS about the forecast 52 per cent increase in directors fees this year, despite the board only increasing by two.

In an interview with The Australian Financial Review, Erter was unrepentant about engineering this avoidance of investor approval, saying it was necessary given the speed of the deal and a necessity to give Azek investors certainty. And he promised to rebuild trust with James Hardie shareholders but also remains convinced about the long-term benefits of the controversial deal. My conviction in doing this deal, and the long-term returns that itll give to our shareholders, and how its going to set our company up for the future, I wouldnt change, he told the AFR. If there is any salve for investors it is that analysts expect the stock to make a strong recovery from these levels. Macquarie has a $40.60 price target on the stock, which is trading about $33. Loading

Market conditions are tough but stabilising  inventory concerns are fading. Focus now turns to rates and housing policy. An evolving Azek integration story, a bottoming of markets and valuation are in support of our thesis, Macquarie said. Erter himself is not shirking the long-term growth he has promised despite a moribund US housing market that is weighing on the prospects of the enlarged North American business he has created. We never blame the market, he told the investor forum last month. We dont use the market as a crutch because our job is to make sure we figure out ways to grow, no matter what. If investors remove James Hardie chair Lloyd this week, we will know exactly who they are blaming. And Erter will be next.
In 2001, teenager Sef Gonzales murdered his parents and sister at their North Ryde home, prompting new disclosure laws for real estate agents after the house was later sold to an unsuspecting couple from Taiwan.

A waterfront home in Bundeena, currently on the market, doesnt have quite the macabre history. But the agents must have dithered over whether there were certain material facts about the property that potential buyers should know.

The five-bedroom clifftop residence, which boasts breathtaking views over the Hacking River and Cronulla, came onto the market in late September, which just happened to coincide with the finalisation of legal action against its owners.

The property is one of the places where the late cult leader Ken Dyers was alleged to have sexually abused young girls. It is owned by three of the groups followers  Bernard Price, Wendy Tinkler and Amanda Hamilton.

Dyers widow Jan Hamilton also has a caveat on the title that gives her a life interest in the property. The name of the cult  Kenja  is an amalgamation of the couples names.
However, there is more to the LNPs success in Queensland than just the personal qualities of its leader and the political cycle.

Crisafulli commands the middle ground of Queensland politics because he governs from the centre. He is a pragmatist who eschews the culture wars which so obsess Liberals in other states. He is alert to the peril of the party being dragged into the echo chamber of Sky After Dark, which has nothing to say to modern Australia. Its denizens, although a tiny sliver of the electorate, are well represented in the Liberal and National parties greying branch membership (average age 72). Crisafullis keynote speech to the partys state convention in August - his first as premier - was a plea to the party to be sensible, centred and avoid ideological self-obsession.

Crisafulli has detoxified the Liberals brand in two key areas: energy policy and multiculturalism. By declaring his governments support for net zero  despite the overwhelming opposition of branch members  he has steered the debate away from ideology to precisely where it should be: cost and reliability. Because he accepts the net zero target, his energy-agnostic approach has not led (except from the usual suspects) to cries that his government doesnt take climate change seriously.

It is on the issue of multiculturalism that Crisafullis character and instincts are most evident. He is himself the embodiment of Australias multicultural success: the son of a family of Italian cane growers from north Queensland. It doesnt get more iconic than that. Unlike some Liberal leaders, whose support for multiculturalism, though genuine, sometimes seems abstract, Crisafullis is passionate and personal. When he speaks about Australia as a successful multicultural society  and I have seen him do so with real emotion  he is telling his own life story.
A member of a powerful crime family accused of orchestrating a murder plot against a rival underworld bikie outside a Sydney police station on Christmas Day has lost his chance at relative freedom and will remain behind bars.

The murder plot was foiled only because a keen-eyed parking inspector noticed a car that would have been the getaway ride parked illegally in the heart of the CBD.

Omar Haouchar has lost a long-running bid to be released from custody ahead of his trial on a charge of conspiracy to murder. Credit:

Omar Haouchar, a 33-year-old member of a crime network bearing his family name, was charged in January with conspiracy to murder Comanchero bikie associate Andre Kallita, court documents say.

Haouchar was on parole at the time of his arrest, spending in the community the final years of a 10-year sentence imposed in 2018 for robbery with a dangerous weapon, directing a criminal group and other crimes.
If you Google Merrylands and hit the news tab, youll read dozens of headlines about shootings and gang warfare.

The western Sydney suburb is the birthplace of the notorious Alameddine crime network, and its the original postcode of rapper Ali Younes, aka Ay Huncho, whose family home in Merrylands was sprayed with more than 20 bullets last month.

Asiya Rahimi studies law at Western Sydney University and works at the Hazara Cultural Association. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Crime has sunk its teeth into the suburb for decades. Its an element of Merrylands that many residents have told the Herald is difficult to ignore, but one that shouldnt define the suburb.

For 18-year-old law student Asiya Rahimi  whose family fled war-torn Afghanistan when she was 10 and who now calls Merrylands home  the suburb is more than its headlines.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Its almost an Australian tradition that women who dare to make a career in the blokey professions should be subjected to sexual harassment and worse to keep them in their place (ADF women launch class action over sex assaults, October 25). The latest one to come to attention is the ADF, where this sort of harassment has been going on for years, often under the protection of senior officers. If our politicians want to do something useful, they should work together to create a root-and-branch clean-out of the ADF and then move on to the other professions and trades where this scourge occurs. We all know what they are. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill The Australian Defence Force exists to keep Australia safe, yet it fails to save its women employees from abusers and harassers. The hundreds of participants who provided evidence in this landmark class action deserve our thanks, justice and a truly safe workplace. It is catastrophically overdue. Frederika Steen, Chapel Hill (Qld) I am disappointed that the time frame for women to join the class action against the ADF is restricted to 23 years ago. The abuse they copped in the 1970s was outrageous. Name-calling and harassment were rife. What is worse, it was considered the norm. Many still carry the scars today. Until the mid-70s, WRANS (Women Royal Australian Naval Service) were discharged on marriage. Peter Haggarty, Cranebrook The penis has long been a weapon of war, and I guess the training started somewhere. Perhaps it is time the long-overdue disarmament training was also introduced. Anna Searls, Randwick Coalition inertia By opting for disunity rather than bipartisanship, the Coalition has given Labor a free ride (Coalition mutineers end game, October 25). Peter Hartcher refers to Labors policy lethargy on a number of issues, but nowhere is this more glaringly obvious than climate. Without a net zero plan, the Coalition cant even get to first base. The Labor government seems to think this gives it licence to approve new fossil fuel projects. Only recently, Environment Minister Murray Watt approved Woodsides North West Shelf project in WA, set to create billions of tonnes of pollution over its lifetime. The best renewables program in the world wont address the problem of climate change as long as coal and gas projects are still being approved. Labor came to government with a mandate to take strong action on climate. They are letting their constituents down. Anne OHara, Wanniassa (ACT) Perhaps the Liberal Party and the wider Coalition is more representative of our nation than we care to admit. A loose confederation of competing ideologies unable to agree on the things that unite us and which would serve the common good. More concerned with protecting narrow interests and populist opinions. On the other side, Labor is so focused on solidarity that it is afraid to use the power this has given it, lest it offend and reveal its own fault lines. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

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Credit: Megan Herbert Peter Hartcher says, ... Ley has performed well in difficult circumstances. Sir, she has not. Her decision to put the boot into Kevin Rudd is a classic example of her generally poor judgment. As for the difficult circumstances, as they say: when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Admittedly, its a mighty task to rebuild the Coalition into an effective opposition and viable alternative government, given all the challenges stated by Hartcher, and there may be few in the current party room that could achieve such a feat. I must also disagree with Hartchers assertion that it would be the worst possible outcome for the Liberals to dump Ley after just half a term: while it might well confirm the suspicion that the Coalition is an incorrigible bastion of antediluvian chauvinism, its best done sooner rather than closer to the next election. David Walker, Lindfield It is unlikely the Coalition will be back in power before the 2030s. Until then, one of two outcomes can occur on legislation  for instance on revised environment laws. Legislation is passed that either pleases the Greens or it does not please the Greens because the Coalition has reluctantly voted in Labors proposal. If the Coalition does allow legislation, they can specify which sections of substandard legislation they will repeal and what they will be replacing it with when they are back in government. A readymade policy platform for subsequent elections. Meanwhile, Australia can plod along, until we come to our senses and sweep the Coalition back into power. Carlo Ursida, Kensington (Vic) Food for the soul Yes, the 2025 cohort of Advanced Maths students may be clever and leave some correspondents awestruck (Letters, October 25), but can I also give a shoutout to those clever students of the Humanities? During my career as a teacher and HSC marker, I have often been gobsmacked by the ability of countless students who have shown exemplary skills at interpreting history, literature, creating wonderful works of art and transporting an audience with sensitive music, drama and dance performances. The sophistication of ideas and the sensitivity of their work is inspiring and often belies their young age and life experiences. Our society needs our mathematicians and scientists, of course, but the students of the humanities and performing arts produce much-needed food for the soul. Robert Hickey, Green Point Those of us who love the challenges and rewards of the marvellous profession of teaching can play an important role in finding a solution to the shortages widely discussed recently. We are perfectly positioned to identify and encourage students with the intellect, energy and emotional strength needed to join the ranks. Dapto High School provides a modest exemplar. Retired staff have lunch together twice a year, support and encourage each other, and tip in some cash. At Y12 graduation, any student with teacher training as their top priority receives recognition, praise and a useful cheque to help them on their way. Only three in 2025. Adopting this idea more widely just might boost the supply of the exceptional young men and women required. Andrew FitzSimons, Wattamolla Royal lessons

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We learnt as children that when Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife, the pope denied an annulment and the church was split. Even as late as the 1930s, Edward VIII wanted to marry an American divorcee and was forced to abdicate because of the scandal. How ironic that the closest ties between the Church of England and the Catholic Church should come about during the reign of a previously divorced King and Queen (Charles shakes off 500 years of history with a simple act in Sistine Chapel, October 25) Everyone is better off when past biases are put aside and is reconciliation reached, even without total agreement on all issues. Nations should take note. Bernard Moylan, Bronte King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose with Pope Leo XIV as they meet at the Vatican during a state visit. Credit: AP So King Charles III, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, have prayed together. I wonder if either of them thinks prayers make any difference whatsoever? Ian Aldridge, Goulburn You cant blame Boomers for it all Im desperately sorry for the dilemma Siena Fagan finds herself in (At 20, I study, work, flat-hunt ... and you ask why Im unhappy, October 25). But please: Baby Boomers did not promise you anything. It is not us who are to blame, it is a consistent failure of government policies on both sides to provide the things you say are either lacking, or the things that have been done wrong, or that were not done at all.

University was not free throughout the entire era regarded as that of the Baby Boomers. It was free from 1974 (Gough Whitlams government) to 1989, when Bob Hawke got rid of it. A fair chunk, I know, but not the blanket era of Baby Boomer life. When you want to start a family you will get a good chunk of paid maternity leave, paid domestic violence leave and cash to keep you going should you ever need it, superannuation, newborn upfront payment, a first home buyers grant and the opportunity to put down a 5 per cent deposit on a home loan. You will get subsidised childcare, even if you are at home. If needed you will get supporting parent benefit, and with the advantage of an income-earning partner you will still be eligible for Family Tax Benefit. Baby Boomers like myself had none of these. I can see how difficult and heartbreaking your situation is and I take it seriously. I, too, am watching my grown children experiencing something similar. Jennifer Nichols, Casino Gough Whitlam gave us Blue Poles, and one brief shining moment of free universities Credit: Belinda Pratten At Siena Fagans age I was probably just as opinionated, and given to sweeping generalisations. Baby Boomers are such an easy target, arent they? My generation of Boomers generally left school aged 15, after completing the old NSW Intermediate Certificate. There was no such thing as free university education back then. Gough Whitlam changed that in 1974, to a degree. However, there was a cap on university placements and most of us did not qualify without further study. We had not stayed at school for long enough to matriculate. As for takeaway coffee  it is something I rarely do. I much prefer a china cup. Suzanne Fuller, Thornleigh

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Siena Fagan, please dont try to compare your life with that of us Baby Boomers, whom you blame for everything wrong with your life. At 20, I can assure you I was not looking at the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index of 1980, I was working a full-time job and four nights a week part-time. We just got on with life as it was handed to us. To answer your last question, When did I grow up?  you havent. You are only 20 years old, and life is tough for all 20-year-olds. Be patient, keep doing what you are doing. You appear hard-working and deserve to prosper, which I am sure you will, but please try to be a little more positive. Mark Nugent, Lugarno For an economics student, Siena Fagan seems to show little understanding of how our society works. It is the government that determines so many of the things for which she blames Baby Boomers, including the 50 per cent increase in our population this century  since she was born  which has put pressure on housing and infrastructure. As for climate change and plastic pollution, many of the environment groups fighting to right the environmental wrongs were set up, and many are still managed, by the much-maligned Baby Boomers. The volunteers who keep these groups operational are also, by and large, Baby Boomers. Another misconception is free university. Those born before about 1956 had to pay for tertiary training, or were bonded to their employer through a scholarship. Karen Joynes, Bermagui Princely problems My compliments to your correspondent (Letters, October 25) for making the point. Prince Andrew has not been charged with, let alone found guilty of, a crime. Sadly, too many Australians, Britons and others, are willing to engage in the detestable and prejudiced Kangaroo Court system. Nine out of 10 for the writer, to my mind. For a perfect mark she needed to write not of the mere assumption but of the stronger presumption of innocence. Ross Drynan, Lindfield Your correspondent misses the point. Prince Andrew is not being pilloried by the public and his own family for breaking the law. He is on the outer because of his appalling behaviour, including the highly insensitive and callous TV interview and his longtime support of a convicted paedophile and sex trafficker. John Berry, Cammeray There can be no proper judicial process when most of the main protagonists have been paid off, committed suicide, or both. Viv Munter, Tumbi Umbi Bat signals misread

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Mosquitos be gone Credit: Sally Hinton As Halloween approaches, spooky bat images are everywhere. Spooky? The mosquito determined to infect you with Ross River fever, Murray Valley encephalitis or Barmah Forest virus may just have been intercepted by micro-bats that eat several hundred an hour each. Sydney has 19 species. These mouse-sized, super-efficient hunter-killers patrol Australian towns and cities every night. The other family are mega-bats. Australias four principal species of flying fox create about a billion carbon-sequestering, fresh-air producing trees a year by pollination and seed dispersal. Who could have better friends? Maybe Halloweens spooks need a rethink? How about the Indigenous Yara-ma-yha-who, a small, bad-tempered red creature that lives in waterholes? Or the Bunyip, a real frightener who lurks in swamps? Or the evil, baby-snatching Moogai? There are loads. Australian bats belong with the good guys. Lawrence Pope, Carlton North (Vic) Patient reminder Women should be aware (Letters, October 25) that while they may no longer get a reminder letter, they can still access free breast-screening mammography through BreastScreen NSW at age 75 and above. They can self-refer, i.e. no doctors referral required. Dr Jill McDowell, Tumbi Umbi Patient advocate Dorothy Kamaker. Credit: Louise Douvis, digitally tinted To the list of patient supporters, may I add professional patient advocates? We are qualified, very successful and well accepted and utilised by medical teams. Dorothy Kamaker, Whale Beach
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Juliette Playford can still recall the look on her fathers face as he tried to murder her as an eight-year-old girl. He was staring at me. And I just remember his eyes just looking directly at me and I was looking at him. And he had the same face he always had on, which was like a tight-lipped smile. Now 18, the Brisbane schoolgirl is breaking her silence, telling 60 Minutes about the tragic night her father Stephen Playford drugged and suffocated her younger sister Sidney before trying to kill her. Brisbane student Juliette Playford studying at home. Credit: Nine Juliette says more needs to be done to support children of domestic family violence. I know how it feels not to have support and not to have anyone you can look up to  mothers or wives or girlfriends, theyre considered the main victims of domestic and family violence, she says. Children are usually the ones who are overlooked. Everyone was asking my mum how she was, and I was just getting stuffed animals. No one really wanted to talk to me. No one asked me how I was.

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In September 2015, it was a weekend of celebration for the Playford family, at their Brisbane home in the suburb of Kedron. Home videos show Juliettes family laughing together as her cheeky younger sister Sidney turned six, marking the occasion by face-planting into her birthday cake. Juliette and Sidney Playford. Credit: Nine The following day was Fathers Day and Stephen was showered in love by his two young daughters and his wife Maria. But behind the happy facade, he was about to execute a horrific plan. He himself wanted to die ... so he justified trying to kill us, Juliette says. What he was planning was a triple murder-suicide. I feel like he wanted us to be together in his own sick, twisted way.

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Stephen was a successful mining executive who travelled the world. He met Maria in Argentina before the family settled in Brisbane to raise their two daughters. Stephen Playford with his wife Maria and children Juliette and Sidney. Credit: Nine Juliettes memories of her early childhood are mostly happy and she says she could never have imagined her father hurting her until it happened. But as an adult, she now recognises unsettling behaviour from her authoritarian father. I didnt really know what other childhoods felt like, Juliette says. I believed that smacking was normal for when a child was naughty, and I didnt really think anything differently about him being the authority figure in the house. I just thought that was the status quo.

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In hindsight, looking back at it, Id probably say it was a little toxic. Children are usually the ones who are overlooked. Everyone was asking my mum how she was, and I was just getting stuffed animals. Stephen was also a gambler and after losing his job in 2014, he drained the familys money, including his daughters savings accounts and a deposit for a house. Maria had asked for a divorce but she stayed after he threatened to take her daughters away. Against this backdrop, he began plotting to kill his family. Juliette remembers her father preparing chicken and Brussels sprouts for dinner one evening. Stephen often cooked for the family  something she always considered an act of care by a dedicated father.

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What nobody knew that night, September 6, 2015, was Stephen had laced his daughters food with sleeping tablets. Juliette and Sidney Playford dressed for school. Credit: Nine She fell asleep in the bedroom she shared with her younger sister in their old Queenslander home before being woken with her father on top of her, his hands tightly around her throat. Hes strangling me and I get out of his grip by kicking him and I run out and he catches me and he takes me downstairs and he takes out a cylinder of gas from the laundry room and he puts a mask over me, Juliette says. And Im trying to stay awake, but I fall asleep. Im knocked unconscious. The next thing Juliette recalls is being carried upstairs, where her father then tried to strangle her for a second time in her bed, before she again fought him off and raced to wake her mother. Hes just yelling through the door and Im saying, He tried to kill me. He tried to kill me.

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As she grew older, like many victims of child abuse, Victoria agonised over what more she could have done to protect herself. For the offences her attacker pleaded guilty to, she was eight years old at her youngest. He was in his early 20s at his oldest. Loading So it took me a long time to realise. For a long time I couldnt understand why I just was left with him, she said. I couldnt understand, as I got older, I was like, Why? Why didnt I stop this? Victoria said the details of the abuse were scored into her memory. They were not good, but I didnt understand why they were scored into my memory, and I didnt understand why I couldnt say no, she said.

Thats why I just never told anyone. I just held on to it because I thought, well, maybe its my fault. That sense of hopelessness was replaced with a surge of strength after she committed to seeking justice through the courts. After four years of preparing for a pending trial, holding on to the horrific memories, the perpetrator pleaded guilty. My sister was a child when the offending began and had to wait until she was strong enough ... Her courage in coming forward was turned into a discount for her abuser. The familys letter to the Attorney-General But during sentencing, which the family said was a highly re-traumatising event, Victoria said the judge took exceptional circumstances into account. She said the justice systems use of those circumstances for adults needed to change.

Nothing ever gives anyone the excuse to rape or sexually abuse a child, she said. She said judges needed better examples of when exceptional circumstances applied to provide consistency in the courts. She recalled the judge saying to her rapist that he had kept doing this, as she said no and cried. Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has advised the sentence should be appealed. Credit: Jamila Filippone She said the judge relied on the fact that he had accessed counselling while on bail, their difficult home life in childhood, an apology letter, and hardship to his wifes business if he were to spend time in custody. It seems like the judge was worried about doing the wrong thing for exceptional circumstances, because he kept talking about how you cant shield behind your family ... but then ruled exceptional circumstances anyway, she said.

The offenders guilty plea was considered to be timely by the courts and showed remorse, she said. I get so enraged...over four years from his arrest to sentencing. Trying to continue my life with looming trials stalled my life and hurt me deeply. And he has benefited from wearing me down over that time as it is considered a timely plea by the judge. For me, it was not timely, it continuously caused me more pain, Victoria said. Thats one of the biggest things in the Sentencing Act  youve got to think about deterring acts like this, but getting to go home to your family and work is not a deterrent, getting to enjoy your life is not a deterrent. There are just these really evil people walking around us, going about their life like they never did anything bad, and we just have to exist next to them? She said after the sentence was handed down, the judge vacated the courtroom, and she was left to fend for herself, haunted by the fact her perpetrator no longer had bail conditions in place to stop him contacting her.

Victoria then had to apply for a temporary protection order in the days after the sentence  something she said victims should not have to do. She said judges should put protections in place immediately after a sentence. Loading The appeal by the attorney-general is the latest in a series of interventions from Frecklington to secure tougher sentences for perpetrators of heinous crimes. Frecklington was most recently successful in securing an increased sentence for a teenager who stabbed army veteran Chris Sanders in the chest. She has also lodged appeals against William Clyde Evans, who was convicted of eight child-related sexual offences, and Floyd Norman Daniel for domestic violence related assault occasioning bodily harm. Frecklington also instructed an application to be lodged with the High Court of Australia to appeal a judgment handed down in the case of Emma Lovells killer.

Victorias family wrote to the attorney-general last week out of disgust with the sentencing judges treatment of exceptional factors, such as the offender seeking counselling, their difficult home life in childhood, and remorse demonstrated by a guilty plea. My brothers defence also presented psychological reports indicating cognitive distortions that would have caused my brother to believe my sister might enjoy the offending, Victorias sister wrote. These are not unusual features. The nearly 20-year delay in reporting was also treated as exceptional. With respect, this misstates what we know about child sexual abuse. The Court of Appeal has recognised that delay is common, not exceptional, in these cases. My sister was a child when the offending began and had to wait until she was strong enough to withstand the trauma involved in a criminal legal process. Her courage in coming forward was turned into a discount for her abuser. In his sentencing remarks, the judge also described my brothers behaviour as the result of raging hormones that could have been worked out on a Playboy magazine. This comparison trivialises what happened to my sister. It treats serious sexual crimes against a child as though they were a normal outlet for a teenage boy, when in fact the most serious offences occurred when he was in his early 20s.
The critical minerals deal signed with US president Donald Trump this month presents a once in a generation opportunity for Queensland, according to the Premier.

David Crisafulli revealed on Sunday the state government had been working on a framework to capitalise on the $8.5 billion bilateral agreement.

I havent spoken about this publicly, but on the back of the deal between the prime minister and the president, I see a once in a generation opportunity, he said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli speaks at parliament house earlier this year. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

We will be shortly releasing our plan to make sure that we dont just get our fair share, but a little bit more.
It may only be October, but 22-year-old Kayden Crombie is already planning his first trip to the beach in four years. That was how long ago he last felt salt water on his skin, before he became a wheelchair user.

I can look at the 2025-2026 summer and now properly think about a beach trip, he says. Not only just one by myself, but one with friends.

Kayden Crombie at Frankston beach. Credit: Penny Stephens

Cooling off in Port Phillip Bay or on the coast on a summer day is something most Victorians take for granted, but for people who need a wheelchair or a mobility aid, that dignity is limited to just a handful of beaches in a state with more than 2500 kilometres of coastline.

Frankston Beach, in Melbournes south-east, will become the nations most accessible beach this summer with an unprecedented investment from the council in equipment and staff to accommodate beachgoers who need assistance on the sand and in the water.
Dean Bailey has a property on Robert Street and says he has experienced unprecedented flooding rendering 75 per cent of it unusable for his familys horse-riding business. Flooding on Robert Street, Henley Brook. We have eight paddocks, and seven of them are under water, he said. So our property only has 25 per cent useable land at the moment, and it has been like that now for three months. We still have water pouring in the back of our property from the Water Corporation overflow pits, and we still have 40 centimetres of water in some of our paddocks.

As a group, the locals have contacted the City of Swan and it has fallen on deaf ears. It has been hard to obtain drainage plans for the urban development section of the new suburb Henley Brook, however for what we have been able to obtain  I know local drainage experts who have said they are drastically insufficient. Zeck claimed groundwater has risen by at least one meter over the last decade, despite lower-than-average rainfall. Changes to local hydrology, like filling waterways and wetlands, has directed more urban water into fewer waterways, impacting rural properties with drains or creeks in their vicinity, she said.

Previous productive, arable lands are becoming unproductive quagmires and profitable agribusinesses are suffering significant losses. Flooding east of Waldeck Road, caversham. The issue was predicted in a 1994 EPA study that warned piecemeal planning in the north-east urban corridor should not proceed until further work has been completed because there was insufficient information on which to provide sound environmental advice. Fourteen years later, the Swan Urban Growth Corridor plan was created to develop 1100 hectares of land in the Henley Brook/West Swan/Caversham areas to build new homes for more than 30,000 people. Upper house Greens MP Brad Pettitt said the development was some of the worst examples of badly designed urban sprawl within the greater Perth metro area.

Not only are these projects largely treeless, hot and totally reliant on cars for transport and access to essential services, but poor planning has led to significant flooding, he said. Loading Dumping of excess stormwater has led to the mass death of mature trees in adjacent bushland and green spaces, and impacted adjacent private properties which has led to the mass death of trees in surrounding bushland and green spaces. The failures of this government-led project are a stark real-world example of the broken nature of piecemeal planning across Perth. What we are seeing in Brabham, Dayton and other areas are some of the most destructive forms of development in the state, and that is saying something.

Zeck said she and others had lobbied authorities including MPs and government departments over the last 18 months, with little to no response. City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson said the council was aware of the concerns and investigating the cause and potential solutions to the issue. Unfortunately, this situation will not go away, even with lower rainfall, because the water table continues to rise, Zeck said. It is starting from a higher baseline each winter. Homes, properties and livelihoods are now being impacted. Of the properties that have experienced significant flooding so far, at least one has groundwater at house pad level, and there are properties with up to 30 centimetres of water running through.

In one case, a vineyard cannot be pruned because the vines are inundated with water. Loading Some locals claim the situation is not being addressed in a bid to force them to sell their land to hungry property developers. A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said the State Planning Framework sets out a comprehensive, integrated approach to complex land development issues, including groundwater management. Effective and coordinated land-use planning requires the collaborative expertise of various government agencies, local authorities, and technical specialists, they said.

Flooding isnt the only issue caused by the encroaching urban development, with residents also fearful the rural amenity of the Swan Valley was starting to change as housing lots push further east. The area is unrecognisable, local Dale Reid said. Dale Reid stands where rural meets urban on Henley Street at the site of where a horse died after being spooked by construction noise. Credit: Rebecca Peppiatt People are being pushed to sell their land after their neighbours do and their paddocks now sit in the middle a building site. Reid came to the rescue of one Henley Brook horse owner last month, who claimed her horse died after it was spooked by construction noise and ran into a tree, breaking its neck.
The Palestinian Authority has called for Australia to play a significant role in an international stabilisation force in Gaza, including sending peacekeeping troops to help establish law and order in the ravaged enclave.

The Palestinian Authoritys deputy foreign minister, Omar Awadallah, said it was vital for the international community to move quickly to establish a United Nations-endorsed peacekeeping force to ensure the fragile ceasefire did not collapse and that Israeli troops withdraw from almost all of the Gaza Strip.

Omar Awadallah, the Palestinian Authoritys deputy foreign minister, has urged Australia to participate in an international stabilisation force for Gaza. Credit: Anadolu via Getty Images

US President Donald Trump would deserve a Nobel Peace Prize if he was able to secure a long-term peace in Gaza after two years of ferocious Israeli bombardments, he added.

I think Australia can help in so many aspects, including by sending forces, by sending experts, by supporting the training of Palestinian security personnel, Awadallah told this masthead from the de facto Palestinian capital of Ramallah.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will challenge the government to split up its contentious environmental protection laws as she offers Coalition support for efforts to speed up the approval of rare earth mines and major infrastructure projects.

Leys attempt to turn the tables on the government after weeks of opposition infighting came as the government confirmed the environment minister would be able to overrule the new regulator, to be known as the National Environment Protection Agency, on major project approvals.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called for the government to split its environmental reform package to gain Coalition support. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Flagging an intense period of negotiations during the remaining weeks of the parliamentary year, Environment Minister Murray Watt declared the nations environment laws were broken.

Of course were open to amendments being put forward and I expect that well see some in the coming weeks, but people should be under no illusions that we will be passing these laws through the parliament, Watt told Sky News on Sunday.
Marnus Labuschagne is back in form. Matt Renshaw has been elevated to the ODI team, having regathered his mojo. Sam Konstas isnt making enough (at the moment), and Usman Khawaja has been guaranteed his spot despite a lengthy run of below-average scores. Head, Green and/or Webster are in, then keeper Carey and the bowlers. Perennial tourist Sean Abbott can fulfil 12th man duties.

While the bowlers more or less pick themselves, pundits and punters have been clashing over the make-up of the batting order for months now. Algorithms have been consulted and selectors have prevaricated.

Pat Cumminss return to the top of his mark has been the subject of most conjecture due to the rate at which his back is healing rather than queries around form. The captain is an all-time great and there is little use fretting further over which Test match he will re-emerge in  he will be back when he wants to be back.

Pat Cummins is unlikely to play in the first Test against England because of back troubles. Credit: AP

We should bother ourselves more with the living and available. Fortunately, Scott Bolands record on Australian pitches suggests England cannot take a single relieving breath. But beyond Boland, the staff are less obvious.

Curiously, the England encampment appears to be founding its own self-belief on Australias injury toll and selection debates, rather than the obvious strengths of their own players. Contemporary mental coaching doesnt emphasise the acknowledgement of your own weaknesses. The modern athlete wants to talk a good game before they play it, which surely only increases the pressure when it comes to walking the walk.

The Australians will be fortified rather than diminished by Englands name-calling. Sports psychology 101 dictates keeping your opponent off guard  winning the verbal battle counts for zero if the words arent backed up with deeds.
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InspirationFoodie travel This misnamed sandwich has caused friction between US cities Ben Groundwater October 27, 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 5 View all comments

The dish: Cuban sandwich, US An authentic cuban sandwich. iStock Plate up Theres a funny thing that happens when you go to Cuba and order a Cuban sandwich. No one has any idea what youre talking about. Its a case of, in Cuba its just called a sandwich. Or, more likely, a mixto. But the interesting thing is that this famous snack is not native to the island nation that carries its name: the Cubano is actually American, created less than 200 kilometres from Cuba, and yet born in another world. But well get to that. First, lets eat, and for that you need Cuban bread, which is a long loaf similar to a baguette, though wider and with a softer crust. That loaf is cut into sandwich-sized hunks, which are then sliced in half and filled with yellow mustard, roast pork (sometimes marinated in mojo, a capsicum-based sauce), glazed ham and salami, plus Swiss cheese and thinly sliced dill pickles. The lot is then grilled in a deli press, which compresses the sandwich and its contents, until the cheese melts. Its then sliced diagonally, and eaten.

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First serve Theres an argument over where the Cuban sandwich originated, though its not between the US and Cuba. Its between Tampa and Miami. Back in the 19th and early 20th centuries, there was plenty of movement between Cuba and Florida, thanks in part to the cigar-making industry, which in the US was based in Tampa. The theory goes that there was a popular sandwich known as a mixto that Cuban workers like to eat in their home country; in either Tampa, Miami or Key West, all of which played host to large Cuban migrant communities, that sandwich was then tweaked with local-favourite ingredients, and a staple was born. Order there Tampa boasts no shortage of places to try an excellent Cubano  try La Segunda, a legendary bakery (lasegundabakery.com).

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Order here Related Article Hong Kong The Hong Kong dish the British left behind To sample a Cuban sandwich in Sydney, visit the new A.P Quay (apbakery.com.au). In Melbourne, Bowery to Williamsburg (bowerytowilliamsburg.com.au) does a sandwich thats actually a medianoche, closely related to the Cubano. And in Brisbane, check out Joes Deli (joesdeliofficial.com). One more thing After tiring of their long-running rivalry with Miami, in 2012 local Tampa authorities sought to stake a final claim for the Cubano, voting to name the Historic Tampa Cuban Sandwich as the citys signature sandwich. So there.

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USA Ben Groundwater is a Sydney-based travel writer, columnist, broadcaster, author and occasional tour guide with more than 25 years experience in media, and a lifetime of experience traversing the globe. He specialises in food and wine  writing about it, as well as consuming it  and at any given moment in time Ben is probably thinking about either ramen in Tokyo, pintxos in San Sebastian, or carbonara in Rome. Follow him on Instagram @bengroundwater Connect via email

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Travel newsTripologist Opinion Lie-flat seats in premium economy? One airline is making it a reality Michael Gebicki The Tripologist October 27, 2025  5:00am

October 27, 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 32 View all comments

Thailands flag carrier generated much excitement earlier this month when it announced a lie-flat premium economy seat under the name Premium Economy Plus. The announcement came with little fanfare  initially only via the airlines Facebook page - with the promise of spacious seats, generous legroom, and exclusive services throughout your journey. That sounds like the answer to travellers prayers, but its a promise with strings attached. Launching on October 26, Premium Economy Plus seats will only be available on select flights between Bangkok and Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Jakarta and Kathmandu. Thai Airways new Premium Economy Plus seats are actually an older version of Virgin Atlantics business class. The lowdown on Premium Economy Plus seats These Premium Economy Plus seats are not a new design. Thai Airways has recently acquired three ex-Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330-300s. VA flew these aircraft with lie-flat business class seats and this is what Thai Airways is promoting as its Premium Plus seats.

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These are Zodiac UCS3 recliner seats arranged in a herringbone pattern in a 1-1-1 configuration. Seat width is 20 inches, recline is 42 degrees and it manually converts to a fully flat bed. Theres an 11-inch (28 centimetre) HD touchscreen display, a folding shelf for drinks and a small open compartment for personal items. The Zodiac UCS3 made its debut a decade back and theyre well short of what a business class audience would expect today. Some flyers have labelled these coffin seats, but as lie-flat seats theyre likely to appeal to premium economy flyers, provided the price is right. The seats recline into a lie-flat position. There are still a lot of questions over how the pricing for these seats will work or when theyll become available to book. Early indications are they wont be much less expensive than a proper business class seat with Thai. Will other airlines introduce lie-flat seats in premium economy? It seems highly unlikely. One reason, offering a 1-1-1 configuration in premium economy class on a wide-body jet is going to give airline revenue managers a heart attack. Most airlines operate their premium economy class on wide-body aircraft in a 2-3-2 configuration, and a loss of four seats per row is not a viable option. Another reason, airlines know that the appeal of business class is largely due to the lie-flat seat. Putting that seat into premium economy cabins would undermine the appeal of their highly lucrative business class, and thats not going to happen.

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The flight routes on offer for Thais Premium Plus are fairly short - less than four hours. Thats not the sort of flight time with high demand for a lie-flat seat. So why isnt Thai Airways offering Premium Plus on its long-haul flights to Australia or to Europe, where a lie-flat bed has real appeal? Because that would threaten its lucrative business class offering. Related Article 

Airline reviews Airline review: This cheap (nearly) lie-flat bed is perk-free but worth it Segmentation of cabin classes The appearance of a lie-flat premium economy seat is another example of the segmentation that has crept into air travel since the 1980s. Until the late 1970s airlines typically divided their cabins into first and economy classes. Business class made an appearance in 1979, first in Qantas and British Airways cabins, followed by premium economy in 1992, introduced by Eva Air under the name Economy Deluxe Class. Shortly after, the concept of Economy Plus or extra legroom seating quietly took root in economy class cabins. Over the same period airlines have been shifting gears, introducing greater comfort into their premium classes and moving the lines that once separated them. A business class seat aboard Qatar Airways or Singapore Airlines is better than a first-class seat of two decades ago. A premium economy seat on a leading airline today puts an early model business class seat in the shade. Only the economy seat remains largely unchanged.

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As airline seating has been customised, airfares have splintered. Dynamic pricing, which sets the price according to supply and demand, and seat-map merchandising make micro-segmentation profitable. If youre sitting in the middle seat in a row of three in an economy cabin, or beside another passenger in a business class seat, its likely that no one has paid the same fare as you. Related Article Opinion

Tripologist Beware  not all premium economy seats are equal Michael Gebicki The Tripologist Another example of segmentation, as legacy carriers have tried to shield their market share from predatory low-cost carriers, has been the concept of unbundled fares. Fly on an unbundled business class fare and some of the privileges  the enormous baggage allowance, the generous loyalty points and status credits, the ability to change or cancel a flight with minimum penalty  either disappear or shrink. In economy class, an unbundled fare might come without any baggage allowance, no loyalty points and no seat selection. Where a lie-flat premium economy seat fits into this spectrum is hard to say but its probably an outlier. Neither the concept nor the price make much sense. Much as we might dream of a lie-flat seat in premium economy, its unlikely to happen outside these Thai Airways flights. The Airbus A330-300s the airline has acquired from Virgin Atlantic have an average age of 15 years. When they finally reach the end of their working life, thats the end of the dream. Lie-flat seats in premium economy are a comet flashing across our night sky, desirable but unattainable, and never destined to make an impact.

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Melissa is now a category 3 hurricane and is expected to rapidly intensify over the next 24 hours, threatening catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti, Jamaica and Cuba.

By late afternoon on Sunday AEDT, the hurricane was located about 450 kilometres from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometres per hour.

Melissa is now a category 3 hurricane. Credit: WeatherZone

The US Hurricane Centre said it was category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale and could make category 4. The slow-moving and erratic storm was expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall early this week.

Life-threatening and catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are expected in portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica into early next week, the centre said in a statement.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size At the exact time Anthony Albanese was meeting Donald Trump and other senior officials at the White House, just one mile away another antipodean official was being welcomed to the Pentagon. New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins, a former leader of the conservative National Party, was warmly greeted by undersecretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby, one of the Pentagons most senior figures. The photographs, including a happy snap with War Secretary Pete Hegseth, who rushed back from the White House, told the story of what Collins called an excellent meeting with excellent friends. It stood in stark contrast with the strange reception in August for Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles, who travelled to Washington for a meeting with Hegseth that turned out not to be locked in. When the pair did cross paths it was degradingly described by the Pentagon as a happenstance encounter, before a spokesman backtracked and said the meeting was arranged in advance. New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins with US War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday. Credit: Facebook Why the love-in? Colby, for one, is a big fan of Collins, who is saying all the things he wants to hear. Two weeks before Marles trip to Washington she told the ABC that Australia and New Zealand must increase defence spending. Everyones been pretty slack and the Americans have been carrying us, Collins said. While weve been going ahead and building our welfare states and making sure we have free healthcare and education and everything else, their people have actually had to fund a lot of the defence of the democratic world. Colby seized on that remark, boosting it in a rare post from his X account and adding: Its common sense that all allies, especially in Asia, need to pull their weight  Minister Collins gets it.

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Australia significantly outspends New Zealand on defence but has taken a different approach to US demands, saying the proportion of GDP is not relevant, and it will determine its own level of spending based on needs. US undersecretary of defence Elbridge Colby (centre) is leading a review of the AUKUS submarine deal. Credit: Bloomberg Colby and his team at the Pentagon were the most prominent voices pushing Australia to spend more, as well as the leading sceptics of AUKUS. In various briefings to this masthead and others, US defence officials  who spoke on condition of anonymity  criticised the lack of clarity about how Australia would use the AUKUS submarines in a conflict with China, raised concerns about whether the US could spare the boats, and emphasised the vital importance of Australia lifting defence spending to at least 3.5 per cent of GDP. Last weeks meeting between Trump and Albanese was a repudiation of those concerns. On camera, and with Hegseth in the room, Trump said the US had plenty of submarines, was entirely unfussed about a potential conflict with China, and lauded Australia as great on defence spending. You can only do so much, he said. Loading War versus state Broadly, Trumps emphatic backing of AUKUS represented a triumph for the State Department and Secretary of State Marco Rubio  who have been unequivocal in their support  over sceptics at the Pentagon and elsewhere. While the Pentagon has confirmed its AUKUS review is ongoing, the heat has been taken out of it.

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Probably it has lost some steam, says Lisa Curtis, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS). Curtis was a senior director on the National Security Council in Trumps first term, working on South and Central Asia and Indo-Pacific affairs. The good thing about Trumps strong statement of support for AUKUS is that now all of the supporters in the US system are on strong footing when they implement it  that wasnt the case before, Curtis says. There was some uncertainty. The announcement of the Pentagon review had led officials to publicly hedge their comments on the initiative. I think that will no longer be the case. Curtis added: It demonstrates that [Colbys] views on AUKUS have not carried the day with President Trump. It does show that his views probably represented a minority of viewpoints within the administration. The US is due to sell Australia at least three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement. Credit: Getty Images It is not the first time that Trump and the State Department have shut down opponents in the Pentagon. Around the same time as the AUKUS review was announced, Hegseth, Colby and the Pentagon were also receiving blowback over a decision to halt the shipment of some weapons to Ukraine, reportedly without telling the White House or the State Department. Trump had the decision reversed. It prompted a wave of mostly anonymous trash-talk about Colby from his detractors in Washington. A former Trump administration official told this masthead: [Colby] lost a little bit of his standing after that incident. Some believe it was a pivotal moment for AUKUS, too. The Pentagon was contacted for comment for this story. The US government is currently shut down due to an impasse over funding bills.

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Rubios State Department was blindsided by the AUKUS review and has been antagonistic from the start. When the review became public, the department made it clear it was out of the loop. We are not aware of a review of the AUKUS agreement, its statement said at the time. The Secretary of Defence has not requested a review of the agreement from the Secretary of State. Bryan Clark is a senior fellow and director of the Centre for Defence Concepts and Technology at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank with strong links to the Trump administration. He says it is difficult to tell whether Colby lost the war on AUKUS, or Australia managed to assuage his concerns. Loading He never said to cancel it, so I wouldnt say he lost. But he definitely was sceptical, Clark says. Either his scepticism was satisfied with the review because everybody came to the table  or he did lose out. Clark says Colby and others were mainly concerned the Virginia-class submarines would effectively be lost to any allied mission that did not involve the direct defence of Australia. He believes it is likely Canberra has reassured Washington on this front. It sounds like assurances were provided that these submarines were going to be deployed in support of allied operations, even if they are addressing China, he says. [The] State [Department] probably drove a lot of that because that is fundamentally a foreign affairs discussion. This masthead asked Albaneses office whether Australia had given such assurances to the United States. A government spokesperson replied: It is not appropriate to engage in hypotheticals.

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Credit the Brits

Overlooked in the celebrations following Trumps ringing endorsement of AUKUS was the role played by the British in securing the presidents backing. Some sources believe Australia got lucky from Trumps strong friendship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as counsel from King Charles III. Starmer was able to press Trump about AUKUS in person on multiple occasions; at the G7 in Canada, and on Trumps state visit to the UK in September, where the King also put in a good word. Trump is an Anglophile; Britain was the first country to sign a trade deal with Trump and enjoys the most favourable terms. King Charles and Trump inspect a guard of honour during the US presidents state visit to the UK last month. Credit: Getty Images Sophia Gaston, a foreign policy researcher at Kings College in London with knowledge of AUKUS discussions in all three countries, says those interventions during the state visit were decisive in framing AUKUS as a natural extension of the US-UK alliance. The emotional and symbolic connection between Britain and the United States was effectively harnessed to underpin the case for policy alignment, she says. Once the British bilateral framework was set, it was much easier to create a narrative around the mutual benefit of Australias role in AUKUS and its alignment with US priorities. Australia has worked closely with Britain on trade matters, too. Gaston points to a paragraph in the White Houses summary of the Albanese meeting, which says Australia and the US agreed to develop and launch a bilateral Technology Prosperity Deal. That sounds like it will be similar to the Technology Prosperity Deal signed by Trump and Starmer last month at Chequers.

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Washington: Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of US President Donald Trump, is the anonymous private donor who gave $US130 million ($199.7 million) to the US government to help pay troops during the shutdown, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Trump announced the donation last week, but he declined to identify the person who provided the funds, only calling him a patriot and a friend. But the two people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the donation was private, identified him as Mellon.

Portrait of businessman Timothy Mellon in 1981. He was born in 1942. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Shortly after departing Washington on Friday (Saturday AEDT), Trump again declined to identify Mellon while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He said only that the individual was a great American citizen and a substantial man.

He doesnt want publicity, Trump said as he headed to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit. Hed prefer that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.
~Investigation reveals possible irregularities in the practitioners medical diploma. ~

MARIGOT, Saint Martin:--- Senator Annick Petrus has confirmed the suspension of a surgeon at the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital (LCF) following the discovery of apparent irregularities in the practitioners medical diploma. The announcement comes after months of investigation by French health authorities and the Order of Doctors of Guadeloupe.

In a solemn public address, Senator Petrus described the case as grave and deeply troubling, emphasizing that the protection of patients and the integrity of Saint Martins medical system must remain paramount.

The diploma of this practitioner would present irregularities, Petrus stated. And yet, since all this time, I have not ceased to warn, to call, to alert. Our population has been exposed to unquestionable medical acts. Lives have been marked. Families injured. Members mutilated. For more than ten years. I say thats enough.

According to Senator Petrus, she first presented the case to the Ministry of Health on March 20, 2025, after collecting substantial documentation raising concerns about the surgeons credentials. The file was then referred to the Order of Doctors of Guadeloupe on May 6, and preliminary findings were transmitted to her office on October 23.

No Truth Must Remain in the Shadows

Petrus stressed that her motivation was not political, but a moral and civic duty to safeguard public health.

I am a woman of action, faithful to my convictions, elected by the people and committed to them, she said. Politics is not a show. It is a deep commitment to addressing the human challenges in our territory. I carry that commitment with consistency and loyalty.

She praised the integrity of the medical professionals who assisted in uncovering the alleged irregularities, calling their cooperation an act of courage in defense of truth and ethics.

I salute the courage of the doctors who assisted me and who allowed the light to shine on this case, she said. Their sense of duty and integrity deserve our respect.

Appeal to Victims and Families

Senator Petrus issued a public call for affected patients and families to contact the relevant authorities and share their experiences.

I invite all concerned people to get closer to the competent authorities so that the light is shed and justice is done, she declared. I will personally follow each development of this case with vigilance.

The investigation by the Order of Doctors of Guadeloupe will continue in the coming weeks to determine how the alleged falsified credentials went undetected and whether systemic failures contributed to the issue.

It is now up to the community to decide whether it wishes to support civil parties, Petrus added. For the truth, for our dignity, for our population, I make you the promise: no truth will remain in the shadows.

As of press time, the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital had not issued an official statement regarding the suspension or the ongoing inquiry.
InterExpo Caribbean NV organizes the 36th congress Fifteen years after 10/10/10 on 9, 10 and 11 December 2025 in the press- and debate centre Nieuwspoort in The Hague.

10 October 2010 is a memorable day. On this day, in accordance with the policy of the fourth Balkenende cabinet, the Netherlands Antilles were dissolved and the countries of Curacao and Sint Maarten were established. The islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba became part of the Netherlands as public entities on that day.

The 36th Congress aims to be a retrospective of fifteen years since the constitutional reform of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Political officials, parliamentarians, representatives from the business community, and academia will gather for a wide-ranging debate on the development of the autonomous islands and public bodies in the Caribbean within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A variety of current topics will be addressed during the congress. The key question is: what do the islands expect from the Netherlands, and what does the Netherlands expect from the islands?

The conference will be officially opened by State Secretary Eddie van Marum of Kingdom Relations. Keynote speakers include Minister of State Prof. Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, the National Ombudsman Mr. Reinier van Zutphen, Prof. Dr. Edwin Bleichrodt, Attorney General at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands, Ms. Sarah Wescot-Williams, Speaker of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, Drs. Luc Mercelina, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Mr. Mike G. Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, and many others.

During the conference, a joint presentation will be given by Mr. Geoffrey Wever, Minister of Finance of Aruba, and Ms. Lidewijde Ongering of the Financial Supervision Board (CFT). The core of the presentation will be how the CFT anticipates the current financial situation and what the future holds.

The conference offers space for speakers who are critical of the structure of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the roles played and still played by the Netherlands and its Caribbean constituents. It also features speakers who champion the shared values within the Kingdom and the opportunities it offers.

Over the past year, elections have been held in various countries within the Kingdom, and new parliaments have been installed. It is unique that all the countries within the Kingdom are meeting in The Hague, in the Tweede Kamer building, with new members of parliament so soon after a new parliament was installed in the Netherlands. This provides an opportunity for parliamentarians from the various countries within the Kingdom to get acquainted and exchange ideas.

The conference also provides a platform for scholars to reflect on relevant aspects of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom from their own perspectives.

Several panel discussions will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Ernst Hirsch Ballin, former Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands, and Ms. Suzy Camelia Romer, former Prime Minister of Curacao, politician, and currently a research associate at the University of Curacao. The conference chair will be Prof. Dr. Peter Diekman RA.

Curacao, 26 October 2025
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The recent confirmation of new measles cases unconnected to international travel suggests the highly contagious disease has likely started spreading through communities, according to Health New Zealand.

This is a stark reminder of the pending danger of a larger measles outbreak. To prevent transmission once the measles virus has been introduced, a population immunity of around 95%, evenly distributed throughout communities, is necessary.

New Zealand does not have this level of vaccination coverage and the main way to prevent an outbreak now is to focus on increasing the immunity of children and on closing the "immunity gap" in the population.

While New Zealand has used the measles vaccine since 1969, a national immunization register was only introduced in 2005. Without a national register to provide the historical immunization record, estimates are that only around 80% of people born in the 1980s and 1990s are protected against measles.

Although vaccination rates of children have at times reached more than 90% since the introduction of the register, the total has never reached the required 95%. Immunization coverage has consistently remained lower among Maori children and more recently also Pacific children.

To stem further spread, we must build on the lessons from New Zealand's last major measles outbreak in 2019.

That year, Auckland experienced a large and serious measles outbreakthe largest since 1997affecting babies, young children and adults. There were more than 2,000 cases and about 35% required hospital care, despite the fact most people who contracted measles were previously fit and healthy.

Some of the serious and lasting complications included encephalitis (brain inflammation), pregnant women losing babies, and children needing lengthy life-saving intensive care.

While acute measles can be severe, our subsequent research shows that measles infection is associated with a long-term increased risk of other infections.

We found that people who had measles in the 2019 outbreak had more hospital admissions not related to measles and more antibiotic prescriptions in the four years following the outbreak, compared to healthy controls.

While the effect was more pronounced for people whose measles infection was severe and needed hospital care, we also saw a lasting effect for those with milder infections.

The severity of this outbreak could have been prevented if more people had been protected with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Immunization coverage is lacking

Immunization coverage for the MMR vaccine (given at 12 and 15 months of age) shows New Zealand's vaccination rates are not enough to prevent an outbreak in children under five.

Data from June 2025 shows only 82% of two-year-olds are fully immunized with two doses of the vaccine. This leaves at least one in five unprotected.

Babies under one year of age are not protected because the first MMR dose is only given at 12 months. This is particularly worrying as young babies have very high rates of hospitalization and complications from measles. In the 2019 outbreak, there were more than 250 cases in babies and more than half of them were hospitalized.

Data also show the burden of the 2019 outbreak was not equitable and these inequities persist in immunization coverage today. Gaps in coverage create pools of susceptible individuals, rife for measles to take hold and spread.

What is also clear from the recent measles cases is that our history of inadequate measles vaccination has left young adults vulnerable to infection.

This happens at an age when they are able to travel overseas, with the unintentional consequences of bringing measles home to their whanau (family), including unimmunized pepi (babies).

This would be particularly concerning if a measles outbreak were to take hold before the summer holidays. Even a few cases in New Zealand could make us the source of outbreaks for other Pacific nations.

In late 2019, measles imported from New Zealand resulted in 5,700 cases in Samoa, including 1,800 hospitalizations and 83 deaths from measles (87% of these deaths were children under five).

Awareness and prevention

Anyone under 50 years of age who is experiencing a fever, rash, cough and runny nose should think measles, particularly if they returned from travel in the past three weeks, are unimmunized or a contact of a recent case. They should call HealthLine (0800 611 116) for advice before visiting a GP or hospital, unless severely unwell.

If in doubt, vaccinate. The health-sector response to the 2019 outbreak recommended GPs continue to actively recall unvaccinated children after checking the national immunization register.

For anyone unsure if they have had two doses of the measles vaccine, it is safe to get a dose according to the Immunization Advisory Center if they are not immune-compromised or pregnant. MMR vaccines are free and available from GPs, pharmacies and community health providers. Vaccinators are listed on Book My Vaccine.

Measles infection is scary, but vaccination can be scary for people, too. The World Health Organization recommends listening with empathy and acknowledging how people who are hesitant are feeling.

It also suggests asking open-ended questions to help understand concerns and sharing evidence-based information from trusted sources, including Health New Zealand or the Immunization Advisory Center. It can help to share your own motivations for getting vaccinated and what helped you to overcome concerns.

With a stretched health system and long-term consequences for individuals following measles infection, prevention is essential.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
KINGSTON, JAMAICA:--- Hurricane Melissa continued to strengthen on Sunday evening as it churned slowly toward Jamaica, threatening to unleash catastrophic flooding, violent winds, and dangerous storm surge within the next 24 hours.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph (230 km/h). As of Sunday afternoon, the storms center was located about 120 miles (190 km) south-southeast of Kingston, moving west-northwest at a sluggish 3 to 5 mph (68 km/h).

Forecasters expect the hurricane to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, likely along Jamaicas southern coastline, bringing the potential for the most destructive impact on the island in decades.

Melissa has the potential to be the strongest storm ever to make landfall in Jamaica, warned NHC Director Michael Brennan. Residents should prepare for catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and life-threatening storm surge.

Jamaica Under Hurricane Warning  Residents Urged to Take Shelter

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica and the NHC have issued a Hurricane Warning for the entire island. Authorities are urging residents in flood-prone and coastal communities to evacuate or seek safe shelter before conditions deteriorate on Monday morning.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation Sunday evening, announcing that emergency shelters are open and government agencies are fully activated.

We must treat this storm with the utmost seriousness, Holness said. Do not wait until tomorrow to act. Secure your homes, safeguard your families, and move to safety tonight.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) confirmed that over 900 shelters are ready and supplies are being distributed across all parishes. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is on standby for rescue operations once conditions allow.

Forecast Impacts: Wind, Rain, and Surge

Meteorologists predict that hurricane-force winds  exceeding 130 mph in some areas  will begin lashing Jamaica by Monday afternoon.

Rainfall: 15 to 30 inches (380760 mm) expected island-wide, with isolated totals up to 40 inches (1,000 mm) possible in the Blue Mountains and interior parishes, posing extreme flood and landslide risk.

15 to 30 inches (380760 mm) expected island-wide, with isolated totals up to possible in the Blue Mountains and interior parishes, posing extreme flood and landslide risk. Storm Surge: Up to 13 feet (4 m) of surge along Jamaicas south coast, especially near Old Harbour Bay, Clarendon, and Westmoreland .

Up to of surge along Jamaicas south coast, especially near . Winds: Sustained hurricane-force winds over central and southern parishes by Monday night.

This is shaping up to be a prolonged, dangerous event, said Evan Thompson, Director of the Meteorological Service. Melissa is moving slowly, which means more rainfall and flooding over time.

Preparations Underway Nationwide

Airports, ports, and schools have been closed across Jamaica as residents rush to complete last-minute preparations. Gas stations saw long lines Sunday, and hardware stores quickly sold out of generators, batteries, and plywood.

Local authorities have urged motorists to remain off the roads starting Sunday night, as outer rainbands and squalls are already being reported along the south and east coasts.

In Kingston, businesses have boarded up storefronts while emergency crews began clearing drains and reinforcing flood defenses.

A Historic and Dangerous Storm

Hurricane Melissas rapid intensification over the Caribbean Sea has alarmed forecasters. Warm waters, low wind shear, and slow movement have allowed the system to strengthen steadily since Friday.

If Melissa maintains its strength at landfall, it would likely surpass Hurricane Gilbert (1988) and Hurricane Dean (2007) as the strongest storms to directly hit Jamaica in modern history.

After Jamaica, Melissa is projected to move toward southeastern Cuba and possibly the Bahamas by midweek, still at major-hurricane strength.
Israel army says targeted Islamic Jihad militant in Gaza strike



Jerusalem, Oct 25 (AFP) Oct 25, 2025



The Israeli military said Saturday it had conducted an air strike targeting an alleged Islamic Jihad militant in central Gaza, despite a ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.

For the past two weeks there has been a fragile truce between Hamas, an ally of Islamic Jihad, and Israel -- although the latter reserves the right to defend itself and its forces from militant attacks.

"A short while ago, the IDF (army) conducted a precise strike in the Nuseirat area in the central Gaza Strip targeting a terrorist from the Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation who planned to carry out an imminent terrorist attack against IDF troops," the military said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to journalists as he left Israel, did not address the strike directly, but he noted that incidents are common in the immediate aftermath of ceasefires.

"Every night will bring new challenges on how to keep it together," he said. "So we recognise that, but we also feel like we've made tremendous progress in the last 12 or 13 days."

Inside the Hamas-run territory, the Al-Awda hospital confirmed it had received wounded for treatment after a strike in Nuseirat.

"The hospital has received four injured people following the Israeli occupation's targeting of a civilian car in the Al-Ahli Club area in Nuseirat Camp in central Gaza," the hospital said.

The military said it would continue operations in Gaza "to remove any immediate threat" to its troops.
Kurdish PKK says withdrawing all forces from Turkey to north Iraq



Qandil Moutains, Iraq, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



The Kurdish militant PKK said Sunday it was withdrawing all its forces from Turkey to northern Iraq, urging Ankara to take legal steps to protect the peace process.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey in May, drawing a line under four decades of violence that has claimed some 50,000 lives.

"We are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces within Turkey," the PKK said in a statement read out at a ceremony in the Qandil area of northern Iraq, according to an AFP journalist present.

At the ceremony were 25 fighters -- eight of them women -- whom the PKK said had just left Turkey. You

Turkey hailed the move as "concrete results of progress" in efforts to end one of the region's longest-running conflicts.

But the PKK urged the Turkish government to waste no time in taking the necessary legal steps to advance the process, which began a year ago when Ankara offered an unexpected olive branch to its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.

"The legal and political steps required by the process ... and the laws of freedom and democratic integration necessary to participate in democratic politics must be put in place without delay," it said.

"Significant steps need to be taken, legal arrangements for a process compatible with freedom," senior PKK militant Sabri Ok told journalists at the ceremony, referring to laws governing the fate of those who renounce the armed struggle.

"We want laws that are specific to the process, not just an amnesty."

The group has said it wants to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in line with a historic call by Ocalan.



- 'Specific to the PKK' -



Turkey began indirect talks with the PKK late last year in a move backed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hailed a PKK move to start destroying weapons in July as a victory for Turkey.

Turkey has also set up a cross-party parliamentary commission which is working to lay the groundwork for the peace process, which involves preparing the legal framework for the political integration of the PKK and its fighters.

"Special laws and amendments must be made... this is a situation specific to the PKK," Ok said.

"We hope the authorities will fulfill their responsibilities in this process."

The parliamentary commission is due to complete its work by the end of the year, but that deadline could be extended if needed by two-month periods, its chairman said in August.

The 48-member parliamentary commission is also tasked with deciding the fate of Ocalan, the group's 76-year-old leader, who has been held in solitary confinement on Imrali prison island near Istanbul since 1999.

His release has been central to the PKK's demands, who want him released to coordinate and manage the transition to democratic politics.

But so far there has been little change in his conditions, although last month he was allowed to meet his lawyers for the first time since 2019.

Analysts say with the PKK weakened and the Kurdish public exhausted by decades of violence, Turkey's peace offer handed Ocalan a chance to make the long-desired switch away from armed struggle.

In July the PKK held a symbolic ceremony in the mountains of northern Iraq at which they destroyed a first batch of weapons, which was hailed by Turkey as "an irreversible turning point".

DEM, Turkey's third-biggest party, has played a key role in facilitating an emerging peace deal, with Turkish media saying a party delegation would meet with Erdogan in the coming days before travelling to see Ocalan on Imrali island.
US warship arrives in Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela



Port of Spain, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



A US warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, AFP reporters witnessed, as Washington escalates pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's administration.

The USS Gravely, whose upcoming arrival was announced Thursday by the Trinidadian government, was visible off the coast of the capital Port of Spain.

It is set to remain docked in Port of Spain until Thursday, during which time a contingent of US Marines will conduct joint training with the Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force, according to the local government.

The exercises are part of a mounting military campaign by US President Donald Trump against drug-trafficking organizations in Latin America, which has targeted Venezuela in particular.

US forces have blown up at least 10 boats they claimed were smuggling narcotics, killing at least 43 people, and Trump has also threatened strikes on land targets in Venezuela.

Maduro, a longtime Trump foe whose reelection last year was widely rejected as fraudulent, has accused the United States of attempting to topple him.

The standoff escalated sharply on Friday, when the Pentagon ordered the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.
Kurdish PKK says withdrawing all forces from Turkey to north Iraq



Qandil Mountains, Iraq, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



The Kurdish militant PKK began withdrawing all of its forces from Turkish soil to northern Iraq on Sunday, while urging Ankara to release its jailed leader to ensure the success of the peace process.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) formally renounced its armed struggle against Turkey in May, drawing a line under four decades of violence that had claimed some 50,000 lives.

"We are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces within Turkey," the PKK said in a statement read out in Kurdish and Turkish in a remote village in the Qandil Mountains of northern Iraq, according to an AFP journalist present.

Standing in front of large banners of jailed PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan were 25 fighters carrying assault rifles -- among them three commanders -- whom the PKK said had just left Turkey. Eight were women.

It was not immediately clear how many fighters would be involved in the withdrawal but observers estimated it would likely be between 200 to 300.

Turkey hailed the move as "concrete results of progress" in efforts to end one of the region's longest-running conflicts.

But the PKK urged the Turkish government to waste no time in taking the necessary legal steps to advance the process, which began a year ago when Ankara offered an unexpected olive branch to its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The PKK said Ocalan's release was "crucial" and called for members of a parliamentary commission managing the peace process to meet with him as soon as possible.

"Significant steps need to be taken, legal arrangements for a process compatible with freedom," senior PKK militant Sabri Ok told journalists at the ceremony, referring to laws governing the fate of those who renounce the armed struggle.

"We want laws that are specific to the process, not just an amnesty."

The PKK wants to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in line with a historic call in February by Ocalan.

Now 76, Ocalan has led the process from his prison cell on Imrali island near Istanbul where he has been held in solitary since 1999.

"It's very difficult to carry out such an important process in isolation or in prison conditions. His freedom is crucial for this process to advance with greater effectiveness," senior PKK leader Devrim Palu told AFP in an interview after the ceremony.



- Prison visits -



Indirect talks with the PKK began late last year with the backing of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hailed the group's move to start destroying weapons in July as a victory for the nation.

Turkey has also set up a cross-party parliamentary commission to lay the groundwork for the peace process and prepare a legal framework for the political integration of the PKK and its fighters.

But it was essential that the commission meet Ocalan, Ok said.

"The parliamentary commission must immediately go to Leader Apo and listen, that's the key. He's the one who initiated and pushed through the process, so he must be listened to as soon as possible," he said, using a nickname for Ocalan.

The 48-member parliamentary commission is also tasked with deciding Ocalan's fate.

Over the past year, Ocalan has been visited several times by family members and negotiators from the pro-Kurdish DEM party, and last month he got access to his lawyers for the first time since 2019.

DEM, Turkey's third-biggest party which has played a key role in facilitating the emerging peace deal, said it would send a delegation to meet with Erdogan on Thursday.

Analysts say with the PKK weakened and the Kurdish public exhausted by decades of violence, Turkey's peace offer handed Ocalan a chance to make the long-desired switch away from armed struggle.

In July the PKK held a symbolic ceremony in northern Iraq at which they destroyed a first batch of weapons, which was hailed by Turkey as "an irreversible turning point".
US warship arrives in Trinidad and Tobago, near Venezuela



Port of Spain, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



A US warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela, as Washington ratcheted up pressure on drug traffickers and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

The USS Gravely, whose upcoming arrival was announced Thursday by the Trinidadian government, docked in the capital, Port of Spain.

It is set to remain in the small Caribbean nation until Thursday, during which time a contingent of US Marines will conduct joint training with local defense forces.

The exercises are part of a mounting military campaign by US President Donald Trump against drug-trafficking organizations in Latin America, which has targeted Trump's arch-foe Maduro in particular.

US forces have blown up at least 10 boats they claimed were smuggling narcotics, killing at least 43 people, and Trump has also threatened ground attacks on suspected cartels in Venezuela.

Maduro, a longtime Trump foe whose reelection last year was widely rejected as fraudulent, has accused the United States of "fabricating a war" aimed at toppling him.

The standoff escalated sharply on Friday, when the Pentagon ordered the deployment of the world's biggest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, to the region.

Trump has also authorized CIA operations against Venezuela.

The standoff has pulled in Colombia's Gustavo Petro, a sharp critic of the American strikes who was sanctioned by Washington on Friday for allegedly allowing drug trafficking to flourish.

Washington has accused both Maduro and Petro of being "narcoterrorists," without providing any proof of the allegations.

In August, Washington deployed a fleet of eight US Navy ships, 10 F-35 warplanes and a nuclear-powered submarine to the region for anti-drug operations -- the biggest military build-up in the area since the 1989 US invasion of Panama.

- 'Getting a lash' -



In Trinidad and Tobago, a laidback twin-island nation of 1.4 million people, some welcomed their government's show of support for the US campaign but others worried about getting caught up in a conflict between Washington and Caracas.

"If anything should happen with Venezuela and America, we as people who live on the outskirts of it ... could end up getting a lash any time," 64-year-old Daniel Holder, a Rastafarian who wore a white turban, told AFP,

"I am against my country being part of this," he added.

Victor Rojas, a 38-year-old carpenter who has been living in Trinidad and Tobago for the past eight years, said he was worried for his family back home.

"Venezuela is not in a position to weather an attack right now," he said, referring to the country's economic collapse under Maduro.

Trinidad and Tobago, which acts as a hub in the Caribbean drug trade, has itself been caught up in the US campaign of strikes on suspected drug boats.

Two Trinidadian men were killed in a strike on a vessel that set out from Venezuela in mid-October, according to their families.

The mother of one of the victims insisted he was a fisherman, not a drug trafficker.

Local authorities have not yet confirmed their deaths.
Jailed PKK chief's freedom 'crucial' for peace to work: senior militant to AFP



Qandil Mountains, Iraq, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



Securing the release of the jailed founder of the Kurdish militant group PKK is needed for the success of the emerging peace process with Turkey, one of the group's senior leaders told AFP.

Abdullah Ocalan's "freedom is crucial for this process to advance with greater effectiveness," Devrim Palu told AFP in an interview in northern Iraq on Sunday as the PKK began withdrawing all of its fighters from Turkey.

Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1978, is the embodiment of the Kurdish rebellion against Turkey which lasted more four decades and cost some 50,000 lives.

Now 76, he has spearheaded efforts to switch from armed conflict to a democratic political struggle for the rights of Turkey's Kurdish minority, leading the process from his prison cell on Imrali island near Istanbul where he has been held in solitary since 1999.

The PKK has repeatedly demanded his release.

"He is the person who initiated this process. He should be able to meet people easily and engage in dialogue," Palu told AFP, saying his conditions should be "urgently" improved.

"It's very difficult to carry out such an important process in isolation or in prison conditions. His freedom is crucial for this process to advance with greater effectiveness."

Sunday's withdrawal was a move to protect the peace process from "provocations", Palu said, also warning against the use of "polarising language".

"Within the political environment there are those who are against this process and those who support it. We're not saying everyone should have the same approach, we just need to pay attention to the language that is used."



- Won't 'happen overnight' -



The PKK understood the peace process would take time, he said.

"We are not approaching this matter as hopeless, saying 'Turkey hasn't taken any action'.. Such processes don't happen overnight or in the space of a few months," he said.

"Undoubtedly, there will be phases where they drag on or sometimes stall, then the path opens again. But for them to be more on track.. certain steps need to be taken," he said.

Earlier, the PKK urged Ankara to expedite legal measures to regulate the status of militants who have given up the armed struggle and want to return to Turkey to engage in the democratic process, saying "significant steps" needed to be taken.

But the PKK had acted in good faith with its move to destroy a first batch of weapons in July, and now withdraw all of its militants from Turkey, he said.

"With these steps, we have demonstrated not only to the Turkish public but also to the world how sincere and serious we are about resolving this issue," he said.
At Filmalaya Studio in Andheri West, Octobers heat hangs heavy in the air, bringing with it a languid stillness. The Diwali holidays, spilling into the week, have also tempered the usual bustle of shoot days. Its the lull before production houses resume business early next week. A staff member guides us through the premises. One floor, he informs, is out of bounds as a set is being built there. The other, on the ground level, resembles a warehouse. This is where Bollywoods biggest fantasies have played out, and where actors have scripted success stories. Stars were born here, says Samrat Mukerji, managing director of the studio, as he drops the names of Sanjeev Kumar, Asha Parekh, Saira Banu, among others. Grandson of the late pioneering filmmaker-producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who established the studio in 1958, and cousin to Kajol and Ayan Mukerji, he is the third-generation torchbearer of the family enterprise. Mukerji is also among the few remaining custodians of legacy studios that once defined the citys golden film era.

Over the last few years, Mumbai has lost some of its iconic studiosFilmistan in Goregaon West (also founded by Sashadhar Mukherjee) and Famous in Mahalaxmi have officially shut business. They await a fate similar to that of the iconic RK Studios in Chembur, which in 2019 made way for plush residential towers. Soaring real estate prices have made these coveted plots of land highly lucrative, and the unpredictable film business, constantly swinging between heavy losses and mild gains, has hardly been able to keep up, admits Mukerji.

One challenge, he says, is to not give in to the pressure. But the other is to constantly reinvent to keep up with the fast evolving demands of the film industry in order to stay relevant. Filmalaya has fought the tide bravely, he says with a half-smile, acknowledging the studios arduous journey. It has not been easy, and has taken a lot of hard work. But my cousins, Monjoy, Sujoy and Ayan, and I are determined to keep the studio going. Its what our grandfather would have wanted us to do.

The boom and bust of studios

Bombays studio era, says Dr Debashree Mukherjee, film scholar and author of Bombay Hustle: Making Movies in a Colonial City, took off in the early 1930s, when the city first saw film companies grow into larger institutions with their own sound stages, equipment, and salaried staff. Studios that jumped to capitalise on the talkie transition made their mark quickly, and Id consider Ranjit Movitone, Sagar Movietone, Wadia Movietone, and Bombay Talkies as the most emblematic and most successful studios of that decade. Their stars and their songs were the talk of every town [Gohar for Ranjit, Sabita Devi and Sulochana for Sagar, Fearless Nadia for Wadia, and Devika Rani for BT], adds Mukherjee, who is associate professor and director of undergraduate studies, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS) at Columbia University, New York.

Each studio, she explains, also had a set of unique advantages that made them thrive: Ranjit had a network of Gujarati credit and finance, BT had corporate and colonial elite networks of modern business, while Sagar relied on a bank of solid stars. Wadia, on the other hand, was incomparable in the genre of the stunt film.

According to Mukherjee, there was no single moment marking the downfall of these studiosthere were, in fact, many moments of boom and bust. World War II was a big game-changer. Not only did a handful of studios manage to leverage their influence to get government-rationed film stock and keep the cameras running, many small companies mushroomed overnight, thanks to the huge influx of cash and black money from wartime profiteering. Never had the city seen so many people thronging the theatres, she says. But the increase in film competition also led to an increased fight to hire the most profitable stars. And thats partly how the studio model started to crumble, she says.

Cinematographer-turned-photographer Hemant Chaturvedi notes that most salaried staff gradually left studios to go independent and work as freelancers. Actors could now sign on for multiple films across different production companies simultaneously, he says.

Interestingly, the 1950s also saw other models of studio success such as Mehboob, Filmistan, and Kamalistan. The rupture between the studio era and independent or runaway production was hence, not clear-cut, says Mukherjee. They have always co-existed.

Today, other concerns have caused the studios to take a hit. With budgets having tightened drastically after Covid-19, many production houses now prefer shooting on location or farther out on the outskirts of Mumbai. Bungalows at Madh Island have also become more affordable, especially for smaller productions like ads and web series. Bigger studiosYash Raj in Andheri West, Mehboob in Bandra, and Film City in Goregaonhave managed to hold fort, but for a city that has been the mecca of Bollywood, having just a handful of studios does a disservice to the industry, say insiders.

Kunal Kapoor, founder of the production company Adfilm-Valas, whose uncle, the legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor, founded RK Studios in 1948, says that most of the earlier studios were built by people who actually made films. They were passionate, and knew what was expected [from a studio]; they built and modified the spaces as they went all along.

RK had storage for lights, camera equipment, along with a dedicated section for their costumes, says Kapoor. Filmalaya, Mukerji tells us, had its own acting school, which ran for decades and shaped future A-listers. That breed has gone, feels Kapoor. Studios that survived struggled with subpar facilities, including non-functional toilets, non-air conditioned sets, and poorly lit makeup rooms, all of which made them less appealing, he adds.

Keeping up with the times

GM Studios in Saki Naka, Andheri East, has been trying to change the narrative. Established in 2009 by Brijesh Maurya, whose family has been in the textile business, the space, spread across two parcels of land and spanning 35,000 sq ft, is one of the few premium studios that offer ready sets for shoots. In its early years, GM rented out its spaces to television channels and production units. At the time, we gave out empty sheds, recalls Maurya. By 2017, he started opening it out for filmsits location made it convenient for everyone. But during the pandemic, when the movie business took a big hit, Maurya, having interacted with many filmmakers and understood that there was a major requirement gap, decided to modify the studio to create eight new ready-to-use air-conditioned sets.

When Mirror visited on Friday, Maurya walked us through the sets created across two floors and where a recce for a film shoot was underway. The spacious Parsi traditional home, which has a vintage early 20th-century vibe with old wooden furniture, large wood-framed French windows, walls decorated with old paintings and black-and-white photographs, and antique glass chandeliers lighting up the space, is the most popular, he tells us. Maurya has similarly built a New York-style apartment, bachelor pad, a cafe cum bar, a grand European style duplex, and an office at GM. The latter was where Aryan Khan shot some scenes for the recently released Netflix series, The Ba***ds of Bollywood. Maurya got a professional film set designer to recreate these spaces, ensuring that the technical aspects of camera and lighting arrangements were properly met. Depending on the requirements of script, the designers can also change the decor of these spaces, replacing with their own furniture and giving another coat of paint to the walls, he says. These sets are more lucrative. The turnaround is faster, as the production design team doesnt have to create a set from the ground up, and we can book more shoots per month. As a business model, this is most viable, he says. Everyone from Mani Ratnam to Rohit Shetty, who has shot here, has appreciated the attempt to revitalise the studio. The investment has been high, but if we dont meet the needs of the industry, he says, we risk the fate of other studios. Builders are constantly reaching out, but Im too passionate about films to cave in, he confesses.

Further north, in Mira Road, K Sera Sera set up a tech-forward facility, Virtual Productions, a few years ago. The space has two large studios, one of which features a state-of-the-art LED VR studio with a green screen. The studio is used for everything from full-length feature films to advertisements.

We can recreate the Himalayas, Greece, and Dubaiall within the same spaceusing a software called Unreal Engine, says Prakash Kutty, cinematographer and head of Virtual Productions. This, he explains, helps save on production costs, because you can access different locations across the globe, without having to physically travel or worry about securing permissions for the shoot. This is also the best option, when the script demands harsh outdoor conditions. For example, if you want to shoot in snow, there are many challenges. You have to work within a short window of time because the light fades quickly, and of course, youre exposed to the elements, says Kutty, adding that a studio setup like theirs allows filmmakers to replicate the same atmosphere and shoot at ones own convenience.

Need to start afresh

For Samrat Mukerji of Filmalaya, opportunity can come from the most unexpected places. He says the advent of OTT, microfilms on YouTube and other streaming platforms, and the podcast boom have really opened up newer possibilities for studios. And we need to tap into it, says Mukerji, who is also a wildlife photographer and conservationist. Filmalaya is slowly expanding. We are going to get back into production starting next year, he says, adding, I am already working on two scripts.

Theres also the question of technology and how rapidly it is developing. Right now, its hard to predict the future because of AI, says Maurya. A lot will depend on whether people embrace AI-generated movies or still prefer traditional filmmaking, he says. He feels that government regulation could help reassure studio owners.

Mukerji agrees. I feel that subsidies and support from the government will also go a long way in protecting this cultural and economic ecosystem. It needs to thrive, he says, adding that moving the studios out of Mumbai is akin to erasing Bollywood from the city.

Chaturvedi, who was the cinematographer for many large-scale projects, including the Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kurbaan and Vishal Bhardwajs Maqbool, says that from a technical point of view, the scale and height offered by a set is nonpareil. The interesting thing about studio shoots is that the real talent of the cinematographer comes out in recreating natural-looking light artificially. Production designer Anindya Choudhury aka Bodo shares the sentiment: I love creating spaces from the ground up, and giving it a certain kind of personalitythats always been the endeavour. Lately, however, due to dearth of studio spaces, this has become challenging. We often find ourselves adapting existing spaces which sometimes are not shoot-friendly and dont offer the same creative freedom.

As our tour of GM Studios concludes, Maurya leads us through a duplexone floor a vintage European home, the other a sleek modern apartment. Just a flight of stairs, and the whole vibe changes, he says. Thats the magic of sets: they bring us as close to realityjust like the movies.


Then their daughter, now seven, came along and their priorities started to change. They were unimpressed by the local school, and Yuzak was particularly worried about how central Londons polluted air might affect her childs health. They were also too busy and tired to take advantage of what London has to offer.
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He stressed: The only way we are going to defeat this racism is to call it out and confront it for what it is and for the decent majority of this country to stand against it, as we have always done.
What were finding very often is fairly inexperienced staff are doing what is a fairly complex task often under huge pressure of time because the churn in these prisons is so high, and therefore were seeing far more mistakes being made, he told Times Radios Sunday Morning with Adam Boulton.
The force, which is leading the search for the migrant who had been living at the Bell Hotel in the Essex town, issued CCTV images of him carrying his belongings in a distinctive white bag with pictures of avocados on it and still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit top and bottoms.
The migrant, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, when he assaulted the girl, took a train from Chelmsford to Stratford, east London, arriving at 1.12pm on Friday and then had taken a number of journeys across London and had access to funds.
Its been four months since a delegation from Italian luxury fashion house Prada SpA quietly walked through the narrow by-lanes of Kolhapur  the centuries-old hub of handcrafted leather sandals known across the world as Kolhapuris.

Cameras clicked, chai was shared, and hopes ran high.

The visitors had come to study the local craft just a month after Pradas Milan showcase, where a design strikingly similar to the iconic Kolhapuri chappal strutted down the runway.

But since that glittering June show and the teams visit a month later, there has been only silence, although Kolhapuri chappals have seen a spike in sales in the aftermath of the controversy.

TRIGGERING DEBATE

When Prada unveiled its Spring- Summer 2026 mens collection in Milan, the sandals triggered a debate.

At first glance, they were just open-toed leather sandals, worn by models in monochrome suits. But to anyone familiar with Indias traditional crafts, the resemblance was unmistakable. These werent just sandals, they looked almost exactly like the Kolhapuri chappal, the handcrafted leather footwear that has been part of Maharashtras cultural identity since the 12th century.

Pradas show notes described them simply as leather sandals.

No mention of Kolhapur. No reference to India. Not even a nod to the craft that inspired them.

Within hours, photos from the Milan show flooded social media. Artisans, trade bodies, and commentators accused the luxury label of cultural appropriation, borrowing a design deeply rooted in Indian heritage without acknowledgment or credit.

Kolhapur Responds

Back home, the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (MACCIA), representing nearly 3,000 Kolhapuri artisans, began discussing whether the controversy could become an opportunity.

Karunkar Shetty, vice-president of MACCIA, said: Their team had visited Kolhapur in July, inspected several workshops, and interacted with local artisans. They observed the entire process closely, from leather curing to final stitching and even pointed out issues such as poor manufacturing conditions in some units. However, since that visit, we havent heard back from them. We remain in touch with artisans and our Kolhapur counterpart to ensure their concerns are represented and that the craft gets the recognition it deserves.

The Kolhapur Chamber of Commerce & Industries (KCCI) formally wrote to Prada SpA on June 26, demanding acknowledgment and appropriate naming of the design.

In the letter, KCCI president Sanjay D. Shete emphasised that the Kolhapuri chappal, a Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged product, symbolised a centuries-old artisanal legacy. The chamber urged Prada to credit the design as Kolhapuri Chappal or Kolhapur Leather Sandal, arguing that such recognition would uphold ethical fashion standards and cultural sensitivity.

Prada responded through Lorenzo Bertelli, its Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, on June 30 2025, acknowledging the Indian inspiration and cultural significance of such craftsmanship. The brand clarified that the collection was still in design development and not yet finalised for production or sale, while expressing willingness to maintain dialogue and potential collaboration with Indian artisan bodies such as MACCIA and KCCI.

A month later, the Prada delegation visited Kolhapur for two days.

Sales surge

Ironically, the controversy brought Kolhapuris a kind of global visibility  and improved sales.

Ever since June, our orders have gone up by 510 per cent, both online and from walk-in customers. People are curious; they want to know what makes our chappals special, said one workshop owner near Mahalaxmi Temple.

Traders report spikes in demand from Mumbai, Pune and Delhi, as well as new export inquiries from Europe and the Gulf.

Rajan Satpute of Rashtriya Leather Works added: We have been getting a lot more inquiries in the past few months. Orders are definitely going up. Compared to last year, our sales have increased by nearly 5 to 10 per cent. What we now hope for is that Prada acknowledges the designs true identity by giving it a name that reflects its origin and heritage in the global market.

Suryakant Hankare, a fifth-generation Kolhapuri sandal artisan from Gaganbawda in Kolhapur, who runs a village shop called Sant Rohidas Charmakar, said, In the past few months, several traders have approached me, inquiring if we can supply a fixed number of chappals for export. My profits have gone up by nearly 1012 per cent compared to last year. After the Prada controversy, Kolhapuri chappals have gained unprecedented publicity on the global stage. However, it still hurts that such a big brand would draw inspiration from our traditional art yet fail to give us the credit we rightfully deserve.

Pride and frustration

For artisans, the Prada episode carries both pride and pain.

Sachin Satpute, owner of Kolhapuri Chappal House in Bahireshwar village, said: In our meetings with the Prada team in July, authorities from MACCIA, KCCI, several business owners and artisans participated. They visited workshops, observed how Kolhapuri chappals are made, and genuinely appreciated the craftsmanship. They did, however, point out that the manufacturing units need better facilities. They verbally mentioned they might share some new designs for us to craft, but so far, theres been no official follow-up.

He added: People who truly love Kolhapuri chappals will always come back to buy them. I wouldnt attribute the recent rise in inquiries entirely to Prada, but its undeniable that the controversy gave Kolhapuris global publicity.

Ravindra Mangave, MACCIA president, said: All we ask is acknowledgement. If they had simply written Inspired by Kolhapuri artisans of Maharashtra, it would mean the world to these artisans. Its been four months and we are awaiting their response.

The question of credit

Cultural and fashion experts say the episode highlights a recurring problem in global fashion: Traditional crafts becoming design muses for Western houses without due credit.

Chondamma Cariappa, founder of Mumbai-based footwear label The Sole Sisters, synonymous with two-tone Kolhapuri chappals, said its telling that Indians often need outsiders to make us appreciate our heritage. Recognition brings a sense of ownership and nationalist pride. Local artisans are valuing their work more and raising prices, which is positive. As customers, we should also respect their craft.

Talking about instances where international attention on a traditional craft led to renewed interest or pride among artisans, Juhi Pandey, former director of Khamir  Craft Resource Centre in Kachchh and now a craft and social design professional, said: One recent example is Brad Pitt wearing an indigo-dyed Tangaliya weave shirt in his film Formula 1. The craft circles and some of the weavers were abuzz, sharing photos and talking about an international star wearing a Tangaliya shirt.

Pandey said that proper international credit to traditional artisans helps them feel valued and reinforces pride in their craft. She said: From an artisan or traditional community perspective, any form of international recognition reinforces their craft and instils a sense of pride. However, it is sad that reliance on external validation exists.

From Kolhapur to Milan, and Back

Today, the narrow lanes of Kolhapur still echo with the rhythmic tap of hammer and thread. Orders are rising, curiosity is high, and artisans hold on to cautious optimism that the world might finally recognise their heritage craft.

"Pradas silence hurts," says Raghu Kamble softly. But it also reminded the world that Kolhapur and its famous Kolhapuri chappals exist.


After heavy rainfall, a vehicle drives through a large puddle at the corner of Divisadero and Post in San Francisco on Monday, October 13, 2025. Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle

Throughout the weekend thunderstorms, multiple people died from water-related incidents, including one in Lady Bird Lake, according to authorities.

At least two people died, one was rescued and one is missing after a weekend of rain clouds and flash flood advisories ended Austin's 46-day dry streak. One of the bodies was found in Lady Bird Lake, and the other was found in Shoal Creek, Austin police said.

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Police said they received reports of a body floating in Lady Bird Lake around 10:30 a.m. Saturday. First responders arrived shortly after and pronounced the adult victim dead at the scene.

Austin Public Safety Agencies were called to reports of a body found in lady bird lake at approximately 10:30 A.M. First Responders arrived on-scene and pronounced an adult patient deceased. We are very early into the investigation and the victim has not been identified yet. It https://t.co/1bCBWYNY7Z  Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) October 25, 2025

Later that day, at 5:22 p.m., first responders were called to the 4600 block of Unity Circle to investigate a report of a deceased woman, according to police. Crews pulled the womans body from Shoal Creek and pronounced her dead at 5:44 p.m.

Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims.

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Both incidents came after an attempted water rescue early Saturday by first responders. Around 1:30 a.m., Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services reported they were searching for someone who had been washed downstream near the 5200 block of Burnet Road. About an hour later, officials ended the search, saying they were unable to locate the victim.

Final Water Rescue 5200 Block of Burnet Rd. After an extensive search by assets from all public safety teams, unable to locate victim at this time.  ATCEMS (@ATCEMS) October 25, 2025

ATCEMS, Austin Fire, police and STAR Flight all participated in the rescue effort.

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Police said it is unclear if either of the deaths were related to the failed rescue and that investigations are still ongoing.

Austin-Travis County EMS American-Statesman file

ATCEMS rescued one person who had become trapped by swift water in a tunnel late Saturday, authorities said. Crews responded around 11:16 p.m. to the 1600 block of Stephen F. Austin Drive, and the victim was safely pulled from the water by 12:11 a.m. Sunday.

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No one was injured during the rescue, EMS said.
Walnut Creek Elementary School fourth-graders Juan Romo, 10, left, and Lian Lopez, 9, shop in the school book fair on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Jessy Reyes didnt go looking for the neighborhood charter school. Her daughter enjoyed sixth grade at the Austin school districts Dobie Middle School, where she made friends, learned from her teachers and joined the school band. But in the spring, after hearing from administrators that Dobie could close, Reyes thought she had no other option. She found a charter school and enrolled her daughter there for seventh grade.

The decision was difficult and made her daughter sad to leave behind her friends and clubs, so Reyes was surprised when staff from the supposedly shuttered Dobie called asking about her daughter  the campus hadnt closed after all. The closure had been widely discussed but was ultimately scrapped after the Rundberg-area school failed to meet state academic ratings.

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A kindergarten classroom sits empty at Walnut Creek Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman A kindergarten classroom sits empty at Walnut Creek Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

They were talking about it closing, Reyes said in Spanish. All summer I didnt hear anything  if it was going to be open, that it wasnt going to be closed.

Because of that miscommunication, Reyes children became part of the districts 4% enrollment drop this year.

Fewer than 70,000 students enrolled this fall, the lowest number in three decades and a drop of almost 3,000 from last year, according to data obtained by the American-Statesman.

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The sharp decline followed several years of smaller losses and was fueled largely by families leaving the district, even though Austins child population has grown slightly, said Victoria ONeal, the districts executive director of campus and family engagement. About two-thirds of the students who left last year moved away, she said.

Despite the citys continued population growth, the districts student losses arent new. Rising housing costs have driven many families to nearby counties such as Williamson, Bastrop and Hays. But this year, the city is also feeling the effect of a nationwide immigration crackdown. Facing fear or financial strain, many Austin families without legal status have left the country. With fewer new immigrants arriving too, local classrooms are thinning further.

But not all factors pushing students away force them out of the city. More than 15,000 students who live within the Austin district attend a charter school  publicly funded campuses that operate independently of traditional districts and have no attendance zones or elected boards.

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Theres been a real self-inflicted wound the district has put upon itself by being vague and uncertain and changing the story for parents  parents who are just trying to figure out Where can I get my kids in school and get an education? said Louis Malfaro, associate executive director of Austin Voices for Youth and Education, which provides family support services in low-income schools.

Walnut Creek Elementary School second-graders play soccer during recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

In parts of North and Southeast Austin, charter schools attracted families with specialized education models, flexible schedules, perceptions of higher test scores and aggressive marketing. Public school advocates told the Statesman the districts communication and recruitment shortcomings have exacerbated the enrollment slide.

Because the state funds schools based on attendance, the districts dip below 70,000 students will cost money. School board President Lynn Boswell said losing just 72 students equals about $1 million less in funding. The district is currently facing a $19.7 million budget shortfall and has proposed closing 13 campuses and redrawing attendance boundaries for thousands of students.

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District leaders have pledged to work with families to stem enrollment loss, but critics fear the school consolidation plan could push even more families to charters or private schools.

The districts demographers predict another 5,000-student loss over the next decade as birth rates decline and housing costs rise. The states new education savings account program, commonly called school vouchers, allows parents to use $1 billion in state funds for private school tuition and could accelerate the trend. Texas families will be able to apply in February and use the money next school year.

The slow drain of students and the rise of charters

Walnut Creek Elementary School students line up for recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

In neighborhoods like North Austin, charter schools have slowly chipped away at district enrollment over the past 35 years.

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The number of students living within the Austin school district boundary but attending a charter campus grew from 10,350 in 2015 to about 15,330 last fall. Charter schools are largely concentrated in North, East and Southeast Austin.

Brian Whitley, spokesman for Texas Public Charter Schools Association, said families are drawn to these schools, especially in Austins low-income neighborhoods because of their success preparing students for college.

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One disadvantage for the district, said Austin Voices staff member Jose Carrasco, is that charters market aggressively, especially in Spanish-language media and through neighborhood mailers.

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District spokeswoman Cristina Nguyen said the district doesnt plan to compete with charters on advertising because of limited resources.

We dont have the same investments, Nguyen said. We have been cutting and cutting and cutting, and so we just dont have the same financial setup.

The district also lacks a standardized outreach program for students who leave district schools but still live locally, leaving each campus largely responsible for promoting itself, ONeal said. The district plans to strengthen those efforts, but limited staffing remains a challenge.

Its just me over the summer, said Walnut Creek Elementary Principal Giseyla Lopez-Zubieta. We dont have anything like where I have the parents or teachers call. I wish I could go door to door and do all that marketing.

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Charter schools, by contrast, use a mix of advertising, community events and word of mouth to recruit students, Whitley said.

A recent blunder

Walnut Creek Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Poor communication also pushed families toward charters.

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In recent weeks, Austin Voices called hundreds of families whose students did not return to three North Austin middle schools in August. Parents like Reyes were common, said Carrasco, who helped lead the project. Many switched to charters after assuming their schools had closed.

At Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools in North Austin, multiple years of failing state academic standards forced the district to create turnaround plans for those campuses. The district proposed closing Dobie before reversing course at the end of the school year. District officials said the process was hampered by narrow state-imposed timelines and changing criteria.

Together, the three middle schools lost 334 students this year, though district data shows some transferred within the Austin district.

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The uncertainty around the middle schools trickled down to area elementary schools, too. When one child leaves for a charter, siblings often follow, Lopez-Zubieta said.

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Reyes younger daughter, who was supposed to start kindergarten at Walnut Creek, now attends IDEA Rundberg with her sister. The two girls walk to school hand-in-hand each morning.

Reyes said her older daughter begged to return to Dobie, but she plans to have her children finish the year at their charter campus before deciding whether to move them back to district schools.

Immigration fears and fewer new comers

Walnut Creek Elementary School second-grader Muska Wardak, 7, plays during recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Austin's enrollment loss also comes amid an intensified federal immigration enforcement push. The full extent of student loss from departing immigrant families is difficult to pinpoint. Using a survey of 2,000 students who left, the district estimates about 15% left the country, including some who self-deported, ONeal said.

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These moves often follow deportation orders or the removal of a familys primary breadwinner, said Esmeralda Alday, senior programs director for Texas-based ImmSchools.

In an era of highly limited immigration  with fewer border crossings and a decimated refugee program  the district is also enrolling fewer new arrivals.

In past years, International High School, the districts high school program for immigrants, welcomed 90 to 100 new students annually; this year, it welcomed just nine, ONeal said.

Without international immigration, Travis Countys population would have contracted in 2024, Austin city demographer Lila Valencia said.

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School enrollment is an early indicator and a canary in the coal mine of what is to come, Valencia said.

The long slide

A flag hangs in an empty, unused kindergarten classroom on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Walnut Creek Elementary School where enrollment has dropped 20% year-over-year. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Although Austins child population has grown, school district enrollment has declined for the better part of 15 years as families  priced out of the city  moved to suburbs.

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In the past five years, voters in the Hays, Dripping Springs, Del Valle and Bastrop school districts approved bonds to build new campuses as enrollment surged.

Families with Black and Hispanic children left Austin at higher rates, while the number of Asian and white children grew.

Between fall 2019 to fall 2020, the district lost 6,000 students, part of a nationwide post-pandemic decline.

Across the country, enrollment could drop another half a percent annually for the next decade as birthrates fall, according to Georgetown Universitys Edunomics Lab. In Texas, overall student growth since 2019 was concentrated in charter and suburban districts, according to a Texas A&M University study. Nearly 60% of Texas traditional school districts are shrinking, the June study found.

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With closures ahead, district continues on uncertain path

The district could face another shock next summer as administrators implement a sweeping proposal to close 13 campuses and redraw attendance boundaries for 75% of students.

Some parents have already threatened to look outside the district for the 2026-27 school year.

We have to hang onto everyone we can and we have to invite new people in, Boswell said. I dont think that means we dont have to go through closures. I dont think that means we dont have to go through this really painful process. I just mean we need to be aware and thoughtful.

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District administrators argue that having fewer schools will make it easier to distribute resources, said Ali Ghilarducci, senior executive director of communications and community engagement.

The district also plans to hire an additional front office staff member for each campus that's under a turnaround plan, Ghilarducci said.

The city of Austin is working to expand affordable housing, but unless it acts decisively, families will likely continue leaving, Valencia said. Last week, Mayor Kirk Watson announced the "Generation ATX" initiative to improve Austin's quality of life for children.

But fewer than half of Austins households now include children, she said. Austin leaders will have to be strategic about creating a family-friendly culture, she said.

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Oftentimes, when we do that, Valencia said, we get an additional diversity that appeals to more people.
Community First! Village, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, provides a mix of mobile homes and tiny houses for people who have been homeless. A massive expansion of the community is underway on the other side of Hog Eye Road. Jay Janner/American-Statesman

Blair Racine is a bingo player and emcee at Tuesday karaoke night. With his white, wavy, chest-length beard, he could stand in for Santa at any Christmas party. Plus, Im Switzerland, he told me  neutral but empathetic.

But in his most important role, Racine is the unofficial mayor of Community First! Village, where more than 400 formerly homeless people find safety and a sense of belonging in their colorful tiny homes and RVs east of Austin. He visits with everyone. Hes watched strangers, cold on arrival, thaw into warm neighbors.

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The biggest problem that people who are homeless have is low self-esteem, said Racine, 71. Hed been there, too: a collapsed business, no family support and only a bed at the ARCH shelter downtown until he arrived in 2018 at Community First! Village, run by the nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

I watch people change, he said, attesting to the power of having stability and community. I mean people who hated themselves  they love themselves now.

People who once wouldnt make eye contact now smile and offer fist-bumps.

To witness it, Racine said, Im just so blessed.

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We often talk about homelessness as a problem to be addressed. But whats really at stake is transformation  and not everyone defines it the same way. Do we care about lives? Or landscapes? Or both?

As Community First! Village celebrated its 10th anniversary  having transformed the lives of more than 900 formerly homeless people through housing and companionship  a different scene played out about 10 miles west. To the surprise of city officials doing their own painstaking work to connect homeless people to services and housing, state troopers and soldiers spent the past few days clearing out encampments around Austin.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who ordered the sweeps, said in a statement Tuesday that the effort made the city safer and cleaner. Mayor Kirk Watson countered that such a show of force is not how its supposed to work. The mayor's right: A cleanup isnt the same as a solution.

No one wants the weapons and needles that Abbott described in public spaces. But the governors measure of success  48 encampments cleared, 3,000 pounds of debris removed, 24 people arrested and 125 grams of drugs seized  left out the most important metric.

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After the tents were trashed and peoples belongings tossed out, how many were moved out of homelessness?

Texas State Guard soldiers remove a homeless camp on Tuesday under the interchange at MoPac and West 5th Street. They were part of the encampment cleanups around Austin ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman

Likely zero, considering the waiting lists that already exist for Austins homeless shelters. Unless you count the 26 people with a transient address arrested by state troopers from Oct. 15-22 and given temporary shelter at the Travis County jail  until their eventual return to the streets.

A Travis County Sheriffs Office analysis of those arrests showed 20 drug charges, four trespassing cases, four illegal dumping charges, three theft charges, several out-of-state warrants and parole violations, and one charge each of aggravated robbery and assault (some defendants had multiple charges).

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But nothing has changed for those who were just as homeless as before. That's the failure of an approach focused on the visible, not the vulnerable. Clearing encampments doesnt end the plight of those who are homeless. It just sweeps them further from view.

Racine  remember, hes Switzerland  told me he could see both sides. He knows how difficult it is for people surviving on the streets. He also felt that no child walking to school should have to come across needles.

We try to be a solution, he told me Wednesday, as guests for the Community First! Village anniversary festivities milled about the 51-acre tract on Hog Eye Road where an expansion of breathtaking optimism is taking shape. Dozens of tiny homes and RVs are waiting for occupants who will start to arrive before the end of the year. In time, as the funding materializes, 600 homes will fill this expansion site.

The atmosphere of bonding and belonging is the secret sauce at Community First! Village. But as I looked at the neatly furnished homes awaiting their new owners, and the clusters of slab-ready sites awaiting new homes, it was clear the work begins with tending to lives and landscapes, understanding that one cant thrive without the other.

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Transformation isnt just about whats removed. Its about what, and who, is restored.
As Mumbai inches closer to civic polls, Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is preparing to stake claim over several wards that were once strongholds of the undivided Shiv Sena, but later shifted loyalty to Eknath Shindes faction.

According to MNS functionaries, discussions are underway to finalise a list of wards the party will demand during seat-sharing negotiations.

We are identifying wards where corporators from the undivided Sena moved to the Shinde camp after the split. Our leader will take the final call, but these are naturally the areas where MNS has both historical presence and emotional connect, an office-bearer told Mumbai Mirror.

Sources said the MNS is eyeing 90100 of Mumbais 227 wards, many of which are concentrated in the eastern and central suburbs  areas with dense Marathi populations and traditional Sena-MNS overlap.

Around 47 corporators who had won the 2017 BMC polls under the undivided Sena banner are now part of the Shinde-led faction. The remaining defectors had won in earlier civic elections. These defections, MNS sources argue, open up political space for the party to re-enter wards where the Marathi vote has historically swung between the Thackeray cousins.

The MNS strategy, the sources say, revolves around Marathi-dominated pockets such as Bhandup, Vikhroli, Chandivali, Magathane, Andheri East, Dadar-Mahim, Worli, and Lalbaug, which both parties have considered their base.

In the 2012 civic elections, MNS had won 28 seats, many of which later flipped to Shiv Sena candidates in 2017. With 2025 shaping into another three-cornered contest for the Marathi vote between the Shinde Sena, UBT faction, and MNS, the latter hopes to reclaim its lost turf.

MNS leaders clarified that any formal demand list will depend on seat-sharing discussions  if an alliance between the Thackeray cousins takes shape.

Seat sharing will be decided once both brothers declare an alliance, an MNS leader said. Also, ward reservation patterns will be crucial; only after that will we know which candidates are best placed.

Currently, there are around 130 wards in Mumbai where Marathi voters dominate. In 2017, the Shiv Sena (undivided) had won 84 such wards, while MNS managed to retain six. Interestingly, despite being Marathi-heavy, Mulund (4 wards) and Versova (3 wards) didnt see a single Sena win  a gap MNS now hopes to exploit.

The battle for symbolic bastions is also on. Dadar-Mahim, Worli and Sewri, known as the ideological heart of the Sena, are expected to see strong MNS claims. Each constituency has five wards, and insiders say MNS will likely seek at least two from Dadar-Mahim and Sewri, and one from Worli.

Sandeep Deshpande, MNS Mumbai chief, confirmed the talks but stressed that nothing is final yet.


I was born in Bombay and raised in Lagos. That sentence often stops people in their tracks, as though theyre waiting for the punchline. But to me, its not an oddity. Its my centre. Theres dal for dinner on Monday night, Bollywood music floats through my house, and the restless energy of Lagos is outside my door.

Ive never really lived in one world: Mumbai is in my bones, Lagos in my blood. That reality has shaped me. My life unfolded across continents  school in London, university in Canada, a postgraduate degree in Switzerland, and a return to Nigeria after marrying my first love. Seven years of long distance across cultures and time zones made me a bridge long before I became a filmmaker. I wasnt trained for film. My background was in business and hospitality; I ran Bistro 7 in Lagos for seven years. But between dinner service and school runs, Bollywood kept calling  and somewhere along the way, I decided to tell my own stories.

A poster, a love story, and the worlds attention

Namaste Wahala wasnt meant to be a global statement  it was just a love story between an Indian man and a Nigerian woman. I wanted it to feel true to both sides of me. Then we released the poster. And within 24 hours, it was everywhere  influencers shared it, CNN and BBC wanted interviews. It was exhilarating and a little surreal. The world, it seemed, wasnt just ready for a Nigerian-Indian rom-com; it was eager for one. When Netflix released the film on Valentines Day 2021, it landed beside Firefly Lane in the global Top 10. Made on a modest budget, it proved that love and laughter travel far. And it convinced me to work on another film, which is now in the works.

Cultures in a romcom

Of course, love stories across cultures are rarely just about love. They are about families, expectations, unwritten rules. And occasionally, about complete chaos.

Some differences are impossible to ignore. In Nigeria, its not unusual for couples in some tribes to have children before marriage. In India, many families still place enormous value on premarital chastity. A pregnancy announcement can, thus, mean two entirely different things to two sets of parents. One hears congratulations. The other hears catastrophe. Its the kind of cultural chasm that makes for both tension and  in a romantic comedy  spectacular awkwardness.

Language brings its own comedy. Nigerians slip between English, Pidgin and local languages like Yoruba or Igbo mid-sentence, like musicians changing key. Indians do something similar with Hindi, English and regional languages, but with a different rhythm, and different sensitivities.

Things that feel familiar

But heres the other truth. For every glaring cultural gap, there are things that align so seamlessly, its uncanny. Both Indians and Nigerians love music and spicy food. We love dance. We celebrate loudly, with entire communities. Our wedding are festivals. Aunties rehearse choreography like their lives depend on it. Cousins arrive in matching outfits. Nobody can ever agree who sings best, but everyone is convinced its them.

Theres also a deep faith in superstition in both cultures  in Mumbai, its lemons at the door to ward off bad luck, in Lagos, a candle against the evil eye. And then, of course, there is bureaucracy. I say this with love for both my countries: the small informal networks that make things happen faster, the shared language of just one more signature or a little something for the office.

And always, there is family. The auntie who asks why youre not married yet has a clone in every Indian and Nigerian household. The uncle who insists on giving financial advice he was never asked for has no borders. These shared quirks make cross-cultural stories unexpectedly universal.

Learning without a handbook

I didnt learn any of this in a classroom. I learned it while running a restaurant in Lagos, managing crises every day. So when I made my first film, I carried that same instinct with me. I was director, producer, actor, set decorator and, occasionally, crisis negotiator. I was the one shifting furniture if the colour palette didnt feel right. Rajs fictional living room  a murti next to Ankara cushions  was not just set dressing; this was how I had lived and how I see the Indian community in Lagos live.

The genre itself was one that I enjoy. I love love. But romantic comedies often give women very little agency. In Namaste Wahala, the heroine drives the story. Her father doubts her ability to lead the family business. She responds to his doubt with competence.

Interestingly, working between India and Nigeria, Ive walked into more male-dominated rooms than I can count. In India, Ive often asked line producers, Where are the women? I hire them whenever I can, including in technical roles where they are often missing. Women bring a different lens. They tell different stories. And they should.

Lagos and Mumbai speak different languages but move to the same beat. Nigerians have loved Bollywood for decades. Bollywood looks to Hollywood. Hollywood looks to Afrobeats. Its a loop  everyone motivated by everyone else, knowingly or not.

For me, after Namaste Wahala came Postcards, a project through which I took Nigerian celebrities to India. It began as a collection of separate stories and became, in the editing room, one woven narrative. My next Simi and Friends, is a leap into animation  born out of the stories I tell my own children.

I also have a partner who walks beside me. Our marriage has survived distance, ambition and shared dreams. Its one more bridge in a life full of them.

Borderless cinema

When people ask what kind of filmmaker I am, I often say Im a connector first. Between India and Nigeria. Between Bollywood and Nollywood. Between tradition and new possibility. My stories are full of music and misunderstanding, faith and superstition, bureaucracy and laughter, aunties and eye-rolls. But more than anything, theyre full of hope.

Namaste Wahala was a cultural handshake, a love letter to both my homes. It proved that a romantic comedy can be more than a genre. It can be a mirror, a conversation, a bridge. If by the end of it, youve laughed, maybe cried a little, rolled your eyes and still believed in love, then Ive done what I set out to do.

Hamisha Daryani Ahuja is an Indian-Nigerian filmmaker and entrepreneur. She is the writer, producer and director of Namaste Wahala and Postcards, and the creator of the animated series Simi and Friends.


The three-and-a-half-acre campus of Pinakin Patel in Chondi, Alibaug, is a study in cultivated contradictions. His studio, serene and sunlit, feels more like a retreat than a work place. A spiral staircase climbs beside a chandelier of white glass spheres, a constellation suspended mid-air. Modular shelving alternates between closed compartments displaying photographs of his designs and open cubbies holding the objects themselves  some raw and handmade, others lacquered in bright red, sharp and modern.

In an adjoining room, the ceiling appears carved from stone but is in fact repurposed tin sheeting salvaged from Bohri homes in Gujarat. Beyond the glass doors, a patch of grass links the courtyard to the office  lush and per fect until one realises its AstroTurf, a concession to Alibaugs water scarcity. Everywhere, restraint and indulgence coexist. It is from this calm, white walled studio that Patel, 71, is onceagain designing, though not furniture or interiors now. With a collective called the Alibaug Optimists, he is working to shape the future of the place he has called home for more than two decades.

Flight from the metropolis

By the mid-1990s, Patel was a fixture of Mumbais design world. His name appeared regularly in the glossies; his furniture lines defined modern Indian minimalism. Which is why, when word spread that he was shutting down his studios to move to rural Alibaug, the industry was incredulous. We had 80 people working for us, commuting for hours, eating cold food, going home exhausted, he says. I thought, what is life all about? His first visit to Alibaug  to design a clients home in Nagaon  revealed a place preserved by isolation. It was a forgotten little hamlet, he says. A dead end on the Maharashtra road network. He arrived in a chartered dhow  more romantic than modern. The stillness and natural beauty made the decision inevitable. And in 1997, at the height of his success, he announced that he was dismantling his Mumbai practice and moving here. Flabbergasted, his entire staff resigned. Only his wife, Hima  then a florist, now a landscape designer  stood firm. She told me, when youre taking such a leap, its wise not to carry the weight of resettling everyone. Lets just the two of us go. They spent a year in a beach shack at Akshi before buying land in Chondi in 1999, a village where children still walked barefoot toschool. There were no vendors, no packaged food, electricity came and went  but it was beautiful, he says.

The creative commune

The Chondi campus evolved into what Patel calls a creative commune. He hired young designers who wanted to live closer to nature, offering food, accommodation, and weekly transport to Mumbai. It was almost utopian, he says. Hima grew vegetables and ran an outdoor kitchen. That eventually became Cafe Sattva, which Patel, upon reflection, calls Indias first genuine farm-to-table experiment. Everything we served was grown behind the house, he says. People sat on the floor and ate in silence as food is meant to be consumed in reverence, not through conversation. Two arrivals shaped the studios next decade. One was Dashrath Patel, found ing director of education at NID Ahmedabad. After a chance meeting at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Dashrath, then in his 70s, moved into the campus and lived there for 12 years, until his demise. In our philosophy, you dont find the guru, Patel says. The guru comes to you. I believe thats what happened with me. The other was Mohak, the son of Patels former business partner, who left his fathers chemical company to learn design. The campus expanded as life required  a new space for Dashrath, another for Mohak, and later a furniture workshop nearby so the new team could walk to work. We built slowly, without a masterplan, Patel says. We just keptresponding to what life demanded. The courtyard where Hima once fed the staff remains the compounds emo tional centre, a reminder of those ideal istic years when work, community, and philosophy were indistinguishable.

The town transforms

Meanwhile, the Alibaug Patel found in the 1990s has changed beyond recogni tion. For years, it was a sleepy coastal escape reachable only by slow ferry. Then came the Mandwa Jetty, the high speed Ro-Ro ferry, and now new high ways linking Mumbai directly to Raigad. After COVID-19, migration accelerated: weekenders became full-time residents, property prices tripled, and luxury devel opers arrived. On the other hand, cli mate shifts strained the old agrarian economy. Failed crops pushed farmers to sell land. They sell a plot, buy jewellery, a car, a shop, he says. Ten years later, the moneys gone, and they sell another piece. Thats their cycle. By 2019, Alibaug and neighbouring villages had come under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. The density being envisaged is massive, Patel says. And the infra structure cannot handle it. Developers such as the Lodhas, Hiranandani, Emaar, Oberoi  bringing the Ritz-Carlton  and the Taj, which has taken over the Radisson, are reshaping the region. They build their own internal systems, which is great, Patel says, But water, roads, and garbage disposal will pose a challenge. Its not an insurmountable one, if we plan for these.

A model for what comes next

With this in mind, Patel and a group of some 300 residents has formed Alibaug Optimists, a collective that includes architect Rahul Kadri, Smita Godrej, and the local citizens group Team Vidyasan. We are not activists; we are optimists, Patel says. We just want infrastructure to come before growth. He means a coordinated plan for water, roads, and waste management. The region still depends on a 40-year-old pipeline built by the RCF factory in Thal. Water acquisition and dam building are slow processes, Patel says. So, the work must start now. The group has met with local panchayats, the collector, and the MMRDA, pressing for an integrated development plan. Were just saying  learn from Mumbai. Dont make the same mistakes again. Patel believes the town can become an example for Indias expanding sub urbs. Whats happening here is hap pening everywhere in the country, he says. If you can do this properly here, you can turn it into a model for devel opment everywhere. What began as one mans escape from urban chaos has, thus, become a collective bid to prevent it. Twenty-six years after he first crossed the sea in a dhow, Pinakin Patel remains a designer  only now his material is not wood or metal but the fragile equi librium of the place he calls home.


By Isabelle Taft | New York Focus

This story originally appeared in New York Focus, a nonprofit news publication investigating power in New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.

The Department of Homeland Security has sent unaccompanied immigrant teenagers $5,000 fines for illegally entering the United States, according to youth advocates and fine notices reviewed by New York Focus and The Intercept.

Roughly 10 teenagers in New York, ages 14 to 17, received the fine in mid-October, said Meena Shah, managing director of the Legal Services Center at The Door, a New York City-based nonprofit that serves young people. At least one teenager in Michigan has received the fine, too, according to the teens lawyer. New York Focus and The Intercept reviewed copies of the fine notices delivered in both New York and Michigan.

The fine is one of several new financial penalties for immigrants created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed in July. The federal government is issuing the fines under a section of the law titled Inadmissible alien apprehension fee, which is set at $5,000 and can be applied to people apprehended between official ports of entry. Homeland Securitys application of the fine hasnt been previously reported.

Shah and Ana Raquel Devereaux, the attorney representing the teenager in Michigan, both said the kids are living in shelters overseen by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, or ORR, which takes custody of unaccompanied immigrant children while they wait to be released to an adult sponsor.

Devereaux, who works for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, pointed out that kids in government custody have no ability to work.

Its really about creating fear, Devereaux said. Theres no way that a child in this situation would be able to pay this, and the penalties are so severe.

Minors in Texas and Pennsylvania have received the fines, too, according to a staff member at a national nonprofit who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the nonprofits leadership fears being targeted by the Trump administration.

The fine is one of several ways the Trump administration has sought in recent weeks to pressure minors who entered the US alone to return to their home countries. Over Labor Day weekend, the government attempted to deport dozens of unaccompanied Guatemalan children who were in ORR custody; kids were loaded onto planes before a judge halted the plan. In early October, the government said it was offering $2,500 to unaccompanied minors 14 years and older who agree to leave the country.

The notices reviewed by New York Focus and The Intercept state that Payment in full is due now and list an array of potential consequences for failure to pay, including collection litigation and negative impacts on their immigration cases. Fines that arent paid in full will accrue interest, the notices say.

Theyre trying to pressure and coerce these young people into taking voluntary departure, Shah said. These are the stressors youre putting very young kids under.

US Border Patrol teased the apprehension fee in a September 24 Facebook post, which included a megaphone emoji and said anyone 14 years or older could be fined. Money collected from the fines will be credited to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the text of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Other fees created by the new law include $100 to apply for asylum, plus $100 every year the application is pending; $550 for asylum seekers to apply for a work permit; and $5,000 for anyone ordered removed in absentia and then arrested by ICE. Lack of clarity over exactly how and when to pay the $100 fees recently sparked panic among asylum seekers in New York and a flood of misinformation and potential scams, New York Focus recently reported.

In response to questions about the $5,000 fee being applied to minors, the Department of Homeland Security referred New York Focus and The Intercept to a press release about a different fee of $1,000 for immigrants paroled into the US. The agency did not respond to follow-up questions.

Supporters of the fine argue that it will incentivize people to cross at legal entry points rather than traverse dangerous desert terrain and take up Customs and Border Protection resources. Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank that advocates for restrictions on immigration, said he understood the argument that a teenager wont be able to pay a $5,000 fine, but said their parents or relatives would then be on the hook.

This isnt, you know, We want to punish 14-year-old kids, Arthur said. This is, We want to discourage parents from paying smugglers to bring their kids to the United States.

Its unclear how many immigrants have received the $5,000 fine. Several attorneys who work with unaccompanied minors in New York and other states told New York Focus theyd heard about the fines secondhand but hadnt seen any cases personally. All of the cases New York Focus and The Intercept were able to verify involved teenagers in ORR custody, but advocates said they had heard of minors outside of federal custody receiving the fines.

Under Trump, the number of unaccompanied children crossing the border and entering ORR custody has plummeted. In September, about 2,000 kids were in ORR custody on average, down from more than 6,000 last October.

Theo Liebmann, a law professor at Hofstra University who runs a legal clinic for immigrant youth, said unaccompanied kids in ORR custody are particularly vulnerable because they often dont have lawyers, having recently arrived in the US.

Liebmann, who doesnt have any clients who have received the fine, said it appeared to be an effort to go after the kids who are especially defenseless and wont be able to understand how to look at this threat, how real this threat is, and what they can do in response.
Kingston, Jamaica  Hurricane Melissa strengthened into a major Category 4 hurricane, with the possibility of intensifying to a Category 5 storm Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The weather agency added Melissa is likely to reach the southern coast of Jamaica as a major hurricane late Monday or Tuesday morning, and urged people on the island to seek shelter immediately.

Conditions (in Jamaica) are going to go down rapidly today, Jamie Rhome, the centers deputy director, said on Sunday. Be ready to ride this out for several days.

Melissa was centered about 110 miles (180 kilometers) south of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 285 miles (460 kilometers) south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, on Sunday morning. It had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph) and was moving west at 5 mph (7 kph), the hurricane center said.

Melissa was expected to drop torrential rains of up to 30 inches (760 millimeters) on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola  Haiti and the Dominican Republic  according to the hurricane center. Some areas may see as much as 40 inches (1,010 millimeters) of rain.

It also warned that extensive damage to infrastructure, power and communication outages, and the isolation of communities in Jamaica were to be expected.

Melissa should be near or over Cuba by late Tuesday, where it could bring up to 12 inches (300 millimeters) of rain, before moving toward the Bahamas later Wednesday.

Airports closed and shelters activated

Jamaicas two main airports, the Norman Manley International Airport and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, were closed by Sunday.

Local officials said they were considering enforcing an evacuation order as many residents of low-lying and flood prone areas did not heed advice to evacuate.

The question of the mandatory movement will soon be addressed, Desmond McKenzie, who is leading the Jamaican governments disaster response, said in a press conference. Melissa is forecast to reach Category 5 when it makes landfall along the south coast on Tuesday.

McKenzie also said all the more of 650 shelters in Jamaica are open. Officials said earlier that warehouses across the island were well-stocked and thousands of food packages pre-positioned for quick distribution if needed.

Evan Thompson, the principal director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, said the storm surge is expected mainly over the southern side of the island.

There is potential (for) flooding in every parish of our country, Thompson said. If youre in a flood prone, low-lying area, you need to take note. If youre near a river course or a gully, you need to take special note and find some alternative location that you can move to should you be threatened by the heavy rainfall.

Some foreign governments are also preparing for the hurricanes arrival in Jamaica.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is housing visiting students at a hotel in Kingston. As of Sunday morning, 52 of them had checked in. Students from other islands were staying at the same hotel, though it remained unclear whether they were sponsored by their governments.

They have a better bounce back regimen here (at the hotel) in terms of standby power and water (in comparison with university dorms, said Jewel Moore, 19, a chemistry student at UWI Mona. She and her fellow students are enjoying snacks and games before the hurricane arrives.

The passing of the storm should be okay, he added. Its getting out that will be a problem.

The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Communities cut off by rising waters

Haitian authorities said three people had died as a consequence of the hurricane and another five were injured due to a collapsed wall. There were also reports of rising river levels, flooding and a bridge destroyed due to breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast.

Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes, Haitian officials said.

The storm damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights, unleashed a couple of small landslides and left more than two dozen communities isolated by floodwaters.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to islands in the southeastern and central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  A major union announced a proposal Thursday to impose a one-time 5% tax on billionaires in California to address federal funding cuts to health care for low-income people.

Proponents, including the Service Employees International Union, hope to place the statewide measure before voters next year. The tax would be on the net worth of Californias richest residents. A small portion of the money would also help fund K-12 education since the federal government has threatened to withhold grant money from public schools.

Backers of the measure sent a request to Attorney General Rob Bonta this week to get approval to start collecting signatures. The proposal would have to receive more than 870,000 signatures by next spring to qualify for the ballot in November 2026. If it qualifies, its not guaranteed to pass. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, for example, has opposed tax hikes in the past, including those specifically targeting the rich.

Proponents of the initiative said it was critical to backfill cuts to Medicaid because lives are at stake.

If we do not do this, millions of people are going to lose health care, an untold number of people will go without treatment and there will be tragedy after tragedy, said Dave Regan, president of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West.

Billionaires would have to pay for tax year 2026, and the money could start being appropriated in 2027. The tax would generate $100 billion in revenue for the state, backers say. The initiative says its designed to make the State tax system more equitable.

The big tax and spending cuts law President Donald Trump signed earlier this year will cut more than $1 trillion over a decade from Medicaid and federal food assistance.

The California Budget and Policy Center, a think tank in Sacramento, estimated the state could lose $30 billion in federal funding a year for Medicaid, which would result in up to 3.4 million people losing their coverage.

Newsom said earlier this month that people enrolled in Covered California, the states health insurance marketplace, could see their monthly health care bills nearly double next year as a result of the spending cuts law.

California has led the nation in expanding access to affordable health care, but Donald Trump is ripping it away, he said.

Proponents of the proposed ballot initiative say billionaires have an obligation to do their part.

We hope that some and perhaps hopefully a large number of billionaires will recognize that its important in the state where theyve grown their fortune that they have a responsibility to society to preserve the future of California, said Emmanuel Saez, a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley.

By SOPHIE AUSTIN

Associated Press
Global race for rare earths comes to Kenya's Mrima Hill



Kwale, Kenya, Oct 26 (AFP) Oct 26, 2025



Division and suspicion have gripped five villages near Kenya's coast as global powers from the United States to China eye a forest that is rich in rare earths -- minerals vital to high-tech and low-carbon industries.

The US government under President Donald Trump has made securing critical minerals central to its diplomacy in Africa, including through a peace deal in the resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo this year.

Mrima Hill -- a forest of around 390 acres near Kenya's Indian Ocean coastline -- could be another target.

It sits quietly on huge rare-earth deposits that Cortec Mining Kenya, a subsidiary of UK and Canada-based Pacific Wildcat Resources, estimated in 2013 were worth $62.4 billion, including large stores of niobium, used to strengthen steel.

US official Marc Dillard visited the hill in June when he was serving as the interim ambassador to Kenya.

Other foreigners also attempted to visit in recent months, including Chinese nationals who were turned away, according to Juma Koja, a guard for the Mrima Hill community.

An Australian consortium of mining firms RareX and Iluka Resources announced a bid this year to mine rare earths on the site, and locals say land speculators are flocking to the area.



- Buried riches -



The interest is worrying the community, mostly of the Digo ethnic group, who fear they will be evicted or denied a share in future mining windfalls.

The lush forest is home to their sacred shrines and has long supported farming and livelihoods, though today more than half the population lives in extreme poverty, according to government data.

AFP was initially barred access to the forest.

"People come here with big cars... but we turn them away," said Koja.

His stance stems from past encounters with prospective investors -- a process he says was not transparent.

"I do not want my people to be exploited," he said.

Kenya revoked a mining licence in 2013 that had been granted to Cortec Mining Kenya, citing environmental and licensing irregularities.

Cortec claimed in court that the licence was revoked after it refused to pay a bribe to then-mining minister Najib Balala, an allegation he denied. The company lost multiple legal efforts over the revocation.

In 2019, Kenya imposed a temporary ban on new mining licences over concerns about corruption and environmental degradation.

But it now sees a major opportunity, particularly as China -- the biggest source of rare earths -- increasingly limits its exports.

Kenya's mining ministry announced "bold reforms" this year, including tax breaks and improved licensing transparency, aimed at attracting investors and boosting the sector from 0.8 percent of GDP to 10 percent by 2030.

Daniel Weru Ichang'i, a retired economic geology professor at the University of Nairobi, said Kenya had a long way to go, especially in gathering reliable data on its resources.

"There's a romantic view that mining is an easy area, and one can get rich quickly... We need to sober up," he told AFP.

"Corruption makes this area, which is very high-risk, less attractive to invest in."

Competition between the West and China is driving up prices, but if the country wants to profit, it "must stick to the law, and individual interests must be subjugated to that of the nation," he said.



- 'Mrima is our life' -



On Mrima Hill, locals worry for their livelihoods, sacred shrines, medicinal plants, and the forest they have known all their lives.

"This Mrima is our life... Where will we be taken?" said Mohammed Riko, 64, vice chairman of the Mrima Hill Community Forest Association.

Koja is concerned about the loss of unique indigenous trees like the giant orchid, already a problem before mining has even started.

"In my heart I am crying. This Mrima has endangered species that we are losing," he said.

But others, like Domitilla Mueni, treasurer of the Mrima Hill association, see an opportunity.

She has been developing her land -- planting trees, farming -- in order to push up the value when mining companies come to buy.

"Why should we die poor while we have minerals?" she said.

mnk/er/jxb/mjw
LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Department of Justice is preparing to send federal election observers to California and New Jersey next month, targeting two Democratic states holding off-year elections following requests from state Republican parties.

The DOJ announced Friday that it is planning to monitor polling sites in Passaic County, New Jersey, and five counties in southern and central California: Los Angeles, Orange, Kern, Riverside and Fresno. The goal, according to the DOJ, is to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.

Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement to The Associated Press.

Election monitoring is a routine function of the Justice Department, but the focus on California and New Jersey comes as both states are set to hold closely-watched elections with national consequences on Nov. 4. New Jersey has an open seat for governor and California is holding a special election aimed at redrawing the states congressional map to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts elsewhere ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The DOJs efforts are the latest salvo in the GOPs preoccupation with election integrity after President Donald Trump spent years refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election and falsely railing against mail-in voting as rife with fraud. Democrats fear the new administration will attempt to gain an upper hand in next years midterms with similarly unfounded allegations of fraud.

The announcement comes days after the Republican parties in both states wrote letters to the DOJ requesting their assistance. Some leading Democrats in the states blasted the decision.

New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin called the move highly inappropriate and said the DOJ has not even attempted to identify a legitimate basis for its actions.

Californias House districts at stake

The letter from the California GOP, sent Monday and obtained by the AP, asked Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the DOJs Civil Rights Division, to provide monitors to observe the election in the five counties.

In recent elections, we have received reports of irregularities in these counties that we fear will undermine either the willingness of voters to participate in the election or their confidence in the announced results of the election, wrote GOP Chairwoman Corrin Rankin.

The state is set to vote Nov. 4 on a redistricting proposition that would dramatically redraw Californias congressional lines to add as many as five additional Democratic seats to its U.S. House delegation.

California is one of at least eight states the Justice Department has sued as part of a wide-ranging request for detailed voter roll information involving at least half the states. The department has not said why it wants the data.

Brandon Richards, a spokesman for Gov. Gavin Newsom, said the DOJ has no standing to interfere with Californias election because the ballot contains only a state-specific initiative and has no federal races.

Deploying these federal forces appears to be an intimidation tactic meant for one thing: suppress the vote, he said in an email.

But Orange County Registrar of Voters Bob Page said its common to have local, state, federal and even international observers and welcomes anyone who wants to watch the countys operations.

Los Angeles County Clerk Dean Logan said election observers are standard practice across the country and that the county, with 5.8 million registered voters, is continuously updating and verifying its voter records.

Voters can have confidence their ballot is handled securely and counted accurately, he said.

Most Californians vote using mail ballots returned through the postal service, drop boxes or at local voting centers. But in pursuit of accuracy and counting every vote, the nations most populous state has gained a reputation for tallies that can drag on for weeks  and sometimes longer.

In 2024, it took until early December to declare Democrat Adam Gray the winner in his Central Valley district, the final congressional race to be decided in the nation last year.

Passaic County the target in New Jersey

Californias request echoed a similar letter sent by New Jersey Republicans asking the DOJ to dispatch election monitors to oversee the receipt and processing of vote-by-mail ballots and monitor access to the Board of Elections around the clock in suburban Passaic County ahead of the states governors race.

The New Jersey Republican State Committee told Dhillon that federal intervention was necessary to ensure an accurate vote count in the heavily Latino county that was once a Democratic stronghold, but shifted to President Donald Trumps column in last years presidential race.

The county could be critical to GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarellis hopes against Democrat Mikie Sherrill.

The letter, which cited previous voter fraud cases in the county and alleged a long and sordid history of vote-by-mail shenanigans, came after Republicans said Democratic members of the Passaic County Board of Elections voted against implementing additional security measures, including using cameras in ballot storage areas.

In 2020, a judge ordered a new election for a city council seat in Paterson  the largest city in Passaic County  after the apparent winner and others were charged with voter fraud.

The reason that we have concerns about this is because theres been a significant history of fraud, said Kate Gibbs, executive director of the NJGOP, which is also weighing whether to request additional DOJ monitoring in a number of other counties.

Platkin said the state is committed to ensuring its elections are fair and secure. With the DOJs announcement, he said the attorney generals office is considering all of our options to prevent any effort to intimidate voters or interfere with our elections.

Election observers are nothing new

Local election offices and polling places around the country already have observers from both political parties to ensure rules are followed. The DOJ also has a long history of sending observers to jurisdictions that have histories of voting rights violations to ensure compliance with federal civil rights laws.

Trump has for years railed against mail voting as part of his repeated false claims that former President Joe Bidens victory in 2020 was rigged. He alleges it is riddled with fraud, even though numerous studies have found no evidence of widespread fraud in U.S. elections.

Earlier this year, Trump pledged to ban vote-by-mail across the country, something he has no power to do under the U.S. Constitution.

The DOJs effort will be overseen by Dhillons Civil Rights Division, which will deploy personnel in coordination with U.S. attorneys offices and work closely with state and local officials, the department said.

The department also is soliciting further requests for monitoring in other jurisdictions.

David Becker, a former DOJ attorney who has served as an election monitor and trained them, said the only federal laws the department has the jurisdiction to enforce in state elections are ones that prevent discrimination against racial minorities.

Its a very high bar to justify Washingtons intervention into state-only elections, said Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Integrity & Research.

Still, Becker said that if monitors obey rules about not interacting with voters, poll workers or ballot counting, I dont think this is going to make any difference for voters.

___

Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver and Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

By JILL COLVIN and MICHAEL R. BLOOD

Associated Press
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Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins has recalled criticising a younger co-star for acting like James Dean.

The 87-year-old acting icon, best known for his role as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), has worked with numerous modern-day superstars, from Brad Pitt to Nicole Kidman and Ryan Gosling, telling The New York Timess Interview podcast that he has nothing but praise for them.

However, he had less kind words to say about an unnamed actor from Canada, whom he attempted to advise on set.

I was working with a young actor a few years ago, a young Canadian actor who looked a bit like James Dean. I think he thought he was James Dean, said the Elephant Man star.

We were doing a scene together and I said: I cant hear a word youre saying. Why are you mumbling? he added.

I didnt want to spoil his day, but I said: If you do that, they will go to the pub next door, because youre supposed to tell us the story. Speak up. Be clear. Wandering on like a backstreet Marlon Brando is not going to help you at all in your career.

Never heard of him since, Hopkins casually remarked in the interview.

Hopkins says the unnamed actor thought he was James Dean ( PA )

Last year, Hopkins told the Associated Press that he believes acting is much easier for him now.

As you get older, you have a little more knowledge of life. When youre young, you think you know a thing or two, but you dont. When you get to my age, you know a couple of tricks for a living, he said.

His tricks to acting are simple: Just learn the lines, show up and try to be real.

Elsewhere in his interview with The New York Times, Hopkins opened up about his struggle with alcoholism. The actor has now been sober for nearly 50 years.

I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realised that I could have killed somebody  or myself, which I didnt care about, he said.

I came to my senses and said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, I need help.

The star of The Father said he then had a spooky moment where he heard a vocal, male, reasonable, like a radio voice speak to him and he instantly lost his desire to drink.

He said: It was 11 oclock precisely  I looked at my watch  and this is the spooky part: some deep, powerful thought or voice spoke to me from inside and said: Its all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so dont forget one moment of it.
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Demi Moore believes Tom Cruise was a bit awkard about her being pregnant while the pair were preparing to shoot A Few Good Men.

In Rob Reiners 1992 classic, Moore played Navy lawyer Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, who teams up with Tom Cruises Lt. Daniel Kaffee to defend two Marines accused of murder at Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking at a Saturday Q&A for the New Yorker Festival, the 62-year-old actor recalled being eight months pregnant when she began reading lines for the film alongside Cruise, 63.

I think Tom was quite embarrassed, Moore  who was pregnant at the time with her second child, Scout Willis  recalled, according to People. I actually felt okay about it. I was moving around, though, right? But I could tell he felt that it was a bit awkward.

The Independent has contacted Cruises representatives for comment.

open image in gallery Demi Moore and Tom Cruise co-starred in Rob Reiners 1992 drama, A Few Good Men ( Getty )

Moore explained that at the time, it was very rare to have a pregnant actor on set. She also admitted she may have overstretched herself trying to prove she could juggle motherhood and her career at the time.

I look back at that time now, and I go, What the f*** was I thinking? And what was I even trying to prove? But it wasnt as supported as it is today, The Substance star said. You know, to be breastfeeding and then blocking and rehearsing a scene.

She added that she went to extreme lengths to get into peak physical condition for the film right before giving birth.

I was going to be in a military uniform, and probably overly anticipated and started working out and trying to get in shape even before she was born, Moore said.

I did a two-and-a-half-hour hike the day my water broke. I did a 24-mile bike ride, and then was dancing at a reggae club  hence why she came two-and-a-half weeks early.

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Moore was married to Die Hard actor Bruce Willis between 1987 and 2000 and welcomed their three daughters during that time: Rumer (36), Scout (34), and Tallulah (31).

open image in gallery Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson starred in A Few Good Men ( Columbia Pictures )

During a talk at the British Film Institute earlier this year, Cruise remembered starring in A Few Good Men, which earned four Oscar nominations, opposite Jack Nicholson.

The film is probably most fondly remembered for the intense court debates between Cruise and Nicholson, with the latter uttering the now-famous line: You cant handle the truth.

People were kind of surrounding and filling the rafters around just to, just to watch Nicholson and I go at it, Cruise remembered of the court scenes. It was magnificent to watch him and see what a wordsmith he is, you know, like a great crooner.

 To see him carve up the dialogue and make it his own, find his own stillness. Hes very generous, an actors actor. He is off camera the whole time, just feeding, feeding me and very supportive. Hed be like, That was a good take, Tommy, nice work, Tommy. Hes just really lovely and he just loved it.
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The three of them file into the restaurant looking like soldiers emerging from the fog of war. David Harewood leads the way, flanked by Toby Jones and Caitlin FitzGerald, bringing up the rear. They appear bleary-eyed. A little shell-shocked. Its alright when youre in the tunnel of rehearsals during the week, but then the weekend comes and you sort of collapse and have to climb a ladder to get back into that state again, huffs Jones, clawing at the air. Its Monday blues times a million.

To be fair, Othello is taxing at the best of times. Shakespeares tragedy of a Black general manipulated into killing his wife by his machiavellian ensign, its full of violence, racism, murder, and misogyny. Watching the play can feel like an emotional sandblasting; acting in it, Im sure, is something else altogether. Luckily, they have a drama therapist on hand for this new production directed by Tom Morris, says Harewood. He last played the titular role in 1997, becoming the first Black actor to portray Othello at the National. This time, he does so opposite Joness Iago, FitzGeralds Desdemona  and Samantha, their drama therapist.

She helps us realise those darker moments in the room, says Harewood  but also, Jones adds, helps them to process it afterwards too. Its odd because I think, what have people done previously to this, you know? And I guess the answer is, go to the pub! They all laugh. I mean, there is a bar backstage at the National, quips Fitzgerald.

We skip the drinks today. The trio are on lunch break from rehearsals and the clock is ticking, so in quick succession: a medium rare steak with truffle fries for Harewood, and two Green Goddess salads for FitzGerald and Jones. I go for the Caesar. Its really delicious, FitzGerald assures me. Id order the same if I didnt have to smooch David. Harewood laughs, pointing out the fact she had a Thai green curry before their first kiss. But I warned you and I ate about 45 Listerine strips, she says. My mouth was on fire!

Rather than sink pints in silence, the trio are finding the presence of a drama therapist invaluable. Though Jones, a beloved telly fixture most recently seen in ITVs phone hacking drama The Hack, is the first to admit he wasnt sold on the idea initially. I thought, what is she going to do? It was so unusual. The way my generation was trained was so different; you had to learn to be tough and to be tough with each other, he says. But then there was misogyny as a result.

I have been having nightmares about men killing me so maybe I need to work with the drama therapist a little more Caitlin FitzGerald

Like Jones, Harewood is best known for his superb small-screen work. Also like Jones, he is 59 and with enough road beneath his feet to remember a time without any such safeguarding. There is a fine line between coddling actors and allowing them to talk about when they are uncomfortable, he says. I certainly grew up in a generation when there was none of that and I think Ive suffered and benefited.

As president of Londons Rada drama school, Harewood is in a better position than most to remark on his peers in training. I do think young actors now are a bit mollycoddled. They might say, Oh, I dont want to do that. It makes me uncomfortable, whereas I think, and maybe this is just the generation I grew up in, but sometimes you do have to feel uncomfortable. Thats why FitzGerald became an actor, she says, to feel uncomfortable.

open image in gallery David Harewood and Claire Skinner in The National Theatres 1997 production of Othello ( Alastair Muir/Shutterstock )

But the point of a drama therapist isnt round-the-clock comfort; its to give actors a long enough tether to explore, while knowing they can find their way back. You can go to these dark, murky, messy places and then hopefully leave it behind at the end of the day, says FitzGerald. Speaking for myself, I need to leave the theatre not feeling like a victim. That said, she jokes, I have been having nightmares about men killing me, so maybe I need to work with her a little more.

FitzGerald tells us a story shed heard about Laurence Olivier and Maggie Smith when they did Othello at the Old Vic in 1964; Smith apparently grew so fed up with Oliviers diva behaviour that during one of their fight scenes she dragged her fingers down his black-painted face, so that Olivier had to perform the rest of it looking like a kid with tiger face paint. I tell them of another tale Id heard in which Olivier, displeased with Smith off stage, had smacked her so hard during one scene that she saw stars. And that is exactly what happens when you dont have a drama therapist! exclaims FitzGerald.

open image in gallery FitzGerald and Harewood in 'Othello' ( Brinkhoff-Moegenburg )

Its certainly a different world now than when Harewood made history as Othello in 1997. Crazy it took so long, he says, shaking his head, and there were a lot of broadsheet newspapers saying that it was a terrible idea. How come? Tradition. Blackface was taken off the television in 1982, but somehow the stage escaped the Blackface [reckoning] and actors were blacking it up right up until the 1990s.

A brief aside: Harewood makes clear that his comments, seemingly defending the use of Blackface in 2023, were taken out of context. That was the BBC taking liberties with something I said, he says now, adding that the ordeal was infuriating. It was garbage. I had joked that if a white actor wants to play Othello in Blackface, do it and Ill probably be in the front row laughing my arse off. Of course, that was transposed as David Harewood says white actors can Black up. (An addendum was added to the article in question, along with a change in headline.)

The gravity of playing Othello and the responsibility of being the first Black actor at the National to do so were not lost on him back then. I wanted to play the character with more dignity as a real Black actor rather than a make-believe Black actor, he says. I was so concerned with the authenticity, being 100 per cent authentic every minute, every second, every line. And that obviously forced me to push the emotion, push the anger. He didnt think twice about meting out that anger on his Desdemona back then, Claire Skinner  to whom, by the way, Harewood would like to formally apologise because of all the screaming and manhandling.

This time, Harewood says he was scared to even broach that level of toxicity. I was thinking, can I be that horrible? Am I allowed to be that horrible? Nudging up to that line, I found really uncomfortable. Hed spent three weeks being nice and polite David Harewood and then suddenly he was growling at everyone. It was very, very uncomfortable to become a monster. It really rattled me, I had to go off in a corner and have a little bit of a sob because of this horribleness that was weighing on me. With the help of the drama therapist, though, they cracked it, it became fun to play in that territory.

open image in gallery Jones and Harewood in 'Othello' ( Brinkhoff-Moegenburg )

We just scream at each other the whole time now, grins FitzGerald. Not for nothing does Harewood call FitzGerald one of the bravest actresses hes ever worked with  a compliment she bats off but that he doubles down on: You are f***ing fearless.

F***ing fearless isnt the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Desdemona, Othellos fawning and docile new wife, who is, lets face it, a bit of a wet blanket. But FitzGeralds take on the character is far from typical. My first meeting with Tom [the director], I came in wearing my most badass leather jacket and told him I didnt want to do pious and virginal and he was like, Great! she says. I feel like I spend most of my career sort of elbowing out and trying to let women have more anger, more voice and agency, and the text on this one really bears it out. And I mean, trying to have a voice in a mans world is certainly a challenge I know about.

In many ways, the plays fulcrum is Othellos metamorphosis from devoted husband to jealous murderer on a dime. Its a quicksilver transformation, white hot and slippery. The task of any actor is to make it believable, to embody the thing that already exists in Othello to make his corruption possible. For Harewood, that thing is insecurity.

We live in a world where youve got to be the alpha male, everyones trying to be alpha David Harewood

We live in a world where youve got to be the alpha male, everyones trying to be alpha  and I do a lot of work in the mental health area and you realise that men just dont talk about their s***. You need to talk about your emotions. Its so mental that we dont do it  and we should. What we should really do is gather around, have a cup of tea and a chat, but we dont and it comes out in aggression, toxicity   FitzGerald interjects:  and killing your wives!

According to Jones, its exactly that lack of communication between men that has made his bighearted comedy Detectorists, about two ordinary blokes in search of treasure, such a hit. I think a lot of people see a gentleness and a model of male friendship in that show that they yearn for, he says, crediting his co-star and writer Mackenzie Crook. I think it really moves people because of that. Its a very progressive show in that way.

Jones as Iago is a tour de force of casting. The actor is so often mined for his kindness and perceived benignity that its easy to forget his capacity for those more moustache-twirling roles. He was strikingly convincing, for example, as the morally dubious Truman Capote in Infamous and also the psychologically opaque Alfred Hitchcock in The Girl. It has been over a decade since hes done Shakespeare on stage and Jones is a little daunted by the technical challenge presented by Iagos fast, fluid speech, or as he put it: Complete verbal diarrhoea.

open image in gallery Looks can be deceiving: Toby Jones is all smiles as Iago in Othello ( Justine Matthew )

But then again, I feel intimidated by most jobs nowadays, whereas when I was younger, I would have just done them! he adds. Now that Im older and should think that I know how to do this, I feel exactly the opposite; I dont even know if I can do it any more! But thats a nice feeling, isnt it? To feel so invested in his work so late in his life? Ah, yes, being as ancient as I am, he laughs, cupping his hand around his ear and joking that hes hard of hearing: Youll have to repeat that.

Over the decades, there have been countless iterations of Othello. Productions set in the blitz of modern-day warfare, amid the fluorescent bureaucracy of a 1930s office, and even in the galaxies of outer space. The details surrounding this one, though, are hush-hush. Its sort of out of time and place, Jones says, laughing at how unhelpful he sounds. There are echoes of today throughout the play, ventures Harewood, who is a smidge more forthcoming. Its a place where racism exists, but a person can succeed within that racist society so pretty much like todays society. And there are calls of send them back, which is, of course, very much reflective of today.

What they will say is that their take on Shakespeares tragedy hits the beats of a modern thriller more than it does a 400-year-old text. What audiences take from it is up to them, says Jones. All I want is the same thing that I want from anything: I want them to be totally entertained.

At the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, until 17 January 2026; othelloonstage.com
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In Strictly Come Dancings 21-year history, very few dramas or controversies have been mentioned on the show itself. But the latest story is simply too significant to avoid.

On Thursday, hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman  the first female duo to present a primetime programme on British television  announced that they have made the joint decision to step down at the end of the current run.

It was news that sent shockwaves through WhatsApp groups aplenty, with fans wondering both who could possibly replace the pair and what went on behind the scenes to lead to a mid-series announcement made on Instagram.

And while the show has a history of (for better or worse) rarely acknowledging events that take place outside of the ballroom, Winkleman and Daly opened Saturdays programme by addressing the elephant in the room.

We want to thank you for your beautiful messages, Winkleman said. We've got another eight weeks but it's not about us. It's about this incredible show and [we have] a Strictly champion to crown.

We cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, our incredible couples and these four, Daly added as she introduced the judges.

While Winkleman is right in saying the series isnt about her and Daly, their upcoming exit certainly cast a cloud over Saturday nights show. And for the first time, the future of Strictly seems unclear.

The show has, of course, weathered storms before. But even during last years controversy-laden series  which saw two professionals forced to quit before the launch, and then the infamous hand-gate  you never got the feeling the programme wouldnt survive.

Saturday nights episode hammered home that its hard to picture what Strictly will look like without Winkleman and Daly at the helm.

Hosting the programme is, for many reasons, a job like no other.

Clocking in at more than two-and-a-half hours long, the early episodes are a mammoth job and the speedy set changes present countless chances for hiccups. As well as keeping the show running smoothly and making sure the audience - both in the studio and at home - is entertained, the presenters provide a huge amount of support for the contestants, helping them through their nerves and consoling them when the critiques and scores are a little tough to hear.

Winkleman in particular  who spends most of the programme in the Clauditorium, which I really hope keeps its name  does a stellar job of effortlessly keeping the quips coming as she consoles or congratulates each couple after their performance, all while waiting for someone on the in-ear monitors to tell her the judges scores are ready.

Saturday night saw former Lioness Karen Carney in need of a confidence boost after her rumba didnt go to plan while Vicky Pattison became emotional following a video message from her Icons Week pick, Cheryl. Winkleman, as always, handled each situation excellently and with ease  but every time she did so, viewers were subtly reminded that she soon wont be in the role.

Watching the show, it was impossible not to feel the clock ticking until the hosts leave and I often found myself thinking about this years final. How will bosses strike a balance between keeping the focus on the Class of 2025 while also celebrating and bidding farewell to the presenting duo? Its a dilemma theyll surely be poring over a lot in the weeks to come.

Strictly isnt about Daly and Winkleman, but it sure is hard to imagine the programme without them.
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Balvinder Sopal joins the likes of former contestants Patsy Palmer, Bobby Brazier, and Rose Ayling-Ellis to become the latest EastEnders actor to take part in this years Strictly Come Dancing series.

The actor, 46, was the fifth celebrity to be announced for the lineup of the 2025 series of the BBC dance competition, and said that being a contestant on the show was a dream she never thought would happen.

Im far too excited to put into words how I feel but Im incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom! she said.

Sopal has played Suki Panesar on EastEnders since 2019 and has been at the heart of some of the soap's most gripping storylines.

These have included escaping her abusive husband Nish (Navin Chowdhry) and having an on-off affair with Eve Unwin (Heather Peace), for which she was awarded the 2024 Inside Soap Soap Superstar award.

Brought up in Chatham, Medway, the TV star attended the University of Huddersfield before making her onscreen debut in the 2001 BBC series Kidhaar!

Soap still lives in her hometown to this day. I love where I come from. Its taken me a while to really appreciate how creatively diverse Medway and surrounding areas in Kent are, she said.

open image in gallery Balvinder Sopal as Suki Panesar on EastEnders ( BBC )

Sure, some places arent as beautiful, affluent or full of rows of quaint little coffee shops, but it is full of heart, and its where I grew up. Its where I come from.

Seven years on from Kidhaar!, Sopal appeared in the BBC film White Girl, which follows 11-year-old Leah (Holly Kenny) after she moves to a predominantly Muslim area of Bradford with her family.

Sopal went on to make numerous appearances in a slew of British soap operas, including Emmerdale, Coronation Street, Doctor and Hollyoaks, as well as BBC dramas Call the Midwife and Waterloo Road, before landing her first regular role in EastEnders.

The actor has confirmed she is still appearing on the soap while taking part in Strictly, but fans might notice less of her character on their screens for the duration of the competition.

open image in gallery Soap star suffered health scare ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing launch ( Instagram/@leesopal )

She said: Strictly and Eastenders have a really great relationship. We always have somebody from the show on Strictly, so theyre very mindful.

Days before the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing launch, Soap sustained an injury during rehearsals that saw her rushed to see the shows physiotherapy team after she heard something pop as she trained.

I'm fine, everything is OK. I can still walk and still move but my left glute, my left hip is feeling a little tight and uneasy, so I'm going to get someone to look at it, the actor explained on social media.

She told fans in the days afterwards: Hip/glute all good  just tight. Thank you for all your messages of love and support. We kept dancing.
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Dakota Fanning has opened up about her experience of using the exclusive dating app Raya.

The Perfect Couple and I Am Sam actor, who can next be seen in the Sky Atlantic thriller All Her Fault, discussed her dating life in a new interview.

She told The Times that she is using Raya, the dating app popular among celebrities, which she is intending to delete.

When interviewer Laura Pullman suggested that men on dating apps seem obsessed with hobbies, Fanning, 31, responded: Oh my God, ask your single girlfriends! Every man is like, Must love mountain biking, and want to go on a hike, and want to be really adventurous and outdoorsy, must love dogs and want to go to the summit of Everest.

Im like, no, I dont want to do any of that and if I do Ill do it when I want to. Its every guy. Then its a shirtless picture of them on a mountain. Youre like, dude, save it please.

When she was in her twenties, Fanning dated the British model Jamie Strachan for three years. Later, she dated Americans Logan Markley and Henry Frye.

open image in gallery ( Getty Images )

In the new interview, the 31-year-old talked about how much she wants to have children. Being a mother is the pinnacle to me. Its the thing I cant wait for most in my life, she said. I cant remember a time when I didnt want kids. For whatever reason, it is something in me.

The actor was discussing motherhood because of her new show, All Her Fault, in which she stars opposite Sarah Snook as a mum with a high-flying career who is caught up in disaster when a child at the local school goes missing.

Fanning started acting when she was just six. In 2001, Fanning was cast to star opposite Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer in the film I Am Sam, as the daughter of a troubled man who is fighting for child custody. Fannings role in the film made her the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award, as she was just seven at the time. She went on to star in films such as Man on Fire, War of the Worlds, Ocean's 8, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Equalizer 3.

Earlier this year, in an interview with The Cut, Fanning said that the tabloid obsession with stars such as Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, and the unfortunate impact it had on their careers, was deeply shoved down my throat when she was a young person in the public eye.

Fanning said: In interviews at a young age, I remember journalists asking me, How are you avoiding becoming a tabloid girl? People would ask super-inappropriate questions. I was in an interview as a child and somebody asked, How could you possibly have any friends? Its like, Huh?
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People have used dress-up as a form of self-expression long before Halloween gave us an annual excuse to do so. Much like dreams, experts have found that dressing up in costume is a way in which we subconsciously externalize our inner thoughts and fears.

While most spooky-season attire tends to fall into two camps  sexy or scary  political mockery has also become a popular theme among adult Halloweengoers. In fact, ever since Donald Trump burst onto the political scene, it seems as if politically inspired costumes have only grown more common. But why?

According to Dr. Shahrzad Jalali, a clinical psychologist who specializes in trauma therapy, Political figures often represent powerful cultural symbols. Figures like Trump and other politicians, or even kings, essentially evoke archetypal appeal, she explains to The Independent. For example, they could represent archetypes of dominance, excess or power.

People may dress as a political figure out of admiration, as a way to signal support, or express their patriotism, Dr. Jalali notes, or as a form of rebellion and critique.

Specifically, mockery, a form of criticism, is a passive-aggressive way of demonstrating your anger about something, she says. So Trump is a polarizing public figure. His mannerisms, speech are kind of easy to imitate because, you know, hes very particular, so a mockery can be a way of processing that power that he essentially controls in society and peoples lack of comfort with it.

open image in gallery Donald Trump holds a mask of himself in 2016 at Florida rally ( AFP via Getty Images )

Oftentimes, people looking to mock Trump will wear elements that poke fun at his physical appearance and gestures. Coloring your face orange is a common way to mock the Presidents exaggerated tanned skin tone, while a combed-over blonde wig is a typical way of parodying his signature hairstyle.

Doing so could be one way to deal with political conflict that [a person] might experience at home or in their friends group, Dr. Janina Steinmetz, a Professor in Marketing at Bayes Business School with a background in social psychology, similarly tells The Independent. Laughing and making fun of things are really good ways to lighten the mood or make conflict more playful and less scary.

During Trumps first run for office in 2016, Trump mask sales went through the roof. When [Barack] Obama was running, his mask did really well, Howard Beige, an executive at Rubies Costume Co., the worlds largest producer of Halloween masks and accessories, told CBS News in 2016. I would say the Trump line is almost double the sales of that.

Previous consumer data shows that political costuming tends to slump in popularity during non-election years. Normally, the year after the election, political outfits tend to drop from the radar completely, the National Retail Federations former senior director of marketing, Ana Serafin Smith, told Vice in 2017.

This year is no different. Danielle Inman, the NRFs senior director of media relations, shared with The Independent that once again, political costumes did not come in the top 20 this year. Interestingly enough, she added that they also didnt pop up last year even though it was an election year.

While its difficult to say for sure why last year was a bust for political costuming, despite a major presidential election, Dr. Jalali offers one possible explanation.

open image in gallery Political costuming is typically more prevalent during election years ( Getty Images )

I think it depends on peoples level of comfort with their self-expression. To some extent, I think given the fact that this is such a charged domain, [it] can cause people not to want to be the center of attention, she says. People kind of refrain from posing their political stance these days, because other people can take such offense to it.

Even if this Halloween you choose to go in more of a traditional outfit, like a skeleton or a sexy maid, theres still a psychological explanation for it.

People have always used dress-up as a way to explore hidden parts of themselves or also confront things that are scary, Dr. Steinmetz says.

For example, dressing as a skeleton can be a way to make fun of death a little bit, and thereby make it less scary, she shares. On the other hand, she adds that a sexy costume may be worn as a way to show others how [you would] like to be seen.

Yet, if you happen to be one of the few outliers looking to blow off some political frustration and anger this year, Dr. Steinmetz warns that before donning a political costume, [you] should definitely think through who [you] want to get a laugh from, and whether others might be offended.

It can help to be a bit playful about contentious issues, she acknowledges, but not if the other side feels ridiculed.
How do you solve a problem like Prince Andrew? Finally, a royal conundrum that unites left and right: the disgraced ex-duke roundly castigated as dim, pompous, oversexed and entitled, and thats before conversations turn to what happened with the late Virginia Giuffre, a Jeffrey Epstein victim whose $12m receipt of a royal payoff was not enough to save her own life.

Andrew insists he is innocent. Like he insisted he had no more contact with Epstein after that fond farewell in December 2010? These days, it is all too easy to trash Andrew. The nations communal whipping boy, this pilloried blimps public denigration has become so singular that feeling sorry for him has acquired its own subculture in quiet conservative corners of England.

Yet one of the biggest questions in the week when Ms Giuffres memoir was published had nothing to do with the princes relationship with her, but of worrying about whether Andrew has paid a peppercorn rent for the Royal Lodge. The direction of travel will be of deep concern beyond palace walls. After all, what is one dodgy lease in an institution so rich, secretive and well-protected that none of us (historians, journalists, civil servants and politicians alike) have a clue exactly how Andrew finances the upkeep and security on that 30-room behemoth in Windsor Great Park?

open image in gallery Prince Andrew has dominated the headlines over the last week ( PA )

Beyond yet more headlines focused on the princes dodgy business associations, I suspect the King has something to do with it. After all, thanks to former prime minister John Major, in the wake of the late Queens annus horribilis and in exchange for paying voluntary income tax on royal wealth, the sovereign was exempt from inheritance tax on any assets passed down the line of succession.

It is rumoured (and likely) that Elizabeth II left Andrew very little (why give it directly to the second son when it can be funnelled tax-free through the first?) What you can be pretty sure of is that the late Queen will have future-proofed Andrews finances before she departed. But exactly how she did this is anyones guess. An act of parliament prevents the publication of the monarchs will. Not so for lesser royals, but despite the best efforts of some journalists, Prince Philips will is under wraps for some 90 years.

open image in gallery King Charles III, by far the richest British sovereign in modern times, meets members of the public outside the Papal Basilica ( PA )

As for King Charles  by far the richest British sovereign in modern times  we were told he cut his brother off financially last year. Beyond the gleeful headlines, where is the actual proof? Of course, one does not question the monarch. Convention dictates that MPs cant even raise queries about His Majesty or the royal family in parliament.

Please note that the government has rejected a tabled debate on Andrews titles and taxpayer-funded home. After all, bills require royal assent, and one would not want to put King Charles in an invidious position. Supine politicians of all colours have always found it easier to roll over in the face of royal turbulence. As ex-Tory chancellor Ken Clarke sagely observed: most are so in awe of the royal family that expressions of displeasure from the palace about issues bearing directly on the family can usually produce quite significant policy shifts.

However, certain administrations have been more prone to capitulation in the face of royal pressure than others. Under prime minister David Cameron, a distant cousin of the late Queen whose first job in politics came with a recommendation from Buckingham Palace, a new financial deal was struck for royalty  the sovereign grant replaced the civil list and even when the penny dropped that it would guarantee royalty a financial win even in a bad year, any attempts at push back were futile. The palace dug its heels in and that was that. Likewise, under Camerons stewardship, royal correspondence was protected from costly freedom of information inquiries.

In other words, todays equivalent of those infamous black spider memos from the then Prince Charles would never see the light of day. We have no clue whether and what lobbying powers Prince William engages in because Cameron severed one of the few means of evaluating behind-the-scenes royal influence on the body politic.

open image in gallery There has been recent concern about whether Prince Andrew has paid a peppercorn rent for the Royal Lodge ( Reuters )

William and his father, as the dukes of vast business and real estate conglomerates  Cornwall and Lancaster, respectively  not only evade corporation, capital gains and inheritance tax, but they have an unchallenged back-channels into the heart of government decision-making. Phew, you well may think, thank goodness Andrew wasnt the late Queens firstborn. How lightly we escaped with Andrew masquerading as a mere national trade envoy (one inexplicably protected from FOI inquiries until 2065).

But there is a very serious point here about transparency when it comes to the royal familys wealth, private investments and other sources of income that are kept from the public. William appeared on a carefully curated Apple TV documentary recently to talk about change under his stewardship when the time comes. But exactly what sort of change?

Do we really think he is going to usher in an era of transparency, hack away at the thicket of privilege and opacity that the royals have for so long enjoyed? Of course, he isnt. William is talking of superficial optics, the sort our press are obsessed with  for example, whether Andrew is allowed into Sandringham this Christmas, or if there will be 12 royals, not 10 on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping.

open image in gallery Prince William appeared on a carefully curated Apple TV documentary recently to talk about change ( PA )

The sort of structural change our royal family so desperately needs is less superficial and far more uncomfortable: it would require a radical overhaul and opening up of the system that governs royaltys wealth and political access.

As it stands, the House of Windsor relies entirely on the decency of its respective players. Andrew is a predictable dud in an institution urgently requiring major renovation. Let them eat cake, came Marie Antoinettes apocryphal cry before she lost her head. History tells us that subjects overthrow ruling dynasties if they show themselves to be out of touch, even exploitative.

In contemporary Britain, much is made of our constitutional monarchys lack of real political power as the key to its exceptional survival. But ultimately, that survival is dependent on the royal familys popularity with the public.

If recent polling is to be believed, going forward, that popular support is by no means a given. In other words, the House of Windsor cannot afford another Andrew. But the odds suggest there will be another, unless the political establishment grasps the nettle and is brave enough to talk truth and real change to royal power.

Tessa Dunlop is the author of Elizabeth and Philip, the Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchy
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Bijou Phillips, the ex-wife of actor Danny Masterson, wants to change her daughter's last name in the wake of Masterson's rape conviction two years ago.

Phillips, 45, filed a request in a California court on October 24 to change the name of her 11-year-old daughter from Fianna Francis Masterson to Fianna Francis Phillips, according to PEOPLE.

A judge is currently reviewing the request, according to TMZ, which broke the story.

On Friday, a judge also changed both Phillips and Masterson's legal statuses to "single."

Masterson, 49, was convicted of raping two women in September 2023. He is currently being held at North Kern State Prison in Delano, California.

Bijou Phillips, left, with her ex-husband Danny Masterson, right. Phillips filed for divorce after Masterson was convicted on two rape charges and sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. ( Invision )

Phillips filed for divorce from Masterson, whom she'd been married to for approximately 12 years, two weeks after he was sentenced. Her reason for the divorce was listed as "irreconcilable differences."

Ms Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter," Phillips' lawyer, Peter Lauzon, told PEOPLE in a statement at the time.

After his sentencing and the divorce filing, Masterson agreed to give Phillips full custody of their daughter.

Masterson was initially charged in 2020 with raping three women in separate incidents between 2001 and 2003. He was initially found guilty in May 2023 of two counts of rape. The third rape charge ended in a hung jury after more than seven days of deliberation.

In September, Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. He has maintained his innocence throughout his trial and sentencing.

Before his sentencing, Phillips submitted a letter to the judge describing Masterson as an "amazing father" and saying he and their daughter had an "inseparable" bond.

Since then, Masterson has filed to appeal his conviction. His lawyers have argued that the trial was "rife with erroneous judicial rulings that skewed the jury's view of the evidence against him," and that a "stunning amount of exculpatory evidence" was withheld from the jury.

Phillips has reportedly begun a relationship with fashion mogul Jamie Mazur.
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A popular YouTuber known as Mr. Crafty Pants was arrested for allegedly possessing and distributing sexual images of children on social media.

Michael David Booth, who gained over half a million YouTube subscribers and hundreds of thousands of followers on Facebook and Instagram for his DIY craft tutorials, was arrested Wednesday in Kentucky after police say he shared the disturbing images on the social media app, Kik, WAVE News reported.

The 39-year-old social media influencer allegedly possessed six explicit photos, three of which showed children under the age of 12 and three that depicted teenagers.

The images of the children under 12 were shared at least 12 times, whereas those of the teens were distributed at least 15 times, according to an arrest report obtained by the outlet.

The files containing illicit material involving children were allegedly sent from Booths Kik account between August 5 and August 7, according to Fox 56.

open image in gallery Michael David Booth, known online as Mr. Crafty Pants, was arrested Wednesday for allegedly possessing and distributing child pornography, according to reports ( Mr. Crafty Pants/ Facebook )

A search warrant on Booths Kik reportedly unveiled two selfie-type photos of Booth, allegedly confirming he was behind the account, according to the outlet.

Additionally, a subpoena for the IP address used to distribute the disturbing material returned as Booths home address in Prospect, a rural suburb of Louisville, according to WAVE News.

His arrest left the typically quiet neighborhood shaken.

So we walked out our front door on Wednesday to a very heavy police presence, Laura Nash, who lives across the street from Booth, told WDRB. My heart dropped. Felt sick to my stomach. It was gut-wrenching and eye-opening.

Another neighbor, Lindsay Smart, noted a Halloween sign in Booths front yard reading, I smell children, showed that appearances could be deceiving.

open image in gallery Booth was charged with at least 20 counts of distributing matter portraying sexual performance by a minor ( Louisville Metro Department of Corrections )

You feel like you know your neighbors, but what goes on behind closed doorsI guess we never know, Smart said. Its sickening, its disgusting, and Im so glad he got caught.

Booth was charged with at least 20 counts of distributing matter portraying sexual performance by a minor.

Booth appeared in Jefferson County District Court Thursday morning, where a judge set his bond at $100,000 full cash and ordered that he have no contact with minors, and no Internet or social media access.

Booth entered a plea of not guilty on all charges.
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Review Eating outTullamarine Ceylon Spicy Foods is an all-you-can-eat flavour extravaganza The friendly suburban restaurant excels at complex curries, crisp hoppers and the kind of Sri Lankan food your mother would give you at home. Sanka Amadoru October 26, 2025 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

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1 / 6 Ceylon Spicy Foods owner Rajika Bandara. Eddie Jim 2 / 6 Pork curry and hoppers at Ceylon Spicy. Eddie Jim 3 / 6 Ceylon Spicys beans and cashews. Eddie Jim 4 / 6 Potatoes and lentils. Eddie Jim 5 / 6 The black pork curry is a standout. Eddie Jim 6 / 6 Spices mingle with coconut and vegetable aromas at Ceylon Spicy Foods. Eddie Jim Previous Slide Next Slide Sri Lankan$$$$ Upon crossing the threshold of Ceylon Spicy Foods, youll be greeted by a cavalcade of scents and sounds. Spices mingle with coconut, vegetable, and meat aromas, jostling for airspace alongside the hum of quiet conversation or the refrain of easy-listening karaoke. The dine-in option follows a common format for Sri Lankan restaurants around Melbourne: indicate to staff that you would like to partake in the all-you-can-eat buffet, and theyll happily supply you with a plate and point you to available seats. A self-service adventure begins, with as much or as little guidance as you care to ask for. Starting with a foundation of rice in the plates centre is advisable, although chopped koththu roti (ordinarily a type of street food) could be added or substituted. Various vegetable curries allow you to begin adding concentric layers of complexity. Parippu, better known as dhal or stewed red lentils, is considered an essential addition, providing mild turmeric-laced counterpoint to the more chilli-forward options to come.

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Pork curry and hoppers at Ceylon Spicy. Eddie Jim There is often a jackfruit curry  either in its ripened form, yellow, tender, and mild; or young jackfruit, cooked down with a robust dark-roasted spice mix until the mouthfeel is firm but yielding. Greens may more commonly take the form of curried runner beans or spiced and diced kale with onion. A rotating cast of buffet dishes makes it unlikely youll see the same combination of options twice. Ceylon Spicy Foods founder Rajika Bandara started her cooking journey by learning from her mother and grandmother. Bandaras food endeavours in Australia began with preparing homemade meals for homesick migrant students settling in Melbournes northern suburbs. She wanted to provide food your mother would give you at home and eschewed the richer fare found in most restaurants. When COVID lockdowns occurred, Bandara bought a food truck which quickly became too popular for its confines. When the current brick-and-mortar venue became available, she saw an opportunity to transport an authentic experience of being in a restaurant in Sri Lanka to Melbourne  and seized it. Spices mingle with coconut and vegetable aromas at Ceylon Spicy Foods. Eddie Jim

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To bolster that sense of authenticity, several elements of the restaurant are imported. Wall hangings and traditional masks evoke places on the islands southern shores. Serving spoons are made from shells of coconuts, with handles from the trees that bear them. Traditional clay pots have left many miles of ocean behind them. The thatching over the buffet line pays homage to rustic village roofs. Hard-to-find ingredients are shipped in, frozen or dry goods. For omnivores, the chicken red curry is a classic; the meat is cooked bone-in to lend depth of flavour to the gravy, which I suggest you drizzle across your rice or roti. A standout black pork curry is often available. Its base is made in a traditional manner, by painstakingly grinding singed raw rice and dried coconut into a powder. Additional depth is conferred by goraka (a citrus-leaning souring ingredient similar to tamarind), and heat by black pepper and chilli. Most nights see the hopper cooking station in action: rice flour batter is fermented overnight and poured into specialised pans, emerging as crisp, savoury, hemispheric pancakes. You might break some off with your hand and scoop up some of the parippu and ochre chilli-coconut-lime pol sambol for an odyssey of texture and flavour in one bite. Ceylon Spicys beans and cashews. Eddie Jim Hoppers with an added egg are also available, charged in addition to the buffets flat pricing. Dessert might be yoghurt with palm treacle, or a cardamom-spiced coconut custard called watalappam  but given the quality of the main meal, you may wish to focus your attention there. Other non-buffet food options include baked and fried savouries in the warmed cabinet. A variety of tropical drinks and takeaway desserts await discovery in the fridge.

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Ceylon Spicy Foods has a sense of cosiness and warmth of character, and is welcoming to all comers despite largely being frequented by a loyal Sri Lankan following. However, like many all-you-can-eat establishments, the space is not designed for hours of lingering. The bathrooms are difficult to navigate to; seating is practical without being uncomfortable. For those wanting to enjoy the food elsewhere, takeaway and even catering is available, or you could visit their newer food court location in Craigieburns Highlands Shopping Centre. I should also note that Ceylon Spicys Sunday takeaway extravaganza is exceptional. At opening time, several restaurant tables heave with approximately 40 types of curries, predominantly vegetarian or vegan, ready for mix-and-match meal building at home. It may be the most diverse offering of its kind in the city and sells out quickly. Three other Sri Lankan takeaway gems in the northern suburbs Serendib Originally a fish-and-chip shop, its easy to drive past Serendib on Plenty Road without really noticing it. The full complement of rice and curries is now available, along with short eats (savoury bakery goods), filled roti, koththu roti, and Sri Lankan adaptations of biryani and Chinese dishes. 951 Plenty Road, Kingsbury, serendibfood.com.au MKS Spicesn Things This South Asian grocery stocks Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani, and Fijian-Indian dry goods. Bain-maries warm Sri Lankan and South Indian curries and short eats. Dine in or add takeaway packs to your haul of raw rice, dried pulses, and jars of tropical pickles and chutneys. 258 High Street, Preston, mymks.com.au Chef Lanka This casual restaurant adjoins a grocery well stocked with non-perishable and frozen goods. Takeaway and dine-in options include traditional vegetable, meat, and fish curries (the dhal and skipjack tuna being particularly good), Sri Lankan biryanis, koththu roti, and short eats. 87 Wheatsheaf Road, Glenroy Related Article Review Is this tucked away buffet the cheapest feast in the south-east? Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

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It can now be revealed that Perkovic was one of those accused of receiving a Versace gold bracelet from Mick Gatto as the gangland figure sought to win favour from the union. The administration was aware of the gift allegation when Perkovic was promoted. On Sunday, union leader Leo Skourdoumbis, the national assistant secretary Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (which was previously the manufacturing wing of the CFMEU) joined ex-CFMEU national secretary John Sutton to launch a scathing attack on Irvings failure to reform the CFMEU in Victoria, despite making inroads in NSW and Queensland. Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union national assistant secretary Leo Skourdoumbis. Credit: 60 Minutes Skourdoumbis said Irvings administration didnt have the people, resources or wherewithal to undertake this important task of eradicating corruption. It must find people with the knowledge, experience and political will to do the job, or it will lurch from crisis to crisis. Members view it as a shambles, he said.

This masthead has confirmed warnings about Perkovic, made to the administration from as early as last year, appear to never have been thoroughly investigated, remaining unchecked when he was elevated in July to the role of CFMEU construction co-ordinator, a key leadership position in the unions powerful Victorian branch. Loading Union sources said the first concerns about Perkovic were raised with Irvings administration by two complainants last October, and then by a third in November. None offered hard proof of Perkovics corruption, although one of the complainants said they told an administration official they had allegedly paid a kickback to Perkovic. In his statement, Irving stressed that prior to his sacking on Thursday, Perkovic had been promoted only on an interim basis.

The administration will act decisively when we have credible evidence of wrongdoing, he said. Irving also defended his administrations unique and complex work, which involves not only running a union with tens of thousands of members across the nation but carrying out investigations involving organised crime suspects and reforming a toxic culture that entrenched itself in the CFMEU over two decades and withstood two royal commissions. We continue to call on the industry, regulators and governments to assist in the broader challenge of ridding the construction industry of corruption, and for employers to stand up and stop the practice of enabling organised crime, Irving said. In August 2024, Perkovic was flagged as potentially corrupt in allegations, albeit unproven, passed confidentially to the unions Melbourne counter-corruption team that Irving had hired, only to abruptly abandon work weeks later without explanation.

The team was headed by leading anti-corruption and fraud specialist, former policeman turned barrister Andrew Tragardh, and his law firm partner Tam McLaughlin, who was formerly the chief lawyer at Victorias corruption watchdog, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. After the pairs firm Duxton Hill was hired by Irving, they recruited Hamish Myers, the former acting director of IBAC, to head Irvings internal corruption unit, and attended meetings between Irving and construction industry leaders to gain support for his role as administrator. Former police officer turned barrister Andrew Tragardh. Sources said Duxton Hill also confidentially advised Irving to implement an in-depth whistleblower handling process and call for greater powers from the government to clean up the union. But Myers quit suddenly in September, privately citing concerns the administration wasnt serious about resourcing and fully implementing the recommended whistleblower and investigative strategy.

Despite Myers and Duxton Hill contacting informants and setting out an investigative strategy, they commenced no investigations and, after they ceased working for Irving, the informants were told to instead debrief other administrative staff. Sources have confirmed that whistleblowers, including former union insiders and industry complainants, have, on occasion, disclosed sensitive information to the administration in a highly inconsistent manner. Some have been debriefed by the man who became chief investigator, barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, or another senior lawyer, Craig Newton. While both have experience conducting integrity probes, other whistleblowers and insiders have instead been debriefed by other senior administrative staff who, while highly respected as trade union and political advisers, have little or no formal investigative or whistleblowing training. Skourdoumbis, who has spoken to three industry whistleblowers who had been debriefed by the administration, said the administration had dismally failed to protect those few individuals who have been prepared to come forward with information.

Irving also abruptly stopped using the forensic investigative services of an anti-corruption team from consulting firm KordaMentha, which was headed by former federal police and NSW police assistant commissioner Chris Craner. Loading The KordaMentha team was cut unexpectedly after only a few weeks of intensive work in NSW and Queensland, where Craner convinced more than a dozen informants to meet his team in secure offsite premises to disclose highly sensitive information about union and industry misbehaviour. But sources, not able to speak publicly about the confidential matters, said Craners plans to launch in-depth anti-corruption investigations dissolved after KordaMentha delivered interim reports, with Watson taking over the consulting firms investigations. A union insider, likewise speaking anonymously about the unions internal workings, said: of course a number of firms were looking forward to the billings.

The job of returning the union to its members free of corruption and still able to represent the interests of construction workers is a serious job that requires more than just seeking profile in the media. This problem was years in the making and will take years to fix, they said. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Sunday defended her governments record and progress to date on cleaning up the union. Premier Jacinta Allan defended her governments actions to clean up the CFMEU. Credit: Chris Hopkins She said the administrator was working closely with federal and state police, but gave no timeline for when the investigations into the CFMEU would conclude or whether the administrator needed more support. A lot of this work involves intensive police investigations it is important that we let those policing agencies do their work, she said.
An alarming number of Australian women have been killed in recent years. Find out more about their lives. Some of the cases are still before the courts.

A man has been charged with murder after police say he allegedly stabbed a woman at a home in Western Australias north just minutes before emergency services arrived.

Police were called to the house on Friday. Credit: Hannah Murphy

Police said they were called to the home on Frederick Street in Broomes town centre just before 8pm on Friday night, responding to reports a woman had been seriously injured.

She was rushed to Broome Hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds, and police found a man nearby and arrested him.

It will be alleged a verbal altercation occurred between the two individuals inside the residence, before the man stabbed the woman several times with a knife, a WA police spokesperson said.
Melania probably doesnt care. As The New York Times Katie Rogers reported in her book about first ladies, American Woman, Melania only dropped by the East Wing, which held the offices for the first lady and her staff, a couple of times in the first term. She hasnt been around much this term, either.

Treasury Department employees, who work opposite the razing, were warned not to share pictures of it. There must be a sense that its profane, as it was in 1980 when Trump smashed Bonwit Tellers limestone friezes, which he had promised to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to build Trump Tower. The friezes had little artistic merit, said a vice president of the Trump company, identified as John Baron  a fake name Trump used, he acknowledged while testifying in a lawsuit over his use of hundreds of illegal Polish immigrants for the demolition.

But Trump has so little respect for this 123-year-old symbol of American history that he didnt check with federal planning officials or Congress before he obliterated one side of the White House. As if hes tearing down a petrol station.

When I visited the White House with my mum as a kid, we loved overhearing foreign tourists ooh and ah about how relatively small and modest the house was. Its simplicity was part of its charm. We didnt have the grand castles of the European nobility. It was just a nice house with good curb appeal.

Trump does not do small or modest. He does big, flashy odes to self. The joke when Trump was first running was that hed slap his name on the White House facade as he did with all his other properties. And now its happening. White House officials are saying Trump will name the ballroom after himself.
Foreign investors are buying more property in Victoria than in any other state in the country, despite a raft of new fees and taxes aimed at cooling offshore demand.

Overseas buyers bought 2606 properties in Victoria last year compared with 1703 in 2021-22, a more than 50 per cent increase over two years, figures from the Australian Taxation Offices inaugural Register of Foreign Ownership report show.

Victoria was the nations top destination for foreign buyers looking for properties last year Credit: Eamon Gallagher

They spent $2.25 billion on new homes and land across the state last year.

Most international buyers in Victoria were drawn to new dwellings and undeveloped land worth less than $1 million, rather than established or luxury properties.
Travel eSIMs can not only help you avoid expensive roaming packages; they can also now apparently get you into airport lounges, keep you safe from hackers, and even help you skip the queue at check-in.

What once felt like a niche hack for techy travellers is now an essential part of anyones packing list, and not just for anyone wanting to access Google Maps or FaceTime abroad. Rather than pay upwards of $10 a day for slow mobile data, or put up with dodgy hotel Wi-Fi, eSIMs are often a far superior alternative offering unlimited data  and calls and texts  at a far cheaper rate. Theyre a digital SIM thats built into your device, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards, and they typically activate in one minute or less. Just buy one online before you travel, and off you go.

Sailys Ultra pitch is bold, and arguably bordering on crazy: gain airport lounge access, skip the lines at security and check-in, and get unlimited data for your whole trip. Credit:

There are a few issues to be aware of. Theyre only compatible with newer devices, at least smartphones that were released in the past five years or so, so first make sure that yours is eSIM-compatible. Theyre also a bit more fiddly than a physical SIM in terms of replacing them, and some of them dont come with a phone number, just data.

The good part is that most newer smartphones have dual SIM functionality, meaning you can still leave your Australian SIM or eSIM in place, and add a travel eSIM for data. Just double-check your settings so your phone doesnt quietly rack up roaming fees. Each of the eSIMs mentioned here are super simple to set up, and provide support if you have any issues.
US President Donald Trump has announced he plans to hike tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10 per cent because of an anti-tariff television ad using the words of former president Ronald Reagan aired by the province of Ontario.

Trumps post on Truth Social on Sunday (AEDT) follows days of public clashes over the ad, which used excerpts from a 1987 Reagan speech defending free trade and slamming tariffs as an outdated notion that stifles innovation, drives up prices and hurts US workers.

On Friday (AEDT), Trump suspended trade negotiations with Canada. The next day, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would pull the ad after the weekend so that trade talks could resume. However, Trump escalated his response because the ad ran during the first game of the baseball World Series over the weekend.

Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform as he flew on Air Force One to Malaysia.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan a must to encourage people to adopt Swadeshi products





Staff Reporter :

A review meeting on the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan and discussions on the outline of ensuing programmes were held under the chairmanship of BJP District President Ratnesh Sonkar at the divisional office. Addressing the meeting, Sonkar said that under the campaign, conferences promoting the use of Swadeshi products have already been organised in the West,

East and Cantt Assembly constituencies, while the North Assembly conference will be held shortly. He informed that a district-level youth conference will take place on October 30, followed by womens conferences and traders small industry meets aimed at strengthening the message of self-reliance. He emphasised that the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan must reach every booth level to encourage people to participate and adopt Swadeshi products. Sonkar urged everyone to contribute to

Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of making India a fully developed nation by 2047. He said the main goal of the campaign is to promote indigenous products and move the nation towards greater economic self-sufficiency. Sonkar further informed that a Swadeshi Mela will be organised in the district and between November 16 and 30, various youth, women and traders conventions will be conducted at the mandal level. During these events, citizens will be encouraged to sign the

Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Patra and join a door-to-door awareness campaign to promote Swadeshi goods. He also informed that on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Indias first Home Minister and Iron Man, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, several programmes will be organised by the party to honour his contribution to national unity and integrity.
CM extends Chhath greetings





Bhopal :

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Saturday extended heartfelt greetings to people on the occasion of nahay-khaay, marking the beginning of four-day festival of faith and devotion Chhath Puja. In a post on the social media platform X on the first day of Chhath Puja, the festival that represents ultimate dedication and sacrifice for the well-being of children and prosperity of family,

Chief Minister Yadav stated, May Chhathi Maiya and Lord Surya fulfill wishes of mothers, the embodiments of maternal love and bestow ever increasing happiness, prosperity and abundance. A large number of people from Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh living in Madhya Pradesh will be celebrating the Chhath Puja across the state, including Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior. The State Government, along with municipal corporations and other urban bodies, has made elaborate arrangements for Chhath Puja, especially ghats where the devotees would gather to offer prayers to the Sun God. On the first day, devotees, known as

Vratis (people who are fasting), take a holy dip in rivers or ponds and consume a simple, sattvic (having qualities of purity, harmony, and balance) meal of arwa chawal (plain rice) and lauki ki sabzi (bottle gourd curry) after offering prayers. With roots tracing back to the Satyuga and Dwapara Yuga, Chhath Puja is regarded as one of the oldest forms of Sun worship. Devotees observe strict fasting, abstaining from food and water for extended periods to express devotion and seek blessings of prosperity, health, and happiness. Chhath Puja is one of the most significant Hindu festivals, primarily observed in Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. It is also celebrated in parts of Nepal and among Indian communities across the world.

Dedicated to the worship of the Sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasises purity, gratitude, and the well-being of ones family. The four-day celebration involves elaborate rituals that symbolise purification, faith, and self-control: Day 1  Nahay Khaay: The festival begins with devotees taking a holy dip in a river or pond to cleanse themselves. They bring vegetables and pulses and prepare the first offerings, emphasising cleanliness and sanctity. Day 2  Kharna: On this day, devotees observe a strict fast from sunrise to sunset.

They prepare offerings of jaggery, rice, and wheat, breaking their fast in the evening after making offerings to the deity. The prasad (ritual food offerings) is then shared with family, friends, and neighbours to promote unity and community spirit. Day 3  Sandhya Arghya: Devotees gather near water bodies in the evening to offer arghya (prayers and offerings) to the setting Sun. They present fruits, sugarcane, and prasad to express gratitude to the Sun god for sustaining life on Earth. Day 4  Usha Arghya:

The final day is dedicated to offering prayers to the rising Sun. Devotees break their fast after making offerings, symbolising renewal and spiritual rebirth. The prasad is distributed among family and community members, marking the end of the rituals. Chhath Puja is celebrated with simplicity, dedication, and purity. The offerings, including fruits, vegetables, and sweets, represent the gifts of nature, and the ritual of fasting and prayers signifies the devotees willingness to cleanse their body, mind, and soul. The primary essence of Chhath Puja is gratitude, as it fosters respect for natural resources and the harmonious relationship between nature and humankind.
Drivers stage strike over long-standing issues





Our Correspondent :

KORBA :

KORBA district witnessed major disruption on Saturday as drivers across key routes launched two separate strikes, affecting traffic and local commutes. Hundreds of truck, bus and auto-rickshaw operators blocked national highways, while SCC Company drivers staged a sit-in at the SECL GM office, protesting long-standing grievances over wages, safety, and working conditions.

On the call of the Chhattisgarh Drivers Mahasangh, an indefinite strike and road blockade began across the state on October 25 in support of their 11-point demands. In Korba, drivers parked hundreds of trucks, buses, auto-rickshaws and other vehicles on the national highway at Pali and Dumarkachar since early morning, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides. Office bearers of the Mahasangh said the agitation would continue until the State Government takes concrete action on their demands.

They noted that the Odisha Government has already implemented measures related to driver safety and welfare and the Chhattisgarh government should take similar steps. Among the main demands are implementing a liquor ban in Chhattisgarh, establishing a Drivers Commission and safety law, setting up a Driver Welfare Board, and declaring September 1 as Drivers Day.

The blockade caused long traffic queues on the Korba, Katghora, Pali, and Bilaspur routes. Many passenger buses and cargo vehicles were stranded for hours, and essential services were partially affected. Police forces were deployed to monitor the situation. Meanwhile, drivers and workers of the SCC Company staged a sit-in protest on Saturday in front of the SECL GM office, Manikpur, over wage irregularities in recent months. Delayed payments have made it difficult for workers to support their families. Additionally, overtime payments are not being made.

Drivers claimed that despite working up to 12 hours a day in the mine, they are only paid for eight hours. Safety equipment such as helmets, gloves, and shoes are also not being provided on time. Protesters stated that they had submitted memorandums to management several times regarding wages, overtime, bonuses, and safety standards, but no positive action had been taken. They warned that if their grievances were not addressed soon, they would intensify their agitation. According to sources, talks are expected between the SECL administration and the company management. Police and administrative officials are closely monitoring the situation to ensure it remains under control.
Explosion of vehicles batteriesmajor cause of Andhra bus fire





KURNOOL :

A DAY after 19 passengers were charred to death in a fire in a private bus here, the Andhra Pradesh Police on Saturday said the explosion of two 12 KV batteries contributed more to the blaze than the two-wheelers fuel tank.

The two-wheeler was dragged forward underneath the bus, leading to the bursting of its fuel tank and subsequent ignition of the fire. The driver of the bus and the additional driver have been taken into custody by the police, although they hold the former culpable.

In the wee hours of Friday, the sleeper bus from Hyderabad to Bengaluru ran over a two-wheeler, which had already met with an accident, at Chinna Tekuru village in Kurnool district, resulting in the eruption of a raging fire which burned 19 passengers to death.

There were 44 passengers in the bus and several managed to escape the fire. That (two-wheeler fuel tank) wasnt the major cause of fire.The tank got burst and fire erupted exactly at the main exit door. And behind the main exit door there were bus batteries, two 12 KV batteries.

These batteries exploded, Kurnool Range deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Koya Praveen told PTI. He said there were two points of combustion.

First was the twowheelers fuel tank and the second was its impact at the bus battery toolkit. Besides these two points, Praveen observed, the bus was also furnished with highly combustible materials, including metallic paint, which further aggravated the blaze.

Though there was as consignment of cell phones in the bus, theDIG downplayed theirrole in the flareup, observing that they were mostly intact and blamed the buss batteries. Meanwhile, police took the driver,MiriyalaLakshmaiah(42) and additional driver Siva Narayana into custody. However, they are holding Lakshmaiahculpableashewas driving thebuswhenitran over the skidded two-wheeler.

KurnooldistrictSuperintendent ofPoliceVikrantPatilnotedthat thedriverhadescapedtheinferno by jumping outthrough the passenger door and failed to gauge the situation.

Afterescapingtheragingfire, Lakshmaiah wokeuptheadditional driver sleeping in the luggagerackatthebottomportion of the bus between the front and rear wheels. Realising that they cannot enterthevehicle,

togetherthey started breaking the window paneswitharodusedtochange tyres, enabling some passengers to escape the blaze, said Patil. Some onlookers also broke a few more window panes while some others were broken from insidebythepanic-strickenpassengersrushing to escape, he said.

However, the fire continued to rage and engulf the entire bus, prompting the scared Lakshmaiah to fleethespot.Policepickedhim up from Kurnool on Friday. They have booked Lakshmaiahfornegligenceand overspeeding.
Half the population, half the right FB post jolts CG Cong





Staff Reporter :

Raipur :

In the midst of the ongoing Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan (organisation restructuring) within the Chhattisgarh Congress, a social media post by prominent contender Priti Upadhyay Shukla has triggered discussion across party ranks. A known grassroots worker and city-level organiser, Shukla  seen as a strong aspirant for the Raipur City Congress Committee presidentship  wrote an emotional yet assertive Facebook note calling for Nari Nyay and demanding half the rights for half the population. Her post, though framed in personal reflection, underscored a deeper unease within the womens wing over lack of recognition and opportunity.

Women like us are looking towards Rahul Gandhi with hope, she wrote, referring to the partys assurance that final appointments will be made based on reports submitted by senior leader K C Venugopal. In her message, Shukla took a veiled swipe at entrenched power centres within the party, hinting that the same old guards may once again dominate the selection process. Will the same monopolists set their own people again? she questioned, warning that ignoring committed women workers would weaken the organisation from within.

The post echoes the wider concern regarding representation of women within political structures. While the Congress leadership has publicly committed to offering 50 per cent organisational representation to women and youth, Shuklas remarks have highlighted that the implementation process remains under close watch. Her statement has drawn attention within organisational circles for stressing inclusion and equal participation in leadership positions. Party sources confirmed that the social media post surfaced even as the Congress high command is in the final phase of reviewing reports submitted by organisational in-charges regarding appointments of city and district presidents.

The restructuring exercise, initiated under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, is being directly monitored by senior leaders including Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal. According to party insiders, recommendations from Chhattisgarh have been compiled and final decisions are expected shortly even as Shuklas statement has drawn attention within the party for highlighting the demand of greater representation to women functionaries in the forthcoming organisational appointments.
India looks to increase rice exports to 26 markets: APEDA





Rice exports are growing at a healthy rate and the country looks to increase shipments to 26 global markets, including the Philippines, Indonesia, the UK and Mexico, APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev said recently. Rice exports in September rose by 33.18 per cent to USD 925 million, and during April-September by 10 per cent to USD 5.63 billion. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority

(APEDA) is an arm of the commerce ministry which deals with issues related to the countrys agri exports. We are looking to expand our exports to these 26 markets, Dev told reporters here while briefing about the Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2025. These 26 nations include Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Iraq, the US, Malaysia, China, France, the UAE, Brazil, South Africa, Belgium, Japan, Germany and Kenya. These nations import a significant amount of rice from India's competitors such as Pakistan.

The two-day event will be held at Bharat Mandapam here. It is being organised by the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) in collaboration with APEDA. Dev said that the Conference will bring together producers, exporters, importers, policymakers, financiers, logisticians, research institutions, and allied service providers to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and resilience in the global rice trade. India is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of rice, supplying to over 172 countries. Therefore, BIRC 2025 will provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to position their presence in global food supply chains, he said.
IPS Gargs tech-based probe research published in SVPNPA





Staff Reporter :

Raipur :

In a remarkable professional achievement for Chhattisgarh Police, the research paper of Durg Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ramgopal Garg (IPS) has been published in the latest issue of the prestigious Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) Journal, Hyderabad.

The paper, titled Use of Technology in Policing  Investigation of Bank Dacoity Case, showcases an innovative model of technology-led investigation in major criminal cases. The SVPNPA Journal, brought out by the countrys apex police training institution, is known for featuring seminal works on modern policing practices and research-based innovations. IGP Gargs study documents the use of Gait Pattern Analysis and CCTV Footage Analysis in solving a high-profile bank dacoity case reported in Raigarh.

The paper notes that this was the first instance in Chhattisgarh where Gait Analysis - the scientific study of a persons walking pattern - was applied to identify the accused. The technique helped investigators establish the suspects physical presence through scientifically validated gait parameters, providing crucial corroborative evidence. As then Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Raigarh, Garg led the investigation that achieved a 100 per cent detection rate and resulted in the recovery of Rs 5.62 crore looted from the bank within just 15 hours.

The case is now cited as an example of how technology, when strategically integrated into policing, can transform investigation speed and accuracy. The paper elaborates on the theoretical framework, procedural application, and forensic admissibility of Gait Analysis in criminal proceedings. It also outlines how modern tools like CCTV analytics, mobile data mapping, digital forensics, and data correlation have collectively reshaped policing methodologies, making them more scientific and evidence-oriented.

The study further highlights Gargs subsequent initiatives, including the development of Trinayan App for CCTV location mapping and Sashakt App for vehicle theft tracking, both of which have enhanced data-driven policing within the Durg Range. Senior officials at Police Headquarters (PHQ) described the publication as a matter of institutional pride, stating that IGP Gargs research in the SVPNPA Journal stands as a testament to how data intelligence and modern investigation techniques can redefine efficiency in law enforcement.
Municipal Commr convenes joint meet to boost improvement of civic infrastructure





Staff Reporter :

In a decisive step toward improving the citys civic infrastructure and public amenities, the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation has intensified efforts to bring major reforms. Focusing on strengthening the citys cleanliness and waste management systems, Municipal Commissioner Ram Prakash Ahirwar convened a joint meeting with senior officials and sanitation contractors, on Saturday. During the meeting, he issued a final warning to contractors, stressing that cent-per-cent e-attendance of sanitation workers is mandatory.

He set a deadline of October 30 for contractors to streamline the attendance system and ensure complete digital registration of workers presence. Municipal Commissioner Ahirwar made it clear that the payment for October (to be released in November) will be processed strictly on the basis of e-attendance records and all contractors signed their agreement to this directive during the meeting.

To bring better transparency in sanitation drives, the Municipal Commissioner instructed that by 6.30 am every morning, the attendance of all sanitation workers must be recorded and a group photograph clearly showing the total number of workers must be shared in the designated WhatsApp group by the Chief Sanitation Inspector and the concerned contractors. He emphasised that only the workers assigned to designated beats will perform duties and no worker shall be shifted or replaced without prior approval from competent authorities. Any negligence or manipulation in attendance recording will not be tolerated, he warned.

In a major public-interest decision, Municipal Commissioner Ahirwar also informed that the long-closed Waste-to-Energy Plant at Kathonda is being revived and reorganised. The plant will resume operations from November 15, enabling scientific disposal of waste, which will bring significant relief to residents of Kathonda and adjoining areas. He informed that civic bodys efforts in this direction have already gained momentum. The Municipal Commissioner said the initiative reflects the JMCs commitment to sustainable waste management and environmental protection, ensuring both cleanliness and public health in the city.
NADP celebrates Ordnance Factories Staff College Day





Business Reporter :

ON THE occasion of Ordnance Factories Staff College (OFSC) Day, the National Academy of Defence Production (NADP) recently, celebrated its transformation from a retraining institute into a national force for defence capacity building, innovation, and leadership. Founded as the OFSC on October 24, 1978, NADP has evolved into a premier Central Training Institute (CTI) recognised by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and accredited by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC).

With roots in the 200-year legacy of the erstwhile Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), NADP has trained over 20,000 officers from IOFS, IOFHS, IDAS, CLS, Armed Forces, and private defence industries. Performances by PGDM students and staff celebrated Indias rich heritage and the Academys evolving identity. The event was graced by faculty members, including

Dr A S Balgir, S K Shiv Liha, Madam Meenakshi Seth, Rajnish Lodwal, S.K. Sachdeva, and Shailendra Nath and SAN Murthy whose presence added warmth and wisdom to the occasion. Notable personalities like E R Sheikh, EX DG, OFB, A M Naik Ex Member OFB, V K Iyer, CMD/YIL, S K Singh, Dir/HR, YIL, Gp Captain Ratnakar Singh, DPRO, Astha Karlekar, Director/ SCZCC, Capt Abhishek Singh, SQAO, Captain Biupl K Chanda, Shishir Khare, ED/ YITM, attended the cultural function. Dr J P Dash, Principal Director, NADP, said, As we celebrate OFSC Day, we honour the legacy of our predecessors and the unwavering support of our partners. With this, NADP is preparing to go global.
Now, Maharashtra to hold its CET twice





Staff Reporter :

The Common Entrance Test (CET), conducted for important courses including Engineering, Law, Pharmacy, MBA, will be held twice in the State. The Higher and Technical Education Department has started an investigation in this regard and a report has been sought from the State Common Entrance Examination Cell on the feasibility of the two options. Like the JEE examination conducted for Engineering admission at the all-India level, the Department is inclined to conduct State CET in two sessions  January and April.

During the same time the examination centres are engaged due to JEE examination so the Government is mulling conducting State CET in two sessions in last week of March. The CET Cell conducts 19 different CET examinations for 73 courses across the State. More than a lakh students appear for the exam for a few courses like Engineering, Pharmacy, MBA, Law. An official from the Higher and Technical Education Department said, a plan is ready to hold the CET for Class 12 passouts with Physics,

Chemistry and Mathematics group and the CET involving more than one lakh students twice. Since the CET for these courses is held late, many institutions offering self-financed courses attract students to themselves.

To avoid this, the Government is currently considering the idea of conducting the first CET in January and the second CET in April. However, since the JEE exam is being held all over the country during this period, the availability of exam centres is a key issue.

The official said that the CET department currently does not have its own exam centres, so its dependence is increasing. Though the plan yet not ready, the students may get less time to prepare. The Higher and Technical Education Department has sought a report from the CET cell in this regard.

If the CET is announced in January this year, students will get less time to prepare, but still, the examination is being considered around January 27.

The official also mentioned that a report has been sought from the CET cell on whether two CETs can be taken at the end of March, 15 days apart, instead of implementing the January-April pattern. Now, only after the report from the CET cell comes, a decision will be taken on whether there will be two opportunities.
Petition of 68-year-old chemistry teacher who killed her husband dismissed





Legal Correspondent :

The High Court has dismissed the petition of a 68-year-old female chemistry professor, sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering her husband by electrocution. She will now have to serve the remainder of her sentence in a barrack. She had claimed that she should be granted the relief of serving the remainder of her sentence in an open prison instead of a barrack, as her son is mentally and physically ill.

A single bench of Justice Vishal Mishra stated that she was not entitled to such relief under the prison manual. Since a petition is pending in the Supreme Court, it would be better to file the appropriate application there. Dr. Mamta Pathak, a senior professor at Government College, Chhatarpur, filed the petition. She is accused of murdering her husband by electrocution on April 20, 2021.

The District Sessions Court there convicted her of murder on June 29, 2022, and sentenced her to life imprisonment. The appeal challenging this decision was dismissed by a division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Dev Narayan Mishra on July 29, 2025, upholding the life sentence awarded to the female professor. The female professor, serving a life sentence in Jabalpur Central Jail, filed the petition, stating that she was the sole caretaker of her mentally and physically ill son.

Due to her age and illness, living in the harsh conditions of the prison is now extremely difficult for her. Therefore, appropriate instructions should be issued to the prison administration regarding serving the remainder of her life sentence in an open prison. During the hearing, Government Advocate Sumit Raghuvanshi informed the court that the petitioner had submitted an application to the prison headquarters, which was rejected on July 14, 2025, stating that she was not eligible under Rule 5 of the Open Colony Rules 2009. After considering the order of the prison headquarters, the court refused to grant any relief to the petitioner and dismissed her petition, granting her the freedom to file an application in the Supreme Court.
PSI Gopal Badane, techie arrestedin woman doctors suicide case





PUNE :

SATARA :

POLICE Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane, an accused in the alleged suicide of a woman Government doctor in Maharashtras Satara district, was arrested on Saturday evening hours after a co-accused had been nabbed.

Earlier in the morning, a team from the Phaltan police arrested software engineer Prashant Bankar, one of the two men the doctor had named in her suicide note, from Pune. PSI Badane landed at the Phaltan Rural Police Station and surrendered, said Satara SP Tushar Doshi. Bankar, accused of mentally harassing the victim and now facing abetment of suicide charge, was produced before a Satara district court which sent him to police custody for four days.

Beed district in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra and posted at a GovernmenthospitalinSatara district, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night.

In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that Police Sub-Inspector Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Bankar,asoftware engineer, mentally harassed her. A case of rape and abetment of suicide was registered against the duo in Phaltan in Satara district.

According to the police, Bankar is the son of the landlord of the house where the doctor resided. She had allegedly called him over the phone and chatted with him beforeendingherlife,theysaid. Sub-InspectorBadanewassuspended from service after his name came up during the probe.

Thedoctor,meanwhile, was cremated at her native place inBeedsWadwanitehsil on Friday night. Her relatives demand capital punishment fortheaccusedinthecase.

She complained multiple times about harassment, but her grievanceswerenotaddressed, a relative alleged while talking to a news channel. Another relative relative claimed the victim was pressured to change medical reports atthe sub-districthospital where she worked.
Showers across State





Staff Reporter :

The State experienced significant rainfall on Saturday, as a depression over the east-central Arabian Sea influenced weather patterns across the State.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued warnings for thunderstorms, lightning, and squalls, which were observed in various districts. Shajapur and Pandhurna received heavy rain, with thunderstorms and lightning reported in Shajapur. Sagar experienced heavy rainfall, while Ujjain received heavy rain in the afternoon. Akodia in Shajapur district experienced thunderstorms and lightning. Pandhurna received rain for about an hour. Despite rainfall, temperature remained relatively high. In Narmadapuram, maximum temperature reached 34.3C, while Khajuraho recorded 34.2C. The lowest minimum temperature was recorded in Amarkantak at 17.4C.

In Bhopal, the maximum temperature was 31.4C, slightly below normal, and the minimum settled at 21.4Caround 4C above the usual level. Humidity levels were high, with morning humidity at 84% in Bhopal, dropping to 55% by evening. The city remained shrouded in fog, affecting visibility, also capital received scattered rainfall in different parts of the city. Depression over east-central

Arabian Sea is expected to continue influencing weather patterns in Madhya Pradesh. The IMD has forecast light rain or drizzle accompanied by thunder and lightning at isolated places over Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Betul, Harda, Khandwa, Khargone, Barwani, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, and several adjoining districts for the next 24 hours. Northern and eastern parts of the State, including Gwalior, Rewa, Shahdol, and Sagar divisions, are likely to remain dry. Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest weather forecast and take precautions during present weather conditions.
Two accused held for theft in Shahjahanabad





Staff Reporter :

Shahjahanabad police have arrested two men allegedly involved in a theft at a local shop and recovered stolen items worth Rs 15,000. The accused, identified as Ejaz Khan alias Langda (25) and his associate Akhil Bachchu (20), both residents of Mother India Colony, were taken into custody following an investigation supported by technical surveillance and local intelligence.

According to police, complainant Naved Khan (33), a resident of Mother India Colony, reported that on the night of October 22, he had locked his shop and stored some essential items in a nearby room. When he opened the room the next morning, he found Sanhita was registered at Shahjahanabad police station and an investigation was launched.

Acting on a tip-off, police detained Ejaz Khan, who confessed to committing theft along with his accomplice Akhil Bachchu. Based on their statements, stolen propertyincluding a large iron gas stove, three cooking pots and a gas cylinderwas recovered. Police officials confirmed that Ejaz Khan has a criminal history with multiple cases registered against him, including illegal possession of weapons, public nuisance, assault, criminal intimidation, theft, and burglary. The operation was carried out under the supervision of Station House Officer Umesh Pal Singh Chauhan.
Veteran actor SatishShah passes away





MUMBAI :

BOLLYWOOD actor Satish Shah, whose very presence in films such as Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Main Hoon Na and sitcom Sarabhai vs Sarabhai elicited smiles and many a laugh, died on Saturday. He was 74. The ever amiable Shah passed away at his residence in Bandra East in the afternoon, Ramesh Kadatala, his trusted aide and personal assistant for over 30 years, told PTI. He died due to kidney failure.

His health suddenly deteriorated at his home and he was taken to Hinduja hospital, where he passed away... It is a huge loss for our industry. He was a jovial person, close friend and industry colleague Ashoke Pandit told PTI. In a statement, P D Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre said it received an emergency call regarding Shahs health earlier in the day. An ambulance with a medical team was immediately sent to his residence, where he was found to be unresponsive. CPR was started in the ambulance itself and continued on arrival at the hospital.

Despite the best efforts of our medical team, Mr Shah could not be revived, the hospital said in a statement. A close friend and collaborator added that Shah had undergone a kidney transplant three months ago. Born on June 25, 1951, Shah was a prominent figure in Indian cinema and television.

His career spanned several decades, during which he earnedacclaimforhiscomedic timinginmoviessuchasJaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Maalamaal, HeroHiralal,MainHoonNa and Kal Ho Naa Ho. He was married to designer Madhu Shah. His lastrites will be performed at PawanHans cremation ground on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of actor Satish Shah, saying his effortless humour brought laughter into countless lives.

A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Shah initially appeared in minor roles in films such as Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastaan (1978) and Gaman (1979). He played a small yet pivotal part in Muzaffar Alis UmraoJaan(1981)asDilawar, the man who sells Rekhas Amiran to courtesans in Lucknow.

Hebecame a household name after he featured in filmmakerKundanShahs1983 cultclassicJaaneBhiDoYaaro, playing the role of the corrupt municipal commissioner DMello. The film, a satirical comedy on corruption, starred Shah alongsiderenownedactorslike Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and Pankaj Kapur.

Though his role was largely that of a dead body,itbecameoneofthemost unforgettablepartsofthefilm. His lifeless character, dragged through chaotic sequences including the nowlegendary Mahabharata play scene, became a symbol ofthe films absurd humour.
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India's largest port developer and operator, is set to showcase its role in shaping the nation's Blue Economy at the ensuing India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025. India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 is taking place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai from October 27-31. Adani Ports will showcase how technology, inclusion and indigenous innovation are powering the nation's journey towards a self-reliant and sustainable maritime future. Through its pavilion, Adani Ports will highlight how technology, inclusion, Make-in-India innovation and sustainability are redefining India's maritime growth story. At IMW 2025, the APSEZ Pavilion is built around four key pillars -- Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Women Empowerment, AI-powered Logistics and Impact. A major focus this year is the MoU signings that will advance India's port, dredging and harbour capabilities under the Make-in-India framework. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance on October 29, followed by the Global Maritime CEO Forum, will further underscore India's ambition to lead the maritime world. India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 is a vision of India's maritime resurgence. Organised by the Indian Ports Association (IPA) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the event is expected to bring together over 1,00,000 delegates, 500+ exhibitors, 200+ global speakers and participants from 100+ countries to chart the future of the global maritime economy. Over the past decade, India's maritime policy landscape has evolved rapidly under the twin frameworks of Sagarmala and Maritime Vision 2030, encompassing more than 150 initiatives across ports, shipping and inland waterways. These flagship programmes aim to position India as a global maritime hub by driving port-led development, lowering logistics costs and promoting sustainable coastal infrastructure -- all key enablers of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. APSEZ, part of the diversified Adani Group, has emerged as a key enabler of India's port-led growth. From a single port at Mundra, Gujarat, in the late 1990s, APSEZ now operates 15 ports across India and four overseas, supported by 12 multimodal logistics parks, 132 rakes and a 5,000+ vehicle fleet. Handling nearly one-fourth of India's total cargo, APSEZ today represents the nation's largest integrated transport utility. Under its Harbour Business, APSEZ will sign multiple long-term MoUs that reinforce its leadership in marine services: With Mumbai Port Authority (MBPA) for the supply and charter hire of six ASTDS tugs for seven years and one Green (GTTP) tug for 15 years.With VO Chidambaranar Port Authority (VOCPA), Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, for the charter hire of two harbour tugs for seven years. With Chennai Port Authority (ChPA) for the charter hire of one 60 TBP Escort Tug Vessel (ETV).With the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) for the construction of twelve tugboats, to be signed on October 29 in the presence of PM Modi. In the dredging segment, APSEZ will sign an MoU for the construction of a self-propelled grab dredger, marking another milestone in indigenous maritime engineering. APSEZ will ink MoUs for new and strategic developments at Vadhvan Port, Haldia Port, Vizhinjam LNG bunkering and Dighi Port, showcasing its commitment to capacity creation and green infrastructure. A key highlight of APSEZ's showcase is India's first Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) simulator, designed indigenously by ARI Simulation for APSEZ under the Make-in-India programme -- a milestone that reinforces India's engineering prowess and supports Sagarmala's goal of expanding port capacity through domestic manufacturing. Inclusivity also anchors the APSEZ story. At Vizhinjam Port in Kerala, India's first transhipment hub, APSEZ has trained and deployed the country's first women quay crane operators, exemplifying how technology and skill development can create equitable opportunities in maritime operations. Its Zero Touch Multi-Modal Logistics Platform integrates ports, rail, road and inland waterways using AI-driven predictive analytics, directly contributing to lower logistics costs and improved efficiency -- key to boosting India's trade competitiveness. India's Blue Economy, contributing about 4 per cent to GDP (USD 13.2 billion), is fast becoming a growth frontier spanning fisheries, renewables, coastal tourism and logistics. With 100per cent FDI allowed in port infrastructure and green initiatives such as the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) and Harit Sagar Guidelines, sustainability and self-reliance are converging. With a global footprint spanning Haifa (Israel), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Queensland (Australia) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), APSEZ, in many ways, strengthens India's SAGAR Vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region), enhancing regional cooperation and trade resilience. (ANI)
Petroleum and Natural Gas Secretary Pankaj Jain on Sunday called for bold, time-bound exploration strategies aligned with the National Deepwater Mission, emphasising urgency, innovation, and national responsibility in realising India's energy self-reliance, or Atmanirbharta. Delivering the keynote at the 15th Biennial International Conference and Exposition of the Society of Petroleum Geophysicists (SPG-India) 2025, themed "Rock to Cloud: GeoExploration Empowering Energy Evolution in Jaipur, the Secretary urged the stakeholders to combine scientific rigour with commercial vision, noting that India can no longer afford incremental progress. "One day, not too far off, we will be looking at a situation where there will be alternative forms of energy, which will increasingly matter more to us in terms of the incremental demand satisfaction, than fossil fuels, or the way we use fossil fuels itself is going to change. And therefore, it doesn't matter what the peak will be, when the peak will be; the fact is that we have to try to get those big discoveries," the secretary said, as per a statement from ONGC. Deep Ocean Mission, launched in 2021, focuses on sustainably harnessing ocean wealth and strengthening the Blue Economy. "We do not have the luxury we used to have a hundred years ago or 150 years ago," added Secretary Pankaj Jain. On August 15, from the ramparts of the Red Fort this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "To make the country developed, we are now moving towards 'Samudra Manthan' (churning of the ocean). Taking forward our Samudra Manthan, we want to work in a mission mode towards finding oil reserves, gas reserves under the sea and hence India is going to start the National Deep Water Exploration Mission. This is our important announcement to become energy independent." The Conference was inaugurated today at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC). The conference was inaugurated by the Secretary Jain, in the presence of Chairman and CEO, ONGC and Chief Patron, SPG-India, Arun Kumar Singh, CMD, Oil India Ltd., Dr. Ranjit Rath, Director (Exploration), ONGC, and Patron, SPG-India, O.P. Sinha, and President, SPG-India, Ranbir Singh. Addressing the gathering, ONGC CEO Arun Kumar Singh reaffirmed ONGC's commitment to advancing India's deepwater exploration mission, stressing that technological breakthroughs in seismic imaging, AI-driven interpretation, and data analytics will define the next leap in discovery success. CMD, Oil India, Ranjit Rath underscored that India has emerged as one of the most promising destinations for exploration, supported by progressive reforms such as the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP), and the Offshore Bidding Rounds. Rath called upon India's geo-scientific community to remain "restless in pursuit of exploration" and deepen efforts in frontier basins, particularly in ultra-deepwater domains. Director (Exploration), ONGC, and Patron, SPG - India, O.P. Sinha highlighted the significance of the "Rock to Cloud" theme as emblematic of India's shift toward data-driven, technology-intensive exploration. He emphasised the need for collaboration between academia, industry, and government to accelerate discoveries and leverage India's vast sedimentary basins. The inaugural session also featured the presentation of the B.S. Negi Convention Gold Medal and Citation to well-known geoscientist and exONGCian, G C Katiyar. SPG 2025 Conference Souvenir and the special issue of the GEOHORIZONS journal were also released on the occasion. The SPG 2025 Exposition, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions from global leaders in geoscience and energy exploration, was inaugurated by Chairman and CEO, ONGC and Chief Patron, SPG-India, Arun Kumar Singh, in the presence of CMD, Oil India Ltd., Dr. Ranjit Rath. The three-day event brings together leading geoscientists, policymakers, researchers, and energy experts from across the world to deliberate on the evolving frontiers of oil and gas exploration, technological innovation, and sustainable energy solutions. (ANI)
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, will visit Brussels, Belgium, on October 27-28 to hold high-level discussions with Maros Sefcovic, Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade of the European Union. The Minister's visit comes at a crucial stage in the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, as both sides intensify efforts to conclude a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest, as per a statement by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Building on the momentum generated by the 14th round of negotiations held earlier this month, the Minister's visit aims to provide strategic direction and political impetus to the talks. "Discussions are expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA, including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. The visit will also serve to review progress achieved so far and to identify areas requiring further convergence," the Commerce and Industry Ministry said. The Minister's engagements in Brussels will include a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Sefcovic, followed by a working dinner, during which both leaders are expected to reaffirm their shared ambition to strengthen the India-EU trade and economic partnership. This visit takes place against the backdrop of the India-EU partnership gaining renewed strategic depth following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year. The two leaders had underscored the importance of a future-ready trade relationship that advances prosperity, sustainability, and innovation on both sides. Goyal's visit to Brussels marks an essential step in translating that shared vision into concrete outcomes. It reflects India's steadfast commitment to deepening engagement with the European Union, one of its largest trading partners, and to advancing an agreement that contributes to resilient supply chains, sustainable growth, and a rules-based global trading system. The Minister will head to Belgium post his visit to Germany. (ANI)
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Home coming : Th Muivah and the unfinished story of Naga Nationalism

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A reflection on assertion of sovereignty, identity, and the limits of negotiated peace in NE India

Ngaranmi Shimray

Thuingaleng Muivahs return to Somdal, his native village in Manipurs Ukhrul district, marks not only the homecoming of a nonagenarian Naga leader but also a symbolic turning point in the Naga political movement. As General Secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), Th Muivah, fondly known as Avakharar among the Tangkhuls, has for over five decades been central to the articulation of the Naga struggle for sovereignty, identity, and self-determination. His legacy, however, remains deeply complexboth as a custodian of a narrative of right to Naga Nationhood/long-suppressed aspiration and as a figure associated with prolonged violence and internal divisions.

This article traces in brief the historical, Constitutional, and political trajectory of the Naga movement, examining the continuities between the colonial and postcolonial States engagement with the hills, the evolution of the freedom struggle, and the challenges that persist despite successive peace negotiations.

Muivahs return home encapsulates the paradox of a peoples unending search for peace with dignity.

Introduction

The image of Th Muivah, frail yet defiant, returning home to Somdal after decades, has stirred both nostalgia and introspection across the Naga Hills. For many, his presence evokes the unfinished nature of a movement that has defined the socio-political landscape of North East India for more than half a century. As the last surviving member of the triumvirate that led the NSCN through its formative years, Muivahs return is a reminder that while the man ages, the questions he embodied remain unresolved: identity, shared sovereignty, and reconciliation.

Historical Roots: The Naga Question Before the Republic

The Naga political consciousness predates Indian independence. The 1929 memorandum submitted to the Simon Commission articulated the Nagas distinct identity and their desire not to be incorporated into an alien administrative framework, but to be left alone with their destiny as a sovereign Nagas Nation. The subsequent formation of the Naga National Council (NNC) in 1946 consolidated these thoughts. On 14 August 1947, the NNC declared Naga independence, followed by a Plebiscite in 1951, which it claimed affirmed the Naga peoples desire to be a sovereign Nation. The Government of Indias refusal to recognise these claims led to the outbreak of insurgency in the early 1950s, the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in 1958, and widespread militarisation of the region.

The Shillong Accord and the Birth of the NSCN

The Shillong Accord of 1975 sought to end hostilities by securing the freedom fighters acceptance of the Indian Constitution and the surrender of arms. However, the accords language of acceptance was seen by many as capitulation. Muivah, then the NNCs Assistant General Secretary, condemned it as a betrayal of the Naga cause. In 1980, he, alongside Isak Chishi Swu and SS Kha-plang, formed the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), advocating assertions of Naga sovereignty of all Naga-inhabited areas under the concept of Nagalim. The split of 1988 between the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions brought about a period of internecine violence, turning the movement inward even as it continued to resist the Indian State.

The Constitutional Compact: Autonomy and Its Limits

The creation of Nagaland State in 1963 was an attempt by the Indian State to institutionalise political accommo- dation under Article 371-A, providing significant safeguards relating to the protection of customary laws, social practices, and ownership of land and resources. These provisions were designed to ensure that the tribal societies of the hills would not be subsumed under the majoritarian currents of the plains. However, for Muivah and many within the NSCN (IM), these guarantees were geographically and conceptually limited. They applied only to the territory of Nagaland, leaving out Naga populations in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. The assertion of sove- reignty of the Naga Nation, consisting of all Naga- inhabited areas, thus became both the ideological core and political impasse of the movement.

From resistance to negotiation : The long Ceasefire

The ceasefire agreement of 1997 between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India heralded a new phase. Peace talks held in foreign and domestic venues continued intermittently. The 2015 Framework Agreement, signed by NSCN (IM) leaders and Govt representatives in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was lauded as a breakthrough. Yet, the accords contents remain largely undisclosed. The insistence by the NSCN (IM) on a separate Flag and Constitution for the Nagas has been met with firm opposition from the Central Government, which maintains that Indias sovereignty is indivisible. Parallel negotiations with the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) have further fragmented the peace process.

Muivahs Legacy : Between Conviction and Consequence

Th Muivahs life encapsulates the contradictions of revolutionary politics in a postcolonial democracy. To his followers, he remains the custodian of a vision grounded in collective dignity and historical justice. To his detractors, he represents the futility of uncompromising idealism that prolonged suffering that hinders recon- ciliation. The decades of conflict witnessed profound social consequences: displacement, internal mistrust, and a weariness with milita-risation. Within the Naga community, the politics of factionalism and the erosion of traditional authority have produced a crisis of moral legitimacy that no ceasefire has fully healed.

Return to Somdal : A Symbolic Closure

In his homecoming to Somdal, Muivah seeks not political theatre but personal closure. For the people of Ukhrul, his presence is a poignant reminder of an era that shaped their identity and pain in equal measure. His frailty stands in contrast to the unyielding idealism of his youth; yet, in that contrast lies the enduring tension between dream and reality that defines the Naga political experience. This homecoming unfolds against a landscape where the younger generations aspirations are shiftingfrom sovereignty to stability, from insurgent politics to participatory governance. Whether Muivahs lifes work will find vindication or fade into legend depends not on his final days but on the political imagination of those who come after him.

Conclusion : The Unfinished Chapter

As the sun sets over the Naga hills, the legacy of Th Muivah remains suspended between reverence and reckoning. His return home is less a conclusion than an inflection point in a story that continues to test the meaning of autonomy and shared sovereignty within Indias federal and plural framework. The Naga question, in its essence, is a search for recognitionof history, of difference, and of dignity. Whether through Article 371-A, peace accords, or the language of assertion of sovereignty, or fight for freedom, the underlying demand has always been for respect of a peoples right to self-determination. Muivahs long life, now nearing its end, reminds the Indian State and the Naga movement alike that peace cannot be achieved by exhaustion alone; it must be anchored in empathy and truth.


The 4th edition of the two-day Autumn Festival, celebrated as a prelude to the 26th Hornbill Festival 2025, was held on October 25 at the Nagaland House in Delhi, in the presence of Nagaland's Minister for Tourism and Higher Education, Temjen Imna, along with the chief guest, Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly. The festival offered Delhi residents an opportunity to experience Nagaland's rich cultural heritage, traditions, and artistic expressions ahead of the state's flagship cultural event scheduled later this year. Kelly spoke to ANI and shared his experience of attending the event, "I haven't been to Nagaland yet, but I'm really looking forward to it. I saw some of the videos this evening, and to watch out all those young people dancing and the music... it seems to be something that is going to be absolutely amazing, so really I am looking forward to my first trip to Nagaland it very much reminds me of Ireland, because we are also a very green country, it rains quite a bit. Still, it also has some sunshine, we have mountains, and I am really looking forward to experiencing that and hopefully to developing some links between Ireland and Nagaland." On any Collaborative event in the Embassy of Ireland, he added, "I am hoping we will, and I am not really able to announce anything yet, but I am hoping that we are going to use this experience of visiting Nagaland to meet with people and to hopefully get some artists to talk to each other so they'll start a nice collaboration." Temjen Imna expressed gratitude to the Indian government for all the arrangements and said that people of Delhi showed enthusiasm and excitement "Today's festival was very successful and a big thanks to the Indian government for the smooth arrangements... Delhi's people participated with great enthusiasm, and I am grateful for it... His Excellency Kevin Kelly was quite happy after seeing the arrangements here and in the coming times, he expressed the desire to work in collaboration with Nagaland for Art and Cultural exchange..." he said. Kapil Mishra, Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture, Government of NCT of Delhi, alos attended the programme. He hailed the initiative, calling it a celebration of cultural diversity and national unity. Speaking to the media, Kapil Mishra said earlier, "The Autumn Festival is organised with great fervour in the Nagaland Bhavan. I thank Temjen Imna Along and his entire tourism department for this... I have spoken to the minister that we will organise an event in Delhi to promote Naga culture." The event, organised at Nagaland House, featured traditional music, dance, and cuisine, offering Delhi residents a glimpse into the cultural richness of the northeastern state. The Hornbill Festival will be held at the Kisama Heritage Village in Nagaland from December 1 to 10. (ANI)
Condolences and heartfelt tributes continue to pour in for the late Satish Shah since he passed away on Saturday. While his family, friends, and colleagues from the industry remained in solidarity at his cremation, the Bollywood fraternity has also offered their homage to Shah. Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan joined the line of tributes as he shared an emotional message. "Another day another work another quiet. Another of us passes away..Satish Shah, a young talent, has left us at a very young age.. And the stars they favour not.. to us all.. And these times of the grim.. it bodes not well to express in normalcy.. foreboding us in all at each moment.. It is in the ease to abide by that age old wordage.. but the show must go on .. and so it does as does life," Big B wrote in a blog post. He further continued, "Each day an express of an alternate.. or wherever the 'show' must guide us to... hence.. even in distress and glumness despondency, the face of normalcy and the act of work, persists.. but no.. improper to pursue normalcy." Actor Salman Khan also paid his tributes by sharing a picture on X from a scene they shared together and captioned the post, "Known u since I was 15... life lived kingsize.. May your soul rest in peace. Will miss u Satish Ji..." https://x.com/BeingSalmanKhan/status/1982388326608122222 Sushmita Sen, who worked with Satish Shah in 'Main Hoon Na', took to her Instagram story and wrote, "Thank you for gracing our lives!! Rest in peace Sir, Satish Shah." Vivek Oberoi penned a heartfelt note for the late actor, remembering his work and the kind personality that he had. "They say, often clichedly, that someone could light up every room just by being in it. But Satish Shah sir truly was that person. He was a father to me on screen during my very first film, Saathiya, always patient, protective and ready with a joke to ease my nerves. He made Indravadan Sarabhai a character the entire country loved and those who knew him will remember him for his kindness and grace. Godspeed, sir. You will be deeply missed and forever loved," Vivek wrote in an X post. Bollywood stars like Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, R Madhavan, Paresh Rawal, Anupam Kher, Johny Lever, Farah Khan, and Karan Johar also expressed their sorrow and paid tributes. The comedy legend Johny Lever paid tribute to Satish Shah by recalling the actor's memorable contributions to the television and film industry. While sharing a throwback photo with the actor on his Instagram handle, actor Johny Lever wrote, "Feeling extremely sad to share that we've lost a great artist & my dearest friend of over 40 years. It's hard to believe. I had spoken to him just two days ago. Satish Bhai, you will truly be missed. Your immense contribution to film and television will never be forgotten." https://www.instagram.com/p/DQOpGEIj8x_/ Choreographer and director Farah Khan, who worked with Satish Shah in the superhit film 'Mai Hoona Na', recalled her experience working with the actor. Farah paid tribute to the actor, saying, "Rest in peace. Dearest Satish, you were a joy to know and work with. Will miss u sending me memes and jokes every day." Anupam Kher shared an emotional video for Satish Shah after the actor's "shocking" demise. While remembering the actor, Anupam Kher described Satish Shah as a "knowledgeable" person."Shocking, it's shocking. I was with him in so many films. He used to make me laugh. He had great general knowledge. I used to bless him," said Anupam Kher. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQO5eGVgnE2/ In his tweet, Hrithik wrote, "I will never forget the kindness you extended to a newcomer like me on set. Your humour and legacy will continue to inspire. My deepest condolences to the family & friends." https://x.com/iHrithik/status/1982128508999512302 The late actor's 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai' co-stars, including Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan, Rajesh Kumar, Jamnadas Majethia, and Deven Bhojani, were present at the last rites, offering a tearful farewell at the cremation. Satish Shah passed away due to Kidney-related complications at the age of 74 on Saturday. As for the late actor Satish Shah, the artist's diverse filmography includes popular hits like satirical black comedy 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' (1983), 'Hum Saath-Saath Hain', 'Main Hoon Na', 'Kal Ho Naa Ho', 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa', 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge', and 'Shaadi No. 1'. (ANI)
BJP State President Rajib Bhattacharjee, BJP General Secretary Bipin Debbarma, and several other prominent party leaders also graced the event.

According to an official update from the BJP State Office to ANI, a total of 339 voters from Tipra Motha and other parties joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the event. They were warmly welcomed into the party by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and State President Rajib Bhattacharjee, who handed them the BJP flags during the induction ceremony.

Meanwhile, CM Saha also participated in the Sharad Samman 2025 award ceremony organised by Agartala Municipal Corporation at Rabindra Bhavan on Saturday, celebrating the vibrant spirit of Durga Puja across the city.

The event recognised and honoured various Puja committees for their outstanding creativity, social service, and discipline during this year's Durga Puja celebrations. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Saha praised the organisers for maintaining cultural traditions while promoting harmony and cleanliness during the festivities.

He also highlighted the role of such initiatives in strengthening community bonds and encouraging responsible civic participation.

Senior officials of the Agartala Municipal Corporation, dignitaries, and representatives from different Puja committees were present at the ceremony.

Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha inaugurated the "Samriddhi - An Initiative for Making Lakhpati Didis" programme at Rabindra Bhavan on Saturday. The main objective of this initiative is to empower women and enhance their income through self-help groups and sustainable livelihood opportunities.

The Chief Minister stated that the state government is committed to promoting women's financial independence and entrepreneurial mindset. He emphasised that initiatives such as 'Samriddhi' will help women in both rural and urban areas become self-reliant and play a vital role in the state's overall development.

Senior government officials, members of self-help groups, and representatives from various women's welfare organisations attended the event. The state government aims to create thousands of "Lakhpati Didis" by promoting skill development, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday criticised Congress leader Udit Raj for linking the eviction of his government bungalow to caste oppression. She said overstaying in official accommodation should not be framed as a caste issue. In a post on X, Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote, "Overstaying in a sarkari accommodation - for whatever urgent need, and also, moving the court to continue to stay on but when forced to vacate have made it about caste identity. Some lawyer activist will then blame it on 'Brahminical mindset.'" https://x.com/priyankac19/status/1982105386271547858 "Come on please don't challenge people's intellect and reduce overstaying your welcome in an accommodation given to you as an officer to caste oppression," the post read. A day earlier, Congress leader Udit Raj accused the Central government of harassment after officials from the Directorate of Estates moved to evict his residence at Pandara Park in New Delhi. Government sources, however, said the eviction was being carried out because the bungalow, occupied by Raj's wife, Seema Raj, was being held beyond the permitted period despite an eviction order. The Congress leader said the house is in his wife's name and criticised the authorities for bypassing court procedures, calling the action an "atrocity" and questioning the treatment of common people, Dalits, and backward classes. "This house is in my wife's name... This is Manohar Lal Khattar's ministry, and when I try to meet him, he does not even meet. This is the atrocity of the Modi government, that my things are being thrown away like this, and no one has been subjected to such atrocities in independent India. They do not even listen to the court... When we are being harassed, what must be happening to the common poor, Dalits, and backward people of the country? If the court says on October 28, then we will vacate the house," Raj told ANI. Meanwhile, government sources told ANI that Seema Raj was occupying the government bungalow despite an eviction order. Sources said that Seema Raj remained in unauthorised occupation of the government property for five months beyond the deadline, prompting legal action under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. The case was referred to the Litigation Section on June 12, 2025, after Seema failed to vacate by the stipulated date. The Estate Officer issued a show cause notice on June 16, to which she responded by appearing before the officer on June 23. Despite this, an eviction order was passed on August 5 and served to her on August 11, they said. As a consequence of the unauthorised occupation, damage charges of approximately Rs 21.45 lakh have accrued against the retired official. Despite the eviction order being in effect for several months, Raj has yet to vacate the property, the government sources added. (ANI)
Satara District SP Tushar Doshi confirmed the arrest of the second accused in the doctor rape case. Suspended PSI Gopal Badne was arrested on Sunday after he surrendered before the Satara police. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that strict action will be taken against those who are guilty in the suicide of a woman doctor at the Sub-District Hospital in Satara. The Chief Minister, however, added that politicising "such a sensitive issue is very insensitive." "This is a very serious issue. A young doctor wrote her suicide note on her hand before committing suicide. It is very unfortunate, and the government, immediately taking action, has suspended the concerned police officials, and arrests are also being made," Fadnavis told reporters. "No one will be spared. Strict action will be taken... Politicising such a sensitive issue is very insensitive," he added. Earlier, the Satara police arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the two accused in the suicide case. Speaking to reporters, Satara SP Tushar Doshi said, "Police arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the two accused in the suicide case of a woman doctor in Phaltan taluka. He will be produced in court today. The other accused, Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, is still absconding, and a search is underway to nab him." Earlier, speaking on the case, SP Doshi stated, "A woman doctor committed suicide. A note was found written on her palm naming two people, including a police official. A case has been registered against them under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. The accused PSI has been suspended from duty. Our teams are trying to locate the two accused. A thorough probe and stringent action will be taken." Officials said that the woman doctor died by suicide in Satara on Friday, leaving a note written on her hand that named a police official and two others. The victim's cousin alleged that the doctor had been facing political pressure related to her work. "There was a lot of police and political pressure on her to make wrong mortem reports. She tried to complain about it. My sister should get justice," the cousin told ANI. Another cousin demanded strict punishment for those involved. "The accused should get the strictest of punishment," he said. In addition, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has condemned the death of Dr Sampada Mundhe at Phaltan in Maharashtra and has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident. (ANI)
Show me the man and I will show you the crime was Russian dictator Joseph Stalins sinister refrain. Inventing crimes to punish enemies was normal then. But, now, in our twisted times, a senior American official quotes this Stalinist saying to explain his persecution by the president.

The feud between President Donald Trump and John Bolton, who was national security adviser (NSA) in Trumps first term, is emblematic of an abrasive era, where abuse drowns argument and personal pique overwhelms public propriety. Both are belligerent fighters. One is a tough guy with a thin skin and the other, a policy hawk with a rough tongue. To many, anti-Putin Bolton is a warmonger and regime-change fanatic.

Still, Boltons expertise on security matters runs deep. With a high regard for his own intellectual rigour, Bolton doesnt suffer fools gladly. He is well known for his sneering put-downers. As Trumps NSA, Bolton quickly lost patience with his boss style of functioning and thinkingor lack thereof. Trump says he fired him. Bolton says he resigned. Either way, they parted ways, their fights turning slanderous and scathing. In a Newsweek interview, Bolton derisively described Trumps rambling, repetitive, unfocused thought-process as a random walk that never stops. He declared Trump was not competent to be president, that he envied world leaders like Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, but they saw him as a laughing fool.

Imaging: Deni Lal

Boltons tell-all bookThe Room Where It Happenedmauls Trump, who promptly sprayed insults calling Bolton a disgruntled boring fool whose only foreign policy solution was Gee, lets go to war. Bolton was either prophetic or he understood Trump well. In January 2024, in his books new edition, Bolton warned, Trump really only cares about retribution for himself, and it will consume much of a second term. Sure enough, in the election campaign, Trump vowed vengeance against his political enemies, thundering, I am your warrior, I am your justice, I am your retribution. Since his election victory, he has weaponised his government to witch hunt his witch huntersall those liberals who mocked and shamed him, tried to impeach, fine and imprison him through court cases.

Bolton is accused of storing and sharing classified information with his wife and daughter. If convicted, he could get a 10-year jail term. Dismissals and court cases against Trumps nemeses swellspeople who investigated or prosecuted him for fraud, Russian links and abuse of powerin his first term. Accused Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, This is what tyranny looks like. Trump is using the justice department as his personal attack dog. Unsurprisingly No King protests against Trump erupted on American streets.

Experts say these cases may fizzle in court, but Washington attorney Scott Bolden says Trump believes, process is punishment, that he wishes to inflict on his tormentors the same legal pain he suffered after his first term he wants them jailed or at least endure the humiliation of being produced in court and incur exorbitant legal costs. Trump is prosecutor, jury and judge when it comes to his foes. About the officials facing his wrath in court, Trump posted on Truth Social, Theyre all guilty as hell. We cant delay any longer. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (five times), over nothing. Nothing. Justice must be served now!

In the Afghan tribal heartlands, wounded warlords wait for generations to wreak vengeance. Trumps raging hurry contrasts with the congealed hatred of an old Pashtun proverb: revenge is a dish best served cold. Trump likes it hot. Served now.

Pratap is an author and journalist.
The assiduousness with which right-wingers fan the embers of religious differences in our country would put street-side bhutta-wallas to shame. Like, they literally never give it a restnot even during the holiday season. In fact, especially during the holiday season.

I woke up the morning after Diwali to find 1) Francesca Orsini, a renowned scholar of Hindi, has been stopped from entering the country despite a valid visa. 2)

An organic groundswell has arisen across the nation, asking for Diwali to be declared a week-long celebration and public holiday.

Orsinis work, The Hindi Public Sphere 19201940: Language and Literature in the Age of Nationalism, examines the constructed separation of Hindi and Urdu.

Her research demonstrates that during the colonial period, the British linguists, ever faithful to their policy of divide and rule, deliberately pried apart two closely mingled languages, associating Hindi with Hindus, and Urdu with Muslims. She further points out that in Awadhs historically multilingual literary culture, Persian, Awadhi and Braj flourished alongside Hindi and Urdu in cheerful coexistence. This directly contradicts the hindutva brigades narrative of a monolithic, pure, Hindi-speaking Hindu identity.

Orsini is the fourth international scholar to be denied entry despite a valid visa. Such malevolence for scholars is, perhaps, understandable in a country where our leaders scurry out of recording studios (the latest being Prashant Kishor) when questioned about their degrees.

Illustration: Jairaj T.G.

Now, lets unpack the groundswell calling for a week-long, government-mandated Diwali break, which could be created by doing away with less desired public holidays such as Gandhi Jayanti, Labour Day, Easter (which falls on a Sunday, but why bother with logic?), Ambedkar Jayanti, Muharram or Bakrid.

The first logic on offer for this move is that people will be able to go home and be with their families. But, doing away with secular holidays disrespects the spirit of our democracy, the father of our Constitution and the father of our nationall in one go. The reality is that across our gloriously multicultural land, people celebrate Pongal, Onam, Bihu, Durga Puja, Ratha Yatra, Ganesh Chaturthi, Gurpurab, the Eids, Christmas, Nowruz, etc; with full on fervour. Most workplaces deal with this by offering optional days-off, and people opt for offs on the days that are significant to their particular faith, which is a good system because theres always somebody from another faith to man the desks, and ensure work continues.

Schools, on the other hand, traditionally give about seven-to-ten days off in October, not because they are obsessed with Ravana-felling as such, but because Dussehra provides a neat mid-point between summer and winter.

The second logic on offer is an eternal right-wing favourite for temples, statues and the abrogation of Article 370that this will boost the tourism industry. To back this claim we are being told that Diwali hotel bookings are at a record high this year. I suspect this has less to do with fervour around Lord Rams homecoming, and more to the fact that Diwali fell early this yearbefore high-season rates kicked in.

Which brings me to my final pointDiwali moves around a lot. If we let it dictate our annual week-long break, it wont be long before the tail starts wagging the dog. Soon, the hindutva herd will demand that we abandon the evil, Sonia-Gandhi-and-Italy-tainted Gregorian calendar and switch to the Samvat. After that, our work schedules, flight timings and even the IPL fixtures will be subject to the appearance of the moon.

editor@theweek.in
There is an idea I have often returned to in quiet moments. It is simple, perhaps even ordinary at first glance. But the more I reflect on it, the more I believe it holds extraordinary potential, for India and for the future of our health care.

What if every person with a bank account in our country contributed just one rupee a day to health care? Not as a tax, not as charity, but as a quiet, voluntary act of shared responsibility. It may sound idealistic, but the numbers say otherwise. As of March 31, 2023, there were 294.5 crore fully protected bank accounts in India, representing 98.1 per cent of the total 300.1 crore accounts. If each of these account holders contributed one rupee daily, the nation could raise over Rs1.07 lakh crore in a single year. That figure is more than just arithmetic. It is a blueprint for what people-powered health care could look like.

Across the world, countries look to multilateral institutions, be it the World Bank, IMF or GAVI to fund their health care ambitions. But what if India, with its billion-strong ingenuity, could show a different way? One that doesnt wait for help but begins with a single rupee. Every day. From every citizen. A simple act, with profound potential.

Ai Image

This thought is not entirely new. Many years ago, my father, Dr Prathap C. Reddy, introduced a small community health scheme in his native village of Aragonda. Residents contributed one rupee a day and, in return, received access to hospital care. It worked, not because it was grand, but because it was built on trust, local participation and a shared belief that everyone deserves care.

India has made incredible strides in health care. Weve seen medical excellence, digital innovation and robust national schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Yet, we must acknowledge the stark gaps that persist. Across the country, there are districts where a single ICU bed must serve tens of thousands. There are families who delay treatment because the nearest facility is hours away. At large, there are lives lost not to complexity, but to the absence of the most basic infrastructurea timely ambulance, a functioning oxygen cylinder, a nurse who could have made all the difference.

In such a context, a model of voluntary micro-contributions could become a quiet revolution. It could support a wide network of primary care centres, strengthen emergency services, fund health workers in rural areas and bridge the last-mile gap between policy and people. Most importantly, it would make each of us a participant in our nations wellbeing.

It could also serve as a vital reserve for unforeseen public health emergencies. If the pandemic taught us anything, it is that we need flexible, immediate access to resourcesnot just after a crisis hits, but before. A corpus born out of collective participation could fund oxygen plants, mobile ICUs or emergency vaccine distribution without delay. In times of disaster, speed saves lives.

We often speak of our demographic dividend, of the strength in our numbers. But strength is not just in youth or productivity. It is also in empathy, in participation, in the ability to come together for something larger than ourselves.

This is not a solution to every problem. But it could be a new beginninga way to convert collective intent into collective impact. One rupee, one person, one day at a time and sometimes, that is all it takes to change everything.

Dr Preetha Reddy is Executive Vice Chairperson of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited.
Every once in a while, the archives deliver a nugget. Your columnist came across an essay in The Statesman of August 15, 1947, by a certain H. St. John Bridger Philby, an ICS officer whose son, Kim Philby, born in Punjab on New Years Day 1912, would become the iconic Cold War spy. Philby nicknamed his son after the eponymous hero of Rudyard Kiplings novel; the nickname stuck, as did the spying habit that the two Kims shared.

Philby Sr. spent eight years in Punjab and then decades in the Middle East. A notable scholar, linguist, ornithologist and explorer, he has been described as a figure of considerable notoriety. A close adviser to Ibn Saud, Saudi Arabias first king, Philby converted to Islam, went to Mecca and took the name of Sheikh Abdullah. He also took, as his second wife, a slave girl from Baluchistan presented by the Saudi king.

But India was in his blood. He returned 32 years later, in the tortured summer of 1947, to witness Indias independence, a goal he had long viewed with sympathy. His impressions, recorded in The Statesman essay, show that many questions have not gone away.

H. St. John Bridger Philby

For instance, was Partition inevitable? Philby believes so, having anticipated a Pakistan early on. Was the Mountbatten Plan too rushed? Philby, otherwise an inveterate critic of British policy in India, praises the scheme as not just the best possible one in the difficult circumstances in the great subcontinent but as near an ideal solution as the human intellect is capable of devising. He applauds the energetic march to the transfer of power, monitored through the famed Mountbatten calendar on every desk, showing the countdown to August 15 and sees Mountbattens appointment as the first governor general of the dominion of India as evidence of deep admiration for his administrative ability.

Did Indian leaders accept partition because they were, in Nehrus later words, tired men? Philby believes that, aroused to the realities of the situation by the clash of communal arms in their towns and villages the leaders saw partition as the only path to immediate independence. But their joy was tempered with regret. Mr Gandhi and Mr Nehru may be disappointed at the dissipation of their dream of a united India, sovereign and independent, while Mr Jinnah may have similar regrets that his ideal of a united Punjab and a united Bengal has proved equally unattainable. Circumstances have been too strong for them all.

Philby foreshadows other issues that persist. Our relationship with Britain, about which he was optimistic, has remained a curious but overall positive mix of historical anger and an instinctive comfort based on English language, literature and sport. Incidentally, English, he found, was spoken in 1947 among Indias educated class with a purity and fluency worthy of commendation; Indian women, whose presence in public life had increased dramatically, also spoke English almost as a second mother tongue. The debate about the value of English in our successful international engagement is not yet over.

Philby found Indian women to be the best dressed women in the world  in their own lovely inimitable saris and kurtas; he was less charitable to the men who had discarded Indian fashions for European garb. Nevertheless, he predicted that India will turn to pay attention to her own indigenous culture as soon as the inferiority complex produced by years of subjection has disappeared. Were Philby to visit us now, he would feel thoroughly vindicated to see us emerging out of the pollution haze in a parade of floral bandi jackets, velvet bandhgalas and paisley sherwanis, green-washing our firecrackers in the hallowed waters of indigenous culture.

And inferiority complex? Pshaw!
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim) has voiced his strong disapproval of the usage of artificial intelligence in his work.

Del Toro, who won the Best Director Oscar for The Shape of Water, expressed his thoughts during an interaction with NPR, ahead of the Netflix premiere of his latest feature Frankenstein, an adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel of the same name.

The film, starring Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, and Christoph Waltz, will premiere on the streamer on November 7.

"AI, particularly generative AI I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested...I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, What is your stance on AI?' And my answer was very short. I said, I'd rather die.'"

Comparing some tech bros to Frankenstein, Del Toro said, "He's kind of blind, creating something without considering the consequences and I think we have to take a pause and consider where we're going."

A dream project of Del Toro for ages, Frankenstein is expected to feature every trademark of the visionary filmmaker who has been known for infusing his work with references to classics from literature and cinema.

An avid cineaste with a voracious appetite for books and movies, del Toro has often toyed with the idea of man's creation of monsters or man's evolution into a monster.

He won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture for The Shape of Water, in addition to the Best Animated Feature Oscar for Pinocchio.

Interestingly, Del Toro has cited the 1931 film adaptation of Frankenstein and its 1935 sequel Bride of Frankenstein as two of his favourite films. In 2018, while accepting his Best Director BAFTA trophy, he called Mary Shelley an important figure and inspiration for him as a creator.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has sparked a controversy following his recent remarks at Riyadh's Joy Forum 2025.

Multiple media reports stated that the Pakistani government has allegedly placed the actor under the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997)  a list reserved for individuals suspected of having links to terrorism.

Why was Salman Khan declared a terrorist by Pakistan?

Recently, at Joy Forum 2025, Salman Khan made a controversial statement about Balochistan. While referring to expat communities who migrated to the Middle East, he mentioned Balochistan and Pakistan separately, which went viral on social media.

I dont know if it was slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates people of Balochistan from people of Pakistan .

pic.twitter.com/dFNKOBKoEz  Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) October 19, 2025

"If you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali (sic) film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan... everyone is working here," he said.

While some say it could have been a slip of the tongue, others speculate and see an intentional jab at Pakistan.

"Even Salman Khan admitted that Balochistan is a separate country," one user said while another asserted, "He knows exactly what he said."

The comment did not go down well with the officials in Islamabad, which resulted in the government placing the actor under the 4th Schedule, which implies he will be closely monitored, as per media reports.
A 20-year-old Delhi University student was allegedly attacked by her stalker and two accomplices in the national capital on Sunday. The victim's hands suffered severe burns in the attack.

According to police, a second-year student of Laxmi Bai College in Delhi was attacked by motorcycle-borne trio on Sunday evening, while the victim was on her way to college. The victim hailed from Mukundpur, and the attackers were also from the same neighbourhood.

While she was walking towards the college, Jitender, a person who allegedly used to stalk the victim, who also resides in Mukundpur, along with his associates Ishan and Arman, came on a motorcycle. Ishan allegedly handed over a bottle to Arman, who threw acid on her, police said. According to police, the victim's both hands suffered severe burns while she tried to protect her face from the attack, police said.

The attackers fled from the spot soon after the attack. Delhi police have launched a massive manhunt for the trio.

The victim was immediately rushed to Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital in Delhi for treatment. According to police, the victim and Jitender had a quarrel a month ago, and the attack could be his revenge. Senior police officials and forensic experts visited the crime scene. Police are on the lookout for the accused.
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor said that the party will bring an abundance of opportunities within the state, and people won't have to leave their hometown in search of jobs, if they vote for the party in the upcoming Bihar elections. "If you vote for Jan Suraaj, all those who have come home for Chhath, will never go outside Bihar for employment... The youth of Bihar want employment in Bihar itself... A people's government is going to be formed in Bihar...," said Prashant Kishor in an election rally in Sitamarhi. Earlier on Friday, Prashant Kishor launched a veiled attack on the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar and alleged that the "youth of Bihar are struggling" to return home to Chhath while a "bullet train is being built in Gujarat". "This is the janmabhoomi of Jan Suraaj, where the party came into being 3.5 years ago... We resolved that we will end the political bonded labour of the people of Bihar, where they vote for the BJP when they fear Lalu, and vice versa... In the coming 10-15 days, people need to decide whether they want to continue with the existing arrangement or whether they want to bring about a change... A bullet train worth Rs 1 lakh crore is being built in Gujarat, whereas the youth of Bihar are struggling to get a seat in the train to come home for Chhath...," Kishore told reporters here. On the same day, independent candidate Anup Kumar Srivastava from Gopalganj officially joined the Jan Suraaj Party in the presence of party founder Prashant Kishor. This development follows Jan Suraaj's candidate, Shashi Shekhar Sinha, withdrawing his nomination from the Gopalganj assembly constituency. Following Sinha's exit, the party has extended its support to Srivastava for the upcoming polls. The 2025 Bihar elections see a contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. NDA includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Mahagathbandhan, led by Rashtriya Janata Dal, includes Congress party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI-ML) led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Mukesh Sahani's Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP). Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has staked claims to all 243 seats in the state. Bihar will go to the polls on November 6 and November 11, and votes will be counted on November 14. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed reports of the alleged involvement of a few Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in the tragic Satara woman doctor suicide case. Fadnavis vowed he would not rest until justice was served to the victim.

Addressing an event in Satara on Sunday, the chief minister denied the involvement of former MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar and local MLA Sachin Patil in the alleged suicide of a 29-year-old woman doctor from Satara. Targeting the Opposition, Fadnavis said a few are trying to politicise the issue and added he would not tolerate such attempts.

Addressing an event in Phaltan, Satara, after inaugurating various development projects, Fadnavis said, "An attempt was made that I don't come for this programme. Former MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar and local MLA Sachin Patil's names were linked to the case. If I had an iota of doubt, I myself would have cancelled my visit."

The 29-year-old government doctor from Beed was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday. In her suicide note written on her palm, she accused officials of pressuring her to certify false postmortem reports. She also alleged police sub-inspector Gopal Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her. Maharashtra police have arrested both the accused.

Saying he would not like to politicise the issue, Fadnavis stressed he would rest until justice is served for the doctor, whom he addressed as "younger sister". "I will not rest till justice is delivered," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday lashed out at the BJP-led government in the state and termed the doctor's suicide as "institutionalised murder". The doctor's death exposes the "inhuman and insensitive nature of the BJP-led government," Gandhi alleged.

Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve had accused former BJP MP Ranjitsingh Naik Nimbalkar of pressuring the doctor on one occasion in the past to produce a false autopsy report. Nimbalkar, however, denied the allegation, saying it had no truth, and his name was being dragged into the case deliberately.
Maharashtra Police have made another arrest in connection with the alleged rape of a 29-year-old government doctor who died by suicide in Satara on Thursday.

Police sub-inspector Gopal Badne was arrested after he surrendered before Satara police on Saturday evening, hours after a co-accused had been nabbed.

Prashant Banker, a software engineer, had been arrested by a team of Phaltan police from Pune in the morning.

Badne has already been suspended from service after his name came up during the probe.

The doctor, hailing from Beed district and posted at a government hospital in Satara, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night. In a suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that Badne had raped her multiple times while Banker mentally harassed her.

Police Inspector Gopal Badne is the reason I died. He raped me four times. He subjected me to rape, mental and physical abuse for more than five months, the woman had said.

A case of rape and abetment of suicide has been registered against the duo. Banker, who was produced before a Satara district court on Saturday, has been sent to police custody for four days.

The womans uncle had earlier told reporters that she had filed a written complaint with superiors at the hospital alleging physical and mental harassment by the Phaltan police. She had named three officers, including Badne, in the complaint.

CM promises strict action

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said strict action would be taken against those who are found guilty in the suicide of the woman doctor.

"This is a very serious issue. A young doctor wrote her suicide note on her hand before committing suicide. It is very unfortunate, and the government, immediately taking action, has suspended the concerned police officials, and arrests are also being made," he told reporters.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On Satara woman doctor's death allegedly by suicide, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "This is a very serious issue. A young doctor wrote her suicide note on her hand before committing suicide. It is very unfortunate, and the government, immediately taking pic.twitter.com/QqFFpXX6xz  ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2025

The chief minister, however, added that politicising such a sensitive issue is very insensitive.
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a rainfall alert for Mumbai, advising people to brace for thunderstorms and heavy downpour.

Mumbai, Thane and Palghar have been issued a yellow alert, with a possibility of lightning and heavy rainfall.

Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, heavy rainfall, gusty winds with speed reaching 40-50 Kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Konkan-Goa and North Madhya Maharashtra.  Regional Meteorological Center,Mumbai (@RMC_Mumbai) October 26, 2025

"Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, heavy rainfall, gusty winds with speed reaching 40-50 Kmph very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Konkan-Goa and North Madhya Maharashtra," mentioned a tweet from the Regional Meteorological Centre, Mumbai.

Earlier, ANI reported that a depression in the east-central Arabian Sea had progressed nearly westward at a velocity of seven kilometers per hour.

Cyclone Montha:

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu are preparing to face Cyclone Montha as it is expected to make landfall along the eastern coast on Tuesday. The severe cyclonic storm is expected to hit Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada area late on Tuesday, bringing powerful 90-100km/h windswhich may go up to 110km/hand heavy rainfall, especially since the northeast monsoon winds are also active over Yanam, Rayalaseema, and the Andhra Pradesh coast.

According to PTI, the Andhra Pradesh government has prepared an action plan for relief and essential supplies in pre-cyclone preparedness for Cyclone Montha. State Civil Supplies Minister N Manohar said the action plan covers stock positioning of Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities, fuel inventory management, paddy procurement steps, food supply to relief shelters and post-cyclone relief distribution.

For more updates, visit the official website of IMD.
Bihar Police are on high alert after a BJP MP from Bettiah allegedly received death threats for his son and a demand for Rs 10 crore in ransom.

Sanjay Jaiswal, who represents the West Champaran constituency and is a senior leader in Bihar politics, received the threats on October 23 when the anonymous callers rang him from two different numbers.

Pay Rs 10 crore, or your son Shivam will be killed, the callers said, prompting the lawmaker to file a police complaint immediately.

We have registered the FIR. The MP got calls on Friday. The criminals demanded Rs 10 crore and threatened to kill his son if the money was not paid. We are investigating. Raids are on, and we will arrest the culprits very soon, Sadar SDPO Vivek Deep said.

Bettiah, Bihar: SDPO Vivek Deep says, "Bettiah MP Sanjay Jaiswal received two separate calls yesterday around 12:40 PM and 12:44 PM from unknown persons demanding a ransom of 10 crore and threatening to kill his son if not paid. An FIR has been registered, and the investigation pic.twitter.com/5b2msEDGw3  IANS (@ians_india) October 25, 2025

Police have intensified security for Jaiswals son Shivam Jaiswal, who is a doctor.

The incident came days after Jaiswal launched a sharp attack on RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, leaving many wondering if the threat is linked to his political remarks.

Tejashwi Yadav is used to stealing votes like in old times. But now EVMs are here, and the common voter decides. By the time elections come, Tejashwi will be finished, the MP had said.

However, police are treating this as a case of an extortion attempt. The investigators are checking the call records, mobile locations and local criminal groups to zero in on the accused. They are also examining the CCTV visuals in and around Dr Shivams clinic.

The assembly elections in Bihar will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting taking place on November 14.
The Maharashtra Police have taken into custody a techie and a police sub-inspector in connection with the suicide of a government doctor in Satara district that sparked a political uproar in the state.

Prashant Banker, a software engineer, was arrested on Saturday morning, while Gopal Badane, the police officer, was held later in the evening. Both of them had been named in the suicide note the woman had allegedly written on her palm.

The doctor, hailing from Beed district and posted at a government hospital in Satara, had accused Badane of raping her multiple times and Banker of mental harassment.

However, giving a fresh twist to the case, the techie told police during the interrogation that the woman doctor used to harass him by insisting he marry her and maintain a physical relationship.

A Times of India report quoted a police officer as saying that a large number of chats and call recordings between the accused and the deceased have been recovered, in which the woman was speaking about the stress and pressure she was undergoing.

Bankers family, too, claimed that the doctor wanted to marry him, but he turned down her proposal.

They also dismissed reports that Banker was arrested from a farmhouse in Pune and said he was taken into custody from their house in Phaltan after being asked to surrender.

We had called him and told him to surrender. His social media records and call details have been given to the police. My brother never called the doctor. Instead, it was the doctor who used to call him repeatedly and harass him, Bankers brother told TOI.

The woman had been staying at the techies house for the last one year, paying a monthly rent of Rs 4,000.

Bankers younger sister said her brother and the doctor came to know each other after she treated him for dengue infection.

Last month, my brother came to Phaltan to recover from dengue infection. The doctor treated him, and they exchanged numbers. Around 15 days ago, she proposed marriage to him. He turned down the proposal. During Diwali, she seemed tense, but we thought it was work-related, she told the newspaper.

A Satara district court has sent Banker to four-day police custody.
In a major breakthrough in its operations against the organised crime network, the Haryana Police have arrested gangster Lakhwinder Kumar alias Lakha, a close associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, after his deportation from the US.

Lakhvinder Kumar, who had an Interpol Red Notice issued against him, was brought to the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Saturday evening. The operation was coordinated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in collaboration with MEA and MHA has successfully coordinated return of wanted fugitive LAKHVINDER KUMAR on 25.10.2025 from United States of America: CBI pic.twitter.com/ofIA8sgqZf  IANS (@ians_india) October 25, 2025

Kumar was wanted in multiple criminal cases registered in Haryana, related to extortion, intimidation, illegal possession and use of firearms, and attempt to murder.

The CBI, in a statement, said that it got the Red Notice published against Kumar through Interpol on October 26, 2024 on the request of Haryana Police.

The Red Notices published by the Interpol are circulated to all law enforcement agencies globally for tracking of the wanted fugitives.

According to police, Kumar, a resident of Titram village in Kaithal district, had been operating from the US since 2022 under the directions of Bishnois younger brother, Anmol Bishnoi.

The operation marks another significant step in India's effort to bring fugitives hiding abroad to justice. The CBI claimed that more than 130 wanted criminals have been brought back to India in recent years through coordination via Interpol channels.
With Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself confirming that a Cabinet reshuffle is looming, speculations are rife over whether the state will get a new Chief Minister. During a public meeting on Saturday, the Chief Minister said the decision for a rejig was taken earlier, and the time has now come.

While the big question is about whether the veteran leader would finally make way for current Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to take over, Siddharamaiahs tactical response is giving hints that he wouldnt, after all, be stepping down.

On Saturday, Siddaramaiah attended the Kittur Utsav, defying a superstition that whoever attends the ceremony would lose their post. He had attended the event last year too. I was here last year when we marked the 200th anniversary of Rani Channamma's victory," the CM said, hinting that he would attend it the next year too. Many interpret the CMs statement that he has no plans to hand over the post to his Deputy.

But, according to local media reports, Shivakumar might exert pressure on the High Command.

There were reports that when the Congress won the state assembly elections in 2023, the party high command had reached an agreement on the chief minister's post on sharing the post with Siddaramaiah and strongman D K Shivakumar. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied this.

VIDEO | Belagavi: I didn't talk about the replacement of CM. Father has told that 2028 will be his last elections. He won't contest elections for 2028, says Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Son of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.#Karnataka



(Full video available on PTI Videos - pic.twitter.com/yCxm3GnLWa  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 22, 2025

However, Siddaramaiahs camp is giving out not-so-subtle hints. Recently, the CMs son and Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah stirred a political furore by naming Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi as a possible successor to his father. However, both Siddaramaiah and Yathindra quickly clarified that the statement was meant only ideologically, and Siddaramaiah will continue as the CM for the full five-year term.

Big changes

Around 12 to 15 senior ministers will be assigned to the party organisation, and new faces will be given ministerial berths, according to Kannada Prabha. Political games are also active after some ministers who are close associates of Siddaramaiah stated that they are ready to sacrifice their ministerial positions if Siddaramaiah continues as Chief Minister.

Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has come out stating he is ready to resign to help Siddaramaiah, while the report hinted that Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao is also likely to resign from the ministerial post.
In view of next years Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia has issued a ban on people with a wide range of chronic diseases from obtaining a Hajj visa. As per the countrys norms, all prospective pilgrims to be free from infectious, serious, or uncontrolled chronic diseases and be physically capable of performing the rituals independently.

Those who suffer from these medical conditions will be banned from performing the pilgrimage. These include patients who suffer from chronic kidney failure, heart failure or serious heart disease, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, neurological or mental disorders that impair cognitive or motor function, elderly pilgrims with dementia or physical frailty, high-risk pregnancy, active infectious diseases, and under-treated cancer patients.

Women who are three months away from giving birth and those with TB disease have also been banned. Countries have also been instructed to conduct proper medical examinations of applicants. Authorities also announced that those who violate Hajj-related rules will be denied entry to Saudi Arabia.

Besides, the pilgrims are also required to complete all specified immunisations before travel. These include the Meningococcal vaccine (ACWY) - mandatory for all, seasonal influenza vaccine, COVID-19, and other recommended vaccinations based on health.

Pilgrims are now required to provide a health declaration stating that they are disease-free and will be able to perform Hajj rituals.

Recently, Saudi Arabia has also rolled out a seasonal licensing system for pilgrim housing in Makkah and Madinah aimed at increasing accommodation capacity during the peak Hajj period. Those interested to obtain the licence were instructed to register via the Nusuk Masar platform, the centralised system.
Major Palestinian political factions, including Hamas, have reached an agreement to let an independent committee of technocrats take over the running of post-war Gaza. Following talks in Cairo, the groups decided to transfer control of the territory to a temporary committee of independent technocrats tasked with managing daily affairs and basic services in coordination with international agencies and Arab partners.

According to officials familiar with the talks, Hamas agreed to the plan after receiving assurances from mediatorsEgypt, Qatar, and Turkeythat the fighting had effectively come to an end. The factions also called for an urgent national meeting to establish a unified political strategy and for the revitalisation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Hamas is currently outside the PLO, which remains dominated by its long-time rival, Fatah.

The factions outlined a series of conditions for Gazas recovery, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, the lifting of the blockade, and the reopening of crossings. They also called for the deployment of temporary international forces to oversee the ceasefire and maintain stability, as well as the creation of a committee to supervise funding and reconstruction projects.

Yet even as Palestinian groups seek unity, reports suggest a parallel project is underway to reshape Gazas political order without Hamas. Multiple sources described a coordinated effort, referred to by one leader as the New Gaza initiative, supported by Israel and involving four Palestinian militia groups operating in areas vacated by Israeli troops.

One commander claimed his 500-strong militia was permitted to bring in cash, weapons, and vehicles, and said the group received regular deliveries of goods that are scarce elsewhere in the territory. Two militia leaders said they were current or former members of the Palestinian Authoritys security forces, although the PA has denied any involvement. Coordination with Israeli forces is reportedly handled indirectly through the District Coordination and Liaison Office (DCO), the military coordination offices established in the West Bank and Gaza in 1994 that manage the movement of Palestinians, both within the West Bank and into Israel.

Meanwhile, there is growing demand for the release of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, seen by many as a unifying figure. His wife has appealed directly to President Donald Trump to intervene, and reports suggest Trump is considering whether to back the move.

In Washingtons view, Gazas future is bound to Trumps peace plan. During a recent visit to the region, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed American commitment to the initiative, calling it the only plan capable of ensuring lasting peace. His remarks came as part of a broader diplomatic effort to stabilise the situation, with US officials reportedly concerned that actions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government could undermine the agreement.

Rubio outlined the plans key conditions, emphasising that Gaza must no longer harbour groups capable of threatening Israel or Palestinians themselves. He insisted that Hamas must be disarmed and barred from governing in any form, warning that refusal to comply would constitute a breach of the deal.

A central feature of the Trump plan is the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF), to which several countries have offered troops. Rubio said Israel must approve all participants, a remark widely interpreted as a reference to Turkey, whose involvement Israel has reportedly vetoed despite Ankaras offer to help. He conceded that implementing the plan would be difficult, warning of inevitable bumps along the road. Rubio also ruled out any future role for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, accusing it of acting as a subsidiary of Hamas.

He argued that a sustained peace could pave the way for further Arab states to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel.

Meanwhile, Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian and reconstruction crisis. UN figures show that nearly four fifths of all buildings have been damaged or destroyed, leaving more than 61 million tonnes of debris. In Gaza City, the destruction reaches 83 per cent of structures. The UN Environment Programme warns that much of the rubble is contaminated with hazardous materials, including asbestos and industrial waste.

Despite the ceasefire, the World Health Organization says conditions remain catastrophic, with aid deliveries still severely restricted and widespread hunger persisting. The UNs top court has ruled that Israel must allow UN aid into Gaza. Around a million people are believed to require psychological support, while the health system teeters on the edge of collapse. Only 14 of 36 hospitals are operating even partially, and the WHO estimates that 15,000 patients, including 4,000 children, need medical care outside the territory. At the current rate, it could take a decade to evacuate them all. More than 700 people have already died waiting for transfer.

Security remains fragile. The United States has reportedly asked Israel to provide advance notice of any military operations in Gaza and to avoid surprises that could destabilise the truce. Satellite images appear to show new boundary markers placed hundreds of metres inside Gaza, beyond the limits agreed under the ceasefire.

The deployment of the International Stabilisation Force remains uncertain. Diplomats acknowledge that without an understanding between Hamas and the broader Palestinian factions, stabilising Gaza could prove impossibleand the territorys long-term future remains unresolved.
Last Tuesday, the Syrian security forces launched a major operation in the Idlib Province against the jihadist group Firqat al-Ghuraba (FG), which French-Senegalese national Omar Omsen leads. The FG group consists of French and Francophone individuals. The operations followed allegations of kidnapping and the breakdown of negotiations with the group. The operation has already ended in a truce after an agreement was reached that provides for a ceasefire and allows the Syrian government to enter the FG camp. This operation, in Syrias northwest region, is particularly notable as it marked the Ahmad al-Sharaa-led Islamist government's reportedly first known assault targeting a Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) group since Bashar al-Assads ouster last year. The operations against the FTF group signal two interlinked objectives of the al-Sharaa-led transitional government: to signal international responsibility and to assert domestic authority.

The protracted Syrian civil war was a magnet for foreign volunteers who wanted to live in an Islamic Caliphate. According to estimates, a massive 40,000 foreign nationals from 110 countries travelled to the conflict zones in Iraq and Syria. While most fighters came from the Middle East, a substantial number also arrived from Europe. For example, about 1,490 French citizens joined groups like ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), al-Nusra, as well as other violent non-state actors. ISIS was incredibly effective at drawing these recruits. A major part of ISISs success was its manipulation of Islamic eschatology (doomsday prophecies). They heavily promoted the idea that the final, decisive battle would happen in Sham (Greater Syria), which gave the FTFs a powerful, religiously mandated reason to join the fight. This was coupled with strong anti-Western rhetoric and the promise of a strictly enforced Islamic legal system in the territories they controlled. However, the environment for these FTFs shifted dramatically due to two big moments: the collapse of ISIS's territorial Caliphate (around 2019) and the more recent ouster of the Bashar al-Assad regime by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group that al-Sharaa led (December 2024).

With jihadist influence fading and the political landscape shifting, groups like FG are now a real focal point. As these remnants struggle to decide their next move in a radically changed region, their presence is not just a local problem but a crucial test of the new government's ability to address threats that cross borders.

Mohammed Shoaib Raza

The operation against French FTFs can be interpreted within the broader context of al-Sharaas government seeking to consolidate its legitimacy. The administrations recent security measures appear to reassure the international community of Syrias stability and reliability, an effort that, in turn, could pave the way for further sanctions relief. Granted a UN exemption to travel to Paris in May, al-Sharaa met French President Emmanuel Macron, who subsequently urged European and U.S. leaders to reconsider punitive measures against Damascus. Following that visit, the EU lifted most of its sanctions, and the UK also eased its sectoral restrictions. A prominent human rights organisation claims that al-Sharaa pledged to France to neutralise and repatriate French jihadists in Syria. This makes the operation against the French militants a strategic move, signaling that al-Sharaa's government is worthy of international acceptance.

On the domestic front, the crackdown on the FG is likely to be driven by the extremely difficult relationship they have with the HTS. While FG has sometimes teamed up with HTS in larger coalitions (like Ansar al-Tawhid and the Turkistan Islamic Party), it's also got a history of constant fights and disagreements over ideology with the people in charge. A factor further complicating the situation is that a number of FTFs have recently petitioned the Islamist-led government for citizenship, asserting they earned this right through their service in the rebellion. This development has sparked public resentment towards foreign militants and heightened the governments need to establish a clear boundary between insiders and outsiders. It appears to be a calculated maneuver by HTS to reaffirm its political authority, consolidate control, and placate local populations who remain wary of foreign influence within the militant landscape.

This morning, the Sharaa regime launched further attacks against Firqat al-Ghuraba after the latter refused to surrender. All other foreign fighter groups in Syria are on high alert as they know they might be next. pic.twitter.com/DP6PNczZwx  LogKa (@LogKa11) October 22, 2025

Furthermore, the Syrian regime can use the incident internally to signal its zero-tolerance stance towards lawlessness, particularly when perpetrated by militant factions. Within these camps, French militants have long operated an autonomous judicial system whereby they have been conducting trials and enforcing punishments entirely beyond the reach of the Syrian state. Since the collapse of the Assad era, FTF loyalists have grown increasingly disenchanted by the transitional governments reluctance to enforce Islamic Sharia.

It's too early to say that Syria is gearing up for a huge campaign to wipe out all the FTF groups completely. The country has too many problems limited resources, weak security, and a fragile peace for an operation like that to work. The transitional government is still trying to get its footing; it simply cannot risk the stability it has achieved with overly ambitious military action. If the situation goes downhill, there's a good chance these FTF factions, especially the French, Uzbek, and Chechen militants, would regroup, form new alliances, and potentially restart the conflict across northern Syria.

Mohammed Shoaib Raza is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital deteriorated on Sunday morning, reaching the 'very poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). On Saturday morning, AQI was under the "poor" category, with Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) already in effect across Delhi-NCR. As per CPCB, AQI in Lodhi Road is recorded at 287 in the 'very poor' category, and at India Gate and the surrounding areas, it was recorded at 325 in the same category. The AQI around Ashram, Maharani Bagh, was also recorded in the 'Very Poor' category, as per the CPCB. Truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed on Lodhi Road to tackle the high levels of particulate matter, as air quality in several areas remained largely in the 'very poor' range. Meanwhile, as Delhi continues to grapple with deteriorating air quality, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said that cloud seeding has become a necessity for the national capital and termed it a pioneering step in addressing the city's persistent environmental crisis. Speaking to ANI, Rekha Gupta said, "Cloud seeding is a necessity for Delhi and is the first experiment of its kind. We want to try it in Delhi to see if it can help us control this very serious environmental problem." She added, "So the blessings of the people of Delhi are with the government, and we feel that this will be a successful experiment, and in future, we will be able to overcome these environmental problems." Meanwhile, on Friday, former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria cautioned residents about the serious health implications of rising pollution and urged preventive measures to minimise exposure. "The current high levels of air pollution, indicated by poor AQI, are leading to acute health effects, particularly among individuals with underlying heart or lung conditions, the elderly, and young children. These groups are experiencing increased chest discomfort, breathing difficulty, cough, and worsening of pre-existing conditions like asthma and COPD," Dr Guleria told ANI. He added, "Even healthy individuals are reporting symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, throat pain, chest tightness, and coughing. The inflammation and narrowing of airways caused by pollutants are contributing to these issues. Additionally, the use of crackers, despite permissions for 'green crackers,' has exacerbated air pollution." Earlier, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa mentioned that there will be clouds over Delhi from October 28 to 30 and noted that the Delhi government is ready with physical trials and permissions to induce artificial rain on October 29. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and its National Capital Region (NCR) was falling under the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories in several areas even as Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains in effect. (ANI)
The US intelligence had information that the key technology used by China to extend the range of its air-to-air missiles - PL-15 and PL-17 - was given to it by the UAE. The US spy agencies received this information during Joe Bidens tenure in 2022, according to a report. Interestingly, it was the PL-15 missile that Pakistan claimed it used to down an Indian warplane during Operation Sindoor in May.

The UAEs flagship AI group, G42, gave Chinese company Huawei the technology, which was used to upgrade long-range missiles fired from fighter jets. This helped Chinese fighter jets acquire a clear edge over American warplanes, according to a Financial Times report.

Interestingly, Pakistan is one of the prominent buyers of the PL-15 missiles, which it used against India in Operation Sindoor. India had also recovered an intact Chinese PL-15E air-to-air missile fired by a Pakistani jet. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has reportedly studied the captured missile and is now incorporating aspects of its unique design and makeup into its own indigenously produced Astra missile.

The report, quoting unnamed intelligence sources in the US, added that G42 rejected the claims, calling them false and defamatory allegations from sources with questionable motive and intent.

While there were debates among US officials on whether the UAE AI firm was aware that the technology would aid the Chinese military, the information came at a time when US spy agencies were getting hints that the UAE was drifting closer to China. Intel was flashing red, one former US official told Financial Times. G42 and the UAE were drifting into Chinas orbit.

The information also prompted a fierce debate on whether the US should co-operate more with the UAE on condition that it agreed to stop working with China.

That said, there is no clear idea about the technology shared by G42 to China. The firm has expanded into geospatial, aeronautics, and satellite technology, and the technology involved software that would optimise the flight of the missiles. Chinas defence industry spent the 2010s building and delivering air-to-air missiles  including the PL-15 and PL-17  that leapfrogged their US equivalents in range and in advanced seeker technologies, said a former senior CIA expert on the Chinese military.

The report said the White House sent top officials to the UAE to tell UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who chairs the firm, that his country must choose between the US and China for its AI industry. The then commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, reportedly told senior UAE officials that it was a case of one strike and youre out.

Abu Dhabi ultimately addressed the concerns raised by the Biden administration, although some believe the UAE was being completely up front with Washington.
Twitch streamer Mizkif has responded to multiple accusations made by fellow streamer Emiru.

Emily Emiru accused Mizkif of sexual assault, domestic and physical abuse, stalking, harassment, and blackmail in a livestream on Saturday.

Reacting to the accusations, Mizkif, in his own livestream, said that their past relationship was deeply toxic. He acknowledged his aggressive behaviour but said that the actions were mutual.

Twitch streamer Emiru has accused Mizkif of psychological and domestic abuse, stalking, harassment, sexual assault and more pic.twitter.com/PabiDbf7uW  Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) October 25, 2025

He said, Im ashamed that the situation got so bad, but Emmy was also violent, and alleged that she would throw things at him while he punched walls or slammed doors in anger.

He also said that he refused to marry her due to their toxic relationship. He also shared that the two of them threatened to kill themselves during arguments.

Mizkif claims that the final time he spoke with Emiru was when she asked to get married and have children within the next 5 years, but ultimately he decided to leave the relationship pic.twitter.com/GUIvHGHmhP  ryan  (@scubaryan_) October 26, 2025

I one time did say I was going to kill myself during an argument, but Emmy did this as well numerous times, he said.



Mizkif also said Emiru had a habit of neglecting her pet rabbits by starving them. He said that many of her rabbits had died because of her neglect.

Fans are now calling for Twitch to ban Mizkif, whose real name is Matthew Rinaudo, from the platform.

Emiru spoke about the assault she faced on a Kick livestream and said that the abuse she experienced wasn't limited to one incident. She said that Mizkif had allegedly assaulted, abused, and intimidated her through threats to friends.

Mizkif also allegedly approached people around her at the Twitch convention and tried to get them to back him. Obviously, theyre not insane, she said.

Emiru also said that the same night, Mizkif had threatened one of Emirus employees and warned that if they ever spoke about him, he would destroy her.

The streamer said that she spent the last year trying to cut him off from her life and building a new life with people that actually care about me. Ive been trying to move on peacefully without causing any drama. I did not want to do this, but its clear I need to speak up.

She also recalled one incident where Mizkif assaulted her, saying, We hadnt talked in a whilehe started kissing me, and I let him. Suddenly, he tried to climb on top of me. I screamed, and he jumped off. He said, I feel weird now, like I did something wrong, and then immediately left without checking if I was okay.

In the stream, she also shared the messages she received from Mizkif, which showed that he had kept trying to contact her even after she had cut off all communication with him.

In the livestream, she also spoke about the assault at TwitchCon.

On October 17, a man had bypassed security and walked onto the stage and assaulted Emiru during a meet and greet. The streamers' security pushed the man away. However, the event staff did not take any action.

Fans and Emiru criticized Twitch for not handling the situation effectively. She also said that the streaming app company misrepresented the incident and did not take immediate action.

Emiru said that she did not want to speak publicly, but she must now, as she no longer feels safe. She said that the incidents made her realise that staying silent was not protecting her.

Who is Mizkif?

Mizkif, who was born on February 16, 1995, is a popular American Twitch streamer. He gained popularity for his reaction videos, gaming streams, and interactions with fans and other creators.

The streamer has amassed over 2 million Twitch followers and has over 1 million YouTube subscribers.

He also founded the gaming organisation One True King and won awards like Best Chatting streamer in 2021.
Chief trade negotiators of both the United States and China have reportedly arrived at a preliminary consensus on the trade deal between the major nations. US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, are likely to sign the deal this week.

China's top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that both sides have agreed on a preliminary framework for the trade deal, and it would now be sent for approval to both sides.

Top trade negotiators of both countries met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia. "Both Beijing and Washington believe a stable China-US relationship is good for both sides," South China Morning Post quoted Li as saying.

The trade truce comes as China was staring at higher tariffs from the US over its purported plan to restrict the export of rare earth minerals. In retaliation, US President Trump threatened a 100 per cent tariff hike on China.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, "It's very important that China and the US cooperate as willing partners with each other to ensure that we can have smooth supply chains, secure supply chains, for the quality of life, for our people and security." According to China's top negotiator Li, the discussed topics included export controls, reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl tariffs, the US Section 301 probe into Chinese shipbuilders, and a possible expansion of bilateral trade, the publication reported.
In what could be interpreted as a reply to US President Donald Trumps tirade against him, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday donned a military uniform to visit one of the command posts of the joint force. The reason for his visit was to discuss the testing of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered, unlimited-range cruise missile.

Putins gesture of wearing military fatigues, which he does rarely and on important events, has triggered speculations that he was responding to Trump's Tomahawk missile threat. Trump had also said there would be no in-person summit unless Putin proves he is serious about wanting peace in Ukraine.

Putin claims Russia has completed testing of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, allegedly capable of flying 14,000 km and bypassing all missile defense systems.



He made the remarks during a meeting with Gen. Gerasimov, also asserting Russian advances near pic.twitter.com/FXuQ8kAKvh   Ukraine Frontline_Daily (@ukraine_frontup) October 26, 2025

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov briefed Putin on "achievements at the front" and the results of strategic offensive force training. Gerasimov then announced the test of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile that took place on October 21, reportedly covering approximately 14,000 kilometers. The Russian General Staff claims this is "not the limit" of its capabilities.

Putin called the Burevestnik "a unique model, unlike any other in the world," and claimed the missile had demonstrated its ability to evade missile defense systems. This is a unique product, unique to the world. I remember when we announced that we were developing such a weapon, even highly qualified specialists told me that this task was unrealistic in the near future. And now the decisive tests have been completed," Putin declared.

Interestingly, the news about Burevestnik comes at a time when Trump hinted that he might give the Tomahawk cruise missile to Ukraine. The Tomahawk, which has been in the U.S. militarys inventory since the 1980s, boasts an impressive range of around 1,000 miles and precision guidance systems that make it the go-to weapon for striking targets that are deep inland or in hostile territory. It is also undetectable by air defence systems, which would make it a game-changer for Ukraine.

According to Oleg Ivannikov, an advisor to the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences, Putin has once again sent a signal to Western countries that Kyiv has no chance of winning.

Military expert Yuri Knutov called Putin's statements and gesture a response to Trump's threats to deploy Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine. Naturally, a response was inevitable. That response was our Burevestnik, which is capable of reaching the US territory and hitting its intended target, Knutov told Russian media URA.
Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of Trump, has been identified as the mystery man who donated $130 million to help fund the US military amid the ongoing government shutdown, the New York Times reported.

The billionaire had made the donation anonymously. Trump announced the donation on Thursday and referred to him as a patriot, a great American citizen, a substantial man, and a friend.

Trump said that he didn't want publicity. He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned, he said.

The donation was made to ensure that the active duty service members would continue to receive their pay during the budget deadlock, which had suspended government operations.

Pentagon's chief spokesperson said that the donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members salaries and benefits, the funds amount to $100 per service member.

Many government workers have been furloughed or told to work without pay during the shutdown.

The donations have been controversial. Delaware Senator Chris Coons, the top Democrat on the Senate's defence appropriations subcommittee, said, "Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers."

Donations over $10,000 also have to be reviewed by ethics officials according to rules of the Defence Department to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other particular matters involving the Department that must be considered before gift acceptance."

Who is Timothy Mellon?

Timothy Mellon, 81, a billionaire heir, is the grandson of the former US Treasury Secretary Andrew W Mellon and a descendant of Thomas Mellon, an Irish immigrant who built a vast banking and real estate empire after arriving in the US in 1818.

The Mellon family is the 34th richest family in the US, according to Forbes and is worth over $14 billion.

Mellon studied city planning at the Yale university. His father was a benefactor to the institution and funded the Yale Centre for British Art. In 1981, he founded Guilford Transportation Industries, which went on to acquire major railroads across Canada, New England, and the mid-Atlantic. Later, it acquired the Pan American World Airways. Mellon had also served as a trustee for the Andrew W Mellon Foundation for 21 years before stepping down in 2002.

The billionaire recluse left his native Connecticut to live in Wyoming in 2005 and has been living there ever since.

Mellon was the largest donor in the 2024 electoral cycle after donating about $165 million to Trump, Robert F Kennedy, and other Republican candidates, The Guardian reported. $125 million out of this was given to Super Pac Make America Great Again Inc, which supported Trump, according to federal documents.

Mellon also has an extensive history of donating to conservative causes and candidates.

He donated about $1.5m in 2010 to the state of Arizona to defray the legal costs to defend a controversial anti-immigration bill, the BBC reported.

In his 2012 memoir, he highlighted his political views. He condemned what he called Slavery Redux social safety net programmes. He also said that Black voters were given freebies in exchange for votes.

Occasionally, however, he has also donated to Democrats. He gave about $2,700 to progressive New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 2018 campaign. She had tried to return the donation, he told Bloomberg in 2020. He refused to cash the cheque.
April 15, 2019. An evening in Paris.

A Monday mass is underway at the Notre Dame, the cathedral church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris. Surrounding the majestic Gothic edifice are scaffoldings; on the ground below lie cigarette buttsworkers are in the midst of a major restoration. Inside the limestone walls, the fragrant smoke of incense permeates the cathedrals spacious nave and aisles, curling up towards the high, vaulted stone ceiling.

Follett spends months researching before he writes. He reads books, studies maps and photographs, uses Google Earth, and travels extensively. I write an outline of the story and research the background at the same time, he says. Thats generally the first six months. Follett hails from Cardiff, Wales. His grandfather was a coal miner; his father, a revenue clerk. My parents werent particularly poor, he says, but in the 1950s, when I was a boy, ordinary people in England were not very well off. Follett has a taste for fine suits, fast cars and French wine. He never mixes drinking and writing, but he once set Jackdaws in and around Reims, France, just so he could drink champagne and study its cathedral. Success has great rewards, he says.

A fire alarm goes off. There are no sprinklers on the cathedrals centuries-old ceilings, but only an elaborate system of perforated tubes that draw in air to detect smoke. In an emergency, help will have to come from outside.

A security guard, only three days into his job and working a double shift because his relief had not arrived, is despatched to investigate. He fails to detect the fire. Amid confusion, nearly half an hour passes before the flames are found.

Too late. By the time the fire brigade arrives, smoke is billowing from the cathedral. Tourists and Parisians watch in disbelief. One of them, Yvette Cooper from Scotland, watches from the banks of the Sienne as the fire gradually engulfs the cathedral and Paris begins to weep. As the spire begins to collapse, she turns away, unable to watch. She calls a friend who lives outside London and says, Turn on the TV.

That friend is Barbara Follett. She and her husband have just finished supper, oblivious to the conflagration in Paris. On television, they watch the cathedral burn. How could a stone structure burn? they hear journalists asking.

Barbaras husband, Ken Follett, knows the answer. He had once burnt a cathedral downthe Kingsbridge Cathedral, in his epic novel The Pillars of the Earth. Everything happened slowly: the beams fell slowly, the arch broke up slowly, and the smashed masonry fell slowly through the air, Follett wrote, describing the disaster through the eyes of Philip, the prior who governs the fictional cathedral. Philip was appalled. The sight of such a mighty building being destroyed was strangely shocking. It was like watching a mountain fall down or a river run dry: he had never really thought it could happen.

Follett knew, unlike most observers, that above the Notre Dame was what builders called the foresta network of massive wooden rafters, each beam cut from oak trees felled centuries ago. The rafters consist of hundreds of tons of wood, old and very dry, Follett tweets, answering the journalists questions. When that burns, the roof collapses; then the falling debris destroys the vaulted ceiling, which also falls and destroys the mighty stone pillars that are holding the whole thing up.

In The Pillars of the Earth, the cathedrals destruction becomes a turning point: the fire ensures years of labour for a builder and his crew to raise a new one. Much of the plot unfolds during the building of the new cathedralbuilt not in the traditional, heavy Romanesque style, but in an elaborate new form that comes to be known as Gothic architecture. The burning, in a sense, becomes an act of creation. The novel itself, on the whole, is a metahistory of the destruction and recreation of England in the eleventh centuryfrom the fall of the Anglo-Saxon aristocrats who ruled England for more than 500 years, to the establishment of a new feudal order under the conquering Normans from France.

Spinning stories: Follett at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire, England, one of the best preserved textile mills of the Industrial Revolution. He visited the mill before writing The Armour of Light (2023), the fifth book in the Kingsbridge series | X@KMFollett

Because The Pillars of the Earth is among the most widely read novels of all time, and Follett is seen as an authority on cathedrals, his tweet triggers a storm of phone calls from newsrooms. Soon he is giving interviews, explaining what the blaze would likely do to Frances most beloved monumenta place where Napoleon crowned himself emperor, where France celebrated military victories over centuries, and where liberation after World War II was marked. The fall of the spire means the Notre Dame, built not long after the Norman conquest of England as an early and iconic example of Gothic architecture, could be irreparably damaged.

I spent most of that evening, and all of the following day, doing interviews for radio and television, explaining how the fire might have started and how it would have continued, Follett tells THE WEEK. The fire had, by that time, done a lot of damage, although happily the damage was limited.

It is a Zoom callfive years after the fireand Follett is in his home in Hertfordshire, near London, with a bookshelf in the background. Apparently, his study. Each day, Follett explains. I come to my chair in this room in the morning, and I write. This is how I have spent my life.

Follett, 76, has written 38 bestsellersmost of them novelsover nearly half a century. His first major success was the Edgar Award-winning Eye of the Needle, a World War II spy thriller published in 1978, when he was 27. Since then, Follett has built his bibliography like a cathedralstone by stone, book by bookwith the patience of someone undertaking monumental work.

The Kingsbridge series that began with The Pillars of the Earth has evolved into a sweeping five-volume cultural chronicle of mediaeval England. The Century trilogy, which opened with Fall of Giants (2010), has become a panoramic journey through the upheavals of the 20th century. And standalone novelslike Triple (about an Israeli operation in Egypt to steal nuclear fuel), The Man from St Petersburg (a Russian anarchist tries to assassinate a Tsar prince in London), Jackdaws (an all-woman French resistance group taking out a vital German telephone exchange before D-day), Code to Zero (an amnesiac trying to recover his memory to prevent a secret from destroying Americas first satellite launch), and The Third Twin (a researcher unearthing clues to a genetic experiment gone wrong in the US)have traversed continents and eras.

This room, apparently, is where all these worlds were born. The latest to emerge from it is Circle of Days, an epic about the Neolithic tribes that built Stonehenge, the 5,000-year-old ring of massive standing stones in England. Why Stonehenge was built still remains a matter of debate among historians. It has been interpreted as a sundial, an observatory, a ceremonial site, and a burial groundpossibly it was all of these.

Follett spends months researching before he writes. To prepare, he reads books, studies maps and photographs, uses Google Earth, and travels extensively. I write an outline of the story and research the background at the same time, he says. The two things help one another. Thats generally the first six months.

Shoulder to shoulder: Follett and his wife, Barbara, at their residence in Tuscany, Italy, in 1993 | Getty Images

Then comes the first draft, which he shows to family, friends, editors and, of course, historiansso they can correct errors I have made. Then he does what most writers would deem unreasonable: he leaves the first draft unedited and writes a completely new one from scratch. That second draft takes me two to three years, he says. The first draft, perhaps, is just the scaffolding; the real cathedral must rise from fresh stone, word by word.

Folletts last release was in 2023The Armour of Light, the fifth in the Kingsbridge series. The launch of Circle of Days took place at the monument that inspired the quintologySalisbury Cathedral, the thirteenth-century Gothic marvel whose spire is the tallest in England. Stonehenge is just 12 kilometres from the cathedral.

Of course, Stonehenge is a religious monument, as Salisbury Cathedral is, he says. So they have a lot in common. In both cases, the actual builders were quite humble peoplenot rich people, not educated people, not kings and princes.

Follett hails from Cardiff, Wales. His grandfather was a coal miner; his father, a revenue clerk. My parents werent particularly poor, he says, but in the 1950s, when I was a boy, ordinary people in England were not very well off. It was before the prosperity that came with the sixties.

The familyFollett was the eldest of three childrenbelonged to a puritanical Christian sect called Plymouth Brethren that preached to its flock to shun television and films. Books were an exception, so Follett devoured as many as he could find. When his demand exceeded what his parents could supply, they took the economical route. They took me to the public library in Cardiffs Canton district that looked like a church, he says. For me, it was like Christmas.

From Enid Blyton and Geoffrey Trease, he moved to William Shakespeare. His parents let him read anything he liked, so somewhere along the way, as a teenager, he discovered Ian Flemings James Bond. Everything about Bond is totally contradictory to what Plymouth Brethren believe about life, Follett says. He smokes, he drinks, he goes to bed with women who arent his wife. He enjoys the high lifechampagne, good food, expensive clothes.

Follett left the puritanical faith to study philosophy at University College London. In 1968, when he was 18, he married his girlfriend Mary Elson, because we got pregnant. Marys parents were also Plymouth Brethren. Their son, Emanuele, was born the same year; daughter Marie-Claire arrived in 1973.

By then, Follett had become an atheistthough a spiritual one. In the 1970s, as a reporter at the London-based Evening News, he visited a cathedral on the edge of the papers circulation area. It was unlike the gospel halls of his childhood, which had nothing but a table in the centre.

So when I actually saw the cathedral, he says, I was really very struck. This was something completely different from the way I had been brought up. It was big, beautiful, highly decorated, expensive, imposingit was the beginning of my fascination with cathedrals.

That visit seeded the idea of The Pillars of the Earth.

But first, he had to weather a financial crisis. Leaving journalism, he wrote a novel that earned him a modest advance and bought him time. Then he wrote another, and another, and another still, until he found himself the author of 10 unsuccessful books.

Each time I wrote a book, I wanted it to be a bestseller, he says. So there were 10 disappointments. But all that time, I was learning.

For his eleventh, he radically changed his writing process. He took an architects approachmaking a plan of the entire book, listing out characters and chapters, and noting what happens to each. He spent six months just finalising the plan. Then he wrote Eye of the Needle.

The master builder: Follett inside the Notre Dame after the cathedral officially reopened | X@KMFollett

The book appeared at a transformative moment in publishing. By the late 1970s, it had become customary to release books in two formatshardcover (prestigious, costlier) and paperback (cheap, disposable). Each format was handled by different publishers. The hardback deal for Eye of the Needle brought only a few thousand dollars. But the paperback rights went to auction, as publishers sensed it would sell well in shops, supermarkets, airports, and train stationsat least 10 times the hardback numbers. The auction, Folletts agent told him, had continued till it closed at half a million dollars. Follett had secured his first fortune.

The bestsellers that followed made him a marquee name. Follett also became more politically active. He married Barbara Broer, a rising Labour Party leader who had been married to the South African anti-apartheid activist Richard Turner. Barbara was born in Jamaica, moved to Ethiopia (her father established the countrys first insurance company, with Emperor Haile Selassie as partner), and later to South Africa. She returned to the UK after her marriage with Turner broke down.

In 1985, the year he married Barbara, Follett published Lie Down with the Lions (terror conspiracies in Paris, guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan, said publicity material). The next book took unusually longerfour years. It was The Pillars of the Earth.

Folletts favourite Bond novel is Live and Let Die. Its opening lineThere are moments of great luxury in a secret agents lifecould apply to him. He has a taste for fine suits, fast cars and French wine. He never mixes drinking and writing, but he once set Jackdaws in and around Reims, France, just so he could drink champagne and study its cathedral.

Success has great rewards, he says. I live in a very pleasant house, and I drink very good wine and champagne.

A longtime Labour Party donor, Follett has often been dismissed by Conservative critics as a champagne socialist. A BBC anchor once found much amusement during an election broadcast when Follett fumbled and failed to open a bottle of champagne at a Labour Party celebrationperhaps the only time in public that he truly lived up to his surname.

The name Follett is of Norman origin, not Welsh. It means jester. The name first appeared in the Domesday Book, the eleventh-century record of England and Wales compiled after the Norman invasion. The Normans, fresh off the victory over the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy, sought to establish a new taxation system. To help record-keeping, people began adopting hereditary surnames.

Perhaps the Norman inheritance explains Folletts left-reformist leanings. In the 1990s, he became an influential supporter of the New Labour movement led by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. Barbara, in fact, served as minister of culture and tourism in the Brown cabinet from 2007 to 2010. It was during her tenure that the UK government transformed Stonehenge from a mere historical landmark to a living cultural site.

When you go to Stonehenge, Follett says, you go to the car park, you buy your ticket at the visitor centre, and you take a bus to the monument. When you arrive, you cant see the visitor centre or the car park. It looks pretty much as it would have looked in the Stone Age. That was Barbaras concept.

Surely, she must have also shaped Circle of Days. Well, she is always interested in what I am writing, he replies, but I am the one who writes it.

Between them, the Folletts have five children and six grandchildren. (Emanuele died in 2018 of leukaemia. Losing him was completely devastating, Follett said at the time.)

Barbara has retired from politics, but their social and political connections endure: they are known to make big donations and host extravagant gatherings for friends. One of their closest friends is Yvette Cooper, who had called them when the Notre Dame burnt in 2019. When the Labour Party under Keir Starmer came to power last year, Cooper became home secretary. She now serves as foreign secretarybecoming the first woman in British history to hold both offices.

After the Notre Dame fire, Follett wrote Notre Dame: A Short History of the Meaning of Cathedrals, pledging to donate its proceeds to rebuilding the cathedral. With the reconstruction project attracting more than $1 billion, the proceeds were later reallocated to La Foundation du Patrimoine, an organisation that works to preserve French heritage. The money went to a cathedral in Brittany, France.

Last December, he returned to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame as a special guest. It was a great joy, he says. The cathedral looks better than it has ever looked. The sight, however, was startling. The fire had stripped away centuries of soot from the stones, and the workers had polished them to bring out the true colour. We thought the stones were grey, because they were grey for hundreds of years, Follett says. But in fact, they are white. When they cleaned it, it looked beautiful.
Interview/ Ken Follett, author

It took Ken Follett just weeks to write his first novela thriller about drug dealers published under the pseudonym Symon Myles in 1974. The book was not a success, but the modest advance was enough to repair his car. Then a young journalist, he realised through this experience that his future might lie in books rather than newspapers.

What kind of novel would I write if I were to write about India? Well, I wouldnt want to write about the British in India... I dont find them a very attractive group of people. They were very cruel and exploitative, and completely racist. I just cant imagine putting together a story about those rather unpleasant people. Why do we have rock-and-roll? Because Africans went to America, and they heard European hymn tunes.... I listen to most kinds of music. I like rock-and-roll; I like classical music. I am very fond of Mozart. I dont like jazz very much, and I dont much like 20th century classical music.

By the end of the year, he had joined Everest Books, a small firm run by former journalists that had brought out his debut novel. We were a young company and nobody knew anything about publishing because we were all straight out of journalism, Follett once recalled. But we knew how to promote, we knew the media, and that saved us.

His savvy helped Follett rise to the position of deputy managing editor at Everest, even as he continued writing thrillers under various pseudonymsMartin Martinsen, Bernard L. Ross and Zachary Stone. Why so many pen-names? Because most publishers preferred to release only one book per author each year, and Follett was writing several.

Folletts nose for business has held him in good stead through the decades. Today, he is a regular at the Frankfurt Book Fairthe worlds largest publishing event and a venue for networking, deal-making and industry strategy. Last year, he hosted a Ken Follett Summit at the fair, drawing around 100 participants from across the publishing scene, both in person and online. The event followed a headline-making announcement that, after 45 years with Pan Macmillanthe storied publishing house once led by former British prime minister Harold Macmillanhe was moving to Hachette. The French publishing giant also represents J.K. Rowling (writing as Robert Galbraith) and Fourth Wing author Rebecca Yarros.

Circle of Days, Folletts latest novel, is the first under the new contract. He tries to trace the origins of Stonehenge. The narrative follows Joia, a young priestess of the Great Plain in the Stone Age, who, after witnessing the destruction of a sacred wooden monument used for rituals and timekeeping, tries to build a stronger, enduring stone structure. Her brother-in-law, a flint miner named Seft, must solve the monumental challenge of transporting and erecting massive stones.

In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Follett speaks about letting his imagination travel back in time to uncover the mysteries of Stonehengeand what monuments mean to humanity. Monuments remind us of not just what things used to be like, he says, but also how far we have come.

In a wide-ranging conversation, he also reflected on his early years, creative struggle, writing and research methods, and the lessons drawn from his long career as one of the worlds most popular storytellers. Edited excerpts:

Eternal circle: A view of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England | Shutterstock

Q/ Circle of Days was launched at Salisbury Cathedral, which inspired The Pillars of the Earth and is just around 12km from Stonehenge. It must have felt like a strange sort of time travelreading aloud from a book about a nearby monument that predates the cathedral by several millennia. How was the moment for you?

Well, its always a joy to go to Salisbury Cathedral and, of course, Stonehenge is a religious monument as the cathedral is. The cathedral was built in the Middle Ages and the monument was built 4,500 years ago.

Both are examples of people aspiring to build something that will last forever. And, in both cases, the actual builders were quite humble people. In the case of the cathedral, they were masons and workmen. In the case of Stonehenge, they were basically ordinary people who banded together to bring those giant stones to the site. It took at least 200 people to move one stoneso it was a communal effort.

Q/ There is a lovely passage where a young Joia realises that there is a deeper meaning to the song-and-dance rituals at the monument. She could make out some of the words of the song, you write, which mentioned winter and summer, spring and autumn, and other seasonal events: the appearance of new grass, the migration of deer, the falling of leaves. Somehow, Joia guessed, this dance was the way they always knew which day of the year it was.

Your lines link ritual and knowledge, and faith and what we call science. As an atheist, what are your thoughts on the relevance of ritualsor even religionin our modern, scientific world.

The rituals at Stonehenge were religious, but they were also a means of handing knowledge on to the next generationbecause, of course, there was no writing in the Stone Age. There was no paper or pens in this part of the world. In western Europe, writing had not been invented. It was in the process of being invented in the Middle East and other parts of the world, but not here.

So, how did they pass knowledge from one generation to the next? It must have been through songs and poems. Of course, the oldest poems that we know are the work of Homer and the Epic of Gilgamesh, and they come to us because they were written down. But most historians believe that, long before they were written down, they were memorised by poets and spoken in a kind of ritual. In the old world, rituals were perhaps the only vehicle to pass knowledge through generations. And, in the modern world we live now, thats not really necessary.

Q/ So have rituals lost their relevance?

Well, people do still have rituals, dont they? We sing the same song at a birthday. We sing, Happy birthday to you!. The family gather, and there is always a cake. That is a ritual marking the passage of time for a member of the family.

In most countries in western Europe, you dont have to go to church to get married. You can get married at the town hall. But most people do still have a ritual in the church where they make vows to one another and sing, and the priest blesses their marriage. The old rituals have survived very well into the technological 21st century.

King of letters: Ken Follett with King Charles III during an event organised in March 2025 by the Queens Reading Room, a charity started by Queen Camilla in 2023 to promote reading among the public | Getty Images

Q/ You wrote 10 books before Eye of the Needle made you famous.

My early books were all too short and I wrote them too fast. So I made a decision that Eye of the Needle would be 100,000 words, and that I would take as much time as I wanted. In the end, I did, and I still wrote it quite quickly. But it wasnt such a hasty novel as my previous ones.

Q/ Today, you are a towering figure in your field. What has success taught you?

Well, I wrote Eye of the Needle when I was 27. I am 76 now. So thats almost 50 yearsI have been living like this for a very long time.

Its still a challenge to write a novel, and its a special challenge to write a popular novel that people will love. So it hasnt become easy. Really, as far as work is concerned, writing the next bestseller is the main thing on my mind. But I know that the most important things in my life are the people in my lifemy family, my friends. Thats what really makes a man happy.

Q/ The last time you were in India was in 2010, to promote Fall of Giantsthe first book in the Century trilogy. Between that trilogy, and the Kingsbridge series, and now Circle of Days, you have covered half a millennia of the history of western civilisation. Can we hope for a Ken Follett novel set in India?

Well, British people have written a lot of novels about India, but they always write about the British in India. They dont really write about Indians in India.

I do like the novels of R.K. Narayan very much. I have read quite a lot of them, and they are very gently humorous, arent they? They are not, you know, laugh-a-minutethey are just quite wry.

Now, what kind of novel would I write if I were to write a novel about India? Well, I wouldnt want to write about the British in India, because to be honest, I dont find them a very attractive group of people. They were very cruel and exploitative, and completely racist. I just cant imagine putting together a story about those rather unpleasant people.

And, I dont know enoughI am so unfamiliar with all things Indian that I am not sure I could do it. But its not a bad idea. I mean, in western civilisation, people dont know anything about the history of India except for when the British went there. The rest of the history of India is not generally known here. So it would be a good idea to write about that history.

But I also feel I would get so many things wrong. Indians would say to me, Well, you see, that couldnt have happened. You got that wrong. And you got something else wrong. So, I would be very nervous about it. I would do it only if I thought of a really good idea.

Follett at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 1980 to promote the German translation of his novel Triple | Getty Images

Q/ Andrew Carnegie, the US steel magnate, visited Banaras in 1878 and wrote about being mesmerised by the beauty of the city. In a way, Banaras is so spiritually close to the monument in Circle of Daysboth are living sites of the dead.

But while Stonehenge is in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, Banaras is not, despite being one of the worlds oldest cities. As a writer of history, how do you view the fact that there are more UNESCO sites in the west than in Asia and other continents.

Certainly, UNESCO should consider all important monuments in the world, regardless of which country they are in, or what culture they represent. And it wouldnt surprise me if Asia is underrepresented in the list, because the United Nations was set up by Europeans and Americans after World War II.

I wrote the Century trilogy to show how life has changed in the 20th century. Millions of people became freer. Countries became more democratic. More people got the votewomen got the votein many countries. And the monuments remind us of not just of what things used to be like, but also how far we have come. They remind us of the journey that we have all made. They remind us that the freedom we have is fragile. The great thing about these monuments is that they remind us of that.

Q/ You have an interesting Carnegie connectionyou grew up reading in the library that existed because of his philanthropy.

Yes. Thats right.

Q/ Carnegie gave away most of his fortune to build some 2,500 libraries around the world. One was in your hometown, Cardiff.

Yes. And it is still there, and it is still a library. I was there quite recently.

Q/ How important was that library to you?

I used to get a book for Christmas and a book for my birthday. I would read a book in a day in those days. I read very quickly, and I enjoyed it. All my aunts and uncles knew that they had to give me a book on my birthday. But the books were never enough, until I joined the library. The Carnegie library looks like a churchvery interesting architecture. For me, [joining] it was like Christmas. Suddenly, there was no end to books I could read, and I went to that library every week.

Q/ Were there restrictions on the kind of books you could read?

Strangely enough, no.

At first, of course, I just read childrens books, which were harmless. But, when I was a teenager, I used to go to the library and borrow James Bond books. And, strangely, my parents never objected to that. You know, they wouldnt let me go to the movies. They wouldnt buy a television. But they let me borrow any book I liked.

I did also read Shakespeare. I used to read the Shakespeare plays as if they were novels. So, you know, it wasnt all James Bond.

Star turn: Ken Follett performs with his son Emanuele (right) during a publishers night in Frankfurt, Germany, in October 2014 | Getty Images

Q/ Which is your favourite James Bond book?

I like Live and Let Die. The opening sentenceThere are moments of great luxury in the life of a secret agenttells you all about James Bond, doesnt it? Because he enjoys luxury, but he is also a secret agent, so he gets into fights and so on.

Its a great first line. And its a really good novel actually. I have reread it a couple of times since, and enjoyed it every time.

Q/ In place of Carnegie, you now have Jeff Bezos, who made his fortune from a website selling books. Do you think Bezos should perhaps take a leaf out of Carnegies book, considering the criticism that he has not done enough for the publishing industry.

Well, I would [emulate Carnegie], if I was as rich as him.

There are plenty of people in the UK who cant read. They generally hide it because they are ashamed. But sometimes, they come forward and say, I need to learn to read. We should do a lot more for literacy. If I were a billionaire, I would put some money into efforts to improve literacy.

Q/ Do you like physical books or e-books?

I prefer physical books. I do read e-books sometimes when it is convenient. But I prefer the physical one.

Q/ During Brexit, you started a friendship tour across Europe with fellow authors Lee Child, Jojo Moyes and Kate Mosse. What are your thoughts on the social and cultural impact of Brexit on Europe?

Well, I think it has been very bad for my country.

There are always people who say, Our country is the best. We dont want foreigners, but they are wrong. A great deal of culture comes from the mixing of people.

Why do we have rock-and-roll? Because Africans went to America, and they heard European hymn tunes. Rock-and-roll is a mixture of European hymn tunes with African rhythms. And it is loved all over the world.

There are many examples where a countrys culture has been enriched by drawing on other cultures. But now in Britain, we present to the world a hostile face. People dont want to come here, because they think they wont be welcome. Thats very, very badit makes us insular; it makes us narrow-minded.

Q/ You mentioned rock-and-roll. What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to most kinds of music. I like rock-and-roll; I like classical music. I am very fond of Mozart. I dont like jazz very much, and I dont much like 20th century classical music.

Q/ A columnist once wrote about the parties you host for your Labour Party friends, saying they rival those thrown by Jeffrey Archer for his Conservative Party friends. So I have to ask: whose party is better?

Well, Jeffrey invites me to his party, so I know what they are like. I would have to say his parties and mine are different, but they are both great.

CIRCLE OF DAYS

By Ken Follett

Published by Quercus (Hachette)

Price Rs799; pages 595
Next is bracing for a surge in online shoppers as the new season of Emily In Paris hits Netflix in December.

Fans of the hit show, starring Lily Collins, are expected to flock to the retailer's website to copy the star's signature style.

The 15.4billion fashion giant says the so-called 'Netflix effect' is driving global demand for TV-inspired looks, with customers in more than 80 countries browsing its site for outfits seen on screen.

Next sells its own label alongside dozens of other brands.

Fans of Emily In Paris, starring Lily Collins (pictured), are expected to flock to Next's website to copy the character's signature style

The retailer reveals third-quarter results on Wednesday, with full-year profits forecast to rise 9.3 per cent to 1.11billion.

But UK sales growth is slowing, and boss Lord Wolfson has warned of years of 'anaemic' economic growth, blaming Government tax hikes.
Britain's top energy boss has this weekend issued a stark warning that a fresh wave of gas and electricity suppliers could collapse this winter.

In an exclusive interview with the Mail on Sunday, Chris O'Shea, the chief executive of British Gas parent company Centrica, says he is 'very worried' of a repeat of the energy market mayhem of 2021 and 2022, when a string of firms went bust.

Bailing out the failed suppliers back then cost consumers 80 extra per household on energy bills.

The Centrica chief said he repeatedly warned watchdog Ofgem of the impending failures at that time but was ignored.

He fears at least one small supplier is at risk of going to the wall 'imminently.'

In the aftermath of the previous crisis, regulator Ofgem introduced financial resilience tests and capital targets.

Concern: Chris O'Shea fears Ofgem has allowed the risks of another meltdown to build, despite having taken on large numbers of new staff and being handed an increase in its budget

These are meant to ensure providers have enough of a buffer to cope with volatile energy markets, so customers do not have to pick up the tab for future bailouts.

Ofgem has not publicly named companies that do not meet one or both of its new criteria.

However, auditors at Ovo, one of the 'Big Six' suppliers. recently raised a red flag in its accounts over whether it is able to continue as a going concern.

O'Shea fears Ofgem has allowed the risks of another meltdown to build, despite having taken on large numbers of new staff and being handed a big increase in its budget.

'How can they have been taking so many extra staff, and seen their budget go up so much and they're still making the same mistakes they did three or four years ago?' he said. 'There is a real risk it is happening again.'

'I don't want to say how worried I am on a scale from one to ten but I am very worried. I am worried enough to be, you know, making a point.'

'I warned about this in the past and now I just see the same thing happening again. I just think it's a crying shame and customers deserve better.'

Expansion: Ofgem's permanent staff has doubled from just over 1,000 people in 2020/21 to more than 2,000

Ofgem's permanent staff has doubled from just over 1,000 people in 2020/21 to more than 2,000. Its annual budget has soared from 131m to 290m over that period.

In 2021 and 2022 a number of suppliers went bust because they did not have sufficient capital to withstand the surge in energy prices caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

'There was a failure of regulation and consumers picked up the tab,' O'Shea said. 'I wrote to the regulator three times before the energy market imploded telling them I was very concerned some suppliers were going to collapse. The regulator did not act on that. Did I get any response? No.'

'It is a systemic risk to the energy retail market if companies are undercapitalised and you allow them to take on more customers.'

O'Shea welcomed the measures Ofgem has put in place but said it is not clear how effectively these are being applied.

He wants Ofgem to name publicly the companies that do not meet all its rules and targets.

In addition, he wants the watchdog to forbid them from taking on new customers and to force all firms to 'ring-fence' credit balances.

Centrica ring-fences customers' cash and meets all the targets.

Octopus, the biggest supplier, is understood to meet the financial resilience rules and to have agreed a plan with Ofgem to meet the capital targets.

Ovo has agreed a plan to fulfil its requirements.

Industry body Energy UK last week savaged Ofgem for pushing up prices for the customers it is supposed to protect and called on Labour to dismantle the organisation.

A spokesman for Ofgem said its staff and budget have grown along with its expanded role and responsibilities and that consumer satisfaction 'has recently improved to record highs.'

'Suppliers now hold around 7.5billion in assets compared with heavy debts during the crisis.'

O'Shea said: 'The energy market should be regulated like banks. The idea that a bank with inadequate capital would be out in the market and the regulators wouldn't be telling people, it's just for the birds,' he said.
Union Minister of Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, hailed the 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' as a significant stride in India's ongoing cultural renaissance, stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally envisioned and named the initiative. Addressing the reporters in the national capital on Saturday, Shekhawat emphasised that the initiative, initially conceptualised by the Ministry of Culture, has now evolved into a nationwide social movement. "The name Gyan Bharatam Mission, like the mission of the Ministry of Culture, was given by PM Modi. When we expanded our arms to give concrete shape to this mission, we have today recognised it as a social movement. When the Ministry of Culture signed a memorandum of understanding with various institutions working in this field in the country. Now these institutions, along with the Ministry of Culture, will move forward in the direction of progressing with momentum the Gyan Bharatam Mission of India, which is an extremely important initiative in the era of India's cultural renaissance," Shekhawat said. According to the Ministry of Culture, the Gyan Bharatam Mission is a national movement dedicated to preserving, revitalising, and disseminating India's extensive manuscript heritage. The mission aims to serve as a tribute to the nation's ancient civilisational wisdom while advancing the Prime Minister's vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, where India emerges as a true Vishwa Guru, harmonising the wisdom of its past with the innovation of its future. Designed as a comprehensive framework, 'Gyan Bharatam' will revive India's manuscript legacy by combining preservation, digitisation, scholarship, and global accessibility. Its objectives include the identification and documentation of texts through a nationwide register, the conservation and restoration of fragile texts, large-scale digitisation using AI-driven tools, and the creation of a National Digital Repository, according to a release. The mission will also focus on research, translation, and publication of rare manuscripts; capacity-building programmes for scholars, archivists, and conservators; and the development of advanced digital platforms to facilitate scholarly and public engagement. Furthermore, the initiative emphasises global collaboration and the integration of traditional manuscript wisdom into modern education systems, strengthening India's contribution to international knowledge exchange and cultural diplomacy. (ANI)
Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Sharma expressed strong confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will secure more than a two-thirds majority in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, while claiming that the opposition Mahagathbandhan will fail to reach the three-digit mark. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sharma said, "We are going to secure more than a two-thirds majority, and even if Congress, RJD, AIMIM, and potentially SP support them, they are unlikely to win three-digit seat counts collectively." Earlier, on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had taken a dig at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav following his announcement as the Chief Ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan, saying that his "happiness is for a limited time." "Tejashwi Yadav's happiness over the announcement is for a limited time, as I believe Congress and its allies won't achieve a majority. They can't reach triple digits," Sharma told ANI. The Mahagathbandhan on Thursday cleared the air regarding the face of their alliance, as Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was declared as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the 2025 state elections. The announcement was made during a joint press conference in Patna attended by senior alliance leaders, including Congress's Ashok Gehlot, RJD's Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani, and CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya. Alongside Tejashwi's nomination, Mukesh Sahani was declared the alliance's Deputy Chief Ministerial face for the polls. Following Tejashwi Yadav's announcement as Mahagathbandhan's face for the Bihar elections, the National Democratic Alliance came out heavy at the RJD leader, claiming that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) "tortured" Congress and other parties in the Mahagathbandhan to declare RJD leader as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the alliance for the upcoming Assembly polls. Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary alleged that the RJD fielded candidates against Congress and alliance partners to force them to accept Tejashwi as the CM face. Addressing a press conference in Patna, Samrat Choudhary said, "Lalu Yadav declared the CM face of Mahagathbandhan through hooliganism and torturing Congress and other parties, by fielding candidates against them, just the way they spread 'jungle raj' in Bihar." The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are set to witness a direct contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan, led by the RJD, includes the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) [CPI(ML)] led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPM], and Mukesh Sahani's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj has announced that it will contest all 243 assembly seats in the state. The Bihar assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 14. (ANI)
Right now we're still inspired by the return of the angels and celebrate diva, celeb & hottie Maddie by way of pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Cowtown Toy Train Hype Forever

KC Streetcar's Main Street Extension celebrations continue with Midtown Fall Festival Kansas City is celebrating a major milestone in public transportation this weekend - the official opening of the KC Streetcar Main Street Extension.

New Boss Shares Outlook

Phil LeVota talks priorities as interim Jackson County executive Phil LeVota has hit the ground running, and discusses commercial property taxes and possible changes to the Jackson County Assessor's Office, plus the prospects of keeping the Chiefs and Roya...

Rock Chalk Vertical Integration

Walmart opened its own beef plant in Kansas, tightening grip on the nation's supply chain The beef processing plant in Olathe, Kansas, marked a turning point for Walmart. But ranchers and agricultural experts warn the nation's already stunted beef industry could be falling under more corporate control.

Saving The Dotte

Building homes on empty lots can cut property taxes in Wyandotte County A Kansas City, Kansas, realtor is addressing the area's housing shortage while helping solve a property tax problem by building affordable homes on vacant lots.

Kansas City Rakes EPIC Trash

Fall Cleanups take in 70 tons of trash 5th and 6th district events also collected electronics, tires and hazardous waste

Angel Earns Triumph

Madison Beer talks influences, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and what's next for her new album Fresh off the release of her surging new single, "bittersweet," Madison Beer joins us for an Audacy Check In to talk about new music, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and more.

Gift For Troops ALMOST Explained

Trump ally who donated $130 million to pay troops amid shutdown revealed as reclusive billionaire heir: report Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and major Trump backer, has been identified as the anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the Pentagon, according to The New York Times.

Latinos Bail On MAGA?!?

Hispanics' support of Trump plunges since he started second term Notable majority feel the country is headed in the wrong direction, and only 27% approve of his job performance

Dem Devastates Colleagues

John Fetterman Says 'America Is Losing' While Democrats Keep Playing 'Three-Card Monte' With Government Shutdown John Fetterman said Saturday on Fox News that the U.S. "is losing" while his own party continues to play a dangerous game by prolonging the government shutdown.

Veep Rips Socialist

JD Vance criticizes Mamdani, claiming that according to him, 'the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie' Vice President JD Vance said on X on Saturday that, "According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks."

Former Number 2 Talks Relapse

'I am not done': Kamala Harris says she may run for president again In a BBC interview, former vice-president says she isn't done with politics and could 'possibly' be the next president

Money Moves Policy

Tech billionaires are now shaping the militarization of American cities Money means access to power-and tech has plenty of money.

American Belt Tightening Begins

US Department of Agriculture says no food aid benefits will be issued next month "Bottom line, the well has run dry," the department said.

French Connection

Suspects arrested over the theft of crown jewels from Paris' Louvre museum Suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewel s from Paris' Louvre museum, the Paris prosecutor said on Sunday, a week after the heist at the world's most visited museum that stunned the word.

Catholic Tradition Renewed

American cardinal celebrates old Latin Mass in St. Peter's in a sign of change A top American cardinal has celebrated a traditional Latin Mass in St. Peter's Basilica with the explicit permission of Pope Leo XIV.

Local Good Word

'Encounter of mercy' called first step in evangelization - The Leaven Catholic Newspaper "Not all of us have the same gifts, same roles, same status, even within the church."

Fall Weather Cont'd

First Warn continues for light rain through this evening, not as wet for Sunday The gloomy, rainy and cool weather continues through the rest of the weekend. We will see waves of light rain into late tonight.

The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The erupted 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has addressed the nation.

Trend presents the address:

- Dear fellow compatriots!

The second Karabakh war has been going on for about a month. This war is a patriotic war for our people. We are liberating our homeland from occupiers. During this time, the glorious Azerbaijani Army has liberated many settlements from the enemy. We are restoring historical justice on the battlefield because Nagorno-Karabakh is ancient and historical land of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani people have lived and built on these lands for centuries. We know the history of Karabakh perfectly well. A great deal of work has been done in recent years to convey this history to the world community. In general, the world did not have much of an idea about Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. Armenian lobbying organizations operating in many countries were able to create a distorted image in the world, in international public opinion by circulating false information both about the history of the region and the history of the conflict. This is why sanctions were imposed on us even though it was our lands that were occupied, and these sanctions are still in force. In the early stages of our independence, the US Congress imposed sanctions on Azerbaijan, claiming that Azerbaijan is engaged in aggression against Armenia, and these sanctions are still in force. Can you imagine that? At that time, Azerbaijani diplomacy could not counter Armenian lies with any arguments. As a result of consistent work in recent years, we have informed the world community about the history of Karabakh, the history of the conflict, and all this work helps us today. The world already has a more objective view on this issue, a more objective vision. It is thanks to our tireless efforts that we have been able to achieve this. I am absolutely right when I say that we are restoring historical justice. I was able to prove to the whole world during the live debates at the Munich Security Conference that this is our historical land. I provided information about the Kurakchay peace treaty signed at the beginning of the 19th century. There was no information about this treaty in the world at all. Unfortunately, there was no extensive information about the Kurakchay treaty in Azerbaijan either, The Kurakchay peace agreement was signed by the Khan of Karabakh and Shusha, Ibrahimkhalil khan, on the other side a general of Tsarist Russia. This agreement is available on the Internet and everyone can see it. I am sure that after my words, a large international audience keenly following the current situation on the battlefield will go to these sites and see that there is not a word about the Armenian people in that agreement. The Armenian people were not here at that time. The Armenian people were brought to our ancestral lands after the Kurakchay, Gulustan and Turkmenchay peace treaties. They were deliberately brought and placed in Karabakh, one of the most fascinating corners of our country, and conditions were created for them. The objective of this was obvious  to change the religious composition in the new lands of the empire, to expel Muslims from their ancestral lands, drive them away and create a new reality. Unfortunately, they achieved this goal.

After that, the Armenian population was brought en masse from neighboring countries, settled in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in the ancestral lands of the Azerbaijanis, and demonstrating their typical character, gradually began to take possession of all our lands. After the Bolshevik revolution in the early 20th century, there was a great danger that the Bolshevik government would hand over Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. The Caucasus Bureau has protocols dated July 1921. It is enough to look at the protocols of the Caucasus Bureau to see that there was such a threat. But I think that due to the efforts of Nariman Narimanov and others who correctly assessed the reality, they could not achieve this goal. The protocols of the Caucasus Bureau state that Nagorno-Karabakh should be kept as part of Azerbaijan. During all these years, fake Armenian scholars and patrons have been trying to prove that Stalin separated Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia and gave it to Azerbaijan. This is a lie! Open and look at the protocol of the Caucasus Bureau, which says that Nagorno-Karabakh should be kept as part of Azerbaijan! This once again confirms that this is our land. Unfortunately, after that, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region was established, and the region was given a special status. But I must also say that this was not a republic, but a region. There was a lower level of self-government. It is enough to look at the history to see that the Armenians living there had great rights and opportunities.

In Soviet times, a few years before the conflict, separatist tendencies were widespread. However, there was no reason for that. Of the nine members of the bureau, the governing body of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, eight were Armenians and one was Azerbaijani, and he was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Shusha district. The first secretary, the head of the government, the chairman of the parliament of Nagorno-Karabakh were Armenians. What did they want? Azerbaijan invested so much in that region, built a railway there in the 1970s, the Sarsang water reservoir, the Madagiz water reservoir  I have restored its name  the Sugovushan water reservoir were built. All these investments were made at the expense of the state budget of Azerbaijan. however, the Armenians were ungrateful, took advantage of the situation and of the presence of anti-Azerbaijani leadership in Moscow, and separatist tendencies emerged in the region. What did they do prior to that? The Armenians had been making preparations for that. Heydar Aliyev was the target of these preparations. They understood perfectly well that the presence of Heydar Aliyev, his great authority in the Soviet leadership ruined their plans. Therefore, unfortunately, national traitors from Armenia and other places, from Azerbaijan were sending numerous anonymous letters to Moscow and carrying out a smear campaign in order to eliminate the Heydar Aliyev factor. Less than two weeks after Heydar Aliyev had resigned from all posts, Armenian separatists rose up and demanded that Nagorno-Karabakh be separated from Azerbaijan and annexed to Armenia. This was when the troubles of our people began. An illegal special committee was set up in Nagorno-Karabakh and an ardent pro-Armenian man was appointed its head. This, in fact, laid the groundwork for the secession of Nagorno-Karabakh from Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the then leaders of Azerbaijan simply observed all these dangerous events. They could not raise their voice, they did not have the courage, just kept their head down and did what they were told to do from Moscow. At that time, the people leading Azerbaijan did not have a gram of Azerbaijani blood. Although they were considered Azerbaijanis, they did not have a single gram of national spirit and were cosmopolitan people. They could not even speak the Azerbaijani language properly. This is the history of Nagorno-Karabakh. After that, large-scale military operations were launched against Azerbaijan and our lands were occupied.

The loss of Shusha and Lachin in May 1992 and the occupation of Kalbajar in April 1993 created a geographical link between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia. There was no such connection before. The Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region had no border with the Republic of Armenia.

Those tragic events somewhat created a new reality. After that, the issue was taken over by international mediators and the Minsk Group was established in 1992. The activities of the Minsk Group are obvious. After some time, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group concentrated almost all power in their hands and virtually monopolized the issue. In fact, the Minsk Group as a group was paralyzed and the three co-chair countries began to deal with this issue. But was there a result of that? There was not! There was no result for us, but there was one for Armenia. Armenia wanted the negotiations to last forever, Armenia wanted to deceive us forever, this issue to remain in a frozen state, and our lands to stay under occupation forever. But what did the Minsk Group do? Was it able to put pressure on the occupier? No! Did it want to put pressure on it? No! I have repeatedly raised the issue with them: if you want to see a solution, impose sanctions on Armenia. All this is in your hands. You are permanent members of the UN Security Council and can resolve any issue. In particular, officials of these countries say that they agree on this issue. This is also an interesting issue. How is it possible that in all other matters  nuclear weapons, the situation in the Middle East, the situation in Asia, the situation in Europe  their interests are completely different? What other issue do their interests overlap on? None! Only in the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh. Why? Everyone understands that. This frozen state, of course, was in everyone's interests except ours  first of all, in Armenia's interests.

Armenia is conducting illegal settlement on these lands. Has anyone said a word? No! This crime, this international crime runs counter to the Geneva Conventions. Does anyone ask them why they are conducting illegal settlement? And even demonstrate it. You transfer and place Armenians from Arab countries in our cities, including Shusha. Nobody says a word. What does this mean? It means go on, bring them here and settle as many as you want, Armenianize these lands and erase the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan. That was the message. Didn't these three countries have the opportunity to show the aggressor its place? They didn't want to. This reality suited them.

Therefore, it is impossible to assess the activities of the Minsk Group otherwise. We were being pushed to accept this situation, as it were. We were being told that new realities had emerged and that we must reckon with them. We have created a new reality. Everyone has to reckon with the new reality now. But what do we see? Notice what is happening when we began to liberate our lands from the occupiers. Look at the strong pressure being put on Azerbaijan from all sides. They have started running around. What happened? For 28 years, this issue dragged on and they pretended to be addressing it. They kept coming and going, there were endless meetings and negotiations. We are fed up with these negotiations. How long can one negotiate with the enemy? In addition, the enemy becomes impudent, and they tell us, no, there is no military option and the issue must be resolved only peacefully. Who says there isn't? Isn't this a military solution now? What are we doing? We are single-handedly implementing UN Security Council resolutions although this is the responsibility of the UN Security Council. We are doing this alone. We have created a new reality. Reckon with it! But what do we see? There is a meeting here, a meeting there. What about the ceasefire? Who has violated the ceasefire? This means that all their activities are now aimed at saving Armenia, an aggressor that committed the Khojaly genocide, attacked Ganja with ballistic missiles from the territory of Armenia. This is their activity.

As far as the ceasefire is concerned, the first time the ceasefire entered into force on 10 October. My position was that this should be of a humanitarian nature, and we agreed to this in order to exchange the bodies of the dead, hostages and prisoners. However, less than a day later, Armenia flagrantly and insidiously violated the ceasefire by bombing Ganja at night. Then, on 17 October, a new ceasefire was declared. And again, Armenia violated it two minutes later. This morning, at 8 o'clock, a new proposal came in. But when I inquired about at 9 o'clock in the morning, Armenia violated the ceasefire a few minutes later by firing on Tartar district again. However, I have instructed the Azerbaijani army again to show restraint for the time being and not to succumb to provocations. My position is known to my people. This issue must be resolved either by military or by peaceful means. I suggested: if you want a peaceful solution, well, we will stop. But we must be told immediately that Armenia is leaving our lands. A timetable should be provided  after how many days they would leave a particular district, after how many days they would leave the next district and after how many days they would leave other districts. A timetable should be provided. Has Armenia provided this timetable? It has not. This being the case, if the ceasefire continues and the issue remains frozen again, this cannot suit us. This is the first thing.

Secondly, we have accurate information that Armenia is already on its knees on the battlefield and simply wants to take advantage of the ceasefire to mobilize its resources again, wants to re-arm and pursue a new policy of aggression against us. There is such information and, unfortunately, over the past month, weapons, various types of weapons have been supplied to Armenia in large quantities. We have all the lists. Some of them have been published in our media. There is a whole list of when and what plane arrived, where it arrived, what it brought, how it was offloaded and where the cargo was sent? Then why are those interested in a ceasefire sending weapons to Armenia? After all, Armenia is already on its knees. We have already hit it on the head so that it can hardly recover. The prime minister of Armenia, who danced in a drunken state on Jidirduzu and behaved like a great commander, now falls at everyone's feet asking for help, begging for assistance, humiliating himself and humiliating his people. Just don't give them weapons and it will be over. Don't give them weapons. Who gives anything to us? Nobody! Don't give them weapons. If you want this to end, don't give them weapons. He will surely come round in a couple of days. On the one hand, there is talk of a ceasefire, but on the other, weapons are being sent to them. What is this? Are we supposed to be silent about this?

The people of Azerbaijan should know everything. For 17 years in my capacity as President, I have always told the truth to the Azerbaijani people  always. I regularly report to the people on all the issues. And I am doing that to this day. This may not be complete information because there are certain diplomatic rules. However, whatever can be said, I say to the Azerbaijani people and the whole world. If you want to save Armenia, tell it to leave our lands, get away immediately! Let this jester, who danced in Shusha, on Jidirduzu, in a drunken state declare that he is leaving. Calling world leaders five or six times a day will not solve the problem. Our position remains unchanged, we are defending the truth and justice.

I would like to touch upon another issue. The legal framework for the settlement of the conflict is quite broad. We have expanded this framework. Today, there are not only UN Security Council resolutions, but also other documents. The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the European Parliament and other organizations. The document we have initialed with the European Union contains a special provision on the sovereignty of our country, the inviolability of our borders and territorial integrity. In other words, it is a legal framework that allows us the opportunity to teach the enemy a lesson on the battlefield, to drive them away, to remove them from our lands. But look at what is going on lately? The Minsk Group co-chairing countries have convened a meeting of the UN Security Council. They have done it once before. Apparently, the document adopted there did not satisfy them. This time, a few days ago, we heard about the appearance of a new document. We immediately took action and prevented the adoption of this document even though the three co-chair countries exerted great pressure on other members of the UN Security Council.

What was the purpose of this? The goal is very clear  to overshadow the resolutions adopted in 1993 demanding the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from our lands, to leave them in the past so that they lose their power and significance. This was the goal. How fair is this? We saw further attempts to provide support to the occupier. What is the result? It did not pass. How? The member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement stood up like real men and did not allow this to happen, they supported us  I say thank you to them. And this happened despite the fact that they came under pressure and may have even been threatened. But they stood up like men for us just as we stand up for them. This shows that nothing will work. My dear brother, the President of the Republic of Turkey has repeatedly said that the world is bigger than five countries. And he is absolutely right. This vote proved it. They joined their forces and put forward another document that meets the interests of Armenia, but it did not work out.

Because justice prevailed. No matter how hard they tried, justice prevailed. Justice and international law are on our side. Therefore, we will continue to go our own way. If they want a ceasefire, then let them tell the occupying state to go away, to leave our lands. Otherwise, we will go to the end, all the way. And we will continue to drive the enemy away, as we have been doing. They are already running away from us and we will continue to chase them. Because we are right and we are strong.

As I have been saying for the past few years, the world is not the same any longer. The force factor comes to the fore and this was not done by us. Take a look  do large states reckon with international law today? No! Do they reckon with the UN Security Council? No! Everyone does what they want in their places, one enters there, another one enters there, the third one divides some territories. There is no semblance of international law. So why should we defend it? We are defending it anyway and are not taking steps outside the law. We are not entering the territory of Armenia, we are restoring the territories recognized by the international community. If the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the co-chairs of the Minsk Group could not do this, then let them step aside and not interfere. Unlike Armenia, we do not ask anyone for help. Let them not interfere and test the patience of the Azerbaijani people. This war will end tomorrow and we will achieve our goal. What will our relationship be like? Will the Azerbaijani people forget this injustice? They will not. Let them give this a thought. Today, Azerbaijan is not a state the interests of which can be ignored. No! The day will come when they will come here with requests and proposals, including those on cooperation. How will they look in our eyes? They have mobilized all their forces against us today. I have been putting up with this for a month, a whole month. I was silent about it, but we are fed up. This is the first thing.

Second, the mediator must be neutral. If it is not impartial, then it should give up its candidacy. If a mediator is not neutral, then it cannot be a mediator. The mediating countries should now come up with new functions for themselves. What will they do? They can no longer talk about the liberation of five districts. Where are these five districts now? Four of them are already with us. This question is already in the past, it is over. We have taken them back ourselves  Fuzuli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadli. Most of these districts are with us. We also have a part of the former Hadrut and currently Khojavand district. So let them think.

We are not against negotiations. As a result of yesterday's talks in the United States, the decision was made to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Geneva in a few days. I don't mind that, let them meet. Over the course of these 28 years, there have been so many useless meetings, so there is no difference. I do not mean to say that I regard this meeting as useless. No. We want it to make sense. And this should speed up the settlement of the conflict. The patrons of Armenia, I appeal to you: if you want to save this fake state, tell it to get out. One word of yours is enough for it to get out  just one word. If Armenia is not provided with financial, economic, military and political support, will it be able to stand on its feet? No! I will provide the Azerbaijani people with some data on their equipment we have destroyed. Everyone can count this, go online, see the cost of this equipment and ask a question. Where does this poor and impoverished country get all this? Where does this money come from in a country that is mired in problems? We have already destroyed so much of their equipment and they are still bringing more. Never mind, let them bring it, they know better.

This is our position at this stage, and we are ready to resolve this issue by military-political means. But it must be resolved. The ceasefire has been declared, alright, let there be a ceasefire. Armenia has violated it, we are recording every violation, every single one. I have given the instruction to record every violation. This information is immediately sent to the OSCE representative and other countries interested in the ceasefire, so that they can see how many times the Armenians have violated it. We have all the data. A military-political solution should resolve the issue of restoring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

As for the future of the Armenians who were settled on our ancestral lands 200 years ago, I have said that they are our citizens too. They must also get rid of this junta. If they cannot save themselves, we will help them. Didn't the new government of Armenia represented by Pashinyan say that those who governed Armenia are criminals? I was saying exactly the same. What happens if those who governed the country before Pashinyan for 20 years were criminals? What is this country then? It is a criminal country. The two ex-presidents also headed the junta in Karabakh and then led Armenia. A criminal case has been opened against both. They are criminals who sucked the blood of the Armenians living in Karabakh. Where did they get so much property, wealth and fortune? Where? They got it by sucking the blood of the Armenian people. So I repeat: the people living in Nagorno-Karabakh are our citizens. The Azerbaijani people are tolerant. These people are not to blame. Whoever is to blame is being brought to account, and I said that the blood of the Azerbaijani people would not remain unavenged. The criminals who committed the Khojaly genocide have already been destroyed in the battles that have lasted for a month. Justice has prevailed. Therefore, I want to reiterate my position. We will definitely return to these lands by military-political means. The military stage may end today. We will resolve the issue politically. Azerbaijanis will return to Shusha, Azerbaijanis will return to Khankandi. They will return to all other places where they used to live. Conditions will be created for the Armenian population. We must gradually learn to live together, both them and us. I see it this way, and my approach is based both on the norms of morality and on the norms of international law. Armenia wants to drive us out of there, then to carry out ethnic cleansing, to Armenianize our sites, to settle Armenians from abroad. Pashinyan, you wanted to build a road to Jabrayil? So? Where is this road? You wanted to build a parliament building in Shusha? So? It all went to hell.

I want to say again that no force can make us deviate from our path. Successes on the battlefield have created a new reality at the negotiating table.

Now I want to share some information with my dear people. I am presenting a list of the enemy's equipment and military booty we have destroyed and taken over since 27 September. So 252 tanks have been destroyed, 53 tanks have been taken as booty  in total Armenia has lost 305 tanks. But they still have more. Look how many tanks they had. Fifty infantry fighting vehicles have been destroyed, 29 have been taken as booty  a total of 79 units. Then, 251 guns of various calibers have been destroyed, 24 have been taken as booty  275 in total. Sixty-one mortars have been destroyed, 45 were taken as booty  106 in total. Fifty-three anti-tank weapons have been destroyed, 82 Grad installations have been destroyed. Two units of "Hurricane" multiple launch rocket system have been destroyed. One "TOS" unit has been destroyed, four anti-aircraft missile systems "TOR", about 40 "OSA" installations, four "KUB" complexes, one "KRUG", two "S-125" have been destroyed. Six S-300 launchers, one of the most expensive launchers, have been destroyed. One detection station and one locator. The price is well known. Everyone can count this. We have destroyed two "Elbrus" and one "Tochka-U" operational-tactical missile systems. Trucks  231 trucks have been destroyed, including 20 with ammunition, 173 trucks have been taken as booty. In total, we have deprived the enemy of 404 trucks.

Now I will ask the question again. I will keep asking this question every time. I will keep asking it until there is an answer. Where does this money come from? Let the pro-Armenian observers, mediators, political scientists tell where it comes from. We have money and everything is transparent. The people of Azerbaijan know how much money we have, the world knows, everyone knows. We are buying it with our own money. We don't depend on anyone. How did this bankrupt country buy this? Armenia's external debt is about $8 billion. Foreign exchange reserves amount to $1.5 billion. In fact, these are not free funds. These are bank reserves. They cannot use them. If they use it, then their so-called currency will fly somersaults. Who gave you so many weapons? Why doesn't anyone ask? During this month, I give interviews every day. They ask me what Turkish F-16s are doing in Azerbaijan. I am tired of answering. Open up satellite images, can't you see what they are doing? Go and see what F-16s are doing. Are they in the air or on the ground? Everyone knows that they are on the ground. They arrived for exercises and stayed behind when the war broke out. Our Turkish brothers left them here to give us moral support. But if we are attacked from outside, they will see these F-16s. There are only five or six planes left at the airport and they ask about it every time. I answer these questions. But ask Armenia too, ask those who give them weapons. Ask these questions  why are you giving Armenia weapons? Have they been paid for? Do the citizens of the countries producing these weapons know how much of their goods was lost in a matter of one month? Do they know how much weaponry we have destroyed? No journalist asks me this question. Isn't this interesting? It is interesting. Never mind. We are already accustomed to the fact that for all these years, slander, lies and fabrications against Azerbaijan have shown no sign of abating. Both foreign media and the Azerbaijani people see that I am answering all these questions and answering them properly. And I do not stoop to their level. Never! I answer them properly and they are silenced. They cannot answer. I say  go look in the mirror. Did you come here to blame us? They don't ask questions, they act like a prosecutor, accuse us. Who are you? I respect journalists a lot. Therefore, they take advantage of that. I speak to them in a calm manner. But they should know that I can talk to them in any form. This is a reality. This reality is against us. But we have changed this reality. These new lists show again that we have changed this reality.

Now, it is with great satisfaction and pride that I will bring to the attention of my people the list the Azerbaijani people are looking forward to. So I am informing my dear people of the list of settlements liberated yesterday. The following villages have been liberated in Zangilan district: First Alibayli, Second Alibayli, Raband, Yenikand. Liberated villages of Jabrayil district: Govshudlu, Sofulu, Dagh Mashanli, Kurdlar, Hovuslu, Chalabilar. The settlements of Gubadli district liberated yesterday: Padar, Afandilar, Yusifbayli, Chaytumas, Khanlig, Sariyatag, Mollaburkhan and the city of Gubadli!

I already shared this good news with the Azerbaijani people yesterday. I want to convey this joyful news to the entire Azerbaijani people again. It is a great honor for me to bring joyful news to the residents of Zangilan, Jabrayil and Gubadli districts who lived in these villages. True, there is nothing left of these villages. But never mind, we will restore them. Both the Azerbaijani people and the state have enough strength to do that. If only our lands were free. If only our flag was raised in all the liberated lands. We are liberating these lands at the cost of the life and blood of our soldiers and officers. We have asserted ourselves both on the battlefield and on the political plane, we have asserted ourselves in the world. We have asserted the Azerbaijani people as a proud people, as a brave people, as an invincible people. No pressure can affect us. No threat can turn us off our path because we are on a fair path, we are united like a fist. This unity is eternal and will be eternal!

Dear compatriots, I promised you on the first days of the war that we would drive the enemy away from our lands, drive them away to the end. Karabakh is ours! Karabakh is Azerbaijan!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The erupted 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

First Vice-President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva has made a post on her official Instagram page.

Trend presents the post:

"Several villages in Zangilan, Jabrayil, Gubadly districts and the city of Gubadly are liberated from the occupation! I convey my sincere congratulations on this occasion to our entire people! Gaining each new victory becomes possible thanks to the heroism, courage, boldness, bravery and staunchness of our soldiers. I am immensely grateful to each of them! May Almighty Lord bless our Army, our people, our Motherland and our President! Karabakh is Azerbaijan."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

On 26 October President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by the Italian Rai 1 TV channel.

Trend presents the interview:

- Mr. President, good afternoon. Please tell us if this new truce, this new ceasefire will hold. If I am not mistaken, this is the third ceasefire.

- Everything will depend on how Armenia behaves because the first two ceasefires were disrupted by Armenia. After the first ceasefire, which was declared for humanitarian considerations, Armenia violated the ceasefire within 24 hours and barbarically launched a ballistic missile at the city of Ganja at night. As a result of the first shelling, 10 people were killed and many were wounded. Then they hit Ganja again, and also at night. There were even more victims. So we had to answer. As for the second truce, we have a chronology of Armenia's violations of the ceasefire. They violated it literally two minutes after the appointed hour of the truce. Today, at 8 o'clock, a new truce came into force. Now it is 10 o'clock in the morning in Baku. At about 3-4 minutes after the ceasefire entered into force at 8 o'clock, several shells were fired at the city of Tartar again. We are not reacting to this. We hope this was an accident, but if this continues, we will be forced to respond adequately.

- Mr. President, what actually caused the outbreak of hostilities at the end of September? Why did this happen?

- There was a series of events of political and military nature. Armenia's main goal was to disrupt the process of negotiations in every possible way. The new government of Armenia has repeatedly stated that the fundamental principles are unacceptable for it, that it is not going to return a single centimeter of the occupied territories, which contradicts the fundamental principles. The prime minister stated that we should negotiate not with Armenia but with the so-called leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is unacceptable both for us and for the OSCE Minsk Group. He also stated that 'Karabakh is Armenia, full stop', thereby completely undermining the negotiations. In the past year, there were practically no negotiations, and in order to shift the blame on us, Armenia made three sabotage attempts  in July on the border, in August when they sent a sabotage group, and in September when they shelled our cities. They probably thought that we would show restraint again, but that did not happen. We answered them in a manner that they are now regretting it.

- On what conditions will you agree to stop the hostilities then? You have repeatedly spoken about the need for a constructive approach on the part of Armenia. What should a constructive approach be like?

- A constructive approach should be that they must publicly declare, through the prime minister, that they accept the fundamental principles. The fundamental principles envisage the return of seven districts located around the Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region to Azerbaijan and the return of Azerbaijani refugees to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, including the ancient Azerbaijani city of Shusha. These approaches are, in principle, based on four UN Security Council resolutions, which require practically the same. But when the Armenian prime minister says that not a single centimeter of land will be given to us, when the Armenian defense minister says that Armenia will start a new war for new territories and when aggression is carried out against us, this is not a constructive approach, of course. He must say that yes, the occupied territories will be returned to Azerbaijan, that the Azerbaijanis will return to Nagorno-Karabakh, including Shusha, and then, of course, we will come to an agreement very quickly.

-Mr. President, there is one very controversial issue. Some countries, not only Armenia, but also France, have somehow accused you and Turkey of sending thousands of mercenaries, jihadists from Syria to Karabakh via Turkey. How will you respond to such accusations, and how will you respond to the accusations that speak of the presence of Turkish troops and Turkish military aircraft on the territory of Azerbaijan?

- I have already answered this question many times and I will answer it again. First, such unfounded accusations were brought against us by only two countries  France and Russia. France said that through the President, Russia through the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service. These charges were brought against us immediately after the outbreak of hostilities. Although almost a month has already passed, not a single piece of evidence, no proof was provided to us. In fact, I will say this for the first time  I asked the French side for the heads of relevant agencies to meet, discuss the issue and provide us with evidence. Nothing was presented to us. Therefore, these are all insinuations. All this is an attempt to cast a shadow on Azerbaijan. I regret that such unfounded accusations come from the co-chair countries, which are supposed to be objective. After all, we do not talk every day about how many weapons are supplied from Russia to Armenia. We do not talk about the fact that Armenia would not have lasted a day in the occupied territories without external assistance. Political support, military support, moral support  all this comes from countries that are supposed to stay neutral. Therefore, we strongly reject these insinuations. It is not necessary. We have 100,000 soldiers of the regular army. If necessary, we will announce overall mobilization, which, by the way, we have not done unlike Armenia. Therefore, this is all lies and slander. As for the participation of Turkish troops in operations, this is also a lie. There is not a single piece of evidence. The fact that Turkish F-16s are on the territory of Azerbaijan was a result of our joint military exercises on the eve of the conflict. We do not talk about how many Russian MIG-29s and Su-30s are on the territory of Armenia. We do not talk about the fact that 5,000 Russian troops are located at the base in Armenia in Gumru and, according to our data, there are periodical supplies of the Armenian armed forces from there. These are facts, in contrast to what is being said about us. Therefore, I suggest that those who want to accuse us first deal with themselves and then make such hasty conclusions based on false information.

- Mr. President, my last question more or less also concerns our country, Italy. You probably know that in Europe there are many successful examples of a peaceful settlement of territorial disputes or separatism. We have one of such examples in Italy. It is Alto Adige/Sudtirol. Don't you think that Italy could help you with its experience in resolving the status of Karabakh? Moreover, Italy has very good, close and strong political and cultural relations with you and also with Armenia.

- Yes, I believe that Italy can play a very important role in the settlement of the conflict. I must say that when the Minsk Group was formed, a very long time ago, almost 30 years ago, it was the Italian representative, the Italian diplomat who was the leader of this Minsk Group. That was before the institution of co-chairs was established. After the institution of the co-chairs was created, the Minsk Group as a group of countries did not produce any results because the co-chairs took this activity into their monopoly. We know what this has led to. For 28 years, there has been no progress, no results, only promises, only bureaucratic procedures. In essence, it seems to us today that the activities of the co-chairs were aimed at freezing the conflict, not at resolving it. As for the model that exists in Italy, we have studied it. We also studied the model of the Aland Islands and other successful autonomy experiences. Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, is a multiethnic state. In Armenia, as you probably know, 99 percent of the population are Armenians. Therefore, this is a very positive experience of self-government which could be applied in our case. In fact, as far as I know, such proposals were made in the mid-1990s. Even groups of representatives of non-governmental organizations and political scientists have visited your country, the region you are talking about, and the Aland Islands. But Armenia has always categorically rejected this. They believed that they would be able to occupy our territories forever relying on military, political and economic support from leading countries of the world, but they made a gross miscalculation. We are proving our case on the battlefield today. We are implementing UN Security Council resolutions and are restoring international law.

- Mr. President, the very last question: at what level will we be in this conflict in one year? Or will it already be resolved by then?

- You know, I communicate with representatives of foreign media almost every day during this month, and in my addresses to the Azerbaijani people I always clearly state our position. We see the future of the Karabakh region  not only the upper part of it but also the plain because Karabakh is a large part of Azerbaijan  as a prosperous and peaceful territory where Azerbaijanis, who must return there, and the Armenians who now live there will live in peace. Our position is this. I believe that this can be achieved with mutual goodwill of the parties. After all, thousands of Armenians live in Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan today. The Azerbaijanis and Armenians have joint businesses in Russia and Georgia. There are mixed families. Therefore, I think that reconciliation is possible. The Armenian leadership should simply abandon its aggressive policy. And if this happens, with our investments and our experience of rebuilding the country, we can turn this region into one of the most prosperous regions in the world. But for this to happen, the consequences of the war must be eliminated. The occupation must be eliminated, the Azerbaijanis must return to the lands where they have lived for centuries, and live in harmony with the Armenian population. It will not be easy and it will take time. But we know how countries were reconciled after World War II, when European countries were at war  the current neighbors, and many people were killed. But this should not sit in the memory all the time and produce hatred, which is what Armenian ideologists are doing today. Goodwill must be shown. If that happens, what I am saying will happen. If not, we will return these lands anyway. And the current state of affairs on the battlefield is showing that. We will return them at any cost. Either peacefully or war, but we will return them. Therefore, I think the Armenian leadership should seriously think about it and take the right step.

- Thank you very much, Mr. President, and as they say in Italian, Bono Fortuno!

- Thank you, all the best to you too. Thank you!

- Goodbye!

- Goodbye!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 27. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline.

The 44-day second Karabakh war ended with the liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation and the restoration of territorial integrity.

Chronicle of the 31-st day of the second Karabakh war:

- First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva shared a post on her Instagram account.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has released information on the latest situation on the front.

- The chief of staff of the Armenian motorized infantry division was killed. The list of destroyed military equipment of the Armenian armed forces has been announced.

- Tartar city and the villages of the Tartar district were shelled.

- The Azerbaijani army liberated four cities, four settlements and 165 villages in just one month.

- The territories of Goranboy, Tartar and Barda districts were shelled. The death toll from Armenian missile attack in Barda has reached four. One of the dead in Barda was an 8-year-old child.

- The Defense Ministry said that over the past day, Armenian armed forces repeatedly violated the humanitarian ceasefire.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has congratulated Austria on its National Day, Trend reports.

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Austria, we express our best wishes and warm congratulations to the Government and People of Austria.

Happy National Day, Austria!" the ministry wrote in a post on its official X page.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Federal President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen on the occasion of his countrys national holiday, Trend reports.

"Dear Mr. Federal President,

On the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Austria, I sincerely congratulate You and, through You, your entire people, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan.

I believe that the development of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Austria will continue to serve the interests of our peoples.

On this momentous day, I extend my best wishes to You and wish the people of Austria lasting peace and prosperity," the letter reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 27. Five years have passed since Azerbaijan's Barda district was once again subjected to rocket attack by the Armenian armed forces during the Second Karabakh War, Trend reports.

The Armenian forces once again shelled Garayusifli village in Barda, located outside the frontline zone, with Smerch rockets on October 27, 2020.

As a result, civilians Ofeliya Jafarova, Aybaniz Ahmadova, Ehtiram Ismayilov, Aysu Isgandarova and Almaz Aliyeva (born in 2013) became martyrs, and 13 more people were injured.

The rocket fire completely destroyed several residential houses and caused significant damage to the villagers.

During the Second Karabakh War, Barda district and city center were subjected to rocket and artillery fire by Armenian armed forces three times (October 5, 27, and 28). As a result, 29 people became martyrs, 112 were wounded, and vehicles and civilian infrastructure facilities located in the area were significantly damaged.

In light of this fact, the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan initiated criminal proceedings under articles 120.2.1 (premeditated murder by an organized criminal community), 120.2.4 (premeditated murder with particular cruelty or in a generally dangerous way), 120.2.12 (premeditated murder with intent to incite national, racial, religious enmity, or hatred), 100.2 (waging a war of aggression), and other articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

A preliminary investigation was entrusted to the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor's Office.

In total, during the war that began on September 27, 2020 and lasted 44 days, as a result of the military aggression of the armed forces and illegal armed groups of Armenia against Azerbaijan, 93 civilians were killed (including 54 men, 27 women and 12 children), and 444 people were injured (including 268 men, 109 women and 67 children).
Karnataka MLC and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, has made a statement once again regarding Satish Jarikholi potentially succeeding his father, which hints at a possible change in leadership in the Congress government in the state. Yathindra stated that there was no mistake in his statement made in Belgavi. However, the MLC also said that he will not speak on the issue of Satish Jarikholi potentially succeeding his father again. "There is no mistake in my Belgaum statement. I have already clarified this. Let's see if notice comes in this regard. I will not talk about that issue again. I will not make any public statement in front of the media anymore," said Yathindra, addressing the press. Speaking about the November Revolution, he said there is "no November Revolution; all this is speculation, and considering the current situation, Siddaramaiah will definitely complete five years." Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, sparked speculation about a potential leadership change in the state's Congress government. Yathindra stated that his father, Siddaramaiah, is in the "final phase of his political career" and should mentor Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi. MLC Yathindra said that his father, Siddaramaiah, will not contest the 2028 elections. Discussing the state's successor, Yathindra emphasised that many politicians follow the secular Congress ideology and said that Satish Jarkiholi should lead them. He added that after 2028, someone should emerge as a leader with similar principles, noting that Satish Jarkiholi is among those who consistently engage in ideological politics. "My father said that he will not contest the 2028 elections. After that, there are so many politicians who follow the secular Congress ideology. Let Satish Jarkiholi lead them all. After 2028, someone should lead. Satish Jarkiholi is also one of those who do ideological politics. Let Satish Jarkiholi guide those who follow that ideology," Yathindra had said. He further emphasised that Satish Jarkiholi can fill his father's position. "Satish Jarkiholi definitely has the power to fill his position. After my father retires from politics, Satish Jarkiholi is one of the few leaders who has the power to fill that position. Satish Jarkiholi is the next CM," added Yathindra. Following his Belgavi statement, Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj on Thursday criticised Karnataka CM's son for suggesting that his father is nearing the end of his political career and hinting at a potential successor. Basavaraj slammed Yathindra's statement, calling it "childish" and emphasising that the party's high command will decide on leadership, not individual family members. (ANI)
Croatia's employment shows slight monthly decline in 9M2025

Photo: Croatian Bureau of Statistics

In September 2025, Croatia saw a modest decrease in total employment compared with August, with women slightly more affected. Despite the monthly drop, employment numbers remain slightly higher than last year, while the overall unemployment rate holds steady at 4.1 percent.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. Currently, one of the priority areas of cooperation between Uzbekistan and South Korea is the introduction of advanced packaging technologies across key industries, aimed at enhancing the countrys industrial competitiveness, a source at InnoBiz Association Korea told Trend.

He noted that both parties view this project as a significant step in developing an innovative partnership focused on creating a sustainable value-added chain and strengthening the positions of Uzbek enterprises in international markets.

Regarding future plans, the representative noted that the project is scheduled to be implemented under official development assistance (ODA) programs beginning in 2027. The primary goal is to introduce advanced Korean packaging technologies in Uzbekistan, significantly enhancing the quality and export competitiveness of the countrys industrial and agricultural products.

"Joint efforts in this area will not only strengthen the export competitiveness of Uzbek companies but also create new opportunities for Korean enterprises specializing in packaging solutions to enter the Central Asian market," the source said.

The project will focus on three key areas:

Transfer of Innovative Technologies: Uzbek enterprises interested in developing packaging solutions will have direct access to the expertise and successful case studies of Korean companies, helping to enhance their technological capabilities.

Specialist Training: Individualized educational and practical programs will be organized to train local experts in packaging, equipping them to implement modern standards and technologies at domestic enterprises.

Establishment of Competence Centers: Training and technology centers will be established in Uzbekistan, serving as platforms for sustainable collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of joint projects between Korean and Uzbek companies.

Additional consultations are planned in the near future to clarify the technical and organizational aspects of the initiative.

"We expect to finalize a detailed implementation plan and project execution mechanisms by the end of this year," added the representative of InnoBiz Association Korea
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has released the official exchange rates for foreign currencies as of October 26, Trend reports.

According to the rates announced by the CBI, the value of 12 currencies went up, while 30 currencies dropped compared to October 25.

The official rate for $1 is 561,652 rials, while one euro is valued at 654,120 rials. On October 25, the euro was priced at 653,152 rials.

Currency Rial on October 26 Rial on October 25 1 US dollar USD 561,652 561,833 1 British pound GBP 747,516 747,015 1 Swiss franc CHF 705,870 705,935 1 Swedish krona SEK 59,747 59,811 1 Norwegian krone NOK 56,126 56,124 1 Danish krone DKK 87,406 87,438 1 Indian rupee INR 6,395 6,395 1 UAE Dirham AED 152,935 152,984 1 Kuwaiti dinar KWD 1,831,412 1,832,123 100 Pakistani rupees PKR 199,544 198,650 100 Japanese yen JPY 367,548 367,614 1 Hong Kong dollar HKD 72,288 72,309 1 Omani rial OMR 1,45,726 1,459,409 1 Canadian dollar CAD 401,178 400,912 1 New Zealand dollar NZD 322,859 322,816 1 South African rand ZAR 32,544 32,549 1 Turkish lira TRY 13,390 13,396 1 Russian ruble RUB 6,999 7,037 1 Qatari riyal QAR 154,300 154,350 100 Iraqi dinars IQD 42,865 42,840 1 Syrian pound SYP 51 51 1 Australian dollar AUD 365,766 365,708 1 Saudi riyal SAR 149,774 149,822 1 Bahraini dinar BHD 1,493,755 1,494,237 1 Singapore dollar SGD 432,420 432,582 100 Bangladeshi takas BDT 459,226 458,991 10 Sri Lankan rupees LKR 18,512 18,512 1 Myanmar kyat MMK 268 268 100 Nepalese rupees NPR 399,523 399,508 1 Libyan dinar LYD 103,249 103,369 1 Chinese yuan CNY 78,869 78,890 100 Thai baht THB 1,718,586 1,720,205 1 Malaysian ringgit MYR 132,977 133,034 1,000 South Korean won KRW 390,406 390,565 1 Jordanian dinar JOD 792,175 792,430 1 euro EUR 654,120 653,152 100 Kazakh tenge KZT 104,414 104,496 1 Georgian lari GEL 206,904 207,104 1,000 Indonesian rupiahs IDR 33,781 33,809 1 Afghan afghani AFN 8,480 8,467 1 Belarusian ruble BYN 164,945 164,975 1 Azerbaijani manat AZN 330,200 330,496 100 Philippine pesos PHP 957,264 957,576 1 Tajik somoni TJS 60,458 60,681 1 Turkmen manat TMT 160,497 160,530 Venezuelan bolivar VES 2,624 2,643

The CBI adopted the SANA system for currency exchange offices, where one euro costs 840,822 rials and $1 costs 724,538 rials.

NIMA represents a strategic framework for the monetization of a designated fraction of foreign currency accrued through export activities.

The price of one euro in this system amounted to 819,245 rials, and the price of $1 totaled 703,435 rials.

On the black market, $1 is worth about 1.03-1.06 million rials, while one euro is worth 1.21-1.24 million rials.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. A contract for the construction of the RashtAstara railway in Irans northern Gilan Province will be signed between Iran and Russia next month within the framework of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor, Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzana Sadeq said at an event organized on October 26 to mark the start of the expansion of the Save-Salafchegan highway, Trend reports.

According to her, the trilateral meeting on transport and cargo transportation between Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia held in Baku was of great importance. The meeting focused on the construction of the missing railway line in the North-South International Transport Corridor, namely the Rasht-Astara railway.

Sadeq said that the conference, attended by transport officials from countries in Pakistan, discussed establishing a connection between Pakistan and the countries of Eurasia and the Caucasus via Iran, as well as Pakistan's establishment of a connection between China and Iran, and the transportation of goods from China to Iran and Europe via Pakistan.

The Iranian minister added that the role of transport infrastructure is important in the development of regional relations. The expansion of highways and railway infrastructure can play an effective role in simplifying relations between Iran and neighboring countries.

To note, operations to expand the Save-Salafchegan highway, which is considered the intersection of the North-South and East-West corridors in Iran, has begun today.
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will attend the Central Asia-US summit in Washington, D.C., on November 6, Akorda's press service says, Trend reports.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reportedly sent a letter to US President Donald Trump expressing sincere gratitude for the invitation to participate in the summit.

"The head of state considers this initiative of the American leader to be timely.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that he shares the main goals of President Donald Trump's domestic and foreign policy, in particular, the upholding of traditional values based on common sense principles, as well as the American leader's desire to protect peace and security," the report says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 26. The PKK terrorist organization announced the beginning of the withdrawal of troops from Turkiye, the terrorist organization said in a statement, Trend reports.

"As conflicts and wars in the Middle East have become a serious threat to the future of Turkey and the Kurds, the process that began last year with the statements of President Tayyip Erdogan, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli and the terrorist leader Abdullah Ocalan and manifested in Abdullah Ocalan's call for "Peace and a Democratic Society" on February 27, 2025, is going through an extremely important and critical phase," the statement says.

It is noted that from May 5-7, the terrorist organization held a congress at which a decision was made to put an end to the PKK's organizational existence and armed struggle strategy. It was stated that, based on the decision taken at this congress, all PKK forces that pose a threat of conflict on Turkish territory and are open to possible provocations are being withdrawn from the territory of Turkiye.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported on Sunday that a depression in the east-central Arabian Sea has progressed nearly westward at a velocity of seven kilometres per hour over the past six hours. Meanwhile, the depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal moved nearly west-northwestwards at 10 kmph over the past 6 hours, intensified into a deep depression, and lay centred. As of 0530 hours IST today, the Arabian Sea depression was located in the same region, near latitude 16.5N and longitude 66.8E. It is situated approximately 700 kilometres west-southwest of Mumbai, around 760 kilometres west of Panjim, Goa, 880 kilometres northwest of Aminidivi in Lakshadweep, and about 960 kilometres west-northwest of Mangalore in Karnataka. It is likely to move nearly westwards across the East Central Arabian Sea during the next 24 hours. However, as of 0530 hrs IST today, the depression is over the southeast Bay of Bengal, near latitude 11.1N & longitude 87.2E, about 610 km west of Port Blair of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 790 km east-southeast of Chennai of Tamil Nadu, 850 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, 840 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur of Odisha. It is likely to move nearly west-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over the southwest & adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. Thereafter, it is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards, and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28. A severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph with gusts up to 110 kmph is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada on the evening/night of October 28 if it continues its north-northwestward movement. The central and south Bay of Bengal, as well as the Andaman Sea, are characterised by scattered to broken low and medium clouds with embedded intense to very intense convection. Scattered low and medium clouds with isolated weak to moderate convection persist over the north Bay of Bengal. The system is packing maximum sustained winds of 25 knots, gusting to 35 knots, with an estimated central pressure of 1002 hPa. (ANI)
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AISSEE 2026: Three New Sainik Schools Added

The Sainik Schools Society has added three new Sainik Schools in addition to 69 schools listed in the AISSEE 2026 Information Bulletin

Sunday October 26, 2025 11:20 PM , ummid.com News Network

[Gemini AI image for representation.]

AISSEE 2026: The Sainik Schools Society has added three new Sainik Schools in addition to 69 schools listed in the AISSEE 2026 Information Bulletin.

There are a total of 33 approved Sainik Schools spread across India.

Besides the 33 approved Sainik Schools, the Sainik Schools Society ahead of the All India Sainik School Entrance Exam 2026 published the list of 69 New Sainik Schools.

List of Three New Sainik Schools

As per the notification dated October 24, 2025, the Sainik Schools Society has published the list of three additional Sainik schools. They are:

Srri SPK Public Senior Secondary School, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu Vadem Nagar Higher Secondary School, Vasco Goa Yogeshwari Sainik School, Ambajogai, Beed, Maharashtra

Srri SPK Public Senior Secondary School and Vadem Nagar Higher Secondary School are Residential schools whereas Yogeshwari Sainik School is Day Boarding, the Sainik Schools Society notification said.

Parents who are considering the admission of their wards in Sainik schools can consider the newly added schools while submitting application form.

Admission to Sainik School pattern in the approved New Sainik Schools will be at Class-VI level (for 72 New Sainik Schools (Earlier 69)) and Class IX of approved 19 New Sainik Schools, which have progressed to Class IX in the Academic Year 2026-27, the AISSEE 2026 Information Bulletin said.

Parents can refer AISSEE 2026 Information Bulletin for the state-wise list of approved and new Sainik schools.

How Sainik Schools Function

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has approved setting up of approved New Sainik Schools, in partnership with NGOs/private schools/State Governments.

The scheme leverages Public/Private Partnership (PPP) in Education Sector, help tap into existing infrastructure available with reputed private and Govt Schools, and open-up new capacities to meet the growing aspirations of children desirous of receiving education in a Sainik School environment.

These Approved New Sainik Schools, besides their affiliation to respective Education Boards, will function under the aegis of Sainik Schools Society and will follow the Rules and Regulations for approved New Sainik Schools prescribed by the Sainik School Society.

In addition to their regular affiliated board curriculum, they will also impart education of Academic PLUS curriculum to the students of Sainik school pattern. The fee structure, Education Board and language of Instructions of approved New Sainik Schools differ from School to School.

All admissions to Sainik Schools are done through AISSEE 2026.

AISSEE 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the All India Sainik School Entrance Exam 2026 (AISSEE 2026-27) in January 2026.

The NTA has not yet confirmed the exact date of the Sainik School Entrance Test. It just said the entrance test will be held in January 2026.

Meanwhile, the parents who have so far not submitted application form for AISSEE 2026 should do so without further delay.

As per the AISSEE 2026 notification , the last date of application is October 30, 2025, and the last date of payment of fees is October 31, 2025 up to 11.50 pm.

AISSEE 2026 - Important Dates

Start of Online Applications: October 10, 2025

Last Date for Applications: October 30, 2025

Fee Payment Deadline: October 31, 2025 (11:50 PM)

Correction Window: November 02 to 04, 2025

Admit Card Download: To be announced later

Entrance Exam Date: To be announced later

For AISSEE 2026 eligibility, syllabus, fee structure, age limit and other details, parents can refer the Information Bulletin available in PDF on the official website.

Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates.

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A joint team of the Delhi Police Special Task Force (STF) South-East District of Delhi and Pul Prahladpur Police arrested a wanted robber, identified as Himanshu (23), after a brief shootout near Badarpur Flyover Park in the national capital on the night of October 25, officials said on Sunday. According to the police, the accused, Himanshu, son of Shailender Singh and a resident of Sanjay Camp, Dakshin Puri in the national captial sustained a bullet injury in his right leg during the exchange of fire. He was immediately shifted to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. Police recovered one semi-automatic pistol (.32 bore) with two live cartridges and four empty cartridges: two fired by the accused and two by the police team. "The accused was wanted in an armed robbery case of PS Pul Prahladpur wherein he, along with his associate Kaushal, had robbed a Domino's delivery boy on October 22, 2025. The video of this robbery had gone viral on social media," police said. "Accused Himanshu has a criminal history of three previous cases of kidnapping and robbery/snatching. He was released from jail in June 2025 and had become active again in street crimes," police added. A case under appropriate sections of law has been registered at Badarpur police station. Officials further said that swift and courageous action by the joint team of STF/South-East District and PS Pul Prahladpur led to the apprehension of the desperate and armed criminal within 72 hours. (ANI)
Irish Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland, and RNLI are reminding the Waterford public to think water safety during the October bank holiday.

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, water activities continue throughout the year, bringing increased risks, the organisations have said.

They advise to know how your body reacts to cold water and to stay alert to hazards such as cold-water shock, rip currents, and hidden depths caused by localised flooding.

Always carry a reliable way to communicate, check weather and tide updates, and let someone know your plans before heading out.

Plan ahead and review weather forecasts, tide schedules, and wave conditions. Pack warm clothing and a hot drink for after your swim. Keep a mobile phone in a waterproof case.

Always swim with a companion and inform someone of your intended route and return time.

Enter the water slowly to help your body adjust and reduce the risk of cold-water shock.

Wear a brightly coloured swim cap and consider using a tow float for added visibility.

Stay within a depth you're comfortable with and swim parallel to the shore.

If caught in a rip current, stay calm. Swim parallel to the shore to escape, or float to conserve energy.

Share your swimming plan, location, and expected return time with someone on land

If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast or think that they are in trouble, use Marine VHF Ch 16 or dial 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.
Endometriosis can affect women anywhere, as Ministers Mary Butler and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, surely know. Last week, Minister MacNeill launched a new initiative to deal with that condition.

Moderate cases will be treated in five regional specialist centres. Three centres are already established in the Rotunda Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, and University Hospital Limerick, with two more in development at University Hospital Galway and the National Maternity Hospital. Complex cases will be referred to two supra-regional centres in Tallaght University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital.

Would Minister Mary Butler care to tell the women of Waterford and the southeast why UHW, the regional Model 4 hospital, is excluded from having such services? Just like radiotherapy or interventional cardiology. What shameful excuse is offered this time for our non-inclusion? Sure women can go to Cork? Must we conclude that this condition does not impact this region? Is SF TD David Cullinane following this up? Must we march again for medical equality? Minister Butler must demand that UHW be included.

There is a vast difference between past delivery to UHW and what should be delivered to our regional Model 4 hospital to level up services with those available in other such facilities. The endometriosis exclusion follows a distinct pattern, despite UHW being one of the best performing Model 4 hospitals in the country. UHW staff numbers have increased over the past five years but it is still the lowest resourced of all Model 4 hospitals. The decision by UHW pathologists to end coroner-requested postmortems from January 2026 is more of the same.

UHW CEO Ben OSullivan says: In a recent workforce planning exercise, the Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Faculty of Pathology, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, indicated that the coroners postmortem workload in University Hospital Waterford requires four whole-time equivalent pathologists dedicated uniquely to this service. The hospital is currently significantly understaffed and HSE diagnostic workloads alone indicate a need for 18 full-time surgical pathologists.

The pathology laboratory currently has six consultants, with recruitment ongoing for three additional posts. Recruitment is difficult because of the huge workload. We all remember the UHW mortuary debacle where four UHW pathologists were doing 600 post-mortems annually compared to 18 pathologists in CUH doing 800 per annum, so this is not a new situation. Meanwhile, the HSE is advertising for the positions of Directors of Nursing around the country, in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Kilkenny? The regional nursing school is in SETU Waterford and UHW has 1,150 nursing staff compared to 550 at St Lukes General Hospital Kilkenny, but the Director of Nursing is based in Kilkenny? Is this how an efficient health service looks?

UHW capital investment is also questionable. A new surgical hub is under construction at Maypark Lane, but these were a separate government initiative from normal HSE investment. All Model 4 hospitals outside Dublin have one under construction. Investment to bring UHW capacity up to that of other Model 4 hospitals is barely being made. Sure, an ophthalmic theatre and second cath lab have been built and a long overdue extension of the main pathology laboratory is under way, but where is the heavy capital investment for the main hospital? Where are the extra bed block and the vertical or overhead Out Patients Department? Are these being delayed by the HSE Estate office in Kilkenny while projects in that town are pushed ahead? Something is not right and Minister Butler has to provide clarification.

Minister Butler has announced 1m for a Waterford Jig Saw initiative commencing in 2026, but this ranks as very small money indeed. A 50 bed UHW Adult Mental Health Unit is in the HSE Capital Plans since 2021 at the appraisal stage without moving. A childrens hub for St Otterans site in conjunction with the Touching Hearts charity is likewise listed since 2021. The HSE stated in February 2023 (PQ 3457/23) that a design team for this was appointed, that a planning application would be made in Q3 2023, that construction could commence in Q3 of 2024, with an 18-month timeline to completion. None of this has happened. Why not? Can you provide an update?

In February 2022 a meeting of Oireachtas members at UHW was told by management that the vertical OPD was being priced with an onsite contractor for construction under a Covid derogation (no planning required). This did not happen. Instead UHW got two modular prefabs and a tent outside the Emergency Department. UHW management indicated that the vertical OPD was the most vital development project for the hospital. Full planning permission was obtained in May 2022, but has not yet gone to tender. It is still listed as at appraisal three and a half years later in the HSE 2025 Capital Plan. That Plan also contains proposals for enabling works for an essential multi-storey car park at UHW and other developments, but I wouldnt hold my breath.

When Taoiseach Micheal Martin made you government chief whip instead of Minister for Children (as was totally expected), you said that your pivotal position would have influence across all Departments. Did you put party loyalty above all else? Maybe real productive stuff is going on in the background, but without planning or tenders, nothing can proceed. It may also be the case that departmental officials are not playing straight, or HSE officials are pushing their agenda ahead of yours. Such things happen.

Last week the government e-tender website listed 10 separate tenders on one day, for various developmental enabling works at UH Galway. Can you remember the last time a tender for UHW works appeared? While some progress is undoubtedly being slowly made, real urgency is not in evidence with the physical development of UHW, the lowest resourced Model 4 hospital in the country. Perhaps, to allay worries, your officials would provide a detailed inventory of where UHW and Waterford projects are at present? An international business downturn or hiccup in Irelands public finances could derail a lot of things. A change of Taoiseach or of government could see you without influence. Waterford shouldnt be the one left with all its proposed healthcare projects marooned at the appraisal stage.
De La Salle College: Les Miserables

The opening four bars of 'Bom-Bom Dan-de-Dan' tell you everything you need to know about De La Salle Colleges Les Mis.

Expect drama and suspense in big dollops that will never stop until it does because this is edge-of-the-seat theatre.

Its easy to see why this is such a popular musical with Waterford audiences.

Its an epic tale that has everything that belongs to this genredrama, conflict, tragedy, comedy, heroes, heroines and villains.

And all on an epic scale that sweeps over a generation of revolution that includes street battles and last-minute daring rescues.

Characters are compelling. Fred Kennedy is the sensitive convict-on-the-run, Jean Valjean whose selfless love inspires the drama.

Freds Bring Him Home literally stopped the show.

This is the love that keeps giving and which leads him into conflict with gritty, determined, Inspector Javert who pursues him with a vengeance.

Max Philpott is a single-minded Javert and cold aloofness separates him from his fellows.

This is a difficult singing role as the base baritone doesnt lie easily on a young voice.

However, Maxs singing is a delight and his solos are full of drama.

Mary Duggan (who alternates with Caoimhe Scanlon) is a powerful Fantine whose struggle to support her young daughter Cosette (Tilly Colclough) is the inciting action in the drama. Her I dreamed a Dream is a moving monologue of despair.

Ana Strappes musical soprano is just right for the part of the adult Cosette; excellent Sam Marsden is the handsome and believable Marius who falls in love with her, and their duet is a highlight. Bronagh Steensons, 'Eponine' is gritty and edgy and On My Own is another showstopper.

Luke Brown is a revelation as Enjolras, whose revolutionary zeal would scale walls and I loved his Do You Hear the People Sing, which was first sung in Waterford by Lukes granddad Denny Corcoran.

Charles Ware breaks hearts as young and courageous child Gavroche, whose death on the barricades is greeted in the hall with silence.

The Thernadiers are a hoot. Cian Kennedy delights as the conniving, slippery and somewhat evil Master of the House, who dominates the stage whenever he enters. Chloe Byrne is more than able for him as his long-suffering, her-indoors, who has learned the hard way that some marriages are not made in heaven.

Where did Director Jack Cunnigham, Musical Director Lynsey Penkert and Choreographer Jenni White find all these young stars?

Not only does everyone onstage seem to be able to sing, act and dance, but they bring passion to their performances.

The cast work their socks off all night to bring us a sea of humanity.

Chain gang prisoners, soldiers, students, prostitutes, factory workers, revolutionaries theyre all there before us, living and breathing.

Thernardiers, Master of the House is a tavern of filth, poverty and low-life.

You could almost smell it! The chain gang is the same.

The barricade scenes are powerful and student idealism anchors the sense of wrong in post-Napoleonic Paris.

The power of the chorus in One Day More is epic and booms around the school hall.

Stage Manager Dylan Lawrence works the massive Eventbrite set well and Empire Groups lighting design keeps the show moving, although too much action takes place on the floor making sightlines difficult and sometimes impossible.

Teams for wardrobe and hair and make-up are managed by Rita Drohan and June Kennedy and give a stamp of authenticity to grim and grimy 1832 Paris.

This is De La Salle Colleges second show this year and follows on from the wonderful 'Little Shop of Horrors' in spring. DLS is on a roll.

Les Mis is a blockbuster!
Garter Lane: Word against the word

As the opening whistled tri-bar of West Side Story sounded, a figure in inky black silhouettes on a tightened stage solo spot and Keiths journey begins.

Hes at RADA now.

In a world of strange consonants and syllables where RP is everything  Standard British/RP (Received Pronunciation) intonation  Keith is struggling with the bias against regional accents.

Talking posh is, apparently, de rigueur if you want to work as an actor.

In seconds, hes got the house on its feet.

And its altogether nowA-E-I-O-OOOas posh as you can make it sound.

The blaas in the house love it but existential questions emergewho am I?what am I?...why am I here?.

Hes getting ahead of himself now and he brings us back to that little boy in Doyle St. and Stephen St. school who  try as he (along with teacher and mother) may  cannot read. Hes being kept so far back that his lanky frame will not fit the desk any longer and he needs breaks to walk around the back of the class to stop cramping.

Keith loves the sound and depth of words but he cannot read them.

Dyslexic in a world where dyslexia doesnt exist yet, hes struggling.

Hes intelligent and very likeable in school but reading and writing is elusive.

And thentheatre creeps in.

Theres always music in his home and his mother loves Tops.

Shes performed in the Sack and Bag and now she has Keith queuing for Flaggy Lane tickets for the Gods.

Hes transformed by the magic of the Theatre Royal and the impact theatre has.

Keith Dunphy 'Word against the Word'

A chance encounter sees Br Ben noticing the lanky red-haired lad in the Royal and Bens dead keen to have him in DLSs West Side Story.

Game on!

Ben tells him just do it if he wants to pursue a career in drama.

Theres a place for us, West Side Story tells him. Butthe doubts remain.

How does a dyslexic read and prepare a script for audition?

Keith pounds the floor.

Asks people to read words he cannot access.

Lands in London and the Underground Map baffles.

Colours help but barked information from the ticket boothBakerloo linechange at Waterloo for Central He gets a taxi and joins the other hopefuls at RADA.

Working classno posh accentno educational qualificationsprofoundly dyslexic.

The odds are stacked against him. ButKeith has one overwhelming qualityambition.

He wants to be an actor and nothing  no person, system or word blindness  is ever going to stop him.

Auditions loom and hes lonely.

Living above a pub in Camden, he pounds the city and the litany of street names somehow takes on the consolation of a prayer.

Hes always been likeable and this shows through in auditions.

Easy to work withtries hardflexible.

When he finds Mercutios part is gone, he offers a package: hey Ill play Tybalt and understudy Mercutio? Hows that? Deal! And now hes with the Royal Shakespearean Company for two magical years.

Other parts follow.

Films like 'Peaky Blinders', 'Star Wars', 'Les Mis', 'Children of Men', 'Black Death', 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley', 'The Winter King', 'Rebellion', 'No Offence', 'Beowulf', 'The Hollow Crown' Plays like 'Macbeth', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Backsides to the Wind', 'The Red Iron', 'The Rivals', 'The Birthday Party', 'A Woman Walks into a Bank', 'The Lovely Bones' Regular conversations with voiceovers give that extra zing to the production and keep the show snapping along.

Experts in dyslexia offer clinical awareness while homespun advice grounds the young wannabe actor who wants to play kings.

Keith feels a connection with the hapless Richard II who suffered the grimmest of fates  starved to death by Henry IV  after launching a disastrous clean-up raid of Irish rebels in Leinster having first landed in Waterford.

Laoiss Fiach MacMurragh had a lot to say about that expedition.

Alone in his cell, he muses I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.

Its a Shakespearean phrase that haunts the Waterford actor.

This one-man show is a joy.

This is a hugely entertaining, life-affirming story of the struggles, pain and joy Keith encountered on his journey from Doyle Street to classical acting.

There are tears and laughter, anger and acceptance but, above all, pride in the indomitable spirit that brought him there.

As the lights dim to black, the words of West Side Story whisper around the theatretheres a place for ussomewhere a place for us.
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LifestyleBeautyTrends The new owner betting everything to save Napoleon Perdis Damien Woolnough October 25, 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

The differences between the founder of Napoleon Perdis cosmetics and its current owner are as obvious as blood-red lip liner with nude lipstick. Before the Australian beauty empire collapsed in 2019 with more than $22 million in debts, back when the company was making $92 million in sales a year, poster-sized images of make-up-artist-turned-mogul Perdis lined the walls of his Sydney headquarters. Livia Wang, the owner of Napoleon Perdis in their new North Sydney office. Dylan Coker At the brands new office you wont find a single photograph of owner Livia Wang, or Perdis, who is no longer associated with the business. If a brand is doing well, everyone should feel that its their brand, says Wang. It should be everyones brand in Australia.

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The brand is doing well part has been Wangs challenge since acquiring Napoleon Perdis with a group of investors six years ago. Wang is used to rapid success as part of investment company Access Corporate, which worked with ingestible vitamin brand Vida Glow, Minenssey skincare and baby care specialist Lovekins. Turning Napoleon Perdis around has been more complex. In February, Wang made the radical decision to close 14 standalone Napoleon Perdis boutiques, focusing on stands in 10 David Jones department stores and independent pharmacies around the country. Fellow shareholders were less than enthusiastic about the decision, so Wang bought them out to become the sole owner. Livia Wang in Sydney. Dylan Coker I have no doubt that this brand should survive on all commercial fronts, but I did have doubts about myself, about whether Im the right one to run it, says Wang, who immigrated to Australia from China in 2008. But if you worry about losing, dont go to the Olympics. Sales at David Jones have increased by 24 per cent in the past 12 months, while the brands website has seen a 53 per cent increase in new customers since August, according to Wang.

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There are plans to release 44 products next year, with a strong focus on skincare and serums. Former cosmetics king Napoleon Perdis in 2014. Steven Siewert Rather than relentlessly chase a youth market obsessed with products from reality stars and models such Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber, Wang is focussing on women of all ages. Those are the faces she wants to see around her office. Related Article Sunday Life Trinny Woodall, 61, says mature women could improve their make-up with these simple tips I was too young when we started. As a businesswoman, you just want to do business. Youre looking at the numbers. Youre looking at where to grow globally. I grew up in the last five years and I decided to do something meaningful.

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Now I put myself into my consumers shoes. I want to manage the brand and the products, in the Australian way, but also in a way that in 10 years my daughter will feel proud to be part of the family who owns this brand. Growth for the brand will continue through David Jones, with three pop-up stores planned before 2026. Moving forward, Wang will continue putting herself in customers shoes and keeping pictures of herself and her own name off the office walls. As for one day changing her name to Napoleon... That wouldnt be very strategic, she says. 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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Exclusive LifestyleFashionSpring racing carnival The White Lotus and Real Housewives crossover coming to Melbourne Damien Woolnough October 26, 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

Two guests wearing the same dress is usually the greatest drama inside the A-list Birdcage enclosure at the Melbourne Cup carnival but next month, The White Lotus actor Michelle Monaghan and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Dorit Kemsley are raising the stakes. Monaghan, who played fictitious famous actor Jaclyn Lemon, holidaying in Thailand with her two best friends in the HBO hit series, will check into the Landmark by Lexus pavilion on Derby Day. Swimwear designer Kemsley will make the neighbouring Crown marquee her home on Oaks Day. Michelle Monaghan attending the Dior show at Paris Fashion Week on October 1. AP On the surface of your TV screen, the differences between the respected star of The White Lotus (season three), Mission Impossible franchise, and True Detective series, and Real Housewives Kemsley  famous for jumping off a boat in Mexico to get a Birkin handbag from Hermes on season seven of the series  seem great. Common ground extends beyond Flemington Racecourse, however, with a love of fashion uniting them. Both women have scored Anna Wintours seal of approval with profiles in US Vogue.

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Monaghan attended Irish designer Jonathan Andersons debut womenswear collection for Christian Dior at Paris Fashion Week, in a prim, black skirt, with a simple pink jumper, white shirt and foppish bow tie. Im more low-key than Jaclyn, Monaghan says. I tend to gravitate towards slim, streamlined silhouettes. I like a casual, timeless look whereas Jaclyn likes bright, bold patterns, lots of accessories and leans into the trends. I prefer a classic look most of the time. Michelle Monaghan in Carolina Herrera at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles on October 18. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP When the occasion calls for it, Monaghan can go big, like at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles this month, wearing a voluminous purple floral empire waist ball gown from Caroline Herrera. For her Derby Day debut, Monaghan may resort to channelling her White Lotus character  shed definitely make an unforgettable entrance but she is tempted to echo the understated style of her Australian friend, sass & bide co-founder Heidi Middleton and her Artclub label.

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Ive long admired her talent but also her values regarding fashion and sustainability, Monaghan says. I have several pieces of hers that I wear over and over. They are wearable works of art. Related Article Race Day fashion Horse racings new draw: Instagram models and Euro royalty Im most excited about donning a Derby Day hat. From the three-storey Landmark by Lexus pavilion, with interiors by Brahman Perera, food by 40Res chef Josh Raine and flowers by Simone Gooch, Monaghan, who married Australian interior designer Peter White in Port Douglas in 2008, will be observing local looks. I think Australian style can be quite laid back which I love but Aussies also know how to glam it up, she says. I love to see the ladies dress up and kick up their heels.

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On Oaks Day, Kemsely, who Vogue spotlighted for her love of vintage pieces from Dior and Vivienne Westwood, will be judging the finals of the long-running Fashions On The Field competition. Dorit Kemsley shopping in Beverly Hills in August. GC Images I have heard that Crown Oaks Day is all about elegance, fashion, and trackside fun, Kemsley said in a press statement. 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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LifestyleGenderGender Opinion I used tears to sway my husband. It was a snapshot of the wider gender divide Parnell Palme McGuinness Columnist and communications adviser October 26, 2025  2:00am

October 26, 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 52 View all comments

When COVID shut down the world in 2020, I discovered something shameful about myself. Right from the start, the evidence showed that the disease was chiefly dangerous for a small subset of the population vulnerable due to advanced age or other health conditions. Yet Australia embarked on a cascade of lockdowns  starting with the least affected. Victorian premier Dan Andrews quickly closed schools. NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian prevaricated, but encouraged parents to keep their children home. My husband and I knew our family faced little risk. He wanted our young child to stay in school. I felt that I had no choice but to tune into community anxiety and home-school. Essayist Helen Andrews, author of The Great Feminisation. I couldnt win the argument with evidence. So I resorted to tears and claimed to be scared of the sickness to win the argument. The humiliating truth: I feared social stigma more than the virus. I will never stop feeling ashamed of my cowardice.

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My fears and the tactics I deployed to get my way in that moment were quintessentially female. Women have been shaped by evolution to seek social approval and appeal to emotion in asserting themselves. So when US commentator Helen Andrews published an essay this month on The Great Feminisation, I was rather inclined to agree with the core of her thesis. Andrews argues that institutions are changing as women achieve parity and in some professions, such as education and law, outnumber men. Feminine social norms are increasingly shaping public discourse and institutional behaviour, she says, and the emotional and social levers that women (on average) use to achieve their desired outcomes are what we have come to know as wokeness and cancel culture. Woke ways of approaching the world privilege emotional responses over evidence or sometimes conflate emotion with evidence. For instance, when a court decides that a woman bringing a sexual assault case is believable and bases its findings on the credibility of her emotional response during the trial, undoing centuries of legal safeguards. Andrews fears that if institutions like the law become overly feminised, then judges will bend the rules for favoured groups and enforce them rigorously on disfavoured groups.

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The classic fictional rendering of this situation is the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, written in the 1950s and inspired by real events. In the racially charged American South, a white woman falsely accuses a black man of rape. The all-white jury, already predisposed against the accused, gives greater value to the white womans tears than the evidence presented at trial. The man is convicted. Related Article Exclusive

Grossi Florentino Emma doesnt like cancel culture. But she wants Guy Grossi held accountable The dispassionate rule of law, which requires concrete and not just emotional evidence to secure a conviction, is designed to protect against this kind of injustice. Evolutionarily, womens emotional appeal for protection would have been a useful safeguard against mens superior physical strength. In a cerebral world, however, in which both men and women are capable of marshalling facts equally, the trait has the potential to be toxic. Cancel culture, Andrews argues, is another particularly feminine way of managing conflict. Which also makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. Social ostracisation is a non-violent form of aggression that is safer for a physically weaker aggressor to engage in than bodily combat. It still wounds. Social exclusion affects the brain in similar ways to physical pain, and can lead to long-term ill-health and depression.

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Wokeness and cancel culture have changed business and public life. Its plausible that the growing number of women employed in an institution is the reason why. Im also prepared to agree with Helen Andrews that a feminised society predominantly run by emotion and ostracisation would be far from ideal. As Andrews asks: If your academia doesnt pursue truth, what good is it? If your journalists arent prickly individualists who dont mind alienating people, what good are they? If a business loses its swashbuckling spirit and becomes a feminised, inward-focused bureaucracy, will it not stagnate? Related Article Review Online pile-ons and culture wars: How did we get here? Yes, yes, yes, and amen to preventing all that. Weaponised wokeness and cancel culture have been twin drivers of modern mania, and we risk losing valuable institutions and contributions to their untrammelled zeal. But it bothers me that Andrews is fuelling a new gender war based on this mania when manias are hardly a historical anomaly. In fact, humanity seems prone to regular bouts of collective madness. Many have been male-led. A bloodthirsty orgy of human sacrifice emerged from the patriarchal Aztec society. Women were notably not in charge as the Nazis carried out the Holocaust against Jews. Humanity has learnt important lessons from those periods of dangerous lunacy. The lesson of woke and cancel culture can be taken without pitting men and women against one another.

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If the cause of the mania is a feminine way of operating, if women are rejecting and trying to overturn the rule of law on the basis of emotion, the argument in favour of the rule of law needs to be made with the same emotional power. Social justice isnt achieved by dismantling objective fairness, but by guaranteeing it. Who dares to speak their mind in an environment of cancel culture? Matt Davidson The shame of ostracisation should accrue to the bully, not her victim. We have to accept that a gender-equal society will not be a kinder one  because women have never been the gentler sex. We simply manage conflict differently  less violently, but no less ruthlessly. As always with Helen Andrews, whom I count as a friend, the essay is excellent and the argument has a great deal of merit. I cant fault Andrews conclusion, which is that male energy is as vital to society as feminine energy. Now that women are empowered, she writes, its time to stop making it illegal for women to lose. But, as clickbait, its creeping unchallenged into our timelines  eliciting an emotional resonance where a rational approach is needed to manage the destructive potential of another social mania.

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What an ironically female way to declare war on the great feminisation. Parnell Palme McGuinness is managing director at campaigns firm Agenda C. She has done work for the Liberal Party and the German Greens and is a senior fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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MoneySuper & retirementRetirement living Opinion Forget early retirement  the smart move is to work longer Bec Wilson Money contributor October 25, 2025  2:01am

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Once upon a time, early retirement was the dream. Youd leave work at 55, buy a caravan, and spend your days fishing, golfing, playing bowls, or watching sunsets youd finally have time to enjoy. But as 2026 looms, that fantasy is starting to look  well, a bit outdated. The smart moneys on working later and not because we have to, but because it makes everything about retirement work better. Australians are living longer, healthier and, crucially, more flexible lives. Older Australians, especially women, are staying in the workforce longer than ever before. Getty The average 65-year-old today can expect another 20-plus years of good health. That means retirement isnt a finish line any more, its a long, evolving stage of life that can last three beautiful decades. The data backs it up. According to KPMGs analysis of the ABS Labour Force Survey just released, the expected retirement age for Australian men has climbed to 67, and for women to 65.3 both now the highest in history.

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Thats not just a reflection of cost-of-living pressure; its evidence that people are staying engaged in the workforce, redefining what work looks like for themselves, and using their superannuation more strategically to create a life they want. And with life expectancy for the median 65-year-old now 88 for men, 90 for women and 94 for a couple, why would you stop work you enjoy before you have to? Turns out that working longer  if youre doing something you enjoy  isnt just good for your finances, its good for your health. KPMG also found that the gap between when Australians leave full-time work and when they fully retire has stretched to nearly three years. In that time, many are doing exactly what this new generation of retirees does best  easing out of work on their own terms, making their prime-time count before heading off into their epic retirement. New data from ASFA this week tells the same story. Around 45,000 Australians aged 6064 retire each year, 65,000 aged 6569 and 40,000 aged 7074. But older Australians are working longer than ever  workforce participation has climbed to 54 per cent of men and 43 per cent of women in their 60s, and even among those in their 70s, about 14 per cent of men and 9 per cent of women are still earning.

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A closer look at the ASFA numbers tells the story. Most of the growth in retiree numbers over the past decade has come from people aged 70 and over, while the number of Australians retiring before 60 has steadily declined since the late 1990s. Editor's pick Opinion

Pension How a low super balance can still mean a happy, fulfilling retirement Bec Wilson Money contributor ASFAs analysis shows that fewer people are leaving work early, and more are retiring at 65 or later, particularly in their 70s. Some of this is simply demographics, with the baby boomer generation moving through, but it also reflects a clear behavioural shift. Older Australians, especially women, are staying in the workforce longer than ever before. Two decades ago, women in their 60s rarely worked past retirement age; today, nearly half do. Its a quiet revolution, reshaping what retirement looks like in Australia. Financially, working a few more years, even part-time or casual, is one of the most powerful levers you can pull for more financial security. Every extra year of income gives your super more time to grow and means less years drawing it down at a higher pace.

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And, the compounding effect of having more funds in your account for longer is enormous in this stage of life. Delay tapping your super for just two years, and you could have tens of thousands more saved and fewer years to stretch it across. Its also tax-smart. Once you hit 60 and give up a job, even briefly, you can move your super to the retirement phase and start drawing from it tax-free. And by 65, you dont need to stop working at all; the rules let you access it tax-free either way. Ceasing gainful employment once to meet the criteria, doesnt mean you cant keep working  it just means you cant stay in the exact role you left to access your super. That means you can layer your salary and draw a tax-free income stream from your retirement phase superannuation account. Then you can pay a little less tax, and put more into super in those years, maxing out your concessional contribution cap of $30,000 into super during this phase if you can afford to at just 15 per cent tax and let it compound longer in a low-tax environment. Meanwhile, if youre eligible for the age pension from 67, the income-free area for couples is now $380 a fortnight, or for singles $218, and the Work Bonus lets older Australians earn an extra $300 per fortnight each without reducing payments.

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In short: a little part-time income goes a long way - allowing your super to compound longer and you to keep one foot in a workplace you might not be completely ready to leave. And let me be clear, this isnt about clocking in at a job you hate. Its about creating flexibility, purpose, and a better way of using your retirement savings in the earliest stage of your retirement so you can live a longer, better quality of life. Quitting work at 55 and going travelling in your caravan isnt the goal for most modern retirees. Michele Mossop Many Australians are reinventing work in their 60s  starting consultancies, freelancing, working in tourism, caring or community roles, or pursuing creative projects that finally pay something back. Some call it semi-retirement. I dont think everyone is ready to embrace it as retirement though - preferring to live in a midlife transitional phase, enjoying a more carefree period while staying employed, but adjusting the structure of work in their life.

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Working later also has huge emotional and cognitive benefits for those who get to choose. Staying socially and mentally active can delay cognitive decline and boost wellbeing. It turns out that working longer  if youre doing something you enjoy  isnt just good for your finances, its good for your health. Editor's pick Opinion

Financial literacy Financial ignorance isnt bliss  its a serious, dangerous problem Victoria Devine Money columnist We have to give credit where its due. The real reason Aussies in their 50s and 60s and even their 70s today can consider taking a more flexible approach to working is because of superannuation. Its the quiet hero behind this shift. For the first time, Australians are entering retirement with enough super to give them real choices - if they dare to learn how to use it. A comfortable retirement now costs around $75,000 a year for a couple or $53,000 for a single person. And for the first time, more than 30 per cent of Australians are retiring with the capacity to fund that level of lifestyle, a figure ASFA expects will rise to around 50 per cent by 2050 as the system matures.

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The beauty of super, once you reach the retirement phase, is its flexibility. Some people use a transition-to-retirement strategy to access tax-free income; others move straight into a tax-free drawdown phase. Either way, that access to an income stream allows you to scale back work without sacrificing income. Its the foundation that makes a slower, softer exit from the workforce not just possible but financially smart. So forget the old formula of work hard, retire early, hope its enough. The new version looks more like this: work smarter + ease out of the workforce gradually + enjoy your life sooner. Because the real goal isnt to stop working early  its to stop working for necessity, and start working for joy. After all, my definition of retirement is this: its the moment you stop trading time for money, and start trading it for happiness, fulfilment and purpose. Bec Wilson is author of the bestseller How to Have an Epic Retirement and the newly released Prime Time: 27 Lessons for the New Midlife. She writes a weekly newsletter at epicretirement.net and hosts the Prime Time podcast.

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Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that considers their own personal circumstances before making financial decisions. Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money 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: Retirement living

Opinion Bec Wilson is the author of How To Have An Epic Retirement and writes a weekly newsletter for pre- and post-retirees at epicretirement.net.
Bihar Rural Work Department (RWD) Minister Ashok Choudhary on Sunday morning said that the state has the fastest growth rate in India under the Nitish Kumar government, as opposed to the lawlessness witnessed earlier under the opposition's "jungle raj". "He (Amit Shah) meant to say that the growth rate of 3.5 to 4 per cent was brought down to 2.5 per cent during the jungle raj. The previous government had no governance policy. Nitish Kumar has brought the growth rate from 2.5 per cent to 10.4 per cent today. There was lawlessness in Bihar earlier. The businessmen couldn't do business. There was kidnapping and extortion," Choudhary told ANI. "The progressive government in Bihar has made it the state with the fastest growth rate in India under Nitish Kumar's rule," he added. Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav today said that people of the state have become aware of the "tactics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)" and were "impatient" for change in government. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tejashwi argued that Bihar was being taken for a ride, given that major industries were being set up in Gujarat. He also mentioned the support that Mahagathbandhan has received from people ahead of the already announced assembly polls. "The campaign has begun, and Bihar is impatient for change. Wherever we are going, people in large numbers from all castes and religions are coming to support us. People are fed up with the current government and want to change the Bihar government," said Yadav, who has been named as the Chief Ministerial candidate by the opposition grand alliance. "Under this 20-year-old visionless government, corruption and crime have reached their peak. No action is being taken. Amit Shah has already clarified that no industries can be set up due to a lack of land. People have understood the tactics of the BJP that Modi has set up factories in Gujarat. Bihar ko thenga aur angutha dikha rahe hai (Bihar is being taken for a ride)," he added. Tejashwi further announced that the honorarium and allowances of panchayat and village court representatives will be doubled after the Mahagathbandhan forms a government in Bihar. Mahagathbandhan earlier declared Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face for the Bihar assembly polls, while also naming Mukesh Sahani of Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as Deputy CM candidate. The 2025 Bihar Assembly elections are set to witness a direct contest between the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan. The NDA comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The Mahagathbandhan, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), includes Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Mukesh Sahani's VIP. Additionally, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has announced that it will contest all 243 Assembly seats in the state. The Bihar Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes is scheduled for November 14. (ANI)
The Great Barrier Reef is worth $95 billion and contributes $9 billion to Australia annually, but the precious asset will be lost without urgent action, economic research warns.

A Deloitte Access Economics report released today found the reef supports 77,000 full-time jobs, making it the equivalent of Australias fifth-largest employer.

The Great Barrier Reef is worth $9 billion annually to the Australian economy, research has found. TEQ

National polling commissioned by the Great Barrier Reef Foundation shows 98 per cent of Australians believe losing the reef would be a national tragedy, with nearly three-quarters describing such a loss as significant or irreplaceable.

The Deloitte findings and national polling present a powerful case, foundation managing director Anna Marsden said.

Safeguarding the reef is vital not only to the people and communities that rely on its survival, but to the overwhelming majority of Australians who want it to endure for generations, she said.

The reef is not gone  but time is running out.

We have the tools, the knowledge and the choice to protect it. We just need the will.

Earlier in October, the Global Tipping Points report warned warm water coral reefs faced a long-term decline without rapid and unlikely cuts to greenhouse gases.

AAP
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NationalGough Whitlam Opinion He could be a bit bolder: What Albo could learn from Whitlam Peter FitzSimons Columnist and author October 26, 2025  2:00am

October 26, 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 134 View all comments

As the 50th anniversary of the Dismissal on November 11 approaches, the PM launched Troy Bramstons new biography of Gough Whitlam on Friday morning. I spoke to Bramston beforehand. Fitz: Troy, when I once asked Gough if hed read John Edwards book on Paul Keating, he replied, Comrade, I have glanced at it extensively ... Now, as Ive only just got a copy of your book, I hope I can be excused for having done much the same, but allow me to offer my sincere congratulations. It is nothing if not comprehensive, and a great read. Gough Whitlam opens the Labour election campaign at the Blacktown Civic Centre on November 13, 1972 Rick Stevens TB: Thank you! It has been a big project and I have interviewed over 100 people and gone into archives in Australia, in the UK and the USA to get a lot of fresh material. Fitz: For me, Gough was  with the possible exception of Bob Hawke  the most charismatic man Ive ever met, so I was surprised to read, in your account, of his remoteness from peers for much of his life.

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TB: Yes, he had a defining flaw that was identified in the school reports, at university, and by his father-in-law, Bill Dovey. He found it difficult to make lasting friendships and connections with people on a normal human level. He was a loner, and not a great party or cabinet manager. His great strengths were his determination, courage and resilience. But those same attributes meant he did not consult, listen to advice, was naive about people, and it fuelled his downfall, in almost Shakespearean fashion. Troy Bramston has interviewed more than 100 people for the book. Steven Siewert Fitz: But his achievements were many? TB: Yes. The first thing he did was he saved the Labor Party, which was on the edge of oblivion. He made it electable again, and when he became prime minister, he changed the nation. It was a turning point and his legacy lives on, all around us. He really did raise the curtain on modern Australia. Things like universal health care, university access for all, needs-based school funding, changing our anthem, Australian honours, lowering the voting age, recognising China  controversial at the time  are now bipartisan articles of faith. But it took time for people to really understand all that because the Whitlam government itself was so shambolic, scandal-ridden and its economic management was truly disastrous. Fitz: I was amazed that even his own daughter Catherine said to you, He was always a bad politician. I dont think he ever gave much thought to how he would win people over. I think he very much spoke his mind.

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TB: Yes. What I try to do with these interviews is really drill down, move beyond the usual anecdotes that you get when people have been interviewed before, and try to really find out who my subject was. And so this is what Ive discovered is really the defining characteristic in him, which is that he had a difficulty in how he related to people: ministers, public servants, staff. He was, in many ways, a crazy brave political leader, who wanted to crash through or crash as he called it. Fitz: Well, in the end, he did both. You have minutely detailed the crash, the Dismissal. Were you outraged by what you found? Gough Whitlam addresses a Labor rally outside Parliament House in 1975. Michael Rayner TB: Less outraged than shocked. This is the most dramatic, convulsive moment in our political history, and its a train wreck  for the individuals and institutions that were involved. And there are no heroes in this story. Malcolm Fraser pushed the system to the brink. He smashed precedents. He shattered conventions. He was naked in his pursuit of power. John Kerr was deceptive. He said he approached the prime minister by stealth. He didnt convey how he really felt and did not warn Whitlam. He compromised the High Court by consulting chief justice Garfield Barwick about his powers and, secretly, with Anthony Mason (a judge on the court). Fitz: Youll be interested to hear that, 35 years ago, when I told Gough that, for fun, and if hed come, Id love to arrange lunch with him and Sir Garfield, he replied, breathily, Well, that would be all right, comrade, but youre going to need a very, very long table.

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TB: [Laughs] Thats Gough! Fitz: You also make clear that it was not as if Gough had not received plenty of warning of what was to come. TB: Yes. Its astonishing, Peter, to sit in the National Archives and read memo after memo sent to Gough in September, October, November 1975, where they say to him, There is a risk here of dismissal. Dont treat John Kerr with contempt. Dont call him my viceroy. Have a contingency plan. Think about how this crisis may be resolved. Gough didnt listen to the public service. He didnt listen to his staff. He didnt listen to his colleagues. Treasurer Bill Hayden saw John Kerr on November 6, 1975, and his coppers instinct told him something was wrong. He went to Whitlam and said, Im worried ... Kerrs thinking about sacking us. And Whitlam looked at Hayden and said, He wouldnt have the guts. Fitz: One of the stunning quotes you have in the book comes from Paul Keating, who said that if hed been in the same situation as Gough, I would have arrested Kerr. I would have said: You are abusing a kingly power that was never yours to abuse. So therefore youre seeking to illegally dismiss the government of Australia, which I regard as a criminal act, and Im ordering the police to arrest you. Wow! TB: Keating was not joking. He was deadly serious.

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Fitz: And yet, despite the drama of the day, I love the fact that youve gone into the fact that Norman Gunston himself  aka the brilliant satirist, Garry McDonald  stands beside Gough on the steps, with no security anywhere, flashes the V for Victory sign, and asks if the fact that Mr Frazier is now caretaker prime minister means he will also be responsible for mowing the Parliament House lawns? Gold! TB: The crowd laughs. They enjoy the joke. Garry told me that is something that speaks to the Australian character, our sense of humour, that at this moment of such great drama, we can allow ourselves to poke fun at it, to see a lighter side. Jenny Hocking fought for the release of correspondence between Queen Elizabeth and governor-general John Kerr (pictured inset) about the Dismissal. Fairfax Fitz: I also note you disagree with Professor Jenny Hockings contention in her own great book The Palace Letters that the Queen was complicit in the Dismissal because  Hocking asserts  she knew what Kerr was going to do but didnt stop it. TB: Yes, I do disagree. I dont think theres any evidence in the letters that the Queen or her staff encouraged the Dismissal, knew about his actual decision to dismiss the government in advance, or gave it a green light. Its also the view of leading scholars like Anne Twomey and George Williams. Its also the view of Keating, Hayden and Doug McClelland. And having talked to Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street staff, I am convinced that the Queen would not have had any involvement. It is not how she operated: liquidating prime ministers in her realms. There is no motive either.

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Fitz: But Hocking cites the letter from the Queens private secretary Sir Martin Charteris to Kerr dated October 2, 1975, as pivotal in revealing the British monarchys prior knowledge of Kerrs plans. She contends it shows that Kerr confided to Prince Charles that he was considering having to dismiss the government and that Charles relayed this to the Queen and Charteris. She describes this as collusion and deception and maintains it reveals a deliberate palace role in undermining Australian democracy. Related Article Literature 50 years on from the Dismissal, it could all happen again TB: I disagree, Peter. Charteris replied that if Whitlam had Kerr recalled, then the Queen would follow her prime ministers advice. She would take Whitlams side. On November 4, Charteris gave three warnings to Kerr: that the reserve powers should only be used when there is no other option; the crisis was political not constitutional; and only use the powers in the last resort and not for political reasons. Thats hardly encouragement. Fitz: Can we agree, at least, that it was OUTRAGEOUS for Prince Charles to, afterwards, commend Kerr for what he did? TB: Yes, I was the person who discovered that letter in the archives. It is completely outrageous, and it breaches royal protocol. When I interviewed Sir William Heseltine, later the Queens private secretary, he said that Charles letter was sent without the Queens knowledge or approval. Charles risked the impartiality and standing of the monarchy in this country. It was the wrong thing to do, and he should be condemned for it.

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Fitz: I condemn. Youve done biographies of four Australian prime ministers. And youre up there with David Day as a prime ministerial authority across the span of our history. Would Gough take pride of place on your own Mount Rushmore of great Australian prime ministers? TB: No, Id probably put John Curtin at the top. [Fitz, interrupting: Hooray! Go on.] Weve never had a prime minister whos more popular than Curtin. Geoffrey Blainey told me that when Curtin was leaving his Melbourne hotel during WWII, people would stop in the street and clap because he had touched something in the hearts of Australians. Weve never had [another] prime minister like that. He stood up to Winston Churchill. He stood up to Franklin Roosevelt. He did lead the country at its most perilous moment, and he paid the ultimate sacrifice. Fitz: Whos next to Curtin on our Rushmore, for you? TB: You would have to put Bob Hawke up there, because the Hawke government really did transform the country economically, socially, environmentally, and he was also hugely popular and won four elections. And youd have to pay respect to John Howard because he is the second-longest serving prime minister. He also won four elections, so he seemed to get something right as well. Fitz: Wheres Gough?

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TB: He was a very significant prime minister. He did change the nation. But he didnt run a government very well. Ministers were tainted with scandal. Economic management and budget management were disastrous. And those lessons were learnt by his successors. Anthony Albanese launched the Bramston book. Steven Siewert Fitz: Among whom, you have the incumbent PM to launch your book. Albos obviously read it cover to cover before launching. Are there lessons for him in this account of Gough, in what to do and what not to do? TB: Hes already learnt the biggest lesson of all, which is to keep your party united, run a cabinet efficiently and effectively, listen to public service advice and pace your reform program. But theres another lesson he probably could learn, which is to be a little bit bolder. We are a great country, but we still have a lot of problems that need solving. And so a little bit of courage every now and then can be rewarded and respected by voters. Gough Whitlam: The Vista of the New by Troy Bramston, Harper-Collins is available in bookstores from October 28
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Exclusive NationalVictoriaDiagnosing Murder 18 days in court, seven years of suffering: Experts take aim at failed shaken baby case Michael Bachelard and Ruby Schwartz October 26, 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

A Victorian man lost his relationship, custody of his children and faced a child homicide charge after specialists at the Royal Childrens Hospital made a diagnosis of child abuse that did not stand up in court. The mans four-week-old baby died in 2017 and doctors at the hospitals Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service (VFPMS) quickly came to believe he had shaken his son so violently he caused catastrophic brain damage. David was acquitted of baby shaking in a Supreme Court trial last year. Josh Robenstone The man, who can be identified only as David, insists his baby, Oliver, simply had a seizure one night in his arms. He has spoken publicly for the first time on the podcast, Diagnosing Murder, about the seven-year ordeal that followed and how it has changed his life. Doctors diagnosed Oliver with shaken baby syndrome, now more commonly known as abusive or inflicted head trauma. The diagnosis has become controversial globally, critics saying the scientific evidence to support it is weak and contested.

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The VFPMS, whose doctors investigate and refer suspicions of child abuse to authorities across Victoria, is described in the podcast by Deakin law school associate professor Neera Bhatia as the engine room of the controversial diagnosis in the state. A Supreme Court jury last year acquitted David following an 18-day trial, after his defence presented evidence of potential alternative medical or accidental causes of the childs collapse. The first time we met that doctor, she came rushing into the room, didnt introduce herself, went straight over to Oliver. David describing the first time he met the VFPMS doctor The babys mother stood by David throughout, describing him as a kind father who was loving and supportive. Davids 2024 trial also revealed how the VFPMS forensically questioned the two grieving parents as their baby lay dying nearby, then passed information to child protection and police. The parents signed a consent form, but the mother said later they were too upset to know what they were consenting too.

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The trial also heard evidence that police were warned by the VFPMS not to seek the views of the babys treating doctor because they didnt have the expertise to comment. That doctor, intensive care physician James Tibballs, was not convinced by the abuse diagnosis. He also speaks on the podcast for the first time. Throughout my career I often came home and thought, Well, shit, thats wrong. What can we do about that? Nothing. Ive got 20 patients to look after tomorrow. Ill concentrate on them, Tibballs says. David told Diagnosing Murder that Oliver, at four weeks old, simply went limp in his arms one night in November 2017. Oliver was unconscious and not breathing for 42 minutes as the family, then paramedics, performed CPR on him. Such a long period not breathing can, in itself, cause catastrophic brain damage.

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Oliver died in the Royal Childrens Hospital a few days later. VFPMS doctors did not believe David and his partners account of events. One of their forensic doctors, Maryanne Lobo, came to suspect just hours after Oliver was admitted that he had been violently shaken. As the last person holding him, David was under suspicion. The Royal Childrens Hospital. Simon Schluter Lobos expert evidence formed the backbone of the prosecution case, but was heavily criticised by Davids defence lawyers. David did not give evidence but told the podcast: The first time we met that doctor, she came rushing into the room, didnt introduce herself, went straight over to Oliver.

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She began an examination, which took a couple of minutes  then she turned and looked at me and said, You did something  and Im going to prove it. Davids partner told the court that Lobo told us that  You must have hit him  you must have hit his head. Lobo denied this in the trial, insisting: I would never say such a thing. David said the diagnosis had cost him seven years of my life and my kids lives ... that I can never get back. And people keep forgetting that we lost our son. Lobos abuse diagnosis, backed by her boss, VFPMS deputy director Dr Jo Tully, was based on clinical signs known as the triad  subdural bleeding, retinal haemorrhages and brain swelling  which are together widely known as shaken baby syndrome. The diagnosis is the current medical orthodoxy, and held in good faith by doctors at the VFPMS and in hospitals around the world, but it is heavily contested internationally.

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Based on the diagnosis, the familys other child, who is autistic, was removed from them, and when a baby girl was born the following year, child protection was waiting at the maternity ward to remove her as well. The mother was ultimately allowed to keep the child as long as she did not live with David. Tibballs, a paediatric intensive care physician at Royal Childrens Hospital for 43 years, said he had been sceptical from the start that baby Oliver was a victim of abuse  but said he had been shut out of discussions within his own hospital over the case. Dr Jo Tully, a forensic paediatrician from the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service, at a 2018 conference. Evidence at the trial showed VFPMS staff  including a nurse and doctor  had warned police that Tibballs was not sufficiently qualified to offer his opinion on the case. Tibballs told the podcast he had only learned about this during the case, adding he had been gobsmacked. It took police a number of years, and multiple requests from Davids defence team, to finally take a statement from Tibballs.

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He said once child abuse specialist doctors began to suspect someone of abuse, I almost have never seen suspicion converted to innocence. Once you get on that track, it leads in one direction and thats to the court. The trial also revealed that Olivers mother, who we are not naming for privacy reasons, told the court she had signed a VFPMS consent form that allowed forensic doctors to examine her son and prepare a report for police and child protection. Professor Stephen Cordner said most people would think a doctor was acting in their interests. The mother told the court her mind was all over the place at the time, and shed signed the form thinking it was for further treatment. I thought anything that might help him [Oliver] get better, I would do it  We were happy to sign.

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Diagnosing Murder Australian court ruling in shaken baby case was ignorant and embarrassing The VFPMS consent form says parents do not have to sign it, but it appears they are not explicitly warned that they have a right to silence, or to legal representation. The Royal Childrens Hospital said in a statement: Consent for a VFPMS procedure involves a transparent discussion with parents about what the procedure entails and how information might be used. Retired forensic pathologist Stephen Cordner asked: Do [parents] really know the basis upon which theyre talking to the forensic doctor? Most people would think a doctor is acting in their interests, not inquiring with perhaps a suspicious mindset.

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Cordner, a former long-time head of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, has called for an inquiry in Australia into the science behind shaken baby syndrome. He also told this masthead he thinks forensic medical decisions relied on by police to charge a carer should be made independently of the Royal Childrens Hospital. Related Article Investigation

Diagnosing Murder This man just had his baby-shaking execution halted because his conviction might be based on junk science He said forensic doctors did not see it as their job to look after the interests of the parent or carer because their priority was the child. This could lead to children being wrongly removed, or criminal charges against parents. Cordner said this was tiger country, medically and ethically. Forensic decisions, including evidence prepared for courts, should be made independently of the hospital, he said. The courts might prefer a report written by doctors who are independent from the hospital and so, structurally, more able to be impartial, Cordner said. An impartial report is going to be more valuable from the point of view of police and the courts.

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The Royal Childrens Hospital has previously said its medical diagnoses were underpinned by national and international research, which is constantly reviewed and that it delivered a best practice, multidisciplinary service caring for children and young people. It always puts a childs safety, health and wellbeing first, the statement said. The podcast shows the doctors at the VFPMS are strong proponents of shaken baby theory despite a global dispute over the diagnosis. Tully is on record rejecting that any real question marks exist over it, telling a court in 2021 its a perceived controversy. She has separately described it as being a field plagued by non-believers. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Charles Farrugia claims he was betrayed by the CFMEU after a violent altercation.

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A CFMEU insider turned whistleblower has alleged the union forced him to cover up a crime and stymie a police investigation in return for a job on major public infrastructure projects. Charles Farrugia, a former CFMEU representative on the Allan governments signature Big Build program, has made a series of damning claims about corruption and intimidation within the union, alleging state- and federal-funded jobs have been abused and traded by the union with impunity. He also claimed the current leadership of the CFMEU has failed to adequately combat the cover-up and nepotistic culture within the unions most powerful branch, Victoria  behaviour which the Albanese government pledged to stamp out 15 months ago when it appointed administrator Mark Irving, KC, to run the union. Charles and Helena Farrugia claim they were attacked at home in front of their children. Alex Coppel The damaging claims come with the CFMEU administration in the midst of a crisis, having been forced to sack an influential Victorian CFMEU boss it promoted in July after this masthead and 60 Minutes uncovered his involvement in suspected serious bribery and corruption. In NSW, it can also be revealed that the administration has sacked a newly appointed organiser after this masthead uncovered his involvement in an assault late last year. The Albanese government now faces growing questions about whether its CFMEU clean-up is working, with the opposition slamming it as a failure and criticism from crossbenchers and unionists. Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has defended the administration while claiming  inaccurately  it had uncovered the conduct that led to the sacking of Victorian union boss John Perkovic and the NSW organiser when it was, in fact, unearthed by this masthead and 60 Minutes.

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Farrugias allegations open a fresh front in the rolling Building Bad scandal which plunged the union into administration last August. He makes new claims that the ousted pre-administration union regime in Victoria engaged in serious corruption and what could amount to the offence of perverting the course of justice. Farrugia also attacked Irvings administration for inaction, saying it had empowered select union wrongdoers and allowed exiled union boss John Setka to maintain influence in the CFMEUs most powerful Victorian faction. Farrugia was appointed by the CFMEU as one of dozens of union delegates on the Big Build in June 2022, having volunteered in union headquarters for months after an injury cut short his 15-year steel-fixing career. But his path to union whistleblower began on a much smaller building site: his own. In 2023, his neighbour, a boxer called Lee Bozic, complained about building works in Farrugias backyard. CFMEU delegate Lee Bozic doing a chin up with former union boss John Setka (right). Facebook In late December, amid rising tensions, Farrugia alleges Bozic stormed onto Farrugias property, attacking him with multiple blows to his face and body as Farrugias two young daughters, aged four and six, watched screaming.

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Next, Farrugias wife Helena was allegedly confronted by Bozic, who declined to respond to questions about the allegations when he was called by this masthead last week. I see Lee attacking him [Charles]. He was throwing punches at him, kicking him, Helena alleged. Then Lee approached me. He went down to my eye level, he grabbed me and said, Youre f---ing next and pushed me to the floor. My little one had wet her pants. She was screaming and crying. She was absolutely petrified. Absolutely terrified. Both of them were. At the time, my youngest was four-and-a-half years old. So, to see her mummy and daddy being bashed in their own backyard, what are you going to do? Farrugia responded with an ugly crime. His father, 76, and his two brothers had arrived shortly after the attack to do landscaping. Instead, they sought revenge, with the four Farrugia men brutally attacking Bozic on his property. Farrugias attack was caught on CCTV. The Age Im not proud of it, and I probably could have gone a different way about it, Farrugia said when pressed about why he chose to break the law rather than go to the police.

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But at the time, the emotions were high, and I knew that he was not going to stop. Farrugia knew something else. Bozic was, like him, a union delegate, albeit with much greater influence: he was a key member of the so-called Croatian faction. The faction is a powerful grouping which, at the time, was headed by union secretary John Setka and the now-sacked CFMEU leader John Perkovic. Related Article Exclusive

Building Bad A house, a hot rod and a bashing: CFMEU sackings heap pressure on Albanese The faction still commands the loyalty of an estimated 120 union delegates. According to Farrugia, after the attack he was summoned to a cafe to meet two of Setkas union subordinates and given an order: If he wanted to keep working on Labor government projects, Farrugia had to agree to stymie the police investigation into the initial alleged bashing and assaults by Bozic that provoked Farrugias revenge attack. The alleged demand, if proven, would involve the serious crime of perverting the course of justice. The union subordinates party to the deal could not be reached for comment and this masthead is not naming them for legal reasons.

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There is no suggestion that Setka, Perkovic or Bozic knew of or directed this allegedly corrupt deal, although it is not the first time the union has been accused of suppressing a violent crime. The bashing in 2020 of two union officials by Albanian developers was also improperly suppressed by the CFMEU, according to a report released last year by administration investigator Geoffrey Watson, SC. CFMEU delegate Lee Bozic (left). Facebook Desperate for work, Farrugia accepted in return for a job on another Allan government Big Build project. I had to shut my mouth, keep quiet, and not tell anyone, and if the police were to get involved to make no comment, he said. Court records confirm that Farrugia refused to assist police, instead pleading guilty in the Victorian Magistrates Court, where he was issued a good behaviour bond and non-conviction. His brothers also pleaded guilty and received the same sentence. Farrugia claims that after agreeing to stay silent he was given a job, but before long was double-crossed by still serving union insiders aligned with the Croatian faction, who implemented an unofficial ban on Farrugia from Big Build projects.

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PoliticsFederalAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor Opinion The stuff of which revolutions are made: why King Charles should evict his brother Jacqueline Maley Columnist and senior journalist October 26, 2025  2:00am

October 26, 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 351 View all comments

You have to understand what Im dealing with here, the (former) Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, told a confidante. Im married to a man who has never been inside a supermarket. This quote, about Fergusons then-husband Prince Andrew, is one of many choice titbits from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, a biography of the Queens second son by Andrew Lownie published in August. The book depicts Andrew as priggish, pompous and stupid, a cossetted man-child who relishes doling out acts of petty cruelty to underlings, such as the time he enticed a woman at a dinner party to sniff a plate of pate to see if it smelled off to her. When she obliged, he pushed it into her face, just for a lark. Prince Andrew: A man who has never been inside a supermarket. AP The most sympathetic complexion put on the princes character is that he is an insecure victim of his circumstances, obsessed with sex because he was sexualised at such a young age (he lost his virginity as a pre-teen to a West End prostitute, according to the book), and so emotionally stunted he is incapable of forming authentic relationships. Unlike people of self-made wealth and privilege, who probably have been in a supermarket at some point in their down-and-out youth, Andrew has lived in a bubble of privilege his whole life.

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Ever since his infancy  his nickname was Baby Grumpling, the book reports  he has had his status reflected to him in a way that could only deform a person. As a little boy, he used to yank on the coat-tails of the footmen of Buckingham Palace. They couldnt tell him to bugger off. Related Article Analysis

Epstein fallout The more we learn about Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein, the worse it gets Much later, in a very different context, the underage girl he is alleged to have abused, three times, as a gift from paedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, also couldnt tell him to bugger off. Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations of Virginia Giuffre, who died by suicide in April. He says he never met her. The widely publicised photograph of the young Giuffre, with Andrews arm wrapped around her slim waist, Epsteins enabler Ghislaine Maxwell grinning in the background, is a fake, he says. Giuffre said Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019, took the photo. In 2022, Giuffre settled a civil lawsuit against Andrew in a Manhattan court for an undisclosed amount and a charitable donation, but the prince made no admissions of guilt.

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Giuffres memoir Nobodys Girl, published posthumously this week, incinerates whatever was left of Andrews reputation. His denials were already thin, and they got thinner when he gave his now-notorious Newsnight interview in 2019. Recently he was exposed in a lie he apparently told during that interview about when he cut off contact with Epstein  an email was leaked in which Andrew expressed solidarity with his paedophile friend and said he hoped they could play some more soon. The denials get even thinner still when set against the detail of Giuffres memoir. Truth is in detail, and there is plenty of detail in Giuffres book. The New York Times reviewer called it the saddest story Ive read in years. Virginia Giuffre in 2022, with a photo of herself as a teenager. Miami Herald via Getty Images The British public mostly love their monarchy, but there has always been an ebb-and-flow between reverence for the royals and resentment of them.

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Andrews alleged sexual misdemeanours are only one genre of his disgrace  he has also been deemed a possible security risk, thanks to the ways he leveraged his job as trade envoy for the United Kingdom to apparently enrich himself, meeting with shady oil sheikhs and even a probable Chinese spy. According to Lownies book, a Foreign Office employee asked to procure women for Andrew during the princes dubious trade envoy stint, objected that he was a diplomat, not a pimp. Acclaimed British historian A. N. Wilson, a monarchist, said the contents of Entitled are the stuff of which revolutions are made. It made me feel I wanted a republic, that book, Wilson said this week. Where are the consequences? This week Andrew continued his denials of wrongdoing, even as he announced he had decided, in consultation with the King, that he will no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me (conferred, of course, by his mummy, the Queen).

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Royal family How King Charles convinced Andrew to give up his titles  and the fundamental fault line that exposed him It sounded grand, as though it was a major concession. But all it meant was he would no longer call himself the Duke of York  which also affects his ex-wife, who has shamelessly monetised her duchess title in numerous and shockingly greedy ways also detailed in Lownies book. Does a dukedom even exist if the title cannot be used? Its a question for philosophers, but there is no question that the former (dormant?) duke still enjoys great material comfort and wealth as a result of his birth. The British parliament usually maintains a deferential silence on the various intersections between the royal family and the state  notably, how much the royals cost the taxpayer. But this week there were efforts led by one ex-Labour MP, and fuelled by public outrage, to officially strip Andrew of his dukedom, something that can be done only through legislation.

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The Liberal Democrats are also calling for a select committee inquiry into the deal that allows Andrew to live rent-free in a 31-room manor on the grounds of the Windsor Estate, with live-in staff. For contrast, Prince William and his wife, Catherine, are soon to move to a small(er) eight-room home with no live-in staff. The chairman of the British parliaments influential public accounts committee, Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, has said he will formally ask the Crown Estate and the Starmer government to provide further information on the lease arrangements for Royal Lodge. Prince Andrew lives at the Royal Lodge, a 30 room mini-mansion near Windsor Castle. The prince paid 1 million to lease Royal Lodge for 75 years, as well as stumping up 7.5 million to refurbish it. The government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is so far resisting calls to allow time in the parliamentary schedule to debate Andrews titles and financial affairs. It is a confounding move. It is difficult to see why the Labour government is providing any kind of political cover for Andrew, or the Crown.

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A YouGov poll conducted in August showed that 67 per cent of British voters backed removing Andrews titles, and that was before the most recent outrages were made public. The British Social Attitudes survey published in September showed that public support for the monarchy was at its lowest since the survey began 40 years ago. Calls for its abolition have started to rise. For many Britons and indeed, for many Australians, the thought of England without the royal family is unthinkable, and even sad. But if the price is putting up with Prince Andrew, not to mention literally putting him up, it might be deemed too steep. World events of the past decade have taught us that no institution is untouchable, and nothing established can be taken for granted. King Charles, a student of history, has sniffed the wind and realises he needs to evict his brother. Negotiations are under way, it has been reported, but Andrew is reluctant to move. One suggestion is that Andrew could live in the modest Frogmore Cottage, which his nephew Prince Harry and his bride, Meghan Markle, deemed too small when they were given it to live in as newlyweds. There would be an elegant symmetry to that.

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Jacqueline Maley is a columnist and author. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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WorldEuropeCrime Two men arrested in Louvre jewel heist case Patrick Begley and Ellen Connolly Updated October 27, 2025  2:56am ,first published October 26, 2025  5:39pm 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

Authorities have arrested two men suspected of taking part in a heist at the Louvre museum in Paris, in which a crew of four criminals made off with crown jewels worth an estimated 88 million ($157 million), according to French media. Le Parisien reported the pair, aged about 30 and from the Seine-Saint-Denis area, were arrested on Saturday evening (Sunday AEDT). Loading The two men, already known for burglaries, appear to be experienced criminals and may have been acting on orders, the newspaper reported. The Paris prosecutors office confirmed the arrests and said one of the men had been preparing to leave for Algeria from Roissy Airport, triggering the need for police to swoop and make the arrest.

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The suspects can be held in custody for up to 96 hours without charge, under French law. Related Article Crime Louvre heist was inside job, detectives believe Prosecutor Laure Beccuau deplored the leak of the initial information to the press, and said it was too early to provide any specific details. This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators, Beccuau said. The spectacular daylight theft, which involved the use of a cherry-picker, power tools and getaway scooters, resulted in the loss of some of the most valuable and historically significant objects in France.

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They included a diamond and emerald necklace and emerald earrings once worn by Empress Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as a brooch that had belonged to the Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. A damaged Eugenie crown was found dropped nearby. View post on X The arrests at the weekend marked a major breakthrough for French investigators, who are racing to locate the stolen jewellery before it is taken apart or melted down. But experts believe the pieces were most likely dismantled soon after the high-profile robbery to avoid detection. As the probe continues, the precise spot where the daylight robbery took place has become a source of much interest among tourists and locals.

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Each day, passersby stop to take selfies of the window that was forced open, while others are even trying to find diamond fragments, Le Parisien reported. The heist prompted the Louvre to close for three days. French President Emmanuel Macron called for stronger security measures to be introduced rapidly. A woman takes a selfie in front of the facade and the window where thieves staged a spectacular daylight heist. AP Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who was personally appointed by Macron, offered her resignation this week but was refused. On Wednesday, des Cars told a senate hearing that the museum had been defeated. There is a weakness at the Louvre and I acknowledge it completely, she said, comparing the Louvre unfavourably with the Musee dOrsay, her previous appointment.

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Related Article Crime Dapper detective? AI hoax? Mystery man triggers speculation after Louvre heist The director has called for a doubling of the number of security cameras, describing long-term problems with the existing coverage. On the Apollo Gallery side of the museum, the sole CCTV camera faces west and did not capture the thieves entry. More than 100 detectives are involved in the investigation and the prosecution office said DNA samples had been found on gloves, angle grinders and a vest left behind by the robbers. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin last week described the robbery as a failure, acknowledging that the heist gives a deplorable image of France.

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Police officers examine a basket crane used by thieves. AP In a post on X on Sunday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez sent his warmest congratulations to the investigators who worked tirelessly as I asked them to and who always had my full confidence. The London Telegraph reported on Saturday that sources close to the investigation believed the looters had received sensitive internal information about the museums security system ahead of the crime. Members of the Paris Holmes Society, one dressed as Sherlock Holmes, play act a theft by the facade and the window where the real robber entered the Louvre. AP A source said: There is digital forensic evidence that shows there was co-operation with one of the museums security guards and the thieves.

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Sensitive information was passed on about the museums security, which is how they were aware of the breach. With AP, Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Union Home Minister, describing him as one of the greatest "luminaries" of modern times, saying that the latter made unparalleled efforts for the nation's unity and integrity. Speaking on the 127th episode of his radio programme Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said, "Sardar Patel was one of the nation's greatest figures in modern times. His towering personality embodied many qualities. He was an exceptionally bright student, excelling in his studies both in India and Britain. He also became one of the most successful lawyers of his time." Ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of 'Iron Man of India', PM Modi remembered Patel's achievements, noting that the nation would remain indebted to him for his invaluable contributions as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. "His tenure as the head of the Ahmedabad Municipality was also historic. He accorded top priority to cleanliness and good governance. We will all be forever indebted to him for his contributions as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister," he said. The Prime Minister apprised the nation of Patel's contribution to the freedom movement, especially the Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 and the Borsad Satyagraha of 1923, which were against the land tax imposed by the British. "Inspired by Gandhiji, Sardar Patel dedicated himself completely to the freedom movement. His contributions to numerous movements, from the Kheda Satyagraha to the Borsad Satyagraha, are still remembered today," PM Modi said. He also reminded the nation of Sardar Patel's contribution in laying a strong foundation for the nation's bureaucratic framework. The PM urged citizens to participate in the Run for Unity being organised across the country to honour Patel on his birth anniversary. "Sardar Patel also laid a strong foundation for India's bureaucratic framework. He made unparalleled efforts for the unity and integrity of the country. I urge all of you to participate in the Run for Unity, being held across the country on October 31, Sardar's birth anniversary," PM Modi said. (ANI)
Ramrup Jagannath, a Mauritius resident, has travelled to Jaipur to look for his Indian roots. Based on the information he possesses and the data collected, he has visited Odisha and Jajpur three times in the past but has returned to Mauritius disappointed each time. However, encouraged by his friends, he has come to Jajpur directly for the fourth time. However, unlike before, he is hopeful now, as the district administration is extending full cooperation in his search. According to records, his ancestors migrated from Jajpur to Mauritius in the year 1870. Ramrup Jagannath belongs to the fifth generation of that lineage. Saroj Kumar Pati, a priest from Jaipur, shared that in 1870, the British took Jagannath's family from Jaspur to Mauritius. His family lived in that country for five generations. The priest further mentioned that a resident of Mauritius had an introductory letter, which he would present whenever he visited Odisha. However, during those visits, he found nothing of significance. When he travelled to India for his grandfather's funeral, a meeting was subsequently arranged to discuss this further. "His name is Ramrup Jagannath, his father's name is Parameshwar Das, Parameshwar's father's name was Sunsundar Das, and his father's name was Satyavadi Das. He is a Brahmin. In 1870, the British took him to Mauritius from a village in Jajpur. That's why he stayed there for five generations. He had an identity card. His village's name was Jaspur. That's why he came to Odisha again and again and searched for Jajpur, but he didn't find anything. This time, he came for his grandfather's funeral, to do Aasti Visarjan. Later, I told the collector and sub-collector of the Kal Birja Mandir. He called a meeting to find his identity card," Pati told ANI. Ramrup Jagannath, while sharing his experiences of tracing his ancestral roots, noted that he visited India in 2012, 2015, and 2019, but nothing significant happened during those trips. Initially hesitant to visit again, he was encouraged by his friends to make a fourth trip to the country. This time, based on an address provided by the British, the administration has been actively working on his case. Discussing the proof of his visit, Jagannath said that the British used to register the details of all the indentured labourers. "My name is Ramroop Jagannath. I am a resident of Mauritius. I have come from Odisha to my ancestors. In 1870, they left Odisha and went to Mauritius. They became Girmitya, i.e. indentured labourers. I have come 3 times before. In 2012, 2015, and 2019. But nothing happened. Every time I was told that we are searching. We will go here and there. We will meet this person and that person. But no one did anything.... I didn't want to come this time. But such people encouraged me. I want to take their names. First is Dr. Subhraj Krusty. Then is my friend Prakash Nayak. And my best friend, who encouraged everyone. He is Rabindranath Tamal." Jagannath told ANI. "He brought everyone together. Then my 4th visit started. The British used to register theen. When you go to any country, there is a registration. The name of the person who went there. The name of the immigrant. The British used to give a number. Which country they used to go to. Their father and mother's name. And which boat they went on. Everything is written there.What is written here? What is the address? Yes, the address is written there, Village, Jagpur. District, Cuttack. There is one additional information. It is called Pragana. That is Mulgaon. This time I can say," he added. Echoing similar sentiments, Subrat Kumar Prusty, Member and Secretary of Odiya Studies in Bhubaneswar, stated that when Jagannath's ancestors left, they had Odisha's language, literature, and culture in mind, and that the district administration is fully cooperating. "I am a member of the search and rescue organisation. See, Ram Roop Jagannath, who is a resident of Mauritius.He has come to Odisha.To find the identity of his ancestors. The document he has got, it is written in it. At that time, the district was cuttack. So when he went at that time.He went only for one thing. But in his mind, he had the language, literature, culture, everything in his mind. And there in Mauritius. He was working in the field of sugarcane. His son, his next generation, was also doing the same work. But his fifth generation, Ram Roop Jagannath, is now in police service in Mauritius....On the basis of that writing. Today, Raghuram has come here. The district administration is fully cooperating. Yesterday we have also got the map of Jaspur village," the temple priest told ANI. Prakash Nayak, the research scholar, mentioned that they are staying in Jaipur for a week to gather information on Jagannath's family, caste, and revenue records. Speakiing to ANI, Nayak said, "My name is Prakash Chandranayak. I am a culture activist and researcher. The Rambabu Jagannath who has just come from Mauritius. For him, where is his root? Where is his family in Odisha? To find all this. We are staying here for a week. We are staying here for a week. The main aim here is to find his family, his caste and the revenue record. We will get that. On the basis of the assurances given by the district administration. We will reach his village...This time in the administration....There is a lot of pressure....All the arrangements have been made.Every day, What we take out. We take review meetings. We hope that, after staying here for 5-7 days. We will get that it." (ANI)
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As many as eight vehicles have been seized from motorists in Mayo this weekend as part of an ongoing operation conducted by Mayo Roads Policing Unit.

The Gardais Bank Holiday Road Safety campaign, which the unit is operating in conjunction with Mayo South Community Engagement Area, is focusing on intoxicated driving (drink and drug), the enforcement of lifesaver offences, the disruption of criminals using the road network and also, increasing the garda presence across the road network.

In a statement on Sunday morning, An Garda Siochana in Mayo confirmed that in the last 24 hours, eight vehicles seized under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act, one motorist was arrested for drink driving after been observed driving on the wrong side of the road while another was arrested for drink driving after been detected for no insurance. Both drivers were over the legal limit.

Meanwhile, a road traffic stop in Castlebar resulted in a quantity of suspected cocaine and cannabis being seized with an estimated value of 8000 pending analysis. A quantity of cash was also seized. Two males were arrested and detained in relation to the seizure. Investigations are ongoing.

A number of fixed charged penalty notices were also issued for exceeding the speed limit, having no NCT, having no L-plates displayed, driving unaccompanied, no novice plates displayed, driving without due care and attention, breaking a red traffic light, no tax and non-conforming number plates.

The Bank Holiday Road Safety campaign involves increased patrols, checkpoints and targeted enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of all road users, and the Mayo Roads Policing Unit is urging all drivers to: slow down, wear your seatbelt, stay off your phone, stay within the speed limit and never drive under the influence of drink or drugs.
Artificial Intelligence and the Assyrian Language

Vienna -- In the hushed world of Assyrian (Syriac) manuscripts, where the faint ink of saints, poets, and scholars still murmurs through the centuries, damage is more than decay; it is silence. A tear in a vellum leaf, a page charred by humidity or neglect, is not simply a technical problem for preservationists. For the Assyrian people, it is the quiet erasure of a cultural heartbeat, a severed line of continuity to the language of Christ and the Assyrian civilization that gave the world its first universities, its first translations of Greek philosophy, and its bridges between East and West.

Now, a new kind of scribe has entered the scriptorium, artificial intelligence.

In a development that once belonged to the realm of science fiction, scholars of the Assyrian Digital Humanities are using generative AI to visually reconstruct damaged or incomplete manuscripts. What was once an illegible stain of ink or a crumbling margin can now be reborn in vivid digital clarity, restored to the shape it might have had before time and turmoil took their toll. This is not mere digital cleaning or enhancement. It is, in a sense, a resurrection.

From Dust to Light

Traditional philologists have always wrestled with the fragility of their sources. Centuries of damp, war, and displacement have reduced countless Assyrian manuscripts to half-ghosts--ink bled through, letters half-eaten by worms, entire passages lost when monasteries were burned or plundered. For decades, restoration meant patient transcription and cautious guesswork. Now, generative AI models can take that transcribed text and reimagine the page as it once appeared.

The method, pioneered in recent projects supported by the Austrian Science Fund (Forderorganisation fur Grundlagenforschung in Osterreich, FWF) and Transkribus, is deceptively simple: feed the AI the full Assyrian text (human-transcribed or produced through HTR--Handwritten Text Recognition), specify the font, layout, and aesthetic, and watch it render a clean, illuminated page in the style of the original manuscript.

In one striking experiment, a damaged page of the Assyrian New Testament from the Austrian National Library (ONB Cod. Syr. 4) was virtually "restored" by AI. The result: a gleaming image of a page long obscured by deterioration, recreated letter by letter, line by line. The scholar behind the project even trained the AI to recognize a subtle but significant liturgical symbol--four dots arranged in a lozenge, the so-called "quadruple-dots mark." This tiny detail, once a headache for restoration, reappeared on the margin precisely where it belonged. But the wonder of this digital resurrection is haunted by a shadow.

The same algorithms that can reconstruct a lost Gospel page can just as easily forge one. A forger armed with AI could, in theory, generate a "newly discovered" Assyrian fragment of the Book of Enoch or an apocryphal Gospel, complete with realistic parchment texture and artificial aging. In the wrong hands, technology meant for preservation could poison the well of scholarship.

This is not alarmism; it is a warning echoed by historians across the globe. The digital humanities community is therefore insisting on one non-negotiable rule: transparency. Every AI-generated manuscript image must be labeled, permanently and clearly, as an "AI Reconstruction." These are not artifacts; they are interpretive visualizations--aids to imagination, not evidence. In other words, AI can help us see the past, but it must never invent it.

The Assyrian Lens

Behind the luminous precision of these reconstructions stands something far more subtle human intelligence. The breakthroughs of Assyrian digital projects rest not only on code and computation but on the depth of linguistic and cultural knowledge possessed by the scholars guiding them.

Reconstructing a Assyrian manuscript demands more than identifying letters. It requires linguistic mastery of Assyrian's diverse scripts; liturgical memory that recalls ancient prayers and formulas; and contextual understanding of centuries of theological and historical development. No machine can yet intuit the rhythm of a Assyrian prayer or recognize the quiet echo of Psalm 91 at the end of an evening service.

As Ephrem Aboud Ishac, a Assyrian scholar and the driving force behind the FWF project "Identifying Scattered Puzzles of Assyrian Liturgical Manuscripts and Fragments" (ISP) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences writes, "Human insight, informed by knowledge and experience, remains crucial for advancing the field of manuscript studies."

A Assyrian himself, Ishac brings both scholarly rigor and ancestral intimacy to his work. His research unites fragments scattered across libraries and monasteries, tracing their shared roots in the liturgical life of the Assyrian churches. By building a digital Assyrian Liturgical Corpus, the ISP project seeks to restore what time, war, and dispersal have torn apart--to bring scattered puzzles together.

Ishac's encounter with a Assyrian fragment in the Turpan Museum in China, a relic of Christianity's ancient journey along the Silk Road, illustrates this perfectly. The fragment's identification was not the triumph of an algorithm but of human memory, the scholar's recognition of a familiar liturgical rhythm, a remembered verse, a connection only the mind and heart could make.

For Assyrian culture, this conversation carries particular depth. The Assyrian language is not merely an academic curiosity--it is the spiritual and linguistic DNA of a people scattered across modern Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and the diaspora. Each manuscript, whether a homily of Mor Jacob of Serugh or a fragment of Bar Salibi's Anaphora, is a surviving member of a civilization that once lit monasteries from Melitene to Nsibin and from Mosul to Beirut.

In this light, AI becomes more than a tool; it becomes a medium of healing. By digitally reuniting fragments dispersed through war, colonization, and the antique trade, scholars are symbolically piecing together a shattered heritage. The "Identifying Scattered Puzzles of Assyrian Liturgy Manuscripts and Fragments" project embodies this mission. In one case, fragments from Holeb (Aleppo) that had been repurposed as the covers of another manuscript were virtually unfolded, flattened, and reconstructed into the full pages they once were.

What emerges is a paradox both poetic and profound, the most ancient language of Christianity now preserved through the most modern technology of the human mind.

Artificial intelligence has not come to replace the scholar or the scribe. It has come, rather, to converse with them, to continue a dialogue between eras. Just as medieval copyists preserved Greek philosophy in Assyrian translation, today's digital scholars are translating Assyrian heritage into the universal language of data.

But technology alone cannot safeguard this inheritance. The real task lies with human intelligence: in ethical vigilance, transparent labeling, and the shared commitment to truth. AI may restore the page, but it is the human scholar who must preserve its soul.

For the Assyrian these glowing screens of reconstructed parchment are not simply digital art; they are acts of remembrance. Each re-created word, each restored margin, is a quiet defiance of oblivion.

And so, in the dim light of a computer screen somewhere in Vienna or Holeb (Aleppo), the ghostly letters of a lost Gospel flicker once again, neither fully ancient nor fully new, but suspended in the living present. A 21st-century scribe of silicon and code bends toward the past, and the past, miraculously, answers back.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday extended his greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, describing the festival as a reflection of the "deep unity" between culture, nature, and society. He noted that devotees from all sections of society come together at ghats, which he called the "most beautiful" example of India's social harmony. In the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi said, "All of us celebrated Diwali a few days ago, and now a large number of people are busy with Chhath Puja. Thekuas are being made at homes. Ghats are being decorated. The way women devotees prepare for the Chhath is an inspiration. Mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats. This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity." The Prime Minister also urged people to participate in Chhath Puja festivities, stating, "Wherever you are in the world, if you have a chance, try to participate in Chhath Puja. I bow down to Chhathi Maiya. I extend my greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Chhath, especially to the people of Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal." PM Modi further said that he has received warm messages from the people in response to his letter to the country written on October 21. He said that Operation Sindoor has really filled Indian with pride and mentioned that this time Diwali was celebrated in areas that were once covered under the darkness of "Maoist terrorism." "On this occasion of festivals, I had written a letter to all of you sharing my feelings. In the letter, I mentioned the achievements of the country that have made this year's festivals even more vibrant. In response to my letter, I have received messages from many citizens of the country," he said. "Operation Sindoor has filled every Indian with pride. This time around, lamps of joy were lit even in those areas where the darkness of Maoist terror once prevailed. People want the complete eradication of the Maoist terror that had jeopardised the future of their children," the PM added. Prime Minister Modi noted that during the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bachat Utsav, there was an increase in purchases of Swadeshi goods. In the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi stated, "There is also a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was observed during the festivals. The purchase of Swadeshi goods in the markets has increased tremendously. In my letter, I had also urged for a 10% reduction in the consumption of edible oil, and people have displayed a very positive response to this as well." Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday raised concern about India's air quality crisis and termed the pollution a "full-blown assault on our brains and bodies", highlighting alarming statistics that reveal its devastating impact on public health. In a post on X, Ramesh said, "India's air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue. It's now a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies. In 2023, approx. 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution--a 43 per cent jump since 2000. Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and now even dementia." He added, "India records around 186 air-pollution deaths per 100,000 people, over 10 times the rate in high-income countries (17/100,000)." The Congress leader also pointed out that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked to brain damage and accelerated cognitive decline, with globally around 6,26,000 dementia deaths in 2023 tied to air pollution. Despite the launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2017, Ramesh claimed PM2.5 levels have continued to rise, and "shockingly, now every single person in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels far exceed the WHO guidelines." "Our present standard for PM2.5 is eight times the WHO guideline for annual exposure and four times the guideline for 24-hour exposure. Despite the launch of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 2017, PM2.5 levels have continued to rise, and shockingly, now every single person in India lives in areas where PM2.5 levels far exceed the WHO guidelines. We need to radically revise the NCAP and also urgently update the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that were last promulgated after a careful exercise in November 2009," a Congress leader claimed in his X post, quoting the link of the State of Global Air Report 2025. Meanwhile, as Delhi continues to grapple with deteriorating air quality, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said that cloud seeding has become a necessity for the national capital and termed it a pioneering step in addressing the city's persistent environmental crisis. Speaking to ANI, Rekha Gupta said, "Cloud seeding is a necessity for Delhi and is the first experiment of its kind. We want to try it in Delhi to see if it can help us control this very serious environmental problem." She added, "So the blessings of the people of Delhi are with the government, and we feel that this will be a successful experiment, and in future, we will be able to overcome these environmental problems." (ANI)
A British soldier, publicly known only as Soldier F, has been found not guilty of the murder of two innocent men and the attempted murder of five more during the British Armys Bloody Sunday massacre at a civil rights demonstration in Derry, Northern Ireland, on January 30, 1972.

13 people were shot dead, another died later. 15 more, at least, were wounded.

Father Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he escorts a mortally-wounded protester to safety during the events of Bloody Sunday (1972) in Derry, Northern Ireland. [Photo: BBC journalist John Bierman]

The shootings came three years after the British Labour government launched Operation Banner in 1969 to prop up the Northern Ireland statelet, part of the UK, in the face of mass opposition to anti-Catholic discrimination, Loyalist reaction, and intensifying class struggle across partitioned Ireland. The civil rights movement emerged as part of a worldwide wave of protests, strikes and revolutionary struggles. Ultimately, some 300,000 British troops served in the operation, which lasted officially until 2007.

The January 30, 1972, demonstration was a protest against the mass arrest and internment of civilians suspected, without evidence, of involvement in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Launched the previous August, the operation saw 342 people arrested initially and dragged off to camps and prisons. Internment lasted until December 1975, by which time 1,981 people had been seized, many tortured and brutalised.

Of these, 1,874 were Catholics or republicans and only 107 Protestants or Loyalists.

The January 30 protest had been billed as peaceful by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association organisers who laid special emphasis on the necessity for a peaceful incident-free day. This followed a demonstration the previous week when protestors were assaulted, shot with rubber bullets and attacked with CS gas.

The British government had, however, authorised an attack on the march, with its Belfast Joint Security Committee seeking to prepare public opinion... for violent scenes on TV, noting that their operation might well develop into rioting and even a shooting war.

General Robert Ford, Commander of Land Forces in Northern Ireland had drawn up proposals for local youth challenging armed soldiers and armoured cars with stones and petrol bombs to be shot, with the then Conservative government of Prime Minister Edward Heath having previously asked for all options to be considered.

There have been two public inquiriesone, the Saville Inquiry, lasted 12 yearsplus countless reviews of the events of the day and a protracted campaign by relatives and supporters of those shot and killed or wounded. 53 years later, Soldier F, now in his 70s, became the only member of the military involved in the massacre to actually face trial.

The primary evidence presented were statements made in 1972 from Soldiers G and Hlike Soldier F, members of the Parachute Regiment. Both gave their statements to the Royal Military Police the day after the shootings and to the Widgery Tribunal whitewash, which reported in April 1972.

Soldier G has since died, while Soldier H refused to give evidence for fear of incriminating himself.

Soldier Gs statement claimed at the time that he fired at a number of gunmen. In later statements he said he hit two of those he claimed were shooting at him. Soldier G confirmed that Soldier F had been shooting at the same targets as well as at another individual.

Soldier H claimed he shot at youths in possession of nail bombs. His 1972 statement continued, I cocked my rifle, took aim at the youth in the middle of the group and fired two rounds at the centre of the stomach. He said that the other soldiers had fired rounds at the other persons and all three youths fell to the ground.

Those killed by the army in Derry were, until 1992, routinely and falsely accused by the British government of being IRA members until Tory Party Prime Minister John Major was forced to concede that they were neither armed nor in the republican organisation.

It was only after the publication of the Saville Inquirys extensive report in 2010 that another Tory Prime Minister, David Cameron, allowed an expression of official regret for the unjustified and unjustifiable murders on the day. Even then, in what remains the official line, Cameron insisted that the shootings took place because of soldiers losing their self-control.

Saville also noted of the evidence given by soldiers: We have concluded that none of them fired in response to attacks or threatened attacks by nail or petrol bombers. No one threw or threatened to throw a nail or petrol bomb at the soldiers on Bloody Sunday.

Saville attacked the credibility of the soldiers accounts as being materially undermined since all bar one responsible for casualties insisted that they had shot at gunmen or bombers, which they had not.

He continued, Many of these soldiers have knowingly put forward false accounts in order to seek to justify their firing.

In 2003, Soldier F himself told the Saville Inquiry that he had shot four people but insisted they were all petrol bombers or had a weapon and that he was operating within the armys yellow card rules of engagement in force at the time. Under the rules of the inquiry, however, Soldier F was and is immune from prosecution arising from self-incrimination.

The only evidence being presented at Belfast Crown Court identifying Soldier F as having fired a weapon at all on January 30 were statements from Soldiers G and H that were already known to be a pack of lies.

The prosecution case rested entirely on these hearsay statements being accepted as consistent with regard at least to Soldier F having shot at people. They were only accepted as admissible by the single judge hearing the case last month, without which the trial could not have taken place at all.

Soldier Fs defence pointed to inconsistencies between the statements, noting, for example, that Soldier G said he and Soldier F fired together, yet civilian witnesses noticed only one soldier firing. The judge noted during the trial, On my calculation, there are eight witnesses who identify one soldier firing but dont talk about a second soldier firing.

Soldier Hs statement claims he spotted a sniper behind a pane of frosted glass and fired 19 shots at the window. This was disputed at the Saville Inquiry and the court heard this may relate to another incident entirely.

Soldier F, a lance corporal in 1972, gave a prepared statement claiming he was sure he properly discharged his duties as a soldier that day and no longer had any reliable recollections of those events. He would therefore not be answering any questions put to me. He spent the entire trial protected from public view by a curtain.

In his verdict, Judge Patrick Lynch concluded that a number of soldiers, members of the Parachute Regiment, entered Glenfada Park North and immediately, or almost immediately, opened fire with high velocity weapons at unarmed civilians at a distance of 50 metres or less.

The Bogside in 1981, overlooking the area where many of the victims were shot. On the right of the picture is the south side of Rossville Flats, and in the middle distance is Glenfada Park. [Photo by Louise Price / CC BY-SA 2.0

But Lynch described the key 1972 statements as originating from two witnesses who are themselves, on the basis of the Crown case, guilty of murder as, in essence, accomplices with a motivation to name F as a participant in their murderous activities.

Lynch rejected a joint enterprise accusation, stating baldly, after having cited many precedents that could, on the face of it, apply, I hold that there is nothing to suggest that F and colleagues had any such wide-ranging [murder] plan.

Of course, any serious investigation of joint enterprise would lead inevitably to 10 Downing Street, the then Ulster authorities and the heads of the British Army.

No one following the circumstances leading to the case against Soldier F and the trial itself would be surprised at him leaving the court a free man. But the lessons for today are clear.

Bloody Sunday took place in front of TV cameras and was directed against protestors who were Irish and British citizens. In ensuring that Soldier F got the required verdict, the British authorities and the imperialist bourgeoisie they representfacing escalating class tensions and deepening opposition to savage austerity, the attack on democratic rights and genocidal militarismare effectively stating, We did this in 1972. We did it with impunity. And we will not hesitate to do it again.
Extending greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that Chhath is a reflection of the "deep unity" between culture, nature, and society and every section of society comes together at ghats which he described as the "most beautiful" example of India's social unity. In the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Modi said, "All of us celebrated Diwali a few days ago, and now a large number of people are busy with Chhath Puja. Thekuas are being made at homes. Ghats are being decorated. The way women devotees prepare for the Chhath is an inspiration. Mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats. This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity." The Prime Minister also urged people to participate in Chhath Puja festivities, stating, "Wherever you are in the world, if you have a chance, try to participate in Chhath Puja. I bow down to Chhathi Maiya. I extend my greetings to the countrymen on the occasion of Chhath, especially to the people of Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal." PM Modi further said that he has received warm messages from the people in response to his letter to the country written on October 21. He said that Operation Sindoor has really filled Indian with pride and mentioned that this time Diwali was celebrated in areas that were once covered under the darkness of "Maoist terrorism." "On this occasion of festivals, I had written a letter to all of you sharing my feelings. In the letter, I mentioned the achievements of the country that have made this year's festivals even more vibrant. In response to my letter, I have received messages from many citizens of the country," he said. "Operation Sindoor has filled every Indian with pride. This time around, lamps of joy were lit even in those areas where the darkness of Maoist terror once prevailed. People want the complete eradication of the Maoist terror that had jeopardised the future of their children," the PM added. Prime Minister Modi noted that during the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Bachat Utsav, there was an increase in purchases of Swadeshi goods. In the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi stated, "There is also a lot of enthusiasm among people regarding the GST Bachat Utsav. This time, something equally pleasant was observed during the festivals. The purchase of Swadeshi goods in the markets has increased tremendously. In my letter, I had also urged for a 10% reduction in the consumption of edible oil, and people have displayed a very positive response to this as well." Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
Officers of Delhi Customs have seized 170 grams of gold from an Indian passenger arriving from Dubai at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. According to officials, the passenger was discreetly monitored from the flight gate and intercepted while attempting to exit through the green channel, typically meant for travellers with no dutiable goods. During X-ray screening of his baggage, officers noticed suspicious images, prompting a detailed inspection. On examination, a gold round weighing 170 grams was found ingeniously concealed under the cap of a plastic bottle. The gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation into the matter is currently underway. "Delhi Customs at IGI Airport seized 170 grams of gold from an Indian passenger who arrived from Dubai on flight AI-996 dated October 25, 2025. The passenger was discreetly followed from the flight gate and intercepted while attempting to exit through the green channel. During the X-ray screening of his baggage, officers noticed suspicious images. Upon detailed examination, a gold round was ingeniously concealed under the cap of a plastic bottle. The recovered gold, weighing 170 grams, was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. Further investigation into the matter is underway," said Delhi Customs. Earlier on October 22, the Customs officers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai apprehended three passengers and seized a large quantity of narcotics in two separate cases during the duty of October 20-21, said the agency. The first case, based on specific intel, led to the interception of two passengers who arrived from Hong Kong on flight CX-663. Upon examination of their checked-in trolley bag, customs officials recovered 7.864 kg of suspected hydroponic weed (Marijuana). The illicit substance has an estimated market value of approximately Rs 7.86 crore. Both individuals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, said the Customs in a press note. In the second case, also stemming from specific intel, officers intercepted one passenger arriving from Bangkok on flight 6E-1052. A search of the passenger's checked-in trolley bag led to the discovery of 11.922 kg of suspected Hydroponic Weed, with an illicit market value of approximately 11.922 crores. The passenger was subsequently arrested under the NDPS Act. The combined haul from the two interceptions amounts to 19.786 kg of suspected hydroponic weed, with a total estimated value of 19.786 crores. All the narcotic substances were concealed within the passengers' checked-in luggage. The Mumbai Customs Zone-III has confirmed the arrests, and the cases are under further investigation in accordance with the provisions of the NDPS Act. (ANI)
NEED TO KNOW

A pageant contestant has gone viral after she mistakenly believed she was named a finalist at the Miss Grand International competition on Saturday, Oct. 18 in Bangkok

In footage from the event, Miss Panama Isamar Herrera can be seen celebrating and walking up toward the other finalists, despite the fact that the emcee said Miss Paraguay Cecilia Romero

Per her recent Instagram activity, Herrera seems to be taking the widespread attention in stride

An awkward moment at an international pageant has gone viral after one contestant mistakenly believed she was named a finalist.

The Miss Grand International competition was hosted in Bangkok on Saturday, Oct. 18, and finalists were named about midway through the event. Host Matthew Deane called out each successful contestant by their title; however, Miss Panama Isamar Herrera appeared to mishear her own country being called over the speaker.

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Despite the emcee naming Miss Paraguay Cecilia Romero as one of the women who made the cut, Herrera could be seen shaking her fists and clapping as she walked to the center of the stage. She smiled broadly before proceeding down the catwalk to stand with the other finalists.

Isamar Herrera/Instagram Miss Panama Isamar Herrera. Miss Panama Isamar Herrera.

After a prolonged pause, during which Herrera held her pose, Deane corrected the confusion and said, "Uh, I beg your pardon. I announced Miss Grand Paraguay."

In a possible attempt to explain the situation, he added, "There is a lot of noise in this hall packed full with fans from all over the world." Meanwhile, the Panama representative walked back to the larger group as Paraguay's Romero took her place amongst the other finalists.

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.

Despite her widely viewed slip-up, Herrera has seemingly taken the attention in good humor. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, she reposted a screen-recording of the moment's widespread media coverage on her Instagram Stories, adding giggling emojis.

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She also reshared a post with a quote that read, "The fact that you're handling things better than before is already a huge step forward. Give yourself credit. Life is evolution, not perfection."

While she didn't explicitly connect the sentiment with her on-stage blunder, she wrote in overlaying text, "I love how things take their course beautifully effortlessly and in the end it all turns out better than I imagined."



Read the original article on People
President Trump touched down in Malaysia Saturday for the first leg of his trip to Asia  and his first order of business was showing off his dance moves to the locals!

After a 23-hour flight aboard Air Force One, Trump landed in Kuala Lumpur and stepped off the plane onto a red carpet to be greeted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and a welcoming band.

In classic Trump fashion, the prez pumped his fists and sashayed his hips, prompting Ibrahim and the others to follow suit. Everyone, as you can see from the video, was in great spirits.

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And Trump knows how to strike a pose. Back on the campaign trail ... he would do the same dance to his favorite songs, most notably Y.M.C.A. by The Village People.

Now, Trump is doing dancing diplomacy in Malaysia. Then it's on to Tokyo, where Trump will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Trump will then fly to South Korea for a sit-down with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Donald Trump's Dance Moves - Click image to open gallery

Trump may even get together with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un for a little chat at the Demilitarized Zone, marking the end of his 5-day trip through Asia. But we'll have to see if the Commander-in-Chief can fit Kim into his dance schedule.
The Miss USA 2025 pageant was held in Reno, Nevada, on Friday night. Miss Nebraska won the crown.

I attended the finals for both Miss USA and Miss Teen USA.

There were surprise scholarships, history-making contestants, and a sweet moment with the winner's dad.

If you woke up on Saturday to the news that a new Miss USA had been crowned the night before and wondered how you missed it, don't worry  I have all the details.

The 2025 pageant wasn't televised this year due to leadership turmoil behind the scenes, which left new CEO Thom Brodeur to plan the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competitions in just a few weeks. Instead, it was available to stream online through the Queen Beauty Network.

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I went to the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, to catch both pageants live. There were sparkles, there were tears, there was a very excited dad running to the stage after his daughter was crowned Miss USA, and a lot of history was made.

Here's everything you missed at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.

Reality TV star Taylor Hale made a Steve Harvey joke while hosting the Miss Teen USA pageant.

Taylor Hale hosting the Miss Teen USA pageant. RezaMedia Nation

I was in the audience at the Miss Teen USA finals on Thursday night. The competition was hosted by Hale, who won "Big Brother" shortly after competing at Miss USA 2021.

Before reading out the top 20, Hale took a moment to organize the cards that held the results.

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"I'm not trying to do a Steve Harvey today, give me a second," she quipped as the audience burst out laughing.

Harvey famously announced the wrong name at the Miss Universe 2015 pageant, first announcing Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner before revealing it was actually Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach who had won the crown.

All 51 Miss Teen USA contestants were offered a full four-year scholarship.

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Hale announced an extensive prize package for the new Miss Teen USA, which included a feature in Teen Vogue, a paid modeling contract, a part in a feature film, and $25,000 in cold hard cash.

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But Hale also had a surprise for the Miss Teen USA contestants. For the first time in its history, the pageant was offering a scholarship prize. All 51 Miss Teen USA contestants were offered a full four-year scholarship to Mississippi State, which Miss Teen USA 2024 Addie Carver currently attends.

Miss Teen USA 2025 winner Mailyn Marsh, who represented Missouri, told me on Friday night that she plans to take the scholarship.

"I'm really passionate about education, so the opportunity to go to Mississippi State on a full ride is incredible," Marsh said. "I don't think I've shut up about it since I found out."

The mothers of Miss Minnesota Teen and Miss Missouri Teen held hands before the winner was announced.

Miss Missouri Teen and Miss Minnesota Teen hold hands before the winner of Miss Teen USA is announced. RezaMedia Nation

I was sitting across the aisle from the mothers of Marsh and Miss Minnesota Teen Maisie Adams, who were in the top two. The mothers held back tears and grasped hands across their row as they waited to hear which of their daughters would be named the next Miss Teen USA.

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I asked Marsh if the mothers had known each other beforehand, and she said they hadn't met until the competition.

"It just speaks volumes to the sisterhood that Miss USA has and the impact and friendships made," she said.

Four of the top 20 from Miss USA were selected from an open casting call.

Finalists at the 2025 Miss USA competition. RezaMedia Nation

Multiple state directors resigned or left the organization while Laylah Rose was in charge of Miss USA, but they were never replaced. That meant eight states could not hold pageants to crown their 2025 titleholders.

In September, Brodeur announced that the organization was holding its first-ever open casting call to fill the eight missing states. He announced the winners on September 29.

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Although they only had three weeks to prepare, four contestants from the Miss USA open casting call placed in the top 20: Miss Idaho Jenny Crawford, Miss New Hampshire MonaLesa Brackett, Miss Oregon Chantea McIntyre, and Miss Vermont Victoria Chuah.

McIntyre also placed in the top five and was named second runner-up.

This year's top 20 were asked "personality questions," which was a hit with the audience.

Miss USA host Emmanuel Acho asks Miss Nebraska her personality question during Miss USA 2025. RezaMedia Nation

Both Miss Teen USA and Miss USA adopted a previous feature of the Miss Universe competition, where the hosts ask each of the top 20 contestants a question after calling their name.

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The questions during Miss USA and Miss Teen USA came from a list of fun facts the women provided before the show and were meant to showcase their personalities.

These brought out some great moments, like Miss Idaho Jenny Crawford shocking the audience when she revealed she had never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and Miss Texas Taylor Davis revealing she was addicted to WWE as a kid. The audience also loved when Miss New Jersey Ivy Harrington ended her story about eating an entire pizza with a quote from her mother: "That girl can eat."

I thought this was a great change from Miss USA's format in the past two years, where finalists didn't speak onstage until the final question round. I felt like I got to know the women right away.

The Miss USA contestants who didn't place were given far more stage time than in years past.

RezaMedia Nation

The contestants who didn't make it to the top 20 were still given a chance to walk in their swimsuits and evening gowns before the finalists appeared. They also got a standing ovation after the top 20 was announced, something I can't recall seeing at past pageants I've attended.

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A lot of time and money go into competing for Miss USA, so I thought it was a sweet touch that this year's pageant tried to give all the contestants some extra time in the spotlight.

Multiple Miss USA 2025 finalists made history.

Miss Nevada and Miss New Hampshire during the Miss USA preliminary competition. Courtesy of Mara Martin

This was the first year that Miss USA had a top 20 with women over the age of 28 since they became eligible to compete in 2024.

Miss Oregon Chantea McIntyre and Miss Idaho Jenny Crawford were also the first mothers to place in the competition.

Miss New Hampshire MonaLesa Brackett was the first woman to compete in a hijab and burkini during the pageant, while fourth runner-up Miss Nevada Mary Sickler became the first woman with a public alopecia diagnosis to make it to the Miss USA stage.

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This year's Miss USA featured a brand-new prize package.

RezaNation Media

Hosts Olivia Jordan and Emmanuel Acho announced that this year's prizes for the winner of Miss USA included a paid modeling contract with designer Johnathan Kayne, appearances at Cannes Film Festival and various red carpet events, $75,000 in cash, and a brand-new Jaguar car.

They valued the total prize package at over $250,000.

The pageant paid tribute to Miss USA 2024 Alma Cooper, although she declined to attend.

Brooklyn Duo playing a tribute for Alma Cooper at Miss USA 2025. RezaMedia Nation

It's tradition for the reigning Miss USA to crown her successor and take her final walk, but Cooper announced via Instagram on Friday that she would not be attending the pageant. Instead, Miss USA 2025 winner Audrey Eckert was crowned by the current Miss Universe, Victoria Kjr Theilvig.

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Cooper's name is mentioned in an ongoing lawsuit between JKN Universe, the company owned by Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip , and former Miss USA CEO Laylah Rose's company, VVV Global Ent. JKN alleged that VVV did not pay Cooper her $100,000 Miss USA salary.

"As I close this chapter, I do so with the knowledge that I finished what I started with integrity and my self-worth held high, just like the crown I was honored to wear," Cooper wrote in her statement.

The Miss USA pageant honored Cooper's reign onstage with a performance from the Brooklyn Duo. They played an instrumental version of "Shallow" while a slideshow of pictures from Cooper's time as Miss USA played in the background.

The Miss Congeniality award was renamed after the late Miss USA Chelsi Smith.

Miss Universe 1995 Chelsi Smith. PHILIP LITTLETON/AFP via Getty Images

Chelsi Smith won Miss USA and Miss Universe in 1995. She died from liver cancer at the age of 45 in 2018.

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During the 2025 pageant, host Olivia Jordan  a former Miss USA herself  said Smith had won the Miss Congeniality award for "nearly every single pageant she competed in," including Miss Texas and Miss USA.

Miss Delaware Tetra Shockley won this year's Miss Congeniality award. The 44-year-old also made history as the oldest woman to compete at Miss USA.

When Miss Nebraska won the crown, her dad sprinted to the stage.

Miss Nebraska's dad celebrating after she won Miss USA. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

As confetti filled the theater, I spotted Eckert's dad running to the stage. He fist-pumped the air in victory while yelling, "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"

When I told Eckert about the moment later that night, she laughed and said her dad had done the same thing when she won the Miss Nebraska state pageant.

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After the contestants rushed in to hug Eckert, they broke into an impromptu chant of "USA! USA! USA!"

Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Spirits were high as the contestants hung out onstage after the crowning, catching up with their families and posing for pictures.

Eckert's family chanted "Big Red!"  for the University of Nebraska, Eckert's alma mater  as they walked toward the stage to greet her.

I later overheard them excitedly say, "We're going to Thailand!"  where Eckert will represent the USA at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant  and discuss tips on expediting their passports.

I also spotted many happy tears, although one pageant queen tried to hold them back.

"I can't cry," she told her family. "This makeup is too expensive."

Read the original article on Business Insider
This article contains discussions of addiction and mental health.

Based on Ruth Ware's bestselling novel of the same name, the Netflix original movie "The Woman in Cabin 10" stars Keira Knightley as Lauren "Lo" Blacklock, a journalist who boards a luxury cruise ship for an important article. Invited by the wealthy Richard Bullmer (Guy Pearce) and his even wealthier wife Anne (Lisa Loven Kongsli), Lo is prepared to enjoy herself aboard the beautiful oceanliner ... but when she hears a noise that definitely sounds like a woman being thrown overboard, Lo is terrified. Making everything even more frightening, Lo is sure that the woman she heard in the struggle was the woman she met in cabin number 10, but according to the staff, there's nobody staying in cabin 10 aboard the Aurora. Not only do Lo's fellow passengers not believe her, but eventually, she starts to suspect that Richard and Anne know more than they'll reveal.

Without spoiling the exciting conclusion of "The Woman in Cabin 10" here, suffice to say that the film centers around one basic throughline: a woman whom nobody trusts is gaslit within an inch of her life and tricked into believing that what she sees and hears is a lie, only for the narrative to ultimately reveal that the woman was unjustly tricked and there's something deeply sinister going on just underneath the surface. Once you've finished watching "The Woman in Cabin 10," what should you try next? We have a few options, all of which feature deeply complicated and often conflicted protagonists who need to figure out a mystery and are frequently misled along the way.

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Read more: Actors You May Not Know Are Dead

Rear Window

Lisa looking shocked and Jeff looking through binoculars in Jeff's apartment in Rear Window - Paramount Pictures

When it comes to "gaslighting"  a term that, as a reminder, refers to when you manipulate a person mentally to attempt to alter their sense of reality  there are few movies that better represent this phenomenon than Alfred Hitchcock's beloved classic "Rear Window." Released in 1954 and based on Cornell Woolrich's short story "It Had to Be Murder" (and adapted for the screen by writer John Michael Hayes), "Rear Window" stars James "Jimmy" Stewart as L.B. "Jeff" Jefferies, a photojournalist who's temporarily trapped in his New York City apartment thanks to an injury that's left him in a cast covering most of his lower body. Luckily for Jeff, his window looks out on the courtyard of his apartment building and into several neighboring windows, allowing the journalist to, for lack of a better word, openly spy on his neighbors. Though most of them are simply amusing, Jeff is deeply unsettled and startled one night when his neighbor Lars Thornwald (Raymond Burr), who frequently argues with his bedridden wife, makes a racket and then carries a large metal case out of his home a whole bunch of times.

Naturally, Jeff is suspicious that Lars murdered his wife, and with the reluctant support of his model girlfriend Lisa Fremont (an absolutely stunning Grace Kelly), he starts investigating on his own. "Rear Window" is undoubtedly one of the most famous thriller movies in the genre, so if you just finished "The Woman in Cabin 10" and want to go back to basics, try this universally acclaimed film.

Gone Girl

Amy leaning her head to look at Nick in Gone Girl - 20th Century Fox

A lot of "The Woman in Cabin 10" hinges on a secret ruse, mistaken identities, and tricking people to accomplish a nefarious goal  which makes it pretty similar to "Gone Girl," David Fincher's 2014 adaptation of Gillian Flynn's blockbuster 2012 novel. On the morning of his fifth anniversary with his wife Amy Elliott-Dunne (Rosamund Pike), nice Midwestern boy turned bar owner Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) arrives home from said bar to discover his house seemingly ransacked and his wife gone. As Nick, his sister Margo (Carrie Coon), and the local authorities  namely, detective Rhonda Boney and her officer cohort James Gilpin, played respectively by Kim Dickens and Patrick Fugit  try to figure out what happened to Amy, all signs point to Nick as the guilty party, even though the audience knows he didn't do it. So what happened here?!

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It all comes back to Amy, a singular and terrifying mastermind  whom some would undoubtedly diagnose as a sociopath  who discovers that her husband is cheating on her with one of his creative writing students, Andie Fitzgerald (Emily Ratajkowski)  and decides to plot her revenge. Without spoiling either "Gone Girl" or "The Woman in Cabin 10," we'll just say that sometimes, the proverbial call is coming from inside the proverbial house ... and you should look at the people around you and try and figure out if they're lying or telling the truth. (One note: Flynn's book is also incredible, and you should seek it out if you're an avid reader.)

The Invisible Man

Cecelia leaning forward and talking to someone in The Invisible Man - Universal Pictures

A horror classic that, like "Rear Window," belongs in the cinematic gaslighting hall of fame, 2020's reboot of "The Invisible Man" wisely casts powerhouse performer Elisabeth Moss as a woman who's experiencing terrifying and traumatic events ... but nobody believes her. In Leigh Whannell's take on this horror staple, Cecelia Kass (Moss) can't escape a physically abusive relationship with tech CEO Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) but ultimately manages to drug him and get out of his highly protected compound with the help of her sister Emily (Harriet Dyer). When horrifying things start happening  including the murder of her loved ones  Cecelia realizes that Adrian might be using some of his highly advanced technology to stalk her and can't be talked out of this seemingly far-fetched idea, particularly because whoever is causing this events is invisible (so Cecelia always gets blamed). As she tries to uncover the truth, Cecelia puts herself in mortal danger ... and ends up facing off against Adrian one last time.

"The Invisible Man" is genuinely scarier  quite a bit scarier than "The Woman in Cabin 10," to be very frank  than most of the other films on this list, but if you're feeling particularly brave, you won't want to miss out on this one. Grab a cozy blanket, get ready to be freaked out, and queue up "The Invisible Man" if you're a fan of "The Woman in Cabin 10."

The Girl on the Train

Rachel looking suspiciously out of the train window in The Girl on the Train - Universal Pictures

After "Gone Girl" became an unqualified literary and cinematic success story, there were a lot of copycats  some good and some bad. Thankfully, "The Girl on the Train" is a pretty worthy entry into this super-specific niche of dark thrillers featuring an unreliable female narrator. In the movie adaptation of Paula Hawkins' book directed by Tate Taylor and written by Erin Cressida Wilson, we meet our troubled protagonist Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt), a recovering alcoholic who was let go from her job but still rides a commuter train in and out of New York City to fill her empty days. During her journeys, she becomes obsessed with a young beautiful couple whose house is visible from the train  Scott and Megan Hipwell, played by Luke Evans and Haley Bennett  but when Megan goes missing after Rachel has an accident leaving the train, she becomes convinced that Megan was murdered and will stop at nothing to prove it. To make Rachel appear even less reliable, we learn that she's also been lightly stalking her ex-husband Tom Watson (Justin Theroux) and his new wife Anna Watson (Rebecca Ferguson), who have a baby together ... devastating Rachel, who suffered from constant fertility issues during her marriage to Tom.

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The conclusion of "The Girl on the Train" is genuinely shocking, and the build-up to get there is actually quite fun  Blunt's performance can be a little overwrought, but all things considered, she's good as the increasingly desperate Rachel. If you want to see where novels and movies like "The Woman in Cabin 10" got their inspiration, look no further than projects like "The Girl on the Train."

The Weekend Away

Beth on the phone walking alone in Croatia in The Weekend Away - Netflix

Years after playing queen bee Blair Waldorf on "Gossip Girl," Leighton Meester joined forces with Netflix for the thriller movie "The Weekend Away," based on the title of the same name by Sarah Alderson and directed by Kim Farrant (with Alderson penning the screenplay). After having a baby, Beth (Meester), an American who lives in London with her husband Rob (Luke Norris) and decides to go on a vacation to Croatia with her best friend Kate (Christina Wolfe), especially because  as she admits to Kate during the trip  her marriage to Rob isn't in a great place. The two go out for a wild night together, but when Beth wakes up in the morning with only a fuzzy recollection of the night before only to find Kate missing, she understandably starts to worry.

Rob arrives in Croatia but doesn't seem to take Beth's concerns seriously  in fact, the police don't either, and the only person who does listen to her is Zain (Ziad Bakri), the taxi driver who took them to the club the night before  and so Beth is left to try and solve this mystery alone, even as evidence arises that there might be something going on between Rob and Kate. "The Weekend Away" is a tightly plotted thriller anchored by Meester's excellent central performance, and as a bonus, it's a short little movie at just 89 minutes long (if you're the kind of person who longs for a movie under 90 minutes).

The Woman in the Window

Anna peering out of the window in The Woman in the Window - Netflix

Let's not mince words here: Joe Wright's 2021 adaptation "The Woman in the Window" isn't a perfect movie. Far from it, actually  and this is almost certainly the movie that ended up spawning spoofs like Netflix's patently absurd "The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window." Still, if you love literary adaptations centered around women that nobody wants to believe  like "The Woman in Cabin 10"  you'll want to check out "The Woman in the Window." Adapted from A.J. Finn's runaway hit thriller of the same name, Wright's movie centers around child psychologist Anna Fox (Amy Adams), an agoraphobe who spends all of her time in her massive Brooklyn townhouse separated from her husband and young daughter.

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Bored and alone, Anna spends quite a lot of time watching her neighbors out of her windows, including the new family in the neighborhood, the Russells  made up of patriarch Alistair (Gary Oldman), his wife Jane (Jennifer Jason Leigh), and their son Ethan (Fred Hechinger). After meeting Jane and Ethan and hearing horror stories about Alistair, Anna grows increasingly suspicious of him after she believes she sees him stabbing Jane to death ... only for a "new" Jane to appear in her place (played by Julianne Moore). Nobody believes Anna, but she feels determined to figure out what happened to "Jane," even as she grapples with her own demons. "The Woman in the Window" can veer into the absurd, but it pairs perfectly with "The Woman in Cabin 10."

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Jake and the Young Woman looking confused at the dinner table in I'm Thinking of Ending Things - Netflix

Based on Iain Reid's 2016 novel of the same name, Charlie Kaufman's audacious and wonderfully bizarre 2020 film "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" doesn't just feature a somewhat unreliable female narrator, but will leave you questioning your own reality by the time the credits roll. Jessie Buckley, in one of her earlier roles, plays the Young Woman who leads the movie  throughout the narrative, she's referred to as several names, including Lucy, Louisa, Lucia, and Ames  who goes home with her boyfriend Jake (Jesse Plemons) to meet his parents even as she thinks about breaking up with him. Several strange things occur when she meets his parents, known only as Mother and Father (played by Toni Collette and David Thewlis), and throughout the movie's run time, the audience keeps catching up with a mysterious school janitor, checking in on him as he watches movies and works at a high school.

Make no mistake: "I'm Thinking of Ending Things" is baffling, confusing, gross, awe-inspiring, and even off-putting at times. It's also incredible and well worth a watch if you haven't seen it already, particularly because Buckley, Plemons, Collette, and Thewlis are all exceptionally good. If you're ready to get your mind bent and become an unreliable narrator yourself when you try and explain the plot to your friends later, think about "I'm Thinking of Ending Things."

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Lisbeth with short hair and face jewelry looking over her shoulder in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Sony Pictures Releasing

There are actually two major adaptations of the late Stieg Larsson's hit novel "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and both of them  a 2009 Swedish version directed by Niels Arden Oplev and starring Noomi Rapace, and a 2011 take by American visionary David Fincher starring Rooney Mara  are absolutely worth watching. Here, we're going to focus on Fincher's version, which casts Mara as the titular girl, Lisbeth Salander, a hacker and vigilante who's constantly determined to punish powerful people for their wrongdoings. When a journalist named Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who's trying to claw his career back after a professionally disastrous libel case, is asked to find a girl who disappeared 40 years prior  by the girl's wealthy grandfather Henrik Vanger (the late, great Christopher Plummer)  he enlists Lisbeth's help after the two meet while trying to take down a truly horrible man guilty of reprehensible crimes.

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"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" features a gripping story, incredible performances from Mara, Craig, and Plummer, and is an extremely worthy adaptation of Larsson's novel ... and it works alongside "The Woman in Cabin 10" because it centers around a woman who isn't believed by the people around her until it's, perhaps, too late. Check out Fincher's take on "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and while you're there, try Oplev's version too.

Shutter Island

Teddy with a bandage on his head looking up at somethig in Shutter Island - Paramount Pictures

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have worked together quite a lot, and if you forget about their 2010 collaboration "Shutter Island," you're really missing out. Based on Dennis Lehane's thriller novel of the same name, the story focuses on Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio), a United States Marshal who heads to the titular island outside of Boston with his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) to investigate a disappearance at the island's main building, the Ashecliffe Hospital for the Criminally Insane. As the two men look for the missing Rachel Solando (Emily Mortimer), Teddy struggles with personal demons, including mental health issues and clear post-traumatic stress disorder from his time serving in the United States Military during World War II  where he was one of the soldiers to liberate Dachau, a concentration camp.

To spoil "Shutter Island" for anyone who hasn't seen this stunning and frankly underrated movie before would be a crime, so we are not going to do that here ... but if you're familiar with "Shutter Island," you know that the movie builds and builds until it reaches a truly astonishing and shocking conclusion. Scorsese and DiCaprio have flashier and more "acclaimed" collaborations, but don't sleep on "Shutter Island"  which, like "The Woman in Cabin 10," features a protagonist who's never sure about what's real and what's not.

Vertigo

Madeleine looking up at Scottie curiously in Vertigo - Paramount Pictures

The second Alfred Hitchcock thriller on this list is also one of the best psychological thrillers ever made  so if you want to feel like you can't tell the difference between reality and fiction, absolutely queue up "Vertigo." This 1958 film, like "Rear Window," stars James Stewart  but this time, he's a John "Scottie" Ferguson, a retired police officer turned private investigator with a deep fear of heights who agrees to tail the wife of Gavin Elster (Tom Helmore), a seemingly troubled woman named Madeleine (Kim Novak). As Scottie follows Madeleine through San Francisco, he spots her doing some odd things, like spending hours staring at a single portrait of a woman named Carlotta Valdes to whom she bears a striking resemblance ... and when Scottie and Madeleine eventually interact, it's because she jumps into the San Francisco Bay and he rescues her.

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From there, "Vertigo" becomes a cautionary tale of sorts about obsession, love, and fixations on the past, especially after Madeleine apparently dies and leaves Scottie bereft. "Vertigo" features one of the best film scores ever, astounding turns from Stewart and Novak, and Hitchcock's classically twisted storytelling. Don't miss this one.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

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Read the original article on Looper.
Colorado may be the poster child of American hot springs, but it's not the only state with geothermal springs bubbling to its surface. In fact, the U.S. is home to more than 1,600 hot springs scattered across mountains, deserts, canyons, and alpine wildernesses. Each has been shaped by millions of years of subterranean pressure from deep within the earth's fiery core, producing hot springs, mineral-rich geysers, and mud pots. Over half of the country's documented thermal springs can be found in just three western states: California, Nevada, and Idaho, each with more than 150 localities. Wyoming follows with more than 100 such sites, with Oregon, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, and Colorado completing the lineup.

If you look at the map published by Hot Springs of America, most geysers and thermal springs are clustered along the West Coast and Pacific Northwest, owing to the region's geological makeup. Historically, hot springs served as sacred healing grounds for Native American communities for thousands of years. Today, however, more than half those springs have been developed for public use  turned into spa resorts and wellness retreats, or tapped as sources for water and irrigation (especially on federally managed land).

Given that, the best states for seeing hot springs aren't necessarily the ones with the most geothermal activity, but those that protect their wilder pools. Both fortunately and unfortunately, those tend to be springs that don't make it onto maps. The methodology behind this list draws on multiple online rankings and personal recommendations from travelers on Reddit, combined with geographic data showing where the country's hot springs are most concentrated  all to highlight the best states to see hot springs across the U.S.

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Read more: The 5 Most Alligator-Filled Destinations In All Of Florida

California

Hot spring in Sierra Nevada mountains, California, USA - Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock

Behind Colorado, California might as well be considered a geothermal mecca. Sitting along the Pacific Ring of Fire -- a zone responsible for much of the world's earthquakes and volcanic activity  California's hot springs owe their existence to the same tectonic forces that shape its dramatic mountains and valleys. There, groundwater seeps deep underground, heating as it passes molten rock, and then rises back to the surface in mineral-rich pools.

The highest concentration of geothermal hot springs is in eastern California, particularly around Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs  hence the names. Given the state's size and geologic variety, its springs range from remote, undeveloped natural pools to commercial wellness retreats. For example, the Spring Resort and Spa in Desert Hot Springs offers a high-end, adult-only wellness retreat built around mineral-rich waters. Further north, Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga -- one of Napa Valley's oldest springs, open since 1861 -- takes a more restorative approach. Guests come for its signature mud baths, combining spring water and volcanic ash, as well as an Olympic-sized pool fed by geysers.

Another standout is The Inn at Benton Hot Springs, a desert hideaway near Mammoth Lakes. This property features nine outdoor tubs and pools, each made from different materials, and guests can often control their own soak temperature. Alongside the cozy bed and breakfast, the inn also offers camping sites that include private spring-fed tubs. For something more urban, Beverly Hot Springs in Los Angeles is the city's only natural hot spring spa. Discovered in the early 1920s during an oil survey, it features a hot pool, cold plunge, and spa facilities  proof that you don't need to leave the city to find some geothermal serenity.

Idaho

A young woman soaking early morning at Goldbug Hot Springs in Idaho. - Colton Stiffler/Getty Images

Idaho is home to more than 300 hot springs -- more than any other state in the country  with over 30 developed into retreats. Conveniently, many lie along the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, a 68-mile-long route that runs parallel to the interstate and is dotted with waterfalls and hot springs. On Tripadvisor, a visitor from the Netherlands described it aptly: "This is a really nice drive and the name is not exaggerated. Lots of Springs/waterfalls to be seen while driving."

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Among Idaho's most popular springs is the rugged Burgdorf Hot Springs near McCall, prized for its sense of isolation. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this rustic retreat offers a rare look into Idaho's frontier past, once serving as an old Western mining town. Today, visitors are encouraged to switch off their phones and embrace the stillness without distractions. Accommodations are basic: There is no electricity, running water, or bedding provided. The springs are accessible by car in summer; in winter, they are reachable only by snowmobile. Winter is the least crowded time to visit and arguably the most rewarding. It sounds like a hassle to get to, but once there, you'll be treated to steaming 113-degree pools surrounded by hiking trails and conifer trees.

One of Idaho's most unique springs is Boat Box Hot Springs, and it's pretty much as the name describes. Fresh spring water is channeled into what can only be described as an old mining-era contraption, which looks like a well-used hot tub. The water can be scorching, but thanks to the Salmon River rushing past, visitors can easily regulate the temperature by adding cold water.

New Mexico

Beautiful landscape of Spence Hot Springs at New Mexico - Kit Leong/Shutterstock

New Mexico's hot springs are a lucky byproduct of its complex geology, shaped by volcanic fields, fault zones, and thermal aquifers beneath the earth's surface. These springs have been cherished for centuries, first by Native Americans and later by Spanish explorers, who regarded them as natural healing "Fountains of Youth."

The state is best known for Ojo Caliente, a luxurious retreat between Santa Fe and Taos that holds the distinction of being one of America's oldest natural health resorts. Unlike many springs, its mineral healing water is sulfur-free, but rich in iron, lithia, and soda  a winning cocktail thought to improve digestion, mood, and overall immunity. Opened in 1868, Ojo Caliente offers a wide range of amenities, including yoga, farm-to-table dining, mud baths, and accommodations ranging from rustic campsites to a full-service luxury lodge.

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A 90-minute drive to the south, across the Santa Fe National Forest, lies Jemez Spring, formerly known as Giggling Hot Springs. The waters originate from a source deep beneath the Valles Caldera National Preserve, just a few miles north of the town. This historic site features four mineral pools that sit between a comfortable 98 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Over 100 years old, Jemez Hot Springs retains a long history  long used by Indigenous people and later developed with bathhouses  and remains a popular destination for both locals and tourists. For a more secluded hot spring experience, Spence Hot Springs in the Jemez Mountains offers two pools sitting at 95 degrees Fahrenheit, connected by a trickling waterfall. Access requires a short hike, meaning it is usually less crowded than other springs.

Oregon

Steaming Umpqua Hot Springs in Lush Forest from Eye-Level Perspective - Nicholas J Klein/Shutterstock

According to a U.S. Geological Survey report, most of Oregon's thermal hot springs are located in the southeastern and central parts of the state. Oregon's geothermal activity is powered by two main sources: Volcanic energy and the movement of tectonic plates. Sitting in these thermal pools, it's fascinating trying to conceptualize the journey the water has taken from deep volcanic chambers up to the surface.

Of the nearly 170 documented hot springs in Oregon, most are concentrated in the Basin and Range Province, stretching from the Cascade forests to the high desert regions. As elsewhere in the country, the springs here range from undeveloped and remote to commercial resorts and rustic destinations, some accessible only by hiking.

For Portland locals, Breitenbush Hot Springs, considered one of the best hot spring hotels in America, is a standout destination. Just a two-hour drive from the city, it's been transformed into a wellness retreat with a strict alcohol and device-free policy. Visitors can choose from a variety of accommodations, including the historic 100-year-old lodge, mushroom-shaped yurts, glamping tents, and even a bring-your-own campsite. The property was partially saved by firefighters during a massive wildfire in 2020, and remains a wonderful spot to experience Oregon's geothermal wonders.

Montana

West Thumb Geyser Basin at Yellowstone National Park - Jeremy Tan/Getty Images

If any U.S. state is synonymous with geothermal activity, it's Montana. It's home to Old Faithful, the most famous and consistent boiling water geyser in the country, located in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. This is also where you'll find the Grand Prismatic Spring, the third-largest hot spring in the world, known for its rainbow colors and an impressive depth exceeding ten stories. While these iconic features aren't suitable for a relaxing soak, Montana has plenty of other accessible hot springs, mostly following the angles of the state's mountains, rivers, and valleys.

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One of the most famous is Bozeman Hot Springs. Located just 45 minutes from Big Sky Resort, it's the perfect pitstop after a day on the slopes. Today, the resort features a dozen pools of varying temperatures, some outdoors and others enclosed in a glass building to retain heat. It also offers amenities such as a fitness center, saunas, and a campground for those who wish to spend the night.

For those visiting Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Hot Springs is well worth the detour. Although technically not within park borders, these hot springs are located just ten minutes north of the national park. You can rent a cabin or bring your own RV into the property, making it a good option for travelers looking to diversify their activities. History fans should consider visiting the Chico Hot Springs, a beautifully preserved rustic resort that dates to the early 1900s. The property includes a historic lodge, modern cabins, and even glamping tents, all with full access to the springs. Day visitors are welcome, too, and there is a poolside restaurant and full spa services,ensuring a rejuvenating experience for everyone.

Methodology

Yellowstone National Park hot thermal spring in West Thumb Geyser Basin area, Wyoming, USA - Brocreative/Shutterstock

Determining the best states to see hot springs in the U.S. isn't as simple as it sounds. With more than a thousand known geothermal springs scattered across the country, each differs in natural beauty, water quality, facilities, and accessibility. To compile this list, we started by identifying the locations of most of the nation's geothermal springs. While we looked beyond simply choosing the states with the highest concentrations, those regions naturally offered more variety and therefore ranked higher overall. Our primary source was the Thermal Springs of the United States study published by the U.S. Geological Survey. Using this data, we highlighted the states that provide the best opportunities to experience hot springs  not just those with a handful of remote or difficult-to-reach sites.

To find the standout locations within these states, we drew from a combination of sources, including Hot Springs of America, multiple travel blogs, and online publications like Hot Springs of America. We also factored in firsthand traveler recommendations from Reddit and Tripadvisor, cross-referencing springs that appeared repeatedly across multiple sources. We noted distinctions between developed spa resorts and wild, natural pools, basing our assessments on publicly shared information rather than personal experience.Of course, this methodology is not without limitations. There is no perfect way to compare every hot spring, or to measure subjective qualities like beauty or atmosphere. The five states featured here were chosen for their blend of accessibility, diversity of experiences, visitor amenities, and geological richness.

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Dogs that are left on the street with no food, shelter, or human affection suffer from physical and emotional wounds. These canines need a lot of love and care to heal from the trauma they've suffered so they can have a second chance at life. Rescue organizations work miracles with dogs who have endured a lot of pain and neglect, eventually finding many of them a forever home.

Niall Harbison, founder of the Thailand dog rescue Happy Doggo, worked another one of those miracles when he found Shaggy alone in the street.

The Instagram from @niall.harbison shared the story of the shaggy (hence the name) gray and white dog Harbison rescued from the streets of Thailand.

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"Abandoned on the streets - this tiny dog only ever knew fear," the onscreen text explained as Shaggy walked alone on a road, scared and confused. When Harbison was able to get him on a leash, Shaggy continually attempted to escape and even tried biting him. "He was broken and defensive. It was time for the safety of a forever home."

His poor condition was evident. Shaggy's fur was matted beyond repair and he was too terrified to trust even well-meaning humans.

Harbison brought the frightened fur baby to Happy Doggo's sanctuary and with the help of his team, gave Shaggy the love and care he desperately needed. Slowly, the precious pooch began to heal.

Shaggy Headed to America

The animal rescue founder saw the biggest change in Shaggy when he flew across the globe after being adopted by his new family in the United States.

Related: Rescue Chihuahua Gives Up Dog Bed for 20-Year-Old Dachshund and We're Crying

"It was only when he got into his forever home in America that he felt the love and security he needed," Harbison wrote in the caption accompanied by scenes of Shaggy playing with toys, enjoying nature walks, and being lovingly fed treats. "This little gentle boy was never meant to be alone on the streets."

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The story concluded with Shaggy snuggling on the couch with the comment, "He is proof that love will always win."

Learn more about Happy Doggo or make a donation by visiting their website or social media accounts on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

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This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Deep in Eastern Utah's Castle Country, an area known for its unique rock formations and fascinating prehistoric sites, is the charming city of Price. Located about two hours south of Salt Lake City, Price remains under the radar and offers cozy, small-town vibes. It's set amidst the northern section of the stunning San Rafael Swell, with beautiful sandstone cliffs just outside the city. The Price Downtown District has been undergoing a revitalization as part of a pilot program through the Utah Main Street Program, and the result is a more vibrant downtown area with unique restaurants, shops, and public art on display.

With a population of about 8,000, this small city makes a perfect base for exploring nearby parks and scenic areas, including Goblin Valley, a wildly unique state park that looks like a trip to Mars and is full of canyons and sandstone. Just 30 minutes outside of Price is Jurassic National Monument, home to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, one of the largest collections of mounted dinosaur bones in the world (with more than 12,000 bones). The Price Canyon Recreation Area is another natural treasure, with some fantastic hiking trails, while the Nine Mile Canyon is full of prehistoric rock drawings, and it's America's largest collection of rock art, consisting of 46 miles of incredible creations from the Fremont and Ute.

Read more: How To Pack Just One Carry-On For A Week-Long Vacation

The best things to do in Price, Utah

Dinosaur fossils in the Utah desert - Laima Swanson/Shutterstock

A great way to explore the city of Price is on a walking tour, which includes places like the outlaw section of the local cemetery, the Prehistoric Museum, and a stop at the Coal Miner's Memorial, with names of the 1,353 workers who perished in the mines. The tour also includes the Bookcliff Mural, a 434-square-foot display of street art which pays homage to coal miners, pioneers, and other cultural aspects of life in Utah's Castle Country. For more fabulous artwork on display, Utah State University Eastern features rotating exhibitions, as well as works from the permanent collection, including paintings, ceramics, photographs, and prints.

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The Prehistoric Museum, which is operated by Utah State University, features a hall that's full of dinosaur skeletons and exhibitions that showcase the fascinating history of the area, such as ancient cliff dwellings, rock drawings, figurines, and projectile points. For little ones, the museum has a kids' discovery area where they can dig for fossils and learn about prehistoric cultures. When you're ready to take a break from exploring, downtown has an array of dining options, whether you're grabbing a burger or a slice at Juniper Kitchen, Mediterranean cuisine at Greek Streak, or classic pub grub at Toby's Bar and Grill.

Planning a trip to Price, Utah

Starry night at Goblin Valley State Park - Evan Austen/Shutterstock

If you're flying in, Provo, Utah, is your closest option for commercial flights, and it's about an hour and 20 minutes' drive from Price. However, the Provo Airport is only serviced by a limited number of carriers (American Airlines, Breeze Airways, and Allegiant Air), so for more flight options, Salt Lake City is about a two-hour drive from Price. Amtrak train service is available to the nearby town of Helper, which offers a charming main street, an eclectic art scene, and cozy lodging.

If you're staying in the area, there are several chain hotels and budget-friendly accommodations. Or, if you'd like to "rough it" a little, the Price Canyon Recreation Area has a small campground with 12 first-come, first-serve campsites that have picnic tables and fire rings, and is about 19 miles north of Price, or, 20 miles south of the city, Huntington State Park has a beautiful reservoir and several campsites just steps from a sandy beach. For epic stargazing, Goblin Valley State Park is a Dark Sky International-certified location and has campsites, yurts, and RV sites.

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Read the original article on Islands.
Idaho might bring potatoes and farmland to mind, but this landlocked western state has so much more to offer, particularly for nature-lovers. From lava tubes, sand dunes, and starry skies in Arco to granite peaks, hot springs, and world-class climbing in Almo, the Gem State really is, well, full of underrated gems. And if you've got a taste for incredible views, rich history, and a vibrant creative culture, you need to add Ritter Island -- situated in the aptly-named Magic Valley region  to your travel bucket list.

Located along the Snake River, within the bounds of Thousand Springs State Park in Southern Idaho, Ritter Island boasts beautiful waterfalls and makes for a memorable summertime excursion. Thousand Springs State Park comprises several units, of which Ritter Island is one. To get here, it's about a 90-minute drive from Boise. Enjoy the gorgeous 67-mile stretch that is the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway, and make a pit stop at the park's visitor center in the town of Hagerman to grab a map and other useful items before heading onward to Ritter Island.

Read more: The 'Friendly Island' Is A Tiny Hawaiian Destination With An Abandoned Hotel And No Traffic In Sight

Take in Ritter Island's magnificent views

Waterfall on Ritter Island - Cavan-Images/Shutterstock

Ritter Island's main attractions are its natural springs and waterfalls, which are a true sight to behold, and there are two particularly notable waterfalls that are not to be missed. First up is Lemmon Falls, which tumbles dramatically over a cliffside. For a panoramic view of it, hike the 1.5-mile trail to Bonnieview -- or hop on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard and gaze up as you encircle the island by water. If you're looking for a less active way to enjoy the view, Lemmon Falls is also viewable from the island's parking area.

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The second of Ritter Island's must-see waterfalls is the Minnie Miller Falls, which visitors should note will require a short walk to access. Wondering how it got its unique name? Minnie was a successful entrepreneur in the early 20th century who raised prize-winning Guernsey cattle on Ritter Island and established a dairy farm on the island as well. Today, the farm is a historic site managed by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, and it's open to visitors. History buffs will love poking around the old barn, farmhouse, and various artifacts.

Get a dose of culture at the Thousand Springs Festival of the Arts

Painter mixing colors on a palette - DC Studio/Shutterstock

Nature isn't the only thing this area has going for it. While you may want to plan your visit to Thousand Springs State Park for the summer months, as Ritter Island is only open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day, September visitors are nonetheless in luck: late September sees the annual Thousand Springs Festival of the Arts right nearby.

The festival is organized by the Magic Valley Arts Council, and it features a packed weekend program of arts events -- including painting workshops, exhibitions, film screenings, and two stages of live music -- as well as food and drink vendors, wagon and boat rides, opportunities to learn about local history, and much more. Much like this unique music festival in Idaho's "Fiddle Capital of the World," the Thousand Springs Festival of the Arts is a perfect way to celebrate this vibrant region and its creative inhabitants. And, with plenty of kid-friendly activities, it's a great festival for the whole family to enjoy.

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Maine is well-known for the popular Acadia National Park, which is considered among the best national parks on the east coast, with rocky cliffs, scenic overlooks, wooded hiking trails, and wildlife. While the "crown jewel of the North Atlantic Coast" is worth visiting, there is much more nature to see in Maine  including places without the Acadia crowds.

Close to Maine's border with New Hampshire is the small town of Bethel. Just as fall is the best time of year to visit Acadia's Thunder Hole, Bethel is all the more wonderful during this season as well. Get started at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society in the Broad Street Historic District. The O'Neil Robinson House is part of this organization and dates back to the early 1800s. Its exhibits help you learn more about the town's history, but the house is only open from late May through mid-October. Luckily, mid-October is when Maine's fall foliage is at its peak. Even if you can't go inside, the changing leaves around Robinson House and the other nearby historic buildings make for a lovely walk in this part of Bethel.

Read more: Old-School American Towns That Are Still Full Of Fun 1950s Charm

Enjoy Maine's fall foliage by hiking or driving

wooden covered bridge over creek, trees with fall foliage - Albertpego/Getty Images

Maine is a nature lover's paradise and Bethel is the perfect home base for outdoor adventures. Drive just under 6 miles north of Bethel on U.S. Route 2 to find Mount Will Trail. This 3-mile loop trail is located within a natural space monitored by Bethel conservation authorities, and it is easy to see why the town deemed it worthy of protection. Mount Will Trail goes to South Cliffs and North Ledges scenic points, both with spectacular views of the Androscoggin River Valley and its rolling hills. You can either head back after checking out these vistas or keep going to the Mount Will summit. Parking is available across from the Bethel Town Transfer Station.

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While the Sunday River which connects with Androscoggin is smaller, a 7-mile drive from Bethel to the Historic Sunday River Covered Bridge is a must. The old wood of this bridge looks like something out of a painting when it becomes surrounded by yellow and orange leaves every October. Take U.S. Route 2 and then Sunday River Road to get to the bridge.

Get mountain views at Grafton Notch State Park

mountainside with red and orange trees - David Leiter/Shutterstock

For some rocky scenery around Bethel, head to Grafton Notch State Park. Getting to and from this park on Route 26 is one of the most scenic drives to take in Maine. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park as well. If you don't plan on tackling a trail as long as the multi-state Appalachian, veer off onto shorter routes which have amazing scenery on their own. Look for Appalachian Trail signs on Route 26 for the 2.4-mile Table Rock Loop Trail, marked in orange, that takes you to an expansive viewpoint overlooking Old Speck Mountain.

Within Grafton Notch is Screw Augur Falls. This is the perfect place to spend time in nature without a long hike. It is a few minutes' walk from the parking lot on Route 26 to the 23-foot waterfall. Trek slightly further from Route 26 to find Moose Cave. When navigating down into this 45-foot-deep canyon, you'll see that it is an excellent example of Maine's geology. And, like all of the hiking options near Bethel, it is a wonderful place to see the state transform in the fall.

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Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath commended the establishment of Yashoda Medicity Hospital in Indirapuram as a significant advancement in the provision of world-class healthcare services to the residents of the National Capital Region (NCR). He remarked that advanced medical facilities, which were previously accessible only in Delhi, are now available "under one roof" for the working population. Speaking at the inauguration of the multispecialty hospital, attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and others, CM Adityanath said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India has taken remarkable strides in the field of healthcare. If I speak specifically about Uttar Pradesh, in the last eight and a half years, we have established 42 new medical colleges. Two of our flagship initiatives -- the AIIMS in Gorakhpur and AIIMS in Raebareli -- are now fully operational and successful." "All these new multispecialty institutions in Uttar Pradesh are ensuring that more than 25 crore people across the state can access the best healthcare facilities right at their doorstep. And today, in that very direction, we are not only serving the people of Uttar Pradesh but also providing world-class medical care to those who earlier had to travel to Delhi for expensive treatment. Now, in Ghaziabad, these advanced facilities are available to the working class and common people -- all under one roof through the establishment of Yashoda Medicity hospital," he added. The Chief Minister congratulated Dr. P.N. Arora and his team. He said, "I congratulate Dr. P.N. Arora, his entire team, all the doctors, paramedics, nursing staff, and everyone involved, for making the NCR a central hub of healthcare excellence with such a significant investment in Uttar Pradesh. This is a proud moment for all of us." President Murmu inaugurated the state-of-the-art facility, which is expected to significantly enhance healthcare infrastructure in the National Capital Region. (ANI)
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) submitted a new measure that allows it to photograph any non-US citizen who enters or exits the country for facial recognition purposes. According to a filing with the government's Federal Register, CBP and the Department of Homeland Security are looking to crack down on threats of terrorism, fraudulent use of travel documents and anyone who overstays their authorized stay.

The filing detailed that CBP will "implement an integrated, automated entry and exit data system to match records, including biographic data and biometrics, of aliens entering and departing the United States." The government agency already has the ability to request photos and fingerprints from anyone entering the country, but this new rule change would allow for requiring photos of anyone exiting as well. These photos would "create galleries of images associated with individuals, including photos taken by border agents, and from passports or other travel documents," according to the filing, adding that these galleries would be compared to live photos at entry and exit points.

These new requirements are scheduled to go into effect on December 26, but CBP will need some time to implement a system to handle the extra demand. According to the filing, the agency said "a biometric entry-exit system can be fully implemented at all commercial airports and sea ports for both entry and exit within the next three to five years."
A man was killed and a 7-year-old boy injured in a shooting Saturday evening in Northwest Baltimore, police said.

Officers responded to the 3200 block of Reisterstown Road around 5:24 p.m. after receiving a ShotSpotter alert, according to the Baltimore Police Department. When they arrived, they found an unidentified adult man and a 7-year-old boy suffering from gunshot wounds.

Both victims were taken to area hospitals, where the man was pronounced dead. Police said the boys injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.

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The boy was not related to the deceased man, whose age has not yet been released, and was a passenger in a passing vehicle when the shooting took place, Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Jones said.

Jones added that multiple shell casings were found at the scene and that homicide detectives are seeking any CCTV or private camera footage in the area.

Right now, while we pray for that family, pray for the young mans family, we also want people to tell us what they know, Mayor Brandon Scott said at the scene. We cannot and will not accept that people can just have these guns illegally and be able to use them indiscriminately in our community  killing one person, harming a child and thinking they are going to walk free throughout the city of Baltimore.

This is the point where we have to remind ourselves about being human, remind ourselves about how we want to treat our neighbors, remind ourselves about how we want to treat our young people. Were asking that anyone who has information come forward so that we can bring this individual to justice, which I know our great detectives will do.

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Reisterstown Road is closed in the area, and authorities urge drivers and pedestrians to avoid the vicinity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact homicide detectives at 410-396-2100. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7LOCKUP or submit a tip online through the Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland website.

Have a news tip? Contact Mathew Schumer at mschumer@baltsun.com, 443-890-7423 and on X as @mmmschumer.

Baltimore Police on the scene of a shooting in the 3200 block of Reisterstown Road involving two victims, including a child. (Mat Schumer/Staff) Show Caption1 of 2Baltimore Police on the scene of a shooting in the 3200 block of Reisterstown Road involving two victims, including a child. (Mat Schumer/Staff)Expand
One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood Saturday.

Authorities responded to reports of a crash near Orange Street and Sweetzer Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Footage from the scene showed that a Land Rover Defender 90 SUV had crashed into the front steps of the apartment building and tipped over against a tree. An old Volkswagen Beetle was also left with serious damage to the drivers side.

One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen) One person was hospitalized after a vehicle crashed into an apartment building in Los Angeles Beverly Grove neighborhood on Oct. 25, 2025. (Citizen)

Los Angeles Fire Department officials confirmed one person was transported to a local trauma center for treatment.

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A large amount of auto debris was scattered across the roadway as a small crowd of neighbors looked on.

No further details, including the cause of the crash, were released by authorities as the incident remains under investigation.

Authorities confirmed that Building and Safety inspectors were requested to assess any structural damage.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Deputies are investigating after a shooting at a home in Fredericksburg left one person dead and another seriously injured Sunday morning.

The Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Office said that at 10:15 a.m., deputies responded to a home in the 9800 block of Fendale Lane for a welfare check.

There, deputies were trying to make contact with those inside when they heard a single gunshot.

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Deputies quickly secured a perimeter around the home, and the sheriffs office SWAT Team entered, finding two people with gunshot wounds.

Man shot, killed inside Alexandria apartment

Medics rushed one person to the hospital with serious injuries. However, the second person found inside the residence died there.

As of Sunday afternoon, there is no word on any arrests. Residents were asked to avoid the area of Fendale Lane as police continue to investigate.

Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android.

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DENVER (KDVR)  One person is dead after a hit-and-run crash overnight in downtown Denver, police said.

The crash happened at around 2 a.m. at 16th and Market streets, according to a Denver Police Department X post.

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Police said the victim was a female of unknown age who was hit by a vehicle near the pedestrian area of 16th Street in lower downtown.

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The driver of the vehicle fled the scene on foot, and police at about 10 a.m. said they arrested Milton McBride, 27, who is being held for investigation of vehicular homicide.

FOX31s Kasia Kerridge could see a red truck at the scene, as well as an information kiosk on 16th Street that was smashed with pieces of the vehicle still on it.

Police have not yet said what caused the crash or if drugs or alcohol are suspected of being involved.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
For most of us, hearing the word "beach" conjures images of "toes in the water" and "cold drink in my hand." But anyone who has spent too much time near the shoreline knows that beaches can also be a wildly unpredictable dumping ground for some pretty gross things. Sometimes the waves bring in treasures, and other times, they deliver beach finds that would've been better left to the depths. From decomposing sea creatures that baffle scientists to oil spill remnants that are still hanging around a decade later, it's not always fun and games at the beach. It's not all nature's fault, either. Human negligence, from faulty plumbing systems to murder in the first degree, has left its mark on coastlines around the world in a variety of unforgettable  and, frankly, unpleasant  ways.

This list rounds up 10 of the grossest things ever found on beaches, though, ironically, none of them were found on any of the filthiest beaches in America. We'll journey from the downright bizarre to the extremely unsettling. Some of the situations you'll see here are natural oddities that lead to as much curiosity as they do disgust, while others are reminders that the ocean can be a fickle mistress. Next time you find yourself taking a proverbial long walk on the beach, remember there's a darker side just below the surface of the waves.

Read more: Research Says You Should Skip These Dangerous Beaches When Visiting Florida

Medical waste on New Jersey beaches (1987)

Close up of a hermit crab carrying medical waste on a beach by a piece of driftwood - REC Stock Footage/Shutterstock

In the summer of 1987, beachgoers at the ever-popular Jersey Shore encountered something rather distressing. Amid the AIDS epidemic, syringes, blood vials, and other medical debris began washing up in alarming numbers, contaminating miles of shoreline from New Jersey to New York. Families who had expected to enjoy carefree beach days instead found themselves sidestepping biohazards. The situation sparked fear, disgust, and outrage not only in the Northeast but around the nation. The phenomenon became known in the media as the "syringe tide." So culturally relevant was the situation that Billy Joel included a line about it in "We Didn't Start the Fire." One line says, "Hypodermics on the shore, I can't take it any more." The sight of hypodermic needles littering the sand sent shockwaves through would-be vacationers, and tourism plummeted. Some estimates suggest New Jersey lost a billion dollars in revenue during that particular summer season.

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Ultimately, investigations into the origin of the biomedical waste traced much of the debris to improper disposal practices in New York City's medical facilities. The public outcry regarding this illegal ocean dumping was quite fierce, and the incident helped fuel environmental reform. In 1988, Congress passed the Ocean Dumping Ban Act, which prohibited the dumping of medical waste and sewage sludge into U.S. waters. While cleanup crews eventually restored the beaches down the shore, the summer of 1987 remains an unpleasant memory for many families.

Tons of dead fish (Florida, 2018)

Multiple dead fish in the water during Florida's red tide - Andrew Lichtenstein/Getty Images

While people often worry about seeing a rogue shark or crocodile on Florida beaches, in 2018, Sunshine State residents and tourists were greeted by something much worse. In fact, it's one of the most nauseating beach sights (and smells) in recent memory. Tons of dead fish lined the shoreline, victims of a massive red tide bloom. The toxic algae surge suffocated marine life on an unprecedented scale, leaving behind piles of rotting carcasses and an overwhelming stench. The crisis stretched across much of Florida's Gulf Coast, with Lee County among the hardest hit locales. In addition to fish, manatees, turtles, shellfish, and dolphins all fell victim to the algae massacre. People can also be impacted, with the University of Florida noting "K. brevis can cause serious illness to people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma or emphysema. For example, red tide can trigger asthma attacks and susceptible populations may experience chronic pulmonary symptoms, even after leaving the area."

The problem in 2018, however, wasn't just environmental. It was economic. According to CNN, local businesses lost an estimated $8 million during the outbreak, as local beachgoers stayed home and out-of-state tourism plummeted. Many restaurants, hotels, and fishing charters that relied heavily on clean water and healthy marine life were left limping along financially. Though Florida has faced red tide events for centuries, and will always continue to, the 2018 disaster was one of the worst in recent history. For many, the sight of endless fish carcasses rotting in the sun remains a symbol of how fragile coastal ecosystems really are.

Mystery globsters (worldwide)

Globster determined to be a whale carcass on a beach in Thailand, 2019 - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Every so often, the ocean spits out a mystery that is simultaneously horrifying and fascinating. Enter the so-called "globsters." These are enormous, rotting sea carcasses that are not immediately identifiable. They often appear as massive tangles of flesh, hair-like fibers, and cartilage with no obvious head or limbs. The first famous globster appeared near St. Augustine, Florida, in 1896, when a giant, unrecognizable carcass washed ashore and led to rampant speculation about the existence of sea monsters. In the intervening years, similar finds have appeared worldwide, from Newfoundland to the Philippines. Some have weighed several tons and had bodies dozens of feet long, like the 41-foot "Chilean Blob" in 2003; in that case, DNA analysis determined that the carcass was simply a decaying sperm whale.

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While scientists have occasionally linked globsters to the decomposing remains of known species (like in the Chile case), experts are often unable to definitively identify globsters' origins. Fibrous tissues can often resemble fur, while gas-bloated bodies and limbs can appear quite alien. The media has played a major role in fueling the mythos surrounding these supposed cryptids. Each new globster seems to spur headlines about sea monsters or alien species lurking at 20,000 leagues. In reality, though, most of these grotesque-looking creatures are probably nothing more than whales, sharks, or other large marine animals. Lucy Babey, of animal charity Orca, told the BBC of a Filipino globster: "It's definitely a very decomposed sea creature in the later stages of decomposition."

Whale carcass (Oregon, 1970)

Sand dunes and beach surrounding the water in Florence, Oregon - Three Lions/Getty Images

Beached whales are a sad but not unusual sight along coastlines, so this situation in and of itself is not particularly disgusting. It's what Florence, Oregon officials did that raises eyebrows (and triggers gag reflexes). In November 1970, a stranded 45-foot sperm whale carcass turned into one of the most infamous and revolting beach cleanup efforts in history. Local authorities, unsure of how to dispose of a dead mammal that weighed several tons, came up with a plan that must have seemed logical to them at the time. They decided to blow it up using dynamite. The theory was that the explosion would decimate the whale's remains into small, easily scavenged bits for seagulls, crabs, and other creatures to eat. What actually happened, however, was deeply unfortunate. The blast, which required half a ton of TNT, sent chunks of whale blubber raining down on stunned spectators, crushed a car, and littered foul-smelling organic matter amid the crowd. The incident quickly became known as "The Exploding Whale," an event that still circulates online as an incredibly bizarre moment in marine history.

The incident was so shocking and, honestly, absurd that humorist Dave Barry once called it "the most wonderful event in the history of the universe." Footage of the explosion has gone viral countless times, and Reddit users still discuss and debate what Florence officials were thinking when they decided to press the detonator. Today, whale carcasses that wash up on beaches are handled with far more care, often buried or prudently hauled away for research. For Oregonians, and anyone who's seen the legendary video, though, the idea of whale guts raining from the sky remains one of the grossest seaside memories of all time.

Severed feet (British Columbia, Ongoing Since 2007)

View of the Salish Sea, British Columbia, where dozens of severed feet have washed onshore since 2007 - Dmitri Kotchetov/Getty Images

Generally more known for its under-the-radar mountain towns and its magical polka-dot lake than for gore, British Columbia is surprisingly home to one of the greatest beach mysteries of all time. Few seaside discoveries have sparked as much global fascination as the Salish Sea Severed Feet case. Since 2007, over 20 human feet, most still inside the sneakers their owners presumably died in, have washed ashore in British Columbia and nearby Washington State. Whenever a new foot is discovered, it unsurprisingly makes headlines, fueling speculation about everything from organized crime to a serial killer to the paranormal. The truth, however, may be less sensational, though no less disturbing. Forensic experts have suggested that when a body decomposes in water, the joints around the ankle are among the first to weaken, causing feet and ankles to effectively detach. Buoyant sneakers, then, have carried the feet to shore, according to this explanation.

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Even with investigative experts weighing in, the frequency and geographic clustering of the feet have kept the mystery alive. Online forums and true crime enthusiasts obsess over each new foot, mapping their locations and swapping theories in ongoing conversations. Some remain convinced there's a darker cause, despite the authorities' scientific conclusion. Deeply cemented in popular culture at this point, the Serial Killer Database even includes an entry detailing the murder theory. And, the National Post described the situation as a "grim maritime lottery," in which locals brace themselves every time new debris rolls in with the tide, wondering who will find the next foot.

Suitcases with human remains (Florida, 2023)

View of a bridge and boats on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida - Marcel Hamonic/Shutterstock

In July 2023, beachgoers along the Intracoastal Waterway near Delray Beach, one of Florida's top places to retire, made a grisly discovery. As intense as the plot of any true crime documentary, floating in the water were three separate suitcases, each containing human remains belonging to the same victim. The discovery, as one would expect, immediately triggered a major investigation. At the time, police stated that the remains belonged to a white or Hispanic middle-aged woman with brown hair and who was about 5-foot-4. The locals who spotted the luggage initially thought it was mere trash, but upon opening one, they were horrified to uncover body parts. Police cordoned off the area, ultimately discovering two more suitcases containing remains from the same woman. The unsettling find made national news, with the nation shocked by the careless way in which the victim had been literally thrown away.

In the weeks after the gruesome discovery, forensic testing identified the victim as Aydil Barbosa Fontes, an 80-year-old woman. The culprit? Her husband, William Lowe, 78, of Delray Beach. Lowe first told police that his wife had been in Brazil for about three weeks  a claim investigators quickly determined was untrue. Furthermore, a chainsaw with organic matter on the blade was discovered in his storage unit. Although Aydil's tragic murder was an isolated, domestic incident, this chilling case is a reminder that beaches can sometimes serve as the setting for criminal activity. What started as a routine day on the Intracoastal instead became a horrifying reminder of the dark side of the Sunshine State. Delray Beach Detective Michael Liberta summed things up, telling WPTV, "I don't think I'll see another case like this."

Oil spill residue (Deepwater Horizon, 2010)

Close up of large oil spill on beach with stormy skies in the background - Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock

Few environmental disasters have left as visible and unfortunate a mark on beaches as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on British Petroleum's Macondo drilling platform, operated by BP, in the Gulf of Mexico. The disaster tragically killed 11 workers and immediately launched an uncontrolled flow of crude oil into the water. When the well was finally capped 87 days later, it was classed as the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history. Over four million barrels of oil were released into the Gulf. The aftermath was horrific for Gulf Coast beaches, with the disaster unfolding only 70 miles from shore. Tar balls, oil patties the size of dinner plates, and general sludge wreaked havoc on beaches and local wildlife. The damage was catastrophic for fragile marine ecosystems. Furthermore, coastal economies in Florida, Louisiana, and other Gulf Shore states  dependent on tourism and fishing  suffered billions in losses.

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Though extensive cleanup efforts went on for years after the Deepwater Horizon spill, studies have shown that the environmental effects lingered long after the media had moved on. "If you look at the volume of oil expelled from that well, a lot of it still remains unaccounted for," said Rick Clark, chief of science and resource management at Gulf Islands National Seashore. "There are still many theories as to what happened." A study published in August 2022 by Frontiers in Marine Science found traces of oil were still detectable in 2020. LSU Professor Edward Overton said in the same study of the findings, "Therefore, broad generalization about oil spills requires understanding what was spilled and what are the environmental conditions of the spill. Hopefully this paper will help expand our understanding of the types of chemicals that are found in oil and their ability to cause environmental damages."

The Montauk monster (New York, 2008)

Close up of a rocky beach in Montauk, New York on an overcast day - mirigifford/Shutterstock

In 2008, one of New York's most famed bohemian beach towns found itself making headlines for all the wrong reasons. A bizarre-looking carcass washed ashore near Montauk, Long Island, and quickly became one of the internet's first major viral mysteries. Quickly called the "Montauk Monster," the creature's leathery skin, beak-like snout, and generally unnatural appearance led to immediate speculation that it was, perhaps, something otherworldly, or maybe a government experiment gone wrong. After all, the notorious Plum Island Animal Disease Center isn't far away. Suffice it to say, theories abounded. In 2020, the women who took the original photo of the grotesque animal  Jenna Hewitt, Rachel Goldberg, and Courtney Fruin  said that they were still receiving calls for commentary over a decade later, from as far away as Hawaii and Australia.

Scientists thankfully weighed in, stating that the creature was likely a raccoon that met a clearly unfortunate fate, with its teeth, limbs, and features altered beyond recognition by decomposition. Although this explanation seems a logical one (even Redditors, known for their rampant speculation on nearly all subjects, seem to accept it), the Montauk Monster's so-called "inner circle" has clammed up over the years, eschewing the press. "Maybe there's a silliness that they don't want to be associated with," Richard Lawson, who wrote the original viral Gawker post about the discovery, told Observer. "Or, they are part of the conspiracy and it really is a monster."

Raw sewage and toilet paper (U.K. 2021)

Close up view of water at Mercyside Beach, UK, which is one of the beaches impacted by sewage runoff - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

For residents in southern England in 2021, beach days suddenly took a disgusting turn. Following warnings about potential "sewer gridlock" due to pandemic-era strain from "toilet paper substitutes", heavy rainfall, and overwhelmed storm overflows tipped things over the edge, causing raw sewage to wash directly onto beaches. The results were appalling. Local residents and environmental groups were horrified. CNN reported that warnings regarding untreated wastewater pouring into waterways went largely unheeded, despite years of concerns about the U.K.'s aging sewage infrastructure. Devon local Giles Bristow told the outlet, "First it was the smell. Then we saw toilet paper and sanitary products in the water. That was a real moment of, 'Oh, god.'"

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The 2021 incident was indicative of a larger, ongoing issue that has yet to be fully resolved. Raw sewage discharges into British waters remain alarmingly frequent, with monitoring groups finding widespread contamination in 2022 and 2023 at beaches across Cornwall, Kent, and Sussex. One 2023 report notes that there were "464,056 sewage spills in 2023. That's a 54% increase from 2022." For beachgoers throughout England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, a solution cannot come promptly enough. In addition to the blatantly gross factor, it is important to remember that human sewage carries legitimate health risks, from waterborne pathogens to toxic bacteria.

Pig carcasses (China, 2013)

Dead pig carcass floated in a Chinese river - Wang He/Getty Images

In March 2013, one of the most alarming waterfront scandals in recent memory unfolded near Shanghai, China. Upwards of 16,000 pig carcasses were dumped into the Huangpu River, the city's main waterway that functions as a critical source of drinking water. As the porcine bodies floated downstream, many eventually piled up along the shore. The images looked like something out of a horror film, with bloated pig bodies bobbing in open water and decaying on the shore. Local residents and environmental groups immediately raised concerns about the safety of Shanghai's water supply, given the circumstances. Authorities scrambled to insist that the water was safe, though skepticism abounded.

Apart from being objectively disgusting, the pig carcass incident brought larger problems to light for China, including illegal dumping practices and problematic handling of disease management among pig farmers. Furthermore, the country's illegal pork trade was thrown into the limelight. The Huangpu River disaster is unique because it exists at the crux of food safety, environmental negligence, and public health. Because these issues affect humanity as a whole, people around the world shared in the horror felt by everyday Chinese families. For those who saw it firsthand, the sheer number of dead pigs in the water remains one of the most revolting images of a shoreline anywhere on Earth.

Methodology

Close up of plastic bottles and trash piled on a beach in Indonesia - May Rismi Anisa/Shutterstock

The selections in this article were chosen for their shock value, global media coverage, public health impact, and general "ick" value. This piece aims to show that marine contamination of all sorts is a worldwide issue and something everyone should be aware of. Although these particular incidents are more alarming than most by design, the environmental impact of even seemingly small situations cannot be overstated in today's world.

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PARIS (AP)  The robbery at the Louvre has done what no marketing campaign ever could: It has catapulted Frances dusty crown jewels  long admired at home, little known abroad  to global fame.

One week on, the country is still wounded by the breach to its national heritage even as authorities Sunday announced arrests tied to the haul.

Yet the crime is also a paradox. Some say it will make celebrities of the very jewels it sought to erase  much as the Mona Lisas turn-of-the-20th-century theft transformed the then little-known Renaissance portrait into the worlds most famous artwork.

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In 1911, a museum handyman lifted the Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece off its hook. The loss went unnoticed for more than a day; newspapers turned it into a global mystery, and crowds came to stare at the empty space. When the painting resurfaced two years later, its fame eclipsed everything else in the museum, and that remains so today.

That's the uneasy question shadowing Sundays robbery: whether a crime that cut deep will glorify what's left behind.

Because of the drama, the scandal, the heist, the Apollo Gallery itself and the jewels that remain will likely receive a new spotlight and become celebrities, just like the Mona Lisa after 1911, said Anya Firestone, a Paris art historian and Culture Ministry licensed heritage expert. She toured the gallery the day before the robbery and did not think it looked sufficiently guarded.

Bringing celebrity through theft

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The heist has electrified global media. Nightly newscasts from the U.S. to Europe and across Latin America and Asia have beamed the Louvre, its Apollo Gallery and the missing jewels to hundreds of millions  a surge of attention some say rivals, or even surpasses, the frenzy after Beyonce and Jay-Zs 2018 Apeshit video filmed inside the museum. The Louvre is once again a global set.

For generations, the British monarchy's regalia has captured the popular imagination through centuries of coronations and drawing millions every year to their display in the Tower of London. Meanwhile, Frances jewels lived in the shadow. This week's heist tilts the balance.

One early emblem of that celebrity effect could be the survivor piece itself  Empress Eugenies emerald-set crown, dropped in the getaway and studded with more than 1,300 diamonds  which may now become the gallerys most talked-about relic.

Id never even heard of Eugenies crown until this, said Mateo Ruiz, a 27-year-old visitor from Seville. Now its the first thing I want to see when the gallery reopens.

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Among the treasures that escaped the thieves grasp are storied gems still gleaming under glass  the Regent Diamond, the Sancy and the Hortensia. Authorities say one other stolen bejeweled piece, besides Empress Eugenies damaged crown, has since been quietly recovered, though they have declined to identify it.

The heist has not dented the Louvre's pull. The palace-museum reopened to maximum crowds Wednesday, even as the jewels remain missing. Long before the robbery, the museum was straining under mass tourism  roughly 33,000 visitors a day  and staff warn it cannot easily absorb another surge, especially with the Apollo Gallery sealed and security resources stretched.

Jewels represent French history itself

For France, the loss is more than precious stones and metal totaling over $100 million; it is pages torn from the national record. The Apollo Gallery reads as a timeline in gold and light, carrying the country from Bourbon ceremony to Napoleons self-fashioned empire and into modern France.

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Firestone puts it this way: The jewels are the Louvres final word in the language of monarchy  a glittering echo of kings and queens as France crossed into a new era. They are not ornaments, she argues, but chapters of French history, marking the end of the royal order and the beginning of the country France is today.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez called the theft an immeasurable heritage loss, and the museum says the pieces carry inestimable historic weight  a reminder that what vanished is not just monetary.

Many also see a stunning security lapse.

Its staggering that a handful of people couldnt be stopped in broad daylight, said Nadia Benyamina, 52, a Paris shopkeeper who visits the gallery monthly. There were failures  avoidable ones. Thats the wound.

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Investigators say the thieves rode a basket lift up the building's Seine-facing facade, forced open a window, smashed two display cases and fled on motorbikes  all in minutes. Alarms sounded, drawing security to the gallery and forcing the intruders to bolt, officials say. The haul spanned royal and imperial suites in sapphire, emerald and diamond  including pieces tied to Marie-Amelie, Hortense, Marie-Louise and Empress Eugenie.

In Senate testimony, Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged a terrible failure, citing gaps in exterior camera coverage and proposing vehicle barriers and a police post inside the museum. She offered to resign; the culture minister refused. The heist followed months of warnings about chronic understaffing and crowd pressure points.

Drawing crowds to see what isn't there

Outside the blocked doors, visitors now come to see what cannot be seen.

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I came to see where it happened, said Tobias Klein, 24, an architecture student. That barricade is chilling. People are looking with shock and curiosity.

Others feel a flicker of hope. Theyre ghosts now  but theres still hope theyll be found, said Rose Nguyen, 33, an artist from Reims. Its the same strange magnetism the Mona Lisa had after 1911. The story becomes part of the object.

Curators warn that recutting or melting the jewels would be a second violence. In museums, authenticity lives in the original: the mount, the design, the work of the goldsmiths hand  and the unbroken story of who made, wore, treasured, exhibited and, yes, stole the object.

Whether loss now brings legend is the Louvres uneasy future.

In the strange economy of fame, even bad news becomes attention  and attention makes icons, Firestone said.
NEED TO KNOW

Polly Klaas was 12 years old when she was abducted on Oct. 1, 1993, from her home in Petaluma, Calif., where she was having a slumber party with two other 12-year-old classmates

The case riveted the nation, ultimately sparking a nationwide search

Some 32 years later, her abduction and murder remain ingrained in the American psyche

Some 32 years later, the abduction and murder of Polly Klaas remains ingrained in the American psyche. Polly was 12 years old when she was kidnapped on Oct. 1, 1993, from her home in Petaluma, Calif., where she was having a slumber party with two other 12-year-old classmates.

The case sparked a nationwide search, made Polly a household name and led to California's adoption of the three strikes and youre out law, which called for increased prison sentences for repeat offenders.

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Polly and her two friends were having a slumber party at home with her mother, Eve, asleep in one room, and her half-sister, Annie, sleeping in another.



At some point in the night, ex-convict Richard Allen Davis, then aged 39 and out on parole following a previous kidnapping, broke into Polly's bedroom, bound and gagged her friends, and abducted her.

AP Photo/Lacy Atkins Polly Klaas' home. Polly Klaas' home.

She wasn't found for 65 days, during which thousands of volunteers joined in the search as law enforcement agencies learned better ways to respond to kidnappings.

Actress Winona Ryder, who had been raised in Petaluma, became a vocal part of the case, offering a $200,000 reward for Polly's safe return. The actress, then in her early 20s, even dedicated her appearance in the 1994 film Little Women to Polly, as it had been the tween's favorite book.

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 search would end on Dec. 4, 1993, when Davis admitted he had strangled Polly just hours after abducting her. He then took the police to her remains in a shallow grave near Highway 101.

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A year after her murder, California voters and lawmakers adopted the so-called "three strikes" law, which set longer sentences for repeat offenders like Davis.



Jurors in 1996 found Davis guilty of first-degree murder and of the "special circumstances" of kidnapping, burglary, robbery and attempting a lewd act on a child. Davis was sentenced to death row.

In 2019, however, California Gov. Gavin Newsom placed a moratorium on executions in the state, but a judge rejected his resentencing bid in 2024.

Per PEOPLE's reporting from the time, Polly was cremated and memorialized in a private service, in which a chapel was decorated with lavender roses and ribbons of purple, her favorite color. The Klaas family took a boat out onto California's Carmel Bay, where Polly's three aunts  Juliet Klaas-Puleo, Marianna Ford and Elizabeth Klaas  scattered her ashes into the sea.

Speaking to PEOPLE on the 10th anniversary of her death in 2003, Polly's mother, Eve, said, "We talk about Polly probably every day. We will read out of her journal in front of the fire. We will go through a photo album together. We tell stories all the time. It's like we just take her with us. It's not like we put her on a shelf and bring her out on an anniversary."



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HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  An 18-year-old has been arrested after going 121 miles per hour on I-69.

According to Indiana State Police, Lily Sharp was pulled over by a trooper going northbound I-69 at the 35-mile marker. Police say Sharp was going 121mph.

Sharp was then booked into the Gibson County jail for reckless driving, and her vehicle was impounded.

Courtesy: Gibson County Jail

Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The West Memphis Police Department has charged 18-year-old Davarious Speed with first degree murder and theft of a firearm in connection with a Sept. 22 fatal shooting.

Officers were called to the 300 block of South Ok St about a shooting around 12:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22.

When officers arrived they found a man, identified as Jai Harris, in the drivers seat of a silver Mercedes SUV suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Life savings measures were performed on the scene, but Harris died after being taken to the hospital.

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After an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Division Detectives, Speed was developed as a suspect and a warrant was issued for first degree murder and theft of a firearm.

On Oct. 24, Speed was charged. He was already incarcerated at the Crittenden County Jail on a separate charge of theft of a firearm from a different incident.

This remains an active investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact the WMPD Criminal Investigation Division at 870-732-7554.

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BJP National President JP Nadda, along with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva, and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma, listened to the 127th edition of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat in New Delhi. Union Minister Nityanand Rai, along with others, listened to PM Modi's radio programme in Hajipur, Bihar, whereas Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, along with others, listened to a radio programme in Hyderabad, Telangana. Moreover, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with others, listened to Mann Ki Baat in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme along with others. In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary also tuned in with party members. In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with others, listened to the episode, while in Patna, Bihar, Union Minister and BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal were among those who participated. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma listened to the programme in Jaipur, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tuned in from Guwahati. In Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the occasion of Chhath Puja, describing the festival as a reflection of the "deep unity" between culture, nature, and society. He noted that devotees from all sections of society come together at ghats, which he called the "most beautiful" example of India's social harmony. PM Modi further said that he has received warm messages from the people in response to his letter to the country written on October 21. He said that Operation Sindoor has really filled Indians with pride and mentioned that this time Diwali was celebrated in areas that were once covered under the darkness of "Maoist terrorism". He also paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Union Home Minister, describing him as one of the greatest "luminaries" of modern times, saying that the latter made unparalleled efforts for the nation's unity and integrity. Ahead of the 150th birth anniversary of 'Iron Man of India', PM Modi urged citizens to participate in the Run for Unity being organised across the country to honour Patel on his birth anniversary. Moreover, PM Modi turned attention to India's thriving coffee culture. He also highlighted the growing recognition of Koraput coffee from Odisha on the global stage. "You all know about my association with tea, but today I thought, why not discuss coffee in Mann Ki Baat?" PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further said that several people from Odisha's Koraput district had shared their pride in the region's coffee. Praising India's diverse coffee-growing regions, PM Modi said, "Indian coffee is becoming very popular all over the world. That's why coffee lovers say: India's coffee is coffee at its finest. It is brewed in India and loved by the world." He also discussed Sanskrit regaining popularity among youth through social media and paid tribute to the 'Vande Mataram' song. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
When I was a little boy, all the kids in our neighborhood would gather at a friends in the late afternoons during the summer to watch reruns of Lost in Space. They were the only family on the block with a color TV, which made their living room the center of the universe for us.

Some of the early episodes were still in black and white, but that didnt matter. Wed drop whatever we were doing on warm summer days, and head inside to watch the show. I was proud of the fact that I could do a dead-on impression of Robot. Oddly, he never had a real name, just Robot, and we all identified with young Will Robinson, who was about our age. I think we were a bit jealous of Will because he lived such an exciting life in outer space.

Lost in Space was a futuristic adventure about a family of explorers, the Robinsons, who get thrown off course on their mission in deep space. It was part sci-fi and part family drama. The show also included a gay icon, actor Jonathan Harri s, who played the weaselly Dr. Smith.

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Related: Gay icon Jonathan Harris of Lost in Space dies

But what grounded the show wasnt the spaceships or alien worlds; it was the steady presence of the familys matriarch, Maureen Robinson, played by June Lockhart.

Long before she ventured into space, Lockhart had already become Americas mom on another beloved series, Lassie. The show followed the adventures of that famous collie and the humans whose lives she saved.

It ran for 19 seasons. Lassie became one of the most iconic programs in television history. Several actresses played the role of the boys mother over the years, but June Lockharts portrayal over six years made her the one everyone remembers most.

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June Lockhart died Thursday , closing the final chapter in a series of beloved TV moms from the 50s and 60s who are all gone. They included Barbara Billingsley on Leave it to Beaver, Jane Wyatt on Father Knows Best, and Florence Henderson on The Brady Bunch.

Lockharts career spanned more than eight decades, from her early work as a child actor on Broadway and in films to her celebrated television roles in the 1950s and 60s. Later in life, she became known for her sharp curiosity about the world.

She was famous for attending presidential press conferences, starting with Dwight Eisenhower, and engaging with journalists in the White House briefing room. When I worked on the Hill, I recall conversations about Lockhart being at the White House frequently.

Related: Karine Jean-Pierre explains why her new memoir, Independent , is a manifesto for a fractured democracy

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As I got older, my fondness for her only deepened. I remember being at a party years ago when her name came up, and a friend told me she had been a lifelong LGBTQ+ ally.

He was right. I went home and checked, and at arguably the height of her fame, Lockhart spoke out for our community when few others dared.

In a groundbreaking moment on The Virginia Graham Show in 1970, Lockhart joined Rev. Troy Perry , the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, for what would become one of televisions earliest and most courageous conversations about homosexuality. Remember, this aired less than a year after the Stonewall riots, at a time when the word gay was rarely spoken on television, much less discussed with dignity.

The conversation began with Rev. Perry explaining the principles behind his newly founded church, which offered a spiritual home for gay and lesbian Christians who had been rejected by their congregations. With calm conviction, he reminded viewers that human beings are entitled to seek love and happiness, whether in heterosexual or homosexual relationships.

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Related: Letters to President-elect Obama: Reverend Troy Perry

He spoke about homosexuality as a natural and enduring part of humanity, noting that between 4 percent and 10 percent of the population had always identified that way. His church, he said, was simply giving them a place to worship without shame.

Lockhart, sitting beside him, listened thoughtfully before weighing in. She told the audience that no one has the right to moralize about another persons life or identity, especially an experience they themselves have never lived.

It was a simple statement, but in 1970 it was a huge act of empathy, especially from someone whose public image was the very definition of mainstream wholesomeness.

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At that moment, Lockhart became one of the first celebrities to use her fame not to protect her career but to expand the countrys morality and acceptance. She made it clear that compassion was not incompatible with faith and that love should never be subject to someone elses approval.

More than 50 years later, that exchange still resonates. The LGBTQ+ community has come a long way since then, but Lockharts courage and Rev. Perrys endeavors helped make that progress possible.

Yes, June Lockhart was adventurous in her life, flew a blimp, drove a fire engine, rode elephants, embraced new experiences, and lived with vitality, but she was also sympathetic and supportive and ahead of her time.

While she will forever be remembered as a legendary TV mom, her legacy should also include her compassion, her willingness to stand up for what was right, and her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

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For that, she leaves behind many grateful gay fans, myself among them, who will always remember her not only as the mother who guided Will Robinson and Lassies Timmy but as a woman who helped guide America, toward greater understanding.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: In 1970, 'America's Mom' June Lockhart bravely spoke out defending 'homosexuals' when others wouldn't
Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, Ocean Safety and Honolulu Fire Department personnel rushed to Kaena Point this morning after two young men were found unresponsive in the ocean.

HFD sent nine units staffed with 26 personnel to the scene at about 9 :25 a.m., and began searching for the men after arriving at 9 :41 a.m.

Ocean Safety Department said a hiker called 911 and reported seeing two fishermen in distress off Kaena Point State Trail near Keawaula Beach (aka Yokohama Bay.)

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One of the fishermen was swept off the rocks, and the other jumped in to help, an Ocean Safety spokesperson said.

After searching for about 30 to 40 minutes, Ocean Safety personnel found the patients and brought them to shore at Yokohama Beach, and performed CPR.

Fire personnel also assisted with patient care, which was transferred to EMS.

EMS responded with multiple units and said the patients were found not breathing. EMS said personnel administered advanced life support and took both patients to a hospital in critical condition.

EMS spokesperson Shayne Enright said the victims were estimated to be in their late teens to early 20s.This breaking news story will be updated when more information becomes available.

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Chicago police said two people were shot inside a business in Bronzeville on Sunday morning.

The shooting happened at about 5:53 a.m. at Union Sub restaurant in the 100-block of East 51st Street, police said.

Two men, aged 18 and 19, were inside a business when a man started shooting, CPD said. The 18-year-old was shot in the right leg, and the 19-year-old was shot in the left calf.

Both victims were taken to area hospitals and were expected to be okay.

No other injuries were reported.

CPD is investigating. Nobody is in custody.

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NEED TO KNOW

On Saturday, Oct. 25, at least two suspects were arrested in connection with the jewelry heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, last weekend

According to local news outlets, one of the suspects was attempting to board a flight to Algeria before their arrest

It is believed that at least four individuals were involved in stealing jewelry worth millions from the famous museum

At least two suspects have been arrested after valuable jewels were stolen from the Louvre Museum in France.

On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Paris Banditry Repression Brigade (BRB) and the Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Goods (OCBC) led an investigation into the robbery that took place on Oct. 19 at the famous museum, according to French outlets Le Parisien and Paris Match.

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One suspect was arrested at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport at around 10 p.m. local time on Saturday, as they were allegedly attempting to board a plane to Algeria. A second suspect was arrested shortly after in Paris, according to the outlets.

The men, who are aged around 30 from Seine-Saint-Denis in France, are allegedly among four suspects who stole eight pieces of jewelry from the museum.

DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Louvre Museum in France Louvre Museum in France

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The arrests come after the Louvre allegedly moved some of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France, per the Metro.

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Thieves broke into the iconic Paris institution on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 19, and took just seven minutes to steal eight pieces of jewelry, linked to France's bygone monarchy, worth more than $100 million.

The thieves used small chainsaws and angle grinders to get to their targeted room, the AFP reported.

The jewels stolen included a sapphire tiara, a sapphire necklace and a single sapphire earring worn by Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, as well as a brooch known as the reliquary brooch, Reuters reported.

Also stolen were a matching emerald necklace and emerald earrings worn by Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon, as well as a tiara and large brooch that belonged to Empress Eugenie.

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The tiara was reportedly later found damaged outside the museum, according to Reuters.

Two of the suspected thieves accused of stealing the jewels wore yellow vests, posing as workers, while two others rode scooters.

Reuters reported that Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted the historical importance of the jewels.

"It is important to remember that this damage is an economic damage, but it is nothing compared to the historical damage caused by this theft," Beccuau said, according to the outlet.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two suspects believed to be driving a red Lexus that was last seen in Portland are being sought in a Vancouver homicide case, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said.

The dark red Lexus ES 350 sedan was last seen taking Exit 307 in Portland after traveling south on I-5 from Vancouver, officials said. The vehicle has a shattered rear window, rear-end damage and a broken taillight.

Portland City Councilors car, home damaged in fire

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Just before 8 a.m. Sunday, the sheriffs office said they responded to reports of gunshots in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 9400 block of NE 19th Avenue in Vancouver.

A man was then found by deputies in the front seat of a vehicle with a gunshot wound. Officials said he did not survive his injuries.

Witnesses reported that two black males, wearing masks, were seen going back and forth between the victim vehicle and a red Lexus after hearing the shots. The two male suspects then left the parking lot in the Lexus before arriving in Portland via I-5, the Clark County Sheriffs Office said in a release.

The suspects in the red Lexus, believed to be in their early 20s, should be considered armed and dangerous and not to be approached, authorities said.

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Anyone with information about the incident or who has seen the vehicle matching the description should contact 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
As the government shutdown continues, now lasting more than three weeks, many people are still wondering if theyre getting stimulus checks in October. Although Donald Trump has suggested that the government will hand out a fourth round of stimulus checks, its still not clear if people will get payments amid the shutdown, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

What did Donald Trump say about the possibility of people getting stimulus checks?

In an interview with One America News on Oct. 2, Trump said the government may give out about $1,000 to $2,000 per person.

Well pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America, he said in the interview, per the Statesman.

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Trump also said earlier this year that the revenue generated from new tariffs can help provide rebate checks to taxpayers in specific income brackets. However, Americans are still waiting for that idea to become a reality.

In February, the president said the government may give out $5,000 stimulus checks as part of a DOGE dividend. The plan, according to Trump, is part of the savings generated from Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Still, the administration hasnt yet released any additional details on the presidents plan.

What happened to the stimulus check plans proposed by Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley and other reps?

Earlier this year, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act of 2025, per AZ Central. The plan, he said, is to provide at least $600 per adult and dependent child or a payment of $2,400 for a family of four. Although the plan was referred to a Senate committee, there havent been any further updates on the proposal since September.

California Rep. Ro Khanna went to X earlier this month to suggest another idea for stimulus checks.

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2K stimulus check for Americans under $100K! Unfair tariffs jacked up pricesgive it back with $300+ billion tariff revenue. And undo the blanket tariffs driving up the cost of housing & groceries, Khanna wrote in the post, per AZ Central.

Khanna later added that hes prepared to officially propose his idea to Congress.

Trumps blanket tariffs jacked up prices. Lets give back $2,000 checks to Americans under $100K with the $300 billion collected. Im ready to introduce this in the House and get them, he wrote in an email to Newsweek.







The post $2000 Stimulus Checks On The Way? Heres What To Know Amid Government Shutdown appeared first on Blavity.
CHICAGO  A 23-year-old man died after being shot while inside a car Saturday afternoon on the citys West Side, according to Chicago police.

Police say the man was inside a vehicle in the 4100 block of West Jackson Boulevard, in Garfield Park, just after 3 p.m. when he was hit in the chest by gunfire. He was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead,

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

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Nobody is in custody, and police say area detectives are investigating.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
COOK COUNTY  The eastbound lanes of I-290 at Cicero Avenue have reopened after being closed following a two-vehicle crash early Sunday morning involving a box truck that rolled over and left debris in the roadway.

2 killed in crash on I-88 in North Aurora on Saturday night, ISP says

According to Illinois State Police, troopers responded to the scene around 5:20 a.m. for a two-vehicle crash with injuries involving a box truck that rolled over and a passenger vehicle. ISP says one passenger has been taken to the hospital, but no further information is available.

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Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Meanwhile, all lanes are closed due to the debris, and travelers are encouraged to seek an alternate route.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
NEED TO KNOW

A 3-year-old boy died at a police station in Australia

The child was brought to the station by his mother following a car crash on Saturday, Oct. 25

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, and the boys father has been charged

An investigation is underway after a 3-year-old boy died at a police station in Australia.

Police responded to a report of a traffic accident in Queensland on Saturday, Oct. 25, shortly before 5 a.m. local time, according to a press release issued by Queensland Police. Upon their initial investigation, they learned that a witness to the crash had assisted a 22-year-old woman and her young child  who was later identified as 3-year-old Caden Case  and took the pair to the nearby Beenleigh Police Station.

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Authorities said that a short time later, Caden became unresponsive while at the station. Police performed CPR on the child, but he died on the scene, per the release.

Police additionally stated that a 24-year-old man and a 1-year-old child had also been in the car at the time of the crash, but that the man took the younger child and fled the scene before authorities arrived.

In a press conference held later that day, Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney said that Caden was in a bad medical way prior to [his] arrival at the station, and that the boys mother had called emergency services prior to their arrival, per The Courier Mail.

He further said that Caden had sustained head injuries as a result of the crash.

Google Maps Beenleigh Police Station Beenleigh Police Station

Mooney went on to say that the man involved in the crash  who is believed to be the driver  was picked up by authorities at a home in the area later that morning. He also said that the man and woman involved were the parents of both children, though he noted that they are currently separated.

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The man has since been charged with breaching a domestic violence order and will appear in court on Monday, Oct. 27, according to Mooney, per The Courier Mail.

The circumstances of the crash are still being investigated, and both parents are cooperating with police, per the outlet.

On the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 25, Health Minister Tim Nicholls praised the responders on the scene at the police station at the time of Cadens death, calling them unsung heroes.

"[The news] I have received this morning from the Queensland Ambulance Service  is that it was quite a horrific circumstance they were presented with at the Beenleigh Police Station. I also want to thank our first responders, who are often the unsung and forgotten heroes in these tragic circumstances," he told reporters, per the Australian Broadcasting Company.



PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Queensland Police car Queensland Police car

A GoFundMe has since been established by Brittney Moffitt, the cousin of the woman involved in the crash.

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My cousin has tragically lost her 3-year-old son in a car accident due to domestic violence, Moffitt wrote on the fundraising page, calling the incident a mothers worst nightmare.

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All our hearts are breaking [and], I want to take a little pressure off her by asking for everyones help to raise some money for [her] sons funeral, she continued, adding that no mother should have to bury their baby, let alone have the stress of worrying about paying for it.

As of Sunday, Oct. 26, the GoFundMe has raised $2,100 toward an ultimate goal of $5,865.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article on People
We're about nine months into Donald Trump's second presidency, and we're already seeing cracks in his loyal base.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

From politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene criticizing Republicans for their role in the government shutdown and rising prices...

Related: People Are Revealing The Moments They Knew They Had To Get Out ASAP, And I'm Never Ignoring My Gut Feelings Again

...to former Trump voters protesting against his policies...

...more and more party members are speaking out.

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Related: People From Other Countries Are Pointing Out The Absolutely Horrifying Things Americans Think Are Perfectly Fine

Today is no different. A self-proclaimed "patriotic blonde" who is "unjabbed" and "unindoctrinated," recently called out Trump in a now-viral post

"Dear @POTUS," she wrote. "Darlin' it's time for an intervention. I voted for you three times. I worked for two of your presidential campaigns. I lost friends. I lost family due to my devotion to you and dedication to what I believed was your cause. Those days are over."

"Your entire administration this time around has been one enormous clusterfuck. You have bowed to other nations, putting them before your own, you are CLUELESS in regard to the economy and how much your people are suffering."

Related: My Eye Is Slightly Twitching After Looking At These 21 Photos Of People's Inconsiderate, Incompetent, And Downright Inappropriate Coworkers' Behavior

"This latest embarrassment where you've chosen to attack @RandPaul and @RepThomasMassie is simply pathetic," she continued. "Attacking the two men within our government who actually stand their ground on your behalf of the Constitution and the American people doesn't make you look 'badass.'"

"Sir, with all due respect, you are 79 years old," she said. "Your days of 'badass' are long since behind you. It makes you look unhinged."

Wpa Pool / Getty Images

"It makes you look like a bitter and like a jealous ex because so many of your former supporters have finally realized you are NOT the man we voted for and we've moved on to real men who actually have vested interest in what you promised to do: make this country great again," she concluded.

"You sound like a scored woman. What's next? Will We the People come home one day and find a rabbit boiling on our stove? Just stop. It's over."

Related: "I Was Dumbfounded That He Lived His Life Thinking That": 19 Adults Are Sharing The Most Unfathomable Things They've Ever Had To Explain To Another Grown Up

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WELL! What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.

Also in Internet Finds: 26 People Who Had Overwhelming Gut Instincts They Couldn't Ignore...And Were Right

Also in Internet Finds: People Are Revealing The Tattoos They Silently Judge Others For, And I'm Sorry But Your Ink Might Be On The List

Also in Internet Finds: 20 Deathtraps  Er, I Mean Ridiculously Dangerous Designs  That I Can't Believe People Actually Approved

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In a major breakthrough in its sustained campaign against organised crime, the Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana has arrested a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The accused has been identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha, a resident of Titram village in Kaithal district and a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been deported from the United States of America and arrested by the STF Ambala Unit after completion of all legal formalities. According to an official release, Lakhwinder Singh had been operating from the USA since 2022 under the directions Haryana STF arrests close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi Anmol Bishnoi and was actively involved in around a dozen cases of extortion and firing incidents related to extortion in Haryana and Punjab. Lakhwinder Singh has a significant criminal record in Haryana, including cases registered in Sonipat, Rohtak, Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal, and Ambala. A Look Out Circular (LOC) and Red Corner Notice (RCN) were issued against him in 2023 and 2024, respectively, by STF Haryana. After nearly a year of continuous coordination and legal follow-up with national and international agencies, his legal deportation from the USA has been successfully executed. He is being produced in the Ambala Court, and his police custody will be obtained. More details related to his criminal activities after he fled from India will be precise during further investigation. The STF Haryana remains steadfast in its mission to dismantle organised crime networks and is actively pursuing further legal processes to identify and deport other wanted criminals operating from abroad. (ANI)
Medicaid is a joint federal-state health insurance program that provides coverage for eligible individuals and households with limited financial resources. According to Medicaid, about 70.51 million individuals are enrolled. Another 7.24 million are enrolled in the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The Center for Medicare Advocacy (CMA) estimates that the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) cuts nearly $1 trillion in federal health care spending  and that the reductions will affect Medicaid more than Medicare, ACA marketplaces, medical student loans and all the other related programs that the legislation will impact in 2026.

Find Out: How Much the Average Middle-Class Retiree Spends Monthly at Age 65

Read Next: The 5 Car Brands Named the Least Reliable of 2025

States Will Lose Federal Dollars for Expanding Medicaid

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made Medicaid accessible to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level  $21,597 for an individual in 2025. It also incentivized the states to expand Medicaid by covering 90% of the costs.

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The OBBBA eliminates the incentive starting on Jan. 1, 2026, forcing states to shoulder a greater share of the burden for expanding Medicaid.

Discover More: Fidelity Says This Is a Surprising Risk of Holding Too Much Cash  Do You Have Too Much?

New Work Requirement Rules Will Restrict Enrollment

The OBBBA includes new work requirements that the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) calls harsh, rigid and red-tape-laden.

To get or keep coverage, applicants must now document at least 80 hours per month of:

Employment

Work program participation

Job training

At least half-time enrollment in an educational program

Community service

Any combination of the above

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The CBPP estimates the new qualifying criteria will put 9.9 million to 14.9 million people at risk of losing coverage by 2034. The provision must take effect no later than Jan. 1, 2027, but states have the option of implementing the revised work requirements in 2026, before the deadline.

More Frequent Eligibility Screenings Will Further Limit Access

The new work requirements will disproportionally affect expansion enrollees  but thats not the only roadblock that many of them will begin facing in 2026. The new rules also require states to reassess eligibility for expansion enrollees every six months, rather than annually. The CMA states that, historically, more frequent eligibility screenings increase the number of applicants who lose or are denied coverage, even if they still qualify.

Similar to the new work requirements, states can choose to implement the new screening frequency guidelines in 2026.

States Are Limited in Funding Medicaid by Taxing Providers

States impose so-called provider taxes on hospitals and other care providers to help fund Medicaid. The OBBBA prohibits states from establishing new provider taxes or raising those that they already levy.

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Following a familiar trend of maximizing savings in states that adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion, the OBBBA takes revenue restriction a step further by reducing existing provider taxes in expansion states by incrementally scaling back the so-called safe-harbor limit.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Biggest Changes Coming to Medicaid in 2026
NEED TO KNOW

Four people, including a 4-year-old child and 7-month-old baby, died in a South Carolina house fire on Oct. 26

The fire victims in Gaffney appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke, according to a Cherokee County coroner

The fire broke out while one of the victims was "attempting to refuel a kerosene heater," the coroner said

Four people, including two young children, died while trying to escape a house fire in upstate South Carolina  while another person escaped.

In the early morning on Sunday, Oct. 26, a fire broke out at a residence in Gaffney, and Kathy Shippy made it out of the blaze, Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE.

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As the fire spread at the one-story home, Kathy reported the fire at 1:40 a.m. by running across the street and asking a neighbor to call authorities, Fowler explained. According to the coroner, security footage shows the blaze had already enveloped much of the home by this time.

A doorbell camera on the neighbors house shows the structure was fully involved with fire at that time, Fowler said.

While Kathy escaped the blaze, four others did not, Fowler said: Willie Morris, 38, Dakeyia Shippy, 25, died in the fire, along with 4-year-old Mason Issac, and 7-month-old Jerekry McGill.



Gaffney City Fire Department/Facebook A Gaffney Fire & Rescue vehicle A Gaffney Fire & Rescue vehicle

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It is not immediately clear what the relationship is between the victims of the multiple fatality fire, but according to Fowler, they all lived in the home.

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The source of the fatal fire was traced to an indoor heater, according to Fowler. Kathy said that Morris was attempting to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home when fire erupted, the coroner said.



Fowler shared the tragic circumstances the deceased were discovered in.

Getty Police tape (stock image) Police tape (stock image)

All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house, the coroner said. They appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke, he said.

The coroner, along with Gaffney Fire Marshall and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating the fire. Autopsies have been scheduled as part of the effort.



Read the original article on People
Wait an hour before swimming, or youll drown." "Never shower in a thunderstorm. Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your eyes. If you get close to a train it will suck you in."

Those were some of the mom myths I heard growing up. They might have been myths, but even now, I dont shower in a storm or wander too close to a train.

There are also comfortable myths we remember from elementary school that humanized historical figures. George Washington had wooden teeth, Ben Franklin discovered electricity, and Paul Revere rode through the country shouting, The British are coming. We've all heard them. We probably all believed them. They were harmless exaggerations.

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But some myths arent harmless.

Its time to bust some of those harmful myths surrounding the Iowa DOGE committee recommendation for the Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS). There are over 400,000 Iowans covered by IPERS. Eliminating or drastically changing this retirement system would not only hurt those covered but would devastate Iowas economy.

More: Iowa's DOGE task force was supposed to be provocative. It's achieved that. | Opinion

Myth 1: A 403(b) is like IPERS

A 401(k) is available for the private sector. A 403(b) is used for nonprofits and government employees.Theres certainly nothing wrong with using a 403(b) to save for retirement, but the systems arent the same. IPERS is a defined benefit pension plan. It promises a specific monthly benefit to an employee upon retirement. Employees and employers contribute fixed amounts. Contributions are invested by IPERS.

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A 403(b) is a defined contribution plan. A defined contribution plan is a plan where an employee and often an employer contribute a chosen amount to an individual retirement plan. The final amount at retirement is based on the contributions and the investments. An employee might need an investment adviser.

Myth 2: Changing IPERS will save the state a lot

IPERS is funded through a combination of investment earnings and employee and employer contributions. Investment returns fund approximately 70% of IPERS, with employee and employer contributions funding the remainder. Actuaries consider IPERS one of the better funded pensions in the country

So, wouldnt the state save big on its IPERS contribution if new public employees were changed to a 403(b) system?

The short answer is no, unless the plan is for the state, never to contribute toward employee retirement. Generally, in a 403(b) system the employer matches or provides some contribution to employee retirement. Without an employers contribution toward retirement, it would be extremely difficult to recruit employees.

Myth 3: IPERS is a free employee benefit

In most public sector bargains, the cost of IPERS is included. For example, if the bargain is a 3% total package, that package includes the cost of IPERS. Public school employees contribute 6.29% of their gross salary and the employer contributes 9.44% for a total contribution of 15.73%. The state, cities, and counties use similar employee/employer percentages, but they vary slightly based on job titles.

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More: Better than DOGE? Focus Iowa's budget on what you get, not what you cut | Opinion

Myth 4: Its possible to change the retirement system for new employees only

That change would underfund the system. IPERS funding is based on a large pool of employees/employers participating. If new employees are moved to another system, the funding will crash. Its the same reason allowing young people to opt out of Social Security is a terrible idea.

Myth 5: Iowa DOGE is looking at the whole picture

The Iowa DOGE recommendation was to bring public sector worker retirement in line with the private sector. What task force members conveniently ignored was the wage gap between the public sector and private.

For example, according to the Economic Policy institute, public school teachers earn an estimated 17.1% less than similarly degreed professionals.

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IPERS is a self-funded pension system that does not receive money from the state general fund. Its not broken. It doesnt need fixing.

Bruce Lear

Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City. He has been connected to public schools for 38 years. He taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional director for 27 years until he retired. Contact: bruceLear2419@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: IPERS seems poorly understood; here are the facts | Opinion
Two fires in Western Maryland this weekend resulted in a total of five police officers being taken to the hospital, the displacement of nine people and the collapse of a town home.

The first fire occurred around 5:23 p.m. Saturday at a two-story town home in Hagerstown. According to the Maryland State Fire Marshall, Hagerstown Police were working a post during the Mummers Day Parade near East Lee Street when they were alerted of a possible fire at a home on the street.

After confirming the presence of the fire, officers forced entry into the home and extinguished it using a fire extinguisher before the local fire department arrived, the fire marshal said.

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Five Hagerstown City Police Department officers were transported to Meritus Medical Center for smoke inhalation, and one officer was later transported to Johns Hopkins Bayview Burn Center for additional treatment, according to the fire marshal.

The fire marshal said the fire occurred in the kitchen of the home when vegetable oil on a stovetop accidentally ignited.

Hours later, around 12:51 a.m. Sunday, fire crews in Frederick County were alerted to the 1600 block of Jennings Court for the report of a fire at a town home.

Fire officials said that upon arrival, there was heavy fire showing from the home, which was located in the middle of a row of town homes. The blaze went to a second alarm, officials said.

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While crews worked to control the blaze and see if it had spread to adjoining homes, the rear of the burning home collapsed, according to fire officials.

Around 2:03 a.m., Frederick fire officials reported that the entire town home had collapsed and that the fire had extended to both neighboring residences.

All occupants were out of the structure before it collapsed. One person was evaluated for smoke inhalation but refused to be transported to the hospital, officials said.

Fire officials said a total of five adults and four children were displaced because of the fire and are being assisted by Red Cross.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  A man was killed in a shooting that occurred Saturday night in Birminghams Wylam community, according to the Birmingham Police Department.

At around 7:09 p.m. Saturday evening, West Precinct officers responded to a report of a person shot in the 900 block of Erie Street. Officers observed an adult male unresponsive in a vehicle and suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. The victim was identified as Vincento Davis, 61, of Birmingham.

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Northport man, 72, killed in Tuscaloosa County crash

According to the BPD, the preliminary investigation indicates that a community heard gunshots, found the victim and called 911.

There is no suspect in custody at this time. Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Ofir Akunis said that Israel will insist upon the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, which are conditions in the second part of the US-brokered Gaza deal.

In the next several months, several countries may join the Abraham Accords, Consul General of Israel in New York, Ofir Akunis, said on Sunday during a meeting with Israeli mayors and council heads at the Jewish National Fund-USA's "Global Conference for Israel" in Hollywood, California.

However, Akunis warned, at the same time, Hamas and Hezbollah are rehabilitating.

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"In the coming months, we expect positive announcements from countries in our region and even from more distant ones, who will join the Abraham Accords," he said, describing the possibility as an enormous economic opportunity for Israel.

US President Donald Trump told Time Magazine last week that Saudi Arabia would "lead the way toward the Abraham Accords."

US Vice President JD Vance said that "expanding the Abraham Accords will allow for [regional] stability that will hopefully last," while at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

US VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Ministers Office in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Over the last two weeks, the stream of high-level US visitors has been extraordinary, says the writer. (credit: REUTERS/Nathan Howard)

Israel and the US have the "difficult tasks ahead," of disarming Hamas and ensuring it no longer poses a threat to Israel while also rebuilding Gaza, the vice president stressed.

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"I think we've had a lot of good conversations with our friends in the Israeli government, but also with our friends in the Arab world who are stepping up and volunteering to play a very positive role in this. So we're going to keep working at it."

Hamas, Hezbollah rebuilding, rearming

Akunis continued that on "the flip side of progress towards normalization is the significant armament of Hezbollah in Lebanon and the presence of armed Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip."

He added that Israel will insist upon the demilitarization of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas, which are conditions in the second part of the US-brokered Gaza deal.

Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, a senior Hamas official told Reuters last week, adding he could not commit to the group disarming - positions that reflect the difficulties facing US plans to secure an end to the war.

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Since the US-brokered Gaza deal, Hamas has been amping up public executions and beatings and has targeted opposing clans in Gaza.

The Palestinian terror group has also reportedly resumed recruiting, re-arming, and reorganizing, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, citing interviews with security experts on the ground and open source data.
During an Oct. 15 press conference at the White House, President Donald Trump claimed that the people of Chicago, most notably beautiful Black women, are walking around the city in MAGA hats, begging for federal forces to rid the city of crime. Please let the president in and we dont care how he does it  National Guard, Army, Navy, bring in the Marines, he imagined these people saying, especially, in his view, because of the success that we had in D.C.

Trump has continued to allege that Black women in MAGA hats are all over the place in Chicago. They dont want to be mugged and shot and everything else, he said earlier this week, going on to bash Democrats for claiming a federal invasion of the nations third-largest city is an unnecessary and illegal intimidation stunt.

Since Trump returned to office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have swarmed the nation, conducting raids, as well as kidnapping, detaining, and tear-gassing residents of predominantly Democratic cities. The president has sent the National Guard into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., while repeatedly pushing to do the same in Chicago as ICE terrorizes its communities. The immigration crackdown in Chicago has grown so intense that on Oct. 16, U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis ordered all immigration officers in the city to wear body cameras, noting that shes been startled by television footage of ICEs violent conduct.

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Trump is justifying the force by framing Chicago as a war zone in need of federal intervention, along with the oft-repeated yarn about people of color pleading for the United States military to occupy their neighborhoods.

Local officials have been pushing back on the presidents absurd narrative. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker explained to Politico that in reality, crime is down substantially in Chicago, and that Trump just wants to show off that he is in fact an authoritarian and can do whatever it is that he wants. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson echoed this sentiment, telling Fox 32 Chicago that what the Trump administration is doing is unconstitutional and absolutely abhorrent, and that Chicagos gonna stand firm.

The resistance has been working so far, at least as far as keeping the National Guard out of the city. On Wednesday, a federal judge indefinitely extended an order preventing federal forces from entering Chicago. U.S. District Judge April Perry initially instituted the order on Oct. 9, ruling that the troops can remain in the state, but cant be sent to Chicago because, as she asserts, theres no danger of rebellion by citizens.

Chicagos residents may not be staging a rebel uprising to the point that sending in the National Guard is actually warranted, but theyre also not flooding the streets in MAGA hats pleading for Trump to liberate the city. What they are doing is working to protect the vulnerable people in their communities as ICE sweeps through the city.

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Rolling Stone spoke to several activists who have organized to create protective systems for Chicagoans. One of them is Lucy, a member of one of Chicagos rapid response teams who wishes to remain anonymous, and who helps lend aid to immigrants being detained by ICE. They are snatching people off the street that they perceive to be easy targets, she says.

Organizers fighting Trumps deportation agenda have created a community hotline, where people can leave tips of upcoming raids or call in to get support for those actively being detained. We are a network of volunteers who cover every neighborhood in Chicago, we collect information on agents and those being detained, and we send that over to a network of lawyers and legal support, Lucy says. The only accountability is coming from the community. Chicago is well-connected and organized, we are able to show up in minutes.

Theres been plenty to respond to.

On Sept. 12, ICE agents fatally shot Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in Franklin Park, Illinois. The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Gonzalez drove his car toward agents and later crashed into a delivery truck. But body camera footage revealed that the truck driver, Josue Hernandez-Rodriguez, told authorities that Gonzalez was trying to escape from them.

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On Oct. 4, 30-year-old Marimar Martinez was shot and charged with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer after immigration officers claimed she and 21-year-old Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz rammed their cars into a car carrying U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers; Martinezs lawyers have called out inconsistencies in the officers stories and court documents.

ICE has deployed tear gas numerous times against protesters, including during an Oct. 3 incident in the Logan Square neighborhood that forced students at a nearby elementary school to run back into the building. Theyve also used pepper balls, and on Sept. 19 even shot a pastor in the head with one at an anti-ICE protest in the suburb of Broadview.

The hardest hit have been people of color living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The cheaper neighborhoods are not the white ones, says Dixon Romeo, executive director of Chicago-based community organization Southside Together, noting that those looking for the most affordable housing live close to or within a Black or Latino neighborhood, which are the neighborhoods that ICE is occupying.

The truth is the south side of Chicago has been under attack by the federal government for decades, Romeo says. From redlining to cutting federal funding that hurts housing in the neighborhood, which makes things unaffordable. They are creating the war zone and then calling it a war zone. It was not that before. If you want to really help folks in Chicago, we need resources, not boots on the ground in terms of ICE.

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Romeo calls Southside Together a community group that organizes around making sure that housing, health justice, and environmental justice are prevalent in our neighborhoods. The group fights for ordinances throughout Chicago, including in the South Shore neighborhood, which he calls the eviction capital of the city. Romeo says that ICEs presence is akin to a second attack on residents of the impoverished neighborhood. We already got these issues that weve been dealing with that are systemic, that are connected to the city and state prioritizing Chicago Bears stadium and quantum centers [over] putting money in our schools and making stuff affordable. So it is another layer to the pressure that folks already feel day to day.

Romeo points to the Sept. 30 ICE raid of a 130-unit South Shore apartment complex populated largely by undocumented Venezuelan immigrants. ICE detained almost everyone in the building  including children and babies. Romeo empathizes with the immigrants who were there, noting how Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been sending migrants to Chicago in buses since 2022. You send a bunch of people here in flip-flops and shorts in the dead of winter, no coordination with the city  folks may or may not get housed, Romeo says. Then you send [ICE] up here to come get em. It just feels like a very nasty game to play with peoples lives.

A few hours following the raid, Maira Khwaja, a community journalist with the Invisible Institute, took a walk through the South Shore apartments. The level of neglect was unthinkable. Mattresses were flipped over and all peoples belongings were pulled off; you could tell there was no respect for the people or their stuff, she says. To make matters worse, residents were already living in alarming conditions. The buildings elevator doors were broken, and years of water damage resulted in a strong smell of mold. Just really abusive and inhumane housing conditions, Khwaja says. Police prey on the poorest among us, so of course they did it in a neighborhood and building where they thought no one would care.

Khwaja says significantly fewer people remained in the complex. Its 130 units in the building; I would estimate only 20 are still occupied. As far as everyone else? I assume theyre homeless or left if they could. But everyone that got arrested, their stuff was thrown away.

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The crackdown in Chicago comes as ICEs siege has intensified across the country, and as Trump has pushed to use the might of the military to intimidate Democratic cities, while casting his opponents as the enemy within. The president just in the past week has vowed to send troops into San Francisco, before pulling back on the plan, while continuing to cast Portland, Oregon, as burning to the ground and in need of federal intervention  a total invention. The National Guard late last month deployed to Memphis, another city where crime is declining. Trump has floated cities like New York and Baltimore as potential targets, as well.

Trump seems to view the federal occupation of D.C. this summer as a model for a nationwide intimidation campaign  as he noted during his story about Black women in MAGA hats clamoring for troops to invade Chicago.

Trump ordered the emergency occupation of D.C. by the National Guard in August, calling it an effort to rescue the nations capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor. Never mind that violent crime is at a 30-year-low in the city, despite a spike in 2023.

Abel Nunez, executive director of D.C.-based immigrant advocacy organization Carecen, says the operation merely allowed National Guardsmen and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to aid ICE agents in their ongoing effort to detain and deport undocumented people.

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When you look at the numbers, over half of the arrests are immigration related with no other criminal act attached to it. [CBS News reports that 40 percent are immigration-related.] A lot of the other agencies were there to do immigration enforcement. Nunez says that the bulk of ICEs presence has been in D.C.s heavily Latino and Hispanic communities, including Mount Pleasant, several residents of which spoke to Rolling Stone about their horrific experience amid the emergency order.

Among them were Stephanie, a 19-year-old who wished to remain anonymous, and whose father was detained by ICE on his way to work. Neighbors alerted her on a summer morning that an unknown car was parked outside their apartment complex. The first-generation Salvadoran American went downstairs and saw a blue Nissan Rogue with tinted windows and New York license plates, and she realized that it fit the telltale signs of an ICE vehicle. She informed her father about the car, but he insisted that he needed to leave anyway and get to work. After walking him to his car, Stephanie says the vehicle followed her father down the block and arrested him.

Its been hard, the only child said in September as her father awaited a hearing while detained in Richmond. Never in a million years [did I think] my father will be detained. Were super careful going outside. So for me, for me, this is a dream. My mom cant do anything. Im the one whos moving around. Of course, the Mount Pleasant community [helps], Im not alone, but the pressure is on me.

Dana, a Mount Pleasant mother of two who also wished to remain anonymous, said the area is among the most well-organized neighborhoods Ive lived in, with residents communicating with each other about ICE sightings and escorting undocumented people around the neighborhood. Fellow resident and activist Ryan OLeary concurs, noting that in the midst of the occupation order, he saw residents stopping to film ICE agents while they roamed the neighborhood, and in one instance heckled them out of the community.

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In both D.C. and Chicago, residents have banded together in various ways to withstand the raids, including information sharing. OLeary notes some of the ways you can just tell when someone is an ICE agent, from cars with tinted windows and out-of-state plates, to how they dress, to their watch face on the back of the wrist instead of the front. Romeo says that ICE agents have the same look in Chicago, noting sometimes theyre in U-Haul trucks and dressed in plainclothes. Theyre trying to sneak up and surprise people, he says.

Advocacy groups are also helping educate at-risk residents. Fred Tsao, the senior policy director council at the Illinois Commission for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), says hes done multiple presentations for mayors in surrounding Illinois cities, providing information on how to keep their residents safe amid the ICEs incursion. Along with the presentations, the ICIRR conducts know your rights training and deploys rapid responders to field the hundreds of daily calls they get regarding ICE sightings and raids.

Residents knowing their rights is crucial given the recklessness of ICEs operations. Trump has dwindled ICE training from 13 weeks to 47 days in an effort to bolster the agencys force rapidly. And with Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller pumping up arrest quotas, cities are facing the nightmare of poorly trained agents detaining anyone and everyone they think could be undocumented  a racial-profiling disaster. They figure if we arrest someone that wasnt supposed to be arrested, itll get cleared up upstream in the courts or the detention center, Nunez says. Tsao says the arrest them all, sort em out later mindset also reigns in Chicago, with residents being targeted because of the shade of their skin, the way they speak, or how they present themselves.

Tsao references 60-year-old Salvadoran Ruben Antonio Cruz, who was given a $130 ticket by ICE agents in Chicago for not having his green card on him. He told NBC Chicago, I was looking at my phone when they got out and asked, Do you have your papers? I told them yes, but that they were at home  that I could show them if they wanted, but they said no.

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Chicago, like D.C. in the midst of the emergency order, faces a climate where undocumented people are scared to leave the house, affecting their livelihoods and their childrens schooling. While ICCIR and allied organizations are dropping off groceries and escorting undocumented people around the city, the anxiety remains. Tsao and Nunez agree that the lasting consequence of ICEs assault on Black and brown people could further fracture community relations between residents and the government.

We do, of course, get really worried about the impact of these operations on families, on communities overall, Tsao says. But many people are better able to push back, to monitor, to report, to go to rallies, to join rapid response teams, and are doing so. If theres anything good thats coming out of that, its those people who are trying to be good allies who are standing in solidarity and trying to join in our efforts to protect our folks.

From our perspective, Trump and his people have four years of experience in government, and four years of planning, Nunez explains. Project 2025 is something that we knew was going to be implemented, although during the campaign, he said otherwise. Immigrants have been his target from the first announcement of his campaign. He says Congress bears some of the blame. This goes to both parties; they kicked the can down the road until you have an executive that not only took advantage of the issue, ran on it, but now is implementing a very cruel, vicious enforcement work that only is there to intimidate communities so that they would leave on their own.

Trump is justifying the terrorization of these communities with a torrent of misinformation about whats happening in the affected cities and how their residents are responding to his administrations actions. It doesnt seem like the intimidation campaign isnt going to let up any time soon. Hes going to do more of them, an administration official told Rolling Stone following the D.C. occupation, referring to the president using crime as a predicate to send troops into Democratic cities. He promised he would do this, and now hes following through on those promises.

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If you call the Rev. Justin Lester in the middle of the night, theres a good chance youll hear his voice on the other end.

Well, its sort of his.

The voice is coming from an AI responder trained on hundreds of his sermons, writings and speaking style, programmed to sound like the California pastor.

The Rev. Justin Lester, a pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Vallejo, Calif., has integrated AI in his work leading a congregation. | Deanna Shipman

The Rev. Lester, who leads Friendship Baptist Church-Vallejo in California, uses AI to respond to emails, directly schedule meetings and tend to myriad administrative tasks that take hours  all without him doing a thing.

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It just automatically knows what I would say, he said.

Using AI freed the Rev. Lester up to do what he as a pastor had been trained to do  preach the gospel and shepherd his community by visiting hospitals, retirement centers and building relationships. By offloading tasks to AI, he got about five hours of his week back.

I didnt go to school for emailing, communication or financial balancing, said the Rev. Lester, who gets about 70 to 80 emails a day. I went to school to preach the gospel, to care for people and to lead Gods people.

He will say without hesitation that AI made him a better pastor.

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He is, however, skeptical about what AI can do for the spiritual side of life, like using it to write a sermon or relying on a chatbot to seek an answer to a morally complex question.

I would not say by any stretch of the imagination that AI has made me deeper in the heart of God, the Rev. Lester said.

As AI seeps into nearly every corner of life  including faith and worship  leaders like the Rev. Lester are wrestling with where to draw the line: which tasks to delegate, which questions to leave human, and how these tools shape both their own spiritual practice and the well-being of their congregations.

The issue is global. Last week, religious leaders from across the world gathered at the Vatican to discuss the impact of AI on religion.

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The same technology that eases administrative burdens  especially in small churches  also prompts unsettling questions: If answers to lifes deepest dilemmas are only a prompt away, what becomes of the pastor as teacher, guide and shepherd? The challenge is no longer whether churches adopt AI, but how they use it with discernment, so that it enriches faith rather than hollowing it out.

Churches embracing AI

Back in 2023, just as ChatGPT was beginning to spread into everyday life, many religious leaders expressed skepticism about AI. One survey at the time found that 43% of church leaders said they were uncomfortable with the idea of using AI in church settings, and more than half voiced concern about the ethical and moral implications of these tools.

But attitudes have shifted.

By 2025, nearly 90% of faith leaders surveyed now say they support using AI in some form of ministry, according to The State of AI in the Church 2025 survey, conducted by Exponential, a community of faith leaders, and ChurchTechToday.com. The study polled more than 600 pastors and church staff from over 20 denominations.

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Usage is climbing fast, too. Today, 61% of church leaders report using AI tools daily or weekly  thats up from 43% just a year ago. A majority of preachers, 64%, now say they use AI for sermon preparation, marking a nearly 20-point increase in one year.

The faith tech industry has been booming with chatbot apps like Bible Chat and Hallow soaring in the App Store charts, as The New York Times recently reported.

Youd think the churches are laggards in technology, but theyre embracing this, said Kenny Jahng, editor-in-chief of ChurchTechToday.com and founder of AiForChurchLeaders.com, who spearheaded the survey.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints talks with Father Paolo Benanti, right, and Father John Paul Kimes during the Rome Summit on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in Rome on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025. | Jeffrey D. Allred, for the Deseret News

Concerns over the moral compass of AI

Yet, amid the optimism, church leaders across faiths have also been sounding the alarm about the dangers of AI crossing into the domain of the sacred.

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Pope Leo XIV recently refused to create an AI version of himself, calling the technology an empty, cold shell and pointed out the risk of losing humanity as wealthy people invest in this technology. He said that its very difficult to discover the presence of God in AI.

Speaking at the Rome Summit on Ethics and Artificial Intelligence in Vatican City earlier this week, Elder Gerrit W. Gong, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said those gathering share a deep commitment that AIs moral compass not be dictated solely by technology or the small group developing the technology.

He announced the launch of a multifaith task force charged with developing a tool that will evaluate how accurately various AI programs portray faith.

When we promote human-centric, accurate and respectful, ethical and faith-based standards for artificial intelligence and embed within AI moral grounding and moral compass, he said, we embrace our divine identity and purpose and promote human flourishing for the common good.

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In August, while speaking at Brigham Young University, Elder Gong cautioned that AI cannot provide inspired divine truth or independent moral guidance.

He continued: As a creation of God, man can create AI, but AI cannot create God.

Wild, wild world

One of the biggest concerns for some leaders is what Jahng calls theological misalignment, which could result as congregants look up different interpretations of teachings and scriptures that may clash with their pastors ideas.

If the pastor knows that their congregation is just Googling or YouTubing things  that might get interpretations or guidance or answers that are completely in conflict, he said.

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The State of AI in the Church survey also revealed widespread concerns about safety of personal data that is processed by AI.

Beyond doctrinal concerns, there is a more existential worry among experts: Can we preserve humanity in the face of AI?

The coming AI revolution is an assault on human dignity, said Neylan McBaine, adviser at AI and Faith. McBaine has also led interfaith and policy partnerships at Project Liberty. Its an assault on what it means to be an independent thinker, and the essence of agency is kind of at risk, she said.

She recently launched a podcast with venture capital attorney James Wigginton to help faith leaders from different traditions better understand AI and how to talk to their communities about it.

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Most churches have yet to establish clear policies or theological guidelines for how AI should be integrated into congregational life, the survey found. But some groups are thinking ahead.

At its 2023 annual meeting, the Southern Baptist Convention adopted a resolution on artificial intelligence, urging utmost care and discernment, upholding the unique nature of humanity as the crowning achievement of Gods creation in its use. The statement underscored both the promise of AI as a tool and the risks of treating it as anything more than that.

In March of 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued Guiding Principles for the Church of Jesus Christs Use of Artificial Intelligence. AI does not replace divinely appointed sources, but, if used correctly, it can be a powerful tool for helping earnest seekers of truth search and access such sources, the Church of Jesus Christ has stated.

Jahng notes the importance of talking about AI and the guardrails within the church setting.

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I think its going to be a wild, wild world in the future, Jahng predicts.

Practical vs. spiritual

The Rev. Lesters turn to AI at church was spurred by necessity rather than following the latest trend. Coming out of COVID with a sparse budget, he needed a do-it-yourself solution for ministry resources. So he got help writing discussion guides for his churchs small group studies.

It was honestly survival, he said. We couldnt afford to buy a bunch of stuff.

Increasingly he began relying on AI for more complex tasks and eventually it was doing the heavy lift for the church in planning events, fundraising, writing and sending volunteer follow-up emails. The Rev. Lesters team added a Spanish online campus  30% of his congregation are Spanish-speaking  by having AI translate all his sermons in Spanish.

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That shift freed up resources for different priorities.

I dont have to hire another preacher, but a counselor and a care person to care for people as they join our church, the Rev. Lester said.

He also has a robotic dog at church that can chat with visitors, a way to spark curiosity and engagement with attendees.

Recently, the Rev. Lester built his own AI avatar, trained on his sermons and writings, that can be summoned by the members of his church at any time, although some functions are behind a paywall. The avatar has taken on a life of its own, the Rev. Lester said recently, and started getting a bit too churchy, serving up ample scripture references when he asked the avatar to share a budget with his team.

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Its weird, but yet cool, he said.

But when it comes to deepening his spiritual life and relationship with the divine, the Rev. Lester is skeptical.

I would not say by any stretch of the imagination that AI is helping me understand God. He added, Its not helping me speak truth to power.

For him, the moments of real spiritual transformation still come the old-fashioned way  through prayer and quiet solitude, where his humanity and connection with the divine are unmediated by technology.

McBaine and Wigginton argue that AI without proper intent has little good. Corporations are wired to extract profits from AI technologies, often at the expense of what makes us human  human dignity and free will, McBaine said.

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What faith communities can contribute now, Wigginton noted, is imbuing AI with the right intent. That can be solving polarization, entering in peace dialogues and growing faith communities.

That is religions specialty and it has been for thousands of years, he said.

A concern threaded through McBaines conversations with hundreds of faith leaders over the past year, was that AI, especially chatbot companions, risks stripping away the friction of real relationships  uncertainty and discomfort that often shape character.

One of the things we have to wrestle with is independent and critical thinking, she said. Why are we here? What kind of person do we want to be? These are the questions that religion offers.

Whats clear is that AI has arrived, and it isnt going anywhere. The more urgent question is how leaders will guide its use responsibly and ethically.

Companies leading the way?

Some companies have ideas.

For instance, the Tapos App set out to create trusted sources of wisdom with AI trained on a repository of spiritual and theological teachings of a particular church or pastor.

Trust is the biggest thing, said Preston Pope, the founder of Tapos. People can chat with their faith leader, search for answers, generate bedtime stories  all across one set of teachings. There is a bottleneck that pastors cant meet with every single congregant every single day at 2 in the morning when theyre struggling with anxiety.

He recalled a time his Uber driver opened up about his addiction, and Pope promptly pulled up AI trained on his church content on addiction and within seconds, he was praying with the driver and offering comfort on the topic of addiction. These AI-trained knowledge bases can be a kind of extension of Sunday wisdom at all times, Pope said.

Another company, Sermon Shots, aims to extend the reach and longevity of sermons by using AI to create bite-sized clips for social media. The company now works with roughly 8,000 churches. In an unexpected way, AI can actually enhance human connection, said Corey Alderin, the founder of Sermon Shots.

AI can help the church do all the things that are not connected with people, he said. So that they can spend more time connecting with people.

Shifting roles

As more people turn to AI to help them curate and personalize their spiritual seeking, people will be forming theology without accountability or pastoral guidance, Jahng said.

What may happen is people arrive at church with more preformed opinions, he explained. Youll get richer dialogue, but also more fragmented dialogue.

In this new environment, the role of pastors may be evolving too.

The job shifts from being primarily knowledge-based and an answer-giver, Jahng said. Now, pastors need to teach the skill of discernment. They become curators of wisdom rather than information givers.

The Rev. Lester worries about the deification of AI, with people treating it as an authority or even a kind of benevolent presence that shows a grace of its own through seeing us and (giving) us gifts we dont deserve.

Were trying to make AI human when AI needs to be AI, he said.

Preaching, writing sermons, wrestling with theological questions  these things should remain difficult. If theyre not, he says, youre just not doing it right.

These tools dont shape us, the Rev. Lester said. We shape them.
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Already short-staffed air traffic controllers are feeling the strains of the nearly month-long government shutdown, and will not be paid this week as the government shutdown continues.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Sunday that air traffic controllers are "wearing thin," with 22 air traffic controller staffing triggers occurring at airports across the country on Saturday.

The triggers are an internal alert to signal when staffing levels fall below safe or acceptable limits for operations.

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"They get a notice of what they're going to be paid on Tuesday, and they got a big fat zero. No paycheck is coming on Tuesday, and so I've been out talking to our air traffic controllers, and you can see the stress," Duffy told host Maria Bartiromo on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" show.

Many controllers are calling out sick, missing work or taking second jobs to make ends meet as the government shutdown has stretched on for 26 days -- making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

"These are people that oftentimes live paycheck to paycheck, or one controller has a stay-at-home spouse," Duffy said. "They're concerned about gas in the car. They're concerned about childcare and mortgages. And so, I'm seeing the stress come for the controllers."

Duffy was interviewed just before KABC-TV reported that the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a temporary ground stop around 8:42 a.m. Sunday morning for flights arriving at Los Angeles International Airport because of staffing issues.

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A spokesperson for the airport told the broadcaster that the ground stop order only applied to flights leaving from Oakland and that the order was lifted just after 10:30 a.m.

Staffing shortages were also behind delays at Newark Liberty International Airport and Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, as well as Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers, Florida.

Duffy said that travelers should expect additional delays throughout the week.

Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that military personnel will start missing paychecks by Nov. 15 if the government shutdown continues.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed patriotism as an emotion beyond words and said that Vande Mataram is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling. In the 127th episode of "Mann Ki Baat" monthly radio programme, PM Modi said the "timeless anthem" continues to awaken patriotism and unity among Indians. He also announced that this year marks the 150th year of the 'Vande Mataram' song. Describing the song as a powerful symbol of national pride, PM Modi said, "India's national song, 'Vande Mataram', a song whose very first word evokes a surge of emotions in our hearts. 'Vande Mataram', this one word contains so many emotions, so many energies. In simple terms, it makes us experience the maternal affection of Ma Bharati. It makes us aware of our responsibilities as children of Ma Bharati." The Prime Minister highlighted how the chant of "Vande Mataram" has long served as a rallying cry for unity. "If there is a moment of difficulty, the chant of 'Vande Mataram' fills 140 crore Indians with the energy of unity. Patriotism, love for Ma Bharati, if this is an emotion beyond words, then 'Vande Mataram' is the song that lends tangible voice form to that abstract feeling," he said. Tracing its origins, PM Modi recalled that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay composed "Vande Mataram" in the 19th century "to infuse new life into an India weakened by centuries of servitude." He added, "It might have been written in the 19th century, but its spirit is connected to the immortal consciousness of India that is thousands of years old." Connecting the song's message to India's ancient wisdom, the Prime Minister said the Vedas laid the foundation of the Indian civilization. "Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, by penning 'Vande Mataram', enshrined that same relationship between the motherland and its children as a mantra in the universe of emotions." PM Modi highlighted that on November 7, the country will be entering the 150th year of the celebration of Vande Mataram. The song was composed 150 years ago, and in 1896, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore sang it for the first time. He further said, "We must also make the 150th year of 'Vande Mataram' memorable. We have to carry forward this stream of values for the coming generations. In the times to come, there will be many programs related to 'Vande Mataram', many events will be organized in the country. I would like all of us countrymen to make efforts with a spontaneous spirit to glorify 'Vande Mataram'." Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
Allina Healthcare doctors, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners could strike next month if they cant come to a contract agreement with their employer.

On Friday, Doctors Council SEIU announced plans for a one-day Unfair Labor Practice strike on Nov. 5 if an agreement isnt reached during upcoming bargaining sessions.

The union represents more than 600 Allina doctors, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners at 61 clinics.

The council voted to unionize in 2023, making it the largest private-sector doctor's union in the United States.

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Since February 2024, the union says its been involved in 50 bargaining sessions with Allina to work out its first contract.

Credit: Tony Webster via Flickr

During those sessions, Dr. Nick VenOsdel, a pediatrician at Allinas Hastings clinic, claims Allina had refused to negotiate basic contract items, including health care, retirement and sick leave.

VenOsdel also pointed to turnover and burnout among physicians.

At this point we do not see a way to make further progress if we do not announce a strike, VenOsdel said in a video announcement.

If we dont do this, what were looking at is taking what Allinas ofering And really the fear is if we do that, we are going to see primary care continue to get worse at Allina.

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The union is also asking for minimum staffing levels to address shortages. Dr. Cora Walsh, a family physician at the Allina West St. Paul Clinic, said inadequate staffing has resulted in wait times of more than an hour for patients to have their labs drawn after seeing a provider.

The union chose a one-day strike in order to minimize the impact on patient care, VenOsdel said.

Upcoming bargaining sessions are on Oct. 29 and Nov. 3.

In a statement, Allina said that the union's demands for "significant compensation increases and extreme benefits proposals are simply not realistic or sustainable."

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"Given the rising health care insurance costs, the ongoing financial challenges for health care providers and anticipated reductions in reimbursements and programs like Medicaid, we cannot agree to a contract that will add significant new costs and will undermine our ability to operate and serve the community," it said.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
By Steven Scheer

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -American Airlines said on Sunday it would resume flights to Israel in March, after the U.S. carrier halted the New York JFK to Tel Aviv route following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the two-year war in Gaza.

American said it would re-launch its flights from JFK on March 28.

U.S. rivals Delta and United have already resumed flights to Israel.

Many foreign carriers halted flights to Tel Aviv after October 7 and stayed away for long stretches during the past two years due to intermittent missile fire from Iran and Yemen.

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That largely left flag-carrier El Al Israel Airlines, and smaller Israeli airlines Arkia and Israir , operating international routes, but with demand far higher than supply, airfares soared.

In the wake of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, many foreign airlines have restarted flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways, SAS, Iberia and Swiss are slated to resume flights this week.

When American resumes flights, it will become the fifth carrier to fly nonstop to Israel from the United States, along with El Al, Arkia, Delta and United.

In addition to daily flights from Newark, United later is expected to also add flights to Tel Aviv from Washington (November 2) and Chicago (November 1).

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Passenger traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv was up 25% over the first nine months of 2025 to 13.6 million, according to the Israel Airports Authority. El Al's market share dropped to 32.5% from 44% a year earlier.

(Reporting by Steven Scheer; Editing by David Holmes)
This story has been updated with new information.

A fire that heavily damaged a Southgate assisted living facility late Friday night, displacing dozens of residents, rekindled again on Sunday, Oct. 26, according to authorities.

Southgate police said the already fire-damaged American House Senior Living Center was engulfed in flames Sunday morning when firefighters arrived.

Janis Carter who lives in the South Pointe Apartments, just south of the facility, said she woke up Sunday morning and could smell smoke.

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I was shocked because yesterday they were doing a walk-through and today there was black smoke, Carter said.

Southgate fire Lt. Mark Hunt on Sunday afternoon said they were called back to the scene after 10 a.m. Sunday. Hunt said crews from Allen Park, Riverview and Wyandotte also assisted with ladder trucks.

Right now we are spraying water on the scene with our ladder trucks trying to get it out, Hunt said. Unfortunately, when you have a big fire like this, its going to rekindle.

Hunt said they were also back at the scene around 11 p.m. on Saturday hitting hot spots.

Usually a big fire like this smolders for days, Hunt said.

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The building, Hunt added, is pretty much going to be condemned.

The original fire, which was called in at 10:06 p.m. Friday, left 81 residents displaced from the American House facility at 16333 Allen Road. All of the residents have found temporary homes as of Saturday, police said.

While some residents were taken to local hospitals to be evaluated and treated, others were reunited with families or remained at the Southgate Senior Center.

Firefighters can be seen battling a fire that reignited at American House in Southgate on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. An initial fire started on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Southgate police Lt. Robert Lukofsky told the Free Press that 17 residents needed placement on Saturday morning, but by 2 p.m. that day they had been picked up and taken elsewhere.

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Lukosky said they were overrun with donations that included clothing, canned goods and blankets.

The senior center is requesting that no additional donations be brought in at this time, as they have already received an abundance of community support and resources, according to a Southgate Police department news release.

Two people, a firefighter and a civilian, were injured in the original fire.

Rescuers saved three dogs from the Friday blaze, however, one cat was reported dead.

At the time of Friday's fire, there were 87 residents and staff inside the building. According to a Saturday update from American House, its residents and team members evacuated the building without incident and the buildings fire systems deployed as designed.

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The team at American House has been fully mobilized to provide any and all support to our residents, their families and our dedicated team members, said American House CEO, Dale Watchowski, American House CEO, in the update.

Many of the residents have lost their belongings.

Shanna Caughill of Taylor has a great aunt and uncle who live at American House.

"Its just devastating, Caughill said. My great aunt and uncle are in their 90s and have lost everything. My aunt is full of worry about it, but we have told (them) we will replace it, but we cant replace them and we are so thankful they are safe and here.

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Caughill said her family will take care of her aunt and uncle but there may be other affected residents in need of support.

American House expressed gratitude to its team and to first responders, Corewell Health and the Red Cross as well as surrounding communities for their support after Friday's fire.

Lori Bender, a spokesperson for American House, said they will be holding an open house Monday, Oct. 27, for displaced Southgate residents at its American House Riverview location to help align them with other communities in southeastern Michigan. Southgate American House is also working with its team members to find positions at other facilities. Bender told the Free Press some team members have already found positions at neighboring facilities.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.

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In 2023, there was a massive fire at nearby The Meadows of Southgate Meadows, a 55 and older apartment community.

Free Press staffer Natalie Davies contributed to this report.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Become a subsriber. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. Subscribe to the Eat Drink Freep newsletter for insider scoops on food and dining in metro Detroit.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Southgate's American House rekindles as building will likely be condemned
Great news for vegans: The cost of beef has skyrocketed, and President Donald Trump has made American cattle ranchers hoof-stomping mad with policies that appear decidedly America-last.

While U.S. consumers wrestle with record-high ground beef prices  $6.63 per pound in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics  and steak restaurants boost prices, Trump has proposed helping his far-right, Trump-like pal, Argentine President Javier Milei, by quadrupling the amount of Argentine beef coming into America.

That would likely do little to help consumers, while hurting cattle ranchers already struggling with a reduced domestic herd size brought on by everything from drought to inflated feeding costs.

Trump's Argentine beef plan will hurt American ranchers. It won't help you, either.

On Oct. 20, 2025, the National Cattlemens Beef Association responds to comments from President Donald Trump that suggested importing beef from Argentina would be a solution to lower beef prices. "This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall says. Argentina also has a history of foot-and-mouth disease, which if brought to the United States, could decimate our domestic livestock production.

The National Cattlemens Beef Association CEO Colin Woodall called out Trumps pro-Argentina plan in no uncertain terms: This plan only creates chaos at a critical time of the year for American cattle producers, while doing nothing to lower grocery store prices.  Argentina also has a history of foot-and-mouth disease, which, if brought to the United States, could decimate our domestic livestock production.

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I generally place anything involving foot-and-mouth disease in the bad category.

Opinion: Lying Trump, GOP create their own reality. Which one do you choose to live in?

Kyle Hemmert, a 61-year-old cattle rancher in western Kansas, put it succinctly when he recently told The New York Times: Its really just a kick in the nuts. Come on President Trump, this is America First policy? No.

Cattle ranchers, like soybean farmers, are seeing Trump for who he is

Hes right. Trump has already enraged U.S. soybean farmers by bailing out Argentina to the tune of $20 billion, only to see Argentine farmers turn around and sell soybeans to China, normally one of the primary purchasers of American soybeans.

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The frustration is overwhelming, American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland said in a statement. U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. government is extending $20 billion in economic support to Argentina while that country drops its soybean export taxes to sell 20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.

Opinion: Farmers struggle under Trump's tariffs. But he has a plan ... to save Argentina.

Great, now its bad news for vegans AND carnivores.

There are ways to help ranchers. A bailout of Argentina isn't one of them.

Independent cattle ranchers have been squeezed in part because only four meat processing and packing companies handle more than 80% of the nations beef.

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Beyond those monopolies, ranchers face myriad other issues. As Bloomberg reported recently:

"Cattlemen above all want to see a return to mandatory Country of Origin labeling to promote high-quality American beef. They want more regional processing plants, help restocking herds after years of drought (the national cattle herd is at a 75-year low) and easier interstate sales."

Trump insults cattle ranchers with snide social media post

But Trump, as always, thinks he has all the answers. And as cattle rancher fury grew, the president responded with a dismissive social media post:

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The Cattle Ranchers, who I love, dont understand that the only reason they are doing so well, for the first time in decades, is because I put Tariffs on cattle coming into the United States, including a 50% Tariff on Brazil. If it werent for me, they would be doing just as theyve done for the past 20 years  Terrible! It would be nice if they would understand that, but they also have to get their prices down, because the consumer is a very big factor in my thinking, also!

Talk about a kick in the nuts.

Opinion: US soybean crisis is a 'man-made disaster caused by' Trump. And farmers know it.

An 'absolute betrayal to the American cattle rancher'

Just because Trump eats a lot of hamburgers, he thinks he knows better than the hardworking ranchers who keep Americans fed. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted on its website in May: Cattle production is the most important U.S. agricultural industry, consistently accounting for the largest share of total cash receipts for agricultural commodities. In 2024, U.S. cattle production represented about 22 percent of the $515 billion in total cash receipts for agricultural commodities.

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Wyomings Meriwether Farms wrote about the situation on X in a post that quickly went viral, calling Trumps plan to buy beef from Argentina an absolute betrayal to the American cattle rancher.

The post read in part: On top of all this  there is only chaos coming from the Department of Agriculture. There is no true guidance, mixed messaging, and a copious amount of photo ops.

Sadly, American farmers  a huge pro-Trump voting bloc  are learning what people like me have been shouting for years: Donald Trump cares about no one but himself, and he will sell people out in a second.

Farmers and cattle ranchers, like many others, got conned by Trump

President Donald Trump welcomes Argentina's president, Javier Milei, to the White House in Washington, DC, on Oc. 14, 2025.

Trump sees himself in Argentinas president. He wants to bolster other far-right leaders because it helps him and his authoritarian dreams. He doesnt care a bit about what Americans are paying for beef or how his actions might impact the farmers who have loyally supported him. He cares about Trump.

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If he wants to buy foreign beef that will hurt U.S. cattle ranchers and do nothing to help U.S. consumers, hell do it. Your complaints, your anger, your expressions of betrayal dont mean a thing.

Farming is brutally hard work, and I respect and appreciate the people who make it their livelihood. I want to see them prosper, just like I want affordable meat for myself and other shoppers.

But I hope the farmers and the consumers who stood behind Trump all these years and are now suffering see theyve been sold lies by a con man. An insipid, damaging Argentina-first policy is just another part of the bill coming due.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk

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You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump has beef with US cattle ranchers. And it's costing you | Opinion
NEW YORK  Zohran Mamdani, frontrunner for New York City mayor, stood in front of the Islamic Cultural Center, a brick mosque in the Bronx, on Oct. 24 and recalled a time when Muslim New Yorkers were told to practice their faith behind closed doors.

When Mamdani ran for Assembly six years earlier, an "uncle" gently told him he didn't have to say he was Muslim. That time has passed, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor declared.

I will no longer look for myself in the shadows, Mamdani said on a cool, sunny afternoon, surrounded by men and women set to attend Friday congregational prayer, or jummah. I will find myself in the light.

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If elected Nov. 4, Mamdani, 34, would be the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of the nation's largest city. Hes reshaped New York Citys electorate with Muslim and South Asian voters as part of a diverse coalition thats projected to propel him to victory in less than two weeks.

New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) was elected Mayor of New York on Nov. 4, 2025. He was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at the age of 7. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time.



Pictured here, Mamdani waves on stage after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, defeating Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (R) and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks with reporters after their visit to the New York City Police Memorial on Nov. 19, 2025. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, right, and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch visit the New York City Police Memorial, on Nov. 19, 2025 in New York City. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced that he has chosen to keep Jessica Tisch as New York City Police Commissioner. New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani interacts with Pre-K students at Friends of Crown Heights Education Center on Nov. 13, 2025 in the Flatbush neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough in New York City. Mamdani along with Assemblymember Monique Chandler-Waterman and Councilmember Rita Joseph met with educators and visited with young students, speaking about his campaign promise of free care for children starting at 6 weeks old. New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani serves meals during a Veterans Day event on Nov. 11, 2025, in the Bronx borough. Zohran Mamdani met his wife, Rama Duwaji, on the dating app Hinge, a rival to Tinder and Bumble. The pair got married in early 2025.



Duwaji is a Syrian-American illustrator and animator. After the election of Mamdani as New York City Mayor, she is now the citys first Gen Z first lady. Supporters attend the election watch party for New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani at the Brooklyn Paramount on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Mamdani defeated Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the closely watched election for New York City mayor. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate with Independent candidate and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, Queens, New York, on Oct. 22, 2025. He drew historic numbers of South Asian and Muslim voters in the 2025 New York City election to vote for the first time. Democratic Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and his wife, Rama Duwaji, votes at The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts on Nov. 4, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. Voters in NYC are voting for who will be replacing Mayor Eric Adams between the front runner New York Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani and New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa. More than 735,000 people have voted early, according to the Board of Elections, more than four times as many as in the 2021 contest. This election also has other city offices on the ballot, as well as six proposals. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani pauses while speaking about Islamophobia outside of the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx in New York City on Oct. 24, 2025, New Yorkers will cast their votes for mayor on November 4, 2025. Mamdani, the Democratic candidate, is the current frontrunner ahead of former New York Governor and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. (L-R) New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) stands with his mother Mira Nair, and father Mahmood Mamdani as they celebrate during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. (L-R) Mira Nair, New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY), Rama Duwaji and Mahmood Mamdani celebrate on stage during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. Mamdani was announced as the winner of the Democratic nomination for mayor in a crowded field in the City's mayoral primary to choose a successor to Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election on an independent ticket. Democratic mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo (L), and Zohran Mamdani (2R), present arguments as Whitney Tilson (2L) and Michael Blake (R) look on during a Democratic mayoral primary debate, at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Center studios in New York on June 4, 2025. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks as New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani listens during the Fighting Oligarchy town hall at the Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Artson Sept. 6, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani joined Sanders at his New York town hall after marching with union members in Manhattan's Labor Day parade. Sanders, an early backer of Mamdani's primary bid, has staged 34 rallies in 20 states since launching his "Fighting Oligarchy" tour this year, aimed at challenging the power of billionaires and corporations in U.S. politics. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) rides the subway as he prepares to head to Albany on March 24, 2025 in New York City. Mamdani announced that he is halting fundraising efforts after his campaign raised over $8 million, the spending cap for the upcoming June primary. Director Mira Nair and Music Supervisor Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Tendo Nagenda, Lupita Nyong'o, David Oyelowo, director Mira Nair and Zohran Mamdani attend the Gala Screening of Disney's 'Queen Of Katwe' during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on Oct. 9, 2016, in London. (L-R) Music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Director Mira Nair, Mahmood Mamdani and Nishant Tharani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. (L-R) Nishant Tharani, Director Mira Nair and music supervisor Zohran Kwame Mamdani arrive at the world premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe at Roy Thompson Hall as part of the 2016 Toronto Film Festival where the cast, filmmakers and real-life stars received a standing ovation. The film, starring David Oyelowo, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga, is directed by Mira Nair and opens in U.S. Theaters on Sept. 23, 2017. Meet Zohran Mamdani, New York City Mayor-elect 1 of 20 New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani arrives for a press conference at City Hall Park on Nov. 20, 2025 in New York. US President Donald Trump said he will host New York's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for a meeting Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 after fiercely attacking the 34-year-old self-described Democratic Socialist during his recent campaign.

And while his opponents have drawn on Islamophobic tropes in the closing days of the race to shrink his wide lead in the polls, Muslim New Yorkers told USA TODAY that his candidacy signals a historic point for a community often far from the city's halls of power.

Regardless of who replaces current Mayor Eric Adams, he will represent the largest Muslim community in the United States.

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks about Islamophobia outside of the Islamic Cultural Center of the Bronx in New York City on October 24, 2025.

'Excitement of aunties and uncles'

Wasa Touray, 60, who works in a pizzeria, said politicians visited his Bronx mosque before, typically for tragedies such as a nearby apartment building fire in 2022 that killed many African immigrants. But his congregation, which is mostly African, had never had a Muslim politician pray with them, as Mamdani had.

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Hes going to try to open the door for other Muslims, Touray said.

Mamdani brought historic numbers of Muslim, South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers to vote in ways that didnt register in traditional polling. The surge in engagement and participation, seen in viral social media moments but also on multilingual campaign outreach by relentless canvassing, allowed him to win in a stunning upset against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary in June.

This has been coming, Shahana Hanif, a city council member from Brooklyn and Mamdani ally, said. Our political power has been growing.

New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif is pictured here in 2023. She is an ally of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for mayor in the 2025 election.

Hanif, the first Muslim woman and Bangladeshi American on the City Council, represents a district that also includes her native Kensington, where New York's Little Bangladesh is located. That area, with a South Asian Muslim community, saw the largest increases in turnout in the 2025 primary compared to 2021. Hanif attributes it to the excitement of aunties and uncles.

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Mamdanis campaign outreach began exactly a year ago, right after he announced his candidacy, according to Jagpreet Singh, political director at DRUM Beats, an organization that engages South Asian and Indo-Caribbean New Yorkers. Singh previously worked with Mamdani at Chhaya Community Development Corporation, a Queens nonprofit, on tenant organizing while Mamdani was a foreclosure prevention counselor.

Before, Singh said, citywide politicians engaged South Asian and Muslim voters at Hindu Diwali or Islamic Eid celebrations, usually speaking to a few prominent gatekeepers, often religious leaders or business owners.

Mamdani started early, at temples, mosques and weekly street and cultural events, Singh said. By the time other candidates came around, leaders had to respond to community members already supporting Mamdani.

However, Mamdani didn't just focus on his identity, as a Ugandan American with an ethnically Indian Muslim father and Hindu mother. Mamdani's father, Mahmood Mamdani, a Columbia University professor, is from Uganda; his mother, the filmmaker Mira Nair, is from India. Mamdani was born in Uganda and raised in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, near the Ivy League university where his father teaches.

Members of the Muslim community attend prayers outside the Masjid-At-Taqwa Mosque during Eid al-Fitr celebrations in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on March 30, 2025.

Mamdani's Instagram account recently posted a video of his campaign launch on Oct. 23, 2024. Signage then showed his signature three-part platform: rent freeze, free buses and universal child care. Singh said those policies didn't just resonate with Mamdanis educated, progressive base, but also immigrant New Yorkers struggling to pay for costs in the notoriously expensive city.

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He's giving them inspiration and proving that you can still stake out bold progressive positions and get support, Wael Alzayat, CEO of Emgage Action, a national Muslim American advocacy group, said. You have to have the courage.

A campaign poster for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hangs in the Jackson Heights neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, U.S., October 8, 2025.

Islamophobia remains prevalent

Mamdani has held positions critical of Israel and its treatment of Palestinians that were once thought to be taboo, especially in New York City, which has roughly 1 million Jews. However, his views aligned with many voters, including many Jewish New Yorkers, after Israels devastating two-year siege of Gaza following the Oct. 7 2023 Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel.

Nearly one in 10 of New York City's 8.5 million residents are Muslim. Over 380,000 New Yorkers are South Asian, and more are Indo-Caribbean. Many of these communities were heavily surveilled and profiled after the 2001 terrorist attacks nearly a quarter-century ago.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate, has centered on Mamdanis faith  even citing sectarian differences within Islam  and seemingly agreed with a radio host that Mamdani would support another Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Republican Curtis Sliwa, trailing in third, falsely claimed Mamdani supported global jihad. Right-wing figures have fixated on how Mamdani eats rice with his fingers, which is how it's traditionally eaten where his family originates in India.

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Embattled Mayor Adams had dropped his long-shot re-election bid and endorsed Cuomo on Oct. 23, warning Mamdanis election would bring Islamic extremism.

Amaney Jamal, dean of the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, said Mamdani's political rise is breaking the ceiling for other Muslims in many ways. But he's just one person, and his victory won't radically erase Islamophobia in the country, let alone the city.

We still have anti-Muslim hatred sometimes dominate many parts of formal political discourse in this country, she said.

While first Muslim mayor is historic, 'this is New York City'

In the Bronx, Amadou Barry, a 28-year-old pharmacy technician, waited to see Mamdani again after prayer. A registered independent, Barry couldnt vote in the Democratic primary but planned to vote for Mamdani in the general election. While he appreciated the prospect of the first Muslim mayor, Barry was most concerned about affordability.

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Everybody wants someone they can relate to, he said, but added, this is New York City. There is so much diversity. That one thing cannot just be the reason why.

As Mamdani remained inside the mosque, campaign canvassers registered people to vote as they went out onto the sun-filled Bronx street.

Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zohran Mamdani's race for NYC mayor excites Muslim, South Asian voters
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The New Mexico Environmental Law Center and several other parties have filed a lawsuit against the Dona Ana County Board of County Commissioners for what they are calling the boards unlawful actions related to the controversial Project Jupiter data center project that would be built outside of Santa Teresa.

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center is challenging the boards unlawful approval of three ordinances related to Project Jupiter.

Dona Ana County takes next step towards approving Project Jupiter

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The first ordinance authorizes the County to issue $165 billion of industrial revenue bonds to support Project Jupiter.

The second and third ordinances authorize the issuing of New Mexico Local Economic Development Act funding to support the project.

The suit was filed on Oct. 17 in the Third Judicial District Court and also included Sunland Park resident Jose Saldana Jr.; Santa Teresa resident Vivian Fuller and the Empowerment Congress of Dona Ana County.

On Sept. 19, Dona Ana County Board voted to adopt the industrial revenue bonds and the first LEDA ordinance. On Oct. 14, the County Board voted to adopt the second LEDA ordinance, the group said.

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Both votes were 4-1.

Santa Teresas Project Jupiter to add 750 jobs, $160B in 30 years

The lawsuit is seeking the courts review of the County Boards decisions to adopt the three ordinances, as well as a court order invalidating the boards adoption of the ordinances due to the boards failures to follow both local and state law, the group said in its news release.

The group said the County Board relied on a single, incomplete and inadequate application for the IRBs (industrial revenue bonds) to support its decision adopting all three ordinances, the group said. The group said the application had blank and missing pages.

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The incomplete application failed to include necessary and critical information the board needed in order to make a fully informed decision, as required by law, before committing local resources and funds to the project, the group said.

Despite the flaws in the single IRB application submitted for Project Jupiter, the County Board adopted all three ordinances to push this proposed hyperscale data center forward, the group said.

While Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, and Dona Ana County community members remained largely unaware of the proposed project up until days before the boards decision to adopt the ordinances, Dona Ana County staff and officials had been engaging in discussions and closed-door meetings with the project developers months in advance, even entering into a non-disclosure agreement with the Project Jupiter companies earlier this year, the group added.

Data centers, like the proposed Project Jupiter, use massive amounts of water in order to operate and across the nation create an immense strain on local electricity grids and public water supplies; increase electricity and water bills for both local residents and businesses; and significantly increase noise, light, air, water, and soil pollution in neighboring communities, the group said.

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Project Jupiter, alongside a proposed microgrid, natural gas power plants, battery storage center, and desalination plant, is seeking to make its home in Santa Teresa, where community members have already lacked access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water for decades, the group said.

The County Boards decision to commit local funds, resources, and communities futures to out-of-state developers directly contradicts the publics right to have government decision makers comply with their own laws, which were created to ensure these local government bodies make fully informed decisions in the best interests of their constituents, the group added.

The group is adding that the court pause implementation of the County ordinances related to this project during the lawsuit to ensure that the project only moves forward after the County follows all laws when making decisions that will undoubtedly harm their constituents who they took an oath to serve.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  On Saturday, people in Albuquerque walked to find a cure for one of the most common degenerative diseases. Loved ones, caregivers, and supporters of New Mexicans living with Alzheimers disease gathered together for the Central New Mexico Walk to End Alzheimers.

City of Albuquerque celebrates groundbreaking for new fire station at Coronado Park

The walk is the Alzheimers Association of New Mexicos biggest fundraiser of the year, not only bringing awareness to the cause but also the people in our community its impacted. When he started to slip, he really struggled with that he struggled with letting go of control, he struggled with letting me help him.I had no experience with Alzheimers and dementia at all, so I didnt have any clue I was in over my head, so I ended up going to a class at the Alzheimers Association, said Laura Todd, whose father suffered from Alzheimers.

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Nearly 800 people and over 100 teams participated this year. The walk has a fundraising goal of $218,000. At last check, theyve raised a little over $170,000.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Fear about the deployment of federal agents to their neighborhoods is making immigrants throughout the Bay Area question everything they see.

A woman who did not want to be identified said her neighbors and friends are flagging any suspicious vehicles they see.

"My friend in the morning, I see 4 cars for ICE, but I don't know if it's true or not," said the woman, adding, "Nobody comes on the street, nobody you know, is very bad for everybody."

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On Friday, the Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee confirmed federal agent operations were canceled for the entire Bay Area, but according to local nonprofits, rumors continue to spread.

"There's already a lot of fear and panic and anxiety, and when people are responding to these rapid changes in a way where they're responding to inaccurate information, it's just hurtful," said Madeline Hernandez, Attorney with Immigration Institute of the Bay Area.

MORE: Live updates: New video captures chaotic moments after U-Haul truck backed toward gates of Coast Guard Island

A vast number of Bay Area nonprofits and volunteers have been on the ground reminding this community about 24 / 7 hotlines specific in their counties. That is where they can report any potential federal agent activity.

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"These networks are able to connect individuals to local attorneys that could help either represent them, or assist their families and also, they are able to send out legal observers. And what's really important about these legal observers is they're trained to either verify ICE presence, whether it's actually ICE or not, first of all. And then if it is ICE presence, they are actually trained to record, to record the apprehension, to make sure that there are no violations of constitutional rights. And if there are violations of constitutional rights by these agencies, then it's recorded," said Hernandez.

The Migration Policy Institute estimates there are 42,000 undocumented immigrants in San Francisco alone. Thousands could be at risk of deportation. A reality that has many afraid to leave their homes.

"We gave them know your rights orientations, privacy notices for the businesses that could have them to put on their windows. And you might see them when you walk around and it basically helps business owners and managers exert their rights within the workplace too," said Dalia Blevins, JD Case Worker for the removal defense program at La Raza Centro Legal.

MORE: 'I'm afraid': Federal agents in Bay Area pushing immigrant community into hiding

In San Francisco, the nonprofit La Raza Centro Legal deployed their community outreach teams to tackle misinformation about unconfirmed actions.

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"It's important that if you are concerned that its ICE, you document what it is that you are seeing," said Blevins.

Despite all the reassurances, many in the community are still unsettled.

"They can detain me at any time, but it hasn't happened. I haven't been detained," said a San Francisco resident, who did not want to be identified.

Here's a full list of Rapid Response Network hotline contacts here.



If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office investigated a barricaded incident in South Sacramento on Saturday afternoon.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

According to the SCSO, the barricade occurred around 4:30 p.m. on the 8300 block of Daylight Court.

The sheriffs office said the man who lives in the residence was threatening to shoot his family members and was known to be armed.

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SCSO said the family members were able to make it out safely.

Over 1 kilogram of fentanyl seized, suspect receives 4-year prison term

Some homes in the area were evacuated; however, some chose to shelter in place, according to the officials.

After about an hour-long barricade, the suspect was detained by the sheriffs office without incident.

SCSO stated no injuries were reported.

Map provided by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office of incident

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, expressed happiness over the increase in the number of indigenous dogs in the BSF and CRPF contingents. In the latest Mann Ki Baat address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled mentioning Indian dog breeds five years ago and expressed happiness that the BSF and CRPF have since increased their use of Indian breed dogs. "Five years ago, I discussed Indian breeds of dogs in this programme. I am happy to say that BSF and CRPF have increased the number of Indian breed dogs in their contingents. BSF's National Training Centre for dogs is located in Tekanpur, Gwalior. Here, special focus is being accorded to the Rampur Hound from Uttar Pradesh and the Mudhol Hound from Karnataka and Maharashtra. At the CRPF's Dog Breeding and Training School in Bengaluru, Indian breeds such as Mongrels, Mudhol Hounds, Kombai, and Pandikona are being trained," said PM Modi. Recounting Lucknow dog Riya's performance at the All India Police Duty Meet, PM Modi said that the BSF trained the Mudhol Hound and that in the event, Riya won first prize, leaving several foreign breeds behind. He also highlighted when an indigenous dog of CRPF detected explosives in Chhattisgarh. "Last year in Lucknow a dog named Riya caught everyone's attention at All India Police Duty Meet. It is a Mudhol Hound trained by BSF. Riya won the first prize there, leaving behind several foreign breeds. Our indigenous dogs have also displayed amazing courage. Last year, during a patrol in a Maoist-affected area of Chhattisgarh, an indigenous dog of CRPF detected eight kilograms of explosives. I congratulate BSF and CRPF for the efforts they have made in this direction," said PM Modi. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast in 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
Robin Warr Lawrence was 37 years old in 1994 when someone broke into her Virginia home and stabbed her 49 times ... killing her and leaving her 2-year-old daughter alone for two days until a neighbor discovered her body.

For years, police couldn't find a culprit ... until new DNA testing led them to a man who claims he would've been a serial killer if not for his wife and children.

Warr and Lawrence Family

The whole story's being laid out in a new episode of "48 Hours" which will introduce the world to Stephan Smerk ... the man who last year pled guilty to murdering Robin and was sentenced to 70 years in prison in March 2025.

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At the original crime scene in November 1994, DNA evidence was collected -- specifically blood from a bathroom towel. DNA science was still in its relative infancy -- this is before the O.J. Simpson trial, for example -- and the evidence brought back no immediate suspects.

Fairfax County Police Department

However, Parabon NanoLabs -- a company making huge leaps in genetic genealogy and DNA phenotyping -- and investigators were able to generate a suspect profile that matched a relative of Smerk's.

Cops met Smerk outside his home in New York while he was taking out the trash ... and, they asked him for a DNA swab which he voluntarily provided. Shortly after he called them and turned himself in for the murder.

According to Smerk, he was an active-duty soldier stationed near Northern Virginia who felt compelled to kill. He left the barracks, chose Robin's house randomly, broke in and murdered her.

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He stunningly told cops ... "I honestly believe that if it wasn't for my wife and my kids, I probably would be a serial killer." Smerk later moved to the Empire State and lived a quiet life as a software engineer.

After he killed Robin, Smerk told cops he took a shower, got rid of his clothes ... then just continued on with his life as if nothing happened. Smerk also told cops he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the murder.

Fairfax County Police Department

Robin's husband asked a neighbor to check on her after not hearing from her for several days ... and, when they arrived, the neighbor found the back door open and called for Robin's daughter. The daughter was treated for dehydration after she was found.

Smerk pleaded guilty to first degree-murder in Virginia last year and received his 70-year sentence. At this point, 70 years is essentially a life sentence considering Smerk is now in his 50s.
Two people were arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewels from Paris' Louvre museum, a Paris prosecutor said on Sunday, a week after the brazen heist at the world's most visited museum.

The prosecutor said investigators made the arrests Saturday evening, adding that one of the men taken into custody was preparing to leave the country from Paris' Roissy Airport.

French media BFM TV and Le Parisien newspaper earlier reported that two suspects had been arrested and taken into custody. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests and did not say whether jewels had been recovered.

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A police official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody. He said one suspect was arrested as he attempted to board a plane bound for Algeria. The official added that one of the suspects was identified through DNA traces. Beccuau said earlier this week that forensics experts were analyzing 150 samples at the scene.

The suspects can be held in police custody up to 96 hours.

Thieves took less than eight minutes to steal jewels valued at $102 million last Sunday morning.

Questions have arisen about security at the museum and whether security cameras might have failed as the thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre's facade, cut their way through a window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels. The museum's director called the incident a "terrible failure."

French police officers stand next to a crane-lift used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum and steal items from the gallery holding crown jewels on Oct. 19, 2025. / Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty

Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests. She rued in her statement the premature leak of information, saying it could hinder the work of over 100 investigators "mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators." Beccuau said further details will be unveiled after the suspects' custody period ends.

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French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised "the investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence."

The theft focused on the gilded Apollo Gallery, where the Crown Diamonds are displayed. Eight objects were taken, according to officials: a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense; an emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte's second wife; a reliquary brooch; and Empress Eugenie's diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, a prized 19th-century imperial ensemble.

The Empress Eugenie's crown is exhibited at the Louvre Museum on April 27, 2025 in Paris, France. / Credit: Zhang Weiguo/VCG via Getty Images

One piece  Eugenie's emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds  was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable.

The crown jewels are priceless in historical terms, but experts have told CBS News they would still be worth millions of dollars if broken up and sold on the black market.

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The jewels were not privately insured, the French Ministry of Culture stated in a press release to the daily newspaper Le Parisien. French law prohibits entities like the Louvre from insuring its property, except when part of a collection is moved or loaned to another institution, Romain Dechelette, president of France-based Serex Assurances, a fine art insurer, told CBS News.

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French authorities have arrested suspects in connection with last weeks audacious Louvre heist, last weeks daylight robbery of the French Crown Jewels, valued at more than 88 million (about $102 million). Prosecutors have not disclosed how many people were detained or released any identifying details, only that the arrests mark a major breakthrough in the case.

Investigators believe four people carried out the heist, entering the museum during regular hours dressed as maintenance staff and escaping with the jewels in less than eight minutes. The operation stunned France, not just for its precision, but for how it echoes familiar cinematic moments.

In film, we know how this story goes. From the Oceans franchise to The Italian Job to Frances own Netflix drama Lupin, the charming thief wins our hearts, outwits the system and vanishes into the night. Or rather into the day in this particular case.

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But this time, the ending is messier. The jewels are still missing, the suspects are in custody and the illusion of the perfect crime feels cracked.

Theres a moment in first episode of the third season of Lupin when Assane Diop, the gentleman thief audiences love, walks through a crowd that once idolized him. They cheer, and whether its for his arrest or for the theft he just pulled off is unclear. To them, its all part of the show. Its a haunting reminder that we dont just watch heists. We romanticize them.

Now, with the Louvres treasures gone and real people facing real charges, the question lingers: were we ever cheering for the thieves, or just for the story? In a country that treats art as sacred inheritance, maybe the true suspense isnt whether theyll get away. Maybe its whether France can protect whats priceless from even its most admiring hands.

The post Arrests made in Louvre heist, but the story isnt over appeared first on Salon.com.
Ambassadors and representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered Sunday at Kibbutz Beeri for a memorial honoring foreign workers who were killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Ambassadors and representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered on Sunday at Kibbutz Beeri for a memorial honoring the foreign workers who were killed in Hamass October 7 massacre.

The ceremony, hosted by embassies representing Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other Asia-Pacific nations, commemorated dozens of foreign nationals whose lives were cut short while living and working in Israel.

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Many of the victims were caregivers, agricultural laborers, and students who had come seeking opportunity and became part of Israeli life.

A representative of Nepals embassy came in place of Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit, who had not returned to Israel yet, as he was involved in the repatriation of slain Nepalese hostage Bipin Joshi.

Joshi was killed in Hamas captivity. Previously released footage of him by the terrorists had shown him alive.

Kibbutz Beeri, one of the hardest-hit Gaza border communities during the attack, was home to many of the victims.

Four Filipinos, two Sri Lankans, and one Australian were killed there. Moreover, two Thai workers were abducted and later killed in Gaza. The body of one Thai national, Sudthisak Rinthalak, has remained in Gaza for over two years.

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During the memorial service, Thai Ambassador Boonyarit Vichienpuntu talked about the 28,000 Thai nationals currently living and working in Israel, most of them in agriculture.

They were highly commended for their hard work, dedication, and kindness, he said. They helped cultivate this land and feed this nation. Gradually, they became an integral part of the Israeli economy and society.

The ambassador paid tribute to the 42 Thai citizens murdered during the Hamas assault, including Sudthisak, who had worked in Beeri.

He will never be forgotten, Boonyarit said. We strongly call, once again, for the long-awaited release of his body and all other remaining victims.

Speaking afterward to The Jerusalem Post, Boonyarit said that Thai officials were awaiting news regarding Sudthisaks body, hoping that it would be retrieved and returned to his hometown. Boonyarit expressed confidence in the government and its ongoing efforts to bring the remains home.

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The ceremony included remarks from Aviv Ezra, the deputy director-general for Asia-Pacific affairs at the Foreign Ministry, who said that the foreign workers deaths were also Israels loss. We are better together. We are stronger together, he said.

'Remembering those who are no longer beside us by paying attention to those who are'

Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Duc Trung, serving as the dean of the Asia-Pacific ambassadors, called not only for remembrance but also for keeping the foreign workers living conditions in mind.

He said he had requested that the Israeli government address safety, shelter during conflict, and labor policies affecting foreign nationals.

We believe that the best way to remember those who are no longer beside us is by paying due attention to those who still are, Trung said.

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Filipino Ambassador Aileen Mendiola spoke of four of her nations people who were murdered on October 7: Paul Vincent Castelvi and Grace Cabrera, both killed in Beeri, Angelyn Aguirre, murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Loreta Alacre, who was in the South at the time of the attacks.

In the crowd were Filipino caregivers who survived the massacre, as well as one who was released from captivity in the November 2023 deal. Additionally, parents of fallen Filipino soldiers killed in Israels fight to return the captives were also in attendance.

Many of them showed extraordinary courage and devotion in protecting and saving their employers during those terrifying hours, Mendiola told the attendees.

Despite the terrifying danger, they continued to fight for their saba [grandfather in Hebrew] and savta [grandmother], the envoy said.

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Their strength amid grief reminds us of the immense cost of the conflict, carried not only by nations, but by families, parents, spouses, and children whose lives are forever changed, she added, calling for the return of Joshua Mollel, the Tanzanian agricultural student whose body is still held captive by Hamas, and all remaining hostages.

One too many lives, Mendiola stated.

Sri Lankas envoy spoke of the two slain Sri Lankan hostages, both murdered in Beeri while working as caregivers. 49-year-old Anula Jayathilaka and 41-year-oldSujth Yatawara Bandara both had families back home they were working to support.

Sri Lanka Ambassador Nimal Bandara paid homage to his constituents, but chose to also mention what he said was Israels continued commitment to paying dues, salaries, and compensation [to the surviving families] on time.

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We cannot compensate for the lives sacrificed by paying money, but the government and the relevant agencies are paying attention to the families of those who lost their lives, who depended on them, Bandara said.

He listed the nationalities of the 71 foreign workers murdered on October 7: 39 Thai, 11 Nepali, four Filipino, four Chinese, two Sri Lankan, two Eritrean, two British, one Cambodian, one Australian, one Tanzanian, one German, one Sudanese, one Canadian, and one British-Mexican dual citizen.

We are gathered here today to respect their contribution to Israels society and the country and to respect their family members who contributed to protect this land and help the new society, the ambassador said.

Diplomats, Israeli officials, ex-hostages, survivors, and bereaved families attended the ceremony, which featured interfaith prayers led by a Catholic priest and a Buddhist monk, candle-lighting rites, and tribute performances.

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In a statement from Kibbutz Beeri, community director Yiftach Zeliniker expressed deep sorrow for the foreign caregivers who died protecting residents that day, including Cabrera and Castelvi of the Philippines, and Jayathilaka and Yatawara of Sri Lanka.

I am sorry that we could not protect your loved ones on that terrible day, Zeliniker said. Your loved ones protected and cared for our members, and we will be eternally grateful for that.

He also thanked the foreign workers who remained in Beeri. Living and working with a community in trauma are immense challenges, he said. We are grateful to you for staying with us and caring for our beloved kibbutz members.

The Asia-Pacific embassies and the Beeri community said the commemoration was not only a remembrance of those lost but also a reaffirmation of the enduring bonds between Israel and the Asia-Pacific nations whose citizens have shared in its pain, continuing to help rebuild its future.
The Atlanta VA Health Care System is seeking the publics help in locating a missing veteran.

Mark Davis Anderson, 60, was last seen leaving the Atlanta VA Medical Center on Thursday.

Anderson was last seen at approximately 7 p.m. wearing casual clothing. His disappearance is particularly concerning due to unspecified medical issues that could affect his well-being.

The public is urged to contact the police if they see him. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the DeKalb Police or their local law enforcement agency.

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Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker says banning Israel from Eurovision 2026 would be a mistake, citing Austrias historical responsibility.

Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker has firmly rejected any suggestion of banning Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest as his country prepares to host the next edition of the competition in 2026.

"I would consider it a fatal mistake to exclude Israel," Stocker was quoted as saying in an interview with German news agency dpa published on Sunday, Austria's National Day.

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"Based on our history alone, I would never be in favor of that," he added, in reference to Austria's shared responsibility for crimes committed during the Holocaust in World War Two.

Eurovision, which stresses its political neutrality, has faced controversy linked to Israel's military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

Public broadcasters of some European countries have pleged to withdraw if Israel takes part

The public broadcasters of some European countries, including Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands, have pledged to withdraw if Israel takes part in the contest to be held in Vienna next May.

YUVAL RAPHAEL PERFORMS New Day Will Rise, during the final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, in May 2025. (credit: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS)

Eurovision Song Contest organizers this month scrapped a planned November meeting to vote on Israel's participation, and are now due to look at it in December.
Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has spoken out clearly in favour of Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Vienna in May 2026.

"I would consider it a fatal mistake to exclude Israel. Based on our history alone, I would never be in favour of that," said Stocker in an interview with dpa, referring to Austria's shared responsibility for crimes during the Holocaust.

The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip had changed the situation, he said. However, Stocker conceded that the debate surrounding Israel's participation had cast a shadow over the event.

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In December, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) plans to finalize the issue with its members. Some countries, such as Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland, have threatened to boycott the event if Israel is allowed to participate. They cite as reasons Israel's actions in Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinian population there.

The Gaza war was triggered by the massacre carried out by Islamist group Hamas and other militant groups in Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and about 250 abducted.

Following an Austrian victory at last year's ESC, the 70th edition of the song competition ESC will take place in Vienna.

Public broadcaster Osterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) is organizing the world's biggest music event.
Union leaders in Scotland are sounding the alarm over the growing risk of lithium batteries catching fire in the back of garbage trucks.

What's happening?

As The Scotsman reported, the widespread dumping of disposable vapes is putting the lives of garbage collectors at risk. This is due to lithium battery packs used in the majority of vaping products.

According to the GMB Union, one of the largest general trade unions in the U.K., three fires had erupted in the back of brand-new garbage trucks around Glasgow, Scotland, in September.

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Following investigations into the small cluster of blazes, officials pointed to the lithium batteries inside vapes as the culprit.

Chris Mitchell, a senior official with the GMB, said the design of a new fleet of garbage trucks could be exacerbating the danger of lithium battery fires.

"The new vehicles are absolutely crushing everything, and in doing that, we think it's igniting them," Mitchell said. "But we're exploring every option and avenue."

Why are lithium battery fires concerning?

Mitchell noted that while the fires were each contained before spreading, they could have spiraled out of control.

"Three in two weeks is very concerning," Mitchell said. "The last fire was actually in the grounds of a school, which could have been disastrous. The guys acted very quickly, ejecting the load onto the street and calling the fire brigade."

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Crushing a vape can cause lithium batteries to ignite due to physical damage, which can lead to fires or explosions.

The damage affects the battery's internal components, potentially causing a short circuit and a fiery reaction known as thermal runaway, where the battery overheats, ignites, and can release toxic gases.

This potential fire hazard has become a sobering reality for garbage collection workers in Glasgow. Mitchell explained that the city's design could factor into a future disaster.

"In Glasgow, we work in a lot of tight streets where there are cars and members of the public," added Mitchell. "God forbid there isn't a major fire. People could lose their lives here."

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There are further problems associated with disposable vapes. They typically rely on single-use plastic, which is damaging to the environment from creation to disposal.

Single-use plastics used in vapes won't break down naturally, but they will break apart into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming microplastics that can pollute waterways, the soil, and eventually enter the human body, leading to a number of potential health issues.

Meanwhile, if they aren't discarded properly, vapes can enter water sources or green spaces, where they can harm animal habitats and creatures. The fire hazards associated with batteries could also lead to wildfires.

What's being done about the dumping of discarded vapes?

For now, Mitchell has pleaded with the Glasgow City Council to enact a city-wide awareness campaign regarding the hidden dangers of vapes that have been improperly disposed of.

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One idea, he proposed, was the creation of separate collection bins designed just to hold vape products and other lithium batteries.

"I think it should be an ongoing campaign," said Mitchell. "It can't just be a one-off post telling people to stop putting vapes in bins, which might be fine for a couple of days before people just go back to what they were doing. They've got to make the consequences and the dangers clear. The consequences could be horrendous."

Outside of the fire risks involving lithium batteries, vaping can lead to a number of negative impacts for underage users. Not only can it raise the risk of nicotine addiction and cause severe respiratory issues, but it can also negatively affect brain development.

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Animal advocates are calling for stronger laws and enforcement in Armenia because of a traditional practice that causes harm to bears and other wildlife kept in captivity.

What's happening?

According to the Yale School of Environment, the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets rescued three bears from a filthy cage built from scrap metal and wire in Yerevan's Malatia-Sebastia district.

The animals were found standing in nearly a foot of rotting food and feces. Years of poor nutrition had left the male's teeth decayed and gums infected, while the younger bear was nursing long past the natural age.

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This is not an overly rare practice in Armenia and other former Soviet countries, many of which saw people keeping bears as a symbol of wealth and status.

In another case, rescuers found two bears in a cage that regularly flooded neck-high.

"The conditions were really miserable," said FPWC project manager Tsovinar Hovhannisyan.

The discovery was part of an investigation into illegal bear ownership. While the country technically bans keeping wild animals without a permit, weak enforcement and cultural acceptance have allowed the custom to carry on virtually unchecked.

Why is bear captivity concerning?

In these cases, the animals are part of the endangered Syrian brown bear subspecies. Experts estimate that only around 600 remain in the wild, with 20 to 30 still living illegally in captivity.

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Apex predators, like bears, help keep other species populations in check. When things are out of balance, this ultimately affects our wider food chain, natural environment, and local communities who rely on healthy ecosystems to survive.

Years of mistreatment leave many bears physically and psychologically damaged. What's worse, there aren't enough spaces to keep the animals that are unable to be released into the wild.

Beyond animal suffering, conservationists warn that keeping wild species poses risks to humans, from disease transmission to public safety concerns.

What can be done to protect bears?

Armenia's role as host of the 2026 global biodiversity conference, COP17, puts pressure on the government to address the issue.

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The FPWC has rescued around 30 bears over the past decade, relocating them to a rehabilitation center. There, caretakers help them regain strength, build trust, and even learn to hibernate  a natural behavior denied to captive bears.

Some younger bears may eventually be released into national parks, while older or injured ones will live out their lives in the sanctuary.

Armenia's Ministry of Environment recently strengthened its wildlife laws, imposing fines for unlicensed ownership and pledging to expand rehabilitation facilities. Still, the country's only rescue center is full. Also, experts say lasting change will require public education and enforcement.

As biodiversity researcher Arsen Gasparyan put it, "We cannot simply remove the bears and say, 'Problem solved.' Because after a while, we will have the same problem again."

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In a remarkable demonstration of professionalism and maritime commitment in rough seas, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully rescued 31 fishermen from the distressed fishing boat IFB Sant Anton-I, which had been adrift in the Arabian Sea for 11 days due to a steering gear failure. According to an official release, on October 24, the Indian Coast Guard Headquarters No. 3 (Karnataka) launched a Search and Rescue (SAR) operation after receiving information about the missing vessel, which was based in Goa. The fishing boat was last reported approximately 100 nautical miles off New Mangalore. ICGS Kasturba Gandhi, which was on routine patrol, was immediately diverted to the last known position of the distressed vessel. Simultaneously, a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft from Kochi was tasked for an aerial search to locate the missing boat, which had drifted significantly due to adverse weather conditions. Leveraging the Integrated Operations Centre and real time weather data, the Coast Guard plotted the probable drift and directed the ship to the updated location. On October 25, the Dornier aircraft successfully sighted the fishing boat, enabling ICGS Kasturba Gandhi to reach the spot and provide critical assistance, including logistics support, damage assessment, and on-site repair of the steering system and ensuring watertight integrity of the IFB. After stabilising the vessel, the Coast Guard ship handed over the distress IFB to another IFB to tow the IFB Sant Anton-I safely to Honnavar fishing harbour, ensuring the wellbeing of all 31 crew members onboard. This swift and coordinated sea-air rescue operation, executed under challenging weather conditions, underscores the Indian Coast Guard's unwavering dedication to safeguarding lives and ensuring safety at sea, true to its motto: "We Protect." (ANI)
Authorities in India recently busted an ivory smuggling ring, arresting several suspects.

What happened?

According to The New Indian Express, police and authorities from the forest department thwarted a smuggling operation in Keonjhar during a joint raid.

The operation involved smuggling ivory tusks, with three recovered during the raid. However, a fourth tusk that the suspects claimed was in their possession remained unaccounted for at press time.

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Authorities arrested two suspects during the raid.

During an interrogation of the suspects, police obtained the name of the person they claimed they had gotten the tusks from and arrested that individual. That led to the arrest of an additional suspect.

Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer Dhamdhere Dhanraj Hanumant commented on the investigation.

"Based on the credible intelligence received from the special cell of Keonjhar police, the raids were carried out and elephant tusks were seized near Talakaipur crusher," they began.

"While being arrested, several suspects attempted to flee, but two persons were apprehended on the spot with a white plastic bag containing three tusks."

Why is this incident important?

Wildlife trafficking and the smuggling of animal parts are a billion-dollar business and, more importantly, a significant factor in depleting animal populations.

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Often, these animals are already endangered (or on their way to becoming so), which means their continued trafficking could result in the extinction of these species. Trafficking animal parts can also contribute to this possibility, as animals are injured or killed for these parts.

The smuggling of live wild animals has significant negative consequences, not only for the wildlife but also for people. When traffickers smuggle animals into a new country, the animals can become an invasive species.

Invasive species can cause a wealth of problems, including the introduction of new diseases to native wildlife and humans, decreased food security for local communities, and billions of dollars in economic losses.

What's being done about this smuggling incident?

After all of the suspects taken into custody confessed to their involvement in the smuggling operation, authorities registered a first incident report under the relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

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Meanwhile, authorities continue working to dismantle the broader ivory tusk smuggling network.

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The night Basim Khandakjis novel won the 2024 Arabic Booker Prize, Israeli prison guards stormed his cell, assaulted him, bound his hands and feet, and threatened him.

The 42-year-old was then placed in Ofer Prisons solitary confinement for 12 days.

It was retaliation, he believes, for embarrassing the Israeli prison system, managing to publish a book under the noses of guards, drawing attention to himself and the conditions he faced.

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Now he is out of Israeli prison after serving 21 years of three life sentences.

I still feel like Im dreaming, and Im terrified I might wake up and find myself back in a cell, Khandakji said.

After his release, he remains unable to return home to his family in Nablus. Exiled from his homeland by Israel, he now waits in Egypt as his family fights to reach him.

We saw new horrors

As happy as he is about escaping the cemetery of the living in Israeli prisons, Khandakji is still trying to process the horrors that he saw there and his sadness at leaving other prisoners behind.

He was convicted in 2004 of being part of a military cell and being involved in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv, a crime he says he was forced to confess to.

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The lawyer told me I had to sign a confession  so that three young men could be spared life sentences. There was a kind of quid pro quo: You admit to a particular charge in exchange for getting some younger men out of life sentences, and that is what happened.

The United Nations estimates that at least 75 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since October 2023, and organisations like BTselem and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have revealed systematic abuse.





Khandakji spent months at a time in solitary confinement and was often moved between prisons, spending time in most of Israels 19 facilities that hold Palestinians  each as hellish as the last, he tells Al Jazeera.

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There are deliberate policies of starvation, abuse, psychological and physical torture, constant humiliation, and intentional medical neglect.

Images of released Palestinian detainees have prompted outrage around the world. Appearing fit and healthy in photos of them before incarceration, on release, many had been reduced to emaciated, cadaverous shadows of their former selves.

Things changed, Khandakji says, after October 7, 2023  the date of a Hamas-led attack during which 1,139 people died in Israel and some 250 were taken captive, in response to which Israel launched a two-year genocidal war on Gaza.

Khandakji says prisoners began to die with shocking regularity, with guards using new horrific methods  particularly on detainees rounded up by the hundreds from Gaza.

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Inmates saw guards hanging up the bodies of dead prisoners in cells and leaving them there, decaying, he said.

Another told me he saw more than 12 dead bodies packed into cells at al-Jalama detention centre.

Khandakji says the harrowing memories of dead Palestinians and the brutal torture he witnessed and experienced will haunt him for his entire life.

The main strategy authorities used to break prisoners was starvation, he said. There was also cooling, meaning denial of clothing, blankets, or any heating during the bitter winter.

There was also constant beatings, he added. They use horrifying, savage methods  targeting the head, neck, and spine.

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Al Jazeera reached out to Israeli prison authorities for comment on Khandakjis accusations, but received no reply.

Basem Khandakji hadnt seen the books he published while he was in prison [Courtesy of the Khandakji family]

Communication with friends and family was banned, he added, and he was prevented from accessing news from the outside world  although he did receive word of his fathers death.

I was deprived of my father while he was alive, and after his death I was denied the chance to bury him, he said.

Nearly 9,000 Palestinians remain in Israeli jails, many taken in mass roundups, and more than 3,500 are held under administrative detention, which Israel created to justify imprisoning people indefinitely without charge or trial.

Smuggling out an award-winning novel

In prison, Khandakji says: Writing gave me  a refuge, a hiding place through which I could escape the brutality of the jail and reclaim my freedom, even if only in my imagination.

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He had to go on hunger strike repeatedly to get notebooks and pens.

He wrote as much as he could, keeping his manuscripts hidden from the guards and staying out of their way until he could smuggle his writing out via his lawyer or any other visitor.

In 2023, his award-winning novel, A Mask, The Colour of the Sky, was published in Lebanon in Arabic and was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, known as the Arabic Booker.





The book tells the story of Nur, a Palestinian archaeologist who finds an Israeli ID and takes on the identity of Ur, eventually joining an archaeological dig on an illegal Israeli settlement.

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In it, Khandakji reflects on the uncovering of Palestines antiquity and the difference between the constrained life of Nur with his Palestinian ID and Ur, whose sky-blue ID allowed him to go anywhere.

Hearing of the shortlisting, an enraged ultranationalist Israeli national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, demanded harsher conditions for Khandakji, while others on the Israeli extreme right called for his murder.

His award triumph included a $50,000 prize and funding for an English translation, paving the way for a global readership.

When Israel launched its war on Gaza, conditions became worse in the prison, and guards confiscated Khandakjis writing material and smashed his reading glasses.

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He felt completely powerless, he says. Being deprived of my pens and notebooks felt like being deprived of air.

Now free, he aims to publish another novel, which he wrote in his head in his final year of captivity. It is based on one of his closest friends, writer Walid Daqqa, who died of cancer after allegedly deliberate medical neglect by prison authorities.





Aside from writing, Khandakjis only solace in jail was the friendships he made that even death cannot erase.

I live with sorrow and pain because I left behind so many friends in prison, still suffering, he adds.

One of these friends, with whom he shared a cell, was Fatah politician Marwan Barghouthi, sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years in 2004.

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Barghouthi is often compared to South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, due to his decades behind bars as a political prisoner and the unifying popularity he has among Palestinians.

Marwan Barghouthi is a great man, he said. If he were released, he could become a unifying national figure.

The 66-year-old was beaten unconscious last month by Israeli jail authorities, and his son, Arab, told international media his father fears for his life as Israel continues to ignore international calls for his release.

His homeland lives within him

Khandakji was arrested in 2004, at the age of 21, while in his final year of a journalism and political science degree at An-Najah National University in his hometown of Nablus.

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Raised in a family of socialists, Khandakji became active in the Palestinian Peoples Party as a teenager. He is now an elected member of the partys political bureau.





But during the second Intifada in the early 2000s, he decided to join the armed resistance in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Looking back, he says: In the end, violence in all its forms is inhuman.

As human beings, we should first try to solve our issues through peaceful and civilised means, Khandakji said. But when someone tries to erase you  to annihilate you  your struggle becomes one of existence.

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But if time could go back I might look for other ways, he adds, of seeking a different path, one that didnt deprive him of his family for 21 years.

He was one of 250 high-profile detainees freed by Israel on October 13 as part of the United States-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

Israeli captives held by Hamas were released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, most of whom were disappeared by Israel from Gaza, according to the UN.

Khandakji described the night of his release as terrifying, adding that his body was shaking as he knew the moment of freedom had finally come.

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When he passed the prison gates and his bus went south instead of towards Nablus, he knew his full freedom would be denied a little longer.





Being exiled from your homeland is a burning, painful feeling, he said. My first joy, first sorrow, and first dreams were all in my city, Nablus.

Palestinians, unlike others, do not live in their homeland  their homeland lives within them, he said.

For now, Khandakji will continue writing and plans to pursue a PhD after achieving a masters degree in Israeli studies while imprisoned.

His family is fighting desperately to reunite with him in Egypt, only to be repeatedly thwarted by Israel.

I still hope that in the coming period, there will be some human justice that allows me to embrace my mother, he says.

Not as a freed prisoner  but simply as a child searching for the scent of his childhood in his mothers arms.




Oct. 25Pictured is the First Lutheran Church in 1940, located at 221 N. Duff St.. The church at this location was built in 1922. In 1950, a new building was constructed at 411 North Duff. An educational building was added in 1974, and an addition for church activities was also added in 2009.

As early as 1881, services were conducted in homes and various similar meeting places by visiting pastors and Reverand Ole Tjomsland, who was pastor at Mount Vernon. The First Lutheran Church was organized in Mitchell on July 23, 1888, at Reierson Brothers Store. The first building was in the 700 block of South Wisconsin Street. For some time, the church served three congregations. Both German and Swedish congregations held their services in it. For several years, the church was also used as a public-school building.

 Researcher Pam Range
Barbara Boxer decided she was done. Entering her 70s, fresh off reelection to the U.S. Senate, she determined her fourth term would be her last.

"I just felt it was time," Boxer said. "I wanted to do other things."

Besides, she knew the Democratic bench was amply stocked with many bright prospects, including California's then-attorney general, Kamala Harris, who succeeded Boxer in Washington en route to her selection as Joe Biden's vice president.

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When Boxer retired in 2017, after serving 24 years in the Senate, she walked away from one of the most powerful and privileged positions in American politics, a job many have clung to until their last, rattling breath.

(Boxer tried to gently nudge her fellow Democrat and former Senate colleague, Dianne Feinstein, whose mental and physical decline were widely chronicled during her final, difficult years in office. Ignoring calls to step aside, Feinstein died at age 90, hours after voting on a procedural matter on the Senate floor.)

Now an effort is underway among Democrats, from Hawaii to Massachusetts, to force other senior lawmakers to yield, as Boxer did, to a new and younger generation of leaders. The movement is driven by the usual roiling ambition, along with revulsion at Donald Trump and the existential angst that visits a political party every time it loses a dispiriting election like the one Democrats faced in 2024.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become the highest profile target.

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Last week, she drew a second significant challenger to her reelection, state Sen. Scott Wiener, who jumped into the contest alongside tech millionaire Saikat Chakrabarti, who's been campaigning against the incumbent for the better part of a year.

Pelosi  who is 85 and hasn't faced a serious election fight in San Francisco since Ronald Reagan was in the White House  is expected to announce sometime after California's Nov. 4 special election whether she'll run again in 2026.

Read more: Pelosi faces challenges as age becomes unavoidable tension point for Democrats

Boxer, who turns 85 next month, offered no counsel to Pelosi, though she pushed back against the notion that age necessarily equates with infirmity, or political obsolescence. She pointed to Ted Kennedy and John McCain, two of the senators she served with, who remained vital and influential in Congress well into their 70s.

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On the other hand, Boxer said, "Some people don't deserve to be there for five minutes, let alone five years ... They're 50. Does that make it good? No. There are people who are old and out of ideas at 60."

There is, Boxer said, "no one-size-fits-all" measure of when a lawmaker has passed his or her expiration date. Better, she suggested, for voters to look at what's motivating someone to stay in office. Are they driven by purpose  and still capable of doing the job  "or is it a personal ego thing or psychological thing?"

"My last six years were my most prolific," said Boxer, who opposes both term limits and a mandatory retirement age for members of Congress. "And if they'd said 65 and out, I wouldn't have been there."

Art Agnos didn't choose to leave office.

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He was 53  in the blush of youth, compared to some of today's Democratic elders  when he lost his reelection bid after a single term as San Francisco mayor.

"I was in the middle of my prime, which is why I ran for reelection," he said. "And, frankly," he added with a laugh, "I still feel like I'm in my prime at 87."

A friend and longtime Pelosi ally, Agnos bristled at the ageism he sees aimed at lawmakers of a certain vintage. Why, he asked, is that acceptable in politics when it's deplored in just about every other field of endeavor?

"What profession do we say we want bright young people who have never done this before to take over because they're bright, young and say the right things?" Agnos asked rhetorically. "Would you go and say, 'Let me find a brain surgeon who's never done this before, but he's bright and young and has great promise.' We don't do that. Do we?

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"Give me somebody who's got experience, " Agnos said, "who's been through this and knows how to handle a crisis, or a particular issue."

Read more: Chabria: Is Pelosi getting 'Bidened'? High drama in the scramble for her congressional seat

Pete Wilson also left office sooner than he would have liked, but that's because term limits pushed him out after eight years as California governor. (Before that, he served eight years in the Senate and 11 as San Diego mayor.)

"I thought that I had done a good job ... and a number of people said, 'Gee, it's a pity that you can't run for a third term,' " Wilson said as he headed to New Haven, Conn., for his college reunion, Yale class of 55. "As a matter of fact, I agreed with them."

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Still, unlike Boxer, Wilson supports term limits, as a way to infuse fresh blood into the political system and prevent too many over-the-hill incumbents from heedlessly overstaying their time in office.

Not that he's blind to the impetus to hang on. The power. The perks. And, perhaps above all, the desire to get things done.

At age 92, Wilson maintains an active law practice in Century City and didn't hesitate  "Yes!" he exclaimed  when asked if he considered himself capable of serving today as governor, even as he wends his way through a tenth decade on Earth.

His wife, Gayle, could be heard chuckling in the background.

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"She's laughing," Wilson said dryly, "because she knows she's not in any danger of my doing so."

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(FOX40.COM)  Three hours later, the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office is investigating another barricaded incident in Antelope on Saturday night.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

According to SCSO, the suspect locked himself inside his home around 7:30 p.m., on the 5100 block of Antler Run Place in Antelope after threatening to kill his wife, family and their dog.

Armed suspect threatens to shoot family, prompting evacuation in South Sacramento

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The sheriffs office said his wife, family and dog are safe outside; however, the suspect is believed to have access to a firearm and is refusing to come out of the home.

According to the officials, some homes in the area were evacuated.

At around 1 a.m. on Sunday, the sheriffs office said the suspect was detained.

At this time, no injuries have been reported, SCSO said.

Map provided by the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office of incident

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s tenure as health secretary is straining Republicans relationship with the medical establishment to whats looking like a breaking point.

Doctors and their professional associations, such as the American Medical Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, have clashed with the GOP over health policy changes, but Kennedy has given them a leftward shove by deriding them as pharma flunkeys and progressive ideologues. In recent months, Kennedy has sparred with the groups over vaccine guidance, transgender care, the handling of the pandemic and whether pregnant women are putting their children at risk of autism if they take Tylenol.

The groups have long been considered nonpartisan and have many conservative members. But Republicans in Congress are piling on, potentially risking the medical professions evolution into a Democratic-leaning interest group. In turn, that would winnow doctors influence on policy issues when Republicans are in power, and prompt big shifts in public health guidance when Democrats are.

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Some GOP lawmakers say its the doctors that lost them as they moved left. We kind of have a crisis of credibility, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said of physician leaders in the health care establishment. Kennedy, he added, is a product of that distrust. He is a reaction to what many people feel, that they were being ignored.

Kennedys broadsides  including his deliberation over limiting the AMAs role in determining what Medicare pays doctors  have forced the leaders of physician societies to negotiate between an unfriendly government and many of their own members, who have demanded greater resistance to Kennedys plans to overhaul the public health system.

Their criticisms of the health secretary have signaled to the public strong disagreement with Kennedys policies and widened the split with Republicans on Capitol Hill.

The most telling example is Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a liver doctor and the chair of the Senate health committee.

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Hes been a leading GOP critic of Kennedy and a friend to physician interests. But he recently condemned the AMA for its support of gender-affirming care. This month, he also demanded that the group report revenues from its coding system, suggesting he might seek to upend a medical billing standard that brings in a big chunk of the groups $500 million in annual revenue. In a letter to AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, Cassidy called the group anti-science and anti-patient.

When people know that theres scrutiny, they sometimes behave differently, Cassidy told POLITICO in explaining why he confronted the AMA. The AMA has said it will respond to the senators request.

The AMA declined to comment for this story. The group, which represents more doctors than any other physician group, has said its positions are rooted in science and the consensus of Americas doctors.

The AMA and many groups representing physician specialists have repeatedly called out Kennedy this year, criticizing him for revamping an outside panel of vaccine experts, for deemphasizing Covid vaccination and for the firing of the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in August. Many medical societies have dismissed Republican accusations that they are unduly influenced by drug companies and instead accused the administration of advancing pseudoscience.

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In contrast with many rank-and-file AMA members, the groups leaders have repeatedly stressed the need to work with Kennedy. At a summit put on by the medical news website Stat this month, Mukkamala said he finds total alignment with the administration on some policy issues.

The American Academy of Pediatrics sued Kennedy in July for what it argues are unlawful changes to Covid vaccine guidance. The government is no longer recommending anyone get the shots, though they remain available. Mark Del Monte, the AAP CEO, said in a statement that federal health officials are sowing confusion and chaos over whats best for childrens health.

Families know they can rely on the AAP for guidance rooted in the best available evidence, not politics, he said.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, which has also protested Kennedys vaccine guidance, said in a statement that its bipartisan work champions policies that support a robust workforce and strengthen the physician patient relationship.

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Several associations, including groups that represent public health experts, internists and immunologists, have called on Kennedy to resign.

Still, Republican officials in the states have backed Kennedy on the Covid vaccines.

After the Texas Medical Association, the largest state physician group, told doctors there they could consider sources other than the CDC for vaccine guidance, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called the associations advice a brazen, flawed shift.

Besides condemning the pediatricians for offering their own vaccine guidance, Kennedy targeted the AMA in a report earlier this year on the problem of chronic disease among children. He criticized the group for adopting a policy recommending that licensing boards take disciplinary action against physicians who spread misinformation, an issue that became heated during the pandemic when some sought to punish doctors who prescribed off-label treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine for Covid.

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Punishing doctors for deviating from government guidance discourages practitioners from conducting or discussing nuanced risk-benefit analyses that deviate from official guidelines  even when those analyses may be clinically appropriate, the report said.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, GOP doctors such as Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Roger Marshall of Kansas have become Kennedys most vociferous defenders in his battle with their professional colleagues.

Many of these doctor associations are run by liberals, Marshall, an OB/GYN who has had a fraught relationship with the groups, told POLITICO. Theyre run by people that failed being real doctors.



Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the ranking member on the Senate health committee, confronted Kennedy at a hearing in September, accusing him of turning patients against their doctors by attacking physician groups. Kennedy heaped on more criticism.

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The American Heart Association has been co-opted by the food industry, he replied. The AHA, which is led by cardiologists among others, rejected his claim.

Trust your doctor, not the doctors

Theres a nuance in Kennedy and the Republican lawmakers messaging when it comes to doctors.

While they have cast doubt on the trustworthiness of the doctor groups, theyve continued to advise Americans to consult their own doctors.

Many public health advocates feared Kennedy would deny Americans access to vaccines  Kennedy was an anti-vaccine activist before joining forces with Trump and has suggested vaccines cause autism  but he has instead recommended Americans talk with their doctors before getting them.

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Joel White, a health care lobbyist and a partner at Monument Advocacy, explained this dissonance.

Youre tapping into some of the psychology around Congress, right? Everyone hates Congress, but they love their congressman. Like, I hate the medical profession, but I love my doctor, White said.

Americans tend to agree, at least on the latter. An October poll conducted by The Washington Post and KFF, a health care think tank, found that 85 percent of parents trust their childs pediatrician on vaccines.

Cornyn, despite his view that the medical establishment finds itself in a crisis of credibility, told POLITICO later that he believed that a personal doctor remains the best person to provide that counsel and advice.

Marshall, who has at times both cited and criticized doctors groups, said that for all his animosity he still has an immense amount of trust in the doctors out there.
Fighting has intensified in Sudans besieged city of el-Fasher in North Darfur, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group claimed it had captured a government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) base seen as their last stronghold in the western region.

An RSF spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday that its forces managed to liberate the 6th Division in el-Fasher, breaking the back of the army and its allies by establishing full control over this strategic military base.

He called the development a significant turning point and a step on the path to building a new state that all Sudanese will participate in establishing according to their aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice.

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A video posted by the RSF showed its soldiers cheering in front of a sign for the SAFs Sixth Infantry base.

The Reuters news agency said it was able to verify the location but not the date.

Al Jazeeras Hiba Morgan, reporting from Sudans capital, Khartoum, said the RSF takeover of the SAF base in el-Fasher comes after months of siege and days of heavy fighting.

The RSF has been laying siege to el-Fasher for the past 18 months as it fought the Sudanese army and allied former rebels and local fighters. It has targeted civilians in frequent drone and artillery attacks, while the siege has caused acute suffering and spread starvation in the city, where 250,000 people remain under fire.

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The SAF did not immediately give a statement on its current position.





Control of el-Fasher

Due to the siege, the army had difficulty resupplying and reenforcing its soldiers and forces at the military base, said Morgan, adding that there are layers to the unfolding situation.

What we understand from military sources is that when the RSF took over the army division there, SAF forces themselves were not present inside the base itself, she added.

They had withdrawn and rebased themselves around the city, so technically, while the RSF does control the infantry division that used to belong to the Sudanese army there, it does not have full control of the city of el-Fasher itself.

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Capturing el-Fasher would be a significant military and political victory for the RSF, and could hasten a physical split of the country by enabling the paramilitary group to consolidate its control over the vast Darfur region, which it has identified as the base for a parallel government established this summer.

Justin Lynch, the managing director of the Conflict Insights Group, told Al Jazeera that the RSFs siege on el-Fasher is part of a strategy to take over all of Darfur.

What they want to say is claim that they represent all of Darfur in negotiations, so that during the talks that are happening now, they can have a much better claim and a much better negotiating position, Lynch told Al Jazeera from Nairobi.

Theyve been having a siege for the past 18 months, and so, with the fall of the army barracks, it looks destined that the city of el-Fasher is going to fall, he said.

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Activists have long warned that an RSF takeover of the city would also lead to ethnic attacks, as seen after the capture of the Zamzam camp to the south.

Last week, the RSF said it was facilitating the exit of civilians and surrendered fighters from el-Fasher, but those who have left have reported robberies, sexual assaults, and killings by RSF soldiers on the way.

A United Nations-mandated mission said last month that the RSF had committed multiple crimes against humanity in the siege of el-Fasher. SAF has also been accused of atrocities.

Four UN agencies warned this week that thousands of children face imminent death as they remain cut off from food and healthcare.

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UN expert Radhouane Nouicer raised concerns this week about intensifying drone attacks by both sides. RSF attacks on power infrastructure on Tuesday knocked out electricity across multiple cities and injured six workers.

For a fourth consecutive day on Friday, RSF drones targeted Khartoum International airport, which the army had hoped to reopen after retaking the capital in March. The reopening has been postponed as a result.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced 12 million and left 30 million in need of aid, making it the worlds largest humanitarian crisis.

In recent months, United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised to intensify efforts to end the war in Sudan. But with his foreign policy focus zeroed in on shoring up a fragile Gaza ceasefire and finding a way to reach any type of ceasefire in Russias war in Ukraine, as well as trade deals, Sudan has not been a priority.




Luca-Amine Hadir was 4 days old when his parents raced him to the ER.

His mother, Jill McDonald, had wanted her child to have a gentle transition into the world, and Luca's first four days were just that. He was born at home in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood, in spring 2020 - Jill, now 46, described his birth as "unremarkable." She and Luca's father, Najib Hadir, basked in the glow of newfound parenthood, imagining his first words and first steps, high school graduation and world travels.

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"I expected that I would have a kiddo and keep doing all the things that I had done before and just take him with me," Jill said. "But life has turned out so differently."

Luca's peaceful introduction to the world was short-lived. By his fourth day, he wasn't feeding well, and his parents took him to the hospital. He had his first dramatic seizure in the emergency room.

Days later, they would learn Luca had suffered a brain injury, perhaps a stroke before or shortly after birth. He was diagnosed with epilepsy. When the epilepsy didn't respond to medications, he underwent a 16-hour brain surgery at just 18 months old, which lessened the frequency and severity of seizures but did not stop them. And he'd already suffered permanent brain damage.

Luca is 5 now, and will require full-time care for the rest of his life.

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Like millions of American parents with profoundly disabled children, Jill has come to rely on federal, state and local support programs to make their life manageable in the small Sonoma County community where she now lives with her son. The resources allow Jill to care for Luca and keep him home.

That support is fragile, though, and vulnerable to the whims of federal politics. At the moment Jill's income situation feels stable, she said. She tries not to worry overly much about the national political climate and threats to Luca's care, because it's not something she can control.

Billions of dollar in federal reductions to Medicaid, prescribed under President Donald Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," will begin taking effect this fall. Though states like California may make up for the bulk of the cuts through state funding, it's unclear what the impact will be on families like Jill and Luca's.

Many families are bracing for the worst - cuts that will dramatically impact their ability to care for their children beyond their most basic needs. Many more families are in a state of flux, uncertain what resources will, or will not, be available to them in just a few weeks and therefore unable to prepare.

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"Luca has a profound enough disability that I think he will always be taken care of," said Jill, talking to a reporter in her rented home on the outskirts of Sebastopol, where the family moved a year and a half ago. "But I'm of a certain mindset that we take care of our most vulnerable people, and I don't know if that's in alignment with our current administration.

"But I try not to go down that rabbit hole," Jill said. "I try not to think about it too much, because if I did, I could worry a lot."

Jill McDonald applies makeup while her son, Luca, builds a Lego tower. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





A daily balancing act

Luca arrived home from school one afternoon this August with Dani Anderlini, a family friend and special educator who helps out three days a week. He made a beeline for the foam mat on the living room floor, where pictures of animals, arranged in a colorful patchwork of squares, helped him learn the alphabet.

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"One whale," Luca said to Anderlini, pointing to a square with a purple whale and the letter "W." She nodded, and Luca ran across the mat to point to an identical square. "Two whales."

"Can you find the unicorn?" Anderlini asked. Luca paused, then ran back across the mat to the first purple square.

"One whale," he said again, a wide grin on his face, then ran back across the mat to the other purple square. "Two whales."

The whale routine is a common one for him and Anderlini, who helps Luca with speech therapy, as well as life skills such as bathing and feeding himself.

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Anderlini is part of a complex patchwork of caregivers, medical professionals and nonprofit supporters that Jill has assembled over the past five years to enable Luca to live at home, including a crowdfunding effort launched by a family friend. Medicaid was the final piece for Jill, who learned about a year ago that it was an option for them.

Dani Anderlini, one of Luca's caregivers, shows him how to blow bubbles at his home in Sebastopol. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





Luca qualifies for two Medicaid programs: IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) and HCBA (Home and Community Based Alternatives). Jill receives a monthly check as Luca's caregiver from In-Home Supportive Services, and that's her primary income: She uses it to help cover rent and groceries, as well as to pay for extra help with Luca on weekends. She's still working out how to get support through Home and Community Based Alternatives.

Before getting federal support, Jill and Najib worked full-time jobs in San Francisco, trading off shifts with Luca at the hospital and fitting in medical appointments around their meeting schedules. When the family moved to Sebastopol, Jill and Najib continued to trade off the two-hour commute to work.

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But the burden of full-time caregiving and full-time work took its toll. Najib no longer lives with Jill and Luca, and Jill is the primary caregiver. Jill took a break from working last summer and now is doing part-time contract work in marketing. Najib lives nearby; he helps financially and sees Luca about every other weekend.

Before the brain surgery, Luca probably was enduring multiple small but damaging seizures every day, doctors told his parents. He no longer has daily seizures, but he has epilepsy that does not respond to medications, which means he still has seizures, sometimes very bad ones. They often strike at night, so Jill has to sleep in her son's bed so she'll be nearby if he wakes up seizing.

Twice since they moved to Sonoma County, Jill has called 911 when he seized, drawing paramedics from the fire station up the road from their home. But they haven't been able to do anything for Luca that Jill can't do herself, so usually she waits it out with him alone.

Luca has weakness on his right side from the brain injury, including the surgery. He's also lost all right-side vision in both eyes, though he can see to the left and is able to adapt to his surroundings reasonably well, Jill said.

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At home, Luca doesn't feed, bathe or clothe himself. When she takes him places, meltdowns are common. He's also been diagnosed with autism.

It's the epilepsy that scares her, though. She worries a seizure could kill him, or further disable him. More than once, when Luca was gripped in a seizure, Jill described a feeling of surrender as she wondered whether this would be it, if he would finally let go.

"His brain gets very overwhelmed. He has a lot of sensory processing difficulties and vision impairment and seizures. Sometimes I can tell that he struggles and struggles," Jill said. "But then when I see him at school, he's bright and vibrant and they all love him. He's still happy."

Luca takes a bath with the help of his caregiver, Dani Anderlini. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





Cuts that hit home

The comprehensive budget policy bill that Trump signed into law this year calls for about $1 trillion in cuts to federal Medicaid over the next decade. Medicaid is the primary program providing support to older adults and people with disabilities who need nursing or home care. About 4.5 million Americans receive Medicaid home care services each year.

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Federal health officials say the Medicaid cuts won't impact services for families that rely on it. But state and local experts in coverage say there almost certainly will be cuts, and how they impact families will depend in part on how able and willing states are to pick up the difference.

The results could include less money to individual families for care, more rigorous standards for accessing services, or income cutoffs that make some families ineligible.

Luca moves his arms in the afternoon light in the kitchen last month, with mom Jill McDonald watching in the background. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





Anna Leach-Proffer, managing attorney for health care and home- and community-based services with Disability Rights California, said many voters, and even elected officials, are not aware how devastating federal cuts could be to families like Jill's.

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"Nobody, as far right as you can get, is going to come out and say they want to cut services for a medically fragile child," Leach-Proffer said. "I think it's more that people don't realize these are Medicaid programs."

Leach-Proffer said she's had to "educate" elected officials on just how important these programs are. "I know you don't want to stand in front of your constituents and say this child does not deserve to live with their family," she'll tell them.

She's been through similar scenarios before, Leach-Proffer said. In 2008, she was part of Disability Rights California when the state saw a 7% reduction across the board for those with significant care needs during the housing crash. But this time around, she said, feels even more impactful.

"On some level, I want to say, Don't be too worried. We've been through this before,'" Leach-Proffer said. "But at the same time, it's a much bigger loss of funding, even than we dealt with in 2008."

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California's general fund "is not going to be big enough to make up the difference," Leach-Proffer said. "The cuts are going to have to come from somewhere."

Luca plays on his school playground in Forestville. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





Finding strength in community

Luca goes to school nearby for five hours every weekday morning, and Anderlini spends time with him three afternoons a week. On Fridays, he visits a local farm with another child. Jill and Luca also attend events through Common Ground Society, a group for families with children with high needs, and on weekends, Jill hires another aide to spend a few hours with Luca so she can get chores done or spend a little time alone.

"It's not always me and him - that would not be good for Luca, and it would not be good for me," Jill said.

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The trauma of her child's medical crisis and years of fearing for his life, plus caring for him around the clock, has left Jill exhausted and burned out. Last month she was able to take a few days to herself to go to Burning Man for the first time since Luca was born, indulging in creative arts and time with friends and other adults. It was invigorating but a short-lived breather.

"I'm really trying to move through the grief and sadness now," Jill said. She is still grieving the loss of expectations - what she thought motherhood might be, the life she imagined for her son and their family. And yet, "I don't want to bear the loss of someone who's still here," she said, "so I've just really had to learn how to accept him for who he is."

Jill is more cognizant than ever, she said, of the value of community and support systems like Medicaid. And that is at the heart of what she wants for her son: a life with friends and laughter and love.

Jill McDonald watches Luca, center, play with other kids at a pool party hosted by Common Ground Society at the Wikiup Tennis & Swim Club in Santa Rosa in August. Common Ground was started to help build a community among families who have medically complex children, and has helped Jill connect with other parents going through similar challenges. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





"The way that I see my kid is probably the way you see your kid," Jill said. "I don't think there's a difference. I think all parents love their kids in the same way, no matter if they have disabilities or not. I think the love for a child knows no bounds."

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Jill loves her son, and she wants to care for him at home as long as she can.

"He's taught me that it's not about how long you're with someone," Jill said, "it's about the impact that they have upon you. He's taught me to be really gentle with people, because everyone's struggling. Especially now in the world."

One August evening, as the light faded from the windows of their home, Jill and Luca climbed into the bed they share. Jill reminded Luca of everyone who loves him - a daily routine that's come to anchor their evenings together.

Then they pulled out Luca's favorite book: "Oh, the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. Luca has it memorized.

"I'm sorry to say so, but sadly it's true, that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you," Jill read. "Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act."

Luca listened, holding Jill's hand. He climbed over her as he tried to get comfortable.

"And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed!" Jill read. "KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

Jill flipped to the last page, and Luca lay down beside her. "Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!"

She closed the book, and they fell asleep, intertwined.

Jill McDonald helps her 5year-old son, Luca, wind down for bed at their home in Sebastopol. Luca often struggles with sleep, waking up frequently in the middle of the night and taking hours to go to bed. Jill stays close by all night in case of emergency seizures. (Anna Connors/S.F. Chronicle)





This article originally published at For this Bay Area mother and son, Trump's Medicaid cuts could shred a lifeline.
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Bear Creek Smokehouse is partnering with the Art League of Marshall for another Art Walk on November 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bear Creek Smokehouse hosts Thanksgiving local vendor market

The Spring Art Walk was a massive success, and everyone is hoping to replicate and improve it.

(Image courtesy of Bear Creek Smokehouse)

This event will be full of art, vendors, and, of course, food.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS)  Bear Creek Smokehouse is hosting a Thanksgiving local vendor market on November 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bear Creek Bacon takes center stage in shrimp tacos

Over 100 vendors will showcase an assortment of products, offering something for everyone.

(Image courtesy of Bear Creek Smokehouse)

With so many vendors, you are sure to see an incredible deal or find an unexpected treasure.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Bijou Phillips has filed to remove Danny Masterson's surname from their daughter's name.

Bijou Phillips wants to change her daughter's name

The 45-year-old actress filed for divorce from the former That '70s Show star two years ago when he was sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars after being found guilty of raping two women 20 years ago, and she has now submitted new court documents asked for 11-year-old Fianna Francis to be given her own last name instead of her father's, TMZ reports.

The filing is currently awaiting approval from a judge.

But in another legal move on Friday (24.10.25), a judge changed both the Almost Famous star and her former spouse's legal statuses to single.

Despite their divorce, Bijou previously gave a character statement for Danny - who is behind bars at North Kern State Prison in California - and said he's still in touch with their little girl every night.

She said: "Danny is an amazing father.

"Our daughter and I are heartbroken that he is not home with us. It has been very difficult without him here. Even though he is now in jail, he calls her every day. He helps her with homework every night."

The actress filed for divorce just a few weeks after his sentencing, citing "irreconcilable differences" for the breakdown of their 11-year union.

Her lawyer said in a statement at the time: "Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time. Her priority remains with her daughter.

"This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. Mr. Masterson was always present for Ms. Phillips during her most difficult times of her life.

"Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter. She hopes that everyone will respect her family's privacy in these difficult times."

Danny agreed to give Bijou full legal and physical custody of their daughter, but requested visitation rights.

The Raising Hope actress requested their assets be divided by the court as separate property.

Last year, Bijou was romantically linked with Jamie Mazur, with insiders telling how her relationship with the businessman had given her a new outlook on life.

A source told People magazine at the time: "After Danny was found guilty, Bijou had a hard time.

"She has been incredibly sad for their daughter. It's just so awful that she lost her dad. Bijou has leaned on a small group of friends for support since she filed for divorce."
In the 127th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled the heroic resistance of tribal freedom fighter Komaram Bheem against the Nizam's atrocities in Hyderabad and paid homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his upcoming birth anniversary, urging young people to learn about unsung tribal icons. Recalling the brutal exploitation under British rule and the Nizam's regime, PM Modi said, "The British had crossed all limits of exploitation throughout India, and in that era, the period of repression was even more horrific for the patriotic people of Hyderabad. They were also forced to endure the atrocities of the cruel and merciless Nizam. There was no limit to the atrocities committed against the poor, the deprived, and the tribal communities. Their lands were seized, and heavy taxes were imposed. If they protested against this injustice, even their hands were cut off." The Prime Minister narrated the inspiring story of a young tribal warrior, Komaram Bheem, who dared to challenge the Nizam's oppression. "In such difficult times, a young man of about twenty years of age stood up against this injustice. Today, I am discussing that young man for a special reason. Before disclosing his name, I will tell you about his bravery. Friends, during that era, when even uttering a word against the Nizam was a crime, that young man openly challenged an officer of the Nizam named Siddiqui. The Nizam had sent Siddiqui to confiscate the farmers' crops. But in this struggle against oppression, that young man killed Siddiqui. He also successfully evaded arrest. Escaping from the tyrannical police of the Nizam, that young man reached Assam, hundreds of kilometres away," the PM said. Revealing the identity of the braveheart, PM Modi added, "The great personality I am talking about is Komaram Bheem. His birth anniversary was celebrated on the 22nd of October. Komaram Bheem did not live a long life; he only lived for 40 years, but during his lifetime, he left an indelible mark on the hearts of countless people, especially the tribal community. He instilled new strength in those fighting against the Nizam. He was also known for his strategic skills. He became a major challenge to the Nizam's rule. He was killed by the Nizam's men in 1940. I urge the youth to try to learn as much as possible about him." The Prime Minister recalled another prominent tribal leader, Bhagwan Birsa Munda, and announced the upcoming celebration of Janajatiya Gaurav Diwas on Munda's birth anniversary. "Next month, on the 15th, we will celebrate the Janajateeya Gaurav Diwas. This is the auspicious occasion of Bhagwan Birsa Munda's birth anniversary. I respectfully pay my homage to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The work he did for the country's independence and for the rights of the tribal community is unparalleled. It was my great fortune to have had the opportunity to visit Ulihatu, the village of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, in Jharkhand," he said in a radio programme. Describing his emotional connection with Munda's legacy, PM Modi added, "I touched the soil of that land to my forehead in reverence. Just like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Komaram Bheem, there have been many other great luminaries in our tribal communities. I urge you to definitely read about them." Through these references, the Prime Minister emphasised the invaluable contributions of tribal communities to India's freedom struggle. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. (ANI)
Hidden in the heart of Illinois is a stunning, lesser-known flower that was recently saved from the very brink of extinction. With delicate, bluish-pink, hollyhock-like petals that become white closer to the center, the Kankakee mallow (Iliamna remota) is one of the rarest native American plants. It's naturally present only on Langham Island in the Kankakee River. First discovered by botanist E.J. Hill on June 29, 1872, Kankakee mallow is also officially recognized as an Illinois state endangered species.

In recent decades, this delicate plant had a brush with extinction. Its limited habitat of Kankakee mallow was overtaken by dense thickets of invasive honeysuckle, which crowded out these native plants. When a group of botanists visited the island in 2014, they found it so overrun with invasive honeysuckle that they could barely step out of their canoes. Worse, all traces of the once-abundant Kankakee mallow seemed to be gone. At that point, it hadn't been seen in the wild since 2002.

Fortunately, some seeds remained in the ground, and volunteers and conservation partners were able to give the Kankakee mallow another chance to live and thrive in the wild. They removed dense brush and used carefully planned burns to reclaim the space. The conservation efforts paid off: Nearly three-quarters of the island has been cleared, and the Kankakee mallow population is recovering, though more work is needed.

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Read more: 12 Flowers That Will Transform Your Space Into A Hummingbird Heaven

Why the Kankakee mallow came so close to extinction

Up close shot of a Kankakee mallow flower - Mike Redmer/Shutterstock

While many flowers grow perfectly well in shade, Kankakee mallow is not one of them. So, when the fast-growing invasive honeysuckle appeared on Langham Island, it outcompeted these native plants. It denied light to the mallows, reduced their growth, and ultimately caused the death of many plants. Luckily, the Kankakee mallow seeds proved to be more resilient than their parent plants. Their tough coats allow them to stay viable and resist germination for many years until heat breaks their dormancy. Thanks to this quality, the seeds remained dormant while the island's honeysuckle population kept the environment inhospitable for them.

Guided by this knowledge, restoration workers cleared away the invasive brushes and set planned and controlled fires throughout the area. The fires not only allowed sunlight to once again reach areas where the mallow seeds were buried, but they also promoted the seeds' germination. Restoration workers are now discovering Kankakee mallow in many new places on the island, which is a good sign. Furthermore, the conservation efforts have resulted in nearly 1,000 new plants sprouting on the island. However, environmentalists warn that the recovery is still fragile, as reemerging honeysuckle shrubs continue to threaten the native mallow's survival. Nevertheless, the story of Kankakee mallow's comeback is nothing short of miraculous. It rivals the awe inspired by Camellia japonica 'Middlemist's Red'  one of the rarest flowers in the world.

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NEED TO KNOW

A 54-year-old woman and her father died after she crashed her truck into a beehive near the side of a dirt road in Brazil

Following the accident, the womans parents rushed to the scene to help when they were all attacked by agitated bees

The womans mom survived after receiving treatment for stings

A father and daughter died of bee stings after he tried to rescue her from a swarm of agitated bees in Brazil.

Silvana da Fatima Braganca da Luz, 54, was driving on a dirt road in Vacaria in Rio Grande do Sul when she lost control of her truck on Oct. 22, causing it to overturn and crash into a beehive, the Civil Police and fire department confirmed to local outlets G1, GZH and Jornal Semanario.

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According to reports, a neighbor heard the commotion and rushed to alert emergency services and Silvana's parents, who lived on a nearby rural property. The fire station was located approximately 37 miles away.

Her father Raul Portela da Luz, 79, and mother, 72, arrived at the scene to help their daughter, but they were both attacked by bees in the process.

Silvana succumbed to her injuries shortly after the accident.

"There were hundreds of stings, the fire department said, per G1. When the team arrived at the scene, she was still alive, so the death did not occur at the time of the rollover.

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Raul was taken to the Nossa Senhora da Oliveira Hospital in critical condition and died the following day on Oct. 23, while Silvanas mother survived after receiving treatment.

CBMRS 5A BBM/Instagram Fire department in Brazil Fire department in Brazil

Silvana and Raul were laid to rest on Oct. 24 at the Portela Family Cemetery in the interior of Vacaria in the Serra do Rio Grande do Sul. The Civil Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.

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The tragic incident in Brazil occurred on the same day that a group of road construction workers were attacked by a swarm of bees in Guyana, leaving one man dead and another in critical condition.

According to local news outlets iNewsGuyana, Guyana Times and Stabroek News, a group of workmen was engaged in road construction at Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, when a swarm of bees suddenly attacked.

Contractors Winston Semple and Glendon Simpson sustained multiple stings amid the attack, per the Guyana Police Force.

After bystanders rushed to assist the men, who were then taken to Enmore Regional Hospital, Semple, 29, was pronounced dead upon arrival, while Simpson, 40, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Read the original article on People
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro on Saturday slammed President Trumps effort to receive a $230 million payment from the Department of Justice (DOJ) as compensation for the various federal probes into his conduct.

I think that its rife with conflicts of interest, Shapiro told NewsNations Batya Ungar-Sargon.

I cannot see a world in which that does not end with either a massive number of lawsuits or even an impeachment in the House. That is just a bad strategy, he added.

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Trump has alleged that past DOJ investigations into his conduct were politically motivated and damaged his reputation.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trumps personal attorney, would be one of the people responsible for signing off on the settlement, which the president has said he would donate to charity.

To pretend that its not a conflict of interest, for the president to ask the DOJ that he appointed to maybe sign him a check for $230 million, even if its going to go to charity, that obviously raises significant conflicts of interest that I think would be impossible to get around in sort of any legal context, Shapiro said.

GOP senators and other lawmakers have also raised significant concerns over the effort.

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At the very least, its horrible timing, given that were in a shutdown, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters earlier this week.

I got a lot of optics concerns, and I just dont know if theres precedent for it. There doesnt seem to be, he added.

He also urged DOJ officials to follow the rules when it comes to approving any funds to be handed over to Trump.

If theres precedent, thats the beginning of the discussion, Tillis later said Thursday. If there isnt precedent for this sort of thing, I dont think this is the time to establish it.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) also said the effort sounds very irregular.

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House Democrats said they plan to investigate Trumps push to receive damages and described it as a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional effort to steal $230 million from the American people.

Reps. Jamie Raskin (Md.) and Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees, wrote a letter to the president highlighting the bad timing of Trumps push for a $230 million settlement.

You waited until you became President and installed your handpicked loyalists at DOJ, knowing that you could instruct them to co-sign your demand notes in secret behind closed doors, and then you could present the notes to the U.S. Treasury for cold hard cash courtesy of the American taxpayer, the lawmakers wrote.

They added, That isnt justice, it is theft.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that service members will miss paychecks by Nov. 15 if the government shutdown stretches on, despite the Trump administration's previous assurances that members of the military will be paid amid the funding lapse.

"I think we'll be able to pay them beginning in November, but by Nov. 15 our troops and service members who are willing to risk their lives aren't going to be able to get paid," Bessent said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

President Trump directed the Pentagon to use unspent research and development funds to pay the military earlier this month, with around $8 billion in funds from the previous fiscal year identified to cover the mid-month paychecks. But officials have warned that the move was a temporary fix, and that members of the military risked missing their next paychecks at the end of the month, and beyond, if the shutdown continues.

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Bessent suggested that members of the military will receive their upcoming paycheck, but he warned that if the shutdown continues, the U.S. would be unable to pay the service members by mid-November.

"What an embarrassment," Bessent said, putting the blame on Democratic leaders in Congress who he claimed are "worried about their primaries, and not the American people."

Democrats and Republicans have been locked in a stalemate over how to fund the government for weeks as Democrats have demanded an extension of health insurance tax credits as a condition for reopening the government. Meanwhile, Republicans have been clear that they are willing to discuss the health care issue, but only once the government reopens, despite Democrats' repeated requests for negotiations.

Asked about the possibility of a meeting between the president and leaders in Congress after a request from Democrats last week, Bessent said "I don't know what good it does."

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"This is a Democratic-led boycott, and I'm just not sure what they're doing," Bessent added.

The treasury secretary warned that the shutdown is "starting to affect the economy," urging moderate Democrats to "be heroes" by breaking with their party to vote in favor of the House-passed measure to reopen the government that has fallen short of the 60 votes needed a dozen times in the Senate.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also appeared on "Face the Nation" on Sunday and said "there is an urgent need to reopen the government."



"Which is why we continue to demand that Republicans sit at the negotiating table so we can enact a spending agreement that's bipartisan in nature," Jeffries, a New York Democrat, said. "That's what we've called for from the very beginning."

On the health care issue, Jeffries said Democrats "need action, not simply words" or a "wing and a prayer promise" from Republicans.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that U.S. soybean exports to China were addressed during a meeting between the two sides in Malaysia.

I think we have addressed the farmers concerns, Bessent told Martha Raddatz on ABC Newss This Week, of the meeting with Li Chenggang, Chinas top trade negotiator, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.

American soybean farmers have been impacted by President Trumps tariff battle with China. While the U.S. is typically the top supplier of soybeans to China, China purchased more than 1 million tons of soybeans from Argentina last month after the South American country suspended its 26 percent export tax on soybeans, according to Reuters.

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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. farmers sold $12.64 billion worth of soybeans to China last year, more than $10 billion more than that sold to the next closest trading partner, the European Union.

During the last decade, soybean exports to China peaked in 2022, when farmers sent $17.92 billion worth of the crop to the East Asian country.

Our soybean farmers will feel very good about whats going on both for this season and the coming seasons for several years, Bessent said.

Earlier this month, Trump said on Truth Social that he planned to use a small portion of tariff revenue to assist soybean farmers impacted by the trade battles. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Thursday that the USDA is reopening all 2,100 Farm Service Agency offices.

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The offices, which were closed because of the government shutdown, provide disaster assistance and loans to farmers and ranchers.

Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday, capping off a five-day trip to Asia that began in Malaysia on Sunday.

Bessent told ABC News that negotiators from the two countries reached a substantial framework regarding impending 100 percent U.S. tariffs on Chinese imported goods, which the president announced earlier this month over Chinas tightening restrictions on the sourcing and manufacturing of rare earth minerals.

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The fighter aircraft was never more important than it was during the global calamity that began in 1939.

However, at this time of need, the fighter types available were pretty limited to say the least. If you were an air force leader choosing a fighter to defend your nation, your choice (if you were lucky and appropriately aligned politically) would be from this pack of misfits and immature thoroughbreds. Here are the ten best fighters operational at start of the biggest war in history.

10: Mitsubishi A5M Claude

Mitsubishi A5M Claude

There may have been a few better land-based fighters in 1939 but if you wanted a carrier fighter then this is it. None of the classics had entered service yet, so no Grumman F4F Wildcat, no Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" - even the Brewster Buffalo didnt appear till December. If you want a monoplane its either this or a Blackburn Skua, and lets face it, no-one wants a Skua (which was an appalling aircraft in many ways).

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Manoeuvrable, fairly fast and long ranged, the A5M was dominant over China and was the first carrier aircraft to demonstrably prove to be as good as its land-based contemporaries.

10: Mitsubishi A5M Claude

Mitsubishi A5M Claude

In the second Sino-Japanese War the A5M had the upper hand (in terms of airframe performance) on almost every foe it faced and importantly established Japanese naval air power as a force to be reckoned with. The Mitsubishi A5M Claudes establishment of air superiority cemented the aircrafts reputation as one of the best of its time, known for its superb manoeuvrability and resilience to battle damage.

Though its top speed of 250-280mph (402-451 km/h) had been pretty impressive when the type had first flown in 1935, the world had moved on and the best fighter-producing nations, Germany and Britain, were now fielding machines demonstrating 350mph. Likewise, two light machine-guns were a weak armament in 1939, with British aircraft boasting four times the firepower.

9: Fokker G.1

Fokker G.1

Fokker was a Dutch aircraft company famous for its World War I fighters that served with Germany. The G.1 caused a sensation when it was first revealed in Paris. The twin-boom (a design with two longitudinal auxiliary booms like the handles of a wheelbarrow) design was radical but effective (and influential), and was dubbed La Faucheur (the Reaper) by the French press due to its unheard of armament of eight nose-mounted machine guns.

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Tasked with policing the Netherlands neutrality, the G.1s first victory was the accidental shooting down of a British RAF Whitley bomber.

9: Fokker G.1

Fokker G.1

When the German forces invaded in May 1940 the Fokker G.1 had only five days of action to prove its worth during which it operated effectively, despite being massively outnumbered, in both the ground attack, and air to air role, scoring at least 14 victories.

In 1941 two Dutch test pilots escaped to the United Kingdom in a Fokker G.1, which, despite its exciting history was left outside to test the effects of the climate on a wooden airframe and then scrapped in 1945.

8: Messerschmitt Bf 110C

Messerschmitt Bf 110C

The best twin-engined fighter of 1939 looked like an invincible force when first committed to action. It was fast, powerful, had a massive range and terrific firepower. Unfortunately, it was very large for a fighter and lacked manoeuvrability. Having said that, the 110 could outclimb any other European fighter in 1940.

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Supremely successful over Poland, France, Norway and the low countries, it's subsequent mauling when faced with modern, well-organised single-engined fighters has diminished its postwar reputation. This is unfair as it was the tactical employment of the aircraft that was at fault rather than the aircraft which was more or less as good as it was possible to be in 1939.

8: Messerschmitt Bf 110C

Messerschmitt Bf 110C

The Bf 110 was ahead of other twin-engined fghters in terms of reaching operational service. Britains tough Bristol Beaufighter and fast Westland Whirlwind were yet to enter service, and Frances fighter versions of the Potez 630 was proving extremely troublesome.

Later attempts to replace the Bf 110 with the Bf 210 would prove to be a nightmare for the Luftwaffe.

7: Bloch MB.152

Bloch MB.152

Despite being the best French fighter available in 1939, the prototype of what would become the MB.152 actually failed to fly as a result the fact that this aircraft makes it onto the list at all is nothing short of amazing. Unlike the British and German aircraft on this list, the 152 featured a radial, as opposed to inline, engine in the form of the Gnome-Rhone 14N.

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No one would call the MB.152 a looker, in fact the whole nose was canted off to one side to counteract propellor torque  an ingenious if mildly hideous solution.

7: Bloch MB.152

Bloch MB.152

It wasnt particularly fast but the MB.152 was amazingly resilient (one once returned to base with over 360 bullet holes), and unusually well-armed for a single-seat fighter of this era with two 20-mm cannon and two light machine-guns. Though tough and manoeuvrable, the Bloch MB.152 was a bit slower than Bf 109s it would face, and only carried 60 rounds of ammunition per cannon.

Better aircraft were in development for France, notably the faster Dewoitine D.520, but its introduction was too late to affect to deter the German invasion.

6: Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75/Mohawk

Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75/Mohawk

By far the best American fighter of 1939, and by far the shiniest aircraft on this list, the Curtiss Hawk 75A scored the first aerial victory on the Western front of the Second World War. The combat victories were claimed by French pilots in Curtiss Hawk 75A-1s of the SPA 160 "Red Devils" squadron of GC II/4 on 8 September 1939.

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Two years later the Curtiss made history again by scoring the first aerial victory for the US over Pearl Harbor.

6: Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75/Mohawk

Curtiss P-36/Hawk 75/Mohawk

Despite seeing very little service with US forces the Hawk 75 flew successfully over France, scoring a third of all French victories though making up only 12 per cent of the fighter force. Survivors were then used to great effect by Finland. In the RAF Mohawks fought the Japanese until the end of 1944 and Argentina only withdrew theirs in 1954.

The Hawk 75 was tough, nimble  it was notably more manoeuvrable than a Spitfire or Hurricane at high speed, well-armed (with one light and one heavy machine-gun) but never quite fast enough.

5: Polikarpov I-16

Polikarpov I-16

Due to its primary mission seemingly being to become the fighter with the greatest number of nicknames in aviation history, by 1939 the Soviet I-16 was no longer at the cutting edge of combat aircraft technology but it was still a force to be reckoned with.

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Despite looking like a barrel it was easily the most advanced fighter in the World when it entered service in 1934, the aesthetically abrupt I-16 cut a dash over Spain and was master of all aircraft that opposed it  except, tellingly, one.

5: Polikarpov I-16

Polikarpov I-16

Faster than nearly all contemporary fighters, it was very manoeuvrable but difficult to fly. Interestingly Mark Hanna, possibly the only Western pilot to fly both the Hurricane and I-16 (though neither in combat) said I had just flown a Hurricane for the first time, a week before the Rata  I felt that youd be better off fighting in a Rata.

At any rate I felt quickly far more comfortable in it. In air combat against early low-powered 109s, I would suspect that the two aircraft were very comparable. Which leads us neatly on to

4: Hawker Hurricane I

Hawker Hurricane I

The famous British Hawker Hurricane fighter first flew in 1935. The Hurricane was available in large numbers in September 1939 which was its principal advantage over its great rival the Spitfire. Later its relative simplicity and great sturdiness would prove invaluable but when war broke out these were not great concerns, and it was simply one of the worlds best fighters.

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Hurricanes saw the most action of any British type over France and it acquitted itself well before historically proving its worth in the Battle of Britain.

4: Hawker Hurricane I

Hawker Hurricane I

Not particularly fast, the Hurricane was very well-armed by the standards of the day, and able to withstand battle damage to a greater degree than any other British fighter, though horrifically prone to catching fire in the vicinity of the pilot. In tests at 15,000 feet the cockpit went from room temperature to 3000 degrees Celsius in ten seconds when the fuel tank caught fire.

It was supremely responsive and easy to fly  a great boon at a time when very few pilots had experienced combat.

3: Macchi MC.200 Saetta

Macchi MC.200 Saetta

Entering service a mere month before the outbreak of World War Two the Macchi MC 200 was for several years Italys premier fighter, despite its slight rotundity and old-fashioned open cockpit. The open cockpit it received was a retrograde step said to be requested by conservative pilots used to the ease of escape and unobstructed view possible without an enclosed canopy (though it was likely influenced by opinions coming from a higher level in the air force). Indeed, some Italian pilots preferred the slower more aerobatic biplanes the 200 replaced.

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The Saetta was an excellent flying machine, being pretty quick with viceless handling and sprightly manoeuvrability. Later it would fly rings around Hurricanes over the Mediterranean.

3: Macchi MC.200 Saetta

Macchi MC.200 Saetta

Sadly for the Italians it never had the sort of engine power that was becoming necessary by 1939 and its armament of only two machine-guns was pitiful, so Hurricanes largely got away. Despite its shortcomings it established a surprisingly good kill ratio against later designs over the Soviet Union, where it operated until early 1943. Fitted with a decent engine (the German Daimler-Benz DB 601) it became later become Italys best all-round fighter of the war, as the Macchi C.202 Folgore).

Thanks to the more powerful engine and streamlined nose, the 202 was an impressive 60mph faster. Of course, all this was academic in 1939 because Italy was neutral - at least for the time being...

2: Supermarine Spitfire I

Supermarine Spitfire I

The British Spitfire first flew in 1936 and entered service in August 1938. What is surprising about the fabulously capable Spitfire is just how early it was available. When most of the world was still operating biplanes that would not have looked out of place in 1918 (including the RAF) the Spitfire looked sensational and pointed the way to the future.

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Despite being the fastest aircraft in service anywhere it was still an underdeveloped aircraft in 1939, the rate of climb particularly suffered due to its being fitted with a fixed-pitch wooden airscrew. Well-armed by contemporary standards, it was considered easy to fly though not as forgiving as the Hurricane. The Spitfire was highly energetic and extremely responsive to pilot controls.

2: Supermarine Spitfire I

Supermarine Spitfire I

On the downside it was woefully short-ranged and the engine was prone to overheating virtually as soon as it was started. In combat the Spitfire of 1939 was not able to withstand the same levels of damage as the Hurricane and it could not perform some of the manoeuvres possible with the 109 because the engine would conk out.

Despite this, the formidable Spitfire was a fine handling aircraft of superlative performance with the devastating armament of eight Browning machine-guns.

1: Messerschmitt Bf 109

Messerschmitt Bf 109

In 1939 the Bf 109E had proved to be the most formidable aircraft of the Spanish Civil War and it was the finest fighter in service at the outbreak of World War II. The best fighter in the world was not without its flaws; Willy Messerschmitt was a noted glider designer before he turned his hand to fighters and aspects of its design were somewhat flimsy for a combat machine, a tail supported by struts was pretty weak by the late thirties and the occasional catastrophic total structural failure kept the Luftwaffe pilot of 1939 on his toes.

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Nonetheless in September 1939 it was a more mature combat aircraft than its great opponent and nearest rival, the Spitfire, and at the outbreak of war over 2000 Bf 109s had been built as opposed to barely 300 Spitfires. It had been refined with experience garnered in Spain, it was cannon armed and its fuel injection system was better able to cope with combat manoeuvres than the British aircraft. It was fitted with a variable pitch airscrew from the outset which maximised engine efficiency and speed.

1: Messerschmitt Bf 109

Messerschmitt Bf 109

By contrast, even once the Spitfire got a variable pitch propeller it initially had only two settings; in the 109 airscrew pitch could be set at any angle between fully feathered and coarse at the wish of the pilot. In addition, it had marginally better range which was eventually to be greatly improved by a drop tank, though not until late 1940. Within hours of the outbreak of hostilities, it was sweeping all aerial opposition aside and appeared unstoppable.

It was decidedly more difficult to fly than most of its enemies, but Germany entered the war correctly confident that its premier fighter aircraft was the worlds finest. The full Hush-Kit article this is based on can be viewed here.

Joe Coles is the author of The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes Vol 1, Vol 2 and Vol 3

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Betsy Mae Quan Toy Yee, the charismatic owner of Blue Fin, a Japanese restaurant serving downtown Phoenix since 1981, died Oct. 18. She was 91.

It seemed like Betsy knew everybody that walked in through that door. She treated them like family. I mean, I felt like I was one of her children, Mark Schweikert, whos been a regular since 2008, said.

Lyn Yee, Betsys daughter, started working at the restaurant in 2006 and has been running it herself since 2020, when Betsy took a step back. She plans to keep Blue Fin open.

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A small chalkboard let customers know that Betsy had passed. One customer cried for five minutes when he learned the news, Lyn said.

She just provided so much happiness and joy, Daryl Yee, her son, said.

Betsy is survived by her sister, Shirley Tung, and her five children Elizabeth Yee, LeAnn Yee, Daryl Yee, Lynette Yee and Lyris Patterson, and seven grandchildren.

Blue Fin was more than a restaurant

Betsy took over Blue Fin in 1991, when she was 57 years old. When asked why she might have wanted to take on such a large project at that age, Daryl shrugged. Because she liked to talk to people, you know? he said.

Betsy presided over the restaurant for almost 30 years. She shepherded it through the construction of the light rail, organizing a customer petition to save it from demolition under eminent domain. To this day, the sidewalk in front of the small brick building juts out into Central Avenue  a physical reminder of Betsys fight to keep her property intact.

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Over the decades, luxury apartments and gleaming skyscrapers rose around the restaurant as Phoenixs downtown developed. But Betsy kept Blue Fin largely unchanged, serving the same menu of Japanese comfort food with the kindness and care that she became known for.

Betsy as a young woman.

Her son noted that there was a symmetry to her spending the final decades of her life running a restaurant. Betsys father, Dea Hong Toy, opened Toys Shangri-La in 1950. At that time, it was one of the largest Chinese restaurants in Phoenix, and Betsy worked there as a teenager.

She started off in restaurants and she ended up in restaurants, Daryl said.

Betsy Yee's family were pioneers in Phoenix's early Chinese history

Born in 1934, Betsy was the tenth out of 11 children. She was born into a family of leaders in the early Chinese community.

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Her father immigrated to the United States from China in 1909 when he was 16. He was drafted during World War I, and after his service, he brought his wife Lee Chee and daughter to the U.S.

After the war, he ran restaurants in Casa Grande and Phoenix before getting into the grocery business. The Chinese community came together to help him buy a horse and buggy, which he used to deliver produce, according to Shirley Tung, Betsys younger sister.

By traveling out to the tuberculosis sanitariums on the outskirts of the city, where no other merchants wanted to go, he was able to build a niche business and save up enough money to buy a plot of land on 16th Street and Camelback, Tung said.

Toy built a grocery store on the land and planted a pecan orchard. The family raised turkeys, lambs, geese and chicken. As soon as they were able to, Betsy and Tung, who were only two years apart, started helping out in the grocery store  checking produce to see if it wilted, fetching eggs from the chicken coop.

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When we were born, we lived behind the grocery store in the old Chinese way, Tung said. We didn't have air conditioning. We slept outside with a mosquito net over us.

At that time, Toy's Grocery was located far from the city center. But as the area developed, helped out by the construction of Wrigley Mansion, the store grew successful. He invested his profits into more land, buying a 40 acre lot that he turned into a cantaloupe farm and a plot of land in what is now Paradise Valley, according to Tung.

He was entrepreneurial, Tung said. He had a lot of foresight. He was able to imagine what Phoenix would be like. And he also had enough guts to do it, you know?

A woman ahead of her time

Betsy took after her father and showed her entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. When she was in elementary school, in the midst of World War II, she ran for class president, Daryl said.

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Her strategy was, because the family owned a grocery store, she was able to get her hands on bubblegum, which was super rare during World War II because of the rationing, Daryl said. So she would give people bubble gum and then talk them into voting for her.

Ultimately, she lost the election. But that story was a harbinger of what was to come.

Betsy Yee and her sister Violet Toy working the counter of Blue Fin in 2016.

Betsy Yee lived an adventurous life

When Betsy went to college, she had to choose between studying to be a teacher or a nurse, the two typical paths for women at the time, Daryl said. She chose teaching and graduated from Arizona State University in 1956.

But she craved adventure. The summer after she graduated, she traveled to Hawaii to learn more about Chinese culture there, according to an article in The Honolulu Advertiser. She worked at a bar selling drinks to sailors, Daryl said. She also picked up a lifelong love of hula dancing, which she passed on to her daughters  in 1984, she signed her daughter LeAnn Yee up to hula dance at a Phoenix rally for Jesse Jacksons presidential campaign.

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She was such a strong woman, LeAnn said. My mom had chutzpah.

Betsy Yee at a bar in Hawaii, where she learned to hula dance.

She shared the story of a trip that Betsy made to Egypt when she was a young adult. Betsy ran out of money half way through her trip, so she resold all her souvenirs at higher prices outside of American hotels, rented a camel, dressed up in local garb and charged tourists to take pictures with it.

Betsy taught at military bases in Okinawa and France. She received her masters in counseling from Columbia University in the late 1950s, a time when women were not admitted as undergraduates at the college, LeAnn said.

My mom was an out-of-the-box thinker. I'm very like, the lines are here, I won't go outside the lines. And she's like, nah, the lines are kind of a guideline, Lyn said.

How Blue Fin began

In 1961, Betsy married Howard Yee, who was also born into a Chinese family in Phoenix. In typical Betsy fashion, the wedding was in a grand cathedral in Paris. The couple moved to California, where they opened a pharmacy, before moving back to Phoenix in 1979.

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Although she was working as a high school counselor, Betsy began investing in real estate. One of the buildings she bought was at 1401 N. Central Avenue, which she took special pride in owning because of the history of racist housing practices in Phoenix when she was growing up. The property was in an area Chinese immigrants and other minorities had been steered away from, according to a 1930s Phoenix redlining map.

There was a period when this property wasnt valuable, Betsy told The Arizona Republic in 2022. (But) we could never buy it. We as Asians were not allowed to live on Central Avenue.

Several different businesses occupied the building before a Japanese chef opened Phoenix Blue Fin in 1981. A decade later, he needed to return to Japan, so Betsy took over the restaurant.

Betsy and Howard Yee at Blue Fin.

'Like a mother would'

Jose Botello started working at Blue Fin in 1990, when he was 15. The original Japanese chef trained him, and hes been the restaurants cook ever since. His mother was in Mexico, so he couldnt see her often. Betsy helped fill that void.

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Shed call me to check in, like a mother would, Botello said.

A police officer, Schweikert first started going to Blue Fin in 2008 because the area was part of his beat. Born in Japan, Schweikert was surprised to find home-style Japanese cooking at a restaurant in downtown Phoenix.

Betsy was always trying to get him to eat more. Hed refuse, telling her he was full, but shed come to his table with more food. He used to watch Betsy scold Lyn for not doing things her way, and hed chuckle because Betsy reminded him of his own mother. Betsy prayed for him at the restaurant and sent him cards.

Seeing how she treated people inspired me to be better at my job, to be a better person, Schweikert said.

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Over and over again, friends, customers and staff emphasized how Betsy became like a mother to them.

'Always feels the same:' This Japanese eatery in downtown Phoenix is a window into the past

One last gathering

Betsy had very refined taste, which was why she loved serving on the Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission, advising the city on how to include public art in their infrastructure projects. She loved expensive cars and refused to drive anything other than a Cadillac. She used to throw huge parties, renting out the Biltmore or the Phoenician to host hundreds of guests to celebrate birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

Before Betsy died, she had one final request.

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She wanted lots of flowers at her funeral, Daryl said. Even in death, she kind of wants a scene.

It was funny, Lyn said. Shes like, Im only going to die once. Just give me flowers.

Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Remembering Betsy Yee, matriarch of Blue Fin restaurant
Neighbors continue to be in shock after a murder-suicide this weekend in the Miami Valley.

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As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, police in three different counties confirm that they are investigating a murder suicide.

Police found two bodies in West Milton early Saturday morning. Hours later, Sugarcreek Township Police found a third body at a condo.

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>>RELATED: Police find third body connected to apparent murder-suicide

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: What we know about apparent murder-suicide investigation in Miami Valley

>>ORIGINAL COVERAGE: Apparent murder-suicide outside local municipal building under investigation

TRENDING STORIES:

News Center 7s Malik Patterson said that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling this investigation.

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A Huber Heights Police spokesperson said on Saturday that at least one person died at the Carriage Trails subdivision.

Neighbors told Patterson that they a lot of police activity on Saturday.

Were all shocked, like Im shocked, said Jessica Hendricks. Were heartbroken and sick to our stomachs about all of this.

She told Patterson that she had lived in this neighborhood for three years.

Hendricks said that she saw police and Ohio BCI agents at her neighbors house. Other people also told News Center 7 on Saturday said they saw a similar thing.

Well, I saw two people in the garage across the street, and none of them were my actual neighbor, said Hendricks.

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She told Patterson that they were detectives taking pictures. They also answered her questions.

No immediate threats to my safety. Neighbors shouldnt have to worry about it. And then they said that it would be on the news, probably, said Hendricks.

As previously reported by News Center 7, a Huber Heights Police spokesperson confirmed it was assisting West Milton Police, Sugarcreek Township Police, the Miami County Sheriffs Office, and the Ohio BCI in a joint investigation of a murder-suicide.

As previously reported by News Center 7, a Sugarcreek Township woman said that noise above her condo woke her up around 2 a.m. on Saturday.

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I heard these three loud noises, like somebody was banging on the window trying to get in, said an anonymous woman.

An Ohio BCI spokesperson previously told News Center 7 that Sugarcreek Township Police requested them on Saturday.

Another neighbor, who did not want to appear on camera, told Patterson on Saturday what she saw.

I did see them remove her (Saturday) at around four oclock in a body bag, the woman said.

West Milton Police said around 4 a.m. on Saturday that police found the bodies of a man and woman, who they believe were married.

Police Chief Doyle Wright told News Center 7 that security camera video from the citys municipal building shows a man pulling into the parking lot. He got out of the car, opened the trunk, and then shot himself.

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The womans body was in the trunk, Wright said.

I dont want to really look out the front of my house, said Hendricks.

She told Patterson that she had several questions about why the police were at her neighbors house.

Hendricks admits she is scared to get answers.

Patterson contacted all the police departments, but they said this was Ohio BCIs investigation. He called them on Sunday, but did not hear back.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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More than 30 commercial poultry farms in Germany have been forced to cull their animals following outbreaks of avian influenza, according to Germany's animal health institute on Sunday.

According to initial surveys, around 400,000 chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys have been culled and subsequently disposed of to prevent further spread of the disease.

"We had similar figures in 2021, the strongest 'avian influenza year' to date. It is impossible to predict how the situation will develop, but the FLI [Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut] is expecting a further increase in outbreaks and cases," institute head Christa Kuhn said. "The situation remains highly dynamic."

Largest losses in the north-east of Germany

The heaviest losses have occurred in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, nearly 150,000 laying hens were culled in two locations.

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On Sunday, a district in the eastern state of Brandenburg announced that another 130,000 birds would be killed following the detection of bird flu cases.

Thousands of livestock have been pre-emptively culled in several other German states after FLI analyses confirmed infections with the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza virus.

Bird migration heightens infection risk

Wild birds migrating to southern regions are seen as the main carriers of avian influenza. While the disease is now present in Germany year-round, the risk of infection rises sharply during the autumn migration.

According to the FLI, the current wave of infections has started earlier than usual. Cranes have also been affected to an unprecedented extent, particularly in north-west Brandenburg, where they are dying in large numbers.

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According to Kuhn, the avian influenza virus H5N1 was detected in 65 cases in wild birds. In total, however, many more infected animals have died, she said.

Avoid contact with wild birds

The risk of infection from infected wild birds and their droppings remains very high.

"I urge everyone to avoid contact with dead wild birds and to refrain from visiting poultry flocks afterwards. The avian influenza virus can also be spread indirectly through contaminated footwear or equipment," warned Kuhn.

She said there is a low risk of infection for the general population. But she noted that "people who come into contact with infected animals, such as the teams that clear affected poultry houses or collect dead wild birds, have a moderate risk of infection and therefore wear protective clothing."

The peak of bird migration is yet to come

The peak of the bird migration has yet to arrive, keeping the risk of avian influenza entering poultry flocks high.

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Livestock farmers have been urged to strictly follow hygiene protocols and prevent any contact between their birds and wild birds.

The Central Association of the German Poultry Industry cautioned: "If we do not act, we jeopardize not only animal health but also the security of supply."

Farmers can claim financial damages from the animal disease fund. Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer advocated raising the upper limit of compensation payments for animals that have to be culled from the current 50 ($58) to up to 110.

As a rule, the market value is the basis for compensation payments from the animal disease fund.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  The capital city celebrated the grand opening of a brand new inclusive coffee shop Saturday morning.

Bitty & Beaus Coffee officially opened its first Rhode Island location on North Main Street with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Amy and Ben Wright opened the first Bitty & Beaus Coffee more than nine years ago in Wilmington, North Carolina.

STREET STORIES: Autistic mans inclusive coffee shop opens back up in Warwick

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The couples business venture was inspired by their youngest children Beau and Bitty, who were both born with Down syndrome.

The Wrights wanted to create an inclusive place for their children and others with intellectual disabilities to work.

(Courtesy: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley)

Thats why Bitty & Beaus Coffee is described as a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.

Bitty & Beaus Coffee offers hot and iced drinks in a variety of flavors at its locations nationwide, including freshly brewed coffee, lattes, chai, cappuccinos, teas, frappes and smoothies. The shops also sell breakfast pastries and desserts, such as cookies, cake pops, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls and brownies.

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The Providence shop will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There are currently 16 Bitty & Beaus Coffee shops nationwide, including the new Providence location. The next closest shop to Rhode Island is located on Water Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
Several ministers and Chief Ministers across the country tuned in to listen to the 127th address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday. In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the programme. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary also tuned in with party members. In Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with others, listened to the episode. In Bihar, Union Minister and BJP election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, and BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal were among those who participated. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma listened to the programme in Jaipur, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tuned in from Guwahati. During the broadcast, Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of Chhath Puja, describing the festival as a reflection of the "deep unity" between culture, nature, and society. "All of us celebrated Diwali a few days ago, and now a large number of people are busy with Chhath Puja. Thekuas are being made at homes. Ghats are being decorated. The way women devotees prepare for the Chhath is an inspiration. Mahaparva of Chhath is a reflection of the deep unity between culture, nature, and society. Every section of society comes together at the Chhath ghats. This sight is the most beautiful example of India's social unity," Prime Minister Modi said during Mann Ki Baat. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month and aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, including women, the elderly, and the youth. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, along with 11 foreign languages, including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Balochi, Arabic, Pashto, Persian, Dari, and Swahili, through more than 500 centres of All India Radio. (ANI)
Boston police arrested two individuals on drug and firearm charges following an investigation near Causeway Street and Portland Street in Downtown Boston.

The incident began around 7:25 PM on Friday when officers observed suspicious activity indicative of a possible street-level drug transaction.

Upon investigation, officers identified one suspect, 24-year-old Stephano Toussaint of Lowell, MA, who was found in possession of illegal narcotics and a firearm.

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During the search, officers recovered multiple bags containing a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine, and a folded dollar bill with a powdered substance believed to be fentanyl. A belly band style holster was discovered beneath Toussaints sweatshirt, containing a loaded Beretta APX 9mm semi-automatic firearm with an obliterated serial number.

In total, officers seized approximately 21 grams of suspected crack cocaine, one paper fold containing suspected fentanyl, and an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency.

Toussaint was taken into custody and faces the following charges:

Trafficking Class B (Cocaine)

Possession with Intent to Distribute Class A (Fentanyl)

Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B

Possession with Intent to Distribute Class E

Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony

Carrying a Loaded Firearm Without a License

Carrying a Firearm Without a License

Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm

Possession of Ammunition Without an FID Card

Defacing Serial Number on Firearm

Assault and Battery

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Additionally, a second suspect, 43-year-old Sharleen McNeil of Roxbury, was also arrested after officers discovered she had multiple outstanding warrants for possession of Class B drugs.

Both suspects are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Boston Police Departments Drug Control Units assisted a regional task force for narcotics trafficking in Hyde Park.

During the operation, investigators observed Prince Denis, 34, of Brockton, exiting 280 Hyde Park Avenue with a brown paper bag, which he placed in a vehicle.

Officers identified themselves and informed Denis of the search warrants issued by Waltham District Court before recovering a key fob, apartment keys, and a mobile phone from him.

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Using the keys, officers searched the apartment and found two bottles of lactose, a locked strong box with undisclosed currency, and keys to the strong box.

In the vehicle, officers found a brown paper bag containing approximately 233 grams of a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine, along with personal papers in Deniss name.

The vehicle was seized pending forfeiture through the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office.

Prince Denis was charged with Trafficking a Class B Substance and is expected to be arraigned in West Roxbury District Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Boston Police Department detectives are seeking public assistance to identify two suspects involved in an assault and larceny at Madrags on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester.

The incident occurred around 12:45 p.m. on September 28, when two unknown individuals entered the store, verbally accosted an adult female victim, and stole a handbag.

One suspect took a burgundy or maroon-colored handbag without paying, while the other threw a water bottle at the victim, leaving her covered in water.

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The suspects are described as two Black males in their twenties, whom the victim had not seen before. Despite canvassing the area, officers were unable to locate the suspects. The victim declined medical attention at the scene.

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Detectives are actively investigating the incident and reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding it. They urge anyone with information to contact them at (617) 343-4275.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A road in Boulder Canyon was closed due to a deadly crash on Saturday evening, according to a post on X from the Boulder County Sheriffs Office.

The sheriffs office provided an update on Saturday night that the road is back open.

The crash took place at State Highway 119 and East Street.

Chaotic scene: Man shot, taken to hospital in Aurora

The traffic circle from Nederland to Hurricane Hill was closed while crews were in the area.

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The sheriffs office did not report how many vehicles were involved, but did confirm that somebody was killed in the crash.

FOX31 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (BGCD) is marking its 60th anniversary of transforming young lives with the grand reopening of its Richardson Club, now able to serve up to 200 children and teensfour times its previous capacity.

The community is invited to an Open House on Tuesday, November 4, at 5:30 p.m. at 1220 W. Belt Line Rd., Richardson, TX 75080, to explore the upgraded facility and its impact, per a press release provided to The Dallas Express.

The Richardson Clubs expansion, made possible by the City of Richardsons reclassification of the facility as a youth-serving organization, introduces transformative upgrades without altering its physical footprint.

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New features include a technology hub with a 3D printer, computers, a green screen, and microphones, fostering skills in video production, podcasting, and workforce readiness.

A dedicated calming room supports mental health, with staff trained in trauma-informed care, ensuring 92% of Club teens feel they have a trusted adult to turn tofar surpassing the national average of 40% for schools.

Redesigned spaces, new furniture, and flexible areas create a welcoming environment for up to 200 youth daily.

This expansion reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of every child or teen who walks through our doors, said Debra Taylor, interim president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas.

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As we celebrate 60 years of serving North Texas youth, were proud to continue that legacy here in Richardson, providing an affordable, high-quality space between school and home where kids physical, emotional, and social needs are supported every day, added Taylor.

For six decades, the BGCD has transformed the lives of youth in the DFW metroplex. With a mission to empower young people, especially those in need, BGCD fosters academic success, good character, citizenship, and healthy lifestyles for members aged 6-18.

Join the celebration to see how BGCD shapes future leaders. For more details or to get involved, visit bgcdallas.org.




BRANFORD - The Branford Public Schools are on track to have a large fleet of electric school buses by the start of the next academic year.

This change is coming after Branford began a 10-year, $60 million contract with a carbon-neutral student transportation provider, Zum, this school year. Ultimately, the district is working toward complying with a state law that requires districts within environmental justice communities, including Branford, to be using only zero emissions buses by Jan. 1, 2030.

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At a recent Branford Board of Education meeting, Zum officials said they plan to deliver the electric school buses to town by June 2026. Chargers and the charging management system will be shipped in April. The buses will undergo trials in July, with "final deployment in August," said Charlotte Charbono, senior location manager at Zum in Branford.

A district transportation presentation said the new fleet will include 62 buses and vans.

To assist with switching to electric buses, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program, in 2024 selected Branford to receive just over $6.3 million toward the purchase of 21 zero-emission vehicles.

Branford was also one of six Connecticut school districts chosen for the EPA's Clean School Bus Rebates Program, making Branford eligible to receive up to $5 million to replace 25 diesel buses with electric versions and charging infrastructure.

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Plus, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Connecticut Clean Bus Program selected Zum in February to become eligible to receive up to $1.84 million "for the deployment of 46 electric school buses and the associated charging infrastructure, including 46 single-port DC fast chargers" in Branford, according to its website.

During the recent Branford school board meeting, some members had questions about how well the electric buses would manage when the town loses power. For example, Laura Troidle brought up how 2012's Hurricane Sandy caused various power outages in town.

"We had no school for four days and we're a shoreline town. ... What would happen if we were closed for four days?" she asked.

Zum officials, in response, explained that the buses' batteries can last up to two days, but if school is not in session, they would not be deployed.

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"In any emergency situation, our first goal would be to work really closely with you all to understand what's the district's plan, what's the city's plan and how do we partner and come up with a solution together," Charbono said.

In addition, Blaize Levitan, the district's chief operating officer, said the town's fire department will train to learn "how to do emergency operations on the electric buses."

The district will celebrate the fleet's arrival next spring, Board of Education Chair Peter Berdon said.

"I don't know who we thank for getting this on board by June 2026," board member Donna Laich said. "That's amazing ... it's really exciting for Branford."

This article originally published at Branford schools on track to get new fleet of electric buses by June.
As Brazil prepares to host the UNs climate conference next month, its coffee industry is under growing scrutiny for fuelling massive deforestation  and for threatening the very crop that made the country famous.

While the damage caused by cattle ranching and soy farming is well known, coffees role in deforestation has gone largely unnoticed. Yet between 1990 and 2023, the area planted with coffee in Brazil more than doubled  from 600,000 to 1.23 million hectares.

Much of that expansion has eaten away at the once-rich Mata Atlantica, or Atlantic Forest, one of the worlds most endangered ecosystems. Once covering 1.2 million square kilometres, less than 10 percent of the dry forest now remains.

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Brazil, the worlds biggest coffee producer, supplies nearly 40 percent of the global total. That success has come at a heavy ecological cost  especially in the coffee heartlands of Minas Gerais state, north of Rio de Janeiro, where the forest lies.

Ghana faces mounting pressure to take action over illegal mining

Massive losses

The NGO Coffee Watch, which tracks the industrys impact, estimates that coffee farming has wiped out more than 11 million hectares of forest in high-density production areas since 2001.

Between 2001 and 2023, coffee destroyed an area of forest equivalent to the size of Honduras, Etelle Higonnet, founder and director of Coffee Watch, told RFI.

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That figure reflects several overlapping trends. Direct forest loss from clearing land for coffee accounts for about 300,000 hectares, while wider deforestation across coffee farm properties adds roughly 740,000 more.

The rest comes indirectly: new roads that cut through forests, urban growth around coffee regions, and what campaigners call deforestation laundering  where coffee takes over land that was already cleared for other uses.

Coffee Watch used detailed satellite data to reach these estimates, finding the highest levels of destruction in Minas Gerais.

'Cannibal commodity'

The loss is not only ecological but also a threat to the coffee crop itself. Forests such as the Amazon act as a rain machine, regulating water cycles through atmospheric rivers that carry moisture southwards to Brazils coffee belt.

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Scientifically, we can show very precisely how deforestation for coffee has destroyed the regions hydrological cycle, Higonnet said. It has led to droughts, then to harvest crises. Coffee has become a cannibal commodity that destroys the system it needs.

Since 2014, rainfall anomalies have become the norm across Brazils coffee-growing areas. Severe droughts in 2014-2017, 2019-2020 and again in 2023 slashed yields. In 2014, rainfall in key coffee regions like Minas Gerais fell as much as 50 percent below normal during the crucial bean-development months.

Jane Goodall: 'Every one of us makes a difference  it's up to us what kind'

Economic, climate pressures

That instability has pushed prices sharply higher.

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Between 2023 and 2024, coffee prices rose more than 40 percent. And climate models suggest things could get far worse. Under moderate greenhouse gas scenarios, Brazil could lose up to two-thirds of its Arabica-suitable land by 2050.

Despite these warnings, there are few programmes to limit coffee-related deforestation.

Coffee is the sixth-leading cause of global deforestation, yet it gets no attention, Higonnet said, adding that palm oil, by contrast, is now covered by multiple zero-deforestation initiatives.

Coffee Watch estimates it is almost certain that most consumers morning coffee is linked to deforestation if it comes from Brazil.

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Tanzanian farmers in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro struggle to cope with climate change

Only a few certification schemes exist. Coffee with the Smithsonian Bird-Friendly label is guaranteed to be free from deforestation, but it makes up just about 1 percent of global production. The Rainforest Alliance also certifies coffee under strict rules on the environment and working conditions, though its forest standards are less demanding than Smithsonians.

Brazils coffee industry also faces severe human rights issues.

Farm inspections remain minimal, Higonnet said. Brazilian authorities checked only 0.1 percent of farms. Even with that tiny sample, they found 3,700 enslaved workers who were freed.

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Organic and fair-trade labels, she added, do not monitor deforestation either. And none of the current certifications guarantee farmers a living income, making it harder for them to stop clearing land.

Europe delays import rules

The European Union is developing a law to ban products linked to deforestation from entering its market, and coffee is on that list. Producers will have to prove their goods did not come from land cleared after 2020.

But enforcement has already been pushed back twice  first from December 2024 to 2025, then again to 2026  after pressure from several exporting countries, including Brazil.

The European Commission has said it plans to soften the rules, as political support for environmental measures weakens across the EU.

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EU postpones anti-deforestation rules as bloc signs trade deal with Indonesia

Some projects show there are better ways to grow coffee. One of them is agroforestry  planting coffee among trees instead of clearing the land.

The trees help keep the soil moist, lower temperatures and protect crops from heat. Indigenous communities have used this method for centuries, creating a kind of natural shield against climate shocks.

In regions like Brazils Zona da Mata, where agroforestry is more common, farms kept more soil moisture during the 2021 drought.

But the practice is still rare. In major coffee-producing areas such as Minas Gerais and Sao Paulo, it covers less than 1 percent of farmland.

This story was adapted from the original version in French by RFI's Simon Roze.
BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. (WBOY)  The Bridgeport High School FFA hosted its second annual fall fest for community members on Saturday.

Featuring vendors and food trucks the free event welcomed families to learn more about agriculture in Bridgeport while supporting local small businesses. Some of the vendors included jewelry, candles and clothing.

(WBOY Image)

Many members of Bridgeport FFA are hoping to use ffall fest to show that their organization is the backbone of communities, and so much more than what you see on paper. As a student club, the FFA was brought back to Bridgeport High School in 2017. Since then, it has been able to grow in both membership and impact.

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Athletes of closed Alderson Broaddus University return for reunion

Gracie Burdette, a 4-year member of FFA and current treasurer, spoke with 12 News about how special it has been for her to watch Bridgeport FFA flourish.

I come from a really big, heavy agriculture area. Coming to Bridgeport was a lot different, so being able to see people learn about agriculture and its not all tractors and soil. That they learn different parts of it, and it really helps them understand and it helps us, Burdette said.

Burdette says that a couple hundred people came out to support Bridgeport FFA.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday targeted the BJP-led Mahayuti government of Maharashtra over the death by alleged suicide of a woman government doctor in Satara district terming it as a case of "institutionalised murder." In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said that the doctor's death exposes the "inhumane and insensitive" face of the BJP government. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) said that a promising doctor, who aspired to alleviate the suffering of others, became a victim of the persecution of criminals entrenched in a corrupt system. The social media post reads, "The suicide of Dr. Sampada Munde in Satara, Maharashtra, driven to despair by rape and harassment, is a tragedy that shakes the conscience of any civilized society. A promising doctor daughter, who aspired to alleviate the pain of others, became a victim of the persecution by criminals entrenched in a corrupt system and power structure." "The very authority tasked with protecting the public from criminals committed the most heinous crime against this innocent woman--rape and exploitation. According to reports, some influential individuals associated with the BJP also attempted to pressure her into corruption. This is the most despicable example of a criminally protected ideology. This is not a suicide--it is an institutional murder," the post read. https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/1982327104030298251 Gandhi further said that his party stands firmly with the victim's family in this fight for justice. "When power becomes a shield for criminals, from whom can justice be expected? Dr. Sampada's death exposes the inhumane and insensitive face of this BJP government. We stand firmly with the victim's family in this fight for justice. For every daughter of India--no more fear, we demand justice," he posted on X. A note on the hand of the doctor who was found dead in Maharashtra's Satara on Friday, named a police official and two others for driving her to take the extreme step by subjecting her to physical and mental harassment. Satara Police have arrested two persons identified as Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and Prashant Bankar. A case was registered against the accused duo under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. The Police Sub-Inspector named in the note was suspended following this development. The deceased's cousin alleged that the doctor had been facing political pressure related to her work. "There was a lot of police and political pressure on her to make wrong mortem reports. She tried to complain about it. My sister should get justice," the cousin told ANI. Another cousin of the victim demanded strict punishment for those involved. "The accused should get the strictest of punishment," he said. The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has condemned the death of Dr Sampada Mundhe at Phaltan in Maharashtra and has called for an immediate and transparent investigation into the incident. (ANI)
Editors note: Burn bans may change, and this information came from the Texas A&M Forest Service instantly. Please click here to email the updated burn ban.

BIG COUNTRY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  16 counties in the Big Country are under a burn ban, despite the recent rainfall.

The Texas A&M Forest Service has reported the following counties are under a burn ban:

Coke

Runnels

Coleman

Mills

Brown

Comanche

Callahan

Eastland

Fisher

Jones

Shackelford

Stephens

Kent

Throckmorton

King

Knox

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Meteorologists from BigCountryHomepage.com provided an update on the drought conditions.

October 2025 has experienced record high average temperatures, with a mean of 75.6F as of October 24, surpassing last years record of 73.6F by 2F and exceeding the average of 68.3F by 7.3F. However, a series of cold fronts may bring temperatures closer to average by the months end. Recently, the Abilene Regional Airport received 1.10 inches of rain, bringing Octobers total to 1.38 inches, 0.85 inches below the average of 2.23 inches. Year to date, weve recorded 19.58 inches of precipitation, which is 2.40 inches below the normal of 21.98 inches. Improved conditions are expected, with some counties likely to lift their burn bans soon, KTAB Meteorologist Susana Harbert said.

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The Texas A&M Forest Service shared tips on how to extinguish a fire:

Never leave a campfire unattended; allow the wood to burn completely to ash if possible.

Pour water on all embers until the hissing sounds stop.

Stir the campfire ashes and water with a shovel.

Scape logs to remove embers.

Stir and make sure everything is wet and cold to the touch

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
AIRPORTS

The Metropolitan Airports Commission announced the planned retirement of Chair Rick King. MAC Vice Chair Patti Gartland will assume interim leadership of the 15-member board on Nov. 21 and will serve in that role until Minnesotas governor appoints a permanent successor. The commission oversees the operations of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and six general aviation airports in the Twin Cities. Kings MAC service began in 2007. He was appointed chair the MAC board in 2019.

ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING

Architecture Advantage, St. Paul, announced the retirement of Lee Tollefson, effective Oct. 8, after a 55-year career.  Minneapolis architectural firm Alliiance announced if has been named the 2025 American Institute of Architects Minnesota Firm Award recipient.

EDUCATION

Herzing University, a Milwaukee-based private career-focused institution, announced its 60 years in business and the 25th anniversary of its Minnesota campus, currently located in St. Louis Park.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Veridian Credit Union announced the relocation of its Eden Prairie branch to 8280 Flying Cloud Drive. Tom Fleck is regional manager.

HEALTH CARE

The Epilepsy Foundation of America announced the board appointment of Dr. Anna Milz, a board-certified pediatrician and vice president of Medical Practice-Primary Care at M Health Fairview at the University of Minnesota.

HONORS

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority, Burnsville, announced it was honored with the Management Innovation Award by the Minnesota Public Transit Association, recognizing the agencys deployment of five battery electric buses.

LAW

Fredrikson, Minneapolis, announced that attorney Schuyler L.M. Pals has joined the firms Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Workouts Group in the Minneapolis office. Prior to joining Fredrikson, Pals was with Heidman Law Firm in Sioux City, Iowa, and has held two judicial clerkships including for the Iowa Fifth District Court.  Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, St. Paul, announced the appointment of Micaela Schuneman as chief executive officer, effective Oct. 13. Schuneman previously served as deputy director of Mid Minnesota Legal Aid and most recently as senior director of Immigration and Refugee Services at International Institute of Minnesota. She succeeds Jessie R. Nicholson, who is retiring after 40 years of service.

MANUFACTURING

Protolabs, a Maple Plain-based maker of 3D-printed components for businesses, announced Marc Kermisch as chief technology and AI officer, effective Oct. 13. He succeeds Oleg Ryaboy. Kermisch most recently served in a similar role for Emergent Software and was global chief digital and information officer at Case New Holland.  Niron Magnetics, a Minneapolis developer of rare earth-free permanent magnets for industry, announced the appointment of Shyamli Mohamed as chief financial officer. Mohamed most recently served as chief financial officer at Eavor Technologies, a geothermal startup.

NONPROFITS

The Sheltering Arms Foundation, a children-focused support organization of the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, announced the following additions to its board of trustees: Katherine Madsen of St. Paul; Elizabeth Olson, Minneapolis, and Suzanne Lamb Steinhauer of St. Paul. The foundations newly elected board president for2025-2026 is Heidi J. Kim, Minneapolis, who serves on the Episcopal Church executive council.

OPENINGS

The Shoppes at Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove announced that L.L.Bean, an outdoor-lifestyle apparel brand, will open a 17,000 square foot store in the summer of 2026.

PHILANTHROPY

Hormel Foods, an Austin, Minn.-based maker of grocery-store branded prepared meats and other food products, announced its Hunger Action Month campaign provided a $10,000 donation to each of its production facilities in the U.S. to benefit hunger-relief organizations in their local communities. In September, Hormel Foods provided monetary donations to 46 organizations across the U.S.

SERVICES

American Rug Laundry, a carpet cleaning service, announced its planned relocation to the Mac-Groveland neighborhood in St. Paul from its current location on East Lake Street in Minneapolis. The move is expected to be complete by the end of 2025.

WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority announced the appointment of Jodi Jean Amble as director of marketing and communications. Amble joins WHEDA after eight years at RENEW Wisconsin, where she most recently served as interim executive director.

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CADDO PARISH (KTAL/KMSS)  Caddo Parish is no longer under a parish-wide burn ban.

The ban went into effect on October 9 and was lifted on October 25.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
For the record:

8:47 a.m. Oct. 27, 2025: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to Rep. Robert Garcia as chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He is the top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.



Twenty-two days into the government shutdown, California Rep. Kevin Kiley spent an hour of his morning in Washington guiding a group of middle school students from Grass Valley through the empty corridors of the U.S. Capitol.

Normally, one of his staff members would have led the tour. But the Capitol is closed to all tours during the shutdown, unless the elected member is present. So the schoolchildren from Lyman Gilmore Middle School ended up with Kiley, a Republican from Rocklin, as their personal tour guide.

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I would have visited with these kids anyway, Kiley said in his office after the event. But I actually got to go on the whole tour of the Capitol with them as well.

Kileys impromptu tour is an example of how members of Californias congressional delegation are improvising their routines as the shutdown drags on and most of Washington remains at a standstill.

Read more: Healthcare compromise appears far off as the government shutdown stalemate persists

Some are in Washington in case negotiations resume, others are back at home in their districts meeting with federal workers who are furloughed or working without pay, giving interviews or visiting community health centers that rely on tax credits central to the budget negotiations. One member attended the groundbreaking of a flood control project in their district. Others are traveling back and forth.

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Ive had to fly back to Washington for caucus meetings, while the opposition, the Republicans, dont even convene and meet, Rep. Maxine Waters, a longtime Los Angeles Democrat, said in an interview. We will meet anytime, anyplace, anywhere, with [House Speaker Mike] Johnson, with the president, with the Senate, to do everything that we can to open up the government. We are absolutely unified on that.

The shutdown is being felt across California, which has the most federal workers outside the District of Columbia. Food assistance benefits for millions of low-income Californians could soon be delayed. And millions of Californians could see their healthcare premiums rise sharply if Affordable Care Act subsidies are allowed to expire.

For the California delegation, the fallout at home has become impossible to ignore. Yet the shutdown is in its fourth week with no end in sight.

In the House, Johnson has refused to call members back into session and prevented them from doing legislative work. Many California lawmakers  including Kiley, one of the few GOP lawmakers to openly criticize him  have been dismayed by the deadlock.

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"I have certainly emphasized the point that the House needs to be in session, and that canceling a month's worth of session is not a good thing for the House or the country," Kiley said, noting that he had privately met with Johnson.

Kiley, who represented parts of the Sacramento suburbs and Lake Tahoe, is facing political uncertainty as California voters weigh whether to approve Proposition 50 on Nov. 4. The measure would redraw the state's congressional districts to better favor Democrats, leaving Kiley at risk, even though the Republican says he believes he could still win if his right-leaning district is redrawn.

The Senate has been more active, holding a series of votes on the floor and congressional hearings with Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. The chamber, however, has been unable to reach a deal to reopen the government. On Thursday, the 23rd day of the shutdown, the Senate failed to advance competing measures that would have paid federal employees who have been working without compensation.

The Republicans' plan would have paid active-duty members of the military and some federal workers during the shutdown. Democrats backed a bill that would have paid all federal workers and barred the Trump administration from laying off any more federal employees.

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"California has one of the largest federal workforces in the country, and no federal worker or service member should miss their paychecks because Donald Trump and Republicans refused to come to the table to protect Americans' health care," Sen. Alex Padilla said in a statement.

Working conditions get harder

The strain on federal employees  including those who work for California's 54 delegation members  are starting to become more apparent.

Dozens of them have been working full time without pay. Their jobs include answering phone calls and requests from constituents, setting the schedules for elected officials, writing policy memos and handling messaging for their offices.

House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks about the shutdown at a news conference Thursday with other Republican House members. (Eric Lee / Getty Images)

At the end of October, House staffers  who are paid on a monthly basis  are expected to miss their first paycheck.

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Some have been quietly told to consider borrowing money from the U.S. Senate Federal Credit Union, which is offering a "government shutdown relief loan program" that includes a no-interest loan of up to $5,000 to be repaid in full after 90 days.

The mundane has also been disrupted. Some of the cafeterias and coffee carts that are usually open to staffers are closed. The lines to enter office buildings are long because fewer entrances are open.

The hallways leading to the offices of California's elected officials are quiet, except for the faint sound of occasional elevator dings. Many of their doors are adorned with signs that show who they blame for the government shutdown.

"Trump and Republicans shut down the government," reads a sign posted on the door that leads into Rep. Norma Torres' (D-Pomona) office. "Our office is OPEN  WORKING for the American people."

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Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from Torrance, posted a similar sign outside his office.

A sign is posted outside of the office of Rep. Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, in Washington on Wednesday. (Ana Ceballos / Los Angeles Times)

Rep. Vince Fong, a Republican who represents the Central Valley, has been traveling between Washington and his district. Two weeks into the shutdown, he met with veterans from the Central Valley Honor Flight and Kern County Honor Flight to make sure that their planned tour of the Capitol was not disrupted by the shutdown. Like Kiley's tour with the schoolchildren, an elected member needed to be present for the tour to go on.

"His presence ensured the tour could continue as planned," Fong's office said.

During the tour, veterans were able to see Johnson as well, his office said.

Shutdown highlights deep divisions

California's congressional delegation mirrors the broader stalemate in Washington, where entrenched positions have kept both parties at a negotiation impasse.

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Democrats are steadfast in their position that they will not agree to a deal unless Republicans extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring at the end of the year, while Republicans are accusing Democrats of failing to reopen the government for political gain.

Kiley is one of the few Republicans who has called on Johnson to negotiate with Democrats on healthcare. Kiley said he thinks there is a "a lot of room to negotiate" because there is concern on both sides of the aisle if the tax credits expire.

"If people see a massive increase in their premiums ... that's not a good thing," he said. "Especially in California, where the cost of living is already so high, and you're suddenly having to pay a lot more for healthcare."

Read more: Newsom warns Californians' SNAP benefits could be delayed because of federal shutdown

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Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, in a press event Wednesday with five other California Democrats talked about the need to fight for the healthcare credits.

Garcia, of Long Beach, said he recently visited a healthcare center in San Bernardino County that serves seniors with disabilities. He said the cuts would be "devastating" and would prompt the center to close.

"That's why we are doing everything in our power to negotiate a deal that reopens the federal government and saves healthcare," he said.

As the shutdown continues, many Democrats are digging their heels on the issue.

At an Oct. 3 event outside of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, for instance, Rep. Laura Friedman held a news conference with nurses and hospital staff and said she would not vote for a bill to reopen the government unless there is a deal on healthcare.

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Last week, the Glendale Democrat said her position hasn't changed.

"I will not support a shutdown deal that strips healthcare from tens of thousands of my constituents," she said.

Get the L.A. Times California Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A Northern California police chief has been accused of commuting to work from Idaho  and allegedly sleeping in the police station overnight, according to a report.

Eamonn Allen, the chief of police in Millbrae, about 15 miles south of San Francisco, has allegedly been living at the station during the week and returning to Boise, over 650 miles away, when hes not working, KGO reported, citing a complaint and property records from Idaho.

The TV station obtained photos, apparently from a fire inspector, of two recently constructed bedrooms, fitted with mattresses and other furniture inside the police station.

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One image also appeared to show a half-empty gallon bottle of liquor sitting on a shelf in one of the alleged bedrooms.

To legally have living quarters inside the station, the police department would need to obtain certain permits to modify the construction of the rooms, which Allen didnt get permission to do, according to the report.

A California police chief has come under fire after he was accused of sleeping in the police station when he works, and commuting home to Idaho when he is off, according to a report (Google)

The fire inspector was reportedly unable to even reach one of the living quarters because it was locked with an in use sign posted outside the door, the outlet reported.

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa is calling for an independent investigation.

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If someone is living out of the county or out of state, they have to pay for their own lodging, meaning San Mateo County is not a Holiday Inn, he said.

We need to see was someone living in there permanently? Canepa said. These are taxpayer dollars and so we need to make sure that whats taking place in those facilities really is for the good of the taxpayer. That means people arent living there.

Allen ignored questions from a KGO reporter who approached him outside a Board of Supervisors meeting to ask if he was living in Idaho.

The TV stations investigation also revealed that six sergeants with the San Mateo County Sheriff live outside of California, in states including Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Tennessee.

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Two of those sergeants work on the bomb squad, a division thats supposed to be able to respond to a threat within an hour. They made almost $600,000 each last year in pay and benefits.

The Independent has reached out to the county sheriffs office, which is contracted by Millbrae for police services, for comment.

Canepa said he plans to send a letter to Undersheriff Dan Perea on Monday calling on him to investigate Allen and the suspected living arrangements at the police department, according to The Mercury News.

Millbrae Mayor Anders Fung told the outlet the report came as a surprise and called the photos of the makeshift living arrangements highly alarming.

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Obviously our chief needs to be highly responsive to any emergency or situation, Fung said. Whats more concerning for me at this time is the use of our police station as a living quarters and where the funding is coming from.

The mayor said he plans to discuss the allegations with the city council and supervisors, noting, The people of Millbrae have always had high expectations of our police chief, and this is disappointing. We need to figure out a pathway forward to make sure that our people continue to have high expectations of our chief and Millbrae Police bureau and police services in general.
In recent years, California has pursued an accelerated shift to green by encouraging consumers to make the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles. The government of California hopes to eventually decarbonise its medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles to improve the states air quality and help tackle the effects of climate change. However, following significant opposition from the truck industry and the federal government, achieving this aim now appears increasingly unlikely.

Californias medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up just 6 percent of the vehicles registered with the states DMV; however, they contribute more than 20 percent of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, decarbonising the fleet would help improve air pollution as well as decrease the negative effects of this form of pollution on environmental and human health.

The government of California introduced a comprehensive statewide strategy to reduce transportation emissions, which included the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. Governor Gavin Newsoms Executive Order N-79-20 states the target of transitioning to a 100 percent zero-emissions drayage truck and off-road equipment population by 2035 and a 100 percent zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet by 2045, where feasible. The targets align with the air quality standard objectives stated in the 2022 State Implementation Plan Strategy.

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While the cost of electric trucks is higher than that of equivalent ICE vehicles, the government expects the price of these vehicles to fall as uptake increases and production costs decrease. In addition, the State of California has introduced a range of incentives for purchasing zero-emission vehicles in recent years to encourage uptake. For example, the California Energy Commission launched a $50 million multi-year EnergIIZE programme, which provides incentive funds for the infrastructure needs of the companies and public agencies that plan to use zero-emission vehicles.

Several state agencies have introduced ambitious transport decarbonisation aims in recent years, which have made a transition to electric seem increasingly more achievable. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has established several zero-emission regulatory requirements and incentive programmes, such as the Innovative Clean Transit regulation, which requires a phase-in of zero-emission bus purchases to achieve 100 percent zero-emission fleets by all public transit agencies by 2040.

However, Californias electrification aims have often been at odds with those of the federal government, which has not generally supported the states decarbonisation efforts for the transport sector. In addition, the truck industry has been staunchly opposed to the transition, and, under the President Trump administration, achieving its clean transport targets has become even more difficult.

At the beginning of the year, California hoped to receive a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce its new Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, but the change in administration meant this was not achieved. Although CARB introduced new rules on zero-emission trucks at the end of last year, it needed a waiver to enforce these new rules. The board eventually decided to withdraw its request for a waiver after Trump came into power in January, effectively putting a stop to the new regulation. This decision responded to Trumps electoral pledge to reverse vehicle emission regulations enacted during Bidens presidency.

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Then, in September, CARB voted to repeal its zero-emission purchasing rule for private fleets, thereby halting its mandate for the accelerated electrification of the states trucking sector. This decision came just shortly after State Governor Newsom discussed Californias great potential as an EV power during Climate Week. CARB was unable to secure the waiver it needed before President Biden left office, and it became increasingly clear in the following months that it would not receive such a waiver under the Trump administration. Strong lobbying efforts by both republicans and the trucking sector eventually upended Californias strategy.

Some suggest that improved incentives could encourage truck companies to make the switch, even without the new regulations in place. Matt LeDucq, the CEO of Forum Mobility, which is developing heavy-duty charging stations near West Coast ports, said, Its up to us to show that electrification is going to be a great thing [that its] not something you have to do, but something that you want to do.

Meanwhile, Nick Chiappe, the California Trucking Associations director of government and regulatory affairs, said, Incentives are a powerful tool to encourage and advance the adoption of ZEVs for use cases where it is feasible. Chiappe said that trucking companies and other transit companies rapidly took up the $200 million in incentives for electric trucks and buses after they were launched in September. The demand for this equipment is there, with or without mandates, said Chiappe. However, due to the ongoing budget deficits, the introduction of more far-reaching incentives may not be possible.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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New Mexico wants to provide universal free child care, but may lack the capacity to do so. (Photo credit / Sylvia Ulloa for New Mexico in Depth)

Starting Nov. 1, New Mexico will offer free child care to every family in the state. There will be no fees to pay and no income limits to sign up, according to the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

State leaders and newspapers across the country claim it as the first universal child care paid for by a state.

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People who support the program say it will help parents keep their jobs, give child care workers better pay, and make the economy stronger  adding it will also help the states youngest children who get the care.

The well-being of kids is tied to the well-being of the adults in their lives, said Dr. Philip Fisher, a professor of early childhood at Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Education and director of the Stanford Center on Early Childhood. And adults well-being depends on their economic circumstances.

But theres a problem. New Mexico might not have enough child care centers to actually take care of all the children whose families want help. There simply arent enough spots available, especially for babies and families living out in smaller towns.

The state has gradually helped more families with child care assistance since 2019. By 2023, families making 400% of the federal poverty level were able to get help, opening the program to more middle- and higher-income families.

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Right now, about 27,000 children across the state get child care, according to the Legislative Finance Committees 2025 Accountability Report on Early Childhood. Officials think another 12,000 children will join the program when it becomes universal.

But the committee found, as of this year prior to the new subsidy going into effect, there were only enough openings for about one out of every three babies under age two. The shortage was even worse in rural counties where almost no licensed infant care exists.

The number of child care spots dropped by 3% between 2019 and 2023. Thats mostly because the number of people providing child care in their homes dropped by half, according to data from the Cradle to Career Policy Institute at the University of New Mexico. Most of the drop was in unlicensed home-based careplaces that were simply registered as providers.

Not counting those home providers that closed, the numbers would show more licensed child care centers, which have higher quality ratings from the state. But home-based providers are more likely to offer care at night or in a familys native language. With so many of them gone, families who work night shifts or want someone who speaks their language may have a harder time finding the right fit, according to the institute. Its worth noting that the share of assistance going to families at or below the poverty line fell by nearly 3% between 2019 and 2023.

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State officials know there are not enough child care options and have announced a $12.7 million fund that offers low-interest loans to build new centers or fix up old ones. They plan to ask lawmakers for another $20 million. The growth will focus on care for babies and toddlers, low-income families, and children with special needs. The state is also working with businesses and schools to open more locations and is trying to recruit new people to run child care in their homes.

To keep workers, state officials plan to pay child care centers more money so they can cover their real costs. Programs that pay staff at least $18 an hour and stay open 10 hours a day, five days a week will qualify for incentive rates.The state plans to boost child care in underserved communities by making sure workers get fair pay and by using data to make smart choices, said Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

Fair wages can help child care workers think of early education as a real career instead of just a temporary job. That means they can build lasting relationships with the children and families they serve, Groginsky said. We use data to drive our decisions. We just completed a supply-and-demand study with interactive maps showing which parts of the state have the largest gaps. That will guide how we fund applications through the new loan program.

Even with those plans, questions remain about who will benefit most and how much difference the system will make for children.

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While supporters say universal child care is a win for families and the economy, Republican lawmakers argue that removing income limits means taxpayers will now help pay for child care for wealthy families.

Legislative Finance Committee analysts have also questioned the programs impact on learning. Their 2025 report found that while child care meets an essential need for working families, it does not have the same effect on kindergarten readiness as public pre-kindergarten programs.

But Fisher said the benefits go beyond teaching ABCs and 123s.

Stable, predictable, caring relationships are the foundation of healthy learning and development, he said. That matters more than exposing young children to math or reading skills that they will pick up anyway once they start school.

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Healthy child development has more to do with relationships than what kind of child care you use, he said.

There is not like a prevailing amount of evidence that having a child in a kinder care situation is going to lead the child to be a college graduate [versus] having them cared for by the lady down the street or in your apartment complex is going to lead them to end up, you know, incarcerated, Fisher said.

Fisher also questioned whether the market alone can give families what they need.

Its a broken market, he said. Parents cant afford what high-quality care actually costs, employers dont usually help cover it, and providers often dont make enough to live on.

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When adults are stressed about money, he said, it directly affects children.

Its easy to imagine that if youre an adult whos taking care of a young child, that if you yourself are worried about not having enough food for you to feed your family, or youre skipping meals so you can feed the children, or youre worried about eviction, or you cant pay for health care, that those things weigh on you and that they take away from your ability to really buffer your child from whats going on around them, he said.

Groginsky said the stakes are high.

The first five years is the fastest period of human development, with over a million new brain connections per second in a babys brain, she said in an interview. Its those responsive, nurturing relationships that drive positive outcomes.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Its been an interesting week in Arkansas and national politics.

Capitol View host Roby Brock met with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett to discuss the conventional wisdom in recent political happenings.

Roby then talks with Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge to talk about the issues facing Arkansas farmers and what solutions are being looked at, including the expansion of the biodiesel industry in the Natural State and around the United States.

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Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 a.m.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (WKBN)  Southwoods Health, a WKBN Caring for Our Community Partner, teamed up with Kufleitner Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram to hold their annual Trunk or Treat event Saturday night in Boardman.

Over 1,500 kids came through, collecting everything from candy to cookies and donuts and cider, all dressed in their costumes.

Its a free event for local trick-or-treaters that Southwoods holds every Halloween.

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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 WKBN.com.
Ramrup Jagannath, a Mauritius resident, has travelled to Odisha's Jajpur to look for his Indian roots. Based on the information he possesses and the data collected, he has visited Odisha's Jajpur three times in the past but has returned to Mauritius disappointed each time. However, encouraged by his friends, he has come to Jajpur directly for the fourth time. However, unlike before, he is hopeful now, as the district administration is extending full cooperation in his search. According to records, his ancestors migrated from Jajpur to Mauritius in the year 1870. Ramrup Jagannath belongs to the fifth generation of that lineage. Saroj Kumar Pati, a local priest, shared that in 1870, the British took Jagannath's family from Jaspur to Mauritius. His family lived in that country for five generations. The priest further mentioned that a resident of Mauritius had an introductory letter, which he would present whenever he visited Odisha. However, during those visits, he found nothing of significance. When he travelled to India for his grandfather's funeral, a meeting was subsequently arranged to discuss this further. "His name is Ramrup Jagannath, his father's name is Parameshwar Das, Parameshwar's father's name was Sunsundar Das, and his father's name was Satyavadi Das. He is a Brahmin. In 1870, the British took him to Mauritius from a village in Jajpur. That's why he stayed there for five generations. He had an identity card. His village's name was Jaspur. That's why he came to Odisha again and again and searched for Jajpur, but he didn't find anything. This time, he came for his grandfather's funeral to do Aasti Visarjan. Later, I told the collector and sub-collector of the Kal Birja Mandir. He called a meeting to find his identity card," Pati told ANI. Ramrup Jagannath, while sharing his experiences of tracing his ancestral roots, noted that he visited India in 2012, 2015, and 2019, but nothing significant happened during those trips. Initially hesitant to visit again, he was encouraged by his friends to make a fourth trip to the country. This time, based on an address provided by the British, the administration has been actively working on his case. Discussing the proof of his visit, Jagannath said that the British used to register the details of all the indentured labourers. "My name is Ramroop Jagannath. I am a resident of Mauritius. I have come from Odisha to my ancestors. In 1870, they left Odisha and went to Mauritius. They became Girmitya, i.e. indentured labourers. I have come 3 times before. In 2012, 2015, and 2019. But nothing happened. Every time, I was told that we are searching. We will go here and there. We will meet this person and that person. But no one did anything.... I didn't want to come this time. But such people encouraged me. I want to take their names. First is Dr. Subhraj Krusty. Then is my friend Prakash Nayak. And my best friend, who encouraged everyone. He is Rabindranath Tamal." Jagannath told ANI. "He brought everyone together. Then my 4th visit started. The British used to register then. When you go to any country, there is a registration. The name of the person who went there. The name of the immigrant. The British used to give a number. Which country they used to go to. Their father and mother's names. And which boat they went on. Everything is written there.What is written here? What is the address? Yes, the address is written there, Village, Jajpur. District, Cuttack. There is one additional information. It is called Pragana. That is Mulgaon. This time I can say," he added. Echoing similar sentiments, Subrat Kumar Prusty, Member and Secretary of Odiya Studies in Bhubaneswar, stated that when Jagannath's ancestors left, they had Odisha's language, literature, and culture in mind, and that the district administration is fully cooperating. "I am a member of the search and rescue organisation. See, Ram Roop Jagannath, who is a resident of Mauritius.He has come to Odisha.To find the identity of his ancestors. The document he has got, it is written in it. At that time, the district was cuttack. So when he went at that time.He went only for one thing. But in his mind, he had the language, literature, culture, everything in his mind. And there in Mauritius. He was working in the field of sugarcane. His son, his next generation, was also doing the same work. But his fifth generation, Ram Roop Jagannath, is now in police service in Mauritius....On the basis of that writing. Today, Raghuram has come here. The district administration is fully cooperating. Yesterday we have also got the map of Jajpur village," the temple priest told ANI. Prakash Nayak, the research scholar, mentioned that they are staying in Jajpur for a week to gather information on Jagannath's family, caste, and revenue records. Speaking to ANI, Nayak said, "My name is Prakash Chandranayak. I am a culture activist and researcher. The Rambabu Jagannath who has just come from Mauritius. For him, where is his root? Where is his family in Odisha? To find all this. We are staying here for a week. We are staying here for a week. The main aim here is to find his family, his caste and the revenue record. We will get that. On the basis of the assurances given by the district administration. We will reach his village...This time in the administration....There is a lot of pressure....All the arrangements have been made.Every day, What we take out. We take review meetings. We hope that, after staying here for 5-7 days. We will get that it." (ANI)
Hurricane Melissa continued to rage as a more than 140 mph Category 4 storm Sunday night and continued on its path toward Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas.

Tropical storm conditions are likely occurring in Jamaica, with hurricane conditions expected to begin by Monday, the National Hurricane Center said in its 8 p.m. Sunday advisory.

As for the 8 p.m. advisory...

Wheres Melissa and wheres Melissa going?: Melissa is about 115 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, and 295 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba. As it moves directly west, its back up to moving at 5 mph after dropping to 3 mph at the 11 a.m. advisory.

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A slow westward motion is expected (Sunday), followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Monday and Tuesday, the hurricane center said. On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica through Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Cancellations and closures begin at Jamaican airports ahead of Hurricane Melissa

Melissas size and strength: Melissas bringing 145 mph maximum sustained winds, making it a Category 4 storm. Hurricane force winds blow up 30 miles from the storms center, and tropical storm force winds blow another 205 miles from Melissas center.

Additional intensification is forecast over the next day or so, followed by fluctuations in intensity, the hurricane center said. Melissa is expected to be a powerful major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning and southeastern Cuba late Tuesday.

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Watches and warnings about Melissa: These remain as theyve been since Saturday afternoon.

Jamaica is under a hurricane warning.

Hurricane watches are in effect for the Cuban provinces of Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba. Haitis southwest peninsula, from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince, is under a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning, meaning they can expect tropical storm conditions within the next 36 hours.

On Saturday, the South and GrandAnse regions of Haiti were both upgraded to red alerts by the National Disaster Risk Management System. Haitians were warned the intensification of Melissa had increased the risks of flash floods and landslides. Haitians were asked to remain home, or to move to higher ground if they lived in a flood-prone area. They also were warned to not cross rising water, by any means.

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Melissas effects: If youre looking for good news in the update for any part of the Caribbean, the potential for hurricane conditions in the watch area in Haiti have diminished for (Sunday).

But tropical storm winds are still expected Sunday in Haiti, and hurricane winds remain possible Tuesday. Eastern Cuba could get hurricane force winds Tuesday and Wednesday.

As a slow-moving storm, Melissa is expected to dump 15 to 30 inches of rain on Jamaica and the southern part of Hispaniola, with some areas getting 40 inches. And the showers arent expected to stop on Wednesday.

Catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are probable across portions of southern Hispaniola and Jamaica, the hurricane center said.

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The same flooding and landslides are expected in Eastern Cuba, which is forecast to be drenched by 10 to 15 inches of rain in most places and up to 20 inches in spots by Wednesday.

Rain measuring 4 to 8 inches is expected to fall on the Bahamas and 1 to 4 inches on Turks and Caicos Tuesday into Wednesday.

The wind and rain means, Life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica late Monday through Tuesday morning. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level near Melissas landfall area and east of it.

This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves, the hurricane center said. There is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba late Tuesday or Wednesday.

Next advisory: The next complete advisory will be at 11 p.m.
Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan has come under scrutiny for fierce questions about redistricting and gerrymandering posed to Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday.

The exchange kicked off after Brennan asked the House minority leader about comments hes made in which hes accused Donald Trump of attempting to rig the 2026 midterm elections.

You said, Democrats  there are no election deniers on our side of the aisle, you said that back in January, Brennan began. But recently, youve been using the term rigged elections in reference to the upcoming midterms. Democrats were appalled when President Trump used language like that. How do you justify using that now?

Jeffries argued that he is using the term in a different context.

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Ive been using that term in the context of Donald Trumps unprecedented effort to gerrymander congressional maps in a partisan fashion all across the country in order to rig the midterm elections and deny the ability of the American people to actually decide who should be in the majority as it relates to the House of Representatives, he explained.

Brennan then asked Jeffries if hes aware that Democrats are also going through gerrymandering and redistricting, to which he answered, Well, Democrats are going to push back aggressively to make sure that we have fair maps across the country, not partisan gerrymandering, which Republicans have initiated in state after state after state.

Plenty of people appeared surprised by Brennans sharp rebuke.

Marc Elias, a prominent Democratic-party election lawyer and Democracy Docket founder, posted on Bluesky: CBS News is just the latest legacy news outlet to cast its lot with Trump. It settled a bogus case to please Trump, it canceled Colbert to please Trump, it hired Bari Weiss to please Trump. The number of media outlets really willing to stand up to Trump is dwindling. Support them with your loyalty.

So unprofessional and condescending, especially from a supposed journalist, wrote one BlueSky user.

And to think I always thought she was fair. more than others, a second posted. Stressful aggression.

Brennans pushback also called into question how CBS will navigate reporting on the Trump administration with editor-in-chief Bari Weiss running the ship. CBS Evening News did not cover the presidential pardon of Changpeng Zhao during Thursday nights broadcast, though rival networks ABC, NBC and PBS did. (However, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap CBS Evening News Plus  an extension to CBS Evening News  did cover the pardon at the top of their broadcast. The pardon was also covered in a written piece.)

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Zhao pled guilty to charges of money laundering in November and served four months in prison in 2024, but was pardoned by the president (who has business ties to the Zhao family) this week.

In October, former newscaster Dan Rather blasted David Ellisons acquisition of Weiss The Free Press and her new job. In a post shared on his Substack, Rather wrote that, It is also hard to believe Weiss will be an equitable steward of the storied news division in light of how the Ellisons acquired it.

That deal and the hiring of Weiss signals to everyone, especially to the man in the Oval Office, that CBS is no longer independent, he later added, but under the tutelage of a conservative billionaire who is putting more than his thumb on the scale.

It is a dark day in the halls of CBS News, where the portraits of television news pioneers once hung  Cronkite, Murrow, Sevareid, Collingwood, Rather noted toward the end of his post. They were journalists who made television a trusted source of information. Whom and what are we to believe today?

The post CBS Cast Its Lot With Trump, Critics Say After Margaret Brennan Grills Democrat for Rigged Elections Talk | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
CBSs Margaret Brennan accused House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) of hypocrisy over his rhetoric on election integrity.

In a tense exchange on Sundays Face the Nation, Brennan called out Jeffries for comments hes made in recent days accusing President Donald Trump of trying to rig the 2026 election by encouraging state legislatures to gerrymander the Congressional map in Republicans favor.

Donald Trump is trying to rig the midterm elections, Jeffries said in a speech last Sunday (via Punchbowl News). He wants to alter the congressional maps all across the country, starting in Texas, to try to rob all of you and the American people the ability to actually make the decision in a free and fair election as to who should be representing your interest in Congress.

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Brennan noted Jeffries was a vocal critic of Trump using similar language to talk about the 2020 election.

You said, Democrats- there are no election deniers on our side of the aisle,' Brennan said. You said that back in January. But recently, youve been using the term rigged elections in reference to the upcoming midterms. Democrats were appalled when President Trump used language like that. How do you justify using that now? Doesnt that undermine faith for voters you need to show up?

Jeffries held firm  arguing that the Republican gerrymandering effort is indeed an attempt to game the system.

Ive been using that term in the context of Donald Trumps unprecedented effort to gerrymander congressional maps in a partisan fashion all across the country in order to rig the midterm elections and deny the ability of the American people to actually decide who should be in the majority as it relates to the House of Representatives, Jeffries said. The framers of the Constitution were very clear.

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Brennan stopped Jeffries.

You know Democrats are also going through gerrymandering and redistricting, Brennan said  seemingly referring to efforts in California and elsewhere to secure more Democratic House seats to counter the GOP moves in Texas and other states to lock down Republican gains.

No, no. no! Jeffries said. Democrats are going to push back aggressively to make sure that we have fair maps across the country, not partisan gerrymandering, which Republicans have initiated in state after state after state.

Watch above, via CBS.

The post CBSs Margaret Brennan Grills Hakeem Jeffries About His Claim Trump is Trying to Rig the 2026 Election: How Do You Justify That Language?! first appeared on Mediaite.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  CARE for Animals will host its inaugural barbecue fundraiser, Pork 4 Paws, on Saturday, Nov. 1, to support the groups mission to rescue, rehome, spay and neuter pets across Central Arkansas.

Barbecue plates are $15 each and include pulled pork, a bun, coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans. All proceeds from the fundraiser will directly benefit the animal rescue organization.

CARE for Animals Presents: Paws on the Runway

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The deadline to order a plate is Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. (No refunds will be given after this date.)

Patrons can pick up their orders via two locations between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Saturday:

Drive-Thru Pickup: Westover Hills South Parking Lot, 1922 N McKinley St. (Enter from McKinley)

Walk-Up Pickup: CARE Headquarters, 5516 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Free delivery is available for orders of six or more plates within Little Rock. Delivered orders will arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., but delivery information must be provided by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29.

The organization is also offering an option to donate a plate to Women & Children First. Any unclaimed meals after 12:15 p.m. on the day of the event will be donated to feed their guests.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.




After decades of booming growth, a Texas city was crowned the best college town in the nation, according to a new nationwide ranking.

WalletHub's list of the best college towns in 2025 features some of the country's fastest-growing areas, including big cities with growing economies, a cheap cost of living and plenty of activities for students after class.

Austin, with an estimated population of almost a million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and home to schools like the University of Texas, ranks as the best U.S. college town in WalletHub's study.

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READ MORE: SAPD: Machete-wielding assailant cuts man's face during West Side robbery

Key factors that helped cities rank high on the list were easy access to play and watch college sports; cheap tuition and rent; access to recreational amenities and stable economies and job markets.

Austin's wealth of after-class activities, "great economic environment," and low unemployment earned it the top spot, according to WalletHub.

San Antonio, home to schools like the University of Texas at San Antonio and Trinity University, was ranked as the 65th best college town in the country. Houston ranked 67th.

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College Station, where Texas A&M University is located, was the second-highest ranked Texas town on the list, taking the 45th spot. San Marcos, home to Texas State University's main campus, ranked 123rd.

The study said it examined 415 cities across the country and polled 11 experts to come up with the ranking, weighing their responses to rate a town's "wallet friendliness, social environment and academic and economic opportunities" on a scale of 1-100 for each category.

Here's a look at what WalletHub ranked as top "college towns" in 2025:

1. Austin, TX

2. Ann Arbor, MI

3. Orlando, FL

4. Tampa, FL

5. Raleigh, NC

READ MORE: Can a $192M rodeo plan do what the Spurs never did for San Antonio's East Side?

This article originally published at This Central Texas city ranks as the best college town in the U.S..
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was taken to the hospital after being shot in Aurora on Saturday afternoon, according to a press release from the Aurora Police Department.

Officers responded to a chaotic scene in the 1500 block of Macon Street, where they discovered a man who had been shot, around 2:09 p.m. on Saturday.

Photos: Florida dad, son rescued after snow strands vehicle on Engineer Pass summit

Investigators believe that the suspect is an acquaintance of the victim and shot him multiple times before fleeing the area.

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The victim was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police said that nobody has been arrested and the suspects identity is not being released at this time.

The Major Crimes Unit is conducting the investigation.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
This October marks the 40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the American Cancer Society celebrated with the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Symphony Park on Saturday.

The event featured a 5K walk and a one-mile option, along with music, food trucks, and a celebration of cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers. The walk aimed to raise awareness and encourage early detection, organizers said.

If coming here today will make one person get a mammogram, do a self-check, or think twice, then thats why Im here, said one participant.

See more from the event in the video at the top of this page.

WATCH: Brandon Millers mom shares insight into her battle with cancer
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio session Mann Ki Baat along with the public in Guwahati. Speaking to reporters, CM Sarma highlighted that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and the public tuned in to the programme at approximately 26,000 polling booths across Assam. "The BJP workers and public of Assam listen to PM Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat at around 26,000 polling booths across the state. Assam is now in 4th place in the country for listening to Mann Ki Baat. Today I heard the public issues and also listened to Mann Ki Baat along with the public," the Chief Minister said. Earlier, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that he is not only working as the "Pradhan Sewak" of the nation but also guiding people like a "true leader." Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj said that the Prime Minister's monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, continues to serve as both an inspiring initiative and a ray of hope for the nation. "Mann ki Baat is not only an inspiring initiative, but is also a ray of hope... It instils innovation in the youth. PM Narendra Modi is not only working as the 'pradhan sewak' of this nation, but is also guiding us like a true leader," the BJP MP said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, called on citizens to adopt sustainable practices and take part in the 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' tree planting campaign, while highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led environmental conservation efforts across the country. The Prime Minister praised several local initiatives that combine innovation with environmental protection, including the unique waste management model in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. "In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Garbage Cafes are being run. These are cafes where you get a full meal in exchange for plastic waste. If someone brings over 1 kilogram of plastic, they are provided with either lunch or dinner, and in place of 0.5 kilogram of plastic, they get breakfast. These cafes are run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation," PM Modi said, appreciating the initiative for converting waste into nourishment while promoting cleanliness. (ANI)
WORCESTER, Mass. (WWLP)  A Charlton woman was sentenced to prison last week in connection with raping a 12-year-old in 2015.

Hundreds unite for Out of the Darkness suicide prevention event in Agawam

The Worcester County District Attorneys Office stated that on September 12, 2025, 52-year-old Heather Wright-Craft was found guilty of one count of rape of a child aggravated by age difference and one count of rape of a child aggravated by being a mandated reporter.

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The rapes were found to have taken place in 2015 in Charlton, when the victim was a foster child of Wright-Craft. She was arrested and charged in Dudley District Court in August 2017 and indicted in Worcester Superior Court in March 2018.

Following last months verdict, Wright-Crafts bail was revoked, and she was taken into custody. On October 21, she was sentenced to two concurrent prison terms of ten years to ten years and one day.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.

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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 WWLP.
Guest Opinion. The Cherokee language is the heart of who we are as a people. It carries our history, our way of life, and the values that connect us across generations. When we speak our language, we honor our ancestors and ensure that future generations can know themselves as Cherokee.

This shared mission was at the center of our recent Seventh Annual First-Language Speakers Gathering in Tahlequah. This celebration, which began in 2019, has become a beloved tradition, a moment to honor our fluent speakers, celebrate our teachers and learners, and renew our commitment to the Cherokee language.

Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning.

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Guided by the Durbin Feeling Language Preservation Act, we have made the largest language investment in Cherokee history: over $68 million since 2019. This year alone, our language budget totals nearly $25 million, ensuring the next generation of Cherokee speakers grow up surrounded by ample opportunity to learn.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

This investment is visible across our 7,000-square-mile reservation. The Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah is the heart of our revitalization efforts. Next door, our Speaker Village provides housing for first-language elders, with a $12 million expansion underway and a second village planned for Adair County. In Tahlequah, a $30 million Immersion Middle School is under construction, bridging the gap between early education and higher learning. Weve also expanded our Immersion School to Greasy, established a Master/Apprentice program in Kenwood, and launched an infant immersion program, so that our youngest citizens can speak their first words in Cherokee.

Our commitment extends to our first-language speaking elders. Through our Speaker Services Program, weve invested more than $39 million to help fluent speakers live with dignity and comfort. We are expanding programming with a new home health initiative called the Peer Recovery Program, which will hire caregivers who speak Cherokee to provide health care support directly in elders homes who are in need. We are dedicating an additional $2.3 million annually through the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act to develop these efforts, as well the continued support of Little Cherokee Seeds, a partner program operated locally by the American Indian Resource Center.

Innovation is another pillar of our mission. Two new Cherokee language apps are helping citizens everywhere learn the language. One is based on the New Testament and the other app features the Cherokee Dictionary created by the late linguistic pioneer Durbin Feeling. Our language is also being amplified through film and television, with major productions like How to Train Your Dragon and Amazons The Rings of Power now available to stream completely in Cherokee.

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Deputy Secretary of State Canaan Duncan, himself a proficient second-language learner who studied our Cherokee language at the university level and heard the language being spoken by his first-language fluent-speaking kin growing up, is leading an effort near and dear to all of our hearts. Next year Deputy Secretary Duncan and a team in our language department will release a hard bound and digital edition of our Cherokee Nation Constitution in English and Cherokee.

Inside our tribal government, a new Human Resources policy rewards employees who pursue Cherokee language proficiency with bonuses and pay raises. This policy ensures that our language is valued in the workplace, not just in classrooms.

Even our newest Cherokee Nation food truck supports language preservation. It serves more than meals; it creates opportunities for workforce training and conversational learning. Each stop becomes a mini classroom, where citizens and employees can practice speaking Cherokee in daily life.

Six years ago, at our inaugural Cherokee speakers gathering, I feared our language was endangered. Today, I know it is on a visible path to revitalization. Through Gadugi, our cherished traditional Cherokee value of working together, we are building a future where the Cherokee language is strong. Every word we speak, every student we teach, and every elder we honor moves us forward.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Officials from China and Japan are hoping closer bonds between younger generations can help stabilise their turbulent relationship, which faces challenges from issues ranging from wartime history to the impact of Donald Trump's policies.

In December last year, the two countries' foreign ministers agreed to promote youth exchanges as a way of improving relations between their respective populations, including a five-year plan for educational exchanges between high schools and universities.

As part of these efforts, 40 Japanese high school pupils visited Beijing last week under the Japan-China Teenage Ambassador programme. They were joined by 40 of their Chinese counterparts for meetings with Japanese diplomats and Chinese officials.

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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.

"Personally, I would say I like China, but I've heard many negative biases about China," Mahiro Imai, 16, from Tokyo, said during an event at the Japanese embassy on Tuesday.

She said World War II ended 80 years ago but she had been worried to see "the news of China ... releasing so many movies about the war".

Mahiro added that people were saying "there were really strong opinions" against Japan in China, but her family had agreed she should still go ahead with the visit.

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She said she had already seen a different side to China, adding: "When I watched the news about China, they were talking about air pollution or like rubbish on the street.

"But then I came here and I was impressed by how clean the city is and how wide the road is."

The trip coincided with a historic moment in Japan, with Sanae Takaichi, a China hawk, becoming the country's first woman prime minister.

This may cause concern in Beijing, given Takaichi's views on wartime history and Taiwan as well as her calls to revise the post-war pacifist constitution and strengthen ties with democratic partners.

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On Tuesday, she pledged to raise Japan's defence budget to 2 per cent of gross domestic product by March, two years earlier than the present target.

She described China as an "important neighbour" and expressed her hope for a "strategic and mutually beneficial" relationship, but she warned that Beijing's "military activities", as well as those of North Korea and Russia, "have become a grave concern".

Meanwhile, she said the alliance with the United States was the "cornerstone" of Japan's diplomatic and security policies, and she wanted to bring the relationship to "new heights".

All these may make policymakers in Beijing uneasy and could be a further source of tension at a time when relations are already under strain from issues such as the long-running territorial disputes in the East China Sea, Beijing's rapid acceleration of military activities in the region and the alliance between Japan and the US.

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But what worries many is that public attitudes in both countries appear to be souring.

According to the annual Japan-China Joint Public Opinion Poll released in December, 87.7 per cent of Chinese respondents said they had a negative impression of Japan, the second highest since the survey began in 2005.

Meanwhile, 89 per cent of Japanese respondents in the survey, carried out by China International Communications Group and Japan's Genron NPO, said they had an unfavourable impression of China.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, and to commemorate the event China staged a massive military parade in Beijing featuring an array of hi-tech weapons.

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The anniversary was also marked by a number of big-budget films about Japan's invasion of China and some of its most notorious atrocities, including the 1937 Nanjing massacre and Unit 731, a covert biological and chemical weapons programme that carried out human experiments on prisoners.

The Japanese foreign ministry has warned its citizens to be on alert for heightened anti-Japanese sentiment as a result of the anniversary.

The warning followed a series of attacks on Japanese citizens in the past year. A Chinese woman was killed in June of last year while trying to protect a Japanese mother and child from a knifeman in Suzhou, while a 10-year-old boy was killed near the Japanese school in Shenzhen almost three months later.

But despite the often tense relationship between the two countries, leaders and politicians have called for stronger bonds between younger generations.

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Last December's meeting to discuss people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his then Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya resulted in a pledge to implement a five-year plan for educational exchanges.

In a 10-point agreement, the two sides also "confirmed the importance of youth exchanges in promoting mutual understanding among young people ... that will contribute to the stabilisation of Japan-China relations over the medium to long term", according to the Japanese foreign ministry.

Speaking at the reception in Beijing on Tuesday, Kenji Kanasugi, the Japanese ambassador, said students could become "bridges between Japan and China".

"I believe all of you have already noticed various differences between Japan and China, and even just from a bus, you must have observed the contrasts in urban landscapes and traffic conditions," he told the event, attended by school pupils from both countries and local Beijing officials.

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"I hope that each of you, as 'little ambassadors' will also widely share your experiences and personal feelings from this exchange programme. I strongly hope that you will become bridges between Japan and China."

The teenage ambassadors programme, which organises exchanges between Japan and 15 other countries, is funded by the Aeon 1% Club Foundation, which receives 1 per cent of the retailer's pre-tax profits.

Hiroyuki Watanabe, the chairman of the foundation, said it was crucial to cultivate mutual understanding, especially among younger generations.

"The younger a person is, the more important it is for them, because at the high school age, when they are quite young, their sensitivity to everything is particularly strong and if they can use their own perceptions to deepen mutual understanding, it will be an extremely positive thing," he said.

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"While it's true there are certain media reports, and you might see related information online, I still believe that experiencing the actual situation first-hand through personal observations is what matters most."

In July, 40 Chinese high school pupils from Changsha in Hunan province and Beijing visited Tokyo and Sapporo in Japan under the same programme.

Xu Xiaoyi, 16, from Changsha, was one of 40 Chinese students who took part in the exchange, which included a two-day homestay with local families and a visit to the embassy in Tokyo.

Xu Xiaoyi says she was fascinated by Japanese waste disposal systems. Photo: Laura Zhou alt=Xu Xiaoyi says she was fascinated by Japanese waste disposal systems. Photo: Laura Zhou>

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Unlike many of her friends who are fans of Japanese animation and comics, Xiaoyi said one thing she was most interested in was Japan's efficient home waste sorting system "and how the Japanese can keep the streets so clean that there's not even a single leaf".

She said she had also been struck by some cultural differences, for example when a local guide told them not to eat on the street because "the Japanese consider it as something very private while in China nobody really cares".

She added: "I think this is one of the differences that we can't say which is good or bad, but it's interesting to understand such differences."

Xiaoyi also said she was glad to experience the real Japan.

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"I am quite neutral, and I believe that we should not forget history, but we should not deny that there are aspects where they have done better than us, and we should learn from each other," she said. "I think now I have a more vivid understanding of Japan."

Mahiro, from Tokyo, expressed similar sentiments. She said she had already fulfilled one of her wishes by getting to try Peking duck on the first day of her visit, and was looking forward to visiting a school in Beijing and possibly attending a class.

"I would think it's going to be so cool. I guess school is going to be different, like the building," she said.

"They told me that we're going to take one class and maybe it's going to be maths. I'm not good at maths so I'm really nervous, but [it will be] interesting and I think it's going to be so cool."

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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.
Britain must support Chinas ownership of Taiwan or risk a breach in diplomatic relations, Chinas ambassador to the UK has suggested.

Writing in The Telegraph, Zheng Zeguang said that the key to ensuring the sound and steady development of UK-China relations lay in the British government accepting that Taiwan has never been a country and that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to... China.

The intervention comes at a time of heightened tension between London and Beijing over the Chinese spy case, and amid calls to cancel the construction of a super-embassy in London. There are fears it could be used to tap into sensitive data cables.

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In the article, Mr Zheng writes that Britain made an unequivocal commitment to defend Chinas ownership of Taiwan when diplomatic relations were established with the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) in 1972.

This history must not be forgotten, he said.

The British Governments position has long been to acknowledge Chinas claim on Taiwan without endorsing it  a policy known as strategic ambiguity.

The Chinese ambassador quoted from the 1972 joint communique citing that deliberately vague position, but interpreting Britains acknowledgement as an acceptance of Chinas claims on Taiwan, a common elision from Beijings diplomats.

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Mr Zheng referred to two sections from the communique in which Britain acknowledges the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the PRC and recognises the Chinese Communist Party as the sole legal government in China.

He wrote: It was only after the UK made this unequivocal commitment that formal diplomatic relations were established between China and the UK. This history must not be forgotten.

While striving for a peaceful reunification, Mr Zheng warned that China was ready to do whatever it takes to regain control of the island, which has its own military and a democratic government that rejects Beijings claims of sovereignty.

We hope that the UK government will honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972... and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly in line with the One-China principle, Mr Zheng said.

China has faced pressure for the military drills it carries out surrounding Taiwan - GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images

The ambassadors comments pile further pressure on Sir Keir Starmer at a time when the Prime Minister is already facing accusations of appeasing Beijing.

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For weeks, the Government has been dogged by claims that it deliberately collapsed the espionage trial of former parliamentary aide Christopher Cash and his friend Christopher Berry to avoid upsetting the Chinese.

National security concerns

Labour has been pursuing Chinese investment as part of its election manifesto pledge to kick-start economic growth and bring about a decade of national renewal.

But critics say it has repeatedly prioritised foreign investment and trade relations over national security concerns.

China has also made a formal application to build a huge diplomatic compound in East London, next to Tower Bridge and St Katharine Docks, on the former site of the Royal Mint.

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Security experts and intelligence officials are concerned about the buildings potential for espionage, because it could contain a spy dungeon that would give Chinese agents access to sensitive communication cables that serve the City of London.

Victor Gao, a former advisor to the Chinese government, recently warned that refusing Beijing permission to build the embassy would be stupid and the UK should be fully aware of all the consequences if that does happen.

Taiwan Coast Guard vessels and speedboats undertake a joint-forces exercise in Kaohsiung - Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via Getty Images

In response to the ambassadors remarks, Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, told The Telegraph: Since 1972, the UK has acknowledged the PRCs strong views on Taiwan. It is a historical fact that we have never recognised or supported these claims, including absolute sovereignty to the island.

Beijings attempts to distort international law, including claims that UNGA Resolution 2758 confers dominion over Taiwan, should be resisted. These are rightly matters for the Taiwanese people to determine. Using economic coercion to force others to submit does not make it legal.

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More broadly, the strategic importance of Taiwan is tragically underappreciated. Theyre a democracy, and an important partner in many fields  not least the production of one of the most valuable commodities on earth.

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: The UKs long-standing position on Taiwan has not changed.

We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through dialogue, and not through any unilateral attempts to change the status quo.

In the article, Mr Zheng also denounced the Taiwanese government, led by the nationalist, centre-Left Democratic Progressive Party. The greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from separatist activities for Taiwan Independence and the connivance and support by external forces, he said.

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Taiwan is not a charter member of the United Nations. But Mr Zheng claimed that the United Nations Resolution 2578, which established the PRC as the only legitimate representative of China to the UN, also prohibits Taiwan from any interaction with the UN and other international bodies.

The British government rejects this position, arguing that Taiwan should be allowed to participate in international forums, either as an observer or guest or full member.

Emily Thornberry, the Labour MP and chair of the Foreign Affairs select committee, told The Telegraph that British policy on Taiwan had not changed and the UK would maintain links with the government there.

Our relationship with China remains robust, based on strong trade and people-to-people links. While the UK has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, we have a strong unofficial relationship, she added.

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Alicia Kearns, the Conservative MP who previously employed Mr Cash as a parliamentary researcher, said: The Chinese ambassador shows a wilful contempt towards the UKs long-standing position on Taiwan, and his brazen threats demonstrate just how much Labours obsequious posture has emboldened Beijing.

Unfortunately, the Labour Government has demonstrated an abject and spineless failure to take the ambassador to task over bounties and kidnap threats against Hong Kongers, let alone their assault on Parliament, she added, referring to the efforts of the two accused spies.

Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, said: China are threatening Britain because they know Keir Starmer is weak.

First China tried to intimidate us over their super embassy application, and now they are seeking to threaten Taiwan. This is unacceptable and illustrates the hostile agenda that China have.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
This month's immigration raid at a car wash in Hamden in which seven or eight people were arrested sparked hysteria from Mayor Lauren Garrett, state legislators, municipal officials, and clergy. At a press conference they declared they don't want immigration law enforced in town.

Speaking of federal immigration agents, state Rep. Jorge Cabrera said, "You come for one of us, you come for all of us."

Really? Were Cabrera and his colleagues at the press conference all in the country illegally too?

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Cabrera said the people arrested in the raid "weren't committing crimes."

But entering the country illegally is a violation of federal criminal law.

"We have to decide what kind of community we're going to be," Cabrera said. "We have to decide what kind of state we're going to be."

Yes, we have to decide whether everyone admitted to the country is to be reviewed for fitness and safety or whether the country's borders should be erased.

Mayor Garrett said, "People are living in fear because of an inhumane presidency," adding: "Hamden proudly welcomes everyone."

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But why should people breaking immigration law have no fear of its enforcement? Does the mayor's "everyone" really include people who are in the country illegally, even those with bad intent?

That sure sounds like open borders.

The Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson was upset that Hamden's police got late notice of the immigration raid but didn't alert him and others so they could try to obstruct it. Mayor Garrett seemed to agree. She said she wished notice of the raid had been given to organizations that assist illegal immigrants - presumably so they could have been warned to scram.

People at the press conference carried signs reading: "No hate. No fear. Immigrants are welcome here." That was to say that anyone who favors enforcing U.S. immigration law, virtually the most liberal in the world, is a hater, that illegal immigrants and legal immigrants are equally welcome in Hamden, and that the law should be disobeyed.

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Indeed, it's impossible to get such people to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration and impossible to have an honest discussion with them, probably because an honest discussion would clarify their position: that everyone who enters the country illegally and makes his way to Connecticut should be above immigration law and exempt from review for fitness.

That position means nullification, insurrection, secession - and national suicide.

Even so, there is great cruelty in the current situation, with millions of foreigners having been lured into the country by the previous national administration's negligence and having accepted positions as serfs - unable to vote, denied protection of employment law, living in fear of being caught, but hoping for amnesty someday.

The cruelty is unnecessary - except, of course, for the Democratic Party's desire to use illegal immigrants to skew congressional and state legislative districting in the party's favor.

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There has always been a simple and far less painful solution: to require employers to use the federal government's e-Verify system to validate employment and to impose severe penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Most people who enter the country illegally do so confident that they can work "under the table." If e-Verify was enforced nationally, with severe penalties against criminal employers, most illegal immigrants would deport themselves and most employers would stop breaking the law.

The same policy should be implemented with schools. Federal law should prohibit schools from admitting students who cannot show proof of citizenship or authorization to be in the country.

About 22 states participate to some extent in e-Verify. Of course Connecticut, a "sanctuary state" that pretends not to be one, does not participate. Opponents of using e-Verify may claim that it would be too difficult for many people to obtain proper identification, but that's nonsense. Yes, it might take a little effort but obtaining proper identification is an obligation of citizenship.

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The real reason Connecticut doesn't participate in e-Verify is because the people in charge of the state favor open borders.

Chris Powell (cpowell@cox.net) has written about Connecticut government and politics for many years.

This article originally published at Chris Powell (opinion): Hamden's leaders come out in favor of open borders.
In a shocking incident, five children suffering from thalassemia contracted HIV after being administered infected blood during transfusions at a hospital in Jharkhand's Chaibasa, prompting the State government to order a high-level investigation and suspend several officials. Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari said the issue came to light two days ago and termed it an "extremely serious" matter. "The matter of possible HIV infection through blood transfusion in children suffering from thalassemia is extremely serious. Two days ago, this issue came to my attention, after which I immediately ordered a high-level investigation," the minister said in a statement on social media platform X today. The Minister said that a "preliminary confirmation of HIV infection" was found in one thalassemia-affected child during the inquiry. "Taking swift action in this grave matter, the Civil Surgeon of Chaibasa, the doctor in charge of the HIV unit at Sadar Hospital and the concerned technician have all been suspended with immediate effect," he wrote. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has announced financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to each of the affected families, along with free treatment for the children suffering from the infection. "Following reports of HIV-infected blood being transfused to children suffering from Thalassemia in Chaibasa, instructions have been given to suspend the West Singhbhum Civil Surgeon and other concerned officials," Hemant Soren said in a post on X. https://x.com/HemantSorenJMM/status/1982364145556271299 Further, Chief Minister Soren said in his post in Hindi on X, "The Health Department should conduct an audit of all blood banks located in the state and submit the report within five days. Lax arrangements in the health process will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Health Minister Shri @IrfanAnsariMLA should take cognizance. The State Heath Minister Ansari added that a high-level inquiry committee has been formed to probe the incident in detail. https://x.com/IrfanAnsariMLA/status/1982383330830979149 "I have constituted a high-level inquiry committee and directed it to submit a complete investigation report within one week. I have also clearly instructed that the investigation must determine whether the blood supply came from the blood bank or from outside sources," he said. The State Health Minister noted that HIV infection cannot always be detected immediately, especially if blood is collected during the window period. "It should also be noted that full confirmation of HIV infection takes about four weeks. If the blood of an infected person is transfused during the window period, such an infection can occur," he stated. Ansari further said that CM Hemant Soren has taken cognizance of the matter and that the government would not tolerate any negligence involving children's health. "Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Hemant Soren Ji has been informed about the entire incident. He has personally taken cognizance of the matter and given instructions for strict and immediate action. Children are most precious to all of us. Any kind of negligence related to their health and life will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Strict and swift action will be ensured against those found guilty," Ansari wrote. (ANI)
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Initiatives in Oklahoma City are focused on assisting families impacted by the government shutdown.

Local church giving away groceries to help during government shutdown

Those who have been lending help now need to help themselves.

The fear thats involved, like people are genuinely scared about where theyre going to get their next meal, Pastor Tyler Barnes of Thrive Community Church said.

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Food is dwindling inside homes around the metro as the government shutdown continues, and the list of those who rely on their assistance to afford necessities like food is growing.

So, we wanted to be a resource for people, Barnes said.

Barnes says they have been serving families in need for over a year now.

Weve just been serving about 30 families, sometimes 40 families every week, Barnes said.

However, that number skyrocketed to nearly 200 families this week.

We anticipated there being more, Barnes said. We didnt anticipate how many more people were going to come. Were thinking, you know, well see twice as many people, not that we will see five times as many people show up and need help.

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He says the majority of them are being hurt by the government shutdown.

We were fully prepared in order to be able to meet what we thought might just be a lot of hype, Barnes said. Then it was heartbreaking to see so many people come and were worried, and they were so thankful.

He knows the need will only grow, so they are doing everything in their power to meet it so no one goes hungry.

We ordered extra food from the regional food bank, and then as our social media post had traction, we knew we werent going to have enough, Barnes said. So, I just started calling all of our community partners churches.

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Barnes says they wont be able to continue at this rate on their own and are calling on the community to lend a helping hand.

Its going to take the whole community, different churches, different nonprofits, and individuals coming together to meet the needs of so many hungry people, Barnes said.

You can donate to Thrive Community Church at this link to help them continue serving the community.

All the food will be handed out on Thursday at 7 p.m. and each Thursday after that as everyone prepares for a disruption to SNAP benefits starting November 1 if the government shutdown continues.

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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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Theyre out there, deep in the Florida Everglades every Sunday evening  rain or shine  holding signs, singing songs and praying.

Since it opened at the beginning of July, Floridas migrant detention center dubbed Alligator Alcatraz has sparked a slew of controversy surrounding its existence, including multiple lawsuits from environmental and civil rights groups seeking to shutter the detention camp.

With pending lawsuits and now a government shutdown, the future of the controversial facility remains uncertain, but one thing has been constant: The group of Florida faith leaders has shown up week after week

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Theyre called the Florida Interfaith Coalition, and they are a growing group of clergy and activists organizing across the state to protest Alligator Alcatraz, the $608 million detention center funded by the federal government and run by the state of Florida housing more than 1,800 men.

Since the beginning of August, the faith leaders have been hosting weekly prayer vigils outside the detention center to raise awareness about the conditions of the facility and protest immigration policies that they believe are not only immoral, but against Gods will. Their efforts have attracted more than 2,000 people in Florida alone and spurred new vigils across the state protesting similar detention sites, according to the vigils organizers.

Their goal is twofold: Halt operations at Alligator Alcatraz and, while it is open, let clergy inside to provide religious counsel to detainees.

We, across faiths, believe that this is opposed to what God would like us to live together as. Human rights are important, and we may not be able to do a lot, but were here, and we care, and that has power in itself, said the Rev. Candace Candy Thomas of Christ Congregational United Church of Christ in Palmetto Bay.

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We dont know what the outcome will be, but we know what we can do, even though it just seems like a little. Theres comfort in being together in community doing that, she said.

The faith leaders, who come from various denominations  from the United Methodist Church to Unitarian Universalism to Judaism  have vowed to show up every week as long as people are being detained at the center.

Those are our brothers. Those are our fellow citizens. Many of them have no charges, have done nothing wrong and committed no crimes, said the Rev. Arthur Jones III, minister at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers, at a recent Sunday vigil.

Shortly after his speech, Jones led the crowd of some fifty people in a rendition of We Shall Overcome, a song popularized by leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

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Were here to pray, were here to chant, were here to sing. We are here to let them know that they are not forgotten, that they are loved, that they are respected, Jones said.

Far from easy-breezy activism

Going on their 13th week, the vigils are peaceful prayer circles lead by a different Florida pastor each week and are open to anyone, regardless of their faith. The speakers offer special sermons dedicated to detainees, testimonies from family members of people being detained or personal stories.

Pastor Thomas, for example, recently spoke about her Colombian friend who was picked up by ICE agents in South Beach. The friend had legal citizenship but was still transferred to four different detention facilities, ultimately being released in Arizona. The woman ended up losing her job and her apartment as a result of the arrest.

At the height of the vigils, there were 300 people, according to organizers, but attendance dipped after the center was ordered by a federal judge to slowly empty the facility in August. The decision was short-lived. Soon after, an appeals court paused the decision in September, leaving the facility open for the time being. And the vigils ramped up again.

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Though the results are marginal so far, organizers hope that the vigils can help spotlight the inhumane conditions of the center and slowly influence the wider public, said Noelle Damico, one of the vigils core organizers and director of social justice at The Workers Circle, a culturally Jewish nonprofit that advocates on social justice issues. The group has socialist origins but has declared since 1929 that members are explicitly anti-communist.

The impact is hard to measure. Though the vigils have been attracting continuous participation from different groups of people, theres no way to know for sure if protests impact public opinion or the courts in charge of the centers fate.

Pastor Thomas points out that many clergy do often talk about their vigil experience with their own churches and houses of worship. But, knowing the immediate impact is also beside the point for faith leaders.

For us, were called to be faithful. You cant determine what the outcome is, you can only do what you can do. I do think that theyre important, she said. I theres something about being right there, where youre looking at the sign, and youre looking at the facility, that is a different sense. ... Its just powerful, is all.

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Over the summer, as immigration policies quickly began changing in the United States, the folks at The Workers Circle were looking to get involved in a more meaningful way.

I said look, what we need to do is mount something that is continual, that is ongoing, that is like a heartbeat that doesnt let up, Damico said. Something that is a point from which we can build and organize all across the country.

Damico said she called a few local pastors and environmental activist and Miccosukee member Betty Osceola to start planning the vigils. The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and environmental advocacy group the Friends of the Everglades filed an early lawsuit that resulted in halting the construction of Alligator Alcatraz, arguing that the facility harms the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades.

Osceola had already been organizing protests of her own across from the center and was vital to sustaining the weekly protests, said organizers  lending tents, sound equipment and, initially, a camera setup to help livestream the protests. On social media, Osceola promotes the vigils every week, describing them succinctly in one post: Think Sunday church service in the Everglades.

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Im a very spiritual person. I pray every day, Osceola said at a recent vigil.

Due to the remote conditions of the center  located at an isolated Everglades airfield surrounded by mosquito and alligator-filled swamps  Damico said she wasnt sure if people would show up to the first one, let alone week after week.

This isnt easy, Saturday afternoon activism. This is, you gotta make a plan, you gotta commit, Damico said.

Soon after the start of the vigils, more and more faith leaders began showing up, many busing their congregants to come along with them from places as far as North and Central Florida.

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Now, theyve expanded across the state, mobilizing more than 150 faith leaders and attracting thousands of people in Florida alone. The movement is inspiring vigils in Tallahassee, Sarasota and Orlando, and in other states protesting similar camps, such as Deportation Depot near Jacksonville, the Louisiana Lockup and the Speedway Slammer in Indiana, which appear to be modeled after Alligator Alcatraz in terms of their state/federal partnerships. The rapid expansion is a fact that Damico finds troubling.

You have this vague state/federal government cooperation going on. But it doesnt have any of the protocols that federal detention centers like Krome have, Damico said. The blueprint is horrible.

Damico said the immigration advocacy work is a part of the DNA of The Workers Circle, which is a 125-year-old organization founded by Eastern European immigrants who came to the United States fleeing persecution and seeking democratic freedoms, according to Damico.

Clergy request access to migrants

In addition to the interfaith group, the Catholic Church has also been involved in pushing back on the Trump administrations immigration policies. Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Miamis top Catholic leader, condemned Alligator Alcatraz earlier this year, calling it alarming and unbecoming of public officials.

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Just last week, various Catholic and Jesuit organizations showed up to the Krome Detention Center in Miramar to pray for detainees, an action that was a part of a larger day of prayer vigils, organized by Catholic groups across the country. The movement builds on a Mass held by Catholic Bishops at the U.S.-Mexico Border in San Luis earlier this month, according to a statement from organizers.

In addition to the protests, faith leaders and part of the coalition have also been seeking direct access to detainees. The group sent a letter to the Florida Department of Emergency Management seeking permission from the state to provide one-on-one chaplaincy services at the detention center, a practice thats common in most other correctional facilities in Florida.

When they didnt hear back, except for a vague promise to forward the email along, leaders hand-delivered another letter to FDEMs office in Tallahassee. The response that time was more promising, but the faith leaders still havent heard back about whether they are allowed inside.

As clergy, we take a sacred vow to support all people with spiritual care, regardless of their race, of their nationality, of their religion or their legal status, the Rev. David Williamson told the Miami Herald previously. Its a matter of recognizing someones constitutional right to receive this kind of care based on the First Amendment.

As of now, the Catholic Church is the only faith denomination that has been granted access inside Alligator Alcatraz to hold Mass for detainees and staff.

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The Herald asked the Florida Division of Emergency Management about the detention centers chaplaincy policy multiple times, but they did not respond to request for comment for this story.

At the weekly Miami vigils, the treatment of the migrants held across the street is often a topic of discussion. Organizers reference reporting from local outlets, including the Miami Herald, that detailed poor treatment of detainees and reported on hundreds of people who went unaccounted for after leaving the facility.

This is not American, said Michael Finkel, a Unitarian Universalist from Naples, last Sunday after the vigil. Whats wrong is the way the people are being held, if they are in cages. ... The fact that they dont have due process, there should be no deportation without legal representation.

Another point that activists bring up: Not all migrants being detained are criminals, nor are they in the country illegally. Kim Torres from the United Methodist Church in Florida City shared a story about someone she knew who had a legal permit who was picked up at their immigration appointment and deported to Mexico.

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I think its people of faith that we have to fight that if we believe its unjust ... we need to do something. And especially as a Christian, I think right now, theres all these voices from Christians who I dont believe represent Jesus.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has repeatedly rejected the reports of poor treatment of detainees, and the Department of Homeland Security maintains that Alligator Alcatraz houses some of the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens including murderers, pedophiles, weapon traffickers, and drug dealers, said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in September.

This week, the protests will resemble a blend of religion and environmental activism. Osceola invited the crowd to a Hands Across the Land demonstration, which is set to include live music, nature-inspired costumes and a synchronized holding of hands symbolic action, all which will take place before the 5 p.m. vigil.

We need (to) remind state leadership, we have not gone away, we continue to stand for accountability, Osceola wrote.

This story was produced with financial support from Trish and Dan Bell and from donors comprising the South Florida Jewish and Muslim Communities, including Khalid and Diana Mirza, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
It has emerged that the US State Department's internal intelligence service cast doubt in early 2025 on Russian leader Vladimir Putin's willingness to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, while the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had a more optimistic assessment.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the WSJ, at the start of Donald Trump's second term in office, US officials repeatedly asked intelligence analysts for information on the situation in Ukraine in order to determine Putin's goals and assess his willingness to negotiate an end to the war.

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CIA analysts concluded that Trump might be able to find opportunities to negotiate with Putin, sources told the WSJ.

In contrast, analysts from the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) cited Putin's own remarks in which he emphasised the priority of "demilitarising" and "denazifying" Ukraine.

The State Department concluded that the Kremlin leader would ultimately not be willing to abandon his maximalist demands. These assessments were prepared before the planned meeting between Putin and Trump in Alaska, the newspaper notes.

The WSJ said INR leadership later told analysts that their dissenting assessment was damaging the Bureau's standing among government officials. Afterwards, several analysts were fired and one resigned.

Background:

In recent weeks, Trump has publicly voiced frustration with Putin's unwillingness to stop military action in Ukraine.

He recently cancelled a planned meeting with Putin in Budapest, which he had announced after their latest phone call, and said he is disappointed by the slow pace of talks with Russia.

The US president stated that he would not meet with the Kremlin leader until an agreement is reached to secure peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  From defending Portlands sanctuary city status to administration attempts to deploy National Guard troops into the city, Councilor Eric Zimmerman has a lot on his plate.

Hes one of the 12 councilors elected last November as part of the expanded City Council. Zimmerman represents District 4, covering essentially all of Portland west of the Willamette River.

The former chief of staff to Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, Zimmerman is an army veteran who served in Iraq and in the Oregon National Guard.

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Councilor Zimmerman joined Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss whats next for Portland as protests over presidential overreach continue.

Watch the full interview in the video above.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.




Over 12 days in October, Kosta Diamantis, 69, who ran the nearly half-billion-dollar-a-year Connecticut school building program, failed to escape 21 felony charges in federal court, including bribery, extortion, conspiracy and lying to investigators.

Diamantis was found guilty by a jury this past week on all 21 counts. A sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 14.

Here is a recap of what happened, by day.

Friday, October 3

At 8:47 a.m., 82 potential jurors are led into Judge Stefan Underhill's fourth-floor courtroom. On the wall to the left of Underhill's high desk is a full-length portrait of the U.S. District Court Senior Judge Warren W. Eginton, who died in 2019. At the defense table is Diamantis, attorney Norman Pattis and a paralegal from Pattis's office. At the prosecutors' table are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Francis and David Novick, along with FBI Special Agent Jennifer Wagner and IRS Special Agent Eric Wethje.

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The pool of people summoned from throughout Fairfield County fill the wooden pews. One-by-one, over two hours, they recite the answers to a dozen basic questions on their hometowns, education, professions and connections to the legal system. At 11:20, Underhill gives the group an overview of the charges. "Anybody here presume Mr. Diamantis is anything but innocent?" Underhill asks. Nobody raises their hand. "Good," the judge says. "It's up to the government to prove he's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

By 12:30, as the pool lunched outside the courthouse, Underhill suggests a list of 45 people to reject. In an effort to cull the group to an initial 36. By early afternoon, the list is cut further, to 16.

Monday, October 6

The trial starts and Francis details the charges against Diamantis. He then calls John Duffy, 64, to the witness stand. Duffy's sister had been married to Diamantis and that's why the accused is referred to in a flurry text messages as "uncle." Duffy, an Irish-born mason and former vice president of Acranom Masonry of Middlefield, like the owner of that firm and another co-conspirator, Antonietta Roy, an independent project administrator, has already pleaded guilty in connection with the case.

Diamantis is accused of corruption that occurred between 2018 and 2021 when he was the state's top school constructive executive. Before the end of the trial, one charge will be dropped. Duffy admits meeting Diamantis in a variety of places for cash payoffs, including the upscale Capital Grille in Hartford and a Middletown bank where he had just cashed a $10,000 check. "I met him at the bank and gave him half the check and I kept half," Duffy said during a multi-hour question-and-answer session.

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Text messages among Diamantis, Duffy and Acranom's owner, Sal Monarca, use euphemisms such as "birthday cards," "pars and birdies," and "pints," for the payoffs.

Duffy admits that a successful bid by Acranom, worth millions of dollars, was budgeted by the company to include a $70,000 payoff for Diamantis. Text messages Diamantis exchanged with Duffy and Sal Monarca indicate that the public official wrote he was "desperate" for money, missing mortgage payments and claiming only a few hundred dollars in the bank at a time when one of his daughters, a niece of Duffy's, was going to get married in Crete. "Bribes in exchange for influence," Francis said of Diamantis, who headed school construction from 2018 until Gov. Ned Lamont found out the feds were investigating in October, 2021.

Tuesday, October 7

Antonietta Roy, the owner of Construction Advocacy Professionals (CAP), another co-conspirator who previously pleaded guilty, says that while Diamantis encouraged her to start her own business, he also created an atmosphere of fear. She felt compelled to hire his daughter, Anastasia, as a part-time assistant for $45 an hour. She details giving Kosta Diamantis checks totaling $3,500 and later $1,000 cash that she handed him in his car in what she described was like a "drug deal" on a Hartford street corner.

Wednesday, October 8

Underhill announces that the jury pool, reduced to 15 earlier in the week when a woman from Greenwich could not find child care, lost another juror through illness.

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Pattis asks Antonietta Roy if Diamantis had helped foster her career as a woman in a male-dominated industry, who could take advantage of public efforts, particularly in Hartford, to hire female and minority-owned businesses. "I admired him in his position," she says. "It was my understanding that he got the job done. He was very powerful. I did not want to get on his bad side. I wanted to keep him happy."

Thursday, October 9

Tolland school superintendent Walter Willett says he felt pressured by Diamantis to hire Acranom and CAP for the emergency 2019 rebuilding of Birch Grove Primary School, after concrete tainted by the mineral pyrrhotite was found to be crumbling. The emergency nature of the project meant that contractors could be hired without a bidding process.

During an hour of testimony, Willett said he was puzzled by the $530,000 CAP would be paid for the oversight work. "At the end of the process, I don't think it made sense. Mr. Diamantis said it was too much for us to deal with," Willett recalled. "I just kept thinking this would fall on the kids. It was dangerous, in my mind. We needed to get this taken care of."

Another witness, John Butkus, a veteran project manager for the Hartford schools, says that CAP was hired for work at Bulkeley High School even though it was not the low-bidder. Butkus adds that he did not think another project manager was even needed for the Bulkeley work, but notes Diamantis wanted one on a "pilot," or trial basis. "Our team had already been assigned the responsibilities," Butkus recalled. "What did we need another one for?"

Tuesday, October 14

After a four-day layoff for the Columbus Day weekend, Sal Monarca, president of Acranom - his last name spelled backwards - estimates that he paid Diamantis between $85,000 and $95,000.

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The prosecution's final witnesses includes two veteran special agents: Jennifer Wagner of the FBI and Eric Wethje of the IRS, who sit next to the prosecutors every day of the trial.

Wethje says that Diamantis appeared during interviews without a lawyer, including a two-and-a-half hour question session.

"The door was unlocked," Wethje said. "And he was able to leave anytime he wanted." In his cross-examination, Pattis focuses on the lack of a recording. Pattis inquires if the investigators asked Diamantis about his staff's role in reviewing projects for funding. "I don't know," Wethje responded. "And we'll never know because there was no recording," Pattis said.

Earlier in the day, Hartford City Engineer Frank Dellaripa admits that he wore a government recording device for at least one meeting with Diamantis. "I had a device," he says.

Wednesday, October 15

During a meeting with lawyers Wednesday outside the presence of the jury, Underhill deletes one of the charges of making false statements in connection with a school building project in Tolland. The judge said he did not think there was enough evidence introduced from Walter Willett, that town's school superintendent.

Thursday, October 16

Pattis offers the jury a brief, 15-minute overview of the defense case to the jury, then calls Anastasia Diamantis, Kosta's daughter, who was fired by Antonietta Roy after Lamont terminated Kosta Diamantis in October 2021. Pattis asks if Roy ever expressed dissatisfaction with her performance.

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"No," Anastasia Diamantis replies. Roy had testified that she thought that Anastasia's work was not good.

Then, in the trial's most dramatic turn, Kosta Diamantis rolls the dice and takes the witness stand in his own defense. He sits, half-turned toward the jury box and looks at them. Pattis attempts to portray him as an honest outsider who threatened the school building status quo, a disrupter who wanted to expedite building programs. Diamantis denies the extortion and bribery charges and says the multiple cases of lying were not lies because he took the "fees" while moonlighting as a consultant and a lawyer.

"Did you play any role, did you do anything in your personal capacity, to put pressure on D'Amato to hire Acranom?" Pattis asks. "No," Diamantis said.

"Did you have any role in assuring that Acranom would be hired for any job?" Pattis asked. "I created an introduction between John Duffy and D'Amato Construction," Diamantis said of a Bristol firm whose principles he's known since boyhood.

Friday, October 17

Diamantis, a criminal lawyer and former 14-year state representative, takes the witness stand for the second day and stresses that he worked within state ethics rules and laws, did not take bribes, did not extort executives at the two companies, did not steer contracts to them and did not force CAP to hire his daughter.

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He admits, however, that in August 2022, while pressing Acranom Masonry Inc. for $28,000 in payments, he threatened to remove Acranom from a Tolland school project, adding that since he did not have the power to do so as the head of state school construction grants, it was essentially a bluff.

Diamantis also admits failing to report thousands of dollars in additional income to the IRS, adding that he "neglected" to report the income and that he intended to eventually file amended tax documents. Francis, the prosecutor, displays several years of state ethics filings in which Diamantis did not list payments from Acranom Masonry of Middlefield. "And the way you did that was taking envelopes of cash from Acranom?" Francis asks. "Outside of school construction," Diamantis replies.

Monday, October 20

The day starts with Underhill reading a 51-page charge to the jurors. Pattis then portrays Diamantis as an outside threat to the connected fraternity of nearly all-male construction contractors, and that Duffy, one of the co-conspirators who has already pleaded guilty in the case, kept his boss, Monarca, in the dark about his own share of payments made to Diamantis.

"Not every action by a public official becomes a public act," Pattis says. He does not address the 13 charges of lying to federal investigators, which could have allowed the prosecutors to introduce more evidence.

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Novick, the prosecutor, reminds the jury that Diamantis took credit for directing a $3 million contract for Acranom. He shows the telling Diamantis text: "I always usually work at 5 percent of the total, FYI"

Diamantis, speaking to reporters outside the courthouse at about 4:20 p.m. Monday, says he had been under orders from Gov. Ned Lamont to save money and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in annual school projects on schedule.

The final arguments go late into the afternoon, but jurors get about an hour to review their technology available to review evidence before going home. First, Julia Reis, Underhill's court administrator, uses a lottery-type spinning basket to pull out two numbers from the 14-member panel, who would become alternates, sequestered from the jury but available if anyone suddenly dropped out do to illness. They spend about an hour reviewing the technology to review the case, then go home for the night

Tuesday, October 21

The jury gets deep into the review of evidence. By late afternoon, a small question arises that Underhill answers without the need for lawyers, defendant or opening the courtroom to the public. The jury heads home at around 4.

Wednesday October 22

At 10:38, a court clerk leads the two alternate jurors from their waiting room to seats near their colleagues. Shortly before 11, the jury files in and steps up to the two tiers of padded chairs. At 11, Nkong A. Tankeng, the jury forewoman, hands the verdicts. Underhill reads one after another: "Count One: Extortion by wrongful use of fear or color of official right," It takes the judge about 10 minutes to read through the 21 counts. He then asked the dozen jurors, one-by-one, if they agreed.

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"It was a clean sweep," Diamantis tells a few reporters in the elevator down to the waiting news photographers who have been stationed outside the courthouse for a couple weeks. "I was just hoping it would go the other way." He ends up leaving by a side door and speeds off in a white pickup truck. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors charged Diamantis with bribery, extortion and lying to investigators in an unrelated case involving a canceled state audit of a Bristol optometrist accused of health care fraud. That case is set to go to trial next year before Underhill and the same prosecutors, with Pattis again in Diamantis's defense.

Forty five minutes later, jurors start drifting out of the building. Most decline to speak with reporters. When she emerges, Tankeng is first reluctant to speak, they turns and faces the few remaining reporters and cameras left. "Even just sitting at the defendant's table, just how he carried himself and his character, just wasn't credible enough for me," she said. "When people were testifying, (his) body language, the smirking. Even on the stand, giving narratives that just weren't necessary to give."

This article originally published at 'A clean sweep': 12 days in October lead to conviction of former CT school building director.
As sea levels rise due to warming global temperatures, coastal communities in South Florida are seeing a spike in "king tides."

What's happening?

King tides are the highest high tides of the year. They occur seasonally in South Florida and typically cause brief, minor flooding. However, residents reported that the tides appear to be getting higher, according to the Miami Herald.

"It's getting worse and worse each year  next year, it'll reach my driveway," Miami resident Skip Alligood told the outlet.

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While the king tides have been manageable this year, this is partly because there haven't been many storms.

Heavy rains would considerably raise flood levels, putting people and buildings at risk. This is particularly concerning because storms, like other extreme weather events, are intensifying due to the planet's overheating.

Why are rising king tides concerning?

Residents have dealt with the sea level near their homes rising eight inches over the past 30 years. The land is low in South Florida, so this change is enough to submerge docks, drains, and streets during king tides.

As rising temperatures exacerbate extreme weather events like flooding, homeowners are faced with difficult decisions. Many have to decide whether to stay despite rising sea levels posing a threat to their houses.

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With various insurers pulling flood coverage across the country, some residents are forced to relocate. One homeowner told the Miami Herald she had to leave her coastal home after years of damaging floods.

"We sold it last year, and we moved to higher ground because of the sea level rising; that was the only reason," the homeowner, Johanna Mead, said.

This issue underscores the need to address overheating, which is impacting communities around the world.

Human activity, such as the burning of dirty fuels or excessive waste in landfills, contributes to the heat-trapping gases warming the atmosphere. It's important to do our part to educate ourselves and adopt more planet-friendly behaviors.

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Solar energy reduces reliance on dirty energy while saving homeowners thousands of dollars on utilities. Solar panels, when used with battery storage, can also make your home more resilient against power outages caused by extreme weather events.

EnergySage provides a free, easy service that compares quotes from vetted local installers and can save you up to $10,000 on solar installations.

What's being done about rising king tides?

Local municipalities have invested millions into infrastructure improvements to help mitigate flood damage. This includes elevating roads, raising sea walls, and installing new stormwater pumps.

To further combat the issue, volunteers in South Florida gather each year for Florida International University's Sea Level Solutions Day.

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They take water samples, snap pictures of flood depth, and report it back to scientists, according to the Miami Herald.

Researchers then get a better understanding of the tide to address its effects.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.




Fall is seriously arriving across Texas this week, as forecasters expect a cold front to hit the Lone Star State starting Tuesday. The front, which should bring with it gusty winds and a chance of showers, is set to plunge high temperatures into the 60s throughout southeast Texas.

The front will start from the north, arriving in Texas from the Great Plains. The front will push into North and Central Texas by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in its long-term forecast on Sunday morning.

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The NWS anticipates some rain could fall with the arrival of the front in North Texas, with wind gusts increasing to at most 30 mph. But low temperatures will plunge into the 40s and even upper 30s in parts of that region.

Meanwhile in the Houston area, after relatively comfortable days Monday and Tuesday with highs in the low 80s, the front is expected to arrive early late Tuesday, bringing "drastic changes," according to the NWS in its long-term forecast Sunday.

"A strong cold front is expected to pass through our area Tuesday evening or Tuesday night ushering in fall like weather," read the forecast. "Unlike the past few cold fronts, which were weak and had a more Pacific-based airmass behind it, this cold front will have an airmass dropping down from Canada."

Because of that, the Houston area could see temperatures that drop into the mid 40s to mid 50s early in the evening Tuesday. Highs on Wednesday and Thursday should only scrape the lower 70s. Even Halloween on Friday looks like a fall-like day, for the most part, with highs expected to be in the 70s.

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The cold front is likely to include scattered showers and thunderstorms, likely late on Tuesday, with strong offshore winds, per the NWS.

More Weather

Rating | FEMA gives Harris County a perfect 100 for hurricane risk

Repeat | Houston storms knock out power again despite CenterPoint upgrades

Damage | What to know about the 'monster' tornado that ripped through Texas

Forecast | Texas faces higher risk of direct hurricane impact than past years



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This article originally published at Cold front may plunge low temperatures into 40s across Texas.
Protesters picket outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements office in Centennial as an unusually high number of people are summoned to appear for check-ins on a Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. (Photo by Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

This story was originally published by CPR and COLab.

Over the last several months, Nicholas Pierces work as an asylum, refugee and deportation defense lawyer on the Front Range has meant playing catch-up. The immigration policies and orders that seem to come on a near-daily basis from the federal government have been hard to keep up with.

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In a recent interview, Pierce tried to make sense of the latest effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which activists said was called Freaky Friday, offering unaccompanied immigrant children cash to self deport, and potentially depriving them of the right to hearings. A local human services agency had reached out to him earlier in the day asking how it would impact the young immigrants in their care.

He couldnt answer. Instead he had to turn to others, including a contact at ICE, to figure it out.

It is, in a lot of ways, much worse than what I had anticipated, much faster than I had anticipated, Pierce said about the impact the presidents immigration crackdown has had on Colorado. I was an immigration lawyer during the first Trump administration, and there was just a lot more checks and balances in the system.

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With about 400 cases on his plate through his Denver-based firm Amistad Law, Pierce said hes seen firsthand how families and communities are being torn apart. He said many have had their legal statuses stripped away, through things like ending Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans  many of whom sought refuge in Colorado. Others, he said, have chosen to go into hiding for fear of being detained when appearing for their asylum interviews.

Pierce, who is a former U.S. Army Reserve service member and whose work receives state funding through the Colorado Refugee Support Program, is one of hundreds of Coloradans polled by CPR News and other outlets in the Colorado News Collaborative who have expressed either complete opposition to or frustration with some of the ways Trump has carried out his campaign promise to close the southern border and reduce the number of undocumented immigrants living in the country.

Immigration attorney Nicholas Pierce, right, sits at a table during an Afghan support conference with paralegal Swita Omari in this undated photo. (Photo courtesy of Nicholas Pierce.)

A small number we heard from say they support the presidents actions, calling them necessary to free up government resources for things like housing and Medicaid for citizens or protect the country from socialism.

Since the beginning of the year, the Trump administration has increased immigration raids across U.S. cities, including in Colorado, escalated tactics like sending the National Guard to back up ICE in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and reversed Biden-era policies, including allowing arrests at schools and churches.

What Coloradans are saying about immigration

In the survey circulated by Colorado newsrooms, including CPR News, a majority of the nearly 400 respondents said that, even if they supported some of the presidents stated goals, they opposed some of the immigration enforcement tactics currently being used by federal agents.

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Specifically, Coloradans take issue with federal agents violating due process and not focusing on deporting the worst of the worst criminals.

I have no problem with deporting those convicted of felonies, but ambushing families is despicable, said a woman in Grand Junction.

I am in favor of the overall goal, but I do take issue with some of the practices, said a man from Broomfield. Treat people as human beings, even if they are criminals.

A man in Durango summarized it like a report card. He gave efforts to close the border an A+, deporting criminals a C-, visa restrictions a D-, the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement an F and described the use of the National guard as illegal. He said Trump also failed in the area of Politicalization.

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Deport criminals not workers, said a woman in Durango. ICE tactics like unmarked cars, civilian clothes, refusal to identify themselves should be eliminated.

Its a waste of time to deport people contributing to the economy, said a man in Colorado Springs. Im more concerned with the affordability of housing and health care.

The response has been too extreme and brutal, said a woman in Colorado Springs. It targets too many law-abiding, legal, U.S. residents,: denying due process to detainees.

Federal law enforcement outside the Cedar Run Apartments, where immigration raids are took place early Feb. 5. (Photo by Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Evergreen resident Norman Sherbert said he believed the president was carrying out what he promised to do when elected and correct the previous administrations actions.

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Im not here to tell the government how to do their job, Sherbert elaborated via email. All I know is that 11 or 12 million illegal immigrants coming into our country, seeing pictures of the masses of people standing at our borders, and hearing of children without guardianship being used to gain entrance into the U.S. is not good policy. And, in the long run over the next generations, will have a deteriorating effect on our society and way of life.

Sherbert sees the administrations extreme measures as a necessary way to right the situation with the limited time and resources it has.

At a flea market in Colorado Springs on a recent weekend, JoAnn Antaya said she believed Trump wanted to help people during his first administration but doesnt agree with the tactics being used today.

A German-born American who remembered how difficult it was to adjust to a new culture as a child, Antaya believes society has lost its compassion.

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We do not care about our fellow man, Antaya, 63, said. So its easy to put a wall between here and Mexico because you know what? They have nothing to do with you. Heaven forbid if you should hand them a crust of bread. No, Im not happy with my country.

Its like theyre not compromising. Theyre not coming to a happy medium. Theyre just combative. And thats all it is: Argument, argument, argument.

Colorado Springs resident JoAnn Antaya poses with her dogs at her booth where she sells a variety of items at the Colorado Springs Flea Market. (Photo by Stephanie Rivera/CPR News)

What the polls say about immigration concerns

Opinion polling suggests how Coloradans feel about immigration has a lot to do with where they live.

A poll from the Colorado Health Foundation released earlier this year looked at top issues facing Coloradans. It surveyed over 2,300 people across the state.

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It found that illegal immigration was a major concern for about half of the residents surveyed, though the extent of the concern depended on where respondents lived, lower in urban areas (39 percent), versus suburban (58 percent) and rural (65 percent).

Ninety percent of respondents on the Eastern Plains believe illegal immigration is a problem in Colorado compared to 46 percent in Denver metro.

On the flip side, 20 percent of all respondents said the mistreatment of immigrants was an extremely serious concern compared to 42 percent of respondents saying it was not too serious.

Broken down by region, that concern fluctuated, with 44 percent of urban respondents saying mistreatment is extremely or very serious compared to 30 percent of suburban respondents and 23 percent of rural respondents.

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The regional, the urbanity and the partisanship seemed to really be driving how folks react to those problems and react differently to the two different framings that we tested, said Lucia Del Puppo, senior vice president with the research firm that conducted the Pulse Poll.

CHF spokesperson Katie Peshek says Pulse Poll findings are shared with policymakers to help them understand the real issues residents are facing and prioritize those concerns.

With a third of poll respondents pointing to government and politics as the states leading challenge, its clear that on issues like immigration, the cost of living and housing, Coloradans are ready for real action and solutions, Peshek said.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Denver Field Office Centennial. (Photo by Hart Van Denburg/CPR News)

Meanwhile, a national Gallup poll released this summer found that only 30 percent of Americans say immigration should be reduced, a position that has shrunk by fifteen points since last year.

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But the support for stanching immigration largely falls along party lines, with the poll finding Republicans are the only group still showing at least plurality support for reducing immigration.

In a recent national poll of registered voters by the New York Times/Sienna, 51 percent said they thought the government was deporting mostly people who should be deported, while 42 percent said the government was deporting the wrong people.

That poll, too, found respondents wrestling with the administrations aggressive tactics.

More than half of voters, 53 percent, think the process of deporting people has not been fair; 44 percent said it was mostly fair, according to The New York Times.

How Colorado leaders are responding to federal actions

Some Coloradans praised the work of elected officials to stand in the way of federal immigration enforcement.

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Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has used his offices powers to fight against federal immigration actions, from defending in-state tuition for noncitizen students to suing a sheriffs deputy for involving ICE in a traffic stop that resulted in the detainment of a college student.

In the spring, state lawmakers passed a bill designed to protect undocumented immigrants from coming to the attention of federal authorities. And over the summer, Colorados Democratic members of Congress toured the states only immigration facility in Aurora, only to leave with more questions than answers.

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow speaks alongside, from left, U.S. Reps. Brittany Pettersen, Joe Neguse and Diana DeGette after the Colorado officials toured the GEO Group-run ICE detention center in Aurora on Aug. 11, 2025. (Photo by Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Colorado governments are in danger of losing federal funds and the state is being sued by the federal government for so-called sanctuary policies, but Democratic leaders have so far resisted the administrations pressure campaign, arguing immigration enforcement is not the states problem.

That doesnt mean inter-agency coordination isnt happening. Despite state laws strictly limiting when officials can cooperate with ICE requests, state agencies were found to have provided federal immigration officials with Coloradans personal information in response to subpoenas several times this year. Those actions by the Polis administration have riled fellow Democrats and immigration advocates.

Looking ahead

Even though state laws prohibit local law enforcement from helping federal agents, targeted immigration raids continue to take place across the state, including outside of metro regions. In the last couple of weeks, local news outlets have reported on an incident in Alamosa where ICE detained a family with a baby inside a vehicle at gunpoint, smashing a car window, and a situation in Routt County where a county commissioner was blocked by ICE vehicles.

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For Pierce, its not just new policies that have made it difficult for him  or other lawyers  to do this job. Hes seen announcements of immigration court judges resigning or being fired, resulting in longer processing times for cases. Clients are also being transferred to detention facilities out of state, making it hard to connect with their legal counsel and putting them at risk of being deported within days.

So when it comes to hurting people, the systems gotten a lot faster. When its come to helping people, the systems gotten a lot slower, he said.

The majority of Pierces cases involve Afghan men who fought alongside the U.S. military during the Afghanistan War and are now waiting to get legal residency. Most of them filed petitions in 2022 or 2023 but still dont have a court date set. With the reimposition of the so-called Muslim ban by the Trump administration this summer, it has been difficult for them to be reunited with their families. Pierce says these policies betray a promise made by the U.S. government for fighting alongside its troops.

The situation is leaving the men with two options: risk likely death to join their families back home or wait in the U.S, in the hope that their families will eventually be allowed to join them.

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Its gotten so bad that Pierce has found himself for the first time ever advising people to seek asylum in Argentina or Chile. Hes even started to offer powers-of-attorney services so that family or friends with U.S. citizenship can take control of bank accounts and other assets if their loved ones are rapidly deported.

Ive dedicated my life to this, but the good legal advice has become, Hide, or go somewhere else.

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Jharkhand's LoP and BJP leader Babulal Marandi on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat program, saying that it shares valuable information and inspires people. He called Mann Ki Baat the "best program" for motivating people and spreading awareness about national development. Speaking to the reporters, Babulal Marandi said, "He gives a lot of information in this... He also discussed the rising obesity in the country and how to prevent it... He encourages the people and also shows where and how people are working. This is the best program of PM Modi, where he introduces people to all the developments that have taken place in the nation and motivates the people..." Earlier in the day, PM Modi, during the 127th episode of Mann Ki Baat, called on citizens to adopt sustainable practices and take part in the 'Ek Ped Maa ke Naam' tree planting campaign, while highlighting grassroots innovations and community-led environmental conservation efforts across the country. He praised several local initiatives that combine innovation with environmental protection, including the unique waste management model in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. "In Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, Garbage Cafes are being run. These are cafes where you get a full meal in exchange for plastic waste. If someone brings over 1 kilogram of plastic, they are provided with either lunch or dinner, and in place of 0.5 kilogram of plastic, they get breakfast. These cafes are run by the Ambikapur Municipal Corporation," PM Modi said, appreciating the initiative for converting waste into nourishment while promoting cleanliness. Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio programme in which he discusses important national issues with the citizens of India. The programme is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. Launched on October 3, 2014, Mann Ki Baat aims to connect with various segments of Indian society, encompassing women, the elderly, and the youth. (ANI)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Police remain committed to solving a nine-year-old homicide in which a man was shot several times on the West Side.

David Lee Hodge was gunned down near the 200 block of Columbian Avenue at 8:45 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2016. At that time police responded to Hodges home, where he was found lying on the stairs and suffering from several gunshot wounds.

Columbus city council legislation pushes for pay transparency

According to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, it is alleged that multiple suspects broke out windows to enter the residence, where Hodge and a witness both attempted to confront the suspects before shots were fired. For previous reports on this story view the video player above.

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All suspects fled the scene, police said, allegedly in a silver Nissan Rouge. Police said it is believed that Hodge, who was pronounced dead at a hospital, knew the suspects.

Nearly nine years later, the home invasion-murder of David Lee Hodge remains unsolved.

Crime Stoppers is once again asking for community assistance and offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of the person(s) responsible for this crime. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrime.org and submit your tip.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
School districts across the state are struggling to make ends meet in what is shaping up to be a challenging year in public education. The most extreme example is perhaps in Claremont, but other districts are also looking for ways to close multimillion-dollar gaps in their budgets.

The Concord Board of Education voted unanimously on Wednesday to raise property taxes by 86 cents per $1,000 of assessed value  a 6% increase from last year  for a tax rate of $15.43.

The tax hike came in response to the health insurance risk pool SchoolCare asking for a $2 million contribution from a district, professional services for pupils going over budget, adequacy aid reductions, and the citys valuation being less than anticipated.

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These four unplanned expenses, taken together, amounted to a $5 million shortfall. About two-thirds of the gap is going to be covered through the school districts rainy day trust funds, along with hiring and spending freezes.

The school board didnt want to completely deplete its reserves, however, as board members expect these problems to continue and even worsen next year. The tax rate increase is meant to bring in much of the remaining difference.

Sometimes you have to pull money aside for the rainy day. It is a rainstorm right now, but a tsunami is coming. How, as a board, do we find the balance between using money we have in the bank, and saving money so next years hit doesnt break our jaw? board member Barbara Higgins said.

Board President Pamela Walsh said the districts two most unpredictable expenses are the costs of transportation and student services, including contractors who provide additional medical or behavioral support for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).

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Transportation costs are out of our control, and theyre driven by low-income or homeless students, which goes back to the lack of affordable housing. And we have the same obligation to transport and educate students in foster care, Walsh said.

The Supreme Court says were also responsible for the bill on out-of-district placements.

Walsh was referencing a recent state Supreme Court decision that affirmed Pittsfield School District must pay for a student living in Pittsfield to attend Prospect Mountain High School in Alton.

In August, Pittsfield School Superintendent Latifah Phillips said her district faces a projected $1.8 million deficit for 2025, pending a final reconciliation of expenses and any adjustments.

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Phillips cited many of the reasons as the Concord School Board: state aid reductions, rising special education expenses, and transportation costs. Pittsfield also had to contend with a carryover shortfall from previous years.

The number of students who need special services is increasing, but Walsh said school districts havent been receiving funding for an adequate education from the state for these students because they attend charter schools.

According to Walsh, school districts are still responsible for educating charter school students and providing them with student services, but the state doesnt include them in their calculations for adequacy aid funding. She said this arrangement left Concord with an additional $500,000 in expenses this school year.

There needs to be another look at whos covering the costs of charter schools, Walsh said. If the state is going to run this allegedly separate education system, it should have to pay for it.

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Rochester to appeal its adequacy grant amount

Elsewhere in the state, the Rochester School District plans to become the first district in the state to appeal to the state Department of Education for a change in its adequacy aid grant amount.

Superintendent Jared Fulgoni said Rochesters adequacy aid grant payment for 2024-2025 came in at $24.65 million. This was $1.3 million less than the $25.95 million projected in November last year.

Fulgoni said this is the largest reduction in state adequacy across the state; the next closest district was the City of Manchester, and they only lost about $500,000 in adequacy.

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At a Rochester City Council meeting on Tuesday, the superintendent also said the November 2024 estimate was $700,000 lower than what is truly owed to the district.

This was partly due to the usual changes in enrollment, but Fulgoni said district staff also underreported students who were homeless, eligible for free or reduced-price meals (F&R), had IEPs, or were English language learners.

Moreover, some students that meet the federal definition of homelessness  ones who live in motels or are living with other families until they can find their own housing  werent being counted as homeless until recently, Fulgoni said.

Some people werent submitting their reports in the appropriate way, Fulgoni said. And so, the state went with the information they were provided; it looked, all of a sudden, like Rochester has much less of a need than it really did.

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According to Fulgoni, all these students receive one-and-three-quarters times the state adequacy rates of regular education students.

It was not an intentional cut by the state. It was a culmination of a lot of factors, Fulgoni said.

The district also stopped meeting some key thresholds for federal aid after its recent consolidation. According to the city-owned Rochester Post, two of the citys elementary schools were closed in 2023 due to the deteriorating condition of the buildings.

Problems arise from the fact that many students who qualified for free and reduced lunches were concentrated at these schools. So many students from low-income families went there, in fact, that the schools qualified for federal funding as Title I schools.

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Although those students were reassigned to the other seven elementary schools in the city, the consolidation still resulted in a net loss of schools that qualified for Title I funding, Fulgoni said.

The City of Rochesters finance manager, Mark Sullivan, said city and school officials expect state adequacy grants to be restored to their earlier levels next year, but the city council will still consider making $1.3 million in city funds available to the district to cover the shortfall at a Nov. 5 meeting.

Does that mean that, right now, (were) going to be cutting teachers, cutting services? The answer to that is no. At this exact moment, we have the funding to continue programming. But can I tell you that, in June, were going to close our books, not needing that $1.3 million? I cant tell you that, Fulgoni said.

zmarano@unionleader.com
NEED TO KNOW

A man died behind bars shortly after he was charged in connection with a 1973 Connecticut woman's killing, which had gone cold for decades

George Legere, 77, was found unresponsive in his cell at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield on the night of Oct. 3 and pronounced dead early the next day

Police said Legere fatally stabbed Couture after entering her East Hartford home through a window

A man died behind bars two weeks after he was charged in connection with the 1973 cold case murder of a Connecticut woman.

George Legere was found unresponsive in his cell at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, Conn., around 11 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, the Connecticut Department of Corrections said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. After being taken to a local hospital, he was pronounced dead shortly after midnight Saturday, Oct. 4.

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His cause of death is "not known at this time," the statement read, confirming that it remains under investigation by the Connecticut Department of Corrections and Connecticut State Police.

The Associated Press reported Legere was 77 years old.

Legere was already serving a 25-year prison sentence related to a kidnapping case when a warrant was issued for his arrest on Sept. 19 in connection with the October 1973 killing of Janet Couture in East Hartford, Conn., according to statements from the Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice and the East Hartford Police Department. He was arrested behind bars on the murder charge on Sept. 24.

East Hartford Police Dept. Janet Couture Janet Couture

Couture was home alone when Legere entered her home through a window and stabbed her to death, police allege. Couture's case went cold for decades until a major breakthrough came in 2021 when the Avon Police Department arrested Legere for kidnapping a woman in a separate 1984 cold case.

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"While Legere had also been an early suspect in Coutures murder, insufficient evidence at that time prevented charges," police said in the statement. "The Avon Police Departments arrest of Legere assisted East Hartford investigators with uncovering additional closed cases dating back to the 1960s involving Legere assaulting women, revealing disturbing similarities to Coutures murder."

The kidnapping victim, whose name was not shared, was exiting her car in her apartment building parking lot in April 1984 when she was forced back into the vehicle by Legere, per the Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice.

He blindfolded her with tape and tied her arms before driving her to an unknown location, where he then tied her to a tree, beat and raped her, authorities said.

"After several assaults, the defendant fled leaving the victim inside the vehicle," the statement said. "The victim managed to blow the horn of the vehicle to alert help. When police arrived, they found the victim still bound by the wrists and naked. She was brought to a local hospital where a sexual examination kit was completed."

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Authorities said DNA evidence collected in the 1984 case matched a sample collected by police in relation to another case Legere had been behind bars for in Massachusetts. Also, his description matched the one the victim gave to police.

East Hartford Police Dept. George Legere George Legere

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Legere was found guilty of first-degree kidnapping in May 2023 and sentenced the following month.

As far as his arrest related to Couture's killing, East Hartford Police Chief Mack S. Hawkins called it "a significant step toward justice" for her family, "who have waited 52 years for closure."

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We are committed to pursuing justice in every case, no matter how much time has passed," the chief said in a statement. "For the Couture family, this is especially significant, and we hope it brings them some measure of peace.



Read the original article on People
A Cook County Sheriff's officer's quick actions helped save a driver who was choking.

Officials shared the video taken last month in Ford Heights.

Surveillance video shows Officer Zachary Finn pull up next to a woman who had abruptly pulled over.

The woman walks out of her car and shows the office she needs help.

Officer Finn then performed the Heimlich maneuver on the woman and dislodged the item stuck in her throat.

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Paramedics responded but the woman was OK and after thanking the officer, she was able to drive herself home.

CHICAGO PROUD | Suburban woman saves choking Schaumburg High School student: 'You have to do something'
Oct. 26Stephanie Wiley found solace in baking for others after the death of her son in 2020.

Wiley lost her son to a fentanyl overdose a week after his high school graduation. Her business, Tommy's Cookie Co.  which sells homemade cookie brittle  donates a percentage of all sales to fentanyl awareness every year.

Tommy Saliamonas was a caring and enduring kid, his mom said. He loved the outdoors. He stood up for others and fought for the underdog. He was a great man, Wiley said, and the combination of him experimenting with drugs and the pandemic was a "disaster."

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Each bag of cookie brittle, a thin, crunchy treat that captures classic cookie flavors, is adorned with bright colors and a large, whimsical font heralding Tommy's name. The back of the bag features a photo of Tommy when he was 16 as well as his story.

Originally from California, Wiley was a professional photographer for 20 years. She moved to the valley in August 2020 after she married her husband, who has lived in Whitefish since the 1990s.

It was a short two months after Tommy's death, making the transition difficult, but it also gave Wiley some tools to utilize as she grieved: nature, solitude and baking.

"It's a creative way to spread a little joy," she said while sitting in a Kalispell coffee shop last month.

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Wiley began commercially baking in 2021 after a year of baking at home and giving products to friends and neighbors. At the time, the company was called Fat Kid Cookie Co., but Wiley rebranded the company to Tommy's Cookie Co. this year.

When she first started the company, Wiley shied away from naming it after Tommy due to her grief.

"But I found myself telling two different stories, one about the cookies and one about Tommy. But he's the reason behind it," Wiley said. "For me as a mom, it's important to keep his name alive."

There are four flavors of cookie brittle available. The original chocolate chip cookie brittle takes a classic flavor and adds a spicy twist. New this year, are the lemon cookie brittle and the coffee cookie brittle.

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A seasonal peppermint cookie brittle will be available starting Nov. 1. For the entire month of November, $1 from every bag of cookies sold will go to South Dakota nonprofit Emily's Hope, dedicated to removing the stigma around substance use disorder through awareness, education and prevention efforts.

"Resilience as part of grieving is very important to me. You go through this horrible tragedy and it's really easy to stop living," Wiley said. "But you can also build something. I'm building this for Tommy."

She bakes in a commercial kitchen six days a month, crafting everything herself. The bags are then sent out to specialty grocery stores across the country.

A line of cookie crumbs, a crushed version of the spicy chocolate chip cookie brittle that is great for using in pie crusts and as a dessert topping, is available for purchase online.

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In the valley, the cookie brittle can be found in Kalispell at The Neighborhood Market, The Rancher's Daughter and Forage & Floral. In Whitefish, the cookies can be purchased at Logan Health Whitefish, Whitefish Westside Market and Markus Community Market. They are also available at Packmule Liquor & Wine in Columbia Falls and Park Provisions Glacier in Coram.

As Tommy's Cookie Co. continues to grow, Wiley hopes that, in turn, so will awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.

"You're never going to get over it, it's never going to go away," she said of her grief. "But you can try to make something good out of something horrible."

To learn more or order cookies online, visit tommyscookieco.com.

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or [email protected].
Microsoft is the latest corporation to order employees back to the office.

In a memo posted to Microsoft Blog, Executive Vice President Amy Coleman laid out her reasoning for the change. Microsoft wants to return the days when employees worked with the people right down the hall. While stating the power of in-person community, the Sept. 9 memo also acknowledged that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence required an immediacy of attention that instant communication tools cannot replicate.

In the AI era, we are moving faster than ever, building world-class technology that changes how people live and work, and how organizations everywhere operate. If you reflect on our history, the most meaningful breakthroughs happen when we build on each others ideas together, in real time, Coleman wrote.

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Luckily for employees, the company is not calling for a five-day, in-person work week. Microsoft said employees who live within 50 miles of its Redmond campus will be expected on site at least three days a week by the end of February 2026. The policy will roll out in phases for other U.S. and international offices.

The announcement comes on the heels of NBCUniversal giving its employees an ultimatum. In a memo that hybrid employees must be on-site Monday through Thursday beginning Jan. 5, 2026, workers who cannot comply may discuss a voluntary exit assistance package with human resources.

We are better when we are together, NBCU Chief Operating Officer Adam Miller wrote.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 40 million people are work-from-home employees, but as more companies demand employees return to the office, the change isnt so easy. Employees at companies that tightened policies report having to rearrange childcare plans, relocate, or accept severance packages if they cannot comply.

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As more companies insist togetherness is the way to success the debate over office presence and productivity is likely to persist. Employers say they want teams together to spark innovation. Employees say the modern workplace should respect proven hybrid practices that helped many balance work and life without harming their output.

RELATED CONTENT: What Employees Need To Know About After A Retun-To-Work Policy Resulted In A Major Lawsuit
NEED TO KNOW

A Texas couple allegedly moved out of their apartment without telling the woman's 12-year-old son, abandoning him

Erica Renee Sanders and her boyfriend, Keven Dwyane Adams, allegedly left the home "completely barren" on Oct. 17 while the boy was at school

Both Sanders and Adams were arrested, and Sanders was charged with felony child abandonment

A Texas mom is accused of packing up her entire apartment while her child was at school, and moving out without telling him.

Erica Renee Sanders has been charged with felony child endangerment after allegedly moving out of the Copperas Cove apartment where she and her 12-year-old son were staying while he was at school  without informing him, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE. Local outlet KWTX was first to report the news.

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The middle schoolers principal alerted officers with the Copperas Cove Police Department to the situation around 5:18 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 17, after the 12-year-old, upon exiting the school bus to go home, saw that his family packed up and moved and left him there, according to the complaint.

The furniture and other household items that had been in the apartment when the young boy left for school that Friday morning were gone, according to a responding officers account of the events. The officer, who described the unit as empty and completely barren, said the boy confirmed that the apartment was not like that when he left.

Copperas Cove Police Department Erica Renee Sanders' mugshot Erica Renee Sanders' mugshot

While police were at the home, a neighbor told officers that Sanders and her boyfriend, Keven Dwyane Adams, had a history of kicking her son out of the apartment. One of the responding officers echoed this, stating that there was a history of contention between the couple and the child, according to the complaint.

The child also told officers that the couple had stated that they were moving at some point, but had not informed him when. Adams later told police that his girlfriend had not abandoned her son, but that she was living with him now and [her son] was not welcome in his home, the complaint states.

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Sanders said her brother  her sons uncle  was meant to pick her son up from school, but she refused to provide officers with contact information or any additional information about the man, per the complaint. Adams then told officers he was going to pick up Sanders son and bring him to his uncle, but several hours passed with no attempts to get the child. Officers also got in contact with the uncles girlfriend, who said he had no knowledge that he was supposed to retrieve the middle schooler.

Officers brought the 12-year-old to the Copperas Cove Police Department and alerted Child Protective Services (CPS), according to the complaint. Following a conversation with Sanders and Adams, CPS told the officers to release the boy to Adams, who had refused to provide the couples new address. Police had to consult water utility records to find the residence.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

Copperas Cove Police Department Keven Dwayne Adams' mugshot Keven Dwayne Adams' mugshot

Eventually, at around 9:20 p.m. the same day, Adams took custody of the boy at the home, but told one of the officers he would not take the child if he had an arrest warrant for Sanders. He also complained at length about the 12-year-old, the officer said.

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.

Both Sanders and Adams were arrested, and the case has been forwarded to the prosecutors office for review, a spokesperson for the Copperas Cove Police Department confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.

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Sanders has since been charged with intentionally abandoning a child younger than 15 without intent to return, a third-degree felony charge in Texas, according to court documents.

Read the original article on People
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches  commonly called the CREC  drew attention even before his confirmation hearings in January 2025. More recently, media reports highlighted a Pentagon prayer led by Hegseth and his pastor, Brooks Potteiger, in which they praised President Donald Trump, who they said was divinely appointed.

As a scholar of the Christian right, I have studied the CREC. Hegseths membership in a church that belongs to the CREC drew attention because prominent members of the church identify as Christian nationalists, and because of its positions on issues concerning gender, sexuality and the separation of church and state.

The CREC is most easily understood through three main parts: churches, schools and media.

What is the CREC?

The CREC church is a network of churches. It is associated with the congregation of Doug Wilson, the pastor who founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. Wilson grew up in the town, where his father was an evangelical minister.

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Wilson co-founded the CREC in 1993 and is the public figure most associated with the network of churches. Christ Church operates as the hub for Logos Schools, Canon Press and New Saint Andrews College, all located in Moscow. Logos is a set of private schools and homeschooling curriculum, Canon Press is a publishing house and media company, and New Saint Andrews College is a university, all of which were founded by Wilson and associated with Christ Church. All espouse the view that Christians are at odds with  or at war with  secular society.

While he is not Hegseths pastor, Wilson is the most influential voice in the CREC, and the two men have spoken approvingly of one another.

Pastor Douglas Wilson leads others at a protest in Moscow, Idaho. Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, CC BY-SA

As Wilson steadily grew Christ Church in Moscow, he and its members sought to spread their message by making Moscow a conservative town and establishing churches beyond it. Of his hometown, Wilson plainly states, Our desire is to make Moscow a Christian town.

The CREC doctrine is opposed to religious pluralism or political points of view that diverge from CREC theology. On its website, the CREC says that it is committed to maintaining its Reformed faith, avoiding the pitfalls of cultural relevance and political compromise that destroys our doctrinal integrity.

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CREC churches adhere to a highly patriarchal and conservative interpretation of Scripture. Wilson has said that in a sexual relationship, A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.

In a broader political sense, CREC theology includes the belief that the establishment clause of the Constitution does not require a separation of church and state. The most common reading of the establishment clause is that freedom of religion precludes the installation of a state religion or religious tests to hold state office.

The CREC broadly asserts that the government and anyone serving in it should be Christian. For Wilson and members of CREC churches, this means Christians and only Christians are qualified to hold political office in the United States.

Researcher Matthew Taylor explained in an interview with the Nashville Tennessean, They believe the church is supposed to be militant in the world, is supposed to be reforming the world, and in some ways conquering the world.

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While the CREC may not have the name recognition of some large evangelical denominations or the visibility of some megachurches, it boasts churches across the United States and internationally. The CREC website claims to have over 130 churches and parishes spread across North America, Europe, Asia and South America.

Like some other evangelical denominations, the CREC uses church planting to grow its network. Plant churches do not require a centralized governing body to ordain their founding. Instead, those interested in starting a CREC congregation contact the CREC. The CREC then provides materials and literature for people to use in their church.

CREC schools, home schools and colleges

The CRECs expansion also owes a debt to Wilsons entrepreneurship. As the church expanded, Wilson founded an associated K-12 school called Logos in September 1981, which since then has grown into a network of many schools.

In conjunction with its growth, Logos develops and sells classical Christian curriculum to private schools and home-school families through Logos Press. Classical Christian Schools aim to develop what they consider a biblical worldview. In addition to religious studies, they focus on classic texts from Greece and Rome. They have grown in popularity in recent years, especially among conservatives.

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Logos classical Christian curriculum is designed to help parents raise faithful, dangerous Christian kids who impact the world for Christ and leave craters in the world of secularism. Logos press regularly asserts, education is warfare.

According to the website, Logos schools enroll more than 2,000 students across 16 countries. Logos also has its own press that supplies the curriculum to all of these schools. On the heels of Logos success, Wilson founded the Association of Classical Christian Schools in 1993 as an accrediting body for like-minded schools. The ACCS now boast 500 schools and more than 50,000 students across the United States and around the world.

Additionally, Wilson founded New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho. New Saint Andrews is a Christian university that takes the classical Christian approach to education championed by Wilson into higher education.

The New Saint Andrews College is consistent with other CREC institutions. It considers secularism a weakness of other universities and society more generally. Its website explains: New Saint Andrews has long held a principled and clear voice, championing the truth of Gods word and ways, while so many other colleges veer into softness and secularism. The school is governed by the elders of Christ Church and does not accept federal funding.

CREC media

In addition to the Logos Press, which produces the CREC school curriculum, Wilson founded Canon Press. Canon Press produces books, podcasts, a YouTube channel and assorted merchandise including apparel and weapons, such as a flamethrower. The YouTube channel has over 100,000 followers.

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Books published by Canon include childrens picture books to manuals on masculinity. A number of books continue the theme of warfare.

The politics page of the press contains many books on Christian nationalism. Christian political theorist Stephen Wolfes book The Case for Christian Nationalism is one of the most popular among books on Christian nationalism. The website has dozens of books on Christian nationalism and media dedicated to the construction of a Christian government.

Author Joe Rigney, a fellow of theology at New Saint Andrews College and an associate pastor at Christ Church, warns of the Sin of Empathy. Rigney claims that empathizing with others is sinful because it requires compromise and makes one vulnerable in the fight against evil.

CREC controversies

Pete Hegseth at his confirmation hearing in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 14, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

As the church network has grown, it has drawn attention and scrutiny. Wilsons 1996 publication of a book positively depicting slavery and claiming slavery cultivated affection among the races drew national attention.

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Accusations of sexual abuse and the churchs handling of it have also brought national news coverage. Vices Sarah Stankorb interviewed many women who talked about a culture, especially in marriage, where sexual abuse and assault is common. The Vice reporting led to a podcast that details the accounts of survivors. In interviews, Wilson has denied any wrongdoing and said that claims of sexual abuse will be directed to the proper authorities.

Hegseths actions as secretary of defense concerning gender identity and banning trans people from serving in the military, in addition to stripping gay activist and politician Harvey Milks name from a Navy ship, have brought more attention to the CREC. I believe that given Hegseths role as secretary of defense, his affiliation with the CREC will likely remain a topic of conversation throughout the Trump presidency.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Samuel Perry, Baylor University

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Samuel Perry does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Crews battled a house fire Saturday afternoon in Youngstown.

It happened around 5 p.m. on Osborne Avenue.

When crews arrived, heavy smoke could be seen coming from the homes upstairs. The right side of the house appeared to have significant damage.

At this time, its unclear what caused the fire or if there were any injuries.

Wilson Corbisello contributed to this report.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on Sunday flagged the issues affecting youth in Punjab, including the problem of drug abuse, saying that the youth have resorted to harassing their own family members owing to substance addiction. "There are addicts now who are harassing their own family members, their own mothers and sisters," Shergill, who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, told ANI in an interview. Narrating his experience of being born and brought up in Punjab, Shergill argued that the state had lost a generation to terrorism earlier, and now it was on the verge of losing an entire generation to "narco-terrorism". "I am speaking about Punjab from a point of view of worry and concern since I was born there. I spent my childhood and did my schooling in the dark days of terrorism. We've lost relatives to terrorism. Punjab lost a generation to terrorism. True. Today, Punjab is on the verge or it is in fact losing an entire generation to narco-terrorism. It is worse than those dark days of terrorism," the BJP leader asserted. Citing the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Shergill said that 33,000 drug cases have been registered between 2022 and 2024. However, he added, many cases don't reach the police station. "In those days, there was a hope that we would combat terrorism. The social fabric of Punjab got together to defeat terrorism. However, the situation today is that nobody is left to fight terrorism. The numbers make headlines, but another aspect never makes it into the media story. 33,000 drug cases registered between 2022 and 2024. There are many cases which don't reach the police station," the Supreme Court lawyer said. "According to one study, 15.1 per cent of the Punjab population is consuming some form of the drug or another. The BSF record is 284 kgs of heroin caught last year. 294 drones were caught crossing the border. Before that, that number was 107. The drug penetration reached the school," he added. Referring to the "Zombie-like existence" remark made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court earlier, Shergill said that the youth have resorted to harassing their family members. "This is a state that was considered the land of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Bhagat Singh ka Inquilaab. That's a glorious history of Punjab. Today, the playgrounds are transformed into cremation grounds for people with an addiction. There are addicts now who are harassing their own family members, their mothers and sisters," Shergill said. "Many affected parents go to hospitals, and sometimes they have to ask in helplessness, 'Doctor, ye bach to nahi jayega? When they take them for treatment, some people are so much beyond cure. They don't want him back since the addict is harassing them at home. He is beating up his parents and his sister. The addiction is unbearable. The addiction in Punjab is not merely a supply issue; some are doing expensive drugs, some are doing cheap ones," he added. Holding the ruling parties in Punjab accountable, Shergill said that the drug issue in the state was a victim of "Tarikh-pe-tarikh" politics and has been neglected by all parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Akal Dal, or Congress. "The drug issue is a victim of tarik pe tarik politics of the successive and the consecutive state governments. Now, look at the AAP government. They made a promise and have forgotten about it. Since 2022, the AAP government has said it will make Punjab drug-free within a span of six months. Neglecting the drug issue has been an infectious disease, among state governments - be it Congress, AAP or Akali Dal," he added. Shergill argued that Punjab was once again being pushed towards the "dark era" since it stares at the issue of drug abuse, combined with migration, unemployment, and lawlessness. "Punjab is in a dangerous cocktail of migration. No employment, rampant drug abuse, lawlessness, and certain fringe elements that are there to lure these unemployed youths. It is a dangerous cocktail that pushes Punjab once again into the dark era. Unless there is a strong state government in the state, it will be difficult to revive Punjab," the BJP leader said. (ANI)
Emergency crews responded to a car fire Saturday near a mall in the northwest suburbs.

Video obtained by ABC7 Chicago showed flames and black smoke at a parking structure for a Macy's store at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg.

Schaumburg police told ABC News they responded to a report of a car fire around 2:20 p.m. on the upper level of the parking garage. A driver had suffered a medical emergency before their car caught on fire.

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A bystander, who also suffered a minor injury, helped pull the driver from their car. The driver was later taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Emergency crews appeared to respond to a large car fire Saturday at a parking structure near the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, video showed.

Three other vehicles were damaged due to the car fire, Schaumburg police said.

No further information was immediately available.

ABC News contributed to this report.
Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic arrived in Ukraine on Sunday 26 October on a two-day visit.

Source: Anusic on X (Twitter); European Pravda

Details: Anusic said he plans to meet with Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv.

"In addition to the bilateral visit, I came to Kyiv to honour the brave Ukrainian people, Ukrainian soldiers and all the victims of Russian aggression against Ukraine," he emphasised.

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He stated that Croatia will continue to provide both humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine.

"During the visit, I will also discuss support for Ukraine's defence industry and cooperation between the Croatian and Ukrainian defence sectors," Anusic added.

Background:

Last year, Croatia provided Ukraine with a DOK-ING MV-4 robotic demining system.

Throughout the full-scale war, Croatia has also supplied Mi-8 helicopters and supported the rehabilitation and recreation of Ukrainian children and soldiers.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Oct. 25Autumn in western Montana is like a warm-hued sunset. Fields turn yellow in the last throes of summer heat as golden eagles and red-tailed hawks soar far overhead. Mushrooms in every shade of brown, amber and orange sprout from the forest floor. Aspens and birches blush saffron and Rocky Mountain maples fade to auburn.

Perhaps the most telltale sign of the coming winter is the gilding of Montana's western larch forests. Pines, firs, hemlocks, cedars and spruces skip out on the annual show of autumn colors and stay evergreen year-round. Not so for the western larch, which crowns itself with golden needles every fall.

As one of only 20 deciduous conifers in the world, the western larch is a rare jewel in the plant world. The indisputable king among kings is 'Gus,' a 1,000-year-old larch on the western shore of Seeley Lake. At last tally, Gus measured 154 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 267 inches and a crown spread of 34 feet, earning him the title of National Champion for his species.

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Currently run by the University of Tennessee, the National Champion Tree Program records the largest known specimen of more than 560 tree species in North America. The trees "serve as a testament to the rich history and diversity of the American landscape," according to the program's website, forming "a bridge between the past and the future."

Gus is certainly a tribute to those ideals. His massive size is a credit, not only to his species, but to centuries of stewardship that transcended the boundaries of the natural and man-made worlds.

Gus was first ushered into existence some 1,000 years ago with the help of native Salish and Kootenai tribes that frequented the forests surrounding Missoula. Scarring on trees near Seeley Lake suggests that fires historically occurred in the area about once every 20 or 30 years, far more often than would typically be expected in such a damp cool microclimate. That data, along with the oral histories and traditions of native tribes, suggests native tribes initially set fire to the area as a means of forest management.

The frequent low-intensity fires cleared away potential wildfire fuels like leaf litter and overgrown brush, creating sunny openings where young seedlings could thrive. The flames also broke down sowed fresh nutrients back into the soil, giving Gus an over-abundance of everything he needed to grow.

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And grow he did. Up and out, adding inches to both his height and girth, despite the ample ecological dangers that threaten young seedlings. Studies show that less than 40% of western larch seedlings survive their first three seasons, with most succumbing to fungi or poor weather conditions.

The western larch seedlings that do survive grow faster than almost any other conifer in the West, allowing them to outcompete other young trees for sunlight. At 4 years old, Gus was already about a foot tall.

By the time the next prescribed fire was set, some 20-30 years later, Gus likely topped 20 feet. Armored in thick corky bark and adorned with deciduous leaves that retained more moisture than most pine needles, Gus would have been able to ride out the flames with ease. In total, Gus is believed to have weathered about 40 fires.

Arriving in the 1800s, early European settlers took note of the old-growth forests around Seeley Lake as a source of beauty and a potential timber mine. An 1880 survey of the nation's timber described forests full of "considerable larch  fine trees 2 feet in diameter or more and 100 feet high," surrounding Missoula.

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In 1907, the recently established U.S. Forest Service partnered with Big Blackfoot Milling Company for one of its first forays into the timber market. The target was about 50 million board feet of western larch, ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir on the shores of Seeley Lake.

Despite his enormous size, Gus's advanced age put him out of the running for the project. As western larches age, they become especially susceptible to heart rot, which hollows out the inside of a tree, and ring shake, which separates the wood along the tree rings. Both conditions make for low-quality lumber.

Gus's retirement was sealed in 1952, when the U.S. Forest Service dedicated 60 acres of Lolo National Forest as the Jim Girard Memorial Grove. The renowned forester began a storied career with the U.S. Forest Service as a timber cruiser in the western larch groves surrounding Seeley Lake.

While the designation helped safeguard Gus and his neighbors from timber extraction, the U.S. Forest Service's aggressive fire suppression policies were quickly teeing up new dangers. Sun-speckled larch groves transformed into thick tangles of brush. Logs nestled in a decades-dense mat of dried pine needles dried into brittle tinder. Every year, the amount of fuel in the forest grew, as did the chances of a catastrophic wildfire.

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To solve the problem, foresters turned to the native tradition of prescribed burning. In 2002, managers stripped the old-growth forest of saplings that could serve as ladder fuels and cut back some of the dense undergrowth. The following fall, officials set the grove ablaze for the first time in more than a century.

Scars from that fire are still visible on many of the western larch trees that populate Jim Girard Memorial Grove. Today, the federal agency continues to manage the stand with a combination of prescribed burning and thinning, according to public affairs specialist Kevin Farmer.

There was ample evidence of this latest chapter in the stewardship of Montana's western larch forests when I visited Jim Girard Memorial Grove on a sunlit day in late September. Walking along the narrow trail towards Gus, I spotted branches and severed logs piled beneath the canopy, waiting to be burned.

They would have to wait a few more weeks. It was still summer in spirit. The canopy overhead was lively and green, without even a blush of yellow to hint at the coming season. I squinted against the sunlight and cupped a hand over my eyes to better take in the giant before me.

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The longer I looked, the more I realized that I am not only looking at a tree. Like a sun in a miniature galaxy, Gus draws life to him. Lichens and mushrooms sprout from his beetle-gnawed bark. Birds use fallen needles to construct nests in cavities punched through his trunk. There, too, was evidence of the centuries-long communion between Gus and the human residents of this valley.

I lingered, looking up into the distant canopy and feeling small, just one more string in the web of connections that gave rise to the western larch king's 1,000-year reign.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].

Gus is the largest known western larch tree in the world, standing 154 feet tall. (Hailey Smalley/Dailey Inter Lake)

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Several trees in Jim Girard Memorial Grove bear scars from the prescribed fire set by forest officials in 2003. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)

Lichen grows on the trunk of an old-growth western larch tree in Jim Girard Memorial Grove. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)

Jim Girard Memorial Grove spans 60 acres near the inlet of the Clearwater River and Seeley Lake. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)

Slash piles from recent thinning work dot the Jim Girard Memorial Grove on September 29, 2025. (Hailey Smalley/Daily Inter Lake)
Less than two months after it was instituted, Berlin High Schools new $100-a-year student parking fee is raising complaints that have touched off a social media battle over local politics.

The new charge began in August to help balance a budget reduction that education advocates blame on the Republican-dominated town council. The council soon responded with a call to rescind the fee, saying it might not even be legal since the parking lot is town-owned property.

But the school board has said its already cut more than seven jobs from the payroll to make up for earlier reductions to the school systems initial budget proposal, and has to generate new revenue to cover the latest $50,000 loss.

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We didnt want to cut more paraprofessionals, school board President Julia Dennis said Friday.

Superintendent Brian Benigni acknowledged that this years budget had a bigger increase that usual, but still required job cuts because it didnt keep pace with rapidly rising contractual costs and insurance premiums.

After a referendum last spring narrowly rejected the budget, the finance board wanted to send it to a new vote but the town council decided to cut $50,000 instead. The school system hoped to make up $20,000 of that by charging parking fees to 200 students.

In the past several weeks, residents on both side of the matter have begun weighing in on social media, and several taxpayers along with Mayor Richard Kaczynski went to the most recent school board meeting to push for a rollback.

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I pay taxes, and my taxes cover the property. If youre going to collect revenue, you have to reimburse the town for the taxes, resident Jim Phelps told the school board.

Have you researched that from a legality issue and a liability issue? If someone gets injured on the property and youre collecting money and the towns liable, thats a conflict of interest, he asserted. If you havent researched that, youre going down a slippery slope. Are you charging the teachers?

The budget was raised by over 4%. I always vote in favor of the education budget, Jennifer DeGrandi told the board. But to charge students $100 to supplement an already generous budget is disgusting and appalling.

Kaczynski publicly read a letter to the school board from Town Manager Ryan Curley recapping the councils unanimous call for abandoning the fee.

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The councils position is based on the fact that the parking lot is town-owned property and maintained by the town, the letter said. Further, the proposed fee would not be directed toward educational purposes (since the expenses associated with the maintenance of the parking lot are borne by the town) and, as such, would be tantamount to an unlawful appropriation.

The school systems attorney has a different view and has concluded the fee is legal, according to the school system.

Kaczynski posted the letter on his Facebook page, and it has appeared on at least one Berlin-related community page followed by comments criticizing both sides. Numerous people called for abolishing the fee, but others said Kaczynski and the council are to blame for cutting the school budget in the first place. Some described the whole public debate as a ploy to generate controversy before Election Day.

How Trumpian to offer to solve a problem of his own creation. And how very Mark to ensure our schools remain underfunded, wrote Scott Maltzman.

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After another person posted What the heck this is so stupid. I could only figure that a Democrat came up with this one, Maltzman replied that only one registered Democrat serves on the school board.

High schools across the state have no single rule on parking. West Hartford, East Hartford and Coventry, for instance, charge nothing. New Britain and Thomaston high schools charge $10, Enfield charges $35, Region 10 in Burlington and Harwinton has a $60 fee and New London charges $20.

Toward the higher end of the scale, parking for students costs $75 in New Milford, $100 in South Windsor and $200 in Darien, according to online student handbooks.

Depending on enrollment and available parking, many high schools restrict on-campus to only juniors and senior, or even only to seniors. Where the space crunch is most severe, spaces are awarded by lottery.

Berlins school board is expected to discuss the parking fee issue at its Nov. 24 meeting.
A Culver City ice cream vendor who was detained by federal immigration agents earlier this year has returned home and resumed work after being granted permanent residency in the United States.

Enrique Lozano, who has lived in Los Angeles for nearly 20 years, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in June while selling ice cream along Culver Boulevard. His arrest, which left his cart abandoned in the street, prompted concern among residents who had known him for years.

It was a long, stressful time for sure, said his niece, Kimberly Noriega, who helped organize efforts to secure his release. Were so appreciative of everybody who helped. Hes very happy to be here.

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Community members raised funds, hired attorneys, and launched a campaign supporting Lozano. When he was taken away, it shook this community, said Fred Delgado, a Culver City resident.

After four months in ICE detention, Lozano was granted permanent residency through his wife, a U.S. resident, according to his attorney, Ebony Espinoza.

Police seek driver in fatal hit-and-run that killed 74-year-old woman in West L.A.

Lozano, who has no criminal record, celebrated his release by giving away free ice cream at Veterans Park to thank those who supported him.

Community members are outraged after ice cream vendor Ambrocio Lozano, known as Enrique, was detained by federal immigration agents in Culver City on June 23, 2025. (Lozano Family) Ambrocio Lozano has been selling ice cream in Culver City for nearly 20 years and is a beloved fixture in the community. (@_kimmymarie) Ambrocio Lozano is seen with a loved one. (GoFundMe) Ambrocio Lozano was taken away in Culver City by masked federal immigration agents and placed into an unmarked SUV on June 23, 2025. (@_kimmymarie) Ambrocio Lozanos abandoned ice cream cart was left on the sidewalk after he was detained by federal immigration agents in Culver City on June 23, 2025. (Lozano Family)

Local company Revolution Carts, which produces health departmentapproved vending carts, donated a new cart to help Lozano return to work. He just has to walk in, well help him pay his permit fee, and hes off and running, said Matt Geller, a representative for the company.

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Residents said Lozanos case brought the community together. The whole story is the community of Culver City came together, and this is the result  all of us are very proud of that, Delgado said.

Lozanos attorney said his next goal is to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Sara Welch, Vivian Chow, and Gene Kang contributed to this article.

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

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President Donald Trump busted out some of his signature dance moves as he was greeted by a troupe of Malaysian performers on Sunday while kicking off his Asian tour.

Video showed the 79-year-old president, fresh off a 23-hour flight from Washington, D.C., on Air Force One, pumping his fists out and dancing to the beat of drums after arriving in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Trump was seen dancing alongside performers representing Malaysias major ethnic groups, including indigenous people from Borneo, as well as Malay, Chinese, and Indian people.

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He was escorted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who was also bobbing along to the music.

Trump arrived in Malaysia to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and oversaw a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said would save millions of lives.

Trump was captured on video dancing with groups of performers after landing in Malaysia Sunday ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The five-day tour of Asia, which includes stops in Japan and South Korea, will culminate in a highly anticipated trade meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

It's not the first time the president has gone viral over his signature dance moves  pumping his fists out and bopping his head along to a beat.

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Trump has gained viral attention most notably for dancing to the Village Peoples 1978 disco hit, Y.M.C.A.

The tune, long considered central to Trumps campaign, has played at countless rallies throughout his political career, often accompanied by his infamous fist-pumping dance.

While the Village People once attempted to stop Trump from using their music, sending his legal team a cease-and-desist letter after he was filmed dancing to their hit Macho Man, they have since warmed to his use of their music. In January, the band came on stage and danced with Trump during his Make America Great Again Victory Rally held a day before Inauguration Day.

Similar to Trumps viral moments dancing to the two Village People hits, the internet had a big reaction to his moves on display in Malaysia.

Trumps dancing with the Malaysian performers went viral on social media, as his signature moves have done in the past (Getty Images)

While many social media users praised him for his energy and high spirits, with one commenting that Trump is making dancing great again, others deemed the display embarrassing and cringey.

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Wow. Donald Trump is doing his double jerk-off dance in Kuala Lumpur! How do you say cringe in Malay? one social media user wrote.

Hes like that drunk uncle who wants to be the life of the party but everyone wishes he (would) go home. How embarrassing! another user chimed in.

Another joked, Grandpa escaped the nursing home again!

Good God, this man is embarrassing, one social media user wrote.

Another user had a more scathing take, writing, Cringe is an understatement. A wannabe autocrat doing a boomer shuffle while democracy burns. History wont remember the moves. Just the collapse.
Data centers dominated politics and news in the Midvalley throughout 2025 as elected officials grappled with the new industry looking to reshape the local landscape, and next months elections are no different.

As the Nov. 4 general election looms, a dozen candidates across races for Archbald mayor, Archbald council and the Valley View School Districts Board of Education shared their stances on data centers, how they should be regulated and whether they should be allowed near homes and schools, with candidates largely agreeing the server-filled concrete structures should be kept away from residents and students.

While data centers remain a defining issue for the Midvalleys political landscape, candidates also hope to revive Business Route 6 in Eynon and Archbalds Main Street, combat blight, seek out additional funding and improve Valley Views finances.

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Contested races in the Midvalley include Archbald mayor, where Democratic incumbent Shirley Barrett faces Republican challenger Cynthia Snyder; Archbald Borough Council where five candidates vie for three seats, with Democratic candidates Councilwoman Marie Cooke Andreoli, Councilman Francis Burke and Tom Aniska competing with Republicans Louis J. Rapoch and Bruce Walder; and in the Valley View School District, incumbents Joseph A. Farrell and Tom Owen, both of whom cross-filed and won Democratic and Republican nominations, will compete with newcomer Julie Budd-Kulenich, who ran as an independent and earned a spot on the ballot via nomination papers, as they seek two seats in the districts Region 1, which represents Archbald. In Blakely, incumbent Joseph F. Mondak will face Democrat Jim Rodway to represent Region 2 on the school board. Both Rodway and Mondak cross-filed under the Democratic and Republican parties for the primaries in May, with Rodway securing the Democratic nomination and Mondak winning the Republican nomination, according to certified primary election results.

In Archbald, a proposed data center zoning amendment died on the table during an Oct. 3 special meeting when a motion to consider the ordinance failed to receive a second, preventing it from even coming to a vote. Although it placed a slew of restrictions on data centers, the ordinance received significant opposition from residents, who urged council to place even more safeguards while reducing the locations it planned to allow data centers from four to one. Residents subsequently petitioned the borough to consider a new zoning amendment for data centers that incorporates their concerns.

That legislative process means Archbalds future council members could have a hand in shaping the boroughs future with data centers in 2026, while school directors could eventually be tasked with negotiating host agreements involving data centers and Valley View.

Council members, mayors and school directors serve four-year terms.

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Archbald mayor

As she seeks her fourth term as mayor, which follows six years on borough council, Shirley Barrett, 69, who retired as the owner of Barretts Pub on Main Street after 33 years, sought reelection because she loves her town and takes pride in what she does, hoping to continue her work with the Police Department as it seeks accreditation while also continuing her efforts to beautify Archbald without using tax dollars, including previously raising more than $95,000 for Christmas lights.

I love my borough, she said. I take pride in what I do.

Shirley Barrett (SUBMITTED)

Barrett considers developers coming into Archbald looking for land to develop data centers to be the most important issue facing the town. She wishes data centers were never coming to Archbald but acknowledges that, legally, the borough has to allow them. Fearing the unknown, Barrett said data centers have to be zoned correctly in industrial areas, not near homes. She especially opposes a proposed, principally permitted data center on the Eynon Jermyn Road at the site of the Highway Auto Parts junkyard, which is near the Valley View School District. She also criticized the pending sale of the Valley View Estates mobile home park on the Eynon Jermyn Road to make way for another data center project.

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Data centers came in so fast, and Barrett said she learned about them by listening to borough council, residents and Archbalds zoning officer.

Council has to sit down and listen to what the residents want and come up with a good conclusion for everybody on it  whats good for the whole borough, Barrett said.

Barrett prioritizes moving the borough in a more positive direction and figuring out what type of additional training or resources Archbalds police, firefighters and paramedics would need responding to emergencies at data centers. She also wants to address issues in town with dilapidated low-income rentals.

Challenging Barrett, Cynthia Snyder, 41, a full-time paraprofessional at the Valley View Middle School and a part-time real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Town & Country in Clarks Summit, emphasized the need for change and new leadership in Archbald. She advocated for transparency, community involvement and more say from residents in the future of their town.

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I believe its time for a new voice that listens, includes everyone and works for progress, said Snyder, who is the volunteer cheer coordinator for the Valley View Junior Cougars and has been volunteering with them for 20 years.Cynthia Snyder (SUBMITTED)

Snyder wants to focus on supporting small businesses in Archbald, revitalizing local storefronts instead of chasing large corporations that dont benefit us residents, encouraging progress without losing Archbalds small-town charm and promoting possible grant opportunities for local entrepreneurs looking to come to Archbald. Addressing the mayors role overseeing the police department, Snyder said she believes strongly in public safety and strong community relationships; she promotes community policing with a focus on crime prevention. She said she wants to give police the resources they need to do their jobs well, and residents should also have confidence their voices are heard and rights are protected.

Archbald needs to ensure its zoning laws protect residents, neighborhoods and the environment  not just outside developers, Snyder said. There are currently limited restrictions in Archbald for data centers and their noise, light, water and energy use, she said.

Data centers should be regulated away from residential areas and schools, and she wants to ensure data centers wont increase the cost of electricity or water bills in Archbald.

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Im hoping I can work with council and get better zoning laws written out for our residents, and for what the residents want, she said.

Archbald council

Marie Cooke Andreoli, 74, a retired psychology professor with a Ph.D. in psychology who spent 27 years at Keystone College, said she has loved her time on council and believes she has accomplished a lot since was appointed in July 2024 to serve the remainder of former Councilman Brian Gilgallons unexpired term following his resignation, including finishing the boroughs first-ever employee manual. Andreoli pointed to the work she has put into the borough since her appointment, including attending 96 meetings so far in 2025 and earning 85 credits through Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs webinars.Marie Cooke Andreoli (SUBMITTED)

Blight is one of the biggest issues in Archbald, especially on Main Street, said Andreoli, who previously served on the Valley View School Board from 1994 to 1998. While Archbald has numerous parks, it lacks anything for senior citizens, Andreoli said, advocating for the borough to build a senior center, potentially somewhere on Main Street. She also supports bringing more commerce to Archbald, and if elected, she wants to prioritize pursuing more grants to support the town.

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She noted Archbalds current zoning ordinance included language for data centers while nobody really knew what they were, and she described the current efforts to regulate them through zoning.

Do I want a data center on every corner? No, I dont, but Im sure there are places in Archbald that we can put them without disturbing our neighborhoods, she said. Will they help us? Maybe financially they will help us, but I just think we have to have lots of conditions on them.

She would seek out host agreements with data centers to have them as good neighbors and help the borough grow.

As he seeks his first time on borough council, Tom Aniska, 62, a Democrat who also won a Republican nomination through write-ins, believes it is a critical time in Archbald with new housing developments coming in and economic growth in the borough.

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Tom Aniska (SUBMITTED)

Aniska, a retired sales rep and district manager after 32 years in the pharmaceutical industry, emphasized that data centers are Archbalds most pressing issue. He said he wants to ensure the best outcome for Archbald under its current protections for the already-proposed data centers while setting up more protection against future ones. He pointed to potential impacts on infrastructure, water and electricity.

He is against data centers, 1,000%, anywhere near a residential area. They also shouldnt be anywhere that could impact children, he said. If he wins, Aniska wants to better define data centers, distinguish between an individual data center and a data center campus, ensure developers pay for infrastructure costs, and look at zoning ordinances, utility use, and environmental impacts to decide on where to allow data centers. He also supports limiting them to one location in town, questioning why the borough wanted to allow them in four different areas.

Aniska, who served on the Valley View School Board from 2007 to 2011, does not want data centers in Archbald, but if they move forward, they should be conditional uses and the borough should have community benefit agreements with them, he said.

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If we cant stop these, I think there needs to be a plan in place to make something positive come out of these, he said.

He also prioritizes economic growth, small businesses, identifying and combating blight, and revitalizing both downtown Archbald and the borough as a whole.

Looking for his third term on council, Francis Burke, 78, a U.S. Navy veteran and retired United States Postal Service worker of 40 years, emphasized his love of the people of Archbald and his work in the town, including organizing annual fishing derbies and involvement with the Santa Train.

The top priorities (are) the children of the neighborhood and people in the community, Burke said.

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Francis Burke (SUBMITTED)

He wants to improve playgrounds in the borough and just make them smile, he said of kids in the borough.

Burke declined to share his stance on data centers and their proximity to schools and residents in Archbald because council has yet to vote on any legislation, only saying, I just want to protect the people of Archbald.

As a longtime borough business owner at the Louis J. Rapoch Funeral Home, Louis J. Rapoch, 72, decided to run for office after semi-retiring from his funeral home because nothing is happening except for data centers, which is not a good fit in Archbald. He contends there should be some Republican opposition to Democrats on council.

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Louis J. Rapoch (SUBMITTED)

Rapoch, who served on Archbalds planning commission for four years in the 1980s and spent six months appointed to council around 1990, wants to bring more business to Business Route 6, which is currently dead, he said. The Burlington Plaza is half-empty, Sugarmans is dead, and theyve lost restaurants along the road, he said. Main Street is also dead and needs to be cleaned up, he said.

What can we do to bring people here? Rapoch said. We need our government to get out and propose these things and say, We would like you to come here.

He floated tax breaks as an incentive to bring in businesses like Wawa, and he supports giving borough police everything and anything they need.

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Rapoch commended residents who petitioned the borough to revisit its data center zoning with additional safeguards and restrictions, explaining he is against data centers and totally against building them near homes and schools.

Data centers should be on the mountain, away from any residents or business where they are out of sight, he said.

The borough should not allow data centers in four areas like council previously considered, Rapoch said. Instead, Archbald should allow them in one location and assess their impact on the town, impact on the environment and what they will give the borough, he said.

Bruce Walder, 61, who is a heavy equipment operator and project manager with Powells Excavating, said he fell in love with Archbald after coming to the town in 2005 to work with his friend, developer Ken Powell, to develop the Highlands at Archbald residential development off the Eynon Jermyn Road, including working on site plan development and infrastructure, recently installing nearly 3,000 feet of water main for a new subdivision.Bruce Walder (SUBMITTED)

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Speaking to older people buying townhouses in Archbald, Walder hears stories about residents leaving the area for employment and then returning for their golden years.

He believes theres opportunity to create jobs for younger people to stay in Archbald. To do that, Walder wants to explore stimulating business growth along Business Route 6, and if elected, working with council members to come up with a plan. Citing his previous experience as the roadmaster in Tunkhannock Twp. for about five years, Walder also would address borough streets, which he said he often hears residents complain about, by looking at ways to keep costs down while improving the infrastructure. He also served on Tunkhannock Twp.s zoning hearing board and worked as its emergency management coordinator.

In the short-term, data centers are his top priority, though other priorities include infrastructure, quality of life and the boroughs green areas, waterways and parks. He believes data centers should only be permitted in industrial areas of town.

Pointing to pros and cons of the facilities, Walder considers noise to be his biggest concern, and Archbald needs a long-term plan if it receives money from data centers, rather than treating it like a windfall, he said.

If were going to get a data center, it has to be worth it, he said. There has to be tremendous worth for each resident of Archbald.

Valley View Region 1 (Archbald)

As a newly retired special education teacher at Valley View, Julie Budd-Kulenich, 57, believes its time for change and wants to give back to the district what I got out of the district, bringing the perspective of a Valley View teacher who was in the trenches for 33 years.

I have a sense of what the teachers need, what the students need, and I think that greatly is going to help the kids in the long run, Budd-Kulenich said.

Julie Budd-Kulenich (SUBMITTED)

Money is a major issue in Valley View, and while the district always tries to keep taxes down as much as possible, children need to be put first, she said.

When you have kids in school (and) theres not books for every kid, theres something wrong somewhere, she said. That needs to change.

Ensuring children have all the supplies they need while also listening to teachers  who are very frustrated  are her top priorities, she said. If elected, Budd-Kulenich wants to be visible in schools, walking through them and talking to teachers about what they need while also considering budgetary restraints.

She contends Archbald doesnt need data centers, nor the noise or landscape decimation that comes with them. They should be placed as far from populations as possible where they arent going to interfere with anyone, she said, worrying about how data centers on the Eynon Jermyn Road would affect students nearby at recess, the nearby Staback Park, Archbald residents at the Valley View Estates mobile home park who will be displaced by data centers, and residents in the Highlands at Archbald who will have a data center next door.

Joseph A. Farrell, 65, who was first elected to the board in December 2019 to fill late Director Ellen Nielsens unexpired term, and then ran unopposed in 2021, said he spent his life involved in public service, initially working as a part-time Archbald police officer and eventually retiring from the Pennsylvania State Police as a sergeant and the station commander at the Gibson barracks following a 25-year career. He now works for the U.S. Marshals Service providing security at Scrantons federal courthouse.

As an officer, Farrell said he was an advocate for victims, and serving on a school board is also advocacy.

Youre an advocate for the children in the district that dont have a voice, but they need somebody to look out in their best interest, he said.

Joseph A. Farrell (SUBMITTED)

Finances are the biggest issue in Valley View, compounded by Pennsylvanias budget impasse, Farrell said, prioritizing fiscal responsibility and fair funding. Past administrations and school boards put the district in a financial bind by not raising taxes for extended periods, he said. The district now has no money at all for capital improvements, Farrell said, hoping Lackawanna Countys reassessment will bring in more funds.

The district is also obligated to pay significantly more for charter school students than it costs to educate its own students  about $8,500 per student  and Farrell contends Valley View should only be obligated to pay what it costs to educate a student within the district.

Valley View is also unable to prepare long-term plans because the towns within the district dont provide them with plans to work with, Farrell said.

Data centers serve no value to the community or school, Farrell said, calling funds from them blood money. Valley View has had to close schools in Archbald due to insufficient water pressure, and he worried if nearby data centers would exacerbate it.

Having served the past 24 years on the Valley View School Board, Tom Owen, 72, the retired former owner of Bear Owen Paving Company, said he is well educated on public education, and although he wasnt planning to run again, he felt he had more to offer Valley View.

The most important thing that everyone out there should know is the state of Pennsylvania is failing public education, Owen said. Its been that way for a while.

Tom Owen (SUBMITTED)

The state places demands on schools without giving them the funding to back it up, leaving school officials with no alternative except taxpayers, which isnt fair, he said.

Owen criticized how much the district has to pay into retirement contributions under the state, as well as charter school costs, explaining Valley View paid more than $2 million last year for approximately 130 students to attend charter schools.

As a result, despite having a great staff, Valley View has some of the lowest-paid teachers in the area, and they deserve more, Owen said. He wants to prioritize working with state legislators to address things like charter school costs, in addition to school safety and staying on top of programs to address bullying and suicide prevention.

If data centers are coming to Archbald, they need to make sure everything is done right, Owen said. Officials have to ensure the infrastructure can handle them, and they need information on how they will be supplied with water, drainage, noise and other concerns, he said. He supports seeking impact fees to benefit the school district and town but worried about the impact from data centers on nearby homes and the schools.

Valley View Region 2 (Blakely)

Hoping for his fifth term on the school board, Joseph F. Mondak, 66, a lead IT system administrator in configuration management for UPS, said he chose to run again because he cares deeply about the future of his community and the children who will shape it.

Its about standing up for our teachers, supporting the families, making thoughtful, logical decisions that will help our school progress, Mondak said.

Joseph F. Mondak (SUBMITTED)

Cyber charter schools are a major concern, Mondak said, citing the $2 million that Valley View pays for about 130 students to attend the schools. However, they arent held to the same standards as public schools, he said, questioning how those students would measure up to state standards. He emphasized getting fair funding at Valley View while making sure children are educated to the same standards at charter schools.

Mondak, who is on the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna Countys board of directors, also pointed to the districts employee retirement contributions, health care costs rising 6% to 10% annually and Pennsylvanias teacher shortage, which he called scary. He prioritizes school safety, going after cyber charter school funding, supporting after-school programs, staff development and keeping education at the forefront. As technology grows exponentially, Mondak also supports early digital literacy with more STEM programs.

With an industrial park two miles from Blakely, Mondak said data centers shouldnt be built near schools or homes. He supports bringing in experts to look at items like environmental impacts with impact studies, energy sourcing, backup power generation, water and cooling systems. He also doesnt want the region to lose out on the possibility of stepping into the future a little bit.

Jim Rodway, 61, the director of the Community Service Program for the Lackawanna County District Attorneys Office, said he decided to run for school board after hearing early this year that Mondak didnt plan to run again.

Ive always been involved with politics. I helped a lot of people get elected, Rodway said. Maybe its my turn to step up and do my civic duty.

Jim Rodway (SUBMITTED)

With two children who graduated from Valley View and his wife having worked in the district for 32 years, Rodway said the districts biggest problem is that its losing good teachers  an issue he believes is financial. Valley Views contract is a little bit on the lower scale compared to other districts, he said. While he acknowledged money is an issue, he wants to try to work on the budget to see whats available.

If elected, his top priorities would be figuring out why teachers are leaving and rectifying it, while also ensuring programs dont go away for students. The state needs to contribute more funding, he said, noting Gov. Josh Shapiros proposed budget enhances the public school budget. With a background in politics, Rodway said he has good relationships with local state legislators to seek out more grant funds.

Addressing data centers, Rodway acknowledged working with local data center developer Jim Marzolino to do marketing. Marozlino is involved with two data center projects on the Eynon Jermyn Road in Archbald and a now-withdrawn proposal to build up to four data center buildings in Blakely. Marzolino, who is the president of Kriger Construction, asked him to help set up meetings with local elected officials for the data centers, and as a borough resident, Rodway said he arranged meetings with Blakely council members in small groups. He is also assisting Marzolino with his plans to build four Wawas in Lackawanna County.

Rodway said he isnt opposed to data centers, and theyre a good thing if theyre in the right areas.

The farther away they could be from residential, the better, if the land permits, he said.

With projects likely moving forward in Archbald and Jessup, Rodway believes his familiarity with everyone involved will make sure Valley View gets a good deal with a host agreement.

Contested Mid/Upvalley council races

Elsewhere in the Midvalley and Upvalley, voters will select their new municipal leaders in contested council races in Jermyn, Jessup, Olyphant and Throop.

Jermyn

In Jermyn, two incumbents will face a challenger as they vie for two four-year terms on borough council, while two other incumbents will likely retain their seats running unopposed for two two-year unexpired terms in a special election. Incumbents Jeff Morcom, who secured both Democratic and Republican write-in nominations in May despite not appearing on the ballot, and Democrat Bobbiann Davis will contend with Douglas Bowman, who also earned a Republican write-in nomination during the primaries despite not being on the ballot.

In an uncontested race for two two-year terms, Democratic incumbents Frank Kulick and Kevin Napoli have a straight shot to serving again. Both men filed special election nomination papers for the seats.

Jessup

Five candidates, including three incumbents, will contend for four council seats in Jessup. Council members Gregg Betti, Thomas J. Fiorelli III and Roberta Pitoniak Galati seek to retain their seats against challengers Robbie Martin and Ronald Richard Kordish. All five candidates ran on the Democratic ticket in May, with Betti, Fiorelli and Martin all securing Democratic nominations along with Republican write-in nominations. Kordish narrowly edged out Galati by 11 votes in May to secure a Democratic nomination with 505 votes to her 494, according to certified election results, but Galati earned enough Republican write-in votes to appear on the November ballot.

Olyphant

Olyphant will have a new face on council as two incumbents and two challengers contend for three council seats. Democratic incumbents James Baldan and Joseph Collarini, will face Democrat Eric Hartshorn and Republican Dave Mitchko. Both Collarini and Hartshorn earned Republican write-in nominations.

Throop

With six candidates facing off for four council seats, three incumbents and three challengers will compete in Throop in November. Those candidates are: Democratic incumbents Matthew Chorba, Richard Kucharski and Vince Tanana, who also secured a Republican write-in nomination, along with challengers Republican Jeanine Chomko Capman, Democrat Melissa Lokuta-Fazio and John James Richardson, who is running under the Rough and Ready party after securing a spot on the ballot through nomination papers.

Jeff Horvath, staff writer, contributed to this report.
Join Davenport Public Library on Thursday, October 30 at the Eastern Branch for a book talk and signing with author M. Wolff, a highly decorated professor of Religion and Womens, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at Augustana College.

Wolffs book is titled Body Problems: What Intersex Priest Sally Gross Teaches Us About Embodiment, Justice, and Belonging. It was published in August 2025, and it is their first book.

After their talk, The Atlas Collective bookstore will sell copies of Body Problems, and Wolff will be available for signings.

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In Body Problems, Wolff offers groundbreaking insight into Sally Gross, a South African intersex priest and activist during the apartheid era whose body was continuously policed and politicized. Body Problems is a timely and expansive contribution to ongoing discourses on the medical, religious, and political construction of bodies.

Registration is appreciated but not required. To register, visit www.davenportlibrary.com.

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

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More people headed to the polls across New York City on Sunday for day two of in-person early voting.

Nearly 165,000 voters cast their ballots since for early voting began on Saturday.

2025 General Election- Early Voting

Day 2 Complete!

Manhattan: 49,191

Bronx: 14,225

Brooklyn: 49,432

Queens: 38,791

Staten Island: 12,551

Total # Early Voting Check-Ins: 164,190*

*Unofficial & cumulative as of close of polls  NYC Board of Elections (@BOENYC) October 26, 2025

New Yorkers are choosing between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat on the ballot as an independent. The incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, is also on the ballot but dropped out of the race last month and recently threw his support behind Cuomo.

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Sliwa was among those who hit the polls on day one of early voting, casting his ballot in Manhattan.

With Election Day just nine days away, the candidates are making their final cases to New Yorkers on why they should lead the city.

Cuomo is currently in the hot seat after he was accused of stoking hate after an interview with radio host Sid Rosenberg, in which he questioned Mamdani's ability to lead in the event of another 9/11 terror attack.

Both candidates speaking out about the issue over the weekend.

"Andrew Cuomo is allergic to apologizing," Mamdani said. "He views Muslims more as props than he does people in this city that he is supposed to serve."

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"He claims that he is the victim, the victim of attacks because he is a Muslim. Nothing could be further of the truth," Cuomo said.

A packed house at Forest Hills Stadium cheered for Zohran Mamdani and like-minded left-leaning powerful Democrats...

"I stand before you tonight as the nominee of a Democratic party reinvigorated in its pursuit of making government work for everyone, not just the wealthy and the well-connected," said Mamdani.

"This is America, New York City, don't let them tell you any different," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

The crowd also heard from Governor Kathy Hochul, who promised to work with Mamdani despite their differences and praised his campaign style.

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Oct. 26 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1825, the Erie Canal, the United States' first man-made waterway, was opened, linking the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean via the Hudson River. The 500-mile waterway officially joined the National Park Service in 2000 as the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

In 1881, the storied gunfight at the O.K. Corral occurred in Tombstone, Ariz.

In 1920, the lord mayor of Cork, Ireland, Terence McSwiney, demanding independence for Ireland, died after a 2 1/2-month hunger strike in a British prison cell.

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In 1942, Allied troops moving through the Egyptian front captured 1,450 Axis prisoners, routed Nazi tanks in the armored clash and pulverized the enemy line.

U.S. service members take part in a memorial service on the flight deck of the USS Suwannee on October 29, 1944. On October 26, 1944, after four days of furious fighting, the World War II battle of Leyte Gulf, largest air-naval clash in history, ended with a decisive U.S. victory over the Japanese. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy

In 1944, after four days of furious fighting, the World War II battle of Leyte Gulf, largest air-naval clash in history, ended with a decisive U.S. victory over the Japanese.

File Photo by US Navy/UPI

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy (C) gets doused with Gatorade after hitting a walk-off solo home run during the 18th inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the MLB 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on October 26, 2018. It was the longest World Series game in terms of time in history. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

In 1951, British voters placed Winston Churchill's Conservative Party at the helm of government today after six years of socialism.

In 1979, South Korean President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by the director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency.

President Donald Trump signs a presidential memorandum declaring the opioid crisis a public health emergency in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 26, 2017. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI

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In 1984, doctors in California performed the first baboon-to-human heart transplant in a 14-day-old girl, known as Baby Fae. The baby died of heart failure Nov. 15.

In 1990, District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $5,000 for his conviction on misdemeanor drug charges. Barry became mayor again in 1995.

Italian prisoners of war captured in the El Alamein area entering the "cage" preceeded by their guard. Picture taken ca. Nov. 1942. File Photo courtesy of OWI

File Photo by Bruce Young/UPI

In 1994, Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty at a desert site along the Israeli-Jordanian border.

Palestinian children watch masked members of the Islamic Jihad Movement march during a rally October 31, 2003 in Beit Lahiya in north Gaza. About 3,000 supporters held a gathering marking the eighth anniversary of the assassination of the Islamic Jihad Movement founder Fathi Shaqaqi in Malta on October 26, 1995. File Photo by Ismael Mohamad/UPI

In 1998, the presidents of Ecuador and Peru signed a peace treaty, ending a decades-long border dispute.

In 2002, a four-day Moscow hostage crisis came to a bloody end after Russian soldiers stormed a theater where Chechen rebels had held 700 people for ransom. Ninety hostages and 50 rebels were killed.

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In 2010, GlaxoSmithKline, the British drug manufacturer, agreed to settle criminal and civil complaints for $750 million, stemming from accusations of knowingly selling drugs with questionable safety standards.

In 2015, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Afghanistan, killing nearly 400 people there and in India and Pakistan.

In 2017, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency.

In 2018, the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers began what would become the longest World Series game both in time (7 hours, 20 minutes) and number of innings (18). The Angeles won 3-2 to put the series at 2-1, but the Red Sox won the series two days later.

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In 2022, protesters marked the 40-day mourning period for Mahsa Amini, who died September 16, 2022, after Iranian morality police arrested her for not having her hair covered according to Islamic law. Police cracked down on protests, which continued into 2023, resulting in hundreds of deaths and injuries, and tens of thousands of arrests.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday conducted a roadshow in support of AAP candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu for the upcoming assembly bypoll for the Tarn Taran constituency. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia was also present during the roadshow. CM Bhagwant Mann said, "We are getting a very good response. People will talk about us. The opposition party is just moving around; they can't do anything else. After 14th November, the opposition will not make a comeback. Aam Aadmi Party candidate will win again." Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday appealed to the people of Tarn Taran to vote for the Congress for peace, progress and prosperity in the state. Addressing an impressive public meeting in support of Karanbir Singh Burj, the party candidate for the Tarn Taran by-election here today, Warring cautioned people against any emotional exploitation. He pointed out that now the people of Punjab have seen the rule and working of all the three governments; that of the Congress, the Akali-BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. "You are in the best position to make the right choice", he told people, adding, "it is the Congress which takes along all sections of people and works for peace, progress and prosperity for everyone". The PCC president asserted that the days of the AAP government in Punjab were numbered as it was now on its last leg. Besides, he added, the party was in such a pitiable condition that it had to outsource its candidate from the Akali Dal, which has already been rejected by the people of Punjab. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 6 announced that by-elections for eight assembly constituencies across seven states and Union Territories will take place on November 11. The counting of votes for the by-election is scheduled for November 14. These by-elections are being held to fill vacancies caused by various reasons such as resignations, deaths, or disqualifications. The by-elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam and Nagrota districts, Rajasthan's Anta district, Jharkhand's Ghatshila district, Telangana's Jubilee Hills district, Punjab's Tarn Taran district, Mizoram's Dampa district, and Odisha's Nuapada district. (ANI)
When do clocks fall back? As daylight saving time 2025 ends, we gain an extra hour of sleep.

Next weekend, it will be time to change any of your clocks that dont automatically adjust.

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Just a couple of days after Halloween, most of the US will be moving the clocks backward one hour. Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on Nov. 2, with the time officially changing at 2 a.m.

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Why do we use this system of spring forward and fall back when it comes to our clocks?

Heres a look at the history of DST:

How did it get started?

We can blame New Zealand entomologist George Hudson for daylight saving time. He wanted extra hours after work to go bug hunting, according to National Geographic, so he came up with the idea of just moving the hands on the clock.

William Willett, who is the great-great-grandfather of the band Coldplays Chris Martin, arrived at the same idea a few years later and proposed moving the clock forward in the spring and back in the fall in his work, British Summer Time.

Willetts idea was picked up a few years later by the Germans, who used it during World War I as a way to save on coal use. Other countries would soon follow suit, most with the idea that it would be a cost-saving measure.

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President Woodrow Wilson agreed that DST was a good idea and, in 1918, he signed legislation that would shift the country to the new time system.

Who uses DST?

While most of the country and about 40% of the world use DST, there are some exceptions. Arizona, Hawaii and several U.S. territories dont fall back or spring forward with DST.

Arizona has not observed DST since 1967, when they filed for an exemption under the DST exemption statute. Hawaii, too, opted out under that exemption. The state has never used DST.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 mandates the country use daylight saving time but allows states to exempt themselves from the practice and stay on standard time  the local time in a region when DST is not in use.

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While states can stay on standard time, they cannot permanently stay on DST.

Confused? Youre in good company. Full-time DST would require an act of Congress to make a change.

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Heres what to know about the twice-yearly ritual.

How the body reacts to light

The brain has a master clock that is set by exposure to sunlight and darkness. This circadian rhythm is a roughly 24-hour cycle that determines when we become sleepy and when were more alert. The patterns change with age, one reason that early-to-rise youngsters evolve into hard-to-wake teens.

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Morning light resets the rhythm. By evening, levels of a hormone called melatonin begin to surge, triggering drowsiness. Too much light in the evening  that extra hour from daylight saving time  delays that surge and the cycle gets out of sync.

And that circadian clock affects more than sleep, also influencing things like heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones and metabolism.

How do time changes affect sleep?

Even an hour change on the clock can throw off sleep schedules  because even though the clocks change, work and school start times stay the same.

Thats a problem because so many people are already sleep deprived. About 1 in 3 U.S. adults sleep less than the recommended seven-plus hours nightly, and more than half of U.S. teens dont get the recommended eight-plus hours on weeknights.

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Sleep deprivation is linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, obesity and numerous other problems.

How to prepare for the time change

Some people try to prepare for a time change jolt by changing their bed times little by little in the days before the change. There are ways to ease the adjustment, including getting more sunshine to help reset your circadian rhythm for healthful sleep.

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Will the U.S. ever get rid of the time change?

Lawmakers occasionally propose getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the Sunshine Protection Act, proposes making daylight saving time permanent. Health experts say the lawmakers have it backward  standard time should be made permanent.

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Nineteen states, including Georgia, have enacted legislation to provide for year-round daylight saving time if Congress were to enact a bill allowing such a change.

The U.S. territories of the American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands observe permanent standard time.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
RAY BROOK  New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide.

Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, forest rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people from across New York State.

Forest Rangers responded to several calls recently.

Essex County

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 Town of North Elba Wilderness Rescue: The Marcy Dam caretaker contacted Ray Brook Dispatch about a hiker experiencing symptoms of dehydration Oct. 11 at 5:45 p.m.

Rangers Duchene and R. Praczkajlo reached the 52-year-old from Yonkers at 7:35 p.m.

They made it to the trailhead where Lake Placid EMS then transported the patient to the hospital at 8:05 p.m.

 Town of Keene Valley Wilderness Rescue: Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker reporting their parent lost consciousness and then came to on the Big Slide trail Oct. 12 at 12:25 p.m.

Forest Ranger R. Praczkajlo called the hiker and found out the 56-year-old from New Jersey was diabetic.

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Ranger Praczkajlo met the pair on the trail and assisted them back to the trailhead. The hiker refused further medical care.

 Town of Keene Wilderness Search: Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a concerned mother who stated her daughter was overdue from hiking Mount Marcy and may not have a light source on Oct. 14 at 9:30 p.m.

Forest Rangers Foutch, Rooney and Snye responded, locating the 18-year-olds vehicle at the Mount Van Hoevenberg Complex and then searched the trails from the trailhead and the Adirondak Loj to Marcy Dam at 1:30 a.m.

Ranger Rooney located the hiker from Potsdam on the Van Ho Mountain trail at 6 a.m., in good health but without an operational light source. Ranger Rooney escorted the hiker out of the woods and to their vehicle.

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 Town of Keene Training: Forest Rangers passed their reaccreditation with the Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) for technical rope rescue certification Oct. 17, 13.

MRA was established in 1959, making it the oldest search and rescue association in the country. Rangers use technical skills learned on difficult high- and low-angle rope rescues.

 Town of North Elba Wilderness Search: Forest Rangers Corey and Quinn responded to a call for three hikers lost off trail near Mount Van Hoevenberg on Oct. 17 at 8:21 p.m.

The hikers were attempting to hike Cascade Mountain but got off trail, with phones as their only light source.

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Rangers located the three hikers and escorted them to the trailhead at 10:55 p.m.

Rangers always recommend traveling with headlamps and extra batteries.

 Town of Keene Wilderness Search: Ray Brook Dispatch received a call from a hiker who became separated from their spouse while hiking back to Adirondak Loj from Mount Marcy on Oct. 17 at 11:01 p.m.

Rangers located the 67-year-old from Connecticut and reunited the couple at 11:44 p.m., resources were clear at 12:42 a.m.
This story was produced by Spotlight Delaware as part of a partnership with Delaware Online/The News Journal. For more about Spotlight Delaware, visit www.spotlightdelaware.org.

A state board charged with examining opioid overdoses found that expanding treatment options, police officer training and shelter access could reduce the number of deaths for Delawareans battling mental illnesses along with addiction.

The Delaware Overdose Fatality Review Commission, which does not have public meetings, released its annual report on Oct. 21, reviewing a sample of 103 overdoses from 2022 to create recommendations for how state leaders can best address opioid deaths in the First State.

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The state saw 338 fatal drug overdoses last year, a roughly 36% decrease compared to 2023. For years, Delaware ranked as one of the hardest-hit states in the nation on a per-capita basis, but the figures represent a second straight year of decreases and the lowest annual total since 2017.

In the commissions report, it conceded its sample is not perfect, and that there were obstacles in securing more complete data. One of those obstacles, the report said, was securing data from the states largest hospital.

Notably, data from ChristianaCare was unavailable for this report and the 2022 dataset, which further limits the completeness of the overall information, the report said.

The commissions director, Julia Lawes, said in an email the hospital did provide the data, but not in a timely manner due to a third-party service provider. However, Lawes said the issue had been addressed and measures were put in place to prevent it from happening in the future.

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The report also said there were 58 people excluded from the data because the commission was only able to obtain their death certificates and limited information about their circumstances. The report speculates this could mean these individuals did not interact with various medical providers or law enforcement prior to their deaths.

According to the report, the average person who died from an overdose in 2022 was a 42-year-old white male, and most people had high school diplomas and worked in construction.

The data also said that nearly 92% of people who died of a fatal overdose had fentanyl in their systems.

What did the commission recommend?

One of the commissions first recommendations was that Delaware providers expand treatment options and improve follow-ups for those battling mental illnesses as well as addiction.

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The report said services in the state can be fragmented and disjointed, and it recommends expanding the continuum of care to better serve patients. When asked about whether that meant stronger communication between providers or consolidating their services, Lawes said it could be both.

Alexia Rossignoli of the Latin American Community Center's Prevention Promoters programming attends the Overdose Awareness Day, DE event held by Face the Facts Delaware at Delcastle Recreational Park in Milltown on Sept. 13, 2025. The event brings the community and resource providers together.

Ultimately, wed love to see improved care coordination across the board throughout the state, so people can more easily access the full range of services they need, Lawes said.

Another recommendation from the commission includes improving training for law enforcement when it comes to interacting with those who may be struggling with addiction and have a mental illness.

This training, the report said, could include partnering with different diversion programs that keep people out of the justice system and guide people to the appropriate care.

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An additional recommendation included expanding access to shelter services for people who are homeless. According to the report, nearly half the people in the sample were either unhoused or housing-insecure, meaning they had no identified residence.

The report stressed its support of housing first models that support placing people who are homeless into permanent living arrangements.

But the report also said that model could face implementation challenges following an executive order that bars federal agencies from funding programs that use housing first policies.

Data from the commissions sample found that of those who were homeless prior to their death, 10% had accessed treatment or services through a shelter, with the lowest shelter use in Kent and Sussex counties.

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The report pointed to a lack of public transportation in the two counties and recommended creating dedicated shuttle routes for high-need areas and partnering with ride-share companies to provide vouchers for trips to medical or treatment appointments.

These measures could help ensure that individuals are not denied access to life-saving treatment and recovery support simply because they lack transportation, the report said.

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware drug overdoses see second year of decreases, but more to do
Kamala Harris 2028 campaign is officially a laughing matter on NBCs Meet the Press.

Ashley Etienne, the former communications director for the ex-vice president, got a reaction from the Meet the Press panel on Sunday morning when she said she is very excited about the possibility of her old boss running for president again.

MTP host Kristen Welker, right after hearing that, turned and asked Marc Short, who was President Donald Trumps director of legislative affairs during his first term, for his response.

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I think Republicans are equally excited to run against Kamala Harris, Short quipped.

The remark drew an immediate laugh from Welker, while Short smirked and enjoyed how his joke landed.

Welker then turned to New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser for her thoughts, and Glasser said it is too early to discuss. Glasser said it is a question worth asking after the 2026 midterms.

Etienne, a moment earlier, explained why she wanted to see Harris run for president for a third time. She said the Democratic Party is currently suffering from several major crises, including an identity crisis and a growing trust gap with voters. Harris, she said, is a good candidate to fix those issues, despite her coming up short in the 2028 presidential election against Trump.

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The MTP panel was asked about Harris running again after she gave, as MSNBC put it, her strongest indication yet that she is running in 28. Harris said she is not done, in an interview with the BBC last week, and that led many pundits to presume that means she will give running for president another shot.

In related news, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) criticized Harris on Hannity on Fox News on Wednesday, saying she lost the plot when she called Trump a fascist weeks before the 2024 election. That approach is absurd and not successful with the average American, Fetterman told Sean Hannity.

Watch MTP discuss  and laugh about  Harris running in 28 above.

The post Dem Comms Boss Floors Meet the Press Panel By Saying Shes Very Excited About the Possibility Kamala Harris May Run Again first appeared on Mediaite.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic critic of President Donald Trump, says he will consider running for the White House in 2028 after the midterm elections next year.

Asked in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning whether if would be fair to say he would give a campaign serious thought after the November 2026 vote, the term-limited governor said, I'd be lying otherwise.

Newsom has been trying to raise his national profile, adopting a combative style that parodies Trump's social media strategy with similar all-caps posts, memes and merchandise.

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The Democratic governor has sparred with the Republican president over the deployment of the California National Guard following immigration protests and Trump's redistricting moves in Texas. Newsom has also led a campaign to redraw California's own maps to add five Democratic U.S. House seats in response to the changes in Texas. Voting is underway on the so-called Proposition 50 and concludes Nov. 4.

"Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And thats the question for the American people," he said in the interview that aired Sunday.

The feud between Trump and Newsom does not seem like it's going away anytime soon. On Thursday, Trump acknowledged he had agreed to halt a planned show of federal force planned for this weekend in San Francisco after appeals from tech executives and the mayor. Newsom was mayor of San Francisco between 2004 and 2011.

In the interview, Newsom described Trump as an invasive species.

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Hes a wrecking ball. Not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing, Newsom said, referring to the demolition of that part of the White House to build a ballroom. Hes wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions.

Earlier this year, Newsom launched a podcast in an effort to brand himself as a centrist. During the show, he has held conversations with influential figures all across the political spectrum, from late conservative Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on a college campus tour, as well as former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris' 2024 running mate, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat.
BURR OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Deputies are asking the public for information after the body of a 21-year-old was found on a highway after being hit by a vehicle in St. Joseph County.

At 7:09 a.m. Sunday, the St. Joseph County Sheriffs Office was called to the area of US-12 and Burr Oak Road in Burr Oak Township after someone reported that there was an unresponsive person on the side of the road.

Arriving first responders found 21-year-old Kayden Gruver dead at the scene. Deputies say he was hit by a vehicle.

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The sheriffs office is investigating and looking for help identifying the vehicle that hit Gruver. It is believed to be a 2007-2015 GMC Sierra or Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with damage to the front passenger side.

Anyone who was in contact with Gruver Sunday morning or Saturday night should contact St. Joseph County Central Dispatch at 269.467.4195.

Nearby homes and businesses are asked to check any surveillance cameras from just after 7 a.m. Sunday for anything that might aid the investigation.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  The Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office said they are currently responding to a shooting outside a hotel in Spartanburg County.

Deputies reported a shooting outside the Sleep Inn on South Blackstock Road. Officials are currently on scene investigating the area.

Details remain limited at this time.

7NEWS will continue to follow this story as more information is revealed.

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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 WSPA 7NEWS.
An investigation is underway after a welfare check led to an officer-involved shooting in Cherokee County, officials said.

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Just before 7 p.m., on Saturday, Cherokee County deputies responded to a welfare check call at a home on Whisperwood Trail in Acworth.

When they arrived, deputies saw an armed, unidentified man who was subsequently shot and killed outside the home by deputies, authorities said.

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The CCSO said one of the deputies was injured in the altercation and taken to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where he was treated and released.

According to the sheriffs office, following the shooting, deputies could smell an odor of decay and found a woman dead inside the home.

The woman, identified as the mother of the 26-year-old man who was shot, was found in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult to determine the cause of death.

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The womans body has been taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Crime Lab for an autopsy.

No names are being released at this time pending notification of family, said Captain Jay Baker of the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has been called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, while the Cherokee Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division will handle the investigation into the womans death.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Oct. 26, 1861, the legendary Pony Express officially ceased operations, giving way to the transcontinental telegraph.

The last run of the Pony Express  which cut through Utah and the West  was completed the following month, but the short-lived news dispatch service lives on.

In artwork.

In Western lore.

In re-creation rides.

The Nov. 14, 1860, Deseret News reported the "Latest by Pony Express," new of the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. | Deseret News Archive

Per historians, the Pony Express was viewed as a step forward in meeting the demand for postal service in Utah, Oregon, California and other rapidly filling sections of the nation. It also fed out-of-the-way Western newspapers, like the Deseret News.

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But it was always expected to be temporary. Roads, telegraph lines and rail routes that would link Western settlements to the rest of the nation already were under construction.

Pony riders were a breed apart, primarily teenagers who met the requirements of an ad for young, skinny, wiry fellows, not afraid of danger and preferably orphans. The average age was 19, but there was at least one rider of 13. Some, like Buffalo Bill, became legendary.

In its brief heyday, as many as 700 riders and horses, riding 24-hours a day over 10 days, could cover 1,966 miles. One end of the route was Sacramento, California, while the other was in St. Joseph, Missouri.

In Utah, locations like Echo Canyon, Simpson Springs, Fairfield, Murray Park and This Is The Place State Park note the route.

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Here are stories from Deseret News archives about the Pony Express:

The Pony Express

The Pony Express, explained

Pony Express fun facts

Pony Express quickly raced into legend

Riders go in search of the Pony Express trail

Pony Express rides again in Utah

Summer adventure on the Pony Express National Byway

Eagle Mountain hails Pony Express

Pony Express commemoration to ride through Utah

The Clarkston Pony Express Race is one wild ride

Historian will hit trail in honor of Pony Express

Picturing history: The Pony Express and Mormon Pioneer National Historic trails
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday appealed to the people of Tarn Taran to vote for the Congress for peace, progress and prosperity in the state. He cautioned people against emotional exploitation. Addressing an impressive public meeting in support of Karanbir Singh Burj, the party candidate for the Tarn Taran by-election here today, Warring cautioned people against any emotional exploitation. He pointed out that now the people of Punjab have seen the rule and working of all three governments: that of the Congress, the Akali-BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party. "You are in the best position to make the right choice", he told people, adding, "it is the Congress which takes along all sections of people and works for peace, progress and prosperity for everyone". The PCC president asserted that the days of the AAP government in Punjab were numbered as it was now on its last leg. Besides, he added, the party was in such a pitiable condition that it had to outsource its candidate from the Akali Dal, which had already been rejected by the people of Punjab. "You can well imagine the plight of the AAP that it did not have anyone from within the party to fight the by-election and had to import it from a party that has been rejected by the people long back", he pointed out. Warring cautioned people against the emotive slogans raised by the supporters of one of the candidates, telling them it is not for the first time that such people have joined the electoral fray. "You know that there is no benefit in voting for such people, as public service is the last thing on their mind, as they indulge in pointless propaganda which serves no purpose", he remarked, while telling them to choose someone who will be in the legislative assembly and not somewhere else. The PCC president, while appealing to people to elect the Congress candidate Karanbir Singh Burj, promised that it would be the beginning of a new era for the progress and prosperity of Punjab. "Let us make a beginning from Tarn Taran now and take it forward across Punjab by 2027", he appealed to people amidst the slogans of 'Bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal'. The Election Commission of India (ECI) on October 6 announced that by-elections for eight assembly constituencies across seven states and Union Territories will take place on November 11. The counting of votes for the by-election is scheduled for November 14. These by-elections are being held to fill vacancies caused by various reasons such as resignations, deaths, or disqualifications. The by-elections will take place in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam and Nagrota districts, Rajasthan's Anta district, Jharkhand's Ghatshila district, Telangana's Jubilee Hills district, Punjab's Tarn Taran district, Mizoram's Dampa district, and Odisha's Nuapada district. (ANI)
NEED TO KNOW

Investigators are sharing new details about the disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard

Security camera footage taken at a California car rental business shows Melodee wearing a dark wig on Oct. 7

Melodee's mother then took her on a three-day road trip to Nebraska, but did not have her in the car when she arrived home

More than two weeks after the search began for missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard in California, investigators are sharing new details about the case  and providing a new timeline for the girl's disappearance.

On Friday, Oct. 24, the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office released surveillance camera photos of Melodee that were captured at a California car rental business on Oct. 7  just one week before she was reported missing.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office (2)

Melodee can be seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair, according to a statement from the sheriff's office.

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"Investigators also noted the wig may have been used to alter her appearance," the statement reads. "Detectives also note that [Melodee's mother, 35-year-old Ashlee Buzzard] is known to wear wigs."

Ashlee rented a white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate 9MNG101, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The mother and daughter then left the car rental business, embarking on a three-day road trip from Lompoc, Calif., to the Nebraska area.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Melodee Buzzard seen by a security camera at a car rental business. Melodee Buzzard seen by a security camera at a car rental business.

According to the sheriff's office, the investigation into Melodee's disappearance first began on Oct. 14, when a local school reported the child's "extended absence."

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Deputies went to Ashlee's home in Lompoc  a city about 50 miles north of Santa Barbara  and discovered that Melodee was not at home. When they returned later on and spoke to Ashlee, investigators were provided "no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts," per the statement.

Investigators have now confirmed that Ashlee returned to her house in California on Oct. 10, after returning from Nebraska through Kansas  but "Melodee was not in the car."

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Melodee Buzzard is seen wearing a gray hoodie and a dark wig. Melodee Buzzard is seen wearing a gray hoodie and a dark wig.

"Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now," the sheriff's office said.

"Our detectives are following every lead in this case. We continue to seek information from the public that could help us find Melodee," Sheriff Bill Brown said. "We remain determined to bring her home safely."



Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office The timeline of events leading to Melodee Buzzard's disappearance, per detectives. The timeline of events leading to Melodee Buzzard's disappearance, per detectives.

This update comes after investigators previously said the "at-risk" girl hadn't been seen in a year, PEOPLE previously reported. According to the sheriff's office, Melodee was homeschooled and had not checked in since October 2024.

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Melodee was reported missing by the Lompoc Unified School District when she failed to pick up assignments following her August enrollment in an independent learning program at the school, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a statement from the school.

However, a California Department of Education spokesperson told ABC News that there is no record of Melodee's mother filing a yearly private school affidavit, which is necessary for homeschooling.

The sheriff's office also said in an updated statement on Monday, Oct. 20, that Ashlee is refusing to cooperate with authorities.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Melodee Buzzard. Melodee Buzzard.

Melodee's extended family has expressed concerns about her well-being, claiming Ashlee has a long history of mental illness and has cut off the family for years, per the Times.

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Ashlee is mentally unstable, and my mom tried to get custody or at least grandparent rights to visit Melodee because [Ashlee] wasnt letting our side of the family see her, Vicky Shade, Melodee's aunt, told the outlet.

Shade's brother, Rubiell Meza, is Melodee's father. He died in a motorcycle accident shortly after the child was born, Shade said.

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Melodee is described as being around 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 60 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the sheriff's office.



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The FBI is now involved in the case, and the sheriff's office is encouraging anyone with information to contact investigators at (805) 681-4150, via the anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171, or online at the sheriff's office website.



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CLEVELAND (WJW)  A fire caused an estimated $500,000 in damage to a building that housed Annie B. & Earls Pancake House early Sunday.

Suspects arrested over the theft of crown jewels from Paris Louvre museum

According to Cleveland Fire Department, the fire broke out at around 1 a.m. at the 4017 St. Clair Ave. two-story building.

No one was injured, but the American Red Cross was contacted to assist one male.

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A post was made on the Annie B. and Earls 216 Instagram page Sunday morning saying: We are asking for prayers at this time for the Annie B Family. We experienced a devastating loss last night. We are grateful only material things were lost but we are grieving for a place we built with love. Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers.

No further details are available.

Click here to support Annie Bs staff and tenants on GoFundMe.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Attached Video: Missouri State Symbols

JOPLIN, Mo.  Although you may be familiar with the abundance of wildlife the Show-Me State currently has to offer, you might not have to go far to explore Missouris prehistoric inhabitants.

Lets break down three fossils youll find frozen in time in Missouri.

Crinoid: Missouris Official State Fossil

Missouris most common fossil is an invertebrate, the crinoid, also known as sea lilies. Despite the name, theyre more closely related to other echinoderms, like starfish. Only around 700 living species of the feather stars still exist, but pieces of now-extinct variants can be commonly found in limestone.

Photo by Missouri Department of Natural Resources staff, can be found in the DNR Geology and Mines Photograph Collection, or on the Missouri State Symbols Flickr album

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources describes the construction as a stem, which resembles a stack of poker chips, and a calyx, which has five-point radial symmetry (much like a starfish). The stem itself is easy to identify, although finding a complete specimen is less common. The Missouri DNR says crinoids existed from the Ordovician Period (490 million years ago) to present day, but had reached their apex between 360 through 320 million years ago, during the Mississippian Period.

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On June 16, 1989, the crinoid Delocrinus missouriensis (now referred to as Eperisocrinus missouriensis) officially became the state fossil.

Brachiopods: Over 400 living species

Brachiopods have existed since the Paleozoic Era (around 520 million years ago) to the present day. At their peak, there were more than 30,000 species, with around 400 still in existence.

The Missouri DNR describes the appearance of a brachiopod as having a pedicle valve (ventral) and a brachial valve (dorsal). Although each of these valves is usually shaped differently, they do exhibit bilateral symmetry from left to right. Brachiopods use a fleshy stalk (pedicle), that is used to anchor themselves to the seafloor.

Youll identify these fossils with the ridged, ribbed, or spiny qualities typical of brachiopod shells.

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Brachiopods are similar to bivalves, but there are some distinct differences. Although some consider them both to be mollusks, they arent classified in the same animal groups. The Digital Atlas of Ancient Life says brachiopods have unequal valves (shell halves), and bivalves have identical paired valves (as well as other differences, which you can read here).

Gastropods: Escargot find some snails

It wont take much searching on a dewy spring morning to find a few snails in your backyard, slowly making their way from the base of an oak tree to a nearby rock, but they might unknowingly be sluggishly traversing over their ancestors suspended within the stone.

The name gastropod comes from the Greek gastro, or stomach, and pod, or foot. Their name comes from their foot resembling a stomach of sorts, which they fill with mostly vegetation, fungi, algae, or other organic debris. Both marine and pulmonate (having lungs) gastropods exist today, and can be found on both sea and land.

Slugs arent represented proportionally in fossil records, as they are less likely to be preserved than the hard shells of snails. You can find both coiled or uncoiled snail shells. Uncoiled shells are cap-shaped, and coiled shells wrap around themselves as they grow.

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If you find a shell with bilateral symmetry, it could be of a planispiral snail, which became extinct at the end of the Paleozoic Era, according to the Missouri DNR. Alternatively, conispiral snails still survive today, and are characterized by shells that are coiled helically and do not have the same bilateral symmetry.

You can find more information on gastropods by visiting the link here.

Where can I find these?

You can find these fossils (and many more unmentioned in this article) by searching rocks found near creekbeds, in rock-fill gravel (much of which is limestone), and even by observing slabs of Carthage marble (limestone).

The Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, MO, is mostly comprised of Carthage Marble.

You can even find crinoids embedded in the Missouri State Capitol building, which is partially constructed using limestone from southwest Missouri.

The Missouri State Capitol is seen Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

For more information, visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources website. You can also contact the Missouri Geological Survey Program by phone at (573)368-2100 or by email at geology@dnr.mo.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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Even some of the strangest recalls in U.S. history may not compare to the incident with Dow beer in the 1960s. William Dow founded the brewery in 1861 in Montreal, and, for a time, it sold the best-selling beer in Quebec. This fame didn't last forever, though, as consumers were frightened away from the drink after at least 20 Dow drinkers died. The deaths didn't all occur at once but over a short window of time in the mid-1960s in Quebec City. Those who died were all heavy drinkers of around a dozen Dow Ales a day, or 8 quarts.

The deaths came as a result of high levels of cobalt sulfate being added to the beer. Consuming too much of this inorganic compound can disrupt a person's citric acid cycle and aerobic cellular respiration. Those who died after consuming the beer suffered from cardiomyopathy, a heart disease that makes it more challenging for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. The Dow Ale was thought to have contained high amounts of cobalt sulfate, and that, combined with the alarming quantity of beer the victims drank, could have led to their deaths. While cobalt sulfate isn't one of the most common reasons foods are recalled, it's an additive that can be dangerous when not added in appropriate amounts. Many brands do their best to come back after a disastrous recall, such as the one in Quebec City, but Dow struggled to achieve its prior popularity.

Read more: 13 Meats That Are Now Illegal In The US

The deaths led to the end of Dow Breweries

Beer with foam spilling over - Karihoglund/Getty Images

Adding cobalt sulfate to beer isn't unheard of and is often done to stabilize the foam. However, Dow Breweries added higher amounts to combat problems with the foam when poured into unclean drinking glasses. After the deaths occurred, Dow Breweries tried to rectify the situation by dumping the remaining contaminated ale. This plan didn't work out in the company's favor when, instead of seeing this as a grand gesture of starting anew, consumers held steadfast in their new distaste for the brand. Even with the inventory dumping and the fact that the cobalt sulfate deaths were only around the Quebec City brewery region  not in the vicinity of the Montreal facility  the public was understandably wary of the beer.

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Rather than eventually making a comeback, Dow's popularity continued to plummet, and it became a cheap beer that consumers only chose when they wanted to save a buck. After years of being a top-selling brand and a few decades of being everyone's last choice, Dow Breweries' fate was sealed as an old-school beer we don't see people drink anymore when the company stopped all production in 1992.

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The Monroe County Historical Society and Monroe County Museum System will host a series of history presentations in November.

The events will take place at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Johnson-Phinney House, 22 W. Second St., Monroe, according to a community announcement.

The series will begin Nov. 5 with Jacob Heck presenting Surveying the Situation: How Monroe County Got on the Map. This talk will explore the history of land division in Monroe County and include stories from the state boundary and the Toledo War.

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On Nov. 7, Rick Grassley will discuss And Up through the ground came a Bubblin Crude, focusing on Monroe County and the oil boom.

Chase Blackwell will present The Unseen Wounds on Nov. 10, sharing stories from 1812 told through light and shadows.

In November, the Monroe County Historical Society and Monroe County Museum System will host a series of history presentations at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Johnson-Phinney House in the updated presentation room (pictured).

Chris Kull will examine The Ethnic History of Monroe County on Nov. 12, highlighting the major groups that have settled in Monroe County.

Joe Dowd will discuss Winchesters Regulars and their involvement in the Battle of River Raisin on Nov. 17.

Dave Ingall will cover Monroe County in the Civil War on Nov. 20, focusing on the Michigan regiments major battles and stories that had large numbers of Monroe County men in ranks.

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The series will conclude Nov. 21 with Jeffery Albergo presenting Capturing Life. The History of Photography 1839 to 1869 featuring Monroe Artist Robert Duncanson. A 50-minute film followed by a short presentation about Duncansons work with five photographers not mentioned in the film.

This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at https://cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Explore Monroe Countys past in November presentations
Cold case detectives Melissa Wallace and Jon Long of the Fairfax County Police Department began reviewing Robin Lawrence's murder case in April 2021. They were struck by the sheer violence of the attack on the 37-year-old Springfield, Virginia, mother.

Det. Jon Long:  that's like your worst nightmare.

Det. Melissa Wallace: It looked brutal.

Det. Jon Long:  that's the reason why you tell your loved ones to make sure that your doors are locked at night  he is  the boogeyman.

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Investigating the murder of Robin Warr Lawrence

On Nov. 20, 1994, Robin's friend Laurie Lindberg had entered her home to check on her and saw blood on the bedroom walls and Robin's 2-year-old daughter Nicole wandering around. Alarmed, Lindberg called 911  and then rushed the little girl to the hospital. Although Nicole did not appear hurt, she had undergone a liver transplant after she was born, and her health was fragile.

Laurie Lindberg: Because, of course, she's taking immunosuppressive medications.  I mean, this is life-saving medication.  She needs to have it.

Anne-Marie Green: Because you don't know how long she's been in that house by herself.

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Laurie Lindberg: Right.

Lead crime scene Detective Mark Garman was one of the first on site.

According to Garman, who photographed the evidence, the intruder came through a window off the back deck  the one Lindberg had used to get inside. He entered the house the same way.

Det. Mark Garman: I had no idea what the scene looked like until I walked around the corner in  into the master bedroom.

Anne-Marie Green: Tell me the state that Robin was in when you saw her.

Det. Mark Garman:  very damaged, a lot of knife wounds, severe gaping knife wound in her neck  unbelievable number of defensive wounds on her hands, knife wounds in her back, on her legs.

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He says signs of a struggle were obvious in the room.

Det. Mark Garman: This is the phone that was on the floor, um, near Mrs. Lawrence.

Det. Mark Garman: The phone cord was cut.

Det. Mark Garman: She was assaulted in the bed and then fought her way outta the bed, and, um, continued to fight and struggle 

Garman says one of the first things that stood out were bloody tissues, scattered around the house and near Robin's body. He believes it was Robin's daughter, Nicole, who left them behind  trying to help her mother.

Det. Mark Garman:  even at that age, kids know what blood is and bloods come from  wounds and cuts. And they know that mom puts, tissues on them or Band-Aids.  I think she was trying to stop the blood.

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And there was another heart-wrenching discovery: empty baby bottles had been left around her mother's body.

Det. Mark Garman: Having kids  When they got hungry, they brought you your baby bottle.  And that's what I'm thinking.  Nicole would've taken it to mom.

While investigators processed the scene, officers at the hospital asked Lindberg to call Robin's parents.

Laurie Lindberg: Robin's dad answered.  I think I said Robin is dead.  But what I remember is, um, Jessie, her mom, must have just been in the  or overheard, cause  She was just wailing, just a sort of primal anguish.  that was really horrible.  That's probably the most horrible thing that's ever happened to me is calling (crying).

Robin Lawrence and her daughter, Nicole. For two days after her mother's murder, Nicole, just 2 years old at the time, roamed the house alone before Robin's body was discovered. / Credit: Warr Lawrence Family

Robin's father, Robert Warr Sr., a World War II veteran and now 101 years old, says he tried to forget that call but one memory has never left him.

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Robert Warr Sr.: My granddaughter was  right next to where she was murdered.  I'll never forget that. Never.

He had to break the news to his surviving children, including his daughter Mary Warr Cowans and his son Robert Warr Jr.

Mary Warr Cowans:  after the words "Robin is dead," I  it was like 

Robert Warr Jr.: A nightmare.

Mary Warr Cowans: Yeah. You're just like  your world shattered.

Cowans says, in those first few days, they didn't have a clear picture of what had happened to their sister.

Mary Warr Cowans:  the details were very sketchy and slow to come and the police  asked, well, do you know anybody who had a grudge or something against Robin? And of course, the answer is no.

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Robin was a gifted artist with a fine arts degree from Carnegie Melon University. After college, she was selected to mold the first medal for The Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize, which was awarded to Rosa Parks.

Robin Warr Lawrence designed the mold for the first medal for The Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize.

Mary Warr Cowans: That was a big deal. And for my parents who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee  during Jim Crow and they could not ride in the front of the bus, they could not go to the zoo except on Tuesdays.  that was a big deal.

Robin's father says his daughter's accomplishments were his greatest source of pride.

Robert Warr Sr.: She was a powerful lady in this world  Her drawings are not just paintings, they are powerful.

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Lindberg first met Robin in ballet class.

Laurie Lindberg: I was like, oh my God, this woman's beautiful.  But what  was really fun about Robin was she's very personable, very fun loving, just very down to earth.

Lindberg and Robin shared an apartment in Washington D.C. around the time Robin was dating her future husband, Ollie. Lindberg says they were a great match.

Laurie Lindberg: Ollie  he has a very calm and kind demeanor and you kind of feel very confident around him, very at ease with him.

The couple were married on New Year's Eve 1989. Three years later, they welcomed their daughter, Nicole. At the time of her death, Robin was working in advertising. Ollie Lawrence, who was away on a business trip in the Bahamas, was an executive at an airline.

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Mary Warr Cowans: Well, I think they had a relatively what I call normal family life.  they were working on doing home improvements, getting the yard fixed up.

Now that home with so much promise, was an active crime scene.

Det. Jon Long: There were valuables that were in the bedroom. There was cash. There was jewelry.  There wasn't  anything stolen 

Investigators suspected Robin was killed by someone she knew.

Det. Jon Long: They started looking at the family dynamic. They started looking at the marriage.

Anne-Marie Green: Was Ollie cooperative?

Det. Jon Long: He was.

But as authorities dug further, they learned something. Ollie had been having an affair with a colleague.

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Det. Melissa Wallace: Then what does that mean?  you think, oh how convenient, the weekend you go out of town for three days, your wife is brutally murdered.

The case goes cold

Mary Warr Cowans: It just was surreal. It really was like, for me, walking in a - through a dream state.  cause you just can't make sense of it.

Just three days after what would have been Robin's 38th birthday on Nov. 26, 1994, her family and friends gathered for her funeral.

Mary Warr Cowans: We were still very much just bewildered and lost.

Cowans says Robin's injuries were so severe, the family had a closed casket.

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Mary Warr Cowans:  that was hard for me cause I had never got a chance to see her one last time. I always wanted to be able to say goodbye and see her. (emotional)

As Robin's family mourned her death, investigators pieced together a timeline and determined that the last time anyone had heard from Robin was around 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18.

Det. Melissa Wallace: We believe Robin was killed around 9:30-ish.

Ollie, left, Nicole and Robin Lawrence. / Credit: Warr Lawrence Family

Her body was discovered two days later. Investigators zeroed in on her husband, Ollie, who they had discovered was having an affair. They followed up on his alibi.

Det. Melissa Wallace: The detectives flew down to the Bahamas, confirmed that he was on the flight he was supposed to be on. He was at the hotel he was supposed to be at.

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Detectives also interviewed Ollie's lover but found no evidence she was involved. Robin's sister and brother were surprised to learn about the affair but they say they never believed Ollie had anything to do with Robin's murder.

Mary Warr Cowans: I never thought that Ollie  that he harmed her.

Anne-Marie Green: And how about you? Did it ever cross your mind maybe he's involved in this somehow?

Robert Warr Jr.: No, I didn't think that. He's not that type of person.

Ollie chose not to talk to "48 Hours" about his experience. Investigators didn't have much else to go on. The killer left no fingerprints  but something had caught crime scene detective Garman's eye while he was documenting the bathroom.

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Det. Mark Garman:  on the towel rod to the sliding tub door. There's a washcloth.

Det. Mark Garman: I do notice a small stain on this towel right here.  Small brownish stain.

That brown stain turned out to be blood and authorities extracted DNA from it. It didn't match anyone close to the case, including Ollie or the woman he had had a relationship with. Detectives believed it belonged to Robin's killer and uploaded it to the FBI's national database, CODIS.

But CODIS also returned no matches. And with no new leads, the investigation stalled.

Anne-Marie Green: How much did the adults tell you?

Lauren Ovans: Nothing.

Mary Warr Cowans' daughter, Lauren Ovans, was just 8 years old when her Aunt Robin was killed.

Lauren Ovans: I remember her being angelic.

She says even though her family avoided the topic, she could feel the void Robin's murder left behind.

Lauren Ovans: Out of all of my family members, she was the most like me.  So everybody always called me Robin.  I just knew that they were still thinking of her.

Anne-Marie Green: Can you describe what you lost when you lost Robin?

Lauren Ovans: I think I lost an extension of myself because  she was the one who just taught me to be comfortable with who I was. So you  you  I lost a piece of me.

Ovans says she stayed close with her cousin Nicole who rarely spoke about her mother.

Lauren Ovans: I think she didn't know much about her mother.  So there wasn't really much to share. And I didn't want to ever bring it up because I didn't want to make her anxious or make her nervous. Um, it was better just left unsaid.

The family eventually resigned themselves to the idea that the case may never be solved.

Mary Warr Cowans: When my mother died, I, that was kind of like, well, she went to her grave not knowing what happened to her child. And  and at that point I said, well, just, I have to just kinda let it go.  I have to let it go.

Then, decades later in 2019, investigators turned to Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company, hoping genetic genealogy could identify Robin's killer. Ellen Greytak is the director of bioinformatics at Parabon.

Ellen Greytak: We take DNA from a crime scene.  We upload it to GED Match and to Family Tree DNA, which are two databases.  And what they give us back is  people in our database  who share DNA with your unknown person.

Greytak says that while their analysis showed Robin's killer likely had European ancestry, tracing him through his relatives proved nearly impossible.

Ellen Greytak: So in this case, the  the database matches were just really distant. They only shared little, tiny pieces of DNA, which means that their shared ancestor with our unknown person was pretty far back in time. And that means that those people had a lot of descendants today.

Det. Melissa Wallace: Parabon gave us a solvability rate of zero on the case, and essentially said, you do not have the time nor the money  to get it moving forward 

Investigators say they could have walked away. But Liz, an amateur genealogist and volunteer with the police department  who asked that her last name not be used  offered to take on the case in her spare time for free.

Liz: I just felt I wanted to give something back to the community.  And I believed that I could actually be helpful in solving some of these cases.

Investigators gave Liz everything Parabon had uncovered about the suspect's ethnicity.

Liz:  it was about half Eastern European, about 25 percent Irish. Another 25 percent was a combination of I think English and Italian and Scandinavian.

Along with a list of cousins who shared his DNA.

Liz: And so what I got  was  approximately 1,500 cousins.

Liz: I was not certain that I could crack it  there were no first cousins or second cousins  It was really more fourth to six.

As Liz worked to trace the suspect through his family tree, Wallace turned to another DNA tool and asked Parabon to produce a phenotyping sketch of Robin's killer.

Ellen Greytak: DNA phenotyping  it means actually predicting what that person looked like from their DNA.

But would anyone recognize him?

Volunteer genetic genealogist identifies a possible suspect

In 2021, nearly 30 years after Robin Lawrence's murder, Parabon NanoLabs was tasked with producing a composite of the man investigators believed was her killer.

Thom Shaw | Forensic artist: So I get a report from our bioinformatic scientist, and it lays out all the predictions from the DNA 

Scientists created a facial model based on the DNA predictions.

Thom Shaw (working on a composite):  it starts off with  his skin color, which he's predicted to have very fair or fair skin color.  he's most likely gonna have a larger chin than average, wider jaw, or cheeks than average  kind of a narrower nose  than average.

Thom Shaw, a forensic artist at Parabon, says his job was to refine the model by applying other details like hair and eye color.

Thom Shaw: I've kind of outlined where his eyes are because I'm gonna be putting new ones in  kind of that dark blue that are predicted.

Thom Shaw: I'll  do eyebrows  kind of, most likely like a lighter brownish hair.  And so I gave him a little bit lighter eyebrows to match what his hair color is gonna be  I'll go and find  a hairstyle, something generic ...

Shaw says DNA doesn't reveal a person's age, so the composites are generated as a young adult  typically around 25 years old.

Scientists at Parabon NanoLabs created a facial model based on DNA predictions. / Credit: Parabon NanoLabs

Thom Shaw (showing finished composite pictured above): So this is him.

Det. Melissa Wallace: Did this look like their mailman? Was this the neighbor's kid?  Was it somebody from work?

Detective Melissa Wallace set up a video call with Robin's husband Ollie to see if he recognized the man in the composite.

Det. Melissa Wallace: I was really hoping that when Ollie saw that, that he would go, oh my gosh, that looks exactly like so and so.

Anne-Marie Green: And did he?

Det. Melissa Wallace: He did not.  He said that doesn't spark my memory at all. It looks like nobody I know.

The investigation stalled again. But behind the scenes, volunteer genealogist Liz kept working with that list of 1,500 cousins distantly related to the suspect.

Liz had eventually traced some of the suspect's ancestors to Canada, where they had settled. That's where she found two cousins that were not related to each other.

Liz: And so I ended up with two trees that were highly reliable  And they were the people that uh, that were truly cousins to the suspect.

Liz says if she could figure out where those two trees were linked, through a marriage, the suspect would be a descendant of that couple.

Liz, a Fairfax County Police Department volunteer, shows how she came up with a possible suspect through a family tree using genetic genealogy. / Credit: CBS News

Liz (showing family tree): And what I found was this woman on this tree married this man on this tree.  that was it, that was the aha moment  that was when I realized that  he's a descendant of this couple right here.

After three-and-a-half years, Liz finally had a lead  and it pointed her to a man named Stephan Smerk.

Liz: I felt like this really was him.  I didn't know it for certain, but I believed it was.  I contacted the detectives.

Det. Melissa Wallace: So, she sends me an email  she says, I think I found someone of interest.

Anne-Marie Green: What happens as you start looking into him?

Det. Melissa Wallace: Well, we find out  computer programmer up in New York, married to a defense attorney, two kids in high school, nice house in the suburbs, not so much as a speeding ticket on his background.

Melissa Wallace: I'm thinking  there's no way this is our guy.

But according to Det. Jon Long, things got a bit more interesting when they found his yearbook photo  at age 16.

Det. Jon Long: It looked very similar to the phenotyping sketch.  we're like, well  maybe this does make sense.

A photo of 16-year-old Stephen Smerk, left, and his DNA phenotyping composite. / Credit: Ancestry.com/Parabon NanoLabs

Stephan Smerk lived in Niskayuna, a town in upstate New York, so investigators decided to pay him a visit.

Anne-Marie Green: Does he know you're coming?

Det. Jon Long: No. No.

They were hoping he would cooperate and provide his DNA. Wallace and Long say he appeared to be home alone, so they knocked on his door.

Det. Melissa Wallace: All we said is we are detectives from Fairfax County, Virginia, and we're looking into a cold case from the 90s.  Do you mind if we come in and talk to you? He said, sure. He invited us in, and 

Anne-Marie Green: Hold on a minute  So, you say we're from Virginia  We're investigating this murder. His initial reaction.

Det. Jon Long: No reaction. None.

Det. Melissa Wallace: None.

Det. Jon Long: Stone-faced.

Det. Melissa Wallace: There was no surprise. There was no fear. Nothing.

They found his demeanor unusual.

Det. Melissa Wallace: When  we're asking for  DNA, this conversation typically takes a solid 45 minutes  People generally have a lot of questions.  Like, what do you mean someone in my family has committed a murder?  Who was killed?  There was not a single question from him.

Det. Melissa Wallace: We were in and out of his house in five minutes with his DNA.  Consent form signed, swab collected, packaged up. That was it.

After the visit, detectives checked into their hotel. But then Wallace got an unexpected call.

Det. Melissa Wallace:  it's Steve Smerk calling me  And he says, "I'm at the police department to turn myself in." And I said, "turn yourself in for what?" And he said, "I'm here to turn myself in for the murder."

Det. Melissa Wallace: A million things start going through my mind.

Smerk told the detective he was having trouble getting into the Niskayuna Police Department, which was locked.

Det. Melissa Wallace: So, then I'm thinking it must be a smaller police station  And I said, OK, what I need you to do is we're gonna hang up.  I need you to call 911 and tell them that you're there.

Smerk's call was recorded:

911 OPERATOR: 911, what's the address of your emergency?

STEPHAN SMERK: I'm actually here to turn myself in for a cold case crime.

911 OPERATOR: You're here to turn yourself in?

STEPHAN SMERK: Well, they collected DNA, so 

911 OPERATOR: OK, what's your 

STEPHAN SMERK:  it's only a matter of time.

911 OPERATOR:  last name?

Anne-Marie Green: Wow. So, when do you tell him [Det. Long]?

Det. Melissa Wallace: Oh my God. I was freaking out. so.

Det. Jon Long: She freaked me out.

Det. Melissa Wallace: I run down to his room  and I'm banging on his door  I'm like, we got to go to the police department.  He's turning himself in.

Wallace also reached out to local police, and Stephan Smerk was taken into custody.

Stephan Smerk, a married 52-year-old father of two, was arrested outside of the Niskayuna, N.Y., Police Department after calling 911 to turn himself in for the 1994 murder of Robin Lawrence in Springfield, Virginia. / Credit: Niskayuna Police Department

Det. Melissa Wallace: The adrenaline was pumping so hard because the reality hit  And, um, it sounds like he's gonna talk to us about it.

Detective Long says they had to refocus fast and figure out how they would handle Stephan Smerk's interrogation.

Det. Jon Long:  we need to make sure this is a sound interview.  that could potentially be used in court, down the road.

When they finally sat down with him 

STEPHAN SMERK: Where do you wanna start?

 investigators say he didn't need much prompting.

STEPHAN SMERK: It was 100 percent intentional.

STEPHAN SMERK: I am a serial killer who's only killed once.

A stunning confession brings closure to a decades-old mystery

When investigators met with Stephan Smerk on Sept. 7, 2023, they were skeptical.

Det. Melissa Wallace:  this doesn't happen every day.  So, we, we had to  really think through, well, why is he doing this?

Detectives had not yet received the results of the DNA sample Smerk had provided, linking him definitively.

Det. Melissa Wallace:  we needed to be very careful  to make sure that we weren't getting a false confession.

Anne-Marie Green: So, then what was your approach gonna be?

Det. Jon Long: We started talking about things like hey, let's make sure that  he's gonna bring up details of the case without us telling him first.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): Can you remind me of her name again? Can you say that?

DET. MELISSA WALLACE: I can. Do you remember anything about the person?

STEPHAN SMERK: She was African American.

DET. MELISSA WALLACE: OK.

STEPHAN SMERK: That's all I remember.

Det. Jon Long: He starts volunteering information which is great.

Det. Melissa Wallace: So it was just like he wanted to talk about his weekend or, uh, some other family event that he went to. It was a very calm conversation, nonchalant.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): I was, uh, not in the right frame of mind.

Smerk told detectives that in November 1994, he was a 22-year-old soldier stationed at Fort Myer in Arlington, Virginia, and on the night of the murder he had been drinking beer.

STEPHAN SMERK: (interrogation): I was, uh, drunk and under ephedrine 

He says he had been taking ephedrine pills, a stimulant.

During questioning, Stephan Smerk told detectives,

STEPHAN SMERK: (interrogation):  something inside me said that  it's hard to explain  I knew that I was going kill somebody. I did not know who I was going to kill.

STEPHAN SMERK: (interrogation):  it was like this overbearing thought in my brain that  I just had to kill somebody.

Smerk said he drove to Robin's neighborhood because he was familiar with the area  he'd visited friends who stayed in a house nearby.

DET. JON LONG (interrogation):  had you had any contact with her, spoke to her or anything like that?

STEPHAN SMERK: No, I didn't even, to be honest with you, I don't  didn't even know who lived there  I never met this person before or seen her or anything 

Smerk confirmed he entered the house from the back deck and told detectives he was wearing a ski mask and leather gloves.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): I went in and noticed that she had  a baby in one of the rooms.

He said he went down the hall to Robin's bedroom.

Police say Robin Warr Lawrence's bedroom showed signs of a struggle and blood on the walls. / Credit: Fairfax County Police Department

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): I startled her, she got out of bed.  She was on her knees  she was just begging for her life.  I cut her up pretty good.  I did everything they taught me in the military, hand-to-hand combat.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): I'm highly, highly influenced by demons 

He told investigators one of the reasons he enlisted was because he wanted to kill.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): I want to tell you right now that I  she's the only person that I've killed.  I'm married, I have kids, but I honestly believe that if it wasn't for my wife and my kids, I probably would be a serial killer.

DNA evidence was found on a wash cloth in Robin Lawrence's bathroom. / Credit: Fairfax Police Department

Detective Wallace knew it was critical to link him to that washcloth found in the bathroom, so she asked him if he'd been injured that night.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation):  she clawed at my face. I had a little bit of a scar here.

DET. MELISSA WALLACE: Did you ever go into her bathroom at all?

STEPHAN SMERK: I don't remember that. If I did go into the bathroom, it would've been to look at what she did in my face.

Det. Melissa Wallace: That's when I knew that  that we were in business with putting him in the bathroom and why his DNA was there  that was the biggest confirmation.

As the interview wrapped up, Long asked Smerk if he wanted to express any remorse to Robin's family.

STEPHAN SMERK (interrogation): Um, how do I say this? I know you're recording. I don't feel anything for the family.  I can't say that any other way.  I feel bad that I did it because I knew someday my personal freedom would be affected.

Det. Melissa Wallace: I think what you see is 100 percent what you get from him, arrogance, ah, entitlement. He wanted to do it so he did it, and that's it.

Detective Wallace believes Smerk confessed because he knew he was caught and wanted to turn himself in on his own terms.

Det. Melissa Wallace: It wasn't because he was sorry.  It wasn't because he was tired of running for 30 years.  He wanted to maintain control.

Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole, who reviewed the case for "48 Hours," agrees that Smerk wanted to control the narrative.

Mary Ellen O'Toole:  he was prepared that he was gonna tell his version of the story. 

O'Toole says she doesn't buy Smerk's claim that Robin's murder was random. She classifies it as a mission-oriented homicide.

Mary Ellen O'Toole: He brought the weapon with him.  he had a mask, he had gloves.

Mary Ellen O'Toole: it also happens to be  on an evening when the victim's husband is in a travel status.

Mary Ellen O'Toole: This was purposeful  he went inside somebody's home  took enormous risk.  So that suggests to me more of a targeting than it does randomness.

In her analysis, O'Toole says she was struck by Smerk identifying as a serial killer.

Mary Ellen O'Toole: He did come across as someone that had admiration for them.

Anne-Marie Greene: So here's kind of like the big question, though.  do serial killers stop killing?

Mary Ellen O'Toole: Yes, they do.

According to O'Toole, serial offenders can sometimes channel their compulsion to kill into other crimes, like stalking or voyeurism.

Mary Ellen O'Toole: I think it's also possible that he engaged in other behaviors, much less serious than homicide that um, satisfied him.

Anne-Marie Green: He has no criminal history of any kind. How unusual is that?

Mary Ellen O'Toole: Not very unusual.  But here's the important thing to keep in mind, the absence of a rap sheet does not mean that criminal behavior is absent.  It means that they didn't get arrested for it.

After his confession, Stephan Smerk was arrested and charged with the murder of Robin Lawrence. Detective Wallace says her first phone call was to Robin's daughter, Nicole.

Det. Melissa Wallace: You could tell the shock, but she didn't, um, break down or crumble. I could tell that she was like, OK, now my job is to notify the rest of the family.

Mary Warr Cowans: How is it that he could live his life with his family when he blew up our family 30 years ago.  Where is the justice in that?

Robin's family prepared for the next step.

Mary Warr Cowans: We really wanted to do a trial.  We wanted the world to know what he did, and  I think we wanted the spectacle of that as satisfaction.

But would they get that chance?

Robin Warr Lawrence's spirit lives on through her art

A week after Stephan Smerk's interview with police, forensic testing confirmed Smerk's DNA was a match to the blood on the washcloth found in Robin's bathroom.

Steve Descano: It's a one in over 7 million chance that it would not have been his DNA.

On April 4, 2024, Fairfax County Commonwealth attorney Steve Descano's office presented the case at a preliminary hearing to determine if there was enough evidence to move forward.

Steve Descano: Look, I've dealt with murderers before .. I can tell you that in my mind, Stephan Smerk stands alone as somebody who represents a true danger to the community.

Stephan Smerk / Credit: Fairfax County Police Department

Robin's family saw Smerk for the first time at the hearing.

Lauren Ovans: I was amazed how big he was.  he needed two  bailiffs around him.  The first thing I thought of was, like, my aunt didn't stand a chance.

Prosecutors played Smerk's confession, and the family heard the details of Robin's murder in Smerk's own words.

Lauren Ovans: There was no emotion  It - it didn't feel real  just made me feel angry.  like how could he have done that?

The judge found probable cause that Stephan Smerk killed Robin Lawrence and allowed the case to proceed to a grand jury. On April 15, 2024, a grand jury indicted him. But six months later, he accepted a plea deal for first-degree murder.

STEVE DESCANO (to reporters): We get guaranteed accountability ...

Descano says the agreement ensured Smerk would be held accountable.

Steve Descano: We had the challenge of some witnesses passing, other witnesses, their memories uh, becoming a little bit cloudy and not as sharp.

Robin's family, however, say they were disappointed.

Mary Warr Cowans: We wanted him to be put on trial.

On March 7, 2025, Smerk returned to court for sentencing. As part of the mitigation strategy for a more lenient sentence, his attorney Dawn Butorac told the judge that in the early 90s, Smerk was a troubled young man, struggling with alcohol and substance abuse.

Dawn Butorac:  he eventually decided, I'm gonna join the military, thinking that that would be a good choice for him to maybe get his life stabilized.

Anne-Marie Green: He said he joined the military so he could kill people. What did he mean by that?

Dawn Butorac: I never asked him what he meant by that.  I think it was  an idea that if I go, maybe I can take my anger out on this.  Maybe this will get me back on the right track.

According to Butorac, Smerk was also crippled with an undiagnosed mental illness.

Dawn Butorac: It wasn't until several years later that he eventually was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder.  And when you add ephedra and alcohol  he was struggling a lot.

The FDA banned some ephedra products in 2004, and Butorac says that was in part because when abused with other substances, they could trigger dangerous psychiatric side effects.

Anne-Marie Green: Did Steve Smerk tell you that he ever had hallucinations  or heard voices 

Dawn Butorac: No, no, no.

Anne-Marie Green:  anything along those lines 

Dawn Butorac: No, no.

Anne-Marie Green:  while taking ephedra?

Dawn Butorac: No.  But you have to remember at the time also he had undiagnosed bipolar. So it's hard to figure out exactly what his mental state was attributable to.

She says by the time investigators came to Smerk's door nearly 30 years later, Smerk had sought help for his mental health problems and become sober. Butorac says her client confessed and waived his right to a trial because he felt genuine remorse.

Anne-Marie Green: But over the 30 years, did he think about Robin?

Dawn Butorac: Every day.

Anne-Marie Green: Every day? Every day, he'd think about it.

Anne-Marie Green: But during his statement to investigators  He doesn't express empathy or remorse.

Dawn Butorac: He always wanted to accept responsibility.  Acceptance of responsibility is one form of remorse.



In the end, the judge sentenced Stephan Smerk to the maximum sentence allowed under the plea deal: 70 years, with the possibility of parole.

Mary Warr Cowans: I think what he got as long as he never comes out of prison  ever  brings closure for me.

After the sentencing, Ollie Lawrence gave a statement to the press.

OLLIE LAWRENCE (to reporters): The Warr and Lawrence family are grateful that justice has finally been done for the murder of our beloved Robin 

Niece Lauren Ovans answered a few questions with Robin's daughter Nicole by her side.

LAUREN OVANS (to reporters): As much as it's a sign of relief, we still have to live with this, it just doesn't go away so  (Nicole pats her back)

Robin Lawrence's niece, Lauren Ovans, left, talks to reporters with Robin's daughter Nicole by her side. / Credit: CBS News

Lauren Ovans:  she's strong  she stood next to me and she held my hand  Oh my God, if her mom could see us. Um, it was great.

Anne-Marie Green: How do you want people to remember your aunt?

Lauren Ovans: I want people to remember her as  creative, exuberant, very vocal, caring, a beautiful mother.

Mary Warr Cowans: She just had a light that shined from within.

Anne-Marie Green: I feel like she is living through her art because her art 

Mary Warr Cowans: is everywhere.

Anne-Marie Green:  emotes.

Anne-Marie Green: So when you do look at her art, what  do you see?

Mary Warr Cowans: I kind of see the spirit of Robin, who she was, how she looked at the world through her eyes  and it was good things, happy things, warm things.

Stephan Smerk will be eligible for parole in 2037 when he turns 65.

Produced by Asena Basak. Stephen A. McCain is the development producer. Emma Steele is the field producer. Chris Crater and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Anthony Venditti is the content research manager. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

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Two suspects have been arrested a week after the brazen theft of jewellery from the Louvre Museum in Paris, prosecutors confirmed on Sunday.

One of the suspects was detained at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, while the second suspect was arrested in the Paris region, Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau told dpa.

The arrests were made on Saturday evening. Both have been remanded in custody on charges of gang-related theft, prosecutors said. Two other alleged accomplices are still on the run.

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According to broadcaster BFMTV, the two men are about 30 years old and already known to police. France Info reported that DNA traces found at the crime scene led investigators directly to the suspects.

Paris Match magazine reported that one of the men, arrested at the airport, had apparently planned to fly to Algeria.

Prosecutor Laure Beccuau criticized the premature release of information by third parties, saying it had hindered the investigation.

Brazen robbery of crown jewels

The Louvre was evacuated and shut down a week ago after four masked thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery, home to France's remaining crown jewels.

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They broke into two display cases and made off with eight pieces of jewellery once owned by French queens and empresses, with an estimated value of 88 million ($102 million).

There has been no word from officials since the arrests about the whereabouts of the jewels.

On Friday, prosecutors said investigators had recovered more than 150 DNA samples, fingerprints and other clues at the scene of the heist.

Writing on X, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez extended his "warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly" on the case.

He told the Liberation newspaper that stolen jewels are often smuggled abroad and expressed hope that this would not happen in this case.

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Experts, however, fear that the diamonds and gemstones may already have been removed and the gold melted down.

Only a fraction of stolen art ever recovered

It is estimated that only about 8% of all stolen artworks are ever recovered.

A look at past high-profile art thefts shows that most loot disappears without a trace, including a painting by the celebrated French landscape artist Jean-Baptiste Corot, stolen from the Louvre in 1998.

In 2010, five works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Amedeo Modigliani and Fernand Leger were taken from Paris' Museum of Modern Art.

One of the world's most notorious art heists occurred in 1990 at Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, where 13 masterpieces worth an estimated $500 million - including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer - were stolen and never recovered, despite an FBI reward of $10 million. Empty frames still hang in their place today.

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The theft has reignited debate over security at the Louvre, the world's most visited museum, which houses Leonardo da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa.

The museum reopened to the public on Wednesday, except for the Apollo Gallery.
Live in a home governed by a condominium, co-op or homeowner's association? Have questions about what they can and cannot do? Ryan Poliakoff, an attorney and author based in Boca Raton, has answers.

Question: I just purchased a home in a deed-restricted community. The first night we stayed there I parked my personal pickup truck in my driveway. The next morning, I woke up to a "Warning Parking Violation" for truck parked in driveway after 11p.m."

I immediately called the HOA and was told that the HOA is ignoring Section 720.3075(3), Florida Statutes regarding parking my personal pickup truck in my own driveway. The HOA emailed me a letter from their attorney which states that it's their opinion the new law doesn't apply to my community.

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I don't believe this is legal and I would like some clarification if possible. I didnt realize that this was the HOAs stance prior to purchasing. I asked for an exemption but was denied. I have a 3-stall garage but its very shallow and my truck wont fit, so I have to park it perpendicular, which is difficult. I already clipped the side of my truck on the house and dented my rear passenger door. Ive only been here for two weeks. Signed, D.B.

Pickup trucks are great for carrying heavy loads, but what are the rules when parking them in HOA neighborhoods?

Dear D.B.,

As you are aware, an amendment to the HOA Act was passed in 2024 that prohibits a homeowners association from precluding a resident from parking their personal vehicle, including a pickup truck, in their own driveway.

The issue here is that the governing documents for your homeowners association expressly prohibit trucks from being parked or stored on any parcel. Interestingly, that would also seem to preclude you from even parking your truck in your garage, and I wonder if the HOA has decided not to make that an issue.

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In any event, the legal question here is whether the statute, effective July 2024, can retroactively invalidate the language in your governing documents.

Your declaration of covenants is a contract, and the constitution of the state of Florida prohibits laws from retroactively impairing substantive contractual rights. However, procedural changes are allowed; and so, the legal question here is whether the law prohibiting HOAs from enforcing truck prohibitions is procedural, or substantive. The problem is that there cant be a definitive answer, because thats a determination that will one day be made by a judge, and its a very complicated analysis. You cant predict the outcome with any real certainty.

The HOAs argument is a legitimate one, and a lot of attorneys do feel that this law does not apply to existing communities with truck restrictions, unless those communities governing documents also have whats called Kaufman language  a statement that the community is governed by the HOA Act as it may be amended from time to time. In that circumstance, the statute would override the language in the declaration, but Im assuming that your own declaration does not have such language (and incidentally, this is one of the reasons that I dont favor indiscriminately adding Kaufman language to community association covenants).

Your question is going to be whether this issue is worth the fight.

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One way or another, this is going to come to a head if you try to park in your driveway  the HOA is going to fine you, or suspend your gate access, or possibly even tow your truck overnight. Or it could simply sue you and ask a court to declare that the law doesnt supersede its own restriction.

You, in turn, could bring your own legal action asserting that the statute is a procedural law and that it should apply to all HOAs. I personally believe thats the more difficult argument to make, and theres a ton of risk involved  if you lose you could end up responsible for a huge association legal fee bill.

You dont have a lot of good choices other than to figure out how to safely park the truck in your garage (and hope the association doesnt take the next step and try to prohibit that, as well) or get rid of your truck and buy something that fits within their restrictions. Or you can be the test case for this law and find out whether a court says its procedural or substantive.

One day, someone is going to take on that role, but it will only be once a case like that is litigated  and then appealed, and then a court of appeals rules on the issue  that we will have a substantive answer.

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Ryan Poliakoff, a partner at Poliakoff Backer, LLP, is a Board Certified specialist in condominium and planned development law. This column is dedicated to the memory of Gary Poliakoff. Ryan Poliakoff and Gary Poliakoff are co-authors of "New Neighborhoods  The Consumers Guide to Condominium, Co-Op and HOA Living." Email your questions to condocolumn@gmail.com. Please be sure to include your location.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Does new Florida law protect owner's right to park truck in driveway?
George Clooney insists Hollywood stars are "not allowed to get old".

George Clooney insists actors aren't allowed to 'get old'

The 64-year-old actor plays fictional big screen icon Jay Kelly in the upcoming Netflix movie of the same name, and he has reflected on the relationship between film fans and the stars they grow up watching.

He told Empire magazine: "You really do live your life through people's actors and pictures.

"And you're not allowed to get old. I have people come [up to] me all the time saying, 'You're a lot older than I thought.' Like, f*** off! I'm 64!"

Clooney reflected on a scene from the film where his character is watching his life on screen, and the clips are all from the actor's other real life roles over the years.

He said: "There's a weird thing where the older you get, the more you look at this stuff and go, 'Wow, that was a long time ago.' From my eyes, it was a minute ago.

"That's why I love that line in the movie when [a fan of Jay Kelly] says, 'When I see you, I see my whole live'.

"I get it, man. I became friends with Gregory Peck and I felt like that.

"I'd be sitting there with him, he'd be telling a story, and I'm just watching him thinking, 'Dude, this guy's in To Kill A Mockingbird!' You know where you were when you saw The Omen the first time. Roman Holiday."

Clooney also reflected on the people he's met along the way, noting that his longtime security guard - who he's known for three decades - has a role in the new film.

He revealed: "The fun part for me is, Giovanni [Zeqireya], the guy who plays my security guy in the movie - he's actually my security guy. I've known him for 30 years.

"He's more than that, he's also a really dear friend and he runs our house in Italy. I met him here at the Venice Film Festival, actually.

"We had to do that scene [in Jay Kelly] where we're running through a field. We do it like three times and I go, 'I'm 64 years old! I can't run, and he's seventy-f******-one!'"
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of South East Delhi Hemant Tiwari on Sunday said over 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure safety during Chhath celebrations in the national capital. Speaking to ANI, Hemant Tiwari said, "This time, a new initiative has been launched to link the cyber awareness campaign with Chhath. All devotees at major Chhath ghats will be made aware of cybercrime... so that everyone can be protected from cyber fraud..." "This time, the police administration has made thorough arrangements to celebrate Chhath on a large scale. More than 2000 police personnel have been deployed... Surveillance will be conducted through CCTV and drones," he further said. Earlier in the day, Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma reviewed preparation for Chhath Puja at Vasudev Ghat. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that Monday, October 27, will be a public holiday on account of the Chhath festival, the CMO said in a statement. The Hindu festival of Chhath, which lasts for four days, commenced on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees thronged riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. This year, the festival will be celebrated from October 25 to 28, with rituals including Nahay-Khay on Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, Kharna on Panchami, Chhath Puja on Sashti, and concluding Usha Arghya on Saptami. On Sunday, the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees are observing a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasises purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family. (ANI)
MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has issued a stark warning to President Donald Trump amid their high-profile divorce. The Georgia Republican told CBS News that she is starting to feel very sorry for the 79-year-old, saying that his attacks on her reflect poorly on him. The great schism began when Greene, 50, broke with him on the cost-of-living crisis, which Trump insists is a hoax, and the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
President Donald Trump performed his fist-pump dance after landing in Malaysia for the first stop on his Asia trip Oct. 26. The president had previously turned the dance into a signature part of his 2024 campaign.

Trump participated in the 47th ASEAN Summit, which takes place Oct. 26 to Oct. 28 in Kuala Lumpur, before making stops in Japan and South Korea. While in Malaysia, Trump will witness Thailand and Cambodia sign a ceasefire deal, which he claims to have helped broker, Reuters reported.

After several days in Malaysia and Japan, Trump plans to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he is in South Korea at the end of his trip Oct. 30.

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Trump claimed he may reach a trade deal with Xi but has left the door open to leave the continent without one. "I think well make a deal," Trump said Oct. 20. "They threatened us with rare earths, and I threatened them with tariffs."

President Donald Trump joins performers for a dance during the welcome ceremony next to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives on Air Force One at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.

"I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday," Bessent told reporters.

U.S. and Chinese officials said they discussed trade expansion, an extension of the truce, fentanyl, U.S. port entrance fees, rare earths, TikTok and more.

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Li described the discussions as "candid," while Bessent said they were "very substantial negotiations."

Trump trip during shutdown draws criticism

The trip comes as the U.S. federal government shutdown grinds to fourth week with no end in sight. It threatens SNAP and WIC funding, imperiling food options for approximately 42 million Americans come Nov. 1.

Several Democrats said Trump should have scrapped the trip and stayed in Washington in an effort to negotiate an end to the shutdown. At the center of the multi-week shutdown is a disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over Affordable Care Act subsidies. Republicans say they will not discuss health policy as part of a bill to reopen the government, and Democrats say Congress needs to permanently extend the credits now before open enrollment for state health insurance marketplaces begins Nov. 1.

Shouldn't the president listen to the cares of the American people and their desperate need on health care, rather than taking a foreign trip? Schumer, D-New York, asked Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, who held a talk-a-thon on the Senate floor for over 22 hours in protest of the Trump administration's policies.

US President Donald Trump (C) poses for a group photo with (from L - R) Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone before the 13th ASEAN - United States Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, 2025. President Donald Trump speaks as he presides over the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. President Donald Trump looks on as Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet (C) and Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hold up signed documents during a ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct.26, 2025. A Royal Malaysian Air Force F-18 Hornet fighter jet escorts Air Force One with U.S. President Donald Trump aboard en route to Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Oct. 26, 2025 in Malaysia. Trump is in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, and will next travel to Japan, en route to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. President Donald Trump walks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre R) as he walks from Air Force One upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump holds the US and Malaysian national flags at a welcome ceremony upon arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump waves from his official vehicle known as "The Beast" as he departs from Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang to attend the ASEAN summit on Oct.26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on October 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump joins performers for a dance during the welcome ceremony next to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (L) as he arrives on Air Force One at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang on Oct. 26, 2025. US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Oct. 26 on the first leg of an Asian tour that will include high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. President Donald Trump welcomes Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani (L) and Prime Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (3rd-L) aboard Air Force One during a refueling stop at Al-Udeid Air Base on Oct. 25, 2025 in Abu Nakhlah, Qatar. Trump is traveling to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit (ASEAN), Japan, and to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Also pictured is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (3rd-R), White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (2nd-R), and Special Assistant to the President Margo Martin (R). President Trump visits Asia. See the biggest moments from his trip 1 of 9 US President Donald Trump (C) poses for a group photo with (from L - R) Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, and Laos' Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone before the 13th ASEAN - United States Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 26, 2025.

The enhanced tax credits increased subsidies for eligible people and expanded eligibility to include those making more than four times the federal poverty level. In 2025, that figure is $62,600 for an individual or $124,800 for a family of four.

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If Congress doesn't act and the credits expire at the end of 2025, out-of-pocket premiums would rise by more than 75% on average, USA TODAY previously reported.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, Saman Shafiq, Melina Kahn, Rebecca Morin, Sara Wire  USA TODAY; Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump dances in Malaysia in first stop on Asia tour
One of Curtis Silwas staunchest supporters in the orthodox Jewish community is dropping the Republican and instead backing ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral race against front-runner Zohran Mamdani.

Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind  who formerly represented the heavily orthodox Borough Park and Midwood as a state Assemblyman from 1983 to 2018  said he flipped because Cuomo offered a better chance at stopping Mamdani, the Democratic nominee.

I have nothing but good things to say about Curtis. But at the end of the day its very clear that Curtis cant win, Hikind told The Post of the red-beret wearing founder of the vigilante Guardian Angels.

Hikind, one of Sliwas most ardent supporters, switched his mayoral support to Andrew Cuomo. N.Y. POST: CHAD RACHMAN

I dont want New York to disappear. Mamdani is a threat to the well-being of every New Yorker. He will destroy New York.

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Hikind claims the Israel-bashing Mamdani is antisemitic for among other things supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish state and vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanhyau who he has called a war criminal.

The Jews I know are in an absolute panic, he said.

Hes had issues with Cuomo over the years and even said hes not a good guy  but far preferable to having Mamdani at City Hall.

Cuomo is not a good guy but hes the only one who can stop Mamdani. If its Mamdani or Cuomo, it has to be Cuomo, he said. Cuomo is a Democrat but running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in a crowded ranked-choice primary in June.

I have nothing but good things to say about Curtis. But at the end of the day its very clear that Curtis cant win, Hikind told The Post Robert Miller

Wake up New York!

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Recent polls show Mamdani with a comfortable double digit lead over Cuomo, who comes in second and Sliwa farther behind in third.

Polls indicate the race would be closer in a two-person contest, but Mamdani benefits from Cuomo and Sliwa splitting the anti-Mamdani vote.
Crews put out a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle on Sunday morning, ultimately taking 90 minutes and about 76 firefighters to extinguish the flames, officials said.

Firefighters were called around 6:27 a.m. to the 11400 block of West Exposition Boulevard, where heavy smoke was seen coming from a two-story row of storage units, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The blaze had spread to multiple units on both levels, prompting additional resources as crews moved in aggressively to stop it from advancing, officials said.

Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com) Crews are seen fighting a large self-storage facility fire in Sawtelle. October 2025. (Citizen.com)

By 7:58 a.m., firefighters declared a knockdown after locating and isolating the flames inside the compromised structure, which required crews to cut access holes in the second-floor area.

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LAFD said no injuries were reported. Firefighters are expected to remain on scene through the morning to monitor for hotspots, and drivers are urged to avoid the area.

Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

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Federal agents detained about two dozen undocumented immigrants who reported for check-ins Saturday at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Stockton, immigrant advocates told the Chronicle.

Of the approximately 50 immigrants who had reported to ICE's Stockton office Saturday afternoon, nearly half were detained, said Lisa Knox, co-executive director of the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. Knox said ICE officials temporarily barred immigration attorneys from the building, accused them of being fake attorneys - even after showing their State Bar Association cards - and from meeting with their clients.

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"People have the right to an attorney," she said. "This is definitely a violation of their right to counsel."

A call to the Stockton ICE office seeking comment was not answered, and the agency did not respond to an email requesting more information.

Demonstrators protest Friday outside of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in San Francisco. Several dozen immigrants reported to ICE's Stockton field office Saturday after receiving summonses, immigrant advocates said. (Jessica Christian/S.F. Chronicle)





Among the roughly 25 detained immigrants were an asylum seeker and a man who was the sole breadwinner for his wife and newborn, Knox said. Attorneys planned to return to the Stockton field office again Sunday in anticipation of additional check-ins - routine procedures meant to verify addresses and ensure cases are current, but are now being utilized to sow fear among immigrant communities, she said.

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The agency's actions come after a high-stakes showdown in the Bay Area, in which President Donald Trump said earlier this week he planned to dispatch scores of federal agents to the region, mirroring similar immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Portland, Ore. On Thursday, however, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that Trump had reversed course after the two spoke Wednesday evening.

Since taking office, Trump has moved swiftly to ramp up the deportation of immigrants across the country. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that the administration set a quota of 3,000 deportations per day, a claim the federal government later denied.

His administration has repeatedly defended its actions by saying it is targeting "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens - including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists," but more than 70% of people in ICE detention have no criminal convictions, according to information from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, a data collection center at Syracuse University that reviews immigration data.

A protester holds a sign outside Coast Guard Island Alameda during a demonstration Thursday against an anticipated federal immigration crackdown that was later called off. (Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle)





Some of the immigrants summoned to the Stockton office are part of an ICE program that allows them to live at home as their cases are processed. ICE says about 7.6 million immigrants are in the program, known as Alternatives to Detention or the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program, as of October.

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"ATD-ISAP enables aliens to remain in their communities - contributing to their families and community organizations and, as appropriate, concluding their affairs in the U.S. - as they move through immigration proceedings or prepare for departure," the agency says on its website.

Until recently, it was uncommon for ICE to require people with pending immigration claims to report to its offices for weekend check-ins, and the Stockton office is typically closed over the weekend.

Earlier this year, ICE made similar calls to Bay Area immigrants, ordering them to report to the agency's office on Tehama Street in San Francisco, and a similar facility in Fresno. After issuing summonses to appear on a June weekend, the agency's San Francisco office remained closed as hundreds of protesters sought to block the federal government from detaining more immigrants.

Demonstrators protest ICE actions outside its San Francisco field office in June during the first No Kings Day. Federal agents detained about two dozen undocumented immigrants who reported for check-ins Saturday at a Stockton ICE office. (Benjamin Fanjoy/For the S.F. Chronicle)





The immigrants ICE ordered to check in to the Stockton office are already under federal supervision and known to the agency, said Edwin Carmona-Cruz, CCIJ's other co-executive director, and must comply with federal law to pursue their immigration cases.

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The agency keeps tabs on noncitizens through ankle monitoring, phone check-ins, home visits and other methods of supervision, Carmona-Cruz said.

Knox said that after immigration attorneys fought for access, officials at the regional office eventually allowed them to enter the building, but as of 2 p.m. were letting those they'd called to the office meet with only one person - forcing them to choose between seeing their relatives or talking to an attorney.

"This is part and parcel of ICE's campaign of terror," Knox said in a phone call from outside ICE's regional office in Stockton. "These people have been complying with the law. ICE already decided to release or not detain them, and now they are arbitrarily being called in and detained for no other reason than their quotas."

It is unclear why some immigrants were detained while others were released and put on more intensive forms of monitoring, though ICE is known to detain immigrants for minor violations, such as late online check-ins, Knox said.

This article originally published at About 25 Northern California immigrants detained after being summoned by ICE.




Kevin Zamaripa was looking forward to making the most of his senior year at the University of Houston before completing his kinesiology degree and starting his career.

But in June, state leaders failed to defend the Texas DREAM Act from a federal complaint, effectively ending the 24-year-old law in a matter of hours. The law - the first of its kind in the U.S. - allowed tens of thousands of students in Texas without legal status to qualify for in-state tuition at public universities, including the University of Texas, the University of Houston and the Texas A&M systems.

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Now Zamaripa will likely have to drain his savings to pay about $15,000 in tuition. He isn't sure how he'll find work after graduation since he's not eligible for Obama-era protections for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children - and Texas is no longer required to issue new work permits even if he were.

"When I did hear the news of my tuition going up - and when I actually saw my tuition going up - I don't know, I was scared, I was confused," Zamaripa said. "It wasn't until afterward that I was mad, that it happened just to us. I thought it was unfair. I'm just trying to get an education, you know, better myself."

It's proved a triple threat for many would-be Texas college students - the loss of in-state tuition, plus Texas' refusal to issue new work permits for immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and the fear and stress of the unprecedented crackdown on immigration under the Trump Administration.

Efren Olivares, vice president of litigation and legal strategy at the National Immigration Law Center, said that some students may feel pushed out of higher education altogether, although he hopes that many will still try.

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"I am concerned," Olivares said. "For a lot of students, all they're trying to do is get an education and go to college. Now to have it moved from under them, it's just been really stressful."

A MIXED BAG: What do HISD families think of their schools? Results show sharp racial divide.

Loss of the Dream Act

The shift is palpable at college campuses in Texas, which enrolled some 74,000 undocumented students as of June 2024. Nearly 675,000 of the state's college students are first- or second-generation immigrants, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

Even before the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint against Texas for giving in-state tuition to students without legal status, state colleges had begun to cut services, including the University of Texas at Austin. In January 2024, UT-Austin eliminated its Monarch Program, which gave application assistance and scholarships to undocumented and temporary-status students.

Abraham Garcia, a junior at the University of Houston and a DACA recipient, snaps a photo of the picture he took earlier as part the Inside Out Dreamers project at the University of Houston, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Houston. The exhibit is intended to urge Congress to pass the DREAM act before the end of the year. (Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle)





Since the end of the Texas DREAM Act, many universities have scrambled to comply with new policies, but many student advocates have criticized the state for offering little direction and sending out inaccurate information.

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Barbara Hines, an immigration attorney and founder and former director of the University of Texas Law School Immigration Clinic, said state officials have given little guidance on who still qualifies for in-state tuition, including students with DACA. The Higher Education Coordinating Board said universities must determine "lawful presence," but without further guidance, university systems have been left to set their rules.

Many DACA students across Texas have been denied in-state tuition even when they have lawful presence, Hines said.

Some students who previously qualified for in-state tuition through the Texas DREAM Act have dropped classes or started payment plans to afford higher tuition costs. Others no longer qualify for scholarship programs that require work permits, said Maximiliano Prado, a representative of Students for DEI.

Prado said he's already seen some students drop out. After Texas repealed the in-state tuition policy in June, the group launched a crowdfunding campaign to help students pay fall tuition. They've raised more than $10,000 so far, but due to high demand, they've been forced to turn all but a few students away.

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Without funding, Prado worries that thousands of students may put their college degrees and future careers on hold.

"What about right now? What's immediate?" Prado said. "People can't just put their education backwards or (wait) for the courts to do their thing, because it might take years."

The stakes are higher'

College strategist Mayra Valle would normally help at least a few undocumented students navigate the college application process each school year. This year, that list has dropped to zero.

Valle, who often advises first-generation and lower-income students, has always been deliberate when working with immigrant families. But she said it has become much more difficult this year.

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"Developing trust with people  to not make it feel transactional is important. That used to really be helpful," Valle said. "I think what has shifted is that that trust only goes so far, because we're not talking about getting into college or not at this point, we're talking about family safety. The stakes are higher."

She and other college counselors are now facing new risks themselves. Valle said some educators have been told not to give detailed information on financial aid applications, fearing the data could be used to access families' citizenship information. Texas high school students are required to either opt out of or complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA; the Texas Application for State Financial Aid, or TASFA; and the College Board's online application for non-federal aid.

Maria Yolisma Garcia, 20, of Dallas, center, rallies in support of the HB1403, the Texas DREAM Act, at a demonstration at the Capitol in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday Jan. 14, 2015. More than 50 people, a coalition of businesses, affected students, supporters, and lawmakers, rallied to preserve the 2001 in-state tuition law. (Jay Janner/Associated Press)





Many students without legal status are no longer eligible for aid through TASFA, a free financial aid form for Texas residents who are ineligible for the FAFSA program. Others are opting out because they worry they'll put their families at risk.

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As part of the Trump administration's crackdown, agents have already tracked some immigrants through information provided on tax forms.

Families are also increasingly uneasy with their children attending out-of-state colleges because of travel concerns, Valle said. That includes traveling through checkpoints, where mixed-status families have been ensnared in the administration's crackdown.

"It just seems like a lot more barriers to getting to the first day of college are getting in the way of us even having a conversation," Valle said.

DETAINED: Houston police turned in a teen with autism to immigration officials. Now he needs appendix surgery.

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In late September, the federal government said it may begin accepting new DACA applications in every state, except for Texas. The 2012 initiative protects some immigrants from deportation and provides a path to higher education and work authorization. But while the rest of the country could soon renew work permits for DACA recipients, that won't happen in Texas because state leaders have sued to end the program.

With financial setbacks or worries that family members may be deported, some high school seniors have reconsidered applying for college this fall, several advisers and students told the Chronicle.

"It's really hard for them to get financial aid now," said Jose Cantu, who graduated from Houston ISD in 2025 and now attends the University of Houston. Cantu is part of a mixed-status family, meaning he has legal status while other family members don't. He also has several friends who are undocumented who won't be able to afford college anymore.

"They don't want to really give money and grants to those students," he said. "A lot of scholarships are denying their applications just because they're not from here."

Mixed-status families fear disruption

Kendra, a recent HISD graduate and Houston City College student whose last name is being omitted to protect her privacy, has legal status. Her father does not and has lived in the United States for more than two decades. Every day, she worries that Trump's vow to deport as many unauthorized immigrants as possible could upend their lives.

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In the months leading up to his election, President Donald Trump pledged to begin "the largest deportation operation in the history" of the United States. The administration has reported around 350,000 deportations in the first seven months of Trump's second term. Federal officials also reported 1.4 million fewer immigrants arriving in the U.S. from January to June 2025.

Several of her father's coworkers have disappeared without notice, and Kendra and her dad have begun to talk about what they would do if he were sent back to his home country. Would his family go with him? Would they be safe, and could they settle back into a place that, for more than two decades, had not been home?

Kendra is afraid she'd have to skip college and find another way to make ends meet.

"Every single day I have to worry about it, and it's only getting worse," she said. "Just the feeling of impending doom, like, when is it going to happen? As much as I wouldn't like to think of it that way, I'm just worried because it is very possible that it can happen literally at any moment."

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POLL: Texans split over Trump's immigration crackdown, new survey finds

For Valle, the college strategist, the last defense is building community. When she advises students without legal status, she connects them with immigration lawyers or groups like FIEL Houston to facilitate as many opportunities as possible for students.

"I've found that has been the best method of one, building trust with families, and then two, building excitement for the student as they go into this new phase in their lives," Valle said. "Just building safety  when their whole network is present and the community is in communication with each other."

For Prado, the concerns reach even further, to what they mean for the state's future workforce.

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"In the long run, it means a less prosperous economy. It also means less diversity in higher education," Prado said.

If her education is disrupted, Kendra said it would end not just her years of hard work, but her father's as well.

"My dad made the sacrifice to get a better life for himself, but he repeatedly tells us that he also wanted a better life for his family," Kendra said. "My job, my education, that is very significant, not only because I'm going to be successful in the future, but because it has that value of everything he did for me to (get here.)"

This article originally published at A dream, deferred: Texas' undocumented students rethink college as opportunities dry up.
Dry air returned to all of New Mexico this afternoon. High temperatures also started a warming trend across most of the state today. Breezy westerly winds will return Sunday afternoon, with wind gusts up to 35 mph. The westerly wind will also warm up temperatures quickly. Warm weather will continue into Monday with lighter winds. A backdoor cold front moves into New Mexico Tuesday, dropping highs back down to around and slightly below average through the middle of next week. They will warm up again into the end of the week with quiet and dry weather sticking around into Halloween.

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

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A motorist died Sunday after driving off the Santa Cruz Wharf into Monterey Bay, prompting an underwater search, according to city officials.

Emergency crews responded shortly after 9:44 a.m. when bystanders saw a vehicle break through a section of wooden railing, plunge over the side of the wharf and submerge beneath the surface, said Josh Coleman, a battalion chief with the Santa Cruz Fire Department.

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The incident happened across from Marini's Candies, he said, near the end of the popular half-mile pier dotted with shops, restaurants and sea lion viewing spots.

A team of 13 lifeguards entered the water and conducted a search in "very unfavorable conditions," Coleman said, including 8- to 10-foot surf and "zero visibility."

After roughly 10 minutes, rescue divers located the vehicle on its roof at the bottom of the 30-foot ocean floor. They broke a car window and extricated an unconscious person from inside, Coleman said.

Crews brought the driver to a personal watercraft at the surface, which transported the victim to an ambulance waiting at the harbor, Coleman said.

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The person was pronounced dead at Dignity Hospital.

Coleman said lifeguards also rescued a dog from the water, although it was unclear whether the dog had been inside the vehicle. The dog was alive and taken to the county animal shelter, he said.

No one else was injured during the incident. Coleman said he was proud of the brave efforts of lifeguards and firefighters, noting that the challenging rescue operation lasted 33 minutes.

A heavy wrecker extricated the submerged vehicle from the ocean floor.

Members of the Santa Cruz fire and police departments, Central Fire District, California State Parks, Scotts Valley Fire District, U.S. Coast Guard and Santa Cruz Harbor Patrol were involved in the emergency response.

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Santa Cruz police are investigating the death, but as of Sunday afternoon, had provided no information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Officials closed the wharf to the public for several hours but reopened it shortly before noon.

This article originally published at Motorist dies, dog rescued after vehicle drives off Santa Cruz Wharf.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A driver rolled into the Little Arkansas River on Saturday but managed to climb out of the car unharmed, Wichita police said.

It happened about 3:15 p.m. near Back Bay Boulevard and Ninth Street.

Police said the driver lost control and rolled into the river. Tire tracks were visible on the bank. A red Chevy Malibu, almost entirely submerged, was empty when police arrived, but the driver returned to the scene.

There were no injuries, police said.

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The area was blocked off to traffic on Saturday afternoon while crews worked to remove the car from the water.

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One person was killed late Saturday night when a tractor trailer crashed on a Midlands road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

The single-vehicle collision happened at about 10:50 p.m. in Lee County, said Master Trooper Brandon Bolt.

A 2025 Volvo tractor trailer was driving south on S.C. 341 in the Bishopville area, according to Bolt. Near the intersection with Longbranch Road the semi truck ran off the right side of S.C. 341 and hit a utility pole, Bolt said.

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The driver was the only person in the tractor trailer and died, according to Bolt.

The Lee County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the driver.

No other injuries were reported.

There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt.

Information about what caused the tractor trailer to veer off the road was not available, but the wreck continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol.

Through Oct. 19, at least 717 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2025, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, at least 948 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported.

At least six people have died in Lee County crashes in 2025, according to DPS data. There were four deaths in the county in 2024, DPS reported.
Delegates of the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), comprising transport specialists from South and South-East Asian countries, visited the Namo Bharat Corridor on Sunday. The delegation was accompanied by senior officials of NCRTC. A detailed briefing was given to the delegates on India's first regional rail, Namo Bharat, covering the project's overview, the advanced technologies deployed, and its innovative initiatives. They were also briefed on how Namo Bharat is addressing key urban mobility challenges, such as reducing pollution and congestion, and on how it is contributing towards a sustainable future. The delegation took a round trip on the Namo Bharat train from New Ashok Nagar to Duhai Depot Namo Bharat station, where they experienced the commuter-centric features of the trains. Under the Make in India initiative of the Government of India, these trainsets are manufactured in Savli, Gujarat. En route, they experienced the commuter-centric design of the trains and stations, as well as accessibility provisions, and appreciated the detailed focus on the comfort and diverse needs of commuters. A detailed briefing was also given on the various efforts being taken by NCRTC for Multi-modal Integration (MMI), in which stations are seamlessly connected to other existing modes of public transport, creating a vast network-of-networks to ensure better ridership and long-term sustainability. They particularly noticed and appreciated the presence of women in various roles, such as train operators and station control officers, and commended the women-led development of the organisation. At Duhai Depot, the delegates visited the state-of-the-art Inspection Bay Line (IBL) and Workshop, observing the comprehensive processes involved in maintaining and servicing Namo Bharat trainsets. A detailed briefing was given on operational protocols, safety checks, and technical procedures that ensure trains run efficiently and reliably. The visit also included a demonstration of several groundbreaking technologies being adopted for this first-of-its-kind project in India. They were briefed on the Hybrid Level 3 technology of the European Train Control System (ETCS) being implemented over an LTE backbone for this transformative mobility solution --a global first and one of the most advanced signalling and train control systems. Along with this, the delegates visited the Administrative Building at Duhai Depot, where they observed the Operation Control Centre, Simulator Room, and other facilities. NCRTC is using various advanced technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Building Information Modelling (BIM), for project implementation, operational efficiency, and training purposes. The visit concluded at New Ashok Nagar Namo Bharat Station. Throughout the visit, the delegates expressed keen interest in NCRTC's initiatives, acknowledging the corporation's efforts in promoting sustainable, technologically advanced, and commuter-friendly infrastructure. They also appreciated the efforts made by NCRTC to implement the project on time and to overcome challenges through the adoption of advanced technologies and progressive methods, noting that these innovative practices are not only setting new standards for India but are also gaining recognition globally. (ANI)




An intoxicated camper at a Marin County campground set off an extensive overnight search early Sunday before returning safely to his tent, authorities said.

The incident began when the man's friends reported him missing from the Olema Ranch Campground, saying he had been drinking heavily and might be in distress.

Marin County Sheriff's deputies and Marin County Search and Rescue mobilized around 3 a.m., deploying approximately 40 team members on foot, plus e-bike and drone teams, to comb the area.

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"About an hour into the search, the subject walked back to his campsite and reported that he had been passed out in a field about half mile away," Marin County Search and Rescue said in a statement.

The man was evaluated by responders and released at the scene. SAR Falcon drone and California Rescue Dog Association K-9 teams were also en route to assist.

The large-scale response drew mixed reactions from residents online.

"Maybe if they would've contacted the host immediately at the campground she could've found him within 20 minutes," a commenter posted on Facebook.

Others praised the responders' swift mobilization.

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"Good result to your mobe. Well done and thanks," another posted.

While California law allows counties to seek reimbursement for search and rescue operations deemed negligent, such charges are rarely enforced.

Experts note that a single complex rescue, such as one involving helicopters, can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Still, volunteer-led operations like Marin County SAR typically perform their work at no cost to the public.

This article originally published at Drunken Bay Area camper prompts large-scale search while sleeping it off in a field.




After several weeks of hot and dry weather to start autumn, Southeast Texas is finally starting to see some very welcome changes. On Saturday, Houston recorded nearly 2 inches of rain, which broke a streak of 30 consecutive days without rain  the city's fifth-longest dry streak since 2000.

It's been hot, too. So far this October, Houston's average high temperature has been 90.3 degrees, which was on pace for the city's hottest October ever. Thankfully, that record won't be broken, as weather models now agree that a rather significant cold front will hit Houston by the middle of the week, and it may have you reaching for a jacket for the first time in months.

Sunday forecast

After Saturday's heavy rain, Southeast Texas is set to dry out today. A pleasant morning is expected as temperatures hover in the mid- to upper 60s under partly cloudy skies through 9 a.m. By the middle of the day, skies will start to clear, likely becoming mostly sunny by the afternoon.

Shown are the expected high temperatures across Southeast Texas on Sunday. (Pivotal Weather)





Temperatures will rise slowly, likely only reaching 75 degrees by noon to 1 p.m. Afternoon high temperatures are expected to reach only the upper 70s to near 80 degrees, which is near-average for late October. Rain chances will be near zero through the afternoon, as a result of Saturday's low pressure system continuing off to the east.

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Monday: Another beautiful day is expected to start the workweek. Morning low temps will start in the low to mid-60s across the Houston area, warming steadily into the low 80s by the afternoon. Humidity levels will stay relatively high, but rain chances will remain slim to none.

Cold front incoming

Tuesday may end up being Houston's warmest day of the week as high temperatures top out in the low to mid-80s. However, a cold front will start pushing through Texas Tuesday morning, arriving in Houston by the evening.

North winds will surge into Southeast Texas at 15-25 mph, bringing significantly colder air into the region. By Wednesday morning, Houston temperatures are expected to fall into the upper 50s. A few scattered showers are possible as the front moves through, but rain chances will only be around 20%.

Temperatures will be slow to rise on Wednesday, likely topping out in the upper 60s to near 70 degrees. The front will send dry air into the region too, making for sunny skies and very low humidity values.

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The chilliest weather is expected late Wednesday and into Thursday morning. Low temps are likely to fall to around 50 degrees in the Houston area, with many areas outside of the city falling into the upper 40s. Areas like Conroe, Huntsville, and College Station will see low temps near 45 degrees. You'll definitely want a jacket or coat before walking out the door.

Temperatures will stay cool Thursday afternoon, likely topping out in the upper 60s to low 70s once again, under bright sunshine. After another chilly start Friday morning, afternoon highs will warm a few more degrees, into the mid-70s.

Temperatures will trend warmer this weekend, but things will stay seasonably cool as lows sit in the 50s while high temperatures rise into the upper 70s to low 80s.

This article originally published at After drying out today, a strong cold front targets Houston this week. Here's when..
DUNEDIN  A vacant 4.1-acre parcel that once housed part of Nielsen Media Research headquarters at 375 Patricia Ave. will be developed for apartments rather than the office complex originally envisioned.

After a decade of unsuccessful attempts to attract an employer to the site  where the Nielsen headquarters was demolished in 2012  city staff has agreed to amend the development agreement to allow additional housing alongside the existing Dunedin Commons luxury apartments.

The property is eligible for residential development as provided under the Live Local Act, attorney Katie Cole of Hill, Ward and Henderson wrote to city officials on behalf of the developer.

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Community development director George Kinney told commissioners that Dunedin Commons is actually developed for the most part.

In her letter, Cole noted that multifamily and retail uses have been successfully completed since 2018.

According to the citys development agreement, the project includes 280 luxury apartments, 56 townhomes and 7,200 square feet of retail space. Amenities include a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse, fitness center, yoga area, pool and pickleball and bocce courts.

When development was first proposed, housing director Robert Ironsmith told the Tampa Bay Times: It offers housing choices, it offers retail, and its really a shot in the arm for the Patricia Avenue corridor. We are really proud of it.

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However, the office complex component was never realized.

In 2015, the city approved a special area plan for redevelopment of the 23-acre site formerly occupied by Nielsen Media Research. The project authorized three mandatory uses: residential, retail and a 4.1-acre parcel limited to office/target employment uses.

Despite Dunedin Commons efforts to attract a target employer, however, the parcel remains vacant, Cole wrote. As a result, the parties agree that greater flexibility is needed to facilitate redevelopment of the target parcel, and they wish to remove the mandatory requirement for target office.

Cole noted that the city recognized challenges with developing the property, including its nine-year vacancy, lack of access to an arterial roadway and its location in a predominantly residential area far from other industrial uses or related businesses.

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While the city was optimistic that the project could attract a target user to replace the Nielsen Media headquarters that relocated to Oldsmar, both the development agreement and the special area plan contemplate the removal of the target employment requirement because of the uncertainty of such a use in this location, she wrote.

Cole said the updated memorandum of understanding specifically requests termination of the Dunedin Commons development agreement in exchange for the citys ongoing agreement to provide assistance.

The parties agree that upon termination of the development agreement, the project is eligible for residential development as provided under the Live Local Act, she wrote.

Floridas Live Local Act offers developers land use flexibility, tax incentives and funding to build affordable housing. For eligible projects, local governments must streamline approval by providing administrative approval rather than lengthy public hearings, provided projects meet non-Live Local regulations such as setbacks.

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Following termination of the development agreement, Dunedin Commons may file a formal application for a land use plan amendment allowing limited residential density not to exceed seven units per acre and all nonresidential uses consistent with the FX-H zoning, Cole said.

Kinney told commissioners: Weve been working with the developer. They have done their due diligence, tried to market the property and couldnt get that type of use in there.

The development agreement expires in December.

City commissioners were informed about the proposed change at a recent work session and did not object or comment.
A Dutch election candidate was hauled out of a live televised debate after being confused for an infamous vegan streaker.

Security guards escorted Kevin Nuijten, a candidate for the conservative JA21 party, from the audience of the event in the southern city of Tilburg.

Bosses at the host broadcaster were tipped off that he was believed to be Peter Janssen, a notorious animal rights activist, who days earlier had gatecrashed a live talk show half-naked during a discussion on the upcoming election.

Credit: X/@PeterNieuwsuur

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After Mr Nuijten was removed from the audience, he was handed to the police and placed under arrest, JA21 said in a statement.

In the police van it quickly became clear that they had the wrong person, a party spokesman said.

He was held for 15 minutes as the officers attempted to confirm that Mr Nuijten was not the criminal activist and actually an innocent parliamentary candidate.

I explained that I am a member of the Provincial Council in Brabant and that they could just google my name, he said via the spokesman.

The electoral candidate described his 15-minute detention as funny and said he had good conversations with the officers.

100 per cent match tip-off

Renzo Veenstra, editor-in-chief of broadcaster Omroep Brabant, said: We were informed by the Royal and Diplomatic Security Service, who had been tipped off by a reporter from a national broadcaster, that the man was a 100 per cent match with the vegan streaker. And so he was removed.

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The broadcaster later offered Mr Nuijten a beer and a branded scarf in the form of an apology for the confusion.

Animal rights activist Janssen has plagued the country with his half-naked, and sometimes violent, stunts for more than a decade.

He is known for gate-crashing live events in just a pair of black briefs with slogans scrawled across his skin.

Peter Janssen is known for his animal rights activism stunts

Last Thursday, he interrupted Eva Jineks live talk show, screaming: Its always about people, but we should also talk about animals.

The criminal protester had used a fake name to circumvent security checks on the audience of the show.

In 2010, he was jailed for releasing 2,500 minks from a Dutch breeder a year earlier. Later, he was sentenced to a further 15 months behind bars for an arson attack against a slaughter house at a duck farm.

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Around the same time, Janssen was accused of plotting to kill Queen Beatrix because the former monarch was well-known for wearing real animal fur. His lawyers claimed the accusations were bogus and an attempt to smear the activist.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A special fundraising event was held at the Seneca Park Zoo on Saturday to bring awareness to dystonia, a neurological disorder.

Dystonia causes involuntary muscle contractions in the body. The contractions, which can affect any muscles in the body, lead to involuntary movements that can be painful for some. According to the Dystonia Foundation, an estimated 250,000 Americans are diagnosed with dystonia, and there are multiple types.

Dystonia Zoo Day was hosted by the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation in collaboration with the Zoo to bring the community together for an interactive day of fundraising towards research for a cure and supporting those diagnosed.

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Adam Interviews: Family trying to cure Dystonia

Rochester is a wonderful place to be; its a beautiful place. Weve never done anything like this in Rochester before, so this is the inaugural event we look forward to doing more of these. The University of Rochester has a fantastic movement disorders center with people coming from all over the area to be treated here, so it makes sense for us to gather here, Dystonia Medical Research Foundations Executive Director Janet Hieshetter.

According to the fundraisers website, over $17,000 has been raised so far. Those who would like to donate can do so here.

Additional information about dystonia and resources can be found on the Dystonia Medical Research Foundations website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11)  Nearly 80,000 New Yorkers checked in to vote on the first day of early voting this year, five times more than the last mayoral election in 2021.

The citys Board of Elections said across all five boroughs, 79,409 voters checked in on Saturday.

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Its a huge jump from the last mayoral election, when just over 15,000 voters turned out to the polls on the first day of early voting, according to the BOE.

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On Nov. 4, New Yorkers will choose between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat on the ballot as an independent. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams will still be on the ballot even though he dropped out of the race and is now supporting Cuomo.

Voters at the polls Saturday told the Associated Press that housing and affordability were the key factors deciding who to vote for.

While the mayors race has drawn national attention, New Yorkers will also vote on the race for city comptroller, public advocate, district attorney and city council seats.

Early voting runs through Nov. 2.

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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 PIX11.
Before sunlight ever reached the planet, another force may have sparked lifeelectricity. Deep beneath the ocean floor, ancient hydrothermal vents might have generated natural electric fields strong enough to turn carbon dioxide into the first organic molecules. A new study suggests these deep-sea batteries could have powered the chemistry that made Earth come alive.

Recreating the Birthplace of Life

To explore this idea, researchers recreated the conditions of early Earths seafloor in the lab. They mimicked hydrothermal ventscracks where hot, mineral-rich water meets cold seawater. These vents, filled with iron and nickel sulfides, naturally create stable gradients in temperature, acidity, and chemistry. Those gradients can produce tiny electric voltages, much like the ones that power living cells today.

In their experiment, scientists built small reactors separated by iron sulfide walls. One chamber held hot, hydrogen-rich fluid; the other contained cold, carbon dioxiderich seawater. This setup produced a steady electric current, just as ancient oceans might have done four billion years ago.

Generalized reactor setups for mineral/metal-facilitated reduction of CO2 under analogue hydrothermal vent conditions. (CREDIT: Journal of the American Chemical Society)

Without sunlight, enzymes, or life itself, the current began converting carbon dioxide into simple organic molecules. The team detected formic and acetic acidsessential ingredients in the earliest metabolic reactions. All it took was a natural flow of electrons through the mineral barrier.

Iron Sulfide: Natures First Catalyst

Iron sulfide (FeS) didnt just conduct electricityit acted like a primitive enzyme. It guided electrons and encouraged carbon dioxide and hydrogen to react, forming organic compounds. Interestingly, iron-sulfur clusters still play a key role in modern enzymes that generate cellular energy, hinting that life may have evolved directly from this ancient chemistry.

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The best results occurred between 70C and 120Cthe same range found in real hydrothermal vents. The voltage across the FeS barrier, between 150 and 250 millivolts, closely matched the potential across modern cell membranes. This remarkable similarity points to a deep evolutionary link between rocks and life.

How Rocks Became Cells

Thiago Altair Ferreira, who led the study at the University of Sao Paulo and Japans RIKEN Institute, said the voltages seen in the experiment are comparable to those that power mitochondriathe batteries of cells. Its this voltage that sustains the chemical reactions, he explained. The team wanted to see if electricity alone could turn CO into organic matterand it did.

Sketch of the free-energy transfer mechanism from natural gradients at the early ventocean interface to drive the energy protometabolism, a candidate seed to the chemiosmosis emergence on early Earth. (CREDIT: Journal of the American Chemical Society)

Even weak electric currents, only billionths of an ampere, were enough to keep the reactions going. Ferreira believes these gentle currents could have fueled a protometabolisma primitive version of the chemical cycles that energize life today. The results show that early Earth didnt need sunlight or enzymes to begin lifejust the right minerals, fluids, and electricity.

The organic acids created in the experiment resemble molecules used in the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, one of the oldest metabolic routes still found in bacteria today. This suggests life may have inherited its first energy systems from geological processes themselves.

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The researchers also found that stronger differences in temperature and pH increased the production of organic molecules. The bigger the gap between vent and ocean conditions, the more efficiently CO converted into organicsmaking hydrothermal vents ideal cradles for life.

Electricity: The First Engine of Life

The study proposes that natural electric fields within minerals could have served as Earths first power source. These voltages mirror those that drive ATP productionthe main energy system in living organisms. Today, proton gradients across cell membranes power ATP synthase, the enzyme that makes cellular energy. Billions of years ago, minerals may have played the same role before proteins evolved.

SEM secondary-electron images of (a) FeS and (b) Ni-FeS synthetic minerals, produced using the same procedures as those used in the experiments. (CREDIT: Journal of the American Chemical Society)

This work supports the alkaline hydrothermal vent theory, which suggests life began not in random chemical chaos but in structured, energy-rich environments. The vents continuously generated organic materials using heat and natural voltage gradients. Over time, these compounds became energy carriers that eventually led to the first cells.

The findings also hint that life could arise elsewhere. Hydrothermal vents exist on moons and planets like Europa, Enceladus, and Mars. If similar electric gradients occur there, they might power the same chemistry that once sparked life on Earth. Understanding these systems helps us imagine how oceans on another planet could give rise to biology, Ferreira said.

Ancient Chemistry, Modern Solutions

This research not only reimagines how life beganit could also help combat climate change. The same electrochemistry that may have birthed life could inspire new carbon-capture and clean-fuel technologies. Ferreira hopes to harness mineral-based catalysis to make CO conversion cheaper and more energy-efficient.

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His doctoral adviser, Professor Hamilton Varela, praised the study for connecting multiple fields. It provided experimental evidence of how temperature, pH, and potential gradients reduce CO and opened valuable new directions in the field, he said. The project brought together scientists from Brazil, Japan, Britain, and the U.S. in a global effort to trace lifes deepest origins.

Equilibrium potentials for the H2 oxidation reaction (triangles, circles, and squares) at different temperatures based on different geological environments. (CREDIT: Journal of the American Chemical Society)

A New Vision of Lifes Origin

The study challenges the old primordial soup idea, which portrays life as a product of random chemical reactions. Instead, it suggests a more ordered beginningguided by constant, natural energy. The origin of life is not a soup of organic compounds but order in the right place at the right time, Ferreira said. Life, in this view, wasnt an accidentit was chemistrys natural next step.

By linking real geological settings to measurable electrical reactions, the researchers turned an ancient theory into a working experiment. Their results suggest that the same forces that power life today were already active in Earths early oceanswhen rocks first learned how to live.

Why It Matters

This study deepens our understanding of how energy gradients drive the chemistry of lifeand how similar conditions might exist elsewhere in the universe. It also offers a blueprint for cleaner energy on Earth.

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By learning from ancient minerals that turned CO into organic molecules, scientists could design more sustainable systems for capturing carbon and producing fuels.

Research findings are available online in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

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AccuWeather meteorologists continue to watch multiple storms impacting the United States, both of which will have impacts to conditions along the East Coast through the week. Meanwhile, Category 5 Hurricane Melissa is preparing to make its turn toward Jamaica, bringing catastrophic impacts to the island before tracking northeast across Cuba and the Bahamas by midweek.

The combination of storms converging in the eastern U.S. and the western Atlantic will lead to another round of rough surf and coastal flooding along the East coast beaches from the last days of October into the start of November.

AccuWeather.com

Melissa to move through the Bahamas while a storm trekking across the Southeast moves offshore

After Melissa tracks through the western Caribbean, bringing catastrophic flooding and destructive winds to portions of the region, it will pass through the Bahamas by midweek before moving into the western Atlantic. Melissa is expected to then approach Bermuda, bringing rain and wind impacts to the island chain as early as late week.

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At the same time, a storm that brought torrential rainfall and severe weather to portions of the Plains and Gulf Coast moved across the Southeast and is now offshore.

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The combination of the storm offshore and Melissa tracking across the Bahamas and into the western Atlantic towards Bermuda will bring coastal hazards across much of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coast through much of the week.

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Residents along the coast should prepare for coastal flooding and beach erosion due to persistent onshore flow as well as stirred up surf from Melissa. Those operating small crafts or vessels are urged to use caution through the week and consider altering plans due to hazardous seas.

Potent storm to take shape across the central, eastern U.S.

AccuWeather's team of meteorologists are also watching a storm moving through the Northwest as it is expected to strengthen as it treks eastward over the central and eastern U.S. mid- to late week.

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The storm will strengthen over the Mississippi Valley before moving northeastward into the Ohio Valley and Northeast, bringing periods of rain and gusty winds to a wide portion of the region, which can impact any Halloween celebrations and activities. Across the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains above 2,500 feet, it will be cold enough to support the potential for snow.

AccuWeather.com

Along with the rain and wind, coastal hazards will also be present across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast late week.

"The combination of high pressure over southeast Canada, Melissa several hundred miles off the mid-Atlantic and Northeast coast and the approaching storm will generate strong rip currents and coastal flooding," adds AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill.

The dip in the jet stream will promote a cooler pattern across much of the eastern third of the U.S. through the end of October into early November.

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By early November, temperatures across the region can be as low as 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit below the historical average.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  The Association of Southeast Asian Nations welcomed East Timor as its newest member Sunday, which its prime minister said was a dream realized for the tiny nation. Meanwhile, Cambodia and Thailand signed an agreement expanding a ceasefire on their borders with the hope it will lead to a lasting peace.

Today, history is made, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told the other leaders as the flag of East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, was added to the other 10 on the stage at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

It was ASEAN's first expansion since the 1990s and was more than a decade in the making.

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For the people of Timor Leste this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey  one marked by resilience, determination and hope, he said.

The ceremony marked the opening of ASEAN's annual summit, followed by two days of high-level engagements with key partners including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the U.S.

Thailand and Cambodia sign expanded border ceasefire

Shortly after his arrival Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump took part as Cambodia and Thailand signed a formal expansion of the ceasefire that he helped broker this summer to end their border conflict.

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There was a lot of killing. And then we got it stopped, very quickly, Trump said before Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the agreement.

The terms of the agreement include Thailand releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and for both sides to begin removing heavy weapons from the border area.

There were few details in the agreement on how it would be carried out, though it said the leaders agreed to establish an observer team made up of ASEAN member states with the objective of ensuring the full and effective implementation.

Both Cambodian and Thai leaders called the agreement a joint declaration on the ceasefire, while Trump dubbed it the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords

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This declaration, if fully implemented, will provide the building blocks for lasting peace, Anutin said. But more importantly, it will begin the process of mending our ties.

Hun Manet said that "today marks a historic moment of profound significance for Cambodia and Thailand  a day where we affirm our shared conviction that peace is always possible when nations have the courage and wisdom to pursue it together."

Trump said he had signed economic agreements with both of those nations, and later also concluded a deal with Malaysia.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japans newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi were among more than a dozen other leaders on hand.

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Membership in ASEAN could help the one of world's poorest countries grow

East Timor's accession to ASEAN gives the country, which has just 1.4 million people and a GDP of around $2 billion, better access to an economic community of nations with some 680 million people and a $3.8 trillion economy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country holds the bloc's rotating chairmanship, said East Timor's accession completes the ASEAN family, the affirming of our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.

He said ASEAN's goal was to pursue growth that is both resilient and fair, and to safeguard the welfare of generations to come.

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The integration of the regions youngest nation, and one of its poorest, demonstrates ASEAN's inclusivity and adaptability, especially at a time of geopolitical flux, said Angeline Tan, an analyst with Malaysias Institute of Strategic & International Studies:

"As protectionism is on the rise, the expansion of ASEAN demonstrates its commitment to regionalism, openness and equal participation, she said.

The last country to join ASEAN was Cambodia in 1999.

East Timor, wedged between Indonesia and Australia, was a Portuguese colony for over four centuries before declaring independence in 1975.

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Indonesia invaded nine days later, beginning a brutal 24-year occupation that claimed tens of thousands of lives through conflict, famine and disease. A U.N.-supervised referendum in 1999 paved the way for independence, which was formally restored in 2002.

Today it is led by two independence heroes  Prime Minister Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996.

They are trying to tackle high levels of unemployment, malnutrition and poverty. Some 42% of the country's population live below the national poverty line. Nearly two-thirds of its citizens are under 30 years old, making youth job creation a high priority.

Its major source of government revenues comes from the oil and gas industry, but with resources quickly becoming depleted it is looking to diversify.

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Initially, the idea of bringing East Timor into ASEAN was met with skepticism by several other members, and even though that was overcome, Joanne Lin, co-coordinator of the ISEASYusof Ishak Institutes ASEAN Studies Centre in Singapore, said adding the nation is not without challenges.

Timor-Lestes administrative and institutional capacity still lags behind most ASEAN members, and full participation will require sustained technical and financial support from the secretariat and member states, she said. But its inclusion also brings new energy and perspectives  especially on issues like youth empowerment, democratic governance and small-state diplomacy.

For East Timor, ASEAN membership gives it access to the blocs free trade deals, investment opportunities and a broader regional market.

East Timor applied for membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022.

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For us this new beginning brings immense opportunity in trade, investment, education and the digital economy  we are ready to learn, innovate and uphold good government, Gusmao said.

This is not the end of a journey, this is a beginning of an inspiring new chapter.
YSR Congress Party Vemuru in-charge Varikuti Ashok Babu slammed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, terming the Kurnool bus tragedy, which claimed 19 lives, a government-made massacre caused by the spread of spurious liquor under his rule, a press release by YSRCP said. Addressing the media, Ashok Babu said the coalition government's liquor policy has turned every village into a "24-hour liquor ATM." As per the release, he alleged that the bus driver involved in the tragedy was intoxicated, proving that the accident stemmed from the rampant, unregulated sale of adulterated liquor. "The government is profiting from the blood of the poor," he said, adding that the administration's silence exposes its complicity. Ashok Babu demanded a CBI probe and called for Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh, Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra and Transport Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy to be named as accused in the case. "The YSRCP government once ensured strict regulation. Now, under Chandrababu's corrupt regime, liquor floods the streets, fake brands kill people, and deaths are dismissed as accidents. This is not negligence, this is state-sponsored murder," he said. He accused Chandrababu and Nara Lokesh of turning the state into a liquor den by handing over shops to private individuals and TDP leaders, who now run illegal belt shops and fake liquor factories, the YSRCP release said. "Even cool drink stalls are selling liquor. Thousands are dying, and this government is the killer," Ashok Babu alleged. This comes after a Bengaluru-bound bus from Hyderabad caught fire after a fatal collision with a bike in Chinnatekur near the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh on National Highway (NH) 44 in the early hours of Friday, leaving 19 people dead. Earlier today, Dr Brahmaji, forensic professor at Kurnool Medical College, said that ten out of the 19 bodies have been handed over to the families of the victims. The bodies were handed over after Dr Brahmaji and his team received the DNA test reports of the victims. He told ANI, "Yesterday, my team and I visited the spot. We sent samples for DNA testing. After receiving the DNA test report, we started handing over the bodies today. So far, we have handed over 10 bodies, and nine are still there. The relatives will arrive shortly, and we will hand over the bodies to them." (ANI)
At the heart of the lengthening government shutdown  a partial shutdown, we hasten to add; our esteemed Congress members are still being paid  is a simple question. Are the federal subsidies that suppressed Access Health CT premiums during and after the COVID-19 pandemic still necessary, two and a half years after the pandemic ended?

Congressional Democrats say yes, absolutely. Republicans and a few Democrats say maybe; let's send the stopgap funding bill already passed by House of Representatives to President Trump, reopen the government, and negotiate the subsidies after the dust settles.

As Republicans will tell anyone who will listen, Democrats supported the 2021 bill that included sunsetting of the subsidies at the end of this year. But health-insurance experts warn that premiums charged by Obamacare insurers, such as those under Connecticut's Access Health CT system, will rise sharply if the subsidies expire as directed under the 2021 legislation.

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How much they will increase, of course, is a matter of opinion. "On Jan. 1, those costs are going to go up an average of 114 percent," said Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. "That means double  double your health-insurance premium.  We want to save them from that."

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont echoed Sen. Durbin's point Oct. 21, predicting "people could pay four, five or six times more per month than they currently pay," according to a WSFB news report. "Your premiums could go up, could double. It could cost you an extra $1,000 a year or $1,000 a month, depends on what your situation is.

These warnings of catastrophic consequences from the conflict at the heart of the government shutdown are false, according to research cited by consultant Chris Jacobs in an Oct. 20 Wall Street Journal op-ed. "(G)iven the results from KFF (formerly the Kaiser Family Foundation) and the Urban Institute, most households will likely face increases of $50 to $100 a month," Mr. Jacobs wrote. "Reasonable people can disagree about the wisdom of a $50 to $100 monthly cost increase for households of modest means.  (but) the left's apocalyptic rhetoric about the expiration of the enhanced subsidies belies that federal taxpayers will still subsidize three-quarters of enrollees' premium costs."

In other words, there's something rotten in the way the Obamacare exchanges were designed and continue to operate today. Mr. Jacobs briefly mentioned the presence of massive fraud in the system. With or without fraud, one can't escape the reality that the system of subsidies that Congress envisioned in 2021 was destined to become unsustainable, and would bring about the current conflict at the Capitol.

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In announcing state government will issue 150,000 notices to affected Access Health CT subscribers, Gov. Lamont asserted that "congressional Republicans  are refusing to extend" the subsidies. That's not quite right. GOP leaders have expressed a willingness, even a desire, to negotiate a new regime of subsidies, but are unwilling to extend them as part of a stopgap funding measure tailored to reopening the government. To do so would be fiscally irresponsible.

"I have said, give us the votes to open up the government," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during an interview with PBS' Anna Nawaz on Oct. 9. "Then we will have a conversation about some of these issues that (Democrats) want to discuss."

He added that Democrats have put forward a stopgap counterproposal totaling $1.5 billion, of which $400 billion would cover the subsidy issue. "What we have said is, if there's a path forward on that, it has to include reforms," Sen. Thune said.

Elections have consequences, and Republicans won the House, the Senate and the White House  so their policy preferences carry considerable weight. It is understandable that Democrats would not trust Republicans to negotiate, in good faith, an extension of the health-care subsidies, but Democratic officeholders would not relish the prospect of finding themselves on the wrong side of a reform agenda the public likely would support. It's a risk they continue to run as they allow the government shutdown to close in on its second month.

This article originally published at Editorial: Democrats on wrong side of health-care reform?.
The Qatari network Al Araby TV reported that International Committee of the Red Cross vehicles entered the Rafah area to take part in the effort.

Egypt transferred four heavy engineering vehicles into the Gaza Strip overnight Sunday via the Kerem Shalom crossing to assist in locating the remains of 13 Israeli hostages who have not yet been recovered, Walla reported.

The Qatari network Al Araby TV reported that International Committee of the Red Cross vehicles entered the Rafah area to take part in the effort.

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Israeli security officials told Walla that Hamas knows where many of the bodies are and is stalling, despite commitments under current understandings.

If the group does not have precise locations for some of the remains, the officials said, it could use Israeli intelligence to expedite the process, but is choosing to drag things out to gain time.

The Egyptian step followed Israeli consideration reported Saturday night to allow a small Egyptian technical team into the Strip to help with excavation and recovery. The move also came amid American and Israeli pressure on Hamas to deliver on the return of the fallen.

Hamas terrorist stands guard, as heavy machinery operates at the site where searches are underway for the bodies of hostages killed after being seized by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, October 17, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)

IDF offensive action in Gaza

On Saturday, the IDF struck a Palestinian Islamic Jihad vehicle in the Nuseirat refugee camp that the army said was preparing to attack Israeli forces, in what Walla described as a signal of readiness should the agreement not progress.

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Separately, the IDF has been operating in areas under its control, about 54% of the Strip, to locate and demolish tunnels, the outlet reported.

Ghazi Hamad, a senior member of Hamass political bureau, told Lebanons Al Mayadeen last week that Israels campaign has changed how the Gaza Strip looks, claiming that many of those who guarded the bodies had been killed and that the remains are scattered in multiple locations, some under rubble.

Hamas is committed to returning all hostages, living and deceased, he said, adding that heavy equipment is required for excavation and recovery.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday set what he called a deadline for Hamas after meeting the Emir of Qatar.

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If the ceasefire does not hold, it will be Hamass fault, and it will be quite simple to destroy them, he said, adding that an international force is now being assembled and that Qatar would send troops if needed.

In a post on Truth Social after the meeting, Trump wrote: We have a very strong peace in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance to be lasting. Hamas will have to begin returning the remains of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other nations involved in this great peace will take action.

He added that some of the bodies are difficult to reach, but said others could be returned immediately, calling for progress within 48 hours.
Egypt calls for the full implementation of the 20-point Gaza agreement as the US pushes for the next phase of the agreement, focusing on reconstruction and security.

Egypt and the Arab countries are focusing on the implementation of the Gaza 20-point agreement. However, while they may want the deal to move forward, they have not been clear on what steps they are willing to take. This comes after US officials visited Israel, including the Secretary of State and the Vice President.

Egypts Foreign Minister Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty was quoted at Al-Arabiya as saying the countrys priority is to implement all provisions of the Gaza agreement. He called for full implementation now that the war is halted, and the reconstruction process begins. As discussions on the second phase of the Gaza reconstruction agreement began, amidst a lull in Israeli airstrikes due to the ceasefire, Egypt reiterated its position, Al-Arabiya noted.

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The latest comments came from Egypt as its foreign minister met with Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Ciu, on the sidelines of the Egypt-EU summit hosted by Brussels. The Egyptian said that full implementation of the agreement's provisions will ensure the consolidation of the ceasefire, the cessation of the war, and the commencement of the reconstruction process. He also announced that preparations are underway to hold the International Conference on Early Recovery, Reconstruction and Development in Cairo next month.

Cairo wants the active participation of European countries to stabilize Gaza. The Egyptian foreign minister expressed Egypt's aspiration to elevate relations with Romania to the level of a comprehensive partnership, pointing to the promising opportunities the Egyptian market offers Romanian companies and the pivotal role Romania can play in supporting the strengthening of relations between Egypt and the European Union, especially with the approaching celebration of the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, according to a statement by the Egyotian Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

US is pushing for the next phase

The second phase of the Gaza plan is now in the spotlight. This comes as the US administration is pushing for the next phase of the plan, which focuses on reconstruction and the deployment of international Arab and Islamic forces to Gaza to maintain security, prepare Palestinian forces, and form a Palestinian government composed of technocrats under the supervision of an international body, Al-Arabiya noted.

PALESTINIANS TAKE shelter in tents in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. (credit: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters)

Different reports are also discussing Tony Blairs possible role in Gaza. One report at the Financial Times appeared to say there was some concern about his role. It was not clear if this report was confirmed.

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Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar in Lebanon said that the US has revealed a list of countries that could contribute to the deployment of an international stabilization force in the Gaza Strip. Al-Akhbar is considered to be pro-Hezbollah and thus critical of the US. The report said that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had provided details on a flight.

Rubio noted that "the United States is in talks with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey on this matter, with interest from Indonesia and Azerbaijan, the report said. Rubio also declared that he does not envision a permanent division of the Gaza Strip, stressing that "Israel has no interest in occupying the Strip."




Blair Racine is a bingo player and emcee at Tuesday karaoke night. With his white, wavy, chest-length beard, he could stand in for Santa at any Christmas party. Plus, Im Switzerland, he told me  neutral but empathetic.

But in his most important role, Racine is the unofficial mayor of Community First! Village, where more than 400 formerly homeless people find safety and a sense of belonging in their colorful tiny homes and RVs east of Austin. He visits with everyone. Hes watched strangers, cold on arrival, thaw into warm neighbors.

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The biggest problem that people who are homeless have is low self-esteem, said Racine, 71. Hed been there, too: a collapsed business, no family support and only a bed at the ARCH shelter downtown until he arrived in 2018 at Community First! Village, run by the nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes.

I watch people change, he said, attesting to the power of having stability and community. I mean people who hated themselves  they love themselves now.

People who once wouldnt make eye contact now smile and offer fist-bumps.

To witness it, Racine said, Im just so blessed.

We often talk about homelessness as a problem to be addressed. But whats really at stake is transformation  and not everyone defines it the same way. Do we care about lives? Or landscapes? Or both?

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As Community First! Village celebrated its 10th anniversary  having transformed the lives of more than 900 formerly homeless people through housing and companionship  a different scene played out about 10 miles west. To the surprise of city officials doing their own painstaking work to connect homeless people to services and housing, state troopers and soldiers spent the past few days clearing out encampments around Austin.

Gov. Greg Abbott, who ordered the sweeps, said in a statement Tuesday that the effort made the city safer and cleaner. Mayor Kirk Watson countered that such a show of force is not how its supposed to work. The mayor's right: A cleanup isnt the same as a solution.

No one wants the weapons and needles that Abbott described in public spaces. But the governors measure of success  48 encampments cleared, 3,000 pounds of debris removed, 24 people arrested and 125 grams of drugs seized  left out the most important metric.

After the tents were trashed and peoples belongings tossed out, how many were moved out of homelessness?

Texas State Guard soldiers remove a homeless camp on Tuesday under the interchange at MoPac and West 5th Street. They were part of the encampment cleanups around Austin ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





Likely zero, considering the waiting lists that already exist for Austins homeless shelters. Unless you count the 26 people with a transient address arrested by state troopers from Oct. 15-22 and given temporary shelter at the Travis County jail  until their eventual return to the streets.

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A Travis County Sheriffs Office analysis of those arrests showed 20 drug charges, four trespassing cases, four illegal dumping charges, three theft charges, several out-of-state warrants and parole violations, and one charge each of aggravated robbery and assault (some defendants had multiple charges).

But nothing has changed for those who were just as homeless as before. That's the failure of an approach focused on the visible, not the vulnerable. Clearing encampments doesnt end the plight of those who are homeless. It just sweeps them further from view.

Racine  remember, hes Switzerland  told me he could see both sides. He knows how difficult it is for people surviving on the streets. He also felt that no child walking to school should have to come across needles.

We try to be a solution, he told me Wednesday, as guests for the Community First! Village anniversary festivities milled about the 51-acre tract on Hog Eye Road where an expansion of breathtaking optimism is taking shape. Dozens of tiny homes and RVs are waiting for occupants who will start to arrive before the end of the year. In time, as the funding materializes, 600 homes will fill this expansion site.

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The atmosphere of bonding and belonging is the secret sauce at Community First! Village. But as I looked at the neatly furnished homes awaiting their new owners, and the clusters of slab-ready sites awaiting new homes, it was clear the work begins with tending to lives and landscapes, understanding that one cant thrive without the other.

Transformation isnt just about whats removed. Its about what, and who, is restored.

Bridget Grumet is the Statesman's editorial page editor. Reach her at bgrumet@statesman.com.

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Leaders of Oklahoma City Public Schools say enrollment for the inaugural ninth-grade class at the new Belle Isle Enterprise High School has started for the 2026-27 school year. Belle Isle will be a free application-based public school.

The Belle Isle high school campus, near the intersection of Broadway Extension and Wilshire Boulevard, is under construction, so as freshmen, Belle Isle students will attend classes at the current Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School campus at 5904 N Villa Ave. The new Belle Isle High School campus is expected to open for the 2027-28 school year.

The district plans to add one class of students to the school per year, meaning it should have a full complement of freshman through senior classes by the 2029-30 school year.

Belle Isle Enterprise High School is set to be built at 451 E Wilshire Blvd., just east of The Half. Provided by GH2 Architects

Superintendent Jamie Polk said the new school represents the district's commitment to helping every student see themselves as a leader and a learner.

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From the very beginning, our goal is to create a school where students not only excel academically, but also discover their purpose, find their voice, and lead with confidence, Polk said.

The $76.16 million project is being paid for through funds from a $955 million bond issue approved by voters in 2022.

The district is accepting applications from perspective students both within and outside of district boundaries. Information about the application process can be found at www.okcps.org/belleisleEHS.

Former OSU President Burns Hargis (left) and his wife, Ann Hargis, speak at a ceremony celebrating a leadership institute named in his honor that's located at the university.

Biography captures life, career of former OSU president

A biography of former Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis is being released as the university celebrates the renovation of an on-campus leadership institute named in his honor.

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Oklahoma historian Bob Burke and Gary Shutt, a longtime spokesman for OSU, teamed to write One Lucky Cowboy: The Life of Burns Hargis. The book tells of Hargis partnership with his wife, Ann, and chronicles his career, first as a lawyer, then as vice chairman of the Bank of Oklahoma, and finally as president of OSU, which Hargis led from March 2008 until July 2021.

Hargis has held signing ceremonies for the book, including after an Oct. 10 ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hargis Leadership Institute, which now is located on the second floor of OSUs Student Union. Hargis has said the goal for the institute is to help students find the leader within them.

It really was one of the most remarkable good fortunes that we've had  and we've had more than our share over the years  but to get the chance to be president of Oklahoma State University and Ann to be First Cowgirl has just been magical, Hargis said.

'School of Rock' launching a new radio station

The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma, informally known as the School of Rock since it was established in 2009, has launched a new radio station it says is built around discovery, deep cuts and music with meaning.

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The station, ACM@UCO Radio, is curated by the schools chief executive officer, Scott Booker, whos also the longtime manager of the famed Oklahoma City band The Flaming Lips. Booker has drawn from a personal archive of more than 45,000 records and will include songs from the past five decades spanning multiple musical genres, including rhythm and blues, country, indie, jazz, rock and pop.

Booker said ACM@UCO Radio will include Oklahoma artists in its regular rotation. Listeners can expect to hear several ACM@UCO alumni, including Kaitlin Butts, alongside other notable Oklahomans such as J.J. Cale, Broncho and The Gap Band.

Our goal is to play songs that connect to everyone, Booker said.

Former Rose State College President Jeanie Webb was inducted into the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame.

Community college leaders honored

The newest class of the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges Hall of Fame was recognized Oct. 3.

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Just-retired Rose State College President Jeanie Webb, who led the Midwest City school from 2013 through this past June, was one of three inductees.

Also inducted was Tom Poole, who worked for 26 years as an administrator at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami. The third inductee was Larry Duffy, a 1975 Western Oklahoma State College graduate who has worked 47 years in various roles at the Altus institution. A building on the Western campus bears his name.

Heritage Hall School teacher Ashley Adams has been named to the National Humanities Center's Teacher Advisory Council.

Heritage Hall teacher named to national council

Heritage Hall teacher Ashley Adams has been named to the National Humanities Center's Teacher Advisory Council for the 2025-26 academic year. Heritage Hall is a private college preparatory school in northwest Oklahoma City.

Adams, an eighth-grade history teacher, is one of 20 educators on the council, which works with the organization's staff to help teachers become more effective in humanities classrooms.

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The independent organization is dedicated to advancing and promoting significant humanistic study and reflection.

Report shows desire for after-school programs

A household survey commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance  a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group that seeks to expand support for quality afterschool programs  shows that about four in five Oklahoma parents want after-school programs for their children but are unable to enroll them, in many cases because programs are too expensive, unavailable or inaccessible.

The national study, known as "America After 3PM," found that 89% of Oklahoma parents with a child in an after-school program rate it as excellent or very good. The survey showed that in Oklahoma, the parents of 360,998 children want after-school programs but just 70,354 children were enrolled in such a program.

The study, conducted by Edge Research, was based on a survey of 30,515 U.S. parents of school-age children who live in their households, including in-depth interviews with 418 parents in Oklahoma. The study examines 20 years of data and claims to be the first after-school household survey conducted after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This study is an urgent call to action to Oklahoma and federal leaders to increase funding and capacity, so all families will be able to access after-school programs, said Tristy Fryer, the network lead of the Oklahoma Partnership for Expanded Learning.

Southeastern, Cameron professors celebrate literary achievements

Two Oklahoma college professors are celebrating literary achievements.

Rolando Diaz, the chair and associate professor in the Department of English, Humanities and Languages at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, has been recognized by the 2025 International Latino Book Awards.

The second edition of Diazs Tales from the Tortilla Curtain and Other Stories has been named a finalist in the category of Best Collection of Short Stories  English. The ILBA is the largest awards ceremony in the U.S. that celebrates achievements in Latino literature.

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Across the state at Cameron University in Lawton, associate professor David Bublitz had a release party on Sept. 25 for his childrens book, The Depend-Ant. Bublitz wrote and illustrated the book, which was inspired by his experience as a military dependent

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Enrollment starts at new OKC school, and other Oklahoma education news
The cousin of a woman doctor who allegedly died by suicide in Maharashtra's Satara has called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, claiming that she had faced "immense political and police pressure" for over a year and was forced to falsify postmortem and fitness reports. Speaking to ANI, the cousin of the deceased doctor claimed that she had been subjected to harassment for more than a year and was being pressured to manipulate official reports. "She was under a lot of political and police pressure for the last year. Medical staff at the hospital are also involved. Everyone forced her to make wrong postmortem reports and forge fitness certificates. She was being forced to perform more and more postmortems despite other officers being present at the hospital," the cousin said. Raising concerns over the handling of her body, the cousin alleged procedural lapses after her death. "When she died, there was no one to perform her postmortem till 6 am. They brought her dead body from her residence to the hospital in our absence. All this should have happened in front of the family members," the cousin said. The cousin also said that they suspect that another suicide note might exist, alleging that the doctor had been documenting her distress and complaints in writing. "We believe that when her dead body was taken to the hospital, she must have left behind another suicide note. She fought hard and wrote 4-page complaint letters. She cannot die with just a little note on her palm," the cousin said. They have demanded that an SIT investigation be conducted in the presence of a woman officer from outside Maharashtra, alleging that "state police officers can try to influence the investigation." The woman doctor died by suicide in Maharashtra's Satara on Thursday, leaving a note written on her hand that named a police official and two others, officials said. Satara Police arrested two persons, Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne and Prashant Bankar, in connection with the case. A case was registered against the accused duo under charges of rape and abetment to suicide. The Police Sub-Inspector Badne named in the note was suspended following this development. Earlier in the day, suspended Police Sub-Inspector Gopal Badne, accused in the case, was produced before the Additional District and Sessions Court in Phaltan on Sunday and sent to police custody till October 30. (ANI)
Australia was, for many decades, the open-air prison of Britain's criminals. Most were convicted of petty offenses. A quick perusal through the records finds convicts transported for stealing a coat, lying in court, impersonating a Royal Navy sailor, and poaching.

Once arrived, the convicts, mostly young men, were put to work. Their purpose was to provide the raw labor that British interests required to transform Australia into a machine for resource extraction. Building infrastructure, establishing large-scale agriculture, and killing, pushing out, or enslaving the native inhabitants.

Through this system, the convicts, themselves the victims of British imperial violence, often ended up being some of the most vicious perpetrators of that violence against the Aboriginal Australians. Some convicts, however, escaped and found shelter, solidarity, and even family among the Indigenous groups they'd been pitted against.

The Moreton Bay penal settlement, circa 1835. Photo: State Library of Queensland

From Moreton Bay to K'gari

During the first half of the 19th century, an unexpected relationship emerged between the Moreton Bay convict settlement and the people of K'gari Island and the surrounding coastal region.

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Moreton Bay, in what is now Queensland, was the "maximum security" facility of the eastern Australian penal system. Convicts who had committed another crime while in another penal colony, including attempting escape, were shipped to Moreton Bay. There, conditions were brutal and punishment severe. One in ten convicts died in 1828-1829 alone.

K'gari Island, just a few days' walk up the coast, is the world's largest sand island. In the early 19th century, it was one of Australia's largest Indigenous population centers. Several thousand inhabitants lived on the island and in the surrounding coastal areas. The primary group was the Butchulla, with the Kabi Kabi people occupying the coast between Moreton Bay and the K'Gari area.

Brutal conditions in Moreton Bay led many to escape, becoming "absconders." Some absconders were quickly caught, while others failed to survive in the wild. But some, with local help, stayed free for years, and even avoided recapture forever.

The absconders' gamble

Running was a desperate act. There were no white settlements for many hundreds of kilometers, and surviving alone in the bush took incredible skill, physical endurance, and luck. Recaptured absconders faced severe punishment.

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Nevertheless, many did run. John Sterry Baker and George Mitchell achieved one of the first successful abscondings. They fled Moreton Bay on Jan. 8, 1826.

They soon split up. Mitchell went north, where he met another convict -- more on him later -- and lived with the support of a Kabi Kabi headman, Ngumundi. After several years, word reached him that he'd actually been pardoned, and he returned.

John Baker was a 27-year-old who was sent to Moreton Bay for stealing a sheep. Baker fled inland, following a tributary of the Brisbane River. There, he almost died of exposure and starvation. Luckily, a group of Aboriginal people found Baker.

A local group found Baker by a creek in the bush, struggling to survive. Photo: Public Domain

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They recognized him, in fact -- to his surprise, they claimed he was a deceased friend of theirs named Boraltchou. He said he didn't think that he was, but between his dire state and the language barrier, he eventually found it prudent to go along with them. In fact, he went along with the story for the next 14 years.

He learned their languages and customs, explored the region, and lived as Boraltchou until August of 1840. He reappeared at Moreton Bay, which by then was in the process of decommissioning. Instead of punishment, he got a job offer -- interpreter -- and worked in Sydney until his death in 1860.

Ghosts and kinsmen

John Baker was not the only misplaced white man who was adopted as a deceased Aboriginal person. Some groups in the Queensland region practiced mortuary flaying, carefully removing the skin of their deceased loved ones as a way to care for their body. This process would leave the white fascia visible, resulting in white corpses.

This may be why, when they saw a pale stranger near death, the people Baker met assumed he was a spirit returned. But the belief in loved ones returning as white-skinned corporeal spirits extended beyond Queensland.

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The Kaurareg people of the Torres Strait called returned, white-skinned spirits markai. When a shipwrecked Scottish teenager named Barbara Thompson washed up on Prince of Wales Island, a local community leader recognized her as his deceased daughter, Giom. She lived as the markai Giom for five years before leaving on a passing British survey ship.

As the years went on, the understanding of white strangers as literal ghosts may have given way to the white-ghost designation as a shorthand for a certain type of person, and a way of understanding how they could fit into a community. Literal or figurative, the belief in white-faced returning spirits was a boon for many shipwrecked or absconded Europeans in the early 19th century.

HMS Rattlesnake, the survey ship that picked up Barbara Thompson in 1849, was exploring the region when it happened to pass Thompson's island. Photo: National Maritime Museum, London

A mutinous, very bad fellow

David Bracewell was a 23-year-old sailor of somewhat rough character. When he was arrested in 1826 for "assault with intent to rob," his records note that he'd been in jail before. His recidivism landed him a sentence of 14 years. The transport ship records state that he was mutinous and a "very bad fellow." He didn't impress the authorities once in Australia, either. Bracewell arrived in Hobart Town in June and was in Moreton Bay by December.

He absconded that spring, and after they caught him, authorities gave him 150 lashes. In 1828, 1829, and 1831 he absconded again, finally managing the final time to avoid recapture. For six years, he was free, traveling and falling in with various Indigenous groups.

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In 1837, a Naval party entered Kabi Kabi land by the Noosa River mouth, looking for a rumored shipwreck. Instead, they heard a rumor of an escaped convict. One of the men in the party was a convict named Samuel Derrington. Derrington went into the bush and emerged with Bracewell in tow, earning 5 and a year off his sentence. Bracewell was shipped back to Moreton Bay.

In 1839, he absconded again. You have to admire his persistence. He ended up in the Wide Bay area, where he joined a Kabi Kabi tribe. Their prominent headman was Ngumundi, who had been George Mitchell's savior 13 years earlier. Ngumundi adopted him and named him Wandi, meaning "big talker" or "great talker."

The man who had Bracewell, and many others, flogged was the notorious commander of the Moreton Bay penal settlement, Patrick Logan. When he was killed by Aboriginal people in the bush in 1830, there was general rejoicing in Moreton Bay. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

If you want to catch an absconder

Samuel Derrington, who apprehended Bracewell in 1837, was himself a former runaway. Convicted of burglary in 1826, Derrington had fled a life sentence in Moreton Bay in late 1827. He returned in 1836 with an incredible -- I may even say unbelievable -- account of his years away.

According to Derrington, he was held captive by a tribe living on the coast of Queensland. His obituary claims that Derrington "was especially the object of female vigilance." Despite not being allowed to leave, he somehow became chief and led his people to glorious victory against nearby enemies.

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Chief/prisoner or no, he did learn several local languages of the Kabi Kabi family as well as the customs of the region. When he returned in 1836, he offered his skills as bushman and interpreter in the hopes of reducing his remaining sentence. His jailers first tested him as part of the party that located Bracewell.

The leader, a Lieutenant Otter, gave Derrington a good review. So a few months later, when news of another wreck reached the settlement, they sent Derrington along. The party heard that the four survivors had been killed in a conflict with the locals, somewhere out in the bush. Derrington again set out.

According to a letter from the Moreton Bay commander to the Colonial Secretary, Derrington "quitted the party alone, and entirely naked, and having traveled in this manner about thirty miles through the forest, making enquiries, rejoined the party with intelligence, which partly led to the discovery of the murdered bodies."

This was enough to get him his ticket of leave. Derrington moved to East Maitland, married, and became a successful tinsmith.

Hundreds of prisoners at Moreton Bay lived in these barracks. Photo: Queensland State Archives

Elisa Fraser on K'Gari

The fraud of Elisa Fraser is too tangled to properly cover here. But to strip the story to the essentials: In May of 1836, the brig Stirling Castle sank off K'Gari. The 11 survivors, including Captain Fraser and his wife, Elisa, were taken in by the resident Butchulla. At least, that's the story that other survivors and Butchulla oral records tell.

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According to Elisa, she was cruelly held captive and forced into brutal labor and mistreatment after the death of her husband. In fact, the work she was asked to do was normal domestic labor for Butchulla women. The Butchulla had no reason to hold someone captive who wasn't particularly helpful and was, according to their oral telling, considered mad.

Whatever the truth, Fraser was certainly looking to leave K'Gari. Her chances seemed low, but rumors of the Stirling Castle wreck had reached Moreton Bay. Lieutenant Otter organized another search party, which sallied forth into the bush, guided by a convict volunteer named John Graham.

K'Gari Island, off the coast of modern-day Queensland. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The convict scouts of the Elisa Fraser 'rescue'

A young Irishman convicted of stealing six-and-a-quarter pounds of hemp, John Graham was sent to work for a mill owner in Parramatta. There, he met and befriended some of the local Dharug people, who taught him their language and their fishing and foraging techniques. After only a few years, though, he was caught for petty theft and sent to Moreton Bay.

John Graham ran from Moreton Bay in July 1827 and stayed out until 1833. During this six-and-a-half-year span, he met up with George Mitchell (remember, Ngumundi's protege from earlier). Graham abandoned his initial plan (find a boat and sail to China, somehow) when an Aboriginal woman recognized him as her late husband. She eventually died, but Graham stayed with the tribe, learning their language and way of life.

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By 1836, though, he was back in Moreton Bay, serving his original sentence plus the time he'd been away. He volunteered for Otter's expedition, hoping to win a reduced sentence. Graham went unarmed into the bush and made contact with the Butchulla, negotiating for the handover of the three surviving crewmen and Elisa Fraser. According to Otter, Graham "shunned neither danger nor fatigue," and without his help, Elisa might never have returned.

When Fraser returned to England, she wrote a salacious narrative that painted the Butchulla as savage, murderous cannibals. Her lies fueled a series of massacres against the Butchulla over the following decades. While the island has now returned to K'Gari, for over a century, it bore the name Fraser.

Butchulla people celebrating in 2023, when K'Gari's name was officially restored. Photo: Darren England

Andrew Petrie, return or recapture

In 1824, 16-year-old Scotsman James Davis was convicted of stealing half a crown (12.5 cents) from a church and sentenced to transportation for life, which seems a bit extreme. In 1828, he was moved to Moreton Bay for a robbery conviction. Six weeks after arriving, he absconded with another prisoner.

The pair soon met the Ginginbarrah tribe, led by chief Pamby-Pamby, who adopted Davis as his deceased son, calling him Duramboi. The other convict was eventually killed for destroying a sacred burial site, but Davis remained. As Duramboi, he traveled widely, learning several Aboriginal languages, engaging in scarification and, allegedly, cannibalism.

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In 1842, Andrew Petrie, a convict administrator and explorer, was journeying through the Wide Bay area. He was astonished to see a "wild" white man living with the Ginginbarrah. With Petrie was none other than Wandi, also known as David Bracewell. Petrie had run into Bracewell on the same journey and explained that the Moreton Bay settlement was decommissioned, and promised Bracewell would not be punished if he returned.

Bracewell and another man "stole in upon" the Ginginbarrah and dragged Davis out. Davis was furious, but Bracewell and Petrie eventually convinced him that he was free. Davis had to relearn English and get used to stifling, European-style clothes again. He worked as a guide and translator when called upon, but mostly he lived in Brisbane and sold crockery.

David Bracewell later claimed to have also been involved in the Stirling Castle affair. This may have just been big talk, though. At any rate, he was crushed to death by a falling tree in 1844.

James Davis/Duramboi in front of his crockery shop, left, and painted in his old age, right. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The names we don't know

John Graham got his ticket of leave for the Stirling Castle affair, and promptly disappeared forever from the historical record. It's possible that he returned to the community he'd been part of for six years.

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Out of the 145 Moreton Bay prisoners who ran, 98 of them never returned and were never found. Most, certainly, died. But there must have been a lucky, clever, and perhaps personable few who lived out their days with the Aboriginal communities who found them. According to Andrew Petrie, "Had I or someone else not brought [James Davis] from among those savages, he would never have left them."

George Mitchell said there were at least a dozen escaped convicts living in the territory, under the protection of Ngumundi and his kin. Most of them remain a mystery.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  East Tennessee State University (ETSU) unveiled five bronze sculptures on Saturday to honor the five students who integrated the university in the 1950s.

The monument was commissioned after the Borchuck Plaza Memorial Fountain was damaged by an Arctic blast. It honors ETSUs first African American students: Eugene Caruthers, Elizabeth Watkins Crawford, Clarence McKinney, George L. Nichols and Mary Luellen Owens Wagner.

Photo: WJHL

Austen Brantley, an artist from Detroit, Michigan, was selected from a group of finalists to create the monument for the university.

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He said hes honored to have been chosen to create the sculpture that captures an important piece of the universitys history.

I think its about legacy, Brantley said. What we leave behind. Its really important to create things that are not just for me, but for my whole community.

Brantley said the sculptures took around seven months to complete, but it was a great experience to meet those who are now a part of his monument, which he named The Path.

It was amazing because usually Im sculpting people that have passed on, but to be able to see them in a person is a beautiful gift, because usually people dont get to see themselves honored, Brantley said. I feel like thats a very amazing responsibility that they gave me and Im very honored to have met them and to shake their hand.

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News Channel 11 spoke with George Nichols, one of the faces behind the monument. He said it is odd but means everything to see himself featured in the sculptures.

It means more to the future than to me, Nicholds said. It gives the present and future students inspiration that they can persevere through whatever they want to do.

Nichols recounted his time as a student at ETSU and said there was never any fear or violence, and that he never felt different than his peers.

He said the experience he gained at the university would not have been possible without the help of others.

We didnt do this alone, Nichols said. It wasnt just the five of us undergrads. Our teachers at Langston, our parents, the community at large, who was behind us all the way. I dont know if we would have been successful without them.

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Nichols stated that he wants the monument to inspire ETSU students to have hope and perseverance for their futures.

For more on The Path sculpture, click here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
Three European aerospace and defense giants announced a partnership to rival Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet network.

Europe has been hungry for a homegrown alternative to Starlink, which dominates the sector  the service has been vital to Ukrainian troops in the war against Russia, and fears of a possible shutdown accelerated Europes space ambitions.

French President Emmanuel Macron said in June that space has in some way become a gauge of international power.

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The new partnership between Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales is the first tangible evidence of Europe addressing its waning technological sovereignty since the start of the second Trump administration, one analyst told CNBC.
A former Italian police officer has been placed under house arrest 45 years after allegedly tampering with an investigation into one of Italys most shocking political mafia murder cases.

Italian prosecutors believe Filippo Piritore, 75, a former police deputy, is responsible for the disappearance of a mafia hitmans leather glove that could have helped identify the killers of Piersanti Mattarella, the reform-minded governor of Sicily and brother of Sergio Mattarella, Italys current president,

Mattarella, 44, was shot and killed on January 6 1980 in Palermo as he drove to mass with his wife, mother-in-law and son. Two assassins fled in a Fiat 127 and have never been identified following decades of false leads and cover-ups.

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They left a leather glove in their getaway car, which was retrieved and photographed but then mysteriously disappeared from the cache of forensic evidence without being catalogued or analysed.

Finally the truth is coming out, Leoluca Orlando, former Palermo mayor and legal advisor to Piersanti Mattarella, told The Telegraph.

That homicide changed my life. I had known him since I was a young man. He came to my wedding, and it was because of him that I chose political life and to fight the mafia.

We may never see a judicial truth, but at least Piersanti Mattarellas children and grandchildren will have a historical truth.

Piersanti Mattarella was shot and killed in 1980 as he drove to mass with his wife, mother-in-law and son in Palermo - Vittoriano Rastelli/Corbis via Getty Images

The investigation into the murder has been ongoing for over four decades.

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Top Cosa Nostra bosses were convicted for ordering the attack on Mattarella and two suspects were charged and acquitted in 1995 due to lack of evidence, leaving the actual hitmen officially unidentified.

In 2018, investigators quietly began poring over crime scene photographs and evidence and re-interviewed those who worked on the case, ultimately bringing the missing glove under new scrutiny.

Mr Piritore told investigators in 2024 that he had retrieved the glove from the getaway car and described how it bounced between offices before eventually disappearing.

Since his house arrest, Mr Piritore has reiterated his innocence, saying he was confused and anxious when speaking to authorities because of his failing memory.

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Mr Orlando is among the growing chorus of voices who believe Mattarellas killing was the result of a convergence of mob interests, corrupt statists and far-Right extremism.

This theory was advanced by anti-mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, who was also later killed, as was magistrate Paolo Borsellino more than a decade later.

The funeral service for Piersanti Mattarella, whose murder has remained unsolved - Independent Photo Agency Srl/Alamy Stock Photo

Political tensions at the time date back to the historical compromise, an effort to create a coalition between the ruling Christian Democrats and the Italian Communist party, which collapsed with the 1978 kidnapping and murder of Aldo Moro, Italys longest-serving post-war prime minister.

Mattarella had launched legislative initiatives to clamp down on corruption in public works and construction, and was considered the political heir of Moro.

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At the apex of power was Giulio Andreotti, the long-time Italian statesman who was found to have ties to the Sicilian mafia while serving as the head of at least five Italian governments.

In the Paolo Sorrentino film Il Divo, Andreotti was portrayed as nurturing shady connections to the Vatican, CIA and mafia, which all shared an interest in holding communism at bay during the Cold War.

Mr Orlando still seethes recounting his belief that Andreotti knew about the plot to murder Mattarella and did not stop it.

I say it today like I said it 45 years ago, Piersanti Mattarella could not have been killed by the mafia alone. There were also neo-fascist elements, the freemasonry, factions of the party who were against the historical compromise, and international elements who also did not want to lose Italy to communism.

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Rabbi Tamir Granot's son, Capt. Amitay Zvi Granot, was killed shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack in an incident on the Lebanon border while fighting Hezbollah.

The former Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel and Shas spiritual leader, Yitzhak Yosef, sharply criticized the head of Yeshivat Orot Shaul in southern Tel Aviv, Rabbi Tamir Granot, on Sunday during a Kol Hai radio broadcast, after Granot advocated for the enlistment of the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector into the IDF.

Granot's son, Capt. Amitay Zvi Granot, was killed shortly after Hamas's October 7 attack in an incident on the Lebanon border while fighting Hezbollah. Yosef claimed that Rabbi Granot was among several yeshiva heads who attacked him on television.

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"Aren't you afraid of dishonoring Torah scholars?" Yosef asked him.

Yosef continued, alluding to Granot, "I think there are some of them that, if they come to join the minyan, we won't accept them. They are heretics. Not all of them."

Granot had previously decried Yosef while he was chief rabbi, after Yosef threatened to leave Israel if the authorities forced haredi yeshiva students to enlist.

Haredim protest against the IDF draft outside Tel Hashomer recruitment base, April 28. 2025. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI)

"You need to ask forgiveness from my wife, from her tears, and go up to Mount Herzl and ask forgiveness from Amitay, a Yeshiva student and combat soldier, and from all the righteous, holy, and pure Torah scholars who chose to fight, and also from those who are not Torah scholars but gave their lives," Granot said at the time.

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"To leave for abroad so as not to fight a war of commandment, a war that is a national life-threatening situation?! Honorable rabbi, are we in Russia? Is the army the Tsar's army?" Ynet quoted him as saying.

Debate over ethical issues welcome, insults, degradation forbidden

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned Yosef's comments, calling Granot "a Torah scholar and a man of pleasant manners who sanctifies God's name in public," according to Maariv.

"He lost his heroic son Amitay, may his memory be a blessing, in battle, and since then has dedicated his days to spreading light, unity, and love. Anyone who allows themselves to dishonor him dishonors themselves, desecrates God's name in public, and increases baseless hatred and division. We will have no part with them."

Smotrich added that he is "proud to lead a community that combines Torah with derech eretz (respectful conduct), knows how to honor those who think differently, and can manage disagreements for the sake of heaven."

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Chairman of the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization, Rabbi David Stav, said in response to the exchange that while debate over ethical issues is welcome, it is "forbidden to insult and degrade.

"Torah discourse should be based on humility, mutual respect, and responsibility to the word of God, not on personal attacks. Is anyone who disagrees with you no longer a rabbi? No one can claim a monopoly on the Torah and halacha," he continued, adding that the Torah was given to all of Israel and anyone who is dedicated to it deserves respect and constructive discourse despite disagreement.

Rabbi Stav continued, according to Ynet, "When a rabbi in Israel chooses a language of insults and degradation toward another Torah scholar, and especially toward a person who is also a bereaved father, it causes a severe desecration of God's name that harms the honor of the Torah itself."
Strange, sinuous gullies etched into the dunes of Mars are finally giving up their secrets.

These gouges, new experiments reveal, are carved by the explosive sublimation of dry ice, burrowing down the slopes like a mole and blasting away sand as it goes. The new results finally account for all the curious features of Mars' mysterious squiggles.

"It felt like I was watching the sandworms in the film Dune," says Earth scientist Lonneke Roelofs of Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

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Related: NASA Can Finally Explain Why Creepy 'Spiders' on Mars Keep Appearing

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The gullies rippling down the sand dunes of Mars have puzzled scientists since they were first spotted back in 1999. Initially, scientists linked their formation to seasonal water flows. However, as we now know, there's no evidence that liquid water runs across the surface of Mars, nor are we likely to get any such evidence anytime soon.

However, in 2013, scientists demonstrated an alternative explanation: the runnels could have been carved by carbon dioxide ice, or dry ice, sublimating as it slid down the dunes.

Initial experimentation showed that this mechanism was plausible, but the tests didn't reproduce all the features observed in Martian gullies, especially the snake-like sinuosity.

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Roelofs and her colleagues weren't satisfied with that gap. In previous work, they used the Open University's Mars chamber  a sealed environment simulating Martian conditions  to show how CO 2 can drive mass outflows from steep crater walls.

To address the problem of the gullies, the researchers turned to the Mars chamber again.

Adjusting the equipment to mimic Mars's thin, cold air, the team dropped blocks of dry ice onto sand slopes across a range of inclinations and sand grain sizes, recording the results with high-speed cameras.

The results showed that, on slopes sharper than 25 degrees, the ice slides down on a cushion of gas, leaving an indistinct track, as seen in previous experiments. However, when the angle of the slope was gentler, below 22.5 degrees, the ice partially burrowed into the sand.

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When the dry ice was thus buried, the sublimation process ballistically ejected the sand, producing the exact features observed in the Mars gullies.

Specifically, these features  never before replicated on Earth  included the sinuosity of the tracks, high, distinct levees, and a little pocket at the end of the trail.

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"We tried out various things by simulating a dune slope at different angles of steepness. We let a block of CO 2 ice fall from the top of the slope and observed what happened," Roelofs explains.

"After finding the right slope, we finally saw results. The CO 2 ice block began to dig into the slope and move downwards just like a burrowing mole or the sandworms from Dune. It looked very strange!"

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Dry ice is translucent, meaning optical and infrared radiation doesn't just bounce off its surface but penetrates inside. However, the sand or rock underneath the ice is darker, which means it absorbs more of the radiation that reaches it, re-emitting it as thermal (infrared) radiation.

This heat energy is prevented from escaping by the ice block sitting on top of it. As the underside of the ice warms, it transitions directly into a gas in a process called sublimation. This gas, with nowhere else to go, builds until it bursts outwards, flinging the surrounding sand away with significant force.

To test whether their experimental observations could be scaled up to reproduce the observed gullies on Mars, the researchers conducted simulations to account for larger blocks of ice and Mars's gravity.

Their results showed that sublimating blocks up to a meter (3.3 feet) thick can fling sand up to 13 meters on the red planet, easily reproducing the observed gullies. The results even explain why these gullies can only be found on fine-grained slopes: those are the ones for which the mechanism works.

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The atmosphere of Mars is rich in CO 2 ; in winter, it can form a coating over mid-latitude dune fields to an ice thickness of up to 70 centimeters.

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"In spring, this ice begins to warm up and sublimate. The last remnants of this ice are located on the shaded side of the dune tops, and that is where the blocks break off from once the temperature is high enough," Roelofs says.

"Once the blocks reach the bottom of the slope and stop moving, the ice continues to sublimate until all the CO 2 has evaporated. What remains is a hollow in the sand at the bottom of the dune."

The researchers now want to run experiments with larger blocks of ice and different sand types to see what happens when they tweak the parameters.

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"Mars is our nearest neighbor. It is the only rocky planet close to the 'green zone' of our Solar System. This zone lies exactly far enough from the Sun to make the presence of liquid water possible, which is a prerequisite for life. Questions about the origin of life, and possible extra-terrestrial life, could therefore be solved here," Roelofs concludes.

"Also, conducting research into the formation of landscape structures of other planets is a way of stepping outside the frameworks used to think about the Earth. This allows you to pose slightly different questions, which in turn can deliver new insights for processes here on our planet."

The research has been published in Geophysical Research Letters.

Related News
Scientists have made a worrisome discovery in their exploration of Arctic sea ice in Alaska. Deep down in the Permafrost Tunnel Research Facility  a research site stretching over 350 feet long and 50 feet underground  scientists have uncovered organisms more than tens of thousands of years old.

The scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder extracted the permafrost and found the microbes within had "reawakened" and may pose a significant environmental risk, according to Discover Wildlife. Their findings were published in JGR Biogeosciences.

What's happening?

Microbes have been preserved in Arctic permafrost dating back tens of thousands of years. Some of them originated from the last ice age. Today, with Earth's rising global temperatures causing longer, hotter summers, permafrost is melting at an unprecedented rate, in as little as a few months.

Ancient life has been resurrected from the bowels of a military tunnel that penetrates the Alaskan permafrost. @CUboulderhttps://t.co/FNKoDMB72G pic.twitter.com/Z7bXwfnwq7  ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) October 13, 2025

To test the activity of the microbes, the scientists took samples of the extracted permafrost and incubated them at warmer temperatures to simulate what temperatures may be if warming continues at its current rate. At first, growth was slow, but by the six-month mark, colonies formed and growth ramped up. A thick, slimy layer called biofilm even formed, further enhancing their resilience as they come back to life.

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Scientist Tristan Caro, a lead author in the study, said: "These are not dead samples by any means. They're still very much capable of hosting robust life that can break down organic matter and release it as carbon dioxide."

Why is melting permafrost awakening microbes important?

The reason this worries scientists is that the rapid melting of permafrost unleashes the potential for microbes to release dangerous levels of polluting gases that are causing the planet to warm.

Since permafrost contains an estimated 1.5 trillion metric tons of carbon and the remains of organisms that never decomposed, according to CU Boulder Today, the climatic impact this would have on the atmosphere could be astronomical. This increase in heat-trapping pollution would enhance the planet's natural weather systems, resulting in more frequent weather events, rising seas, and agricultural disruptions.

Some even worry that the awakening of dormant microbes risks reviving ancient viruses that have been frozen for thousands of years.

What's being done about the melting permafrost layer?

While this urgent matter may seem worrisome to most, it opens the door for swift action and research in order to preserve the deep permafrost layer.

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The research that these scientists take part in is extremely important to help us understand the organisms that lie in the permafrost layer, and it is now more important than ever that there is much funding allocated to these researchers.

At the individual level, take part in supporting science and engaging in the research by sharing what is being uncovered and highlighting its urgency.

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Let me be frank: The President of the United States is out of his mind, and nobodys doing a goddamned thing about it. What do I mean? Any number of red flags, really, but in particular right now its the latest five hundred words of blithering lunacy he shared on his bitcoin mining operation social media site Tuesday night. They are not the words of a man elected to lead the worlds most powerful nation. They are, instead, those of a malevolent Don Quixote tilting at a cancer-causing, bird-kill
It might be easy to overlook something that's frozen, remote, and tucked high in the mountains, but Pakistan's glaciers are melting fast, and the consequences are anything but distant.

What's happening?

The Express Tribune reported that scientists are warning that these glaciers, once considered reliable "water towers" for the region, are "now in a state of irreversible decline."

What's happening far up north isn't staying there; it's coming downstream, into homes, fields, and lives.

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Pakistan is home to more glaciers than anywhere outside the polar regions, with over 7,000, but they're shrinking rapidly.

Experts estimate that around 1.5% of glacial mass is lost every year. A report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, cited by the Express Tribune, has shown that these glaciers are melting 30% to 50% faster than they did in the 1990s.

This isn't just a slow fade. There are now over 3,000 unstable glacial lakes forming in the north, and 33 are at high risk of bursting. These glacial lake outburst floods, like the one that hit Gilgit-Baltistan, can wipe out entire communities in hours.

Why is glacial melt concerning?

The melt isn't just an environmental issue; it's a public safety emergency. Glacial loss disrupts river flows, threatens food and water supplies, and increases the risk of deadly floods during extreme weather.

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As glaciers disappear, the Indus River, a lifeline for millions, could lose 40% of its flow by 2100, according to a study published in the journal Nature Sustainability, as the Express Tribune observed.

Meanwhile, rising temperatures, worsened by pollution, are turning up the heat on extreme weather.

While storms and heatwaves aren't new, scientists agree that human-driven pollution is increasing global temperatures and making these events more intense and frequent, increasing risks of disease spread, crop failure, and coastal flooding.

What's being done about glacial melt?

Experts are calling for a National Glacier Rescue Mission, complete with glacier monitoring, lake drainage systems, and technologies like glacier-covering blankets to slow melting.

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There's also a push for a Glacier Protection Act to safeguard these natural assets through law.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
India and China are reconnecting with the resumption of direct flights after a 5-year gap! The IndiGo flight 6E1703 took off from Kolkata's Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, marking a significant improvement in bilateral relations. The IndiGo flight departed from Kolkata Airport at 10.07 PM, with the Airport Director of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport sharing a video of the flight take off. The Airbus A320 departed for Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, carrying 176 passengers and is scheduled to arrive at 4:05 AM. The move aims to facilitate trade, tourism, and people-to-people connections. IndiGo will operate daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou. Additional flights between Delhi and Guangzhou start on November 10, while the Shanghai-Delhi route will resume on November 9. The resumption of direct flights signals an improvement in the bilateral relations between the two countries and is meant to facilitate trade and people-to-people connections. The flights were earlier suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing in heavy travel restrictions. Chinese Deputy Consul General in Kolkata, Qin Yong, also hailed the resumption of direct flights between India and China through the Kolkata and Guangzhou city route as a "very important day" for India-China relations. "Today is a very important day for the India-China relationship. After five years of suspension, it is a very big improvement for the bilateral relations. We expected this for a long time, and it is very important for our bilateral relations," Qin Yong told ANI at a brief ceremony held at the airport. The IndiGo flight carried 176 passengers and was celebrated with a ceremonial lamp lighting attended by a passenger, airport officials, and airline representatives. The Chinese envoy described the resumption of flights as the "first fruit" of the recent high-level consensus between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "From the Chinese side, the bilateral relation with India is very important and in past years, the meeting between our leaders has shown common consensus, and today the resumption of the direct [flight] is the first fruit we got after the two leaders' agreement," the Deputy Consul General stated. Qin also stressed the partnership over rivalry between the two nations, noting that both are long-standing leaders in the region and that New Delhi and Beijing should increase cooperation amid global trade concerns as important members of BRICS, SCO, and the Global South. Airport Director Dr PR Beuria, present at the event along with officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and IndiGo Airlines, called the occasion a "great moment" and highlighted the significance of the new route. "It is a great initiative by the government of India. And as the airport authority, we are providing every facility. It will be a regular flight. Currently, only IndiGo is operating," the Airport Director added. Beuria also noted that the direct flight would boost business, tourism, and connectivity between Kolkata and Guangzhou, reinforcing Kolkata's position as a key international aviation hub in eastern India. (ANI)
The F-35 program gets a lot of flak. But every once in a while, it does something so impressive you just have to cheer. In October 2025, one of the U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B units, the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542, returned to its home base in North Carolina after a grueling five-month stint in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area. That operational area is massive, covering the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.

While they were out there, the squadron racked up more than 1,099 combat sorties. These sorties included vital missions like Close Air Support, Armed Overwatch, and Defensive Counter-Air for U.S. and allied forces. But the best part is that they did all of this while accumulating over 4,736 mishap-free flight hours. Yes, that's nearly 5,000 hours in a complex warzone with zero failures, and it means that the squadron maintained one of the highest aircraft readiness rates in the entire fleet. The unit's exec, Lt. Col. Carlo F. Bonci, said the deployment demonstrated that a forward-deployed F-35B squadron can deliver unmatched combat power.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without the machine at the center of this achievement, the F-35B Lightning II. This specific model is the Marine Corps' specialized Joint Strike Fighter variant and is one of three of the F-35's main variants. It's arguably the most mechanically complex of the three F-35 models because it has a superpower: short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capability. This lets it operate from amphibious assault ships or tiny, makeshift runways. It can take off and land on strips just 600 feet long, making it wildly flexible and one of the most advanced fighter jets ever.

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Read more: 11 Of The Most Iconic Ground Attack Military Planes In History

So, does this mean the F-35 is 'fixed'?

An F-35B test aircraft completes its first-ever vertical takeoff (VTO) at NAS Patuxent River - Lockheed Martin

It's all rather impressive, but there are multiple major flaws with the F-35 that need fixing. These include rapidly rising lifetime costs, persistent maintenance issues, and upgrade delays, which have led to a long and very public history of criticism. So, a perfect 5,000-hour deployment is exactly the kind of good PR the whole program desperately needs.

After all, the program's total expected price tag has already skyrocketed to over $2 trillion. Sadly, all that money hasn't guaranteed reliability either. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported in 2024 that the entire U.S. F-35 fleet had failed to meet its mission-capable goals for six straight years. And in 2023, the fleet was ready to perform a mission just over 50 percent of the time.

Lockheed Martin executives argue the problem isn't the plane but the funding model. One executive, Edward Smith, told Business Insider that to get high readiness rates, you have to fully fund the supply system. He claims the F-35 program has historically been underfunded for spare parts and depot repair capacity. As a result, Lockheed is pushing for long-term, performance-based sustainment contracts instead of the current inefficient and costly annual contracting process. This single squadron's success now adds a powerful new data point to that debate, proving the F-35B can be reliable when it's in the field. The real challenge is figuring out how to make this high-performance standard the norm for the other 2,500 jets the Pentagon plans to buy -- like it has wanted to for over two decades now.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.




A 28-year-old man has been convicted of domestic violence and other charges stemming from a series of attacks last year, the San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced.

Luca Jackson Krakower attacked the victim on Dec. 11 after demanding her cellphone, then followed her into their bathroom and attacked her again, the DA's office said Friday. Afterward, he did not allow her to leave their apartment, said the agency, which did not specify his relationship to the victim.

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Krakower also attacked the victim on Dec. 19 when she refused to provide her cellphone and debit card, the DA's office said.

A jury convicted him of domestic violence, two counts of false imprisonment and battery, the DA's office said.

Krakower is out of custody, with sentencing scheduled for Nov. 7.

"I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial," District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement. "This verdict holds Mr. Krakower accountable and delivers justice to the survivor. Domestic violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My office takes these cases seriously and will do everything in our power to ensure there is justice and help survivors heal."

This article originally published at S.F. man convicted of domestic violence, false imprisonment.
Claim:

On April 24, 2018, Michigan State Police enlisted the help of semi-truck drivers to line up under a Detroit-area highway overpass to help prevent a woman from jumping to her death from the bridge above.

Rating:

Rating: Mostly True

What's True:

On April 24, 2018, 911 callers alerted police to a man potentially contemplating jumping from an overpass above Interstate 696 in a Detroit suburb. Michigan State Police then closed off both directions of I-696 and directed truckers to park under the overpass, reducing the possible distance the man could fall until he chose to step back from the edge. However ...

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What's False:

... Some social media users' posts circulating in October 2025 featured a copied-and-pasted story containing dramatized text resembling tales generated with an artificial-intelligence (AI) tool that wrongly claimed the person on the bridge was a woman. Michigan State Police 1st Lt. Mike Shaw, a person named in the story, told Snopes by email the individual involved was a man. He also said that the posts' version of the story was "a bit exaggerated" and pointed out that a quote attributed to him was fabricated.

A rumor that circulated online in October 2025 claimed that on April 24, 2018, Michigan State Police enlisted the help of semi-truck drivers to line up under a Detroit-area highway overpass to help prevent a woman from jumping to her death from the bridge above.

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For example, on Oct. 14, a Facebook user posted (archived) a picture showing multiple trucks lined up under an overpass at night.

(What Did I Just See?/Facebook)

The post, which received nearly 100,000 total engagements, featured a 16-paragraph story beginning as follows:

Thirteen truckers got a call at 1 a.m.: "Park your trucks under a bridge and don't move." They didn't ask why. They just came. It was after midnight on April 24, 2018, when Michigan State Police received a call that stopped Lt. Mike Shaw's heart: a woman was standing on the edge of a bridge over Interstate 696 in Detroit, contemplating the unthinkable. The freeway below was dark. The drop was fatal. And Shaw had minutes to make a decision. He grabbed his radio and did something that had never been done before. He called the truckers. Within minutes, headlights pierced the darkness. One by one, thirteen semi-trucks rolled into position across every lane of the highway, parking side by side, forming a wall of steel and hope beneath the bridge.

Three days later, another Facebook user posted (archived) the same story with a photo displaying a red circle around a figure dressed in white, presumably the person contemplating jumping from the bridge.

(Motivational Funny/Facebook)

Many other users shared this same story on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived), Threads (archived) and TikTok (archived). One TikTok photo post (archived) that received over 11 million views featured comments including information from two of the alleged truck drivers. Those stories appear later in this article.

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Snopes readers also searched our website for information about whether this story was true.

In short, 1st Lt. Mike Shaw, a public information officer for Michigan State Police, confirmed over email that the story was generally accurate. Specifically, Shaw confirmed that troopers truly enlisted the assistance of truck drivers to help prevent a person's potential suicide attempt on April 24, 2018.

Regarding the copied-and-pasted story, which contained dramatized text resembling tales generated with an artificial-intelligence (AI) tool, Shaw said the person on the bridge was a man, not a woman. He also said that the posts' version of the incident was "a bit exaggerated" and included a fabricated quote attributed to him, namely, "They didn't do it for recognition. They didn't do it for thanks. They did it because it was the right thing to do."

In other words, the posts' recounting of the story was mostly true but still featured inaccuracies. As a result, we've rated the claim mostly true.

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News media outlets' articles from April 2018 reported the man peacefully walked away from the bridge after about three hours.

A post (archived) dated the morning of the incident from an official Michigan State Police X account was evidence that the photo of the trucks lined up under the bridge was genuine. The picture displayed a mosaic effect to censor the man on the bridge, appearing just above the green sign on the right side of the frame.

This photo does show the work troopers and local officers do to serve the public. But also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. pic.twitter.com/RBAlCIXT1o  MSP Second District (@mspmetrodet) April 24, 2018

A different X user's post (archived), appearing hours prior to the Michigan State Police account's post, showed the same picture without the mosaic effect covering the man. We contacted that user and will update this article if we receive further information.

The man on the bridge

Hours after the incident ended without the man jumping from the bridge, CNN reported firsthand information from Shaw. In his correspondence with Snopes, Shaw confirmed the accuracy of the article and the authenticity of the quotes bearing his name.

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Around 1 a.m. on April 24, 2018, 911 callers alerted police to a man potentially contemplating jumping from an overpass above Interstate 696 in the Detroit suburb of Huntington Woods. The CNN article, citing Shaw, said troopers closed off both directions of I-696 and asked for truckers' help in case the man jumped or accidentally fell.

Shaw told CNN it wasn't unusual to ask truckers to help in similar cases, but that "most of the time these events are (resolved) pretty fast, so we only get one semi."

The article read, in part:

Troopers looked for big rigs exiting the highway and asked them to drive ahead instead and park beneath the overpass. The 13 trucks packed in tightly to minimize the gaps between them. Should the man have fallen, Shaw said, it would have been only five or six feet onto the roof of a truck, rather than 14 feet to the concrete below. Police ended up talking the man down, he said. "Usually when we talk to people that are involved in these type of incidents," Shaw said, "usually there's a trigger. We try to find out what that trigger is and rectify it." "We were able to do that with him today," he said. "We were able to convince him that this was not the right thing to do, and we were able to get him to a local hospital where he is getting the help that he needs."

Shaw further said, "In that picture somewhere is somebody that was contemplating ending their own life," adding, "We want that to be the story  not what Michigan State Police did or what the truckers did, but that the person changed their own mind."

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Fox 2 Detroit reported further photos from the early-morning scene, as well as additional details about the man and the officers involved.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis, or emotional distress, reach out 24/7 to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988 or using chat services at 988lifeline.org to connect to a trained crisis counselor.

Sources:

"13 Semis Line Detroit Freeway to Help Man Considering Suicide." FOX 2 Detroit, 24 Apr. 2018, https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/13-semis-line-detroit-freeway-to-help-man-considering-suicide.

Dickson, James David, and Sarah Rahal. "Police, Semis Halt Suicide Attempt on I-696." The Detroit News, 24 Apr. 2018, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2018/04/24/police-semis-halt-suicide-attempt-696/545522002/.

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Gray, Melissa. "A Man Was Threatening to Jump off an Overpass. Big Rigs Parked underneath to Break His Fall." CNN, 24 Apr. 2018, https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/24/us/detroit-truckers-help-suicidal-man-trnd.

@mspmetrodet. "This Photo Does Show the Work Troopers and Local Officers..." X, 24 Apr. 2018, https://x.com/mspmetrodet/status/988789208562225153.

Patterson, Brandon, and Brian Manzullo. "A Man Tried to Jump off a Detroit Overpass. Then 13 Truckers Saved Him." Detroit Free Press, 24 Apr. 2018, https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2018/04/24/detroit-trucks-save-man/545219002/.

"Police and Semi Trucks Prevent Suicide Attempt on Interstate." CBS Detroit, 25 Apr. 2018, https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Police-and-semi-trucks-prevent-suicide-attempt-on-interstate-480833891.html.

"Truckers Aid Police in Stopping Suicide on Michigan Freeway." The Associated Press, 24 Apr. 2018, https://apnews.com/general-news-8db18aa418f74463b52cc06282ccc6c1.
Claim:

A mountain lion broke into a Colorado Springs, Colorado, pet store and rolled around in catnip on May 4, 2022.

Rating:

Rating: False

A rumor has circulated online since at least September 2025 claiming that employees at a Colorado Springs pet store found a mountain lion rolling around in catnip in the store's cat toy aisle. Snopes readers emailed us to ask about the authenticity of the rumor.

The most popular instance of the story appeared on the Facebook page StoryTime (archived), receiving over 192,000 reactions. The post displayed a picture of a mountain lion entering an aisle, with another inset image showing it rolling around in catnip. The story featured the following headline: "Mountain lion breaks into pet store, finds catnip aisle."

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Another Facebook post (archived) claimed that the mountain lion "raided" the pet store and started acting like a "giant housecat" after finding the catnip. The rumor also spread to other social media sites like X (archived). Some of those posts (archived) featured links leading to articles hosted by WordPress blogs, such as one advertisement-filled story hosted on the ifeg.info (archived) website. The posts all told the same story:

In Colorado Springs, a local pet store was preparing for its morning rush of customers when workers found an unexpected guest. Security footage revealed a mountain lion had slipped in overnight, padding silently through the aisles like it owned the place. It ignored the dog food, skipped past the bird seed, and made a beeline straight for one section: cat toys.

After sniffing around, the big cat stopped at the catnip shelf, pawed a bag down, ripped it open, and immediately flopped onto the floor. Rolling back and forth, it rubbed its face and paws in the catnip, completely intoxicated by its new discovery.

When employees unlocked the doors, they were stunned to find the "customer" sprawled out in the toy aisle, surrounded by shredded bags of catnip. Wildlife officers carefully coaxed the lion outside before relocating it back into the nearby hills.

Experts explained that while mountain lions aren't known for reacting to catnip like housecats, curiosity and the strong scent could have triggered its playful behavior. When asked about the situation, the store owner just smirked: "Colorado's known for its plants making folks feel good, guess now we know the animals are into it too."

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However, a Google search for "Colorado mountain lion store catnip" found no news outlets reporting about a mountain lion breaking into a pet store in Colorado Springs, let alone playing with catnip. Prominent news outlets would have widely reported this rumor, if true.

Although Sightengine, a tool for detecting artificial intelligence (AI)-generated images, did not flag the image shared in the posts as AI, other elements made it suspicious. (It's worth noting that AI image detectors are not always accurate.)

For example, in the image, the mountain lion appeared to be in a grocery store snack aisle rather than a cat toy aisle at a pet store, as described in the story. A TinEye search of the image led to a viral video (archived) of a robbery taking place in a Canadian convenience store, featuring a shot of an aisle that looked similar to one in the image.

When directly compared, the perspective and contents of both images appeared nearly identical, down to having the same snacks in the exact same spots. It appeared that an unknown individual may have edited the original image (or another one from the convenience store) to include the mountain lion, then cropped it to remove any visible watermarks, resulting in the image associated with the rumor.

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The below collage shows a comparison of the aisle as it appeared in the video (on the left) and the image that circulated with the posts about the mountain lion.

(Facebook page StoryTime/YouTube channel ITV News)

The timestamp on the image was equally suspicious, displaying May 4, 2022, but there was no evidence that the image appeared online until the StoryTime page's Sept. 15, 2025 post, the earliest example we found. If this event occurred in 2022, it would have been widely publicized at that time rather than being reported on for the first time three years later.

Rather, the person or people who authored the story seemingly fabricated the whole thing as one of countless amusing tales depicting wild animals in uncharacteristic, unexpected situations that circulate online.

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Many of these stories can be characterized as "AI slop," low-quality, AI-generated content designed to encourage clicks and shares. Unusual or surprising stories involving wild animals are one common type of slop. The individuals who generate and spread these stories aim to earn advertising revenue on websites linked from the aforementioned Facebook posts.

Although there was no evidence of a direct connection, the Facebook pages and the blog with the longer version of the story both matched patterns we identified in a story investigating a rash of AI slop stories about the alleged charitable actions of celebrities in the wake of the deadly July 2025 floods in Texas. For example, although the mountain lion story was about the U.S., one of the pages that posted it was traced back to Tbilisi, Georgia. Meanwhile, the blog featured examples of writing in Vietnamese, but the website registrant's address traced back to a shopping plaza in Phoenix, Arizona. A Google search for the address brought up a number of similar sites, as well as scam warnings from internet users, suggesting the sites' owners likely used this address to hide their actual location.

This is not the first time Snopes has investigated a claim popularized by the StoryTime page. For further reading, Snopes previously investigated a claim from the same page about an "AI robot" being afraid of a lion and found it to be false.

Sources:

Izzo, Jack. "Snopestionary: AI Slop, Explained." Snopes, 22 Aug. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//articles/470975/ai-slop-media-literacy/.

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Shan, Cindy. "Fake Stories about Texas Floods Reached Millions on Facebook. Foreign Ad Companies Likely Profited." Snopes, 29 Aug. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//news/2025/08/29/facebook-ai-posts-texas-floods/.

Winter, Emery. "Did AI Robot Suffer PTSD after It Was Scared by Lion?" Snopes, 8 Sep. 2025, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/ai-robot-lion-ptsd/.
Oct. 26EAST GRAND FORKS  Students and families danced in a drum circle, ate buffalo tacos and won prizes at the East Grand Forks Halloween Wacipi on Saturday afternoon.

The East Grand Forks American Indian Parent Advisory Committee held its fifth Halloween Wacipi at Central Middle School to celebrate and showcase American Indian culture.

"It is just amazing for all of the students, but so great for our American Indian students to see themselves in the event," said Dara Omang, the American Indian education coordinator for East Grand Forks Public Schools and former president of the parent committee. "Learning about the culture and bringing that Halloween piece is just a fun part of it, but the kids get a lot out of it. And that boost, knowing who you are, knowing where you come from, that just promotes positive educational outcomes."

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A Wacipi, or powwow, is a celebration of American Indian life and culture and means "they dance" in the Dakota language. Ricky White, an M.C. of the East Grand Forks Wacipi event, spoke to attendees about the importance of cultural events and Native American Heritage month, which is coming up in November.

"We have nowhere to go. This is where we're from. We can't go elsewhere to try to relearn our ways," he said. "(That is) why we have November as Native American Heritage Month. It's a way of igniting and, of course, recognizing and celebrating the identity and culture and ways of life of our people."

The drum circle was a stand-out event at the Halloween Wacipi. Smoke Stack, a four-member band, played the drums while students and families walked and danced around the circle.

"You can just see the kids, they start moving. You can start to feel the beat," Omang said. "And it's really, really cool."

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The East Grand Forks Public Schools District is required to have an American Indian Parent Advisory Committee because of the number of American Indian students enrolled in the district. The committee plans and dictates where state funds will go, and they host multiple events throughout the year to celebrate and bring awareness to American Indian culture.

Omang said that cultural representation is incredibly important for students' educational outcomes and that the East Grand Forks Public Schools District is very supportive of the committee's efforts.

"Statistics have shown that culture is critical for positive school outcomes," Omang said. "The district is unbelievable. They are amazing. Anything we need, they are making everything accessible."

More than 150 people showed up at the Halloween Wacipi, which was held Saturday, Oct. 25.

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Omang said she has heard from students in the district that they feel pride in their culture when they see it celebrated at school. She said she hopes cultural representation and celebration can be a daily practice in the school district.

"It doesn't have to be this one event," Omang said. "If we can make it a little part of every day, so it just gets bigger, so it's just part of our school district, that's really the goal."

The East Grand Forks American Indian Parent Advisory Committee hosts an event once a month, and details about future events can be found on the Greater Grand Forks United American Indian Parent Committee Facebook account.
Family and friends of Kada Scott gathered together Sunday morning to release balloons in her honor outside the Philadelphia Art Museum.

Police are still seeking accomplices to her murder.

Keon King is charged with kidnapping and murdering Scott.

The balloon release kicked off the 8 Days 'til Sunday Foundation's first-ever domestic violence walk.
After 738 days in captivity, Alon Ohel has returned home. His journey to recovery begins with a nationwide effort to support his healing and rehabilitation.

The family of Alon Ohel has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help support his recovery and rehabilitation, following his return home after more than two years in captivity.

Ohel, a pianist known for his musical talent and gentle nature, was abducted during the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. Taken from his home and held underground, he survived what his family described as harrowing conditions. Throughout his ordeal, they say, he relied on his faith, his memories, and the unrelenting support of his family and the public.

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I didnt break for a single moment in captivity, Ohel said after his return. I knew there were good people out there working for my release. I felt you with me in every breath, every tear, every hope.

Ohel suffered head and eye wounds during his time in captivity. According to his family, he now faces a lengthy rehabilitation process that includes medical treatments, surgeries, and psychological care.

His parents, Idit and Kobi Ohel, described the past two years as a time of pain, hope, and triumph.

'Alon still felt the support and prayers'

Alon was kidnapped from what was meant to be a place of protection, they said in a statement. Since that day, our lives have been completely transformed. Fifty meters underground, in unthinkable conditions, Alon still felt the support and prayers from people in Israel and around the world. He says that love gave him the strength to survive.

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The family noted that while his return marks a turning point, the most demanding stage lies ahead.

Rehabilitation is the hardest part of all. Alon has a long road ahead; physically, emotionally, and mentally, they said. Our goal is to ensure he has the resources and care he needs to heal and rebuild his life.

The online campaign invites the public to join Ohels recovery journey. Donations, shares, and messages of support are being collected to fund medical care and long-term therapy.

To contribute to the campaign, visit: https://www.charidy.com/alonohel




The family of a Conroe doctor brutally stabbed while she sat at a picnic table is hopeful the case against her alleged attacker will finally gain some momentum.

Two years have ticked away since Talat Khan, 52, was killed when Miles Fridrich, 25, allegedly approached her Oct. 28, 2023, at the Alys Apartments in the 15000 block of Mansions View, stabbing her dozens of times.

NEW REPORT: Conroe owes $170 million for hotel valued at less than $25 million, real estate firm says in report

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"It's been a very long road for us," Talat's brother, Saqib Khan, said. "The case has been dragging on. We are relieved, as a family, to at least see some light at the end of the tunnel with him possibly being able to stand trial now that he has been found competent."

Fridrich was found competent in September and transferred back to the Montgomery County Jail Oct. 15 from the North Texas State Hospital in Wichita Falls, according to court documents.

Saqib said the family has worked to support Khan's daughter, now 16. Khan worked at Sea Mar Community Health Centers in Seattle for 15 years before taking the position with Texas Children's Pediatrics in Conroe. She and her daughter moved to Conroe in July 2023.

"She has started high school," Khan said. "You can imagine, a young girl going to high school without her mom has been really hard on her and the family in general. She is hanging in there. Obviously, we have to continue life."

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Khan's family does not live in Texas, but Saqib said protecting Khan's daughter from the horrific details of the crime is important.

"We have tried to shield her from this case as much as we can; she is just a child," Khan said. "We try to do that as much as we can."

The case against Fridrich has dragged on since Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon recused his office in June 2024, after Khan's family raised concerns about the investigation.

INCREASING BENEFITS: Social Security benefits and payments will increase in 2026. Here's by how much.

While initial speculation was that the attack on Khan was a hate crime, Ligon said his office, the Conroe Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation found no evidence that the crime was racially motivated.

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The Office of the Attorney General is now prosecuting the case. Fridrich's next court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 3.

Houston-based defense attorneys Lisa Andrews and Cary Hart, who represent Fridrich, have not responded to multiple requests for comment on the case.

"We are anxious as can be," Saqib said. "It has taken a toll on the family, but we are really hopeful with this going forward that justice will be served eventually and this person will be held accountable for his actions."

This article originally published at Family of slain Conroe doctor hopes case will gain momentum after two years of waiting for justice.
A student suffered burn injuries to both of her hands while trying to protect her face in an alleged acid attack by three men, Delhi Police said on Sunday. The victim has demanded justice from the goverment and the culprits behind bars. The accused managed to flee from the spot. The attack took place on Sunday when the victim was on the way to Laxmi Bhai College in northwest Delhi''s Ashok Vihar. Among the three, one accused, identified as Jitender by the victim, had been stalking the woman. The attack took place a month following a heated altercation between the victim and the accused, the police said. The victim briefly told ANI at a hospital, "...I want justice (from the government) and they should be arrested as soon as possible." The victim''s brother alleged that the accused was harassing his sister, and she had complained to the wife of the accused. "This incident happened near her college... He (the accused) was harassing my sister. My sister had complained to his (accused''s) wife...She suffered injuries to her hands and stomach. She is undergoing treatment. We want justice." Delhi police said that on October 26, a call was received from Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital regarding the admission of a 20-year-old woman, resident of Mukundpur, Delhi, with acid burn injuries. The victim stated that she is a 2nd-year (non-college) student and was walking towards her college in Ashok Vihar for class when she was accosted by a person Jitender, resident of Mukundpur, who was known to her along with his associates Ishan and Arman who came on a motorcycle, the Delhi police added. "Ishan allegedly handed over a bottle to Arman, who threw acid on her. The victim tried to protect her face but sustained injuries on both hands. The accused persons fled from the spot. The victim further revealed that Jitender used to stalk her, and a heated argument had taken place between them about a month ago," Delhi police said. The crime team and the FSL Team inspected the crime scene. On the basis of her statement and the nature of injuries, a case under relevant sections of BNS has been registered, and investigation is in progress, police said. (ANI)
CHICAGO (WGN)  At least three people were taken into custody after a confrontation between residents and federal agents Saturday morning on Chicagos Northwest Side.

Witnesses told WGN-TV they were shaken up by what happened and are seeking answers to why federal agents approached a landscaper working in the neighborhood.

The incident took place in the Old Irving Park neighborhood, near North Kildare Avenue and West Waveland Avenue, during a Halloween block party for kids.

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Video from the scene shows neighbors confronting the agents as tear gas fills the air and several people are pinned to the ground.

Witnesses say the agents were with Border Patrol, not U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Department of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement Sunday about the incident, saying Border Patrol conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, who has previously been arrested for assault.

According to McLaughlin, Border Patrol agents were surrounded and boxed in by a group of agitators.

The statement continues:

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Federal law enforcement issued multiple lawful commands and verbal warnings, all of which were ignored. During the operation, two U.S. citizens were arrested for assaulting and impeding a federal officer. To safely clear the area after multiple warnings and the crowd continuing to advance on them, Border Patrol had to deploy crowd control measures.

Our officers are facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them as they put their lives on the line to arrest murderers, rapists, abusers, and gang members. (DHS) Secretary (Kristi) Noems message to the rioters is clear: you will not stop us or slow us down. ICE and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to enforce the law. And if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Resident: Nobody was being violent

Brian Kolp, who lives nearby, said he was sitting on his couch with a cup of coffee when he heard loud noises outside. When he looked out the window, he saw agents arresting someone on his front lawn.

I think I heard one of the whistles, thats what caught my attention, and then they tackled him right in my front yard, Kolp said.

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 They ended up taking at least two other people into custody, including my 70-year-old-ish neighbor who lives in that house there. He was just coming home from a run. They took him to the ground and ended up taking him away.

Federal agents reported in multiple North Side neighborhoods

According to Kolp, the confrontation began when agents approached a man working on a yard nearby. The man ran, but agents caught up with him a block away. Concerned neighbors began to gather outside, then tensions quickly escalated.

Its a Saturday, right, so a lot of people were home, came out to see what was going on, and the situation escalated from there, Kolp said.

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Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Kolp also said agents used chemical agents on the crowd, which he described as excessive.

Nobody was being violent. No one had weapons, Kolp said. Although I wasnt close to where they used the (tear) gas, I never heard them announce they were going to use it.

It was an upsetting situation for a lot of people. There are kids on the block right now, there were kids on the block when it happened.

Chicago Public Schools students detained, allegedly assaulted by federal agents

Neighbors who declined to appear on camera described the incident as traumatizing. Kolp said while hes shocked that it unfolded in his quiet neighborhood, hes proud of the communitys response.

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As terrible as it is to see it happen, as regretful as I am that it happened on our block, Im very proud of my neighbors for coming together and doing what we can to make clear that we are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior in our neighborhood, Kolp said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church in Norfolk had solar panels installed in 2020, an upgrade thats saved the church an estimated 25-30% on energy bills.

The savings, which equate to about $75 a month, are put toward other church initiatives such as a fund to help prevent evictions, according to Pastor Brandon Praileau. The solar project was done at no cost to the church, covered through a combination of assistance from a local solar investment fund and federal tax credits for commercial projects.

But the tax credits used for the project are set to expire soon, and solar energy advocates in Virginia are working to complete projects ahead of the deadline to still receive credits that cut the cost of installations by nearly a third.

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Affecting residential and commercial projects, changes to federal tax codes approved this summer drastically cut timelines for the credits down by several years.

For Virginians, a 5-kilowatt solar system on a residential home costs $13,855 on average, according to the energy marketplace EnergySage. After federal tax credits, the cost drops to $9,699. While higher income households may still have the means to install solar without the 30% tax credit, Praileau said lower income households get left behind.

It further goes to show that renewable energy, and these incentives that incentivize renewable energy like the solar tax credit, would allow folks to be able to buy into programs to save money on their energy costs, said Praileau, who is also the Virginia director of Solar United Neighbors, a nonprofit that represents solar owners. All of those things are impacting a bunch of Virginians because it takes away their energy freedom.

Virginia ranks 9th in the U.S. for total solar capacity installed, and about 7,100 megawatts are generated from those installations. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, this is enough to power more than 810,000 homes.

How are the credits changing?

In July, the federal One Big, Beautiful Bill Act introduced significant changes to the clean energy tax landscape. Specifically, the Residential Clean Energy Credit, or the 25D credit, will expire at the end of the year. This credit covers 30% of the costs of new clean energy projects installed on a residential property, including solar. To qualify, homeowners must have solar panel installations completed and ready to be connected to the electric grid by Dec. 31.

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Theres no cap, or maximum dollar amount, for projects that are categorized under this tax credit, as long as the project is completed by the end of the year.

Before the bill, the credit would have been available until 2032. Then, the credit percentage rate would have gone down to 26% for property placed in service in 2033 and 22% for property placed in service in 2034.

For commercial projects, the bill shifted deadlines. Now, projects that begin construction by July 4, 2026, must be placed in service within four calendar years. If project managers do not meet the July 4 deadline, then they must be in service by Dec. 31, 2027. Essentially, theres a rush to meet the July 4 deadline to secure four years of construction, said Robin Dutta, executive director of the Chesapeake Solar and Storage Association.

These projects include installations on businesses, houses of worship and public buildings.

How is this affecting business?

Nolie Diakoulas, sales director of Convert Solar, said interest in residential solar has exploded since July, when the deadlines for credits changed. Convert Solar is a full-service solar energy system provider based in Virginia Beach, and the company serves residential and commercial clients.

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We experienced double and triple the usual volume of customers, continuing right up to our 2025 installation cutoff date of Oct. 1, Diakoulas said. Currently, Convert Solar has approximately 700 projects scheduled for installation by the end of the year. While the latter half of the year is typically our busiest, this years volume is double what we usually see.

Diakoulas said the interest in commercial projects has not seen the same surge, in part because of how complicated the projects can be.

Dutta, who works with solar-related businesses across the mid-Atlantic, said commercial projects are usually much larger than residential, meaning they often have more extensive permitting before construction can begin. And if those projects do not begin by July 4, the timeline becomes even more crunched, Dutta said.

The question we have is, how many systems may have to miss the July 4 deadline wont be able to be built by the end of 2027? Dutta said. It definitely increases business uncertainty. Weve seen (solar installation) companies already conduct layoffs.

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Some are going out of business already, just because these are tight timelines. This is a more constricted, constrained and expensive business environment.

What resources remain available?

Even with the residential credit going away at the end of the year, Diakoulas said the residential industrys shift toward a third-party ownership model means projects on homes can leverage 48E credits, a commercial solar credit.

With third-party ownership, there are two forms: leasing agreements and power purchase agreements, or PPAs. In the lease model, a customer signs a contract with a developer and pays for the use of the installation over a specific period of time, rather than paying for the power generated. In the PPA model, the system offsets the customers electric utility bill, and the developer sells the power generated to the customer at a fixed rate, usually lower than the local utility.

(Third-party ownership) is an excellent option for homeowners because this model guarantees savings from day one (unlike a loan), covers all warranties and maintenance for 25 years and guarantees the solar systems production, Diakoulas said.

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Though the tax credits are ending, advocates are working to keep solar accessible.

Praileau said Solar United Neighbors encourages a renewable energy system that benefits all incomes. That includes sharing information about how to start the process of transitioning to solar energy and promoting resources like the Virginia Solar Renewable Energy Credits. Through this program, for every megawatt-hour of electricity solar panels produce, a homeowner can then sell to utilities to help them meet renewable energy goals.

Last weekend, the local chapter of the nonprofit advocacy group Third Act hosted community and school leaders from across the region at Norfolk Academy to learn more about installing solar at school buildings. Susan Lee Feathers, a co-facilitator of Third Act Tidewater, said the school has had significant savings through its solar project, and teachers have used the installation to facilitate science lessons about energy. Feathers said schools often dont have to pay for installation, thanks to power purchase agreements. Another strategy is having a donor pay for the installation, and the donor is reimbursed through energy savings.

We want to make stronger, healthier schools, Feathers said. (Solar is) a clean source of energy, its renewable and its a community asset. Once it goes in, if there is a power outage, youre going to have a back up. This is a step in the right direction.

Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com




Special education advocates in San Antonio and across Texas worry that U.S. Department of Education layoffs will harm compliance with a 50-year-old federal law that guarantees services for children with disabilities.

The layoffs - announced Oct. 10, affecting more than 120 employees in the department's special education division - are temporarily on hold under a federal judge's order. But Disability Rights Texas "continues to be highly concerned," and the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers said"these new cuts are likely to weaken federal pressure on states to comply" with laws protecting some 7.5 million children nationwide.

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Federal oversight of Texas' special education programs recently played an important role in getting more children the services they need. In 2004, the Texas Education Agency put an illegal, arbitrary 8.5% cap on special education enrollment in Texas public schools. The cap was in place for more than a decade before the federal agency intervened, according to Disability Rights Texas.

The federal department's Office of Special Education Programs, or OSEP, was instrumental in forcing the state to eliminate the cap and getting more students enrolled in programming. In 2016-17, the year before the cap lifted, just 8.8 percent of Texas students received special education supports. Last year, enrollment in special education was 14 percent.

Steven Munson prays with his daughter, Sophia Munson before she goes to sleep. Tucked in with her is her dog Banjo who sleeps in bed with her most nights. Sophia suffered a stroke and traumatic brain injury in a 2019 car accident. (Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News)





RELATED: School district coping with soaring demand for special education

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"When statewide issues arise, the Department of Education is needed to hold the state accountable," the group said. "The OSEP also directed TEA to create a plan to address the needs of tens of thousands of students impacted over many years by the illegal action.

"With dwindling staff numbers at the OSEP, Disability Rights Texas continues to be highly concerned for how we will hold our state accountable for providing legally obligated education services to Texas children with disabilities," the Texas disability rights group added.

Texas AFT said the layoffs contribute to an "atmosphere of uncertainty and confusion."

"These cuts are especially dangerous given that protections for students with disabilities often hinge on sustained, expert oversight - from investigations of complaints to guidance and monitoring of state and local compliance," the teacher's group said last week.

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Under the 50-year-old Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, children with disabilities are entitled to "free appropriate public education." Compliance typically involves an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, that outlines all the specialized instruction and support services a student needs. Although federal special education funding remains in place, advocates worry the states will not adequately enforce federal standards, especially if President Donald Trump realizes his vision of eliminating the department and shifting all education functions to the states.

The Trump administration recently suggested it may shift special education oversight to the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., or to another federal agency.

Ava Martinez watches from brother Luka's bed as her mom, Victoria, hugs Luka, comforting him after a tantrum her threw. Luka who is on the Autism Spectrum, is normally very loving but sometimes gets upset at the things he cannot control. (Jessica Phelps/San Antonio Express-News)





Amid the uncertainty and confusion, San Antonio's largest school district is assuring families it's determined to serve students with disabilities in compliance with the federal law and under guidance from TEA, the Department of Education and Texas Association of School Boards.

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"Our students who have special education needs are general education students first, and we're doing our very best to ensure that they receive the appropriate education so they can thrive alongside their non-disabled peers," said Kathleen Cuevas, executive director of student services at the Northside Independent School District.

Northside has about 17,600 students receiving special education services - roughly 18% of its 97,000 students - at each of its 132 schools, though some campuses have larger enrollments. Parents, educators or other school officials can ask if a student is eligible, triggering an evaluation process to gauge the need for academic, behavioral and mental health supports. An initial meeting may be held to discuss eligibility and need for services. Parents may present outside assessments.

"There are ways for families to advocate for their children through the TEA as they're working alongside their districts," Cuevas said.

But advocates say the loss of experienced oversight at the federal level could lead to failures, especially in smaller school districts that are understaffed.

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Pamela Allen, CEO of Eagles Flight Advocacy and Outreach, which she founded in 2012 to help families advocate for children with disabilities, said she's "worried mostly about our most vulnerable being protected."

"Longterm effects of the layoffs could mean a delay of non-compliance judgments of IDEA in the states," said Allen, who has two children diagnosed with autism, ages 29 and 10.

RELATED: Voucher bill requires public schools to help students with disabilities

Denise Smith, a child and family advocate and specialized case manager with Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, said many families "are stressed over the recent changes" and other reforms being discussed in Washington.

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"These layoffs within the Department of Education create serious uncertainty for families who already struggle to navigate a complex system," Smith said. "When those staff positions are cut, it disrupts oversight, slows evaluations and IEP processes, and leaves parents with fewer resources to turn to when schools fail to provide needed supports."

Cuevas said Northside, where she's worked for more than 16 years as a teacher, principal, special education coordinator and administrator, is assuring families it is "certainly committed to serving all of our children." She agreed that compliance with the federal law is crucial.

"I don't know if I necessarily have an opinion of where the oversight needs to sit," she said. "I would hope that IDEA continues to be enforced so that students are able to receive the instruction they need."

This article originally published at Federal special education cuts alarm those who remember Texas' illegal special education cap.
Netanyahu welcomed new Shin Bet head Maj.-Gen. (res.) David Zini, praising his leadership and reaffirming Israels independent security policy amid controversy over the appointment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu hosted a welcoming ceremony for the new Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head, Maj.-Gen. (res.) David Zini, at the Prime Ministers Office on Thursday.

Netanyahu went on to praise Zini, commending his impressive military career, bravery, focus, humility, and ability to think outside the box.

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You have crafted a most impressive career in the IDFs combat apparatus, as a fighter, a commander, a senior officer, and a major-general on the General Staff, Netanyahu said.

At every point, at every junction, you made your mark. I have heard your friends say: I would like Zini at my side in battle. Theres no greater compliment. he added.

He also highlighted Zinis family background, noting his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, and his parents. The Jewish-Zionist, state-minded upbringing that your parents instilled in you has borne fruit, Netanyahu said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu speaks at the welcoming ceremony for Shin Bet Director David Zini, October 23, 2025. (credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)

In his address, Netanyahu also discussed Israels security amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas and the countrys partnership with the United States. Referring to Vice President JD Vances recent visit, Netanyahu rejected what he called another ridiculous claim that Israel does not determine its own security policy.

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As both I and Vice President JD Vance said yesterday, we are partners. We work together, Netanyahu said.

The United States is interested in a strong and independent Israel, absolutely. This is based on my conversations with President Trump and his entire immediate team. They want a strong and independent Israel one that is capable of defending itself, acting decisively, creatively, and independently to protect itself. And when Israel protects itself, it also protects the entire region, he added.

In attendance alongside the prime minister were Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, government ministers, other MKs, and heads of the security establishment, including senior Shin Bet officials.

Zini as a controversial choice

Zinis appointment comes amid controversy surrounding his selection as Shin Bet director.

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Some 260 former employees of the Shin Bet warned that Zinis appointment, backed by Netanyahu, posed a danger to Israel. In a public letter, they expressed concern that, in the event of a conflict between a Supreme Court ruling and the prime ministers directives, Zini might not uphold the rule of law. The letter also raised concerns about his personal ties to Netanyahu potentially influencing decisions related to the Qatargate investigation.

The Supreme Court rejected five petitions seeking to block Zinis appointment and ordered hearings on the matter to be held by the end of November. The government ultimately approved Zinis appointment unanimously, following Netanyahus strong support. A move that sparked both political and legal controversy.
A historic hotel was destroyed in a fire in Preble County overnight.

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Firefighters were called to 3 North Main Street in West Alexandria on reports of a structure fire around 11:36 p.m., according to a Preble County dispatcher.

TRENDING STORIES:

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The National Register of Historic Places indicates that this building was the Lange Hotel.

The building was registered as a historic place in 1990, according to federal documents.

Emergency scanner traffic indicated that there was heavy smoke visible in the area.

News Center 7 crews went to the scene to check out the damage Sunday afternoon.

Photos from the scene show that the building had been completely demolished hours after the flames were extinguished.

Additional details were not immediately available.

News Center 7 has reached out to the West Alexandria Fire Department for more information and will continue to follow this story.

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TOPEKA (KSNT) -The First Baptist Church hosted its 7th Trunk or Treat a little different this year.

Due to the weather, the event was moved inside and was a huge success. With over 500 kids coming through, many tables had to go out and restock their candy during the event.

Weve all trick-or-treated before, and I think its important the community does these things in support and celebrates these holidays. Our outreach committee and our daycare was very committed, Benjamin Hardee, lead Pastor says and they said we are going to do this in the gym, no matter what, even if only 50 kids show up, and we had over 500, so god is so good to us.

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The local Hot Wheels club in Topeka donated over 500 cars to give out to the kids.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A first-of-its-kind race in Wichita raised thousands of dollars over the weekend to help families overcome homelessness.

The Laps for Love Backyard Ultra challenged runners to complete a 4.167-mile loop every hour until they couldnt continue. The race began at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

The winner  and last runner standing  was Jadyn StVrain, who completed 26 laps in 26 hours for a total of 108 miles. Second place went to Ryan Keeler with 25 laps, and third place to Trey Delaney with 24 laps.

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Registration fees and donations benefitted Family Promise of Greater Wichita, a nonprofit that helps families with children overcome homelessness and housing insecurity.

Race director Joseph Hamer says the event shows the power of community support.

Its beautiful to watch runners want to give up, they come in, their people cheer them on, they warm them up, they give them food, they get them back to the starting line, and they do it again, Hamer said. That message tied to the families that are getting those resources through Family Promise is just a perfect analogy.

Hamer says they hope to make the event even bigger next year.

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HAGERSTOWN, Md. (WHTM)  Five police officers were taken to an area hospital after their rapid response to a house fire Saturday evening in Hagerstown.

Officers were in the area of Lee and Potomac streets for the Mummers Parade when a citizen reported a house fire on East Lee Street around 6 p.m.

Flames could be seen coming from the home and the officers from the Hagerstown Police Department called for the fire department.

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While firefighters were en route, the officers forced their way into the home to look for any residents and were able to find a fire extinguisher to battle the flames until firefighters arrived.

No one was found inside the home, police said.

Five officers were taken to Meritus Medical Center for treatment of smoke inhalation, one of which is being transferred to Johns Hopkins Bay View Medical Center for further observation. The remaining officers are still at Meritus, police said.

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We are grateful for our officers quick action and that there isnt more serious injury, the department said in a statement. We ask for the communities thoughts and prayers for the officers speedy recoveries.

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Flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility, the Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday, when the agency also reported staffing-related delays in Chicago, Washington and Newark, New Jersey.

The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world's busiest airports soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed and canceled in the coming days as the nation's air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown.

During an appearance on the Fox News program Sunday Morning Futures, Duffy said more controllers were calling in sick as money worries compound the stress of an already challenging job.

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Just yesterday, ... we had 22 staffing triggers. Thats one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began. And thats a sign that the controllers are wearing thin, he said.

The FAA said planes headed for Los Angeles were held at their originating airports starting at 11:42 a.m. Eastern time, and the agency lifted the ground stop at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time.

The hold did not appear to cause continuing problems at LAX; according to flight tracking website FlightAware, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport saw a much bigger share of late arrivals due to what the FAA said were weather and equipment issues.

Too few air traffic controllers per shift also caused takeoff and arrival disruptions Sunday at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport and Teteboro Airport, and at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Meyers, Florida, according to the FAA.

On Sunday evening, the FAA also slowed traffic into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Chicago OHare International Airport because of traffic controller staffing.
West Bengal's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has raised concerns about the voter lists, alleging that they contain many dead and fake voters ahead of the special intensive revision (SIR) in West Bengal. Ahead of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) press conference on Monday, Adhikari said that the voter list should be prepared correctly. Speaking to ANI, Suvendu Adhikari said, "Voter lists must be prepared correctly. There are many dead and fake voters in West Bengal. There are double and triple entries. Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators are there. All of them should be removed. Bhowanipore is a BJP seat. In 2014, the BJP held a lead here. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP led in five out of eight wards. Of 267, the BJP led in 142 and the TMC in 125. This is a BJP seat. The BJP's lotus will bloom here." He further said that in the Nandigram Assembly constituency, the BJP defeated TMC, and in Bhowanipore, the BJP will also win. "She (Mamata Banerjee) will run away and contest from where Muslims are in the majority. It will be difficult for us to defeat her there because she is the messiah of Muslims. Nobody is safe in Bengal. Even the Governor, the Central Minister, and journalists are not safe. This is even worse than the jungle raj," he further said. The ECI has announced a press conference on Monday at 4:15 pm. On October 6, CEC Gyanesh Kumar announced that the SIR of voter lists will be conducted nationwide. At the last conference in September, the CEO of Bihar presented on the strategies, constraints, and best practices adopted, so that the CEOs of the rest of the country could learn from their experiences, said EC in a press note. "The CEOs provided detailed presentations on the number of Electors, the qualifying date of the last SIR, and the electoral roll in their respective State/UT, as per the last completed SIR. The CEOs also presented the status of digitisation and uploading of the Electoral Roll after the previous SIR on the State/UT CEO website," the EC said in the note. "They also provided the status of mapping current electors with those as per the last SIR in the State/UT," it said. To ensure uniform implementation of the Commission's initiative to ensure that no polling station has over 1,200 electors, the status of polling station rationalisation was also reviewed. (ANI)
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Florida is considering a move that would give people a closer look at whats being taught in its public universities  another potential flash point as conservative-led states scrutinize higher education.

University leaders in Florida want schools to post what textbooks, instructional materials and readings are required for most courses, similar to a policy recently adopted by Georgia colleges.

Supporters say the change promotes openness and accountability, helping students see what theyre signing up for and encouraging professors to stay on topic. But some faculty fear the changes could invite political pressure and harassment at a time when higher education is under an intense ideological spotlight, particularly around lessons touching on gender, race and diversity.

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The proposal is the latest step in Floridas broader effort  led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the states GOP supermajority  to reshape higher education. A far-reaching 2024 law forced a review of hundreds of general education courses across the states 12 universities and banned spending tied to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Florida already asks professors to make some course information publicly available, such as curriculum and goals, objectives and expectations for students. The new proposal from the state Board of Governors would go further  requiring syllabi to list all textbooks, instructional materials and readings at least 45 days before classes begin. Certain courses like directed individual studies, internships, thesis, dissertation defense and performance would be exempt.

The change, according to the Board of Governors, is intended to provide greater transparency for students and to allow them to make informed decisions prior to course registration.

That aligns with the rationale University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue gave for beefing up syllabus reporting across his system in May. It can show our commitment to transparency and accountability, Perdue said about the changes in September, attempting to quiet faculty concerns.

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Some outfits, such as the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, have long advocated for schools to publicly post syllabus information, heralding benefits for students and schools, such as making it easier to determine transfer credits and aiding in research sharing. And, the organization contends, it can expose a professors deviation from normal expectations or acceptable academic standards.

Its about basic accountability, said Jenna A. Robinson, president of the Martin Center, a conservative leaning higher education nonprofit based in North Carolina. We need to ensure professors are teaching what the course is supposed to be about.

The push in Florida comes amid a similar crackdown in Texas. Six public university systems there recently have ordered reviews of curriculum, syllabi and course descriptions after a Texas A&M University professor taught a lesson on gender identity in a childrens literature class. This incident triggered wide fallout, with Texas A&M firing the professor and demoting two administrators before the president was ultimately forced out as the school garnered negative attention from conservatives. At the University of Texas, another professor claims to have since been yanked from an administration post allegedly over"ideological differences" with school leaders.

Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation, Gov. Greg Abbott said in response to the University of Texas move.

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To that end, some Florida faculty worry the statesproposed syllabus changes could turn professors into political and ideological targets of the masses.

Several faculty members, in comments to the Board of Governors, raised similar concerns, wondering if the policy could open them up to become fodder for harassment by outsiders who have motives to restrict academic freedom and target certain books or subjects.

What they want is to sort of unleash the online mob on certain faculty, said Robert Cassanello, president of the United Faculty of Florida union, and a professor at the University of Central Florida. Thats what this is all about, scrutinizing what everybody is reading without context.

The proposed syllabus rule fits into Floridas broader push to reshape its higher education system under DeSantis  including a prohibition on DEI spending.

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Originally, Floridas proposed syllabus rule aimed even further by requiring professors to post the assignments they give students online. The Board of Governors voted to strip out that measure, agreeing it was a tough ask for university faculty.

State colleges, however, could still be facing the full syllabus transparency policy, assignments included, under a rule in development by the Florida Department of Education.

Notably, State Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas pushed to keep assignments in the university system rule when it was first considered last month.

I think to the extent we can provide the greatest level of transparency to students, I'd advocate for that, Kamoutsas said during the Sept. 11 meeting.

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We have had a scenario or scenarios, where assignments have been provided that students may feel uncomfortable as a result of those assignments. And so, the idea of giving them full transparency on the front end so that they can decide whether or not that's a course they'd like to take is something that I do think is needed and something appreciated by the students.

Outside of academic freedom, faculty have other misgivings about the syllabus rule, namely its 45-day deadline.

Professors are questioning, for example, how they could assign readings on new research published during a semester without breaking the rule. If that wasnt allowed, it risks weakening the quality of teaching, according to one comment.

The Board of Governors said it would be up to universities to determine a timeline for such updates.

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I think our only suggestion would be as there are changes to syllabi, that those get updated and included in the repository that's posted online, just so that students, the future students, if they wanted to take the class the following term, could have that information, Emily Sikes, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, said during the Sept. 11 meeting.

Additionally, some faculty noted they typically arent under contract 45 days before some semesters start, raising questions about how to fulfill the criteria. Conversely, Georgias policy requires syllabus information to be posted one week ahead of classes this year, and at the time of registration starting in fall 2026.

Floridas syllabus rule change could be considered as soon as Nov. 5 at the next Board of Governors meeting.
Food pantries in Rogers County and northeast Oklahoma are expecting a massive spike in demand if federal food stamps lapse Nov. 1.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helped to feed about 686,800 Oklahomans, or about 17% of the state's population, in Fiscal Year 2024. These Oklahomans  and the 41 million other low-income Americans who relied on the program for food last year  will lose benefits Nov. 1 if Congress cannot reopen the government or approve stopgap appropriations for SNAP.

It would mark the first time in the program's 86-year history that food assistance for the nation's poorest dried up completely. In 2022, 86% of Oklahoma SNAP households fell below the poverty line, not counting the roughly $6 per person per day they received in food stamps.

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Chris Bernard, president and chief executive officer of nonprofit Hunger Free Oklahoma, said a total Nov. 1 SNAP freeze could put recipient households in financial jeopardy within two weeks.

"If you're only earning $30,000 a year in the family, that $400 a month is a massive portion of your household budget each month," Bernard said. "Trying to make that up and figure out how to do that is impossible, so you are sacrificing somewhere. ... It may be you choose to feed yourself instead of paying rent. These are terrible and impossible decisions, and that will be the real world very quickly for people."

Bernard's agency runs a hotline to help people enroll in SNAP and offers SNAP matching funds at farmers markets and some stores. He said in Rogers County, 9,366 people (9.2%) benefit from food stamps.

He said SNAP is a necessary supplement to community food pantries operated by nonprofits and churches  according to the Food Research & Action Center, food stamps offer nine meals for every one meal provided by pantries.

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About 200,000 people in Rogers and 23 other northeast Oklahoma counties sought assistance last year from the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, said Matt Jostes, executive vice president.

"Over the past year, the Food Bank and our network of partners experienced nearly a 20% increase in neighbors needing assistance," Jostes said. "With more than 680,000 Oklahomans relying on SNAP, we expect to see that need increase substantially."

Most food pantries in Rogers County get the bulk of their goods from the Food Bank. Jostens said the nonprofit partners with Catholic Charities, Claremore First Methodist Church, Blue Starr Church of Christ, Claremore Seventh Day Adventist Church, Good Samaritan Ministry, Grace United Methodist Church, Oologah United Methodist Church and Claremore Meals on Wheels.

Tim McHugh, head pastor at Grace UMC, said his church also buys some of its food from Sysco, but it's more expensive than the food bank's. Grace United Methodist Church has a pantry at its campus on Old Highway 20 and a mobile pantry it brings to other churches called "Givin' with Grace."

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McHugh said 99 families visited the pantry trailer Oct. 22 when it parked at Claremore Public Works. He said he didn't recognize most of them and is expecting to see more newcomers needing food assistance.

"It's going to affect the resources we use," McHugh said. "It's going to affect the people who generally give. It's going to affect everybody. We're a small church, but we're going to help as many people as we can for as long as we can."

He said Grace UMC is extending its pantry hours to coincide with its regular hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Bernard said the 9:1 ratio of SNAP to pantry meals illustrates that charities and food banks alone cannot sustain the poorest Oklahomans' nutrition needs. He said losing SNAP would also erase billions in economic impact generated by the program each year in Oklahoma.

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Jostes said SNAP dollars make up between 11 to 30% of rural grocery stores' incomes.

"It's going to hit harder locally-owned, smaller stores, just because they're not built to weather a storm like that as much," Bernard said. "That is also going to impact the workers, right? If you're getting less revenue, you've got to cut hours."

Bernard said without SNAP, many low-income Oklahomans would find it more difficult to afford healthy but expensive foods like fresh produce. Though unspent SNAP benefits vanish Nov. 1, Bernard said Hunger Free Oklahoma's own Double Up Oklahoma SNAP matching benefits will stay valid up to 60 days after receipt.

Claremore has only one DUO market, the Rogers County Farmers Market, but its season ended Saturday. Many farmers markets and grocery stores in and around Tulsa accept DUO benefits.

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Bernard said people should call their representatives in Congress to ask for a solution to fund SNAP through November. He said in the meantime, families should budget carefully and make sure their kids eat school meals.

He said people who'd like to help out should donate money to local food banks instead of food items, as nonprofits buy their stock at lower bulk prices.

"There's no way to fill the gaps SNAP leaves," Bernard said. "Certainly, it's going to take the community rallying around this issue to at least alleviate the pain."
Back in 2020, Ford did what so many other automakers were doing at the time: announcing climate-positive plans, like fully electric lineups and carbon neutrality roadmaps. The Blue Oval opted for the latter. Now, the company is reaffirming this commitment, reassuring everyone it will be carbon neutral 25 years from now.

Ford Focuses On Three Areas For Path To Carbon Neutrality

Aerial view of the U.S. Ford factory cars in Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico state, Mexico, taken on January 30, 2025. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)ALFREDO ESTRELLA/Getty Images

Ford says it will focus on three key areas - weak spots that most need addressing as the brand plots out the next 25 years of its plan. These items - vehicle use, supply base, and the companys facilities - account for 95 percent of the brand's CO2 emissions. Ford, of course, says it will lean on EVs and hybrids to get there, affirmed by Bob Holycross, Fords Vice President, Chief Sustainability, Environment and Safety Officer.

Were making tangible progress in reducing emissions across our vehicles, operations and supply chain, having achieved a 49 percent reduction in absolute global operations greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions since 2017, Holycross said. And since 2019, we have had a 16 percent reduction in total Scope 3 GHG emissions, which are indirect emissions occurring in a companys value chain, encompassing both upstream and downstream activities. Near-term goals should be realized, too, with the company's Michigan facilities being powered by 100% carbon-free electricity.

Ford Can't Let This Be Another Page-Six Walkback

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Back when everyone thought EVs were the next big thing, it was practically a race to be the next automaker to claim they'd be fully electric and carbon neutral by 2030. It's 2025, and by and large, many of these brands are no longer committed to a fully electric lineup. Most walked back their statements years later, hoping no one would notice as hype for EVs died down and an anti-EV administration took the lead on federal policy. Volvo and Stellantis have both abandoned their 2030 commitments.

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Ford can't afford to do that with its carbon neutrality plans. The automaker needs to be carbon neutral because it pollutes more than any individual ever will. Putting aside the absolute necessity of it, Ford has now doubled down, following its 2020 announcement. To fail, or to walk back its plans, would be a stain on the brand, and one that will hopefully be widely reported on should it happen.

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Anat Angrest talked during a rally in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square on Saturday, demanding the release of the remaining Gaza hostages.

Released hostage Matan Angrest was forced to endure horrific interrogations in the tunnel basements while severely wounded, bleeding, hovering between life and death for long months, his mother, Anat, said during a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday demanding the release of the remaining Gaza hostages.

"His body bears scars of courage, scars that, as a mother, I find difficult to look at and to imagine what he went through," she continued. "He still doesnt tell me everything; he protects me. He says, Leave it, Mom, the main thing is Im here. But his eyes fill with tears when he remembers that Itay Chen is still there. At every opportunity, he says he wants to put on his uniform and bring him back," she said.

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The demonstration was held in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv alongside families of the remaining 13 deceased hostages, recently freed hostage, their families, and friends.

"We will never be whole again, but we can be a people who have healed," Noam Katz, daughter of Lior Rudaeff, said. "A people who choose life, who choose light, a people who choose not to give up hope. This is my dream. This is our promise."

Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife to Omri Miran, said that "Omri is home tonight watching over our daughters. This picture is no longer a dream - its reality, and its thanks to you, good people."

"You stood with us, marched with us, and prayed with us. You opened doors to the highest halls of power and the smallest houses of worship. You ensured the voices of our loved ones were heard even when the world turned away," Moshe, Omri's brother, added.

Eitan Horn at the hostage demonstration with his brothers Amos and Iair Horn, October 25, 2025. (credit: Paulina Patimer)

Those in attendance also include recently freed hostage Eitan Horn, accompanied by his brother Amos and Iair Horn, the latter also being released from Hamas captivity in February of this year.

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Other participants included family members of former hostages who were released in the US-brokered hostage, ceasefire deal.

Kibbutz Nir Oz demands return of remaining hostages

Another protest was held in Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside the Tel Aviv demonstration, with the main demand also being the return of all 13 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas.

"My grandfather survived about four months in the Hamas tunnels in deplorable conditions, with very little food and water and no medical care at the age of 85, said Gali Nochomovitz, granddaughter of hostage Amiram Cooper.

She added, Grandma returned with a broken shoulder. While she was in captivity, Grandpa took care of her. He helped her do everything, even though he was also in a bad mental and physical health condition. On the day of her release, my grandfather was the one who told her that she was coming home. And literally within a few moments, the terrorists took Grandma, and they didn't have time to say goodbye. And from there they parted ways.

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True, my grandfather's time is over, but my time and my family's time have come to a halt. It is our duty to return all 13 martyrs who remained in captivity and not leave anyone behind. Not to leave any family behind. We deserve certainty; he deserves a proper and dignified burial on the land of the kibbutz he loved so much. We will not stop fighting, Grandpa. Until the last captive!"

Other participants included Zamir Haimi, uncle of Tal Haimi, a member of the Nir Yitzhak readiness class who had recently returned to Israel; Silvia Cuneo, mother of the former hostages David and Ariel Cuneo; and Renana Gome-Yaakov, mother of the former hostages Or and Gil Yaakov.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A grand jury indictment was unsealed Friday charging a former Los Angeles police officer in the May 2015 shooting death of an unarmed homeless man in Venice, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said.

Clifford Proctor pleaded not guilty to a charge of second-degree murder, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Brendan Glenn, 29, was killed during a struggle with officers outside a bar where he had fought with a bouncer, and his name became a rallying cry against police shootings in Los Angeles. Both Glenn and Proctor are Black.

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The office of current LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement that the indictment comes after the previous district attorney, George Gascon, reexamined four use-of-force cases involving law enforcement officers, including Proctor's case.

Hochman, who ousted Gascon in November's election, will review the case and decide whether to proceed with the prosecution, the statement said.

Proctors lawyer, Anthony Tony Garcia, questioned the timing of the charges and noted that prosecutors declined to charge his client in 2018, according to the Times.

In 2018, LA District Attorney Jackie Lacey declined to press charges, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove Proctor acted unlawfully when he used deadly force.

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Glenn was on his stomach and trying to push himself up when Proctor shot him in the back, according to police. He wasnt trying to take a gun from Proctor or his partner when he was shot, and Proctors partner told investigators that he didnt know why the officer opened fire, police have said.

Proctor resigned from the Los Angeles Police Department in 2017. The city paid $4 million to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit that was brought by Glenns relatives.

Proctor, 60, remains in jail. His next court date is Nov. 3.
As the government shutdown drags on, hundreds of former National Park Service employees are urging the administration under US President Donald Trump to protect parks by closing them.

They're worried about reports of misbehavior in the parks, specifically pointing to a wildfire sparked near an unstaffed campground in Joshua Tree National Park and illegal BASE jumpers and squatters flaunting rules in Yosemite National Park.

These incidents "clearly demonstrate the problems with keeping parks open with minimal or no staff," a letter sent Thursday from 450 former employees to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum states. "We write to you with great alarm after dangerous and life-threatening incidents at national parks and urge you once again to close all national parks until the government re-opens," the letter reads.

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According to the letter, there are also "less high-profile reports of bathrooms overflowing, trash that is not being picked up, and trails that are not being safely maintained or monitored, which add urgency to our ask."

Employees argued that keeping parks open without enough staff to resolve these problems violates the agency's mission, which includes protecting and conserving resources for future generations. "We recognize that closing parks is not an easy decision, but it's the responsible one," they wrote. "Protecting our parks now ensures that future generations can enjoy them as we do today."

A spokesperson from the Department of the Interior who didn't provide their name wouldn't say if Burgum was considering closing parks. Instead, they blamed Democrats for the shutdown and talked about the shutdown's impact on economies that revolve around national parks.

"The Department recognizes the serious consequences that a lapse in federal appropriations, caused by Congressional Democrats, has on the National Park System," they wrote. "We are committed to protecting park resources, ensuring public safety, and maintaining visitor access to the greatest extent practicable."

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Park sites have been mostly open (with some exceptions) during the shutdown but operating with skeleton crews, closed visitor centers, and the lack of much-needed entrance and campground fee revenue. According to the Department of the Interior, 80% of the service's 430 sites, which include national monuments, historic battlefields and more, are currently open in some capacity. These sites are using past fee revenue to support operations, an approach deemed illegal by the Government Accountability Office during the last shutdown.

Parks are already operating with 24% fewer permanent staff members than before the Trump administration began reducing the size of the federal government this winter. Of the approximately 15,000 remaining agency employees, almost two thirds, or 9,300 workers, are furloughed. The rest are working without pay, for now.

The Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, a group of current and former employees and volunteers, and the Association of National Park Rangers, a group of park professionals, coordinated the letter writing and signing campaign. "As iconic landscapes burn and campgrounds and trails are littered with trash or human waste, Secretary Burgum cannot sit idly by," Emily Thompson, the coalition's executive director, said in a statement.

High-level leaders threw their support behind the message, including two former directors, six former regional directors and more than 90 former superintendents. "Leaving the parks open to be trashed or damaged, and then requiring employees to 'fix' it all when they go back to work is unacceptable and unfair," Bill Wade, the association's executive director, said in a news release.

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A group of more than 40 former national park superintendents also asked Burgum to close parks when the shutdown began on Oct. 1, citing vandalism that occurred during the 2018-2019 government shutdown. He ignored the request.




Each fall, the Texas State Capitol complex transforms into a literary oasis as tens of thousands of Texans doubling as book lovers flock to the streets for the Texas Book Festival. The beloved tradition celebrates its 30th anniversary this year of facilitating thought-provoking keynote speaker addresses, author book signings and introducing readers to new titles - all thanks to one former librarian turned First Lady of Texas and the United States.

Former First Lady Laura Bush co-founded the Texas Book Festival in 1995 - when she was First Lady of Texas - alongside Mary Margaret Farabee and a group of volunteers, with the goal of the festival deemed to honor and amplify the work of Texas authors, encourage reading and help aid Texas' public library systems. One year after its founding, Texas held its inaugural book festival in November 1996; in the decades since, the Texas Book Festival has become one of the largest literacy events in the country.

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"There's really something for everybody at the Texas Book Festival," Bush said in an AP report from 2012. Prior to that she was a major advocate for libraries and reading, telling Vernon City Elementary students in 2003 that "Reading gives you enjoyment throughout your life."

Former First Lady Laura Bush reads book to children at Dawson Elementary School as part of Texas Book Festival. (Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images)





The Texas Book Festival's influence is captured in the numbers, with each year's event featuring more than 250 authors and drawing in an estimated 40,000 attendees. Past speakers and guest authors include Texan turned Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey, former President Barack Obama (during his senatorial tenure), author Margaret Atwood, actor Tom Hanks, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and American politician Stacey Abrams.

Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) signs books after speaking at the 11th annual Texas Book Festival at the State Capitol. (Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc/Corbis via Getty Images)





This year's 30th anniversary edition, slated for November 8-9, will include appearances from former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros, comedian Chelsea Handler, romance author Ali Hazelwood, author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and the daughter of the festival's founder, Jenna Bush Hager.

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Hager will be speaking with author Ariel Sullivan for her new book Conform, as part of their national tour. The festival is free to attend but Hager and Sullivan's event is a ticketed session starting at $44 each. Tickets to the November 8 event can be found here. It's an anniversary milestone that's come full circle with the addition of Hager on this year's line up, Bush said in a video shared by the Texas Book Festival on Friday, October 24.

"It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since Mary Margaret Farabee and I launched the Texas Book Festival. What began as a celebration of Texas writers and libraries has grown into a beloved tradition, drawing readers and authors from across the country to the iconic Texas State Capitol each fall," Bush said. "I'm especially thrilled that my daughter, Jenna, will be part of this milestone year."

Authors Jenna Bush Hager (L) and Barbara Pierce Bush (R) pose following a discussion on their book 'Sisters First: A Celebration Of Sisterhood' during the Texas Book Festival at the Texas State Capitol on November 4, 2017 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage) (Rick Kern/WireImage)





While the festival itself is a once-a-year occasion, the Texas Book Festival's mission extends year-round, specifically via programming across the state to unite readers and writers. With part of its mission centered around Texas' public libraries, the Texas Book Festival has donated more than $3.6 million to state public libraries as well as nearly 200,000 books to students enrolled in Title I schools via its Reading Rock Stars and Real Reads programs.

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"We believe deeply that providing access to books and connecting people through literature produces more informed, more empathetic, and more inspired communities," the Texas Book Festival wrote online. "Cultural experiences that are rich in depth and breadth are critical to enriching our personal lives as well as the health and vibrancy of our society. Books expand readers' views of the world and deepen their understanding of others and themselves."

This article originally published at How a former Texas first lady penned one of America's largest book fests.
(FOX40.COM)  Four suspects have been arrested in Modesto for assault and kidnapping, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

At around 5:30 p.m., on Oct 14, deputies responded to the 1100 block of Chicago Avenue in Modesto following a report of a male victim being assaulted by multiple individuals.

The sheriffs office said, while deputies were responding, they received information that several of the suspects had entered different vehicles and fled the area. The SCSO Air Support Unit quickly found the vehicles and guided ground units to their locations, leading to the suspects being detained.

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Upon contacting the victim, deputies learned he had been working on a project outside his residence when several individuals approached and physically assaulted him.

Armed suspect threatens to shoot family, prompting evacuation in South Sacramento

The SCSO said that during the attack, the suspects allegedly dragged the victim toward a car while threatening to kill him. The victim told deputies he recognized one of them from a previous dispute.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to make a full recovery, the sheriffs office said.

The sheriffs office stated that all four suspects were arrested on multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, and home invasion.

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SCSO said they were booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, with bail amounts ranging from $650,000 to $1,000,000.

The sheriffs office posted a video on its Facebook showing the operation from cameras in vehicles and helicopters.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Stanislaus County Sheriffs Office at (209) 525-7114 or submit an anonymous tip to Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at (866) 602-7463.

Image: The Stanislaus Sheriffs Office Image: The Stanislaus Sheriffs Office Image: The Stanislaus Sheriffs Office

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Union Minister Chirag Paswan took a swipe at the opposition as he claimed that they will use "any means necessary" to win the elections, highlighting the recent alleged attack on the NDA candidate's convoy in Bhaktipur. "The opposition parties, especially the RJD, have the ideology of using any means necessary to win elections. Our fight is against this mindset... The convoy of the NDA candidate of Bhaktiyarpur, LJP leader Arun Kumar, was attacked today by anti-social elements belonging to opposition parties," he said. He further accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of targeting any Dalit who starts getting power. He also vowed not to let the "jungle raj" return to the state. "This incident forces us to think that RJD thinks that people from deprived sectors of society are only good for giving votes, that these people should not reach such a level in society that they can join the mainstream. That is why whenever someone from the Dalit or backward classes starts becoming powerful, then these people try to threaten him by any means... Chirag Paswan, LJP, and NDA will never negotiate with such anti-social elements. My government is committed to ensuring the strictest action against all the culprits. We will never let 'jungle raj' return to Bihar," he said. Speaking on RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Pawan remarked that the people of Bihar never chose his party. He further underlined that the election results will be "historic" as there is unity in the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan is divided. "In the 15 years, the way you, your family, and your government have worked to ruin Bihar is the reason why Bihar has never chosen you. But yes, if you manage to form a government through some 'jugaad' and garner support, that's a different matter. However, the public has never given you a second chance. In 2020, when they said they were a big party, it was because there was no unity in the NDA; we were fighting elections separately, which benefited you. Today, when there is unity in the NDA and the Mahagathbandhan is divided, the result this time will be historic," Paswan said. The voting for the 243-seat Bihar Assembly will be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, with the results declared on November 14. (ANI)




Four people were reported shot, including one fatally, in the Gulfton area Sunday morning in two separate calls, leaving Houston police to search for a potential link.

Assistant Police Chief Patricia Cantu could not confirm the specific location of the shooting during a Sunday news conference, but she said one victim was dead and two others were in critical condition.

Police learned about two shooting victims who had already been taken to a hospital at about 5 a.m. and found two more victims at a plaza at 6909 Ashcroft Drive almost an hour later, according to Cantu.

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Cantu said police didn't know if the two shootings were related.

One of the shooting victims from the initial call for a hospital check said they were shot at the Caribe Sport Bar on Rampart Street, but Cantu said the scene didn't suggest any crime took place there.

Officers later responded to the Ashcroft Drive address in response to a shooting at a night club that police did not identify. One of the shooting victims there was dead, and the other was taken to the hospital with life threatening injuries, police said.

Police had no further information.

This is a developing story.

This article originally published at Four people reported shot in Houston's Gulfton area as police investigate potential night club link.
(NewsNation)  Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Sunday that the U.S. and China have reached a substantial framework for a trade agreement that could help avoid 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods.

Earlier this month, President Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on Chinese goods as of Nov. 1, in response to China tightening its control over rare earth minerals. Speaking with NBCs Meet the Press, Bessent says he no longer anticipates that will happen.

President Trump gave me a great deal of negotiating leverage with the threat of the 100 percent tariffs on November 1st, Bessent said. And I believe weve reached a very substantial framework that will avoid that and allow us to discuss many other things with the Chinese.

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Trade tensions cool as Trump and President Xi prepare to meet

Bessent highlighted rare earth minerals as a major focus point.

Im also anticipating that we will get some kind of a deferral on the rare earth export controls that the Chinese had discussed, Bessent said. My counterpart, the vice premier, and I have set the framework, and it will be up to the two leaders to discuss the final terms.

This comes as President Trump prepares to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week during his multi-nation trade trip in Asia.

Were going to do well with China, well meet with President Xi in South Korea, and I think well have a good deal with them, Trump said during the ASEAN summit on Sunday. They want to make a deal, and we want to make a deal.

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The president suggested that future meetings between himself and Xi would take place between in the U.S. in either Washington or Mar-a-Lago in Florida.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Franklin County is reminding voters about a change in location for where over 2,700 residents cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.

According to officials, the voting location for the Burnt Chimney precinct has changed.

Reportedly, voters who previously cast their ballots at Burnt Chimney Elementary School will now vote at the Smith Mountain Lake YMCA (SML-YMCA), located at 293 Firstwatch Drive.

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Officials say the Franklin County Registrar mailed notices about this change in June, but know many voters are still unaware of it.

To check your registration status or to double-check where youre registered to vote, you can visit the Virginia Department of Elections website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Los Angeles Animal Services will host a free vaccine clinic for pets this Sunday at the Chesterfield Square/South Los Angeles Animal Services Center.

The event will take place from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at 1850 W. 60th St., Los Angeles, CA 90047, according to the department. Vaccinations will be available at no cost for the first 100 dogs and cats brought to the clinic.

The clinic will offer free DHPP, FVRCP, and rabies vaccines, along with free dewormer treatments, officials said.

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To ensure safety, all cats must arrive in a carrier or crate, and all dogs must be on a collar and leash or inside a crate. The free vaccines are available to South Los Angeles residents only.

Pets invited to trick-or-treat at PetSmart stores this Halloween

L.A. Animal Services in South L.A. to hold a free vaccine clinic Oct. 26, 2025. (LAAS)

The clinic is part of the citys ongoing efforts to promote animal health and responsible pet ownership. The event is held in partnership with the Lange Foundations South L.A. Intervention Program, Los Angeles Animal Services said on social media.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
French prosecutors on Sunday announced the first arrests tied to the Louvre Museum heist last weekend.

The two men taken into custody were known to police for other sophisticated thefts, Le Monde reported.

Police are still searching for the loot taken from the museum in last weekends brazen daytime theft, as well as for other accomplices.

The saga is having a ripple effect through French politics: Officials are debating whether to put a police station at the Louvre (the countrys interior minister opposes the idea), while the Parisian left is using the heist to attack Frances right-wing culture minister, who is running for mayor next year.
Two men from a Paris suburb have been arrested in connection with last week's major jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, the French National Police confirmed to ABC News amid a nationwide manhunt continuing for two other perpetrators.

One suspect was arrested at 10 p.m. on Saturday at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport while trying to board a plane bound for Algeria, police said.

The second suspect was nabbed by police as he was about to travel to Mali, in West Africa, an investigator with the Paris Brigade for the Repression of Banditry (BRB), the special police unit spearheading the probe, and a source with the French Interior Ministry directly connected to the investigation told ABC News.

Remon Haazen/Getty Images - PHOTO: Police stand guard outside the Louvre museum at Louvre, October 19, 2025, in Paris, France.

Both suspects, whose names have not been publicly released, are French nationals who live in Seine Saint Denis, a suburb of Paris, according to investigators. One of the suspects has dual citizenship in France and Mali, and the other is a dual citizen of France and Algeria, investigators said, adding that both were already known to police from past burglary cases.

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Investigators said they matched trace DNA evidence recovered from a helmet left at the scene of the crime to one of the suspects, enabling police to put the alleged thief under phone and physical surveillance.

Both suspects are believed to have played active roles in the brazen Oct. 19 robbery at the Louvre, in which eight precious pieces of jewelry, including crowns containing thousands of diamonds and other precious gemstones, were stolen, according to the sources.

Investigators say they're still determining whether a source inside of the Louvre may have had a role in the theft.

No new information has been made public on the whereabouts of the stolen jewels that Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau estimated to be worth $102 million.

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French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised investigators for making the arrests in a social media post on Sunday.

"I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the investigators who worked tirelessly as I asked them to and who always had my full confidence," Nunez said in the post. "The investigations must continue in accordance with the secrecy of the investigation under the authority of the specialized interregional court of the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office."

"We will continue with the same determination! Let's keep going!" Nunez added.

Authorities launched a nationwide manhunt for the Louvre suspects after the theft from the museum's Apollo Gallery on the morning of Oct. 19, shortly after the museum opened to the public.

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The stolen items included crowns, necklaces, earrings and brooches, some of which once belonged to Emperor Napoleon and his wife.

$102M in jewels taken in Louvre heist, as museum director summoned by lawmakers

The team of thieves drove up to the side of the museum in what police described as a "mobile freight elevator" equipped with a metal ladder on the back that was extended up to a window, according to the Paris police.

"They deployed the freight elevator, securing the surroundings with construction cones, before accessing the second floor, in the Apollo Gallery, by breaking the window with an angle grinder," according to the police statement.

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"Inside, they then smashed two display cases, 'Napoleon jewels' and 'French crown jewels,' using the angle grinder and stole numerous pieces of high-value jewelry," police said.

Anadolu via Getty Images - PHOTO: Seven-minute heist at the Louvre Museum.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed that authorities would catch those responsible for what he described as an "attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history."

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who is overseeing the investigation alongside the Justice Ministry, described the heist to ABC News as "a simple, but spectacular operation."

Soon after the theft, investigators said four suspects left the scene on two motorbikes, winding their way through central Paris and last spotted speeding southeast on Highway A6 out of Paris and in the direction of Lyon.

Louvre Museum heist: Jewels with 'inestimable' value stolen from Napoleon collection

ABC News' Somayeh Malekian contributed to this report.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  As the daughter of a Franklin fire chief, Lianna Weir jokes that she was raised around fire trucks.

Instead of a Barbie mansion, her dream house growing up was a New York City fire station, she said.

As an adult, the fourth-generation firefighter is following in her family's footsteps  but much of the aid she's providing is behind the scenes, fellow firefighters said.

Weir, 37, serves with East Taylor Township's fire department and is also employed by the Cambria County Regional Firefighters Association, managing social media fundraising and outreach that has helped the nonprofit grow into an eight-county organization.

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"I tell people I'm an advocate," said Weir, of East Taylor Township.

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania communications graduate uses her talents to share local fire departments' success stories on Facebook, raise awareness about the firefighters' association and forge community partnerships, she said.

Weir said she's always looking for unique opportunities to connect fire departments with the communities they serve.

Over the past four years, it has helped propel the regional association from approximately 450 dues-paying members to more than 1,500, representing 74 departments across eight counties.

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The 104-year-old organization has included local departments from Cambria, Somerset, Indiana, Clearfield, Blair and Westmoreland for years  and has recently added members from Huntington and Armstrong counties, she said.

Dues-paying members and departments get access to the county's training academy in the Patton area, which recently added a new training tower, as well as access to dozens of instructors, who teach a broad list of courses that range from mainstays such as vehicle rescue or structure burn training to fire photography, social media and Microsoft Excel.

"We're lucky to have the instructors we have and the training we offer," Weir said. "It brings in departments that want to use those resources."

Weir also serves as captain on Cambria County's "Box 11," a resource vehicle deployed to fire scenes and other active incidents to provide shelter, water and other assistance to firefighters on scene.

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Johnstown fire Chief Jim McCann also credited Weir for her efforts to launch the county's first Ladies Academy last year, an effort providing specific training to women volunteering in the region's fire departments.

McCann, who also serves as the regional firefighters' association's training coordinator, said Weir and several of her colleagues have been instrumental in ramping up training and recruitment among women for the county's departments at a time when more volunteers  men or women  are needed.

Weir said she worked with fellow firefighters Karingtin Skoldowski and Macey Davison to launch the academy. The inaugural academy was the first all-female training course in Bucks County Community College's history, she said.

The community college is a longtime partner with Cambria County's association and focused on skills to enable people who are typically of smaller stature how to efficiently handle tasks that historically are performed at fire and emergency scenes by larger men, she said.

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But the kinship that has developed between the volunteers was also important, she said.

"It didn't make sense that we'd see each other at a fire call or a convention and none of us knew each other," Weir said. "We got together and thought, 'Let's do this.'"

She said it's built confidence among trainees, some of whom are pursuing careers in the field.

McCann praised the effort, saying it's one of several efforts by Weir that have increased recruitment.

"The awareness she's raising by getting the word out to members and communities about our events, activities and training  it absolutely makes a difference," said McCann. "It's not just improving our numbers ... but also how the association presents itself and moves forward."

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For volunteer departments, awareness is crucial, whether it's to draw people to a fundraiser or raise awareness about training available for firefighters, he added.

"She's moved us forward," McCann said, "and doing a great job."
GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA)  Four people were killed early Sunday morning in a house fire in Gaffney.

According to Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler, at around 1:40 a.m. a house fire was reported on East 3rd Street. Fowler said one of the people living inside the home escaped the fire, ran across the street and asked a neighbor to call 911. A doorbell camera reportedly showed the home was fully on fire at the time.

Four others living in the home, Willie Morris, 38, Dakeyia Shippy, 25, Mason Issac, 4 and Jerekry McGill, 7 months, died in the fire.

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All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house and appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke, Fowler said.

Fowler said the person who escaped the fire and Morris were attempting to re-fuel a kerosene heater inside the home when the fire started.

The fire remains under investigation by the coroners office, Gaffney Fire Marshall and State Law Enforcement Division. Autopsies have been scheduled as part of the investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
United States President Donald Trump, along with Cambodia and Thailand, are going to sign the 'great peace deal' between the Southeast Asian countries in Malaysia, the US president informed while aboard Air Force One. President Trump also condoled the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother. The US president will land in Malaysia on Sunday, where he will attend the 47th ASEAN summit and hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping. "I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. To accommodate everyone for this major event, we will sign the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival. See you soon! President DJT," Trump posted on Truth Social. The long-standing border dispute between the two countries escalated in July this year when, over five days, troops clashed, claiming lives and displacing thousands of people on both sides. A ceasefire, mediated by Malaysia, was implemented in late July 2025, and ASEAN observers, coordinated by Malaysia, are monitoring the truce. However, on October 23, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to advance efforts to demarcate their shared boundary following a two-day special meeting of the Joint Commission held in Chanthaburi in Thailand. The joint statement was released after the Cambodia-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary (JBC) was held on October 21-22 and reached several key agreements aimed at advancing and expediting the land demarcation process, according to local media reports from both countries. The two sides have agreed to several immediate actions, confirming that they have assigned the Joint Technical Survey Committee (JTSC) to immediately replace 15 Boundary Pillars at locations and with specifications agreed upon by both sides, the statement read by Bernama news agency. Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow has also said both sides are moving closer to finalising the Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations aimed at resolving the border situation. "The ceremony will be witnessed by US President Donald Trump, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other ASEAN leaders," Sihasak was cited as saying in the Nation. Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, while releasing the joint statement on the Thai-Cambodia JBC that concluded in Chanthaburi on October 22, said the meeting was conducted "in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality," reflecting the two nations' shared commitment to advancing the ongoing demarcation of their common land boundary through peaceful dialogue and technical cooperation as per Khmer Times. The Cambodian delegation was led by Lam Chea, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Cambodian side, while the Thai delegation was led by Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Thai side. Cambodia and Thailand have been locked in a decades-long disagreement over the jurisdiction of various non-demarcated areas along their shared land border, which stretches more than 800 kilometres. A central part of the dispute has been competing claims of ownership of the ancient Hindu temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear, which are perched on the Dangrek Mountains that form a natural border between Cambodia and Thailand. In 2011, severe clashes between Cambodian and Thai forces in the vicinity of the Preah Vihear temple resulted in at least 16 deaths. This prompted the UN Security Council to hold a private meeting on February 14, 2011, and to issue a press statement on the same day. (ANI)
GAUTIER (WKRG)  A strong storm tore through Gautier, Mississippi, on Sunday morning.

Some of the most concentrated damage can be seen at the Aztecas Restaurant on Highway 90.

Their storm tore the roof off the restaurant and smashed the outdoor seating area.

A manager says roughly 12 employees were preparing for the workday inside when the storm passed. Miraculously, no one was hurt.

WKRG News 5 also spoke with the mayor, who said, as far as they know, no one was seriously hurt in this storm.

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It also caused some property damage in a nearby subdivision and to a condo and apartment complex north of the shopping center.

Officials with the county emergency management agency, local fire department, police department, and electric company were on scene, and trying to assess the damage and make sure no one got hurt in the aftermath.

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Gavin Newsom is closer than ever to running for president in 2028. In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Californias Governor admitted hell strongly examine whether or not he will run for president in 2028 after 2026 midterms.

Id be lying [if I said] otherwise. Id just be lying and I cant do that, Newsom explained. Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And thats the question for the American people.

Elsewhere in the interview, Newsom admitted he has grave concerns about the possibility Donald Trump could attempt to seek a 3rd term  which is prohibited by the 22nd Amendment. Newsom also has ideas about what Democrats can do to thwart the president, who he described as an invasive species.

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Newsom first attacked the Trump administrations attempts at redistricting  and then explained what could be described as his own attempt to do something similar. Californian voters will weigh in on Proposition 50, which would redraw congressional district lines in favor of the Democrats.

On one level, Proposition 50 is about congressional maps, but youre framing it as something bigger. I think its about our democracy. Its about the future of this republic. I think its about what the founding fathers lived and died for, he said.

Newsom also said that this years elections could help Democrats take back the House and thus thwart some of the Trump administrations plans.

If you have a Speaker Johnson, we may have a third term of President Trump. I really believe that. We do not want one of Trumps leading antagonists at a time when the President is wielding executive power across the board and facing little pushback from Republicans in Congress, he explained. We do not want our streets militarized by our own armed forces, not in LA, not in California, not anywhere.

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When asked what its like leading the state of California with Trump in D.C., Newsom bluntly answered, Yeah, I mean, its a hell of a way to govern.

Were just governing in just profound uncertainty. This is tectonic plates that were familiar with out here on the West Coast, but of the nature of our politics, he explained. Some may find this, you know, may not be a sort of prudent thing to say about the President of the United States, but I mean, hes an invasive species  for the country, for the world, hes a wrecking ball, not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing. Hes wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions.

Watch the interview with Gavin Newsom in the video above.

The post Gavin Newsom Admits Hell Decide on a 2028 Presidential Bid After Midterms: Id Be Lying If I Said Otherwise | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) addressed if hes actually weighing the idea of a future in the White House during an interview on this weekends episode of CBS Sunday Morning.

After rolling a clip of the governor glad-handing with people in the Republican-heavy state of South Carolina, Robert Costa asked him if he plans to put serious thought into the possibility of a 2028 presidential run after the next cycle of midterm elections.

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Yeah, Id be lying otherwise. Id just be lying. And Im not  I cant do that, Newsom admitted, also adding that he still has several years before hed have to officially commit to a campaign.

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Fate will determine that, he said.

The governor is set to leave Sacramento in January 2027, with California term limits taking the option of another state-wide run off the table.

Already a big name in Democratic politics, Newsoms profile has only risen since hes positioned himself as one of President Donald Trumps loudest critics during his second term.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom revealed whether or not he's got his eye on a presidential run during an interview on this week's "CBS Sunday Morning." Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

Instead of scolding or hand-wringing, hes most often relied on trolling aka mocking Trumps boisterous social media style and dropping merch that dupes the presidents signature MAGA aesthetic.

That doesnt mean Newsoms ignoring the nuts and bolts of electoral politics though. In an effort to offset gerrymandering efforts in red states like Texas, he helped put a blue-slanted redistricting plan on California ballots in a special election this year.

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Despite robust name recognition and a respectable political resume, the governor told Costa the idea of a presidential run still seemed like a mind-boggling possibility for someone who once strained to get through school.

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I have no idea. The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, that still struggles to read scripts, that was always in the back of the classroom, Newsom said, referring to his dyslexia diagnosis. The idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary.

Who the hell knows? he added. Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. Thats the question for the American people.

Watch Newsoms full interview here:

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California Gov. Gavin Newsom confirmed on Sunday that he was specifically considering a bid for president in 2028, but added that he was focused on helping his party win seats in Congress in the upcoming midterms first.

Newsom spoke with Robert Costa on CBSs Sunday Morning and discussed his bid to bring his brand to a national stage, including to red and purple states. The two spoke in California but Newsom was as recently as July in South Carolina  a red state, and also a pivotal early primary state on the Democratic Party election calendar.

The governor explained that his focus was on the midterms, for now, but told Costa hed be lying if he said he wasnt going to consider running for president after the 2026 elections.

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The idea that youd even throw that [possibility] out is in and of itself extraordinary. Who the hell knows. Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028, and who meets that moment, Newsom told Costa of running for president in 2028, before being pressed on whether hed consider it after next year.

Yeah, Id be lying otherwise. Id just be lying. And I cant do that.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has directly challenged the White House over mass deportations and the militarization of National Guard troops (CBS Sunday Mornings)

The governor went on to say that fate will determine if he finds what he calls a compelling why, or a message central to a political effort on the national stage that would help him find success in a tough presidential election year.

Any Democrat who runs in 2028 is likely to face Donald Trumps chosen scion, be it Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or another conservative Trump-aligned candidate. Theyll also face the near-certain prospect of a crowded Democratic primary field in a year as the partys base fumes over their leaders botched handling of the 2024 election campaign.

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The governor himself has also warned that the president will try to run for a third term, a warning echoed by a gleeful Steve Bannon in an interview this past week.

Newsom is one of a short list of Democratic leaders at the state level whove emerged as possible contenders for the top spot on the 2028 ticket, with others including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Michigans Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore  though Moore seemingly ruled out running for president in September, choosing instead to focus on a second term. Former Vice President Kamala Harris confirmed to the BBC in an interview last week that she was also considering a 2028 bid.

In Congress, several young party members are also emerging as stalwarts, holding out against the supercharged right-wing agenda of the second Trump administration, thereby allowing them to build their own national prominence. In the Senate, Democrats like Chris Murphy, Ruben Gallego, and Jon Ossoff have been floated as potential party leaders.

California has allowed Newsom an oversized stage to grow his own brand on the left; however, as Donald Trump and his allies across the administration have made challenging the leaders of blue states like his a priority.

Newsom announced a ballot measure aimed at countering Texas Republican redisctricting efforts in August (Getty Images)

Earlier this year, the president battled with Newsom in court over the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to protect ICE agents performing immigration raids and facilities housing detainees and personnel. Hes now teeing up another fight over sending in soldiers to San Francisco. However, the Republican president backed off from those threats this past week after a conversation with the citys Democratic mayor.

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Absent another direct fight with the White House over the militarized occupation of American cities, the governor is picking a different battle with the broader GOP as he fired the opening shot of the Democratic response to Republican mid-decade redistricting efforts, a bid by Trump-aligned state leaders to engineer more House seats for a slim Republican majority in the lower chamber of Congress.

With Texass legislature voting for new maps aiming to shift as many as five seats into GOP hands, the California governor returned with his own bid to scrub out an equal number of GOP-held seats in his state. Officials in both parties in states around the country are now scrambling to find their own responses to the escalating gerrymandering conflict, under respective pressures from the Republican president and a furious Democratic Party voter base.

Wake up America, Newsom warned in August at an event announcing his redistricting moves. This is serious moment. Wake up to what's going on. Wake up to the fear, the anxiety. Wake up to what's happening.
The Gaza Tribunal has issued its final findings, saying that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that Israeli perpetrators and their Western enablers should not be allowed to escape justice for their crimes.

The unofficial tribunal, which was established in London last November, gave its moral judgement on Sunday, following four days of public hearings in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Presided over by Richard Falk, a former United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, the initiative comes in the tradition of the Russell Tribunal, which heard evidence in 1967 of United States war crimes in Vietnam.

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The year-long Gaza process involved collecting information, hearing witnesses and survivors, and archiving the evidence.

In its ruling, the tribunals jury condemned the genocide in Gaza and crimes including the mass destruction of residential properties, the deliberate denial of food to the civilian population, torture, and the targeting of journalists.

Criticism of post-war plans

After saying that Israels war on Gaza shows global governance is failing to uphold its duties, the tribunal recommended that all perpetrators, supporters and enablers be held accountable and that Israel be suspended from international organisations like the UN.

The jury also found Western governments, particularly the United States, complicit with Israel through the provision of diplomatic cover, weapons, weapon parts, intelligence, military assistance and training, and continuing economic relations.

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As well as calling for justice, the tribunal criticised two post-war plans put forward by US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, suggesting they ignore the rights of the Palestinian people under international law while doing nothing to rein in the perpetrators of genocide.

Palestinians must lead the restoration of Gaza, and Israel and its enablers must be held responsible for all reparations, members of the tribunal said in a statement.

Given that it is not a court of law, the tribunal does not purport to determine guilt or liability of any person, organisation or state, but should rather be seen as a civil society response to the war on Gaza, the jury said.

We believe that genocide must be named and documented and that impunity feeds continuing violence throughout the globe, the jurors explained. Genocide in Gaza is the concern of all humanity. When states are silent civil society can and must speak out.

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Israel is facing genocide accusations  brought by South Africa  at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Although it is likely to be years before the ICJ gives its judgement, it found in an interim ruling in January 2024 that it is plausible that Israel is violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

Israel has repeatedly denied accusations that it has committed genocide in Gaza.




ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Golisano Childrens Hospital held its annual fundraising gala on Saturday.

The gala celebrated its 39th year with an Evening in Paris for attendees. Healthcare professionals and community members in attendance were provided insight into the work made possible through donations and support to children who are being treated at Golisano.

This years initiative advocated for the expansion of the Pediatric Emergency Department, which currently serves over 32,000 children each year. As the only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, the hospital needs the extra space to provide the advanced emergency medical care necessary to address all patients and their needs.

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They have to triple the size of it because several years ago, when Genesee Hospital closed, this pediatric center was already crowded. So, we need it more than ever, Lauren Dixon, Co-Chair of the Golisano Childrens Hospital Gala, said.

The event took place at the Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center in Rochester.

Organizers told News 8 the fundraising goal for Saturday evening was $2 million.

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Anxiety is rising among congressional Republicans that their party has no plan to address a critical health care deadline this fall that will result in spiking costs for millions of Americans  the issue at the heart of the deepening government shutdown crisis.

And some of those GOP members are offering a stark warning to their own leaders: Doing nothing could cost them their full control of Congress in next Novembers midterms, calling for a plan that would address expiring enhanced Obamacare tax credits to be swiftly advanced once the government eventually reopens.

I think the reality is, if costs go up under our control, it could have an impact on us, Rep. David Valadao, a vulnerable GOP lawmaker from California, told CNN about the political effects of the health care fight. I get that theres some in leadership who dont like hearing it but theres no denying it.

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Just watching rates go up and pointing fingers is not what we should be doing in our position, he said.

Valadao is among dozens of rank-and-file House and Senate members who have begun drafting their own ideas about how to deal with the expiring enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, which help millions of Americans afford insurance. Many of those GOP members  predominantly from battleground seats  are also directly urging their leadership and the White House to do something to make sure the tax credits keep flowing at years end.

Democrats have made extending the subsidies central to their demands in the shutdown fight, blocking a dozen attempts by Senate Republicans to pass a House bill to reopen the government until November 21 until theres an agreement on health care. Most of these at-risk Republicans are in lockstep with the GOP leadership position that there should be no negotiations until after Democrats vote to reopen the government.

Some, though, are calling for a change in course.

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I think its time for both Republicans and Democrats to be sitting down together to talk about, how do we end this impasse? Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Alaska Republican, said

Asked if President Donald Trump should begin to get directly involved to end the impasse, something he has resisted so far, Murkowski said: That would certainly help.

I think everyone recognizes that the president plays a very significant role in something like a shutdown, she said.

Party leaders are keenly aware of the pressure.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to reporters alongside Senate Republican Leadership outside of the West Wing of the White House on October 21. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Inside the US Capitol this week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune sat down with a small group of senators to discuss potential solutions to the problem. One participant said the session amounted to touching gloves so that when Democrats end the shutdown, Republicans are positioned and prepared to negotiate on the health care issues that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his party are demanding.

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I go to bed at night thinking about health care. Of course, Im always thinking about what we can do to find a solution, Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican of Louisiana who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said as he left the meeting. I say that but its more pointed forward, because we need Schumer to open the government.

Still, as a critical deadline approaches on November 1, when open enrollment launches, Trump and the GOP have no consensus on how to handle the issue.

Republicans are in a bind: GOP leaders have shut down any talk about how to handle the subsidies during the funding fight, since Democrats have put those subsidies at the center of their demands. But the unexpectedly long stalemate has prevented Republicans from working through a solution on what is one of the diciest issues in Washington at the moment  especially since extending the subsidies even in the short-term could cost tens of billions of dollars.

Its not clear how long that position can hold. Several prominent Republicans close to Trump  from Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley  have been increasingly vocal in their warnings that failing to act will cause pain for millions of Trump voters.

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If we dont do anything their premiums are gonna almost double. Theyre too high right now. Were talking about working people, Hawley said. So its just, weve got to do something. This is totally unaffordable.

Some members, including GOP Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, have made their case directly to Trump, arguing to him that the partys own working class voters rely on that money to pay their health care coverage. In a recent phone call with Trump, Van Drew told CNN that the president made clear he doesnt want to hurt people.

His concern is, is there something better we can do? Van Drew said.

In response, the New Jersey Republican told Trump there was but that hes worried itd take too long for a fix, telling the president: I dont think were going to get it done in a matter of weeks.

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Van Drew added that he agrees with Greenes recent attacks against their own party for lacking a plan on an issue that impacts working class voters. If Republicans fail to find a solution, the New Jersey Republican warned: Its morally bankrupt not to do it and it is politically stupid.

The US Capitol on October 23. - Eric Lee/Getty Images

Yet the fate of that policy is highly uncertain in the GOP, especially in the House. House Republican leaders are privately skeptical that their sharply divided party can agree to an Obamacare extension this year, and believe any overhaul would be hard to accomplish in just a few weeks, according to multiple people involved in those discussions.

Some in GOP leadership are doubtful that those spiking premiums  which are set to more than double nationally, according to KFF  will be the dominant issue in the elections next November. And they know they could face a rebellion from their right flank over any votes on the Affordable Care Act.

I think its an issue where everybody realizes we have to do something, one congressional GOP campaign operative said, while noting that Republicans will likely need major changes to get support from across the conference. Its a trigger for the base, hearing Obamacare.

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Some House conservatives, meanwhile, are calling for dramatic overhauls of the program that would be unlikely to get Democratic support.

The whole thing is a nightmare and I think we better ought to look at redoing this thing, said Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, who said he does not support simply extending the enhanced subsidies. I want to make sure whatever we do has some fiscal soundness to it.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, predicted that Americans would be screaming bloody murder at the cost to the US economy if Congress agrees to simply extend the subsidies.

He acknowledged that ending enhanced ACA tax credits would make premiums for his constituents increase, but he lamented that former President Obamas signature health care law has ruined our health care system and attempting to subsidize costs for those in need has really put us in harms way.

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Still, other Republicans are willing to consider an extension  including Sen. David McCormick, a Pennsylvania freshman who suggested hed back setting stricter income limits on which families stand to benefit from the subsidies.

But certainly Im worried about working families and what the premium expenses are going to mean to them, McCormick said in an interview.

Even the Republicans who do support a short-term extension have made clear they would not support it indefinitely. They want to see major reforms to the Obamacare marketplace, which they argue is being propped up by billions of dollars of federal subsidies.

Weve got to address this in the immediate term, Rep. Mike Lawler of New York told CNN, who backs a short-term extension because he wants to make sure people dont see a sticker shock.

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We dont want to see peoples health care premiums rise, and Republicans, writ large, want to reduce the cost of health care. Nobody is disputing that. I think the question you know is, how do you go about that, he said, stressing that he wants to see major changes in future years to those subsidies.

CNNs Ted Barrett and Alison Main contributed to this report.

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United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the families of Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, two American citizens who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Secretary Rubio called for the return of the bodies of deceased hostages, and said that the US "will not rest until their remains and all others are returned." "We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas. Today I met with the families of American citizens Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. We will not rest until their -- and all -- remains are returned," Secretary Rubio posted on X. https://x.com/SecRubio/status/1982053259276673165 Currently, 13 of the total 28 bodies of deceased hostages are still in Gaza. A total of 251 people, including some Americans, were taken from the Israeli border on October 7, 2023. The aftermath of the October 7 attack led to the proliferation of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, leading to the deaths of thousands of people. Earlier, the remains of two hostages, identified as Aryeh Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar, were returned from Gaza. President Donald Trump called on Hamas to 'quickly' return the bodies of the deceased hostages to ensure that 'everlasting' and 'strong peace' is maintained in the Gaza Strip. Trump said that he will be observing the actions of Hamas for the next 48 hours and see whether they return the bodies of the deceased hostages, which can be reached. "We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING. Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," Trump posted on Truth Social. Earlier, while at a gaggle with journalists aboard Air Force One, while on his way to attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, President Trump expressed confidence in achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, while warning Hamas of serious consequences if the ceasefire agreement with Israel is violated. "I think it (ceasefire) will hold. Well, if it doesn't hold, it's Hamas. Hamas will not be hard to deal with very quickly. I hope it holds for Hamas too because they gave us their world on something, so I think it's going to hold, and if it doesn't, then they'll have a very big problem," Trump said. President Trump also highlighted the wide support for the peace plan, with multiple people agreeing to join the Stabilization Force to help maintain peace in the region. (ANI)
Oklahoma's Office of Juvenile Affairs has a new interim director.

Gov. Kevin Stitt made the abrupt announcement after office hours on Friday, Oct. 24, that Sharon "Shel" Millington, who had been serving as the Chief Clinical Officer in the state Department of Human Services, would be taking over.

Millington will replace Timothy Tardibono, who was appointed by Stitt to be director of the OJA in October of 2024. He was just confirmed by the State Senate in May.

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No explanation for the change was included in Friday's announcement, and representatives of both the OJA and the governor's office did not respond on Saturday to repeated requests by The Oklahoman for more details.

Tardibono, a long-time employee of the OJA, is featured in a lengthy "Get to Know" interview posted online Thursday and appearing in Sunday's print edition of The Oklahoman.

Millington, a licensed professional counselor, had previously served as Deputy Executive Director of the OJA, according to the governor's announcement.

I am deeply grateful that Shel is willing to step in and provide steady, experienced leadership to the Office of Juvenile Affairs, Sitt said. Shels long track record of implementing proven behavioral health strategies and collaborating with community partners is exactly what OJA requires to ensure our most vulnerable youth are safe. Stability and safety for our staff and youth is our top priority, and Shels leadership will bring renewed focus and hope to OJAs future.

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OJA was created in 1995 as the outgrowth of a troubling time in state history. In the early 1980s, a group of seven teenagers initiated a lawsuit in federal court that became known as the "Terry D. Case." The suit alleged serious abuses in state institutions for juveniles, including restraints, isolation and other examples of harsh and neglectful treatment. The state shut down several problematic facilities and formed the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth (OCCY) to provide oversight and accountability for the treatment of children and youth in its care. Community-based programs for youth, both residential and non-residential, were established by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to provide alternatives to the institutional model, and OJA was created by the Legislature as part of a new Judicial Reform act.

Approximately 50-60 young people are held in state custody at the Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC) a secure care facility in Tecumsah, about 160 are in group homes and 275 in 11 detention centers operated by counties across the state or by agencies under contract to counties.

Millington was credited in the news release as leading "the pioneering implementation of Functional Family Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy across state juvenile programs, elevating Oklahomas care standards for custody youth."

She holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Unexpected change at head of state Office of Juvenile Affairs
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The government shutdown has reached day 25, making it the second-longest such stretch in American history.

As the shutdown continues, concern is growing across the country. With many federal workers already furloughed and others working without pay, leaders in Cleveland are focusing on how food instability could soon become a major problem.

Police search for missing 79-year-old Youngstown man

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SNAP benefits for roughly 40 million Americans are in jeopardy come November.

If these basic benefits lapse even briefly, the consequences will be immediate and devastating, Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Meredith Turner said.

More than 400,000 residents in Northeast Ohio rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance. If no deal is reached, it could be a very difficult month ahead for people already struggling to make ends meet.

To help offset the burden facing families experiencing hardship due to the shutdown, Dawg Daze Gourmet Hot Dogs in Canton is offering free meals.

Any government employee and their family can come in once a week and have a meal completely comped, on the house, Dawg Daze Gourmet Hot Dogs owner Peter Schiller said.

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Schiller said all thats needed is a government ID for the free food promotion. He said he knows this is a helping hand at a pivotal time.

Ive never had food insecurity, he said. Ive been lucky. I couldnt imagine, as a grandfather of six kids, one of them not being able to eat. So, we thought wed help out where we could.

Parma K-9 Officer Max laid to rest Saturday

With no end to the shutdown in sight, federal workers are ready to take a stand.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association will be leafleting at more than 20 airports across the country, including Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The goal is to educate the public about the effects of the shutdown and how its impacting professionals people rely on every day.

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NATCA said Tuesday marks the first zero paycheck for air traffic controllers, even as they work mandatory overtime six days a week and 10 hours a day. In a statement, the organization said air traffic controllers will be engaging with travelers to explain the challenges they face, including the possibility of working a second job:

NATCA members will distribute leaflets that detail how the shutdown impacts our aviation system, negatively affects dedicated aviation professionals, and threatens the $1.5 trillion annually that aviation contributes to the U.S. economy. Members distributing leaflets to travelers will explain how the shutdown will worsen a preexisting controller staffing crisis that has existed for years, and discuss the halting of critical modernization projects at the FAA.

Many are hoping the shutdown will end sooner rather than later, but little progress has been made on Capitol Hill, and some project this could become the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

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Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) said Sunday that President Trump told him that he plans to brief members of Congress on possible military action in Latin America, including potentially shifting attacks targeting Venezuela from the sea to land.

Graham, speaking to Margaret Brennan on CBS Newss Face the Nation, said land strikes are a real possibility and that the president will brief lawmakers on the possible operations in the region when he returns from Asia later this week.

There will be a congressional briefing about a potential expanding from the sea to the land. I support that idea, but I think [Trump] has all the authority he needs, Graham added.

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Starting in early September, the president authorized a series of strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, killing at least 43 people.

The administration has alleged, without providing public evidence, that the vessels attacked were smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told ABC News on Sunday that the administration presented evidence that there were drugs on the boats, but not fentanyl.

Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deployed an aircraft carrier and its strike group to South America last week. The moves have escalated tensions between the U.S. and Venezuelas authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro.

When asked whether the administrations actions toward Venezuela are in pursuit of a regime change, Graham said, I hope Maduro would leave peacefully, but I dont think hes going to stay around much longer.

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The Hill has reached out to the White House and Pentagon for confirmation of the impending briefing.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in response to the strikes, has accused the U.S. of murder. Trump in response cut security aid to Colombia and sanctioned Petro personally.

The moves have also garnered criticism from Democrats in Congress and select Republicans. According to Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the ability to declare war, but numerous presidents in recent memory have authorized military strikes abroad before informing the legislative branch.

Earlier this month, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) reintroduced a resolution to block the strikes. A prior measure was voted down by the Senate, 51-48, the week before, with Paul and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as the lone Republicans in favor and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman as the lone Democrat against.

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French authorities have arrested two suspects involved in the audacious $100 million heist at the Louvre Museum.

The suspects were apprehended as they were planning their escape to Africa, while two others remain at large. According to the Paris newspaper Le Parisien, the suspects were arrested on Saturday night.

One suspect was nabbed while trying to board a flight to Algeria from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, as per French news outlet. The other was arrested shortly thereafter in Paris.

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The suspects hail from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris. They were detained as part of an investigation into organized gang robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. The police were alerted about one of the suspects plan to leave the country, which led to his apprehension at the airport.

Both suspects have a history of robberies and are believed to have executed the high-profile heist on commission.

The heist was carried out in under four minutes, with the thieves absconding with eight pieces from France's Crown Jewels, valued at approximately $100 million.

Also Read: This German Company Turned $102 Million Louvre Heist Into Clever Viral Ad

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The stolen jewelry has not yet been recovered. The identities of the other two suspects or the mastermind behind the heist have not been publicly disclosed.

The two arrested men are currently in custody at police headquarters where they can be held for up to 96 hours without charges being filed.

In the wake of the heist, security measures have been ramped up around France's cultural institutions. The French Crown Jewels have been relocated to an ultra-secure Bank of France vault.

The heist underscores the vulnerability of even the most secure cultural institutions to organized crime. The audacity of the theft, carried out in less than four minutes, has sent shockwaves through the international art community.

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The incident has prompted a review of security measures at cultural institutions across France, leading to increased security and the relocation of the French Crown Jewels to a more secure location.

The ongoing investigation and the arrests made so far highlight the determination of the French authorities to bring the culprits to justice.

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Overview of Current Issues in Truck Driver Training and Licensing

The trucking industry faces a critical safety crisis that has largely gone unnoticed by the American public. Each year, approximately 100,000 truck crashes occur on U.S. highways, resulting in roughly 5,000 fatalities annually. These alarming statistics point to serious flaws in the system that qualifies individuals to operate commercial vehicles weighing up to 80,000 pounds on our nations roads.

At the heart of this crisis lies a regulatory change implemented in February 2022 that fundamentally altered how Commercial Drivers Licenses (CDLs) are issued. This change has enabled the proliferation of what industry experts call CDL mills  substandard training facilities that fail to adequately prepare drivers for the immense responsibility of operating commercial trucks.

Video: Steve Gold spoke with Craig Fuller at F3 on how the entry-level driver training program created under Biden has made the trucking industry far less safe.

Background Information on Commercial Drivers License Requirements

Historically, obtaining a CDL required rigorous training under state-licensed programs that emphasized safety, technical proficiency, and compliance with federal regulations. However, the landscape changed dramatically when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) introduced a self-certification database that allows virtually anyone to register as a CDL trainer without demonstrating proper qualifications or adhering to state licensing requirements.

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This regulatory shift created two distinct paths to becoming a commercial truck driver:

Traditional Path: Attending one of approximately 2,100 properly state-licensed CDL schools that provide comprehensive training programs Deregulated Path: Receiving minimal training from one of the over 32,000 self-registered training providers in the federal registry

The difference in training quality between these paths is substantial. Legitimate schools like 160 Driving Academy provide 160 hours of comprehensive training, while self-certified providers may offer as little as a few hours of orientation before sending drivers to obtain their licenses.

The Proliferation of CDL Mills and Their Impact

The term CDL mill refers to operations that exploit regulatory loopholes to rapidly process would-be drivers through minimal training before sending them to obtain their licenses. These operations have flourished under the current regulatory framework, which allows virtually any entity  from established carriers to small businesses with a single truck  to self-certify as training providers.

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As Steve Gold, founder of 160 Driving Academy, explains: The feds come in, they create this self-certification database, and you can register to be a CDL trainer at the federal level. And employers, if youre an employer, youre exempt. You dont have to be licensed in the state. So theres 32,000 registered federal training providers who can provide training for CDLs.

The lack of oversight is particularly alarming. When asked what evidence these self-certified trainers must provide to demonstrate theyve properly trained a driver, Gold was unequivocal: You dont do a damn thing. This means someone could receive minimal instruction, or even just watch YouTube videos about truck operation, before being directed to a DMV to obtain a commercial license.

Some states have further exacerbated this problem by abandoning their own licensing standards in deference to federal guidelines. Indiana, for example, eliminated state oversight of truck driver training schools after the federal registry was implemented, essentially creating a regulatory vacuum.

Safety Concerns and Public Risk

The consequences of this deregulated approach to commercial driver training are severe and measurable. According to the National Highway Safety Administration, 2023 saw 153,472 highway truck accidents resulting in 5,472 fatalities  a shocking 40% increase from 2014 levels. Similar fatality levels continued into 2024.

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These statistics translate to a disturbing reality: the odds of being killed by a commercial truck are approximately 20 times greater than dying in a commercial airline crash. This disparity highlights the stark difference in training standards between the aviation and trucking industries.

A particularly troubling incident occurred in Fort Pierce, Florida, where a driver who couldnt speak or read English obtained a CDL and subsequently caused an accident that killed a family of three. This tragedy exemplifies the dangers posed by inadequate training and licensing standards.

Industry assessments further validate these concerns. When 160 Driving Academy evaluated experienced commercial drivers for large carriers, approximately half scored below 50% on proficiency tests  a failing grade that would typically disqualify them from employment with safety-conscious companies. However, these drivers often find work with smaller operators who may lack robust safety departments or evaluation processes.

Legislative and Regulatory Responses

In response to these alarming trends, some states have begun taking independent action. California, which ranks second nationally in highway fatalities caused by commercial trucks, unanimously passed legislation to eliminate substandard commercial driving schools. Florida and Colorado have issued cease-and-desist letters to unlicensed training facilities that attempt to circumvent state laws by claiming exemption under federal rules.

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At the federal level, the Department of Transportation under Secretary Sean Duffy has recently taken steps to address related issues, particularly regarding non-domiciled CDLs. These are licenses issued to individuals who arent residents of the issuing state, which have raised additional safety concerns.

However, industry lobbying initially contributed to the deregulation of driver training requirements, based on claims of a perpetual driver shortage. This approach may have inadvertently compromised safety while also undermining the economic stability of the trucking industry by flooding the market with inadequately trained drivers.

The Path Forward: Enhancing Safety Through Proper Training

Addressing the proliferation of CDL mills requires a multifaceted approach combining federal oversight, state regulation, and industry commitment to higher standards. As Gold suggests, this isnt an insurmountable challenge: This is not a hard problem to fix.

Potential solutions include:

Strengthening the federal registry by requiring all training providers to demonstrate state licensing before certification Implementing robust enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with training standards Establishing clear penalties for entities that falsely attest to providing proper training Supporting state efforts to maintain or enhance their licensing requirements

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The trucking industry plays a vital role in the American economy, with commercial drivers moving more than 70% of all freight across the country. These essential workers deserve proper training, and the public deserves the assurance that commercial vehicles are operated by qualified professionals.

By addressing the issue of CDL mills and substandard training, we can work toward reducing the alarming rate of truck-related accidents and fatalities while ensuring that commercial transportation remains both efficient and safe for all road users.

The post The growing problem of CDL Mills: compromising highway safety appeared first on FreightWaves.
A New York Police Department (NYPD) officer stands in front of a bullet-shattered window at 345 Park Avenue building on Park Avenue after a gunman killed four people before turning the gun on himself on Monday evening on July 29, 2025, in New York City. The suspect, identified as Shane Tamura, 27, shot and killed a police officer and three civilians, the New York Police Department has said. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

It was the white noise of the helicopter blades slicing through the air  not the incessant emergency vehicle sirens  that tipped me off that something was wrong.

In New York, the chaos  the wailing of an ambulance, the incessant honking of the horns  is so commonplace that it becomes an unnoticed, repeating chorus. Which is why when I heard the sounds of fire engines and cop cars while sitting on the 14th floor of my co-working space in midtown Manhattan, I didnt think much of them. Last week, there had been some sort of festival on the street with live singing that went on for an hour. This was, I thought, the soundtrack of the city.

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It was already past 6:30 p.m., but I just needed one more hour of focus to wrap up a project for a client. I was in a designated Quiet space where people arent allowed to talk aloud. There were about five of us sitting there plowing through our work. But every 10 minutes or so, people from other rooms on the floor would gather behind me to look out a window and mumble to each other softly. After about half an hour, I decided to pack up and go home because the distraction was too much.

Then, the helicopters flew in. Something was wrong.

By 7 p.m., I slid my laptop into my backpack, took a few last sips of my mango tea and headed to the main area of the co-working space to toss my trash. Thats when I started to catch snippets of full-voiced conversations.

Something about an active shooter.

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Something about the building across the street.

Something about us being stuck here.

That cant possibly be right, I thought. I even asked one guy about whether there was an alternate exit, but he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away.

I quickly threw my laptop bag over my shoulder and headed down to the lobby to find out for myself. Once I was on the ground floor, I could see the commotion outside the wall-to-wall glass doors and a blue wave of police officers walking back and forth on the street. I realized every word Id heard was true.

What we would find out later was that at around 6:30 p.m., a 27-year-old man named Shane Devon Tamura had walked into 345 Park Ave. with an M4 and opened fire in the lobby before making his way to the elevator to continue the rampage upstairs, tragically killing four people and himself. As a result, the building I was in, which was directly across the street, was on lockdown.

Anadolu / Getty Images

Security forces take measures after a police officer and a civilian were shot by a suspect armed with an assault rifle, in New York City, United States on July 28, 2025. The shooting happened outside 345 Park Avenue near East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump's Biggest Insecurities With Three Words

At that moment, however, the details were sparse. Yes, lobby attendants confirmed there was an active shooter situation happening directly across the street. And no, we couldnt leave the building. Instead, I and about 10 other people in the lobby were being told by a guard to do something I thought Id never do: shelter in place.

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If the confirmation of the shooter sparked fear in me, those three little words  the command to shelter in place  set it ablaze. I knew that sheltering in place served an important purpose for emergency responders minimizing a threat. But wasnt sheltering in place what they told people in the South Tower to do after the North Tower was struck on 9/11? Wasnt sheltering in place what people who had no other means to escape did when Hurricane Katrina hit? Wasnt sheltering in place what people in Paradise, California, were forced to do when the roads were blocked and there was no way to escape the fires?

To live in this city is to always have your guard up and to be ready for a red alert. You know exactly how many seconds of eye contact it takes to let someone dangerous know that you see them, but youre not staring at them. You know which ways to look before jaywalking across a street. You know where to sit on the train and how to position yourself so that youre least likely to be the victim of a crime.

When I read about other tragedies, I had told myself that sheltering in place wasnt always the safest option and that Id make a break for it if I were ever in that situation. But in a moment of escalating anxiety and shock at how close I was to danger, I didnt flee or fight as I expected and planned from the comfort of my home. I turned on my heels and headed back to the elevator bank to go back to the 14th floor with everyone else.

Stay away from the windows, the lobby attendants reminded us as we waited for the elevator doors to open back up.

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Back upstairs, there was a mix of reactions. Some people were specifically peering out the windows, trying to make out what was happening in the office building across from us. Others looked like they were still hard at work on their laptops. Even more were probably hidden away in other rooms. But it was eerily quiet. As I walked the floor searching for the safest place to settle down, I caught the eye of a kind stranger who mustve noticed the confusion on my face.

Related: 5 Absolutely Horrifying Ways Republicans Are Explaining Why They're Fine With People Losing Healthcare

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Security forces take measures after a police officer and a civilian were shot by a suspect armed with an assault rifle, in New York City, United States on July 28, 2025. The shooting happened outside 345 Park Avenue near East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Should I be more worried? I said to him, looking for some comfort.

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Maybe, he replied. Maybe not. He graciously invited me to sit with him and his girlfriend, but I wanted another wall between the exterior windows and me. Instead, by 7:30 p.m., I had exiled myself to an interior office and was oscillating between my Twitter feed, CNN and a text chain with worried friends  one of whom actually worked in the building across the street but was (thankfully) working from home that day.

At the time, no one knew exactly what was going on. They didnt know if the shooter was a lone gunman or if he had accomplices with him in the building. I watched footage online of people being handcuffed and escorted away from the scene directly in front of my building. Authorities didnt know if this was an isolated incident or if there was more to expect in the area. On my floor, one person casually mentioned that they were concerned the shooter might have a bomb.

I knew that the people across the street from me were in exponentially greater danger than me. I knew that the terror they were experiencing was of the gravest kind. And at the same time, I had to remind myself that I was still in a very real zone of danger and needed to take it seriously. That I couldnt diminish or ignore the emotional and physical ripple effects this event was having even though I, and those around me, werent at the center of them. Proximity to danger also breeds panic and leaves an impact even after youre in the clear.

I sat in that interior office, listening nervously to the updates that came in over a loudspeaker every 20 minutes or so reminding us to stay put and stay away from the windows. By 8:30 p.m., we finally received a different message: We could leave the building through a side exit.

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Im embarrassed to say that I barely glanced at the other people on the floor or mumbled a goodbye before rushing to the elevator to head downstairs and out an exit Id never seen before. As I hurriedly walked half a mile away from the crime scene before getting on the subway, I had nothing but time to think about what just happened.

Everyone has a plan, they say, until you get punched in the mouth. Theres sometimes a disconnect between how we think well behave and what we actually do in unpredictable and unsettling moments. Are we kind? Are we bold? Are we selfless? Do we unravel? Do we excel? Do we falter?

No matter how you act in terrifying situations, you shouldnt judge yourself too harshly. What I had to remind myself of, as a New Yorker, is that this city is completely unpredictable. Even the best-laid plans fall apart every day. I am grateful that I have the benefit of being able to plan another day.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@huffpost.com.This article originally appeared on HuffPost in August 2025.

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Brigitte Macron was given a male name on her personal tax record by a team of hackers, a French government official has said.

The 72-year-old first lady of France has long been the subject of rumours questioning her gender, which have been shared by conspiracy theorists and social media influencers online for several years.

The rumour falsely claims that Mrs Macron was born a male and that her real name is Jean-Michel Trogneux. In reality, her maiden name is Trogneux and she has a brother called Jean-Michel.

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The smear campaign went as far as hacking into her personal tax account and changing her name to Jean-Michel, known as Brigitte Macron, according to Tristan Bromet, chief of staff to Mrs Macron.

Mr Bromet made the revelation in an interview with BFMTV, a French news channel, in which he recounted how the French presidents wife was stunned to see that her legal name had been changed when she logged into her personal tax account.

French news channel BFMTV showed Mrs Macrons allegedly hacked tax record - x.com/BFMTV

We were completely surprised, Mr Bromet, who has worked with Mrs Macron since 2017, said. I tried it again with her, and sure enough. Its a section reserved for your username, so it cant be changed.

Mrs Macron filed a complaint and two people involved in the hacking have been identified. Mr Bromet did not indicate when the incident occurred.

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Mr Bromets interview is part of a documentary broadcast on Sunday night, ahead of a trial starting on Monday in the Paris criminal court, where eight men and two women will face allegations of sexist cyberbullying against Mrs Macron.

Emmanuel Macron and the first lady have also filed a separate lawsuit against Candace Owens, a far-Right American influencer and long-time Trump supporter, who produced an eight-part podcast series falsely claiming that Mrs Macron is transgender.

Candace Owens produced an eight-part podcast series claiming that Mrs Macron is transgender - Lev Radin/Pacific Press

The defendants in Mondays trial include an elected official, gallery owner, teacher, medium, and computer scientist ranging in age from 41-60.

They are accused of making numerous malicious comments about the first lady, and equating the age difference with her husband  who is 24 years her junior  with paedophilia.

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Aurelien Poirson-Atlan, a 41-year-old advertising executive, posted under the pseudonym Zoe Sagan and was identified as one of the alleged spreaders of lies and conspiracy theories.

He is also accused of sharing explicit videos of Benjamin Griveaux, the presidents mayoral candidate for Paris in 2020, who was forced to withdraw from the race after being accused of sending sexual content to a woman who was not his wife.

After being cleared of defamation charges by a French court in July, Delphine Jegousse, 51, who went by the pseudonym Amandine Roy as a clairvoyant, will also be back in court this week to respond to cyberbullying charges.

In 2021, she and Natacha Rey, a self-described journalist, falsely claimed Mrs Macron was a man and described the first lady as a swindle, deception and state lie while sharing photos of her and her family in a four-hour YouTube video.

Delphine Jegousse, who claimed Mrs Macron was a man, was cleared of defamation charges by a French court in July - YouTube

The rumours resurfaced in the US earlier this year when Ms Owenss podcast series Becoming Brigitte garnered millions of views on YouTube.

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To put the false story to rest once and for all, the couples lawyer said Mrs Macron would present photographic and scientific evidence to an American court to prove that she is a biological woman.

Were prepared to demonstrate fully, both generically and specifically, that what shes saying about Brigitte Macron is false, Tom Clare, the couples lawyer said on the BBCs Fame Under Fire podcast.

He said: It is a process that she will have to subject herself to in a very public way. But shes willing to do it. She is firmly resolved to do what it takes to set the record straight.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Sir Anthony Hopkins knew he needed to get help for his drinking when he realised he "could have killed" someone.

Sir Anthony Hopkins has been sober for almost 50 years

The 87-year-old actor - who celebrated 49 years sober last December - was driving around California while in a "blackout" and had a sudden moment of awareness that he was an alcoholic and needed to quit the bottle.

He told The New York Times' The Interview podcast: I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realised that I could have killed somebody  or myself, which I didnt care about.

"I came to my senses and said to an ex-agent of mine at this party in Beverly Hills, I need help. 

The Silence of the Lambs actor had a "spooky" moment where he heard a "vocal, male, reasonable, like a radio voice" speak to him from the inside, and he instantly lost his desire to drink.

He continued: It was 11 oclock precisely  I looked at my watch  and this is the spooky part: Some deep, powerful thought or voice spoke to me from inside and said: Its all over. Now you can start living. And it has all been for a purpose, so dont forget one moment of it.

The craving to drink was taken from me, or left. Now I dont have any theories except divinity or that power that we all possess inside us that creates us from birth, life force, whatever it is.

Its a consciousness, I believe. Thats all I know.

The Academy Award-winning star had gone through a "lonely" childhood and was bullied so turned to alcohol to "nullify that discomfort or whatever it was in me, because it made me feel big."

He added: "You know, booze is terrific because it makes you instantly feel in a different space.

"Actors in those days  Peter OToole, Richard Burton, all of them  I remember those drinking sessions, thinking: 'This is the life. Were rebels, were outsiders, we can celebrate.' And at the back of the mind is: 'Itll kill you as well.' "

Anthony feels grateful that he is "still here".

He said: "Those guys I worked with have all gone...

There are monstrous difficulties in life and you take notice of them. But finally, approaching 88 years of age, I wake up in the morning going: 'Im still here. How?

I dont know. But whatevers keeping me here, thank you very much! Much obliged!
Dialogue between Kabul and Islamabad resumed in Istanbul on Saturday, marking the continuation of the Doha negotiations, with discussions centred on extending the ceasefire and ensuring mutual respect for territorial integrity, including airspace and landspace sovereignty. According to Tolo News, a high-level delegation from the Islamic Emirate, led by Deputy Minister of Interior Rahmatullah Najib, is representing Afghanistan at the meeting. The Afghan delegation includes Suhail Shaheen, Acting Ambassador of Afghanistan in Qatar; Anas Haqqani, senior member of the Islamic Emirate; Noor Ahmad Noor, Director General of Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry; Noorul Rahman Nusrat, Deputy for Operations at the Ministry of Defense; and Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. Political analyst Aziz Stanekzai described this round of talks as "the final phase", adding that it will "open a new chapter between Afghanistan and Pakistan, allowing both sides to cooperate peacefully, based on the UN Charter and international conventions." He further said, "Pakistan must show respect and refrain from targeting Afghanistan's airspace." On the Pakistani side, a seven-member team comprising diplomats and intelligence officials from Islamabad is participating in the negotiations. Tolo News reported that discussions are focused on four major areas: establishing a monitoring mechanism to prevent hostile actions, implementing existing laws to safeguard national sovereignty, reviewing the root causes of Pakistan's security challenges over the past two decades, and addressing trade barriers as well as the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. Political analyst Fazl Manan Muntaz noted that "the Doha meeting, followed by the Istanbul talks, shows that Afghanistan's policy is to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy." He added that this "clearly reflects the Islamic Emirate's intention to solve all domestic and external problems through negotiations." Meanwhile, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif issued a stern warning, stating that if talks fail, "we have options; if negotiations do not yield results and everything remains unchanged, one of the options is open confrontation between us." He said the discussions began "two to three hours ago, and their results will become clear by tonight or tomorrow," Tolo News reported. Former Afghan diplomat in Pakistan Amir Mohammad Gharan voiced scepticism over Islamabad's intentions, saying, "It is good that issues are being addressed through negotiations, but we do not believe Pakistan acts sincerely. We've witnessed previous talks where Pakistan behaved dishonestly and non-transparently." Earlier, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, emphasised that "peace and stability in the region require sincere dialogue and cooperation", while Pakistani officials echoed similar sentiments, stressing the need for "responsible management of disputes". (ANI)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  From pups in costume to spooky pop-ups, Austins Halloween weekend is packed with events that bring the community together without breaking the bank. Heres a curated list of free low-cost happenings from Oct. 25-31 that offer more than just thrills.

Bakery Lorraine Spooky Confections

Bakery Lorraine is offering a limited-time Halloween pastry collection from Oct. 25-31. The handmade treats include candy corn macarons, pumpkin cream puffs and ghost moon pies. While not an event, this is still a sweet way to support a local business.

RELATED: Halloween displays around Austin ring in the spooky spirit

Brewja Week at Manana Dos

The Seaholm coffee shop is hosting Brewja Week Oct. 26-30, featuring Latino vendors, tarot readings and seasonal treats. The event is free and celebrates Austins diverse creative community.

Desert Door Howl-o-Ween Weekend

Located just outside of Austin in Driftwood, Desert Doors Howl-o-Ween Weekend runs Oct. 30-Nov. 2. The event is completely free and features a dog costume contest, adoptable pups from the PAWS shelter and of course, Halloween cocktails for the humans.

Fear Fair at Sign Bar

Sign Bars immersive haunted maze, Fear Fair, runs through Nov. 2. Created by local artists, the carnival-horror attraction offers creepy corridors and spooky themed cocktails. Entry is free to this one; drinks will be available for purchase.

Ghosts and Goodies on Aldrich Street

On Oct. 31, Muellers Aldrich Street hosts a free trick-or-treat trail offering candy, of course, small goodies and a raffle. Simply collect ghost names from participating businesses to enter the Grand Goodies Raffle.

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Save Austin Cemeteries announces big change to its annual Halloween tour

Greater Austin YMCA Spooktacular

YMCA locations across Austin are hosting free Halloween events Oct. 24-25, including games, bounce houses and trick-or-treating. The Y will be offering non-food treats for children with allergies at each of these events.

Leftys Shop of Horrors

Leftys Brick Bar has been transformed into a haunted pop-up all spooky season and will stay through Nov. 2. The creepy look also features tarot readings, drag bingo, movie screenings, Djs and a dog costume contest. Entry is free, and spooky-themed drinks are available for purchase.

Panic at the Paramount

The historic Paramount Theatres annual horror film series includes a free-to-low-cost lineup of screenings with live music and some special guests. Event highlights include a Halloween night screening of Deep Red with a live score by Goblin and a double feature hosted by Robert Rodriguez on Oct. 29.

Spooktacular at the Bullock Museum

The Bullock Museums free Halloween event is happening on Oct. 25 and features spooky science, scavenger hunts and Dia de los Muertos crafts. Costumes are encouraged as you participate in this spooky fun.

Twisted Carnival at Gibson Street Bar

From now to Nov. 2, Gibson Street Bar is hosting a free Halloween pop-up featuring carnival-themed decorations, creepy clowns, and some creepy cocktails. While geared toward adults, its also a creative community space with free entry.

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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.
CAIRO (AP)  Hamas has expanded its search for bodies of hostages in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian group said Sunday, a day after Egypt deployed a team of experts and heavy equipment to help retrieve them.

Under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, which took effect on Oct. 10, Hamas is expected to return the remains of all Israeli hostages as soon as possible. Israel has agreed to return 15 bodies of Palestinians for each one.

Children and others watched the Egyptian equipment claw through the sand near badly damaged buildings in the southern city of Khan Younis.

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Hamas has returned the remains of 15 hostages but hasn't handed over any in five days. Israel has returned the bodies of 195 Palestinians, many of them unidentified.

More complicated steps lie ahead under the ceasefire plan, including the disarming of Hamas and the postwar governance of famine-stricken Gaza, where the U.N. and partners continue to urge Israel to allow in more humanitarian aid.

International media have been barred from Gaza aside from brief visits with Israel's military, and Israel on Sunday said that hadn't changed.

Trump watches 48-hour period very closely

Hamas' chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya, said the group started searching new areas for bodies of the remaining 13 hostages, according to comments the group shared Sunday.

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U.S. President Donald Trump warned Saturday he was watching very closely to ensure Hamas returns more bodies in the next 48 hours. Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not, he wrote on social media.

Hamas has repeatedly said efforts to retrieve remains face challenges because of the massive destruction.

An Egyptian team with equipment including an excavator and bulldozers entered Gaza on Saturday as part of mediators' efforts to shore up the ceasefire, two Egyptian officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Hamas alleges violation after Israeli strikes

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military's actions after Israeli forces struck the central Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza late Saturday, according to Al-Awda Hospital, which received the wounded.

The military claimed it targeted militants associated with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group who were planning to attack troops. Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, denied the allegation.

Hamas called the strike a clear violation of the ceasefire agreement and accused Netanyahu of attempting to sabotage U.S. efforts to end the war.

Of course, we also thwart dangers as they are being formed, before they are carried out, as we did just yesterday in the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday.

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Netanyahu also stressed that Israel remained in charge of its own security, after accusations last week that the Trump administration was dictating terms of Israel's response to security concerns in Gaza. Vice President JD Vance denied any such speculation during his visit.

Israel also targeted Nuseirat on Oct. 19, after the military accused Hamas militants of killing two soldiers. Israel that day launched dozens of strikes across Gaza, killing at least 36 Palestinians, including women and children, according to local health authorities. It was the most serious challenge to the ceasefire.

Over 68,500 Palestinians have died in two years of war sparked by the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count. The ministry maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. Israel has disputed them without providing its own toll.

Information-sharing on security threats

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Saturday's strike came hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio left Israel. He was the latest top U.S. official to visit a new center for civilian and military coordination that is attempting to oversee the ceasefire. U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, visited last week.

Rubio said Saturday that Israel, the U.S. and the other mediators are sharing information to disrupt any threats, and asserted that it allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

Around 200 U.S. troops are working alongside the Israeli military and delegations from other countries at the coordination center, planning the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza. The U.S. has said none of its troops will operate on the ground in Gaza.

___

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

___

This version corrects to say that the remains of 15 hostages have been returned, not 18.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Shawa's approval occurred during a meeting last week between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Egyptian intelligence in Cairo, according to KAN, though his official appointment depends on the US.

Amjad Shawa, the head of a civil society network in Gaza, has been named by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority as the approved leader for the new technocratic board that will rule the Gaza Strip, Israel Public Broadcaster KAN News reported Sunday evening.

Shawa's approval occurred during a meeting last week between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Egyptian intelligence in Cairo, according to KAN, though his official appointment depends on the United States.

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"Amjad Shawa is pro-Hamas without being a Hamas man," Palestinian sources told KAN.

While Hamas selected half of the potential board members, the Palestinian Authority selected the other half. During the meeting in Cairo, however, KAN reported that Egypt presented the completed list to Hamas in order to "appease the organization."

Hamas terrorist stands guard, as heavy machinery operates at the site where searches are underway for the bodies of hostages killed after being seized by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, October 17, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER)

Hamas refuses to disarm, continues to maintain control

Hamas intends to maintain security control in Gaza during an interim period, Mohammed Nazzal, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters, adding he could not commit to the group disarming.

Nazzal also said the group was ready for a ceasefire of up to five years to rebuild devastated Gaza, with guarantees for what happens afterwards depending on Palestinians being given "horizons and hope" for statehood.

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Speaking to Reuters in an interview from Doha, where Hamas politicians have long resided, Nazzal defended the group's crackdown in Gaza, where it carried out public executions. There were always "exceptional measures" during war, and those executed were criminals guilty of killing, he said.

Hamas has not changed its DNA; they do not intend to disarm themselves," said Kobi Michael, the former head of the Palestinian desk at the Strategic Affairs Ministry. "They do not intend to leave the Gaza Strip and not be part of the day after.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Al-Hayya, deputy chief of Hamas's political bureau, appeared on Qatari news site Al Jazeera to talk about the terrorist organization's negative stance on disarmament and the state of the ceasefire.

Hamas plans to search new areas of Gaza for the remains of the Israeli hostages on Sunday, Khalil al-Hayya, the deputy chief of Hamas's political bureau, told Al Jazeera.

"We will enter new areas in Gaza on Sunday to search for bodies," al-Hayya told Al Jazeera.

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The Hamas leader also assured that he "told [US Special Envoy Steve] Witkoff and [Jared] Kushner during the meeting with them that we are advocates of stability."

"Our weapons are linked to the existence of the occupation and aggression, and if the occupation ends, these weapons will belong to the state," he said, while discussing the attempts to disarm the terror group.

"The issue of weapons is still under discussion with the factions and mediators, and the agreement is still in its early stages," he added.

Hamas members stand at the funeral of Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas deputy military commander who was killed in an Israeli airstrike during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the central Gaza Strip, February 7, 2025. (credit: Ramadan Abed/Reuters)

Hayya also called the strike on Doha, Qatar, a "historic failure for Israel," while he explained that the negotiations with the US envoys that "President Trump is capable of restraining the Israeli occupation."

Hamas plans to hold elections and create a new Gaza

Hayya also commented on the possibility of holding elections in the Gaza Strip for the first time since the terror group took power in 2007. "We want to go to elections as a prelude to reunifying the national ranks," he assured.

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"We agreed with all factions that the task of the UN body is to reconstruct Gaza," he added and detailed: "We have no reservations about any national figure residing in Gaza to administer the Strip."

He also explained that Hamas welcomes an UN peacekeeping force that would "act as a separation in the border, monitoring forces and enforcing the ceasefire in Gaza."

Finally, he also talked about the humanitarian aid needs in the Strip: "The humanitarian situation is deeply concerning to us. Gaza needs 6,000 trucks of aid daily, not just 600. We are not satisfied with the amount of aid entering the Gaza Strip and call on the mediators to intervene."
The chair of the Hardin County Republican Party has apologized after sharing on Facebook a video depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife as apes.

Chair Bobbie Coleman shared a link to the artificial intelligence-generated video on the Hardin County Republican Party of Kentucky Facebook page on Saturday. The video depicted Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes dancing to a song from Disneys The Lion King.

It also depicts several members of the Democratic Party as animals and President Donald Trump as a lion.

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The video has since been deleted.

Comparing Black people to monkeys has long been used as a racist insult.

Coleman has since deleted the post and issued an apology, saying the video was intended to celebrate President Trumps successful policy achievements by depicting him as a Lion King, triumphing over liberal Democrats.

I apologize for sharing the video and for amplifying offensive imagery of former President Obama, Coleman wrote on Facebook. As someone who does not engage with racist tropes, I did not consider the underlying meaning that this video may have had. I am not racist and any suggestion to the contrary does not reflect my values or character.

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The Republican Party of Kentucky on Saturday issued a statement condemning the video, and said it was opening an investigation.

The Republican Party of Kentucky condemns hate in all its forms, the statement said.

The post is vile and reprehensible, and is directly adverse to all that we stand for as a party and a nation. We are actively investigating the matter and will take the harshest action available to us against those involved. We remain committed to the values of Lincoln and advancing liberty and prosperity for every American.

Robert J. Benvenuti III is chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky.

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Coleman said the video was deleted from Facebook, and an apology made long before the Republican Party of Kentucky issued their statement.

While I respect their stance, I had already deleted the post and tried to make amends, Coleman said. I believe the Republican Party is the vehicle to save our country from the far-left, and I look forward to continuing to support our Republican candidates and Make America Great Again.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Police are investigating a report of shots fired in the city around midday Saturday.

Harrisburg Police said they received a report of shots fired in the 300 block of Harris Street around 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

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No one was struck, police told abc27 News, and no property damage was reported.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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

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HARTFORD  Parents and advocates are quickly raising concerns that Hartford Public Schools' new volunteer policy is creating barriers to family involvement instead of welcoming people.

The board of education approved the policy Tuesday.

Parent Angelika Matics said the policy isn't working as intended. She said previously approved volunteers are hesitating when they arrive at a school and face the school's Raptor identification system, even though the system's scanners accept many forms of ID.

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"They ask for an ID at the door, even though they've already been approved," she said. "And if they can't produce one, they're turned away."

Matics said that some volunteers, once allowed inside, have received little direction or preparation.

"This week, I had a group of fully approved volunteers show up ready to help, only to be told to sit still and do nothing for hours," she said. "We literally did nothing, and it felt like we were being treated as a risk just for being there. The atmosphere made it seem like our presence was a burden instead of a benefit."

She said that under the federal Title I program, schools are encouraged to allow parents to volunteer in ways that are meaningful to them, with a goal of involving disadvantaged families in their children's education.

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Matics said the district's new policy undermines that mission by limiting volunteer opportunities to those deemed "qualified" and leaving selection to the discretion of individual staff members.

Milly Arciniegas, executive director of Hartford Parent University, said her program was not consulted about the new volunteer policy.

Hartford Parent University is a parent-led program that seeks to empower families to advocate for their children's education and personal development. It has a long history of collaborating with the schools, helping to organize fundraisers and hosting reading campaigns, Arciniegas said.

"We're your partner and I hope that you entrust us, not only for funding or organizing, but on an important policy as this one," she told the board at Tuesday's meeting.

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Ed Wilson, staff liaison of the Board of Education's policy committee, said the goal of the policy is to encourage, not discourage, volunteer participation in the district.

He said the revised policy was shaped by input from parents, public comments and district officials.

According to the district, the policy states that qualified volunteers must be at least 18. The primary qualification, according to the policy, is an interest in enriching student learning and supporting the school community.

Individuals are disqualified if they are listed on the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry or the Department of Children and Families Child Abuse and Neglect Registry or if they have been convicted of offenses that pose a risk to student safety.

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The policy includes a screening requirement: all volunteers must submit an application authorizing the Hartford Board of Education to conduct a criminal background check, which is processed by district staff through a screening system.

Once approved, volunteers must sign in at the main office for each visit, wear a name tag, and complete a registration form and waiver annually.

"If no disqualifying information is indicated, the volunteer may proceed with assigned duties," the policy states. "Volunteers may be denied or removed for behavior that is inappropriate or detrimental to the school environment."

After approval, volunteers receive an orientation and general guidelines outlining their roles and responsibilities.

This article originally published at Hartford schools' new volunteer policy leaves some parents, advocates feeling unwelcome.
When a system keeps breaking in the same places, there comes a time when you need to stop patching and start redesigning. Thats where our health care system in Michigan is today.

For decades, weve relied on a model that pours billions of dollars into treating illness after it occurs, often through high-cost crisis care, instead of sustaining health at every stage. Each time costs rise, we apply a temporary fix: a new program, a one-time funding bandage, a targeted cut. And the same problems return.

Over my more than 45 years in health care (I became president and CEO of Henry Ford Health in 2022), Ive seen how this approach leaves patients and caregivers frustrated. We can do better. And Michigan can lead the way if we take the initiative to do whats right  not just whats easiest.

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We also know that world-class care for complex conditions, the kind our clinicians have provided for over a century and will be able to do at an even greater level when our Destination: Grand tower opens in 2029, is vital to a strong, equitable system. A redesigned model must do two things: prevent the illnesses and injuries that we can, and provide the most advanced, life-saving treatments when prevention isnt enough.

Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

More from Freep Opinion: BCBSM CEO pens op-ed: Health care costs are rising. We need to reform the system.

More from Freep Opinion: Hospital association head: 'Finger-pointing' won't fix rising health care costs

Here's where we start

Redesigning Michigans health care system starts with five core principles:

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Invest where health begins. Rebalance funding toward primary care, behavioral health and community-based services, including fair Medicaid reimbursement, so prevention and early intervention are accessible to everyone. Because Medicaid reimbursement levels are set by the State of Michigan, aligning those rates more closely with the real cost of care would strengthen health systems ability to invest in prevention and early intervention, helping patients receive care before it becomes a crisis.

Reward prevention, and high-value care. Align incentives so providers are paid for keeping people well, and for outcomes when people are ill.

Rebuild the ecosystem together. Bring hospitals, payers, employers, pharmaceuticals and policymakers to one table to design a coherent system, rather than a patchwork of competing interests. Were already laying the groundwork for a health care affordability roundtable in 2026 to begin confronting this challenge directly.

Make Michigan a leader in health care transformation. Develop and test new statewide health care models that bring together hospitals, insurers, employers and policy makers, which could serve as blueprints for the rest of the country.

Propel innovation. Continue advancing AI, digital access and precision medicine, while using them to lower costs and improve quality of care.

Only 5% to 7% of U.S. health spending goes to primary care, compared to roughly 14% in nations that achieve better outcomes and where people live longer lives. Here in Michigan, Medicaid reimburses hospitals at a rate of about three-quarters what Medicare pays for comparable services, placing our state in the bottom half nationally in reimbursement levels. The result: Hospital systems, including Henry Ford Health, are treating patients in crisis rather than minimizing crises in the first place.

We see the effects across our state. Rural hospitals are closing vital services like birthing centers. Employers face unsustainable benefit costs that threaten their competitiveness. Families delay care until problems escalate. Michigan ranks 31st in per-capita health care spending and below most states in life expectancy. Our health reflects our current system, which has for the most part rewarded volume instead of value.

More from Freep Opinion: BCBSM CEO blamed drug industry for rising health care costs. She got it wrong.

We can do better

At Henry Ford Health, were already testing what redesign looks like. New technologies, including AI-enabled tools, are helping physicians spend more time with patients and less time behind screens. Our digital front door gives people more confidence and control in choosing where and how to get care, guiding them toward lower-cost, more appropriate options earlier.

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And for patients with the most complex needs, were innovating to deliver the best possible outcomes  through advanced procedures, precision medicine, and multidisciplinary teams that manage both quality and cost. Equally important, we partner with community organizations to address social determinants of health, like food and housing insecurity, which is essential to the health and wellness of the communities we serve.

These arent patches; theyre prototypes for a system that combines human connection with smart technology to make care more personal, proactive and accessible.

Real reform requires the right mindset: seeing how the parts connect, aligning incentives and creating a system that works better for the people it serves. Improved outcomes and cost savings will follow when we stop waiting until people need crisis care, and instead focus on helping people achieve and maintain good health.

This isnt a call for more bureaucracy or socialized medicine. Its a call for courage and coordination. We need collaboration among employers, providers and insurers, and bipartisan governmental support, to rebuild the system so it delivers on the health part of healthcare.

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Michigan can lead that effort. We can show what it looks like to link compassion with economics, prevention with productivity, and innovation with access. Because the real question isnt whether we can afford to redesign the system into one that promotes prevention and delivers excellence in every form of care. Its whether we can afford not to.

X-ray image of broken legs with osteosynthetic material.

Bob Riney is president and CEO of Henry Ford Health. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print.

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Bob Riney

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Patches won't fix health care system, Henry Ford CEO says | Opinion
A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.0 struck the Coral Sea in the early hours of Sunday, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). In a post on X, the NCS stated, "EQ of M: 6.0, On: 26/10/2025 04:58:07 IST, Lat: 12.34 S, Long: 166.46 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Coral Sea." The NCS further noted that the earthquake occurred approximately 632 km north-northwest (NNW) of Port Vila, Vanuatu. https://x.com/NCS_Earthquake/status/1982232854135451726 As of now, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties following the quake. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation. 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, as well as greater casualties. According to the US Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE), the Solomon and Vanuatu Islands are subduction-related features caused by the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the greater Pacific Plate. It is a seismically active area of frequent large earthquakes. It noted that the earthquakes in this region are caused by the northeasterly movement of the Indo-Australian Plate as it dives beneath the Pacific Plate, but there are variations along the plate boundary. According to SAGE, the Solomon and Vanuatu Islands occupy the centre of a region that is marked by a complicated arrangement of tectonic microplates crushed between the greater Pacific and Indo-Australian Plates. It is a seismically active area of frequent large earthquakes. The Australian continent is moving northeast at a rate of ~6 cm/year with variation along the boundaries up to 13 cm/year. In the region of the Solomon and Vanuatu islands, the earthquakes are caused by the northeasterly movement of the Indo-Australian Plate as it dives beneath the Pacific Plate. Previously, in 2024, the WHO noted how the 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Port Vila on 17 December 2024, claimed 14 lives, destroyed critical infrastructure, and displaced over 2000 people who needed to stay in evacuation centres or with host families for weeks after the earthquake. To this day, aftershocks are felt by the communities. It highlighted how in Vanuatu, in partnership with WHO and UNICEF, the Ministry of Health used radio broadcasts, posters, and community outreach teams to get life-saving information into people's hands including those without internet connectivity. (ANI)
Some things can be told  not shown. And for one hiker in Providence Canyon State Park in Georgia, couples who had carved their names into rocks left a decidedly bad impression.

"Wtf is wrong with people," they wrote on Reddit. "Everywhere you look someone has carved some b******* into the actively eroding canyon walls. I'm glad you love whoever you love but you do not need to deface a park to tell everyone, that's what social media is for."

They posted several photos of the bluff walls, where the soft sandstone has clearly been mutilated, covered in overlapping letters and crude drawings.

Photo Credit: Reddit

Other commenters had encountered similarly frustrating displays. "Just got back from Hawaii and  at most of [the places I visited,] all the palm trees within arms reach were carved up with this graffiti," one person lamented. "I'll never understand why people think their love affairs are so special and unique they need to carve up nature so everyone else can see."

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"I don't understand [people] who think it's fine," another agreed. "It may be fun for yourself but disrupts the beauty for millions of other people."

It's an undeniable fact  humans love to leave their mark in natural places. From carving names into trees to painting on their trunks, tagging rocks with spray paint and even defacing sacred indigenous sites, it seems that many people simply cannot resist the urge to self-express.

"I was so excited when I got there and saw the view from the top trail," said another commenter, who had visited the same park in Georgia. "It was heartbreaking to see all that when I got into the canyons. Really hate people sometimes."

To their point, not only do these selfish actions impede the ability of other visitors to relax and enjoy the natural sights, but they also harm the plants and animals that live there year-round.

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The chemicals in paint can poison or even kill certain types of trees, according to Purdue University. And carving into them is just as bad. Damaging the structure of the bark  particularly if the cut is deep  can introduce disease and cause lasting damage which, in some cases, can lead to the tree's death, per Leave No Trace.

Instead, visitors can express their love for each other  and the natural world  simply by savoring it and, as LNT says, "taking only photos and leaving only footprints."

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
The Cold War was one of the most dangerous periods of recent world history. The United States, the Soviets, and the wider world around them can thank their lucky stars that it didn't escalate into a full-blown conflict. Part of the reason why it didn't was that neither side knew what the other was capable of. Let's take the MiG-25: this speedster aircraft in the Soviet arsenal was widely feared by the United States, with Soldier Of Fortune Magazine quoting then-Secretary of the Air Force, Robert Seamans, as declaring it to be "probably the best interceptor in production in the world today."

The most notable aspect of this statement, however, would surely be the "probably." The fact is that both sides of the Cold War jealously guarded their secrets and wanted to keep the capabilities of their military tech secret. The only realistic way to learn what the mysterious yet terrifying MiG-25 jet can really do was to procure one to investigate. It was a stroke of tremendous fortune that one Soviet pilot, Viktor Belenko, had decided to defect to the U.S. "Soviet propaganda at that time portrayed you as a spoiled rotten society which has fallen apart ... but I had questions in my mind," he would tell Full Context magazine two decades later, according to the BBC. Belenko did not simply bring the United States information about the MiG-25, he brought the aircraft itself, having flown one all the way to Japan during his bid for freedom. For the Soviet Union, this meant two inevitable truths: The United States had a treasure trove of information on its hands, and the MiG-25 would need to be upgraded in short order. Thus, Belenko's defection directly resulted in the Soviets' hurried technological leap from the MiG-25 to the MiG-31.

Read more: 10 Of The Largest Navies In The World, Ranked By Self-Reported Total Naval Assets

How Viktor Belenko's daring defection took place

Mikoyan MiG-25 on display outdoors. - Wikimedia Commons / San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, resized and cropped, Public Domain.

In 1976, Belenko, Soviet first lieutenant, saw better opportunities for himself in the United States, believing that the Soviet Union system was denying him the freedom he craved. John Barron's "MiG Pilot: The Final Escape of Lieutenant Belenko" also noted that the pilot's wife "had adamantly demanded a divorce and had announced her intent to take their child back to her parents," all of which underscored the fact that Belenko could no longer see a future for himself in the Soviet Union.

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Based at the Chuguyevska Air Base at the time, Belenko seized a chance during a training exercise. He simply left the formation of MiG-25s (another model of which is pictured here) that he was flying in and began a flight away from the Soviet Union. His ultimate goal was America, but the aircraft wouldn't have made it that far afield. Instead, he flew for Japan, eventually touching down at Hakodate Airport. Using his radar knowledge as a Soviet pilot, Belenko was able to both avoid being detected by his former compatriots and ensure that the Japanese systems could only detect him when he was sufficiently safe for them to do so. Though he did come to land safely, the runway at the airport he ultimately opted for wasn't as long as he was expecting, and so landing itself was more of an event than he had bargained for. Barron wrote, Soldier of Fortune Magazine reports, "Tires burning, [the plane] screeched and skidded down the runway, slowing but not stopping. It ran off the north end of the field, knocked down a pole, plowed over a second and finally stopped a few feet from a large antenna 800 feet off the runway. The front tire had blown, but that was all."

The rise of the MiG-31

Mikoyan MiG-31BM Foxhound on the ground. - Wikimedia Commons / Alan Wilson, resized and cropped, CC BY-SA 2.0.

Belenko was held in custody. Japan's situation was then, in effect, between the two superpowers, as the pilot wished for asylum in the United States and the Soviet Union was desperate for his return, fearing the military secrets that he and his plane could provide. He would be granted asylum that October, and ultimately made a full U.S. citizen under President Carter. After a career with the U.S. Air Force (changing his name to Viktor Schmidt during the height of tensions), he passed away in 2023. The MiG-25 was the first that the U.S. had been able to study. A close examination of every little piece of the aircraft, after its transportation to an airbase, revealed that it wasn't an unstoppable aircraft capable of achieving air dominance over the United States, though it had scared America into creating the F-15. It was designed as an interceptor, capable of Mach 2.8 (with a faster recon model that was capable of Mach 3.2), but sacrificing control for that pure power. It also had unwieldy engines that consumed huge amounts of fuel, as well as old school weighty vacuum tubes that made its radar less effective than its U.S. counterparts.

The MiG-25 was delivered back to the Soviet Union by the Japanese government. The development of the MiG-31, which had begun the previous year, was accelerated as a result of this event. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31, referred to by NATO as Foxhound, featured more effective D-30-F6 engines and increased fuel capacity for better range, as well as sophisticated radar and instruments. Flightglobal's Stephen Trimble described the model to the BBC as "essentially a full realization of what the MiG-25 was supposed to be." The significant differences between the MiG-25 and MiG-31 were, in part, a result of the defection.

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The HMS Prince of Wales (R09) stands as the largest and most powerful aircraft carrier in the Royal Navy. Commissioned on December 10, 2019, at HM Naval Base Portsmouth, it's the biggest addition to the United Kingdom's naval fleet and stands as a major step forward in the country's maritime power projection. As the second Queen Elizabeth-class carrier in the UK, it's 931.7 feet long, 229.6 feet wide, weighs 65,000 tons, and can travel 10,000 nautical miles. The HMS Prince of Wales' flight deck is huge, allowing it to carry any military helicopter in the United Kingdom's armed forces, and can accommodate 72 aircraft, including the Lockheed Martin F-35B lightening II, a fighter jet with the ability to fly slower than any other fighter.

Its twin-island design separates navigation and flight operations, improving efficiency and survivability. This move aligns with the United Kingdom's plans to increase its naval capabilities and showcase its nautical might through "Operation Highmast", an 8-month mission to the Indo-Pacific region with allies. The purpose of the deployment is to promote international partnerships, UK defense capabilities, and trade, while emphasizing full operational readiness for the ship and its F-35B fighter squadron.

Read more: Every Japanese Aircraft Carrier Sunk In WWII

Power, propulsion and problems

UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince Of Wales being guided by tugs entering port - Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Since British aircraft carriers aren't nuclear powered, the HMS Prince of Wales is brought to life by a sophisticated Integrated Electric Propulsion (IEP) system that's designed for efficiency and less demand for manning. Its two Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbines each generate 36 megawatts, and work alongside four Wartsila diesel generators, two 12-cylinder and two 16-cylinder units; together they produce enough power to supply a town of 25,000 people. This energy drives four advanced electric motors connected to twin propellers, pushing the ship's top speed in excess of 25 knots.

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It wasn't all smooth sailing, though; it suffered a significant breakdown off the Isle of Wight in August 2022, keeping it sidelined in dry dock at Rosyth for nine months, with problems to its starboard propeller shaft due to misalignment. After a sizable overhaul by Babcock International who has a 10-year maintenance contract, the HMS Prince of Wales finally emerged in 2023. Beyond the mechanical fixes, the ship also underwent major proficiency enhancements to extend its service life, improve operational readiness, and support future missions.

How does the HMS Prince of Wales stack up against America's best?

aircraft carrier, Prince of Wales, leaving Rosyth dry dockyard - Alex Ceolin, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The HMS Prince of Wales is an embodiment of the United Kingdom's commitment to upgrading and maintaining a formidable navy. Being the Royal Navy's largest and most advanced warship to date, plays an important part in projecting British power around the world. Moreover, it serves as the main platform to carry 36 of the country's most advanced fighter jets, the F-35B Lightning II. By contrast, the flagship of the U.S. Navy, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a displacement of approximately 100,000 tons and can carry over 75 aircraft and accommodate more than 4,500 personnel.

While the Ford's nuclear propulsion maximizes its extended operational range and endurance, the Prince of Wales's more conventional powered design allows for flexibility in deployment and reduced operational costs. Both carriers use superior technologies to support fifth-generation aircraft like the F-35B and F-22 Raptor. However, the Prince of Wales's integration of electric propulsion systems and automated features highlights the UK's priority on overall efficiency and reduced crew requirements.

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  A home health aide stole $24,000 from two older New York City residents under her care, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Jerona Smith pleaded guilty to one count of grand larceny and identity theft, according to court records.

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Smith admitted in court to stealing from two seniors: a 70-year-old woman with advanced dementia and a 69-year-old woman who had hired Smith for daily health care, officials said.

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Between mid-June and mid-July 2023, Smith cared for the 70-year-old woman; during this time, she used her bank account, credit card, and online payment accounts to make purchases and send money to third parties, including her friends, according to court documents.

Smith also opened new accounts and credit cards in the 70-year-olds name.

Smith ultimately stole $19,000 and even tried to steal an additional $54,000 from the victim, court documents said.

During this period, Smith was also employed by another victim, a 69-year-old woman. During this time, she allegedly wrote herself checks from the victims checking account, made purchases with the victims credit card, and opened a PayPal account in her name.

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Details on how much Smith stole from her second client and how she was caught stealing were not made available.

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Jerona Smith used her access as a home health aide to steal from older adults who relied on her for care. Ms. Smith is now facing prison time for her disturbing conduct, said District Attorney Bragg. Those who prey on the perceived vulnerability of older New Yorkers will be prosecuted.

If you or someone you know is above the age of 60 and may be a victim of a crime, contact the Elder Abuse Unit at 212-335-9007 or email EAU@dany.nyc.gov.

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Smith is due to be sentenced in January 2026. She faces one to three years in state prison, according to court documents

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
West Virginia homeowners face soaring energy costs amid heavy reliance on coal, oil, and gas. Many say they must choose between paying their electric bills and buying groceries.

What is happening in West Virginia?

The New York Times did a deep dive into West Virginia's energy situation. The Mountain State has seen its electricity rates rise nearly twice as fast as the national average over the past 15 years, and some residents report it is cheaper to rent a house than to keep the lights on.

"Electric bills shouldn't be equal to rent or mortgage," said Martec Washington, who began taking the bus and working multiple jobs in order to keep afloat. "The bill is freaking ridiculous."

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Major utility companies Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power cut power to 56,000 households for not paying their bills in 2023, according to the most recent regulatory filings, per the Times. That disconnection rate is more than 10 times higher than usual for states.

Why are energy rates so high in West Virginia?

Fossil fuel projects are generally more expensive and slower to construct than renewable energy ones  and this is especially true during times of geopolitical crisis.

For instance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 resulted in higher prices for coal, gas, and other dirty fuels because it disrupted supply chains. The data center boom is also creating massive energy demands, and consumers are paying more as a result. In short, diversifying energy portfolios with solar and wind can boost grid reliability and lower costs for consumers.

However, West Virginia regulators have pushed utility companies to rely on coal, leading to millions in operational, construction, and maintenance costs, per the Times. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the state uses coal to produce around 86% of its electricity.

How West Virginia's energy crisis could spread

Energy experts warn that West Virginia's energy crisis could be an omen of what is to come if the U.S. continues to spurn solar and wind energy in favor of fossil fuels.

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Support for clean energy development exists across political lines, both at the governmental level and among the American public. The Trump administration has expressed support for nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower  all forms of clean energy  as part of its goal to bring affordable and reliable power to Americans.

However, the administration has also canceled billions of dollars in grants for clean energy projects, including wind and solar, both of which are easy to scale to support the country's data center boom. At the same time, it is increasing investments in dirty fuels. At the end of September, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $625 million investment to revitalize the coal industry.

How Palmetto can help

Installing solar panels is a surefire way to lower home energy costs while also reducing heat-trapping pollution that could lead to trillions of dollars in lost economic value, according to reinsurance firm Swiss Re.

Yet with the average solar system costing thousands of dollars, the upfront cost is too much for some households to bear. Fortunately, Palmetto allows homeowners to lock in stable energy rates with its solar leasing options, including plans that require no money down.

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Palmetto has helped consumers across 31 states find the right solar systems. If buying sounds better to you, EnergySage saves homeowners up to $10,000 on installation costs. Palmetto's pros and cons breakdown can help you determine which is the best path for you.

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Paulo Cesar Gamez Lira was emotional as he learned that he was going to be released from ICE detention in Otero, New Mexico.

The 27-year-old father of four and a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient had been locked up for 43 days by immigration officials as they sought to deport him from the United States.

He was with his attorney, Marisa Ong, and other lawyers with the Singleton Schreiber law firm, when they learned of his pending release.

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"I was actually with him at the detention facility when we saw the government's response come out that they were not going to challenge that he should continue to be detained, and I got to tell him that face-to-face," Ong said. "He started crying, and I teared up as well."

Paulo Cesar Gamez Lira, the 27-year-old DACA recipient from Horizon City, is a father of four who was detained for 43 days before a federal judge ordered his released from ICE custody.

More: 'What has happened to our heart?': Bishop Seitz calls for care of poor, migrants in address

Gamez Lira was freed on Sept. 24 following a ruling from U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside his home on Aug. 13 as he was taking his 3-month-old baby, who has a serious medical condition, for a doctor's visit.

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Gamez Lira was detained despite holding a valid DACA status since 2014. Former President Barack Obama's administration established the program in 2012 to grant protected status for immigrant children who were brought to the United States by their parents.

DACA recipients became known as "Dreamers."

There have been over 20 immigrants with DACA status, like Gamez Lira, who have been detained in President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown campaign, according to data from the Home is Here campaign and United We Dream.

Gamez Lira's family celebrated his release in statement published by the New Mexican American Civil Liberties Union.

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"I'm overwhelmed with joy and relief," Alejandra, Gamez Lira's wife, said. "Paulo belongs with our family, not in a detention center. This has been the most difficult time of our lives, but we never lost hope that justice would prevail."

Immigration rights activists take part in a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC in November 2019. The justices upheld the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA program created by former President Barack Obama. DACA is under attack from President Donald Trump who wants it terminated.

More: ICE's Camp East Montana immigrant detention facility expands, new photos show

Gamez Lira was not a "hardened criminal" that Trump has said he is focused on for deportation.

"He's a family man, grew up in El Paso came here as an infant. It's the only home he's ever known. He's built a life here," Rebecca Steff, an attorney with the New Mexican ACLU involved in the case, said. "He has four America children and a spouse here. He has been a strong contributing member of the community and you know there was no apparent reason that immigration would have focused on him."

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More: An 'injustice what's happening': Diocese of El Paso presents migrant letters to Pope Leo XIV

'A violent arrest'

Gamez Lira was arrested by immigration agents as he pulled out of his driveway in Horizon City.

His detention was violent, Crystal Sandoval, a lawyer with the El Paso-based immigrant advocacy group Las Americas, said. His frightened children were watching when seven masked agents exited three vehicles and circled Gamez Lira's car, she said.

Sandoval, who is representing Gamez Lira in his immigration case, said Gamez Lira was taken from his home to the Zaragoza bridge crossing into Juarez, where immigration agents threatened him with immediate deportation.

Supporters display posters and artwork for Catalina Xochitl Santiago outside the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector headquarters on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, after a judge ended her removal proceedings. Santiago, a DACA recipient, was detained Aug. 3.

More: US Rep. Veronica Escobar wants to know why staff's ICE detention facility visit was canceled

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The arrest and attempted deportation was shocking, the attorneys said.

"It was truly bizarre that the government targeted him for apprehension in his own driveway that day and persisted in asserting that they could detain him despite having DACA," Steff said. "When we see a need to jump on cases like this, it's because we see the government trying some new unprecedented aggressive tactics around enforcement and tension and this was one of those where there was clearly a need for swift legal action."

Attorneys from the ACLU and Singleton Schreiber filed a habeas petition to challenge Gamez Lira's detention. The petition argued that his continued detention violated his constitutional rights. The judge agreed and ordered his release.

Supporters hold posters for Catalina Xochitl Santiago in El Paso on Sept. 10, 2025 after a federal judge ended her removal proceedings. Santiago, a DACA recipient, was detained Aug. 3.

More: Federal judge bars Trump administration from deporting unaccompanied children to Guatemala

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The legal fight to release Gamez Lira came as another case was advancing, challenging the detention and attempted deportation of another DACA recipient, Catalina 'Xochitl' Santiago. The DACA recipient and immigration rights advocate in El Paso was detained on Aug. 3.

Their cases gained national attention, with Democratic leaders condemning the attacks from the Trump administration on the program.

The Trump administration is killing DACA piece by piece," U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, said during a news conference. "That is cruel, unconscionable, and un-American. Dreamers were brought here as children  the average age was just 6 years old. Six-year-olds dont break laws; they follow their parents. Dreamers have kept their end of the bargain, and America must keep its promise."

Both cases influenced each other. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that ICE must release Santiago referenced Judge Johnson's decision that freed Gamez Lira.

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Cardone said in her ruling that Santiagos detainment deprives her of her constitutional right to procedural due process under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Further, the Trump administration "did not present any evidence indicating that Santiago has endangered anyone  telling, they failed to even articulate an individualized reason for which she should be detained," the judge wrote.

Santiago was released early in the afternoon on Oct. 1, after 59 days in detention.

Catalina 'Xochitl' Santiago stands with her partner Desiree Miller following her release from ICE detention on Oct. 1.

'Deep fear and trauma': Life after detention

Neither Gamez Lira or Santiago have appeared publicly since their releases. The reality is that being in detention is a traumatizing experience, the attorneys said.

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"Immigration detention is not meant to be punitive under the law, but it is traumatizing for folks who go through it," Steff said. "Not only because of the conditions that folks are being detained in, but also because of the uncertainty of what the future holds for them  The level of uncertainty causes such deep fear and trauma on top of the degrading conditions that it is a lot to recover from."

More: Mexico's Sheinbaum celebrates migrants as she shares successes of first year in office

The experience is life-changing. It takes time to get lives back in order after release, Steff explained.

But the attorneys hope that the releases of Gamez Lira and Santiago can provide a sense of calm for other immigrants with DACA status at a time when the Trump administration has said they can detain and deport them.

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"Our hope for DACA recipients throughout the United States is that these cases and these decisions give them some sense of peace that while they have a valid grant," Ong said. "The whole point of the DACA program was designed to protect young immigrants from deportation, which and allow them to live and work in the United States without fear of removal or without fear that the government is going to detain them for no reason."

Jeff Abbott covers the border for the El Paso Times and can be reached at:jdabbott@gannett.com; @palabrasdeabajo on Twitter or @palabrasdeabajo.bsky.social on Bluesky.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas father of 4 was first DACA recipient ordered released
CAIRO (AP)  Yemen s Houthi rebels released actor and model Intisar al-Hammadi after nearly five years in prison over charges of committing an indecent act and drug possession in a case rights groups said was  marred with irregularities and abuse, her lawyer said Sunday.

Al-Hammadi was detained in the capital Sanaa in February 2021 and sentenced to five years in prison after a Houthi-run court convicted her of committing an indecent act and having drugs in her possession. Her detention and trial showcased the Houthi repression of women and dissent in areas under their control in war-torn Yemen.

Lawyer Khalid al-Kamal said al-Hammadi was released on Saturday after she spent nearly five years in the Central Prison in Sanaa.

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An online statement signed by dozens of public figures in Yemen welcomed her release and called on the Houthis to provide health care for al-Hammadi.

Al-Hammadi, 25, was arrested along with three other women. Al-Hammadi and another woman, Yousra al-Nashri, were sentenced to five years, while the two other women received one and three years in prison.

Human Rights Watch had criticized the court proceedings as arbitrary and lacking due process.

Born to a Yemeni father and an Ethiopian mother, al-Hammadi worked as a model for four years and acted in two Yemeni soap drama series in 2020. Before her imprisonment, she was the sole breadwinner for her four-member family.

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The Iranian-backed Houthis have ruled Sanaa and much of Yemens north since 2014, when they marched from their northern stronghold of Saada province and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. Since then, Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country, has been in a state of civil war.

A Saudi-led coalition that included the United Arab Emirates entered the Yemen war the following year in an attempt to restore the government. The war has been stalemated in recent years and the rebels reached a deal with Saudi Arabia that stopped their attacks on the kingdom in return for ceasing the Saudi-led strikes on their territories.

Both the Houthis and the internationally recognized government have cracked down on opposition and restricted womens movement. They barred women from traveling between the countrys provinces, and in some cases from traveling abroad, without have a male guardians permission or being accompanied by an immediate male relative, according to HRW.
Gunmen affiliated with Yemen's Houthi rebels stormed the headquarters of the UN refugee agency UNHCR in the capital Sana'a on Sunday and confiscated some electronic devices, a local source told dpa.

The source, who requested anonymity, said that "Houthi gunmen stormed the UNHCR headquarters in Sana'a, searched the premises for hours, and detained a number of local staff for several hours." The employees were released after questioning.

They ransacked the offices and confiscated electronic devices and a database of UNHCR beneficiaries, the source added.

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On Saturday, the Houthis stormed several UN offices, including the office of the UN envoy to Yemen and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as homes of several World Food Program (WFP) employees in Sana'a.

According to the source, two employees detained on Saturday have not been released.

The Houthis have been targetting UN agencies since August. Thex have arrested many employees and stormed their offices in the capital. The group's leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, has previously accused UN organizations of involvement in "espionage and aggressive" activities.

Last week, the United Nations said that 53 UN colleagues remain arbitrarily detained by the Houthis in Sana'a.
Violence unfolded at Howard University on Friday as the community came together to celebrate the schools 101st homecoming festivity. According to WTOP News, Police Chief Pamela Smith said five people were shot during the celebration. The injured people included three men, one woman and a teenager.

What are the details that are known about the shooting at Howard University?

The shooting at Howard University happened around 8:20 p.m. near the schools architecture building. Smith said two suspects are now in custody and police have recovered three weapons from the scene.

The injured people were all taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Smith. Police havent yet determined the motive, but investigators are reviewing surveillance footage for additional details.

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Whether theyre young people or adults with guns, we need folks to put these guns down in our city. What we do know is that this is Howards homecoming, and most of the homecoming festivities around our cities are joyous occasions for our families to come out and enjoy a good time, Smith said, per WTOP.

The shooting happened as the school was having a reception for alumni during the festive homecoming weekend.

Were not going to tolerate individuals coming into our cities with firearms and dont think for one second that were not going to look for you and search for you and find you. And when we do, we will hold you accountable, Smith said.

What did witnesses say about the shooting at Howard University?

According to NBC Washginton, witnesses said dozens of people ran to a nearby McDonalds when shots were fired during the celebration. Howard University also revealed additional details in a statement, saying that the shooting happened after a fight broke out between two people. Its not clear if those individuals know each other.

Police said none of the injured people are Howard University students.







The post Howard Homecoming Weekend: Five Shot Near Event  Heres What To Know appeared first on Blavity.
CHICAGO  The fragile ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has led world leaders to increasingly call for rebuilding the now-flattened Gaza Strip, but reconstruction feels like a distant idea to humanitarians that are still trying to urgently alleviate suffering despite facing funding cuts and limited access into the enclave.

Since the agreement brokered by the United States went into effect earlier this month, the United Nations and international aid groups have tried to surge relief operations in Gaza to reach wounded, displaced Palestinians. But a campaign like that is a massive undertaking when public trust and funding have tanked in recent years.

Politics: Deaths In Gaza Will Soon Accelerate, Top Aid Groups Warn

Total humanitarian funding has declined every year since 2022. This year weve only had 50% of what we received last year, and were already toward the end of October, Richard Brennan, former regional emergency director for the World Health Organization, said Saturday at a conference in Chicago held by humanitarian group MedGlobal.

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We cant lose sight of what that means to people, he continued, citing a Lancet study that estimated about 40 million people would be dead by 2030 due to the decline in humanitarian systems.

Palestinians receive food packages distributed by the World Food Program (WFP) in the Zawaida area of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza following the implementation of the ceasefire on Oct. 23. Hassan Jedi/Anadolu via Getty Images

The U.S. has been a major player in slowing down humanitarian responses, with the Biden and Trump administrations withholding funding to the one UN agency (UNRWA) that has existing infrastructure in place to meet the scale of aid distribution that Gaza requires.

Israel has long accused UNRWA specifically of supporting Hamas, leading many nations to pause funding to the agency and threatening Palestinians access to basic needs. Despite the claim being unsubstantiated, Israel effectively banned UNRWA from operating in Gaza, accusing Hamas of stealing the aid from civilians.

Global: Lithuania Shuts Border With Putin-Allied Belarus Over Smuggler Balloons

Every country but the U.S. resumed their funding to UNRWA when Israel was unable to back up its claim with evidence. But Israeli officials continued blocking aid from entering the enclave.

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The International Court of Justices most recent advisory opinion ordered Israel to grant immediate access into Gaza for groups like UNRWA, saying the occupying power may never invoke reasons of security to justify the general suspension of all humanitarian activities in occupied territory.

In July, the Trump administration shut down the independent U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)  canceling most of the federal agencys aid programs while transferring the remaining ones to the State Department. Humanitarian experts have long warned that shutting down USAID would lead to conflict zones seeing an increase in preventable deaths.

Two women who were laid off from their jobs with the Education Department and a USAID-funded grant, respectively, hold signs about the looming government shutdown on Sept. 30 on Capitol Hill in Washington, during a rally with former federal employees. Jacquelyn Martin via Associated Press

The political obstacles are the barrier to addressing the humanitarian needs in Gaza right now, said Refugees International chief Jeremy Konyndyk, who worked for USAID under the Biden administration. The backsliding on some core humanitarian principles and on adherence to international humanitarian law is going to haunt governments around the world and humanitarian agencies for decades to come.

Brennan concurred, adding that the Trump administrations decision to amplify a false narrative about USAID workers has made it difficult to articulate to the public just how dangerous things can become if humanitarian groups dont have the support to create and maintain aid infrastructures.

Global: Melissa Strengthens Into A Category 4 Hurricane, Threatening Catastrophic Flooding In Jamaica, Haiti

Weve tried, but were getting drowned out. Were getting drowned out by people within the current administration saying were criminal, were incompetent, were lazy and were immoral, Brennan said.

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The U.S. is going to be aligning their humanitarian assistance much more with national political interests, he continued. So much for soft power.

Global Updates

Read the original on HuffPost
US President Donald Trump arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday to attend the biannual ASEAN Summit. He was greeted by Malaysian officials upon landing at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The US President was received by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, with large crowds of Malaysians gathering at the airport to welcome him. Air Force One touched down in Kuala Lumpur, where President Trump is scheduled to participate in the regional summit. A Malaysian fighter jet escorted the aircraft into Malaysian airspace as it approached the airport. The warm reception reflects the strong diplomatic ties between the United States and Malaysia and sets the stage for high-level discussions during the ASEAN Summit. President Trump, along with leaders from Cambodia and Thailand, is set to witness the signing of the 'great peace deal' between the Southeast Asian countries in Malaysia. The US President was informed about the agreement while aboard Air Force One. He also condoled the passing of Thailand's Queen Mother. The US President is expected to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, during the summit. Speaking on Truth Social, Trump said, "I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. To accommodate everyone for this major event, we will sign the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival. See you soon! President DJT." The peace deal follows a long-standing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, which escalated in July this year when troops clashed over five days, resulting in casualties and the displacement of thousands on both sides. A ceasefire, mediated by Malaysia, was implemented in late July 2025, with ASEAN observers coordinating the monitoring of the truce. On October 23, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to advance efforts to demarcate their shared boundary following a two-day special meeting of the Joint Commission held in Chanthaburi, Thailand. The Cambodia-Thai Joint Commission on Demarcation for the Land Boundary (JBC), held on October 21-22, reached several agreements to expedite land demarcation. Both sides assigned the Joint Technical Survey Committee (JTSC) to immediately replace 15 Boundary Pillars at locations agreed upon by both nations, according to local media reports and the Bernama news agency. Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said both sides are moving closer to finalising the Declaration of Thailand-Cambodia Relations aimed at resolving the border situation. "The ceremony will be witnessed by US President Donald Trump, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and other ASEAN leaders," Sihasak was cited as saying in the Nation. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, while releasing the joint statement on the Thai-Cambodia JBC, said the meeting was conducted "in an atmosphere of friendship and cordiality," reflecting both nations' commitment to peaceful dialogue and technical cooperation, as per Khmer Times. The Cambodian delegation was led by Lam Chea, Minister in charge of the State Secretariat of Border Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Cambodian side, while the Thai delegation was led by Prasas Prasasvinitchai, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-Chairman of the Thai side. Cambodia and Thailand have been engaged in a decades-long dispute over the jurisdiction of non-demarcated areas along their shared land border of more than 800 kilometres. A central part of the dispute involves competing claims over the ancient Hindu temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear, perched on the Dangrek Mountains forming a natural boundary between the two countries. Severe clashes in 2011 near the Preah Vihear temple resulted in at least 16 deaths, prompting a private UN Security Council meeting on February 14, 2011, and a press statement on the same day. (ANI)
Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a major hurricane and may reach Category 5 status before making landfall in Jamaica.

Melissa went through rapid intensification yesterday. This means that within a span of 24 hours, it went from a relatively strong tropical storm to a major hurricane.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a major hurricane and may reach Category 5 status before making landfall in Jamaica.

It is also now starting to pick up a little bit of speed, moving between 5 and 10 mph.

It is still on track to make landfall in Jamaica late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

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The historic rain they are experiencing on the island will continue, as another 15 to 20 inches are expected on top of what has already fallen. This means that when its all over, some areas could have received over 30 inches of rain.

Hurricane Melissa has intensified into a major hurricane and may reach Category 5 status before making landfall in Jamaica.

All models agree on the storms path. It will turn toward Jamaica within the next 24 hours and then accelerate through Cuba and the Bahamas before moving out into the Atlantic.

During that time, it will also gradually weaken. Its projected to remain a major hurricane when it hits Cuba. Afterward, it will weaken to a Category 2 hurricane before moving through the Bahamas.

There remains no threat to Central Florida.

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We might notice some larger swells along our coast by the end of the week. However, they wont be as big as those caused by previous storms.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Hurricane Melissa is a monster Category 4 storm in the Caribbean Sunday, Oct. 26, and expected to further strengthen as it approaches Jamaica, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

Melissa is expected to be a powerful major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning and southeastern Cuba late Tuesday.

Forecasters urge residents of Jamaica to seek shelter immediately as damaging winds and up to 40 inches of heavy rainfall tonight and Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before the strongest winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning. Extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation of communities are expected. Life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected along portions of the southern coast Monday night and Tuesday morning.

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 Track Hurricane Melissa

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

Catastrophic flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti and southern portions of the Dominican Republic through midweek. In Haiti, extensive infrastructural damage and isolation of communities is likely. Although winds have temporarily decreased on the Tiburon peninsula, they are likely to increase again across much of western Haiti on Tuesday.

Life-threatening storm surge is expected along portions of the southern coast of eastern Cuba late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall with life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are also expected beginning on Monday. Preparations should be rushed to completion.

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Residents in Southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos should monitor Melissa closely. There is an increasing risk of a significant storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday. Watches will likely be required early Monday.

Melissa is moving toward the west near 5 mph. A slow westward motion is expected tonight, followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Monday and Tuesday.

While some waves and rip currents are possible depending on when Melissa takes a turn northeast, significant impacts to Florida and the U.S. East Coast are not expected at this time.

Residents should continue monitoring the tropics.

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Here's what you should know.

Where is Hurricane Melissa now?

Special note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time.

Hurricane Melissa summary, as of 8 p.m., Oct. 26:

Location : 115 miles south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica; 295 miles south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba; 732 miles south of West Palm Beach, Florida

Maximum sustained winds: 145 mph

Movement : west at 5 mph

Pressure: 933 mb

Hurricane Melissa: What you need to know

At 8 p.m., the eye of Hurricane Melissa was located near latitude 16.4 North, longitude 77.3 West.

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Melissa is moving toward the west near 5 mph. A slow westward motion is expected tonight, followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Monday and Tuesday.

On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica on Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Melissa is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Additional intensification is forecast over the next day or so, followed by fluctuations in intensity. Melissa is expected to be a powerful major hurricane when making landfall in Jamaica.

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Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 205 miles.

The minimum central pressure estimated from NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft observations is 933 mb.

Hurricane Melissa spaghetti models, trajectory, projected path

Special note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts.

 Track Hurricane Melissa

See map of hurricane/tropical storm watches, warnings issued for Florida

As of Oct. 26, no watches or warnings associated with Hurricane Melissa have been issued for Florida or the U.S.

Hurricane watch issued for Jamaica, portion of Haiti

A hurricane warning is in effect for: Jamaica Cuban provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo, and Holguin.

A hurricane watch is in effect for: Southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince

A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Southwestern peninsula of Haiti from the border with the Dominican Republic to Port-Au-Prince Cuban province of Las Tunas



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A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion.

A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.

A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

Storm tracker: How strong is Hurricane Melissa and where is it going?

Hurricane Melissa has maximum sustained winds of 145 mph.

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Melissa is moving toward the west at 5 mph. A slow westward motion is expected tonight, followed by a turn to the north and northeast on Monday and Tuesday.

Is Hurricane Melissa coming to Florida?

Most current models show Hurricane Melissa being picked up and being shoved to the northeast into the Atlantic.

The timing and strength of a dip in the jet stream over the eastern United States next week will help determine the path that Melissa takes through the northern Caribbean and into the southwestern Atlantic," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva said. "At this time, the odds of 'direct' rain and wind impacts from Melissa reaching the U.S. East Coast are low.

 WeatherTiger: Melissa a monster in the making with Florida dodging the bullet

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Melissa poses "little to no risk to Florida or the continental U.S.," said Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger, who works with the USA TODAY Network.

"Odds of any outer bands of Melissa even minimally scraping southeast Florida on its way out (into the Atlantic) are around 5%."

Forecasters encourage residents to monitor the tropics and to always be prepared.

Key messages from the National Hurricane Center: What you need to know about Hurricane Melissa

Jamaica: Seek shelter now. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall tonight and Monday will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning. Extensive infrastructural damage, long-duration power and communication outages, and isolation of communities are expected. Life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected along portions of the southern coast Monday night and Tuesday morning. Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and landslides are expected across southwestern Haiti and southern portions of the Dominican Republic through midweek. In Haiti, extensive infrastructural damage and isolation of communities is likely. Although winds have temporarily decreased on the Tiburon peninsula, they are likely to increase again across much of western Haiti on Tuesday. Eastern Cuba: Life-threatening storm surge is expected along portions of the southern coast of eastern Cuba late Tuesday and Tuesday night. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall with life-threatening and potentially catastrophic flash flooding and landslides are also expected beginning on Monday. Preparations should be rushed to completion. Southeast Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos: Monitor Melissa closely. There is an increasing risk of a significant storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday. Watches will likely be required early Monday.

Current forecast: Where is Hurricane Melissa going and how strong could it get?

As of 5 p.m.: 145 mph, Category 4 hurricane

12 hours: 155 mph

24 hours: 160 mph, Category 5 hurricane

36 hours: 160 mph

48 hours: 130 mph, Category 4 hurricane

60 hours: 120 mph, Category 3 hurricane

72 hours: 105 mph , Category 2 hurricane

96 hours: 90 mph

120 hours: 80 mph, Category 1 hurricane

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A Category 5 hurricane has maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph.

What impact could Hurricane Melissa have and what areas could be affected?

Wind : Tropical storm conditions are likely occurring in Jamaica, with hurricane conditions expected to begin by Monday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in Eastern Cuba by Tuesday afternoon, with Hurricane conditions expected to begin in the hurricane warning area by Tuesday evening. Tropical storm conditions are ongoing in the warning area in Haiti. The potential for hurricane conditions in the watch area in Haiti have diminished for today, but there is still a possibility of hurricane conditions occurring there on Tuesday.

Rainfall : Melissa is expected to bring rainfall of 15 to 30 inches to portions of Jamaica and additional rainfall of 8 to 16 inches for southern Hispaniola through Wednesday, with local storm total maxima of 40 inches possible. Catastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely. For eastern Cuba, storm total rainfall of 10 to 15 inches, with local amounts to 20 inches, is expected by Monday into Wednesday resulting in life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides. Over the Southeast Bahamas, total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches is expected Tuesday into Wednesday resulting in areas of flash flooding.

Storm surge: Life-threatening storm surge is likely along the south coast of Jamaica late Monday through Tuesday morning. Peak storm surge heights could reach 9 to 13 feet above ground level, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves. There is a potential for significant storm surge along the southeast coast of Cuba late Tuesday or Wednesday. Peak storm surge heights could reach 6 to 9 feet above normal tide levels, near and to the east of where the center of Melissa makes landfall. This storm surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

Surf: Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands during the next several days, and In the Bahamas and Bermuda later this week. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Hurricane Melissa update: See trajectory, path. Florida forecast
Hurricane Melissa has rapidly strengthened into a major Category 4 with potentially catastrophic consequences, as it dropped torrential rain in the northern Caribbean and threatened disastrous flooding and landslides in Jamaica and southern Haiti.

Melissa could intensify to a Category 5 as it nears Jamaica, forecasters said on Sunday, when making landfall in the Caribbean island in the coming day or two.

I urge Jamaicans to take this weather threat seriously, said Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Take all measures to protect yourself.

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Melissa was centred about 200km (125 miles) south-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 455km (280 miles) west-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, late Saturday night.

It had maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometres per hour (115 miles per hour), the hurricane centre said.

Authorities in Jamaica said on Saturday that the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston will be closed. They did not say whether they will close the Sangster airport in Montego Bay, on the western side of the island.

More than 650 shelters were activated in Jamaica. Officials said warehouses across the island were well-stocked and thousands of food packages prepositioned for quick distribution if needed.

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Melissa was expected to unleash punishing rains of up to 76 centimetres (30 inches) on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola  Haiti and the Dominican Republic  according to the hurricane centre.

It should be near or over Cuba by the middle of the week. The Cuban government on Saturday afternoon issued a hurricane watch for the provinces of Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin.

The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Unfortunately for places along the projected path of this storm, it is increasingly dire, Jamie Rhome, the centres deputy director, said earlier on Saturday. He said the storm will continue to move slowly for up to four days.

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In Haiti, there were also reports of rising river levels, flooding and a bridge destroyed due to breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast.

The storm is causing a lot of concern with the way its moving, said Ronald Delice, a Haitian department director of civil protection, as local authorities organised lines to distribute food kits. Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes.

The storm has damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights, unleashed a couple of small landslides and left more than two dozen communities isolated by floodwaters.





The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to islands in the Southeast and Central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30.
Cant make it to Florida for the sinking of the SS United States?

Fortunately, there will be live video for you to watch as the iconic ocean liner goes down.

The historic ship, which spent nearly three decades docked on the Delaware River, is slated to become the worlds largest artificial reef when it is sunk about 20 miles off the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida.

Earlier this year, the ship was hauled away from its dock in Philadelphia in a spectacle that drew thousands of onlookers. It is now in Mobile, Alabama, where it is being cleaned in preparation for its sinking.

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Okaloosa County, Florida, purchased the ship in 2024 as part of a $10.1 million scuttling project. A date for the sinking has yet to be announced, but it is expected to be done sometime this year.

And that event will be documented and live-streamed, Okaloosa County commissioners have decided.

On Tuesday, they approved a $68,000 contract with two production companies that will follow the ships deployment from Alabama to the reef site in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area.

The news was welcomed by the SS United States Conservancy, which owned the ocean liner after rescuing it from the scrapyard in 2011.

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We are pleased to confirm that both a live stream and a professional documentary will be produced covering the tow-out and reefing, the conservancy posted on Facebook.

Sailing worldwide in the mid-20th century, the SS United States was once a premier ship, holding a world record the fastest trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Its passengers included celebrities and U.S. presidents, but it fell into disrepair after retiring toward the end of 1969.

Okaloosa County has not released the exact date or location the ship will go down, but says they will be announced closer to the scuttling.

The ship will be sunk in about 180 feet of water. It will join more than a dozen other large vessels that Okaloosa County has placed off the coast in recent years.

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The county says the ships benefit the marine environment and are a boom to tourism, attracting divers to the Gulf Coast. The project also calls for a land-based museum of the SS United States history.

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No one can doubt that costs are rising throughout the economy. City governments are not immune from this effect. The costs of law enforcement, health insurance, liability insurance, fire protection/ambulance, and street maintenance and repair, to name a few, have all risen faster than cities have the ability by law to cover. And our infrastructure needs are only growing.

In Idaho, to cover these increased costs, city governments can increase their property tax budgets from one year to the next by no more than 3%. New construction in a city adds some additional tax revenue, but the Idaho Legislature capped that amount in 2021 (via House Bill 389) to only 90% of the new developments total value  which harms a citys ability to ensure that growth pays for growth.

The same can be said of urban renewal districts. House Bill 389 also determined that when new developments are built in an urban renewal district that closes, only 80% of that districts added value can be taxed by the city. Both of these changes shift more of the burden of city costs onto existing property owners, and make it even harder for cities to cover their needed costs each year.

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Meanwhile, some Idaho cities considered resort locations are able to, with the approval of their residents, shift some of that property tax burden onto tourists or the shopping community in the form of a local option tax. As an example, the residents of the city of Hailey, Driggs or Sandpoint could vote to raise another $1,000,000 for, say, roads and law enforcement, largely off of sales to out-of-town visitors. These are visitors who drive on public roads, use public facilities and often require the assistance of law enforcement or an ambulance.

If Hailey has roughly 9,000 residents, but has over 100,000 shopping visitors, for example, that $1 million cost is spread out over nearly 10 times the number of people. With this local option sales tax, Hailey property owners are able to shift large portions of their city tax obligation onto a broader subsection of visitors to their town who use their property-taxpayer-supported facilities, but who pay no property taxes to maintain or pay for them.

Due to restrictions by the Idaho Legislature, residents in only 22 Idaho cities are able to do what Hailey residents can do. Residents in the remaining 177 cities must bear all of the burden of supporting public services with the property tax.

Most cities, such as my city, Ammon, or Kuna, Rexburg or Moscow, for example  all growing cities with strong commercial centers  are not so lucky. They cant ask visiting shoppers to help contribute to road improvements or law enforcement costs by way of a local option sales tax. In almost every city in Idaho, residents who need more revenues for their roads or law enforcement costs have to vote to tax themselves  often having to hurdle a required two-thirds supermajority vote  while visiting shoppers using these services or facilities are not required to contribute.

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Ammon has many hundreds of thousands of shopping visitors every year. We could cover the cost of law enforcement and road maintenance  two items heavily affected by visitors  if the residents had the ability to vote to add a 1 cent local option sales tax. Much of that tax would be paid for not by residents, but by the visitors who drive on Ammon roads, shop in our stores, use our public facilities, and, on occasion, have to be stopped by our law enforcement. As long as Ammon is not able to use a local option tax and as Ammon continues to attract businesses and visitors, property taxes will continue to increase to pay for the impacts from those visitors.

Access to this tool isnt a silver bullet. Yet, in the midst of rising costs across all industries, there is no existing logical justification for the legislature to allow the residents of 22 Idaho cities to shift a portion of their tax burden to visiting shoppers, yet not allow the residents of the other 177 cities to do the same if they chose to do so.

This real, tangible property tax relief option should be available to all Idaho residents, not just a select few.

Sean Coletti is the mayor of Ammon, a city of 20,000 people in Bonneville County.
Deutsch, from Beit She'an, was killed at the Mehola Junction in the Jordan Valley. Another man, Anas Jaramana, 32, from Muqeibe, was moderately wounded in the attack.

The IDF is scheduled to demolish the home of Ayman Naja Janem, the terrorist who killed Yonatan Deutsch in a shooting attack in August 2024, the military said Sunday.

Deutsch was 23 at the time of the shooting.

Janem's home is located in Aqaba, in the northern West Bank.

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Deutsch, from Beit She'an, was killed at the Mehola Junction in the Jordan Valley. Another man, Anas Jaramana, 32, from Muqeibe, was moderately wounded in the attack.

At least three terrorists were responsible for the shooting attack. Iman Ganem and Wael Lahluh were also found responsible for the attack.

Central Command Commander, the Jordan Valley and Emek HaMayanot Brigade Commander, the Head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, and additional commanders during an assessment of the situation at the attack site, August 11, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Ganem was arrested at a hospital in Nablus in December 2024, and Lahluh, from Qabatiya, was killed in an Israel Air Force strike.

Lahluh opened fire from a passing vehicle at two vehicles on Route 90.

How the attack unfolded

According to an initial investigation, shots were fired first at Deutschs vehicle.

When Deutsch was shot, he lost control of the vehicle, which then slid to the side of the road. The second vehicle was struck after Deutschs.

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The two cars were shot from a distance of dozens of meters to a few hundred meters away.

Deutsch was a counselor in Bnei Akiva and volunteered extensively in Beit Shean. He was released from IDF combat service in the Maglan Unit just weeks before the attack and was due to be married a couple of weeks after the attack.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) detected 8 sorties by PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around its territory on Sunday. The MND further shared that 5 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). It wrote on X, "8 sorties of PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1982250833166348404 The MND recorded the presence of 4 PLAN vessels and 9 sorties of PLA aircraft around its territory on Saturday. Earlier in a post on X on Friday, it shared that 4 PLAN vessels were operating around Taiwan. 9 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. In response to growing concerns over Chinese infiltration, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties in Taiwan have introduced significant amendments to the National Security Act and related legislation to fortify the island's defences and safeguard its democratic institutions, as reported by The Taipei Times. According to The Taipei Times, members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) submitted draft revisions to Paragraph 1, Article 13 of the act, designed to strengthen the loyalty and accountability of military officers, educators, and government officials. The proposed amendment calls for immediate security protocols to close existing legislative gaps that could expose Taiwan to national security risks posed by Chinese influence operations. DPP lawmaker Chuang explained that while current legislation penalises actions that directly endanger national security, there is a lack of preventive provisions for behaviour that may lead to future harm. The new draft seeks to address this shortfall by allowing early intervention, including suspension from duty, to mitigate potential damage. The bill has passed its first reading and has been referred to the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee for further deliberation, as cited by The Taipei Times. The incursions mark yet another episode in China's continuing military pressure campaign against Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. The frequent intrusions and maritime operations reflect rising tensions between Taiwan and China, a relationship long fraught with geopolitical strain. (ANI)
The arms dealer was killed near the Syrian border, suggesting he was smuggling weapons through Syria, according to Army Radio.

The IDF killed two Hezbollah terrorists in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, and in the Bekaa Valley in central Lebanon, the IDF confirmed Sunday.

Ali Haseen al-Mousawi, the terrorist killed in the Bekaa Valley, was an arms dealer who was involved in smuggling weapons for the Lebanese terror group from Syria to Lebanon.

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He was playing a significant role in the terror organization's rehabilitation through his activities on the border, the military said.

Car in which a Hezbollah terrorist was killed, October 26, 2025. (credit: SCREENSHOT/TELEGRAM @moriahdoron)

The other terrorist, killed in southern Lebanon, was a relatively low-ranking officer.

Hezbollah's local representative in southern Lebanon

Abed Mahmoud al-Sid served as Hezbollah's local representative in the al-Bacha area of southern Lebanon.

In his role, he coordinated between the terror group and local residents on economic and military matters. He also aided in attempts to rehabilitate Hezbollah's fighting capabilities in the village.

The IDF killed a Hezbollah Radwan Force anti-tank commander in southern Lebanon on Saturday. Zayn al-Abidin Hussein Fatouni was involved in efforts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon, the IDF said.

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The killing of Fatouni came one day after the Israeli military said they had killed Abbas Hassan Karky, a logistics commander of the terrorist organization's Southern Front.

Hours later, another Hezbollah operative was struck by the IDF for trying to restore the terror organization's military capabilities in Zawtar al-Sharqiyah, also in the southern part of Lebanon.
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A busy plaza straddling the Brooklyn-Queens border is stirring conversation  some residents say its overcrowded with unlicensed vendors, while others defend it as a space for survival.

At Myrtle Wyckoff Plaza, crowds move between tables piled with food, clothes, and jewelry. The plaza buzzes with music and activity from sunrise until late at night.

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But for lifelong Ridgewood resident Mary Ellen, who has lived here for 49 years, the change is overwhelming, and she worries about those who are playing by the rules.

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The city wants the money. The people who pay to rent places and sell stuff  they have a right to be able to sell their stuff. An illegal vendor just kind of comes and sets up their table and doesnt pay to have it there, a license. That kind of cuts back on the people who are doing it legally. Do what the law says, Mary Ellen said.

As the debate over illegal vending grows louder, she sees the neighborhood caught between livelihood and law  a place where tradition clashes with enforcement and change.

Other residents say vendors are an important part of the plaza, but also voice concern over the recent ICE raid in Manhattans Canal Street targeting street vendors. While the Department of Homeland Security said the raid aimed to make the street safer, some neighbors believe it went too far.

I heard about the ICE crackdown, and I dont think thats really warranted, that type of response for something like illegal vendors, said Donovan Menard, a resident.

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Off camera, some vendors at the plaza say they are fearful of an ICE raid happening there.

This comes after the City Council recently overrode Mayor Eric Adams veto to pass legislation decriminalizing illegal street vending, removing misdemeanor charges but keeping civil fines for violators. The new law aims to protect immigrants and low-income workers from criminal penalties while pushing for fair enforcement and expanding access to vending licenses.

For Mary Ellen, the vendors at the plaza reflect both the opportunities and challenges of the space. She says liveliness and order must find a balance.

There are pros and cons, she explained.

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The debate over vendors and the future of the plaza is far from over, and the community is watching closely.

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(The Center Square)  The number of missing foster children on the radar of the states child welfare agency will be clarified this week as a potential Illinois Statehouse candidate looks for answers.

Public records obtained by Bailey Templeton from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services show in 2023, 16 children did not return to either previous placement or a new one. That number jumped 935% to 166 missing children in 2024.

An agency spokesperson told The Center Square the numbers are not completely accurate. Updated numbers were not immediately available through public records requests.

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Separate open records requests from both Templeton and The Center Square for updated numbers from the agency were due Friday. The agency delayed the release, saying the requested records have not been located in the course of routine search and additional efforts are being made to locate them.

The records were due to be produced within five business days of October 24, 2025, DCFS Freedom of Information Act told The Center Square in an email. I have requested the documents from the necessary division, and it is still working to gather documents, and the FOIA Office is still working to review the documents as well.

Templeton told The Center Square there needs to be answers.

Something has happened in the past two years that has made it either easier to lose foster children, or the followthrough or the tracking of these foster children is not being property done, Templeton said. So, were missing a large amount of children and I feel like this should be getting attention that children are missing and that accountability and oversight should be happening as well.

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A spokesperson for the agency said they want to ensure that they release the most accurate information and that there is a narrative around the data to be publicly released.

The agency noted it has a Child Intake Recovery Unit, an entire division dedicated to assisting caseworkers in locating missing youth. The spokesperson also said they do track the youth in care that do go missing by where they are placed, how many days they are missing and the date.

Many of our children who are missing go missing from our group of homes or residential facilities, the spokesperson said.

Templeton is demanding there be an outside audit of the issue.

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To look at whats going on with these children, to see if these children that are missing are receiving any state or federal benefits, where that money is going, things of that such, she said. Specifically, we need to find these children.

In a recent management audit of DCFSs search for missing children, one recommendation made by the Illinois Auditor General in 2014 was partially implemented by 2024. The auditors report said 71% of instances they checked where a child went missing, the initial forms could not be provided by the department to ensure accuracy.

Department Procedure 329, Locating and Returning Missing, Runaway, and Abducted Children, provides the documentation of supervisor reviews through the submission of the CFS 1014 form, the report said. As a result of the Department being unable to provide the 43 initial CFS 1014 forms noted above, the auditors also could not test documentation of supervisor reviews.

When a child goes missing, the agency told The Center Square it reports the matter to local law enforcement, the caseworker provides as much identifying information as possible, to include finger prints if available, and they contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, among other steps.

In another partially implemented recommendation from the 2024 management audit, the auditor generals office found that in only 15% of instances where a child went missing, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were notified within three hours of when a child was reported missing.
At 11.45am, on Oct 21, 220 years ago, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson ordered the most famous military message ever sent to be hoisted as a flag signal on HMS Victorys starboard mizzenmast yardarm: England expects that every man will do his duty. As the columns of warships closed towards each other at no more than a walking pace, the English sailors roared their approval in unison at the sentiment from their dear Admiral.

Except they didnt, at least not all of them.

Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, Nelsons deputy fleet commander in HMS Royal Sovereign, was heard to mutter: I wish Nelson would stop signalling; we know well enough what to do, and initially refused to relay the message to the ships company.

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Collingwood was a stoic even by the standards of the time  he refused to have a pretty severe bruise caused by a flying splinter registered in the ships medical log  so he might have just been being droll rather than disrespectful. Other responses were mixed, though. In the Euryalus, nobody bothered to repeat the words to the crew, and in the Ajax, the officer who was sent to read it out on the gun decks heard sailors muttering: Do my duty? Ive always done my duty; havent you, Jack?

Presumably Nelsons next signal, prepare for action, was similarly received by Collingwood, given that his aggressive manoeuvring at the head of the lee column put him one to two miles ahead of Nelson and therefore somewhat closer to the action as this signal went up.

Capt Henry Blackwood in HMS Euryalus noted in his journal, The Admiral was unusually communicative today, sending signals with great frequency as we closed the enemy.

What Im saying here is that naval audiences have clearly always been a tough crowd when it comes to communications. Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins of the Royal Marines, the Royal Navys new First Sea Lord, will probably agree.

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On Trafalgar Day last week, he wrote on X: Today on Trafalgar Day we honour Nelsons legacy  leadership built on trust, clarity of intent and empowering teams to adapt and win. Today, the RN continues to prepare for warfighting readiness. To the Immortal Memory of Admiral Lord Nelson, and to all those who fell with him.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins was named the new First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff - Ministry of Defence

This triggered something of a pile-on, the politest of which ran along the lines of drop the LinkedIn corporate speak, General.

England expects might have received the same treatment in todays unforgiving climate. How could Nelson possibly know what England expected? Was he aware that many of his sailors were not English anyway?

Of course, even England expects had been messed about with. It was going to start off Nelson confides, until someone suggested England confides. This is softer, more nuanced and probably would enrage the X crowd less (if that were possible) but it was also harder to hoist quickly. In the then-current Popham signal book, confides had to be spelt out with eight letter flags but expects did not. Even the most famous flag hoist in history was subject to staffing faff before being sent.

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One lesson from this story is seldom mentioned, but its worth noting that Lieut John Pascoe, in charge of signals in the Victory, felt able to make a suggestion to the big boss on this matter despite the immense pressure they both must have been under. Good leaders create the conditions for constructive challenge like this. Great leaders allow such things to happen even in times of extreme pressure and then adjust when appropriate. Bad leaders dismiss suggestions or, worse, dont even permit them.

So why is it that the immortal memory of Lord Nelson is celebrated every year and he has his own column in the heart of London, whilst his arguably more well-rounded contemporary, Collingwood, only has the brownest, drabbest naval establishment ever built named after him?

For me, there are three reasons.

First, Nelson was a winner. This is as obvious as it is undeniable. And not just at Trafalgar: Cape St Vincent, the Nile and Copenhagen were all smashing successes that changed the world in Britains favour. Trafalgar, however, wasnt just a victory: it was a trouncing. The Royal Navy went in with 27 line-of-battle ships against the combined French and Spanish fleet of 33. Nelson lost no ships and 458 of his people were killed. His opponents lost 22 ships, 21 of them captured  though many of these were subsequently burned, scuttled, blown up or wrecked  and around 4,400 killed. Trafalgar assured naval supremacy for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars and forced Napoleon to rethink much of his strategy.

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Nelson was also tactically astute and constantly exploring new ways to maximise his advantage at sea. The way he broke the line at Trafalgar had been discussed since the 1650s and versions of it used in combat, but it was done so successfully here that its creation is often mistakenly credited to Nelson.

Its worth remembering that whilst breaking the line in this manner allowed you to fire at the enemy ships bow and stern  raking them, and doing much more damage than firing into their side  it only did so once you were actually crossing and in the melee. For a considerable period prior, about 30 minutes in the case of Trafalgar, they could fire at you, and the angles meant you couldnt fire back with your own broadside guns. Classically, Nelson refused to take cover or disguise his rank during any of this, instead striding around the quarterdeck in full regalia, issuing orders and instructions until finally picked off by a French marksman in Redoubtables mizzen-top from a range of no more than 20 yards. Maritime warfare was a brutal and short-range business back then.

Lord Nelson understood that sailors would work perfectly well for him, of course, they would, but that if they worked with him - City of London / Heritage-Images

The second reason for Nelsons success is the effort he put into securing the conditions to fight and win. At this point, I normally deploy a line about how navies spend 98 per cent of their time setting the conditions to avoid having to get to the final two per cent. Even for Nelson, the 2 per cent figure is way out. He spent 86 per cent of his 34-year naval career at sea. Of that, 24.2 per cent of his time was spent blockading and conducting shaping operations, such as in the Mediterranean and off Toulon. If you add up the time he spent actually fighting, its a tiny 1.18 per cent. This is important as even our great war hero, who was forever at sea in an era of near-constant warfare, spent the vast majority of his career not in combat but setting the conditions to succeed should deterrence fail. Those responsible for building a modern navy in an environment where there is no spare money would do well to remember this.

Nelson had masses of charisma and, despite his diminutive, dishevelled demeanour and occasionally sickly constitution, inspired huge loyalty in all who served under him. He also had an abundance of empathy in an era where that could be in short supply. Modern military training spends much time focusing on preparing you for the last 10 yards of battle, and can overlook the range of softer skills required to ensure that you are properly prepared before you get there.

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Nelson understood that sailors would work perfectly well for him, of course, they would, but that if they worked with him, they would function better during periods of prolonged boredom and intense fear. Likewise, by taking steps to ensure that sailors were properly fed and paid, had appropriate medical care, and by acknowledging their efforts when he could, he earned their respect and often love. Nelson was an expert at wrapping his subordinate commanders into his tactical thinking and plans so that, come the battle, they instinctively knew what to do. The delegation and trust that made up so much of the legendary Nelson touch is like todays mission command  its easier said than done.

The final reason for toasting the immortal memory every year is that Nelson was a master of PR! His knack for dramatic gestures, motivational rhetoric and personal engagement with juniors and key political figures was enough to drown out those who found his grandstanding a little tiresome. Even his affair with Lady Hamilton, something that could end a career then and now, was eventually overlooked in the waves of adulation he created. Sending a stream of signals going into battle was classic Nelson, even though they all knew what to do because he had ensured it. And theres no getting around the fact that securing dying as your most famous victory helps. Having the wherewithal to come out with something dutiful and heroic whilst doing so, such as Thank God I have done my duty, is the Hollywood icing on the cake.

Today, I would have loved to have seen his face in a room of 800 other admirals and generals being lectured on warrior ethos. The short amount of time he spent in actual combat, his small frame, long hair and inability to do even one pull-up would probably have seen him branded a DEI hire. My hope is that he would have accidentally not seen the order to attend or pleaded ill health as he did when summoned by Lord Keith to be given a telling off about his behaviour in Naples. This was predominantly about the affair with Lady Hamilton but there was also a sense that the post-Nile Nelson might need a little ego check.

Todays naval leadership faces huge challenges, of which there is no doubt. Nelson famously said, If I were to die today, want of frigates would be found stamped upon my heart. I would be surprised if the new First Sea Lord hasnt already said something similar, tacking and destroyers, submarines, aircraft, logistics and people on the end.

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Nelson once wrote to Lord Melville: The fate of the country depends on the exertions of the fleet, and those exertions depend on the means provided. The current Navy head could say that today and it wouldnt matter if it was said in plain English or LinkedIn-speak because it would be met by a letter coming the other way asking him which capabilities he would like to give up to meet the latest round of in-year savings. This is happening right now, by the way.

Sadly, I think Nelson, despite his obvious charisma, leadership and tactical brilliance, would struggle in todays Navy. Even if he overcame illness and seasickness sufficiently to get through basic training, he would have had to dial down his own PR somewhat or eventually a jealous peer, probably from another service, would expose his affair. Ive also seen plenty of commanders who would confuse his empathy for softness, an error the worst leaders perpetuate to this day.

Even if he made it past all this and on to high rank, at some point he would feel compelled to visit No 10 and the Treasury in person and say you do know the fate of the country depends on the exertions of the fleet. Are you taking defence seriously or not?

He would be right, but he would also then be fired.

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Heres to the immortal memory of Admiral Nelson and all who sailed with him.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  The city that dreams are made of, and maybe bagels too.

A new local sweets shop is looking to bring some of that Big Apple taste to the Panhandle. La Peras Sweet Shop held its grand opening on Saturday in Lynn Haven.

The owners are also the owners of La Peras General Construction.

Both businesses are located on Ohio Ave in Lynn Haven.

The owners say they wanted to bring authentic New York taste to the Sunshine State.

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55 pounds of prescription drugs collected at HCA Florida Gulf Coast State Hospitals annual Crush the Crisis event

They have ice cream, soft serve, and lots of toppings. But the real star of the show? The bagels. They are imported from New York, and they say that is what makes them so different.

Our bagels literally come from New York City. They get shipped in on a freezer truck. Theyre par-baked, which means that when we get them, we still have to bake them. So they go through all the same processes that every bagel made in New York that everyone talks about does, they get partially baked, and then they get frozen. And from there, they come here, and we bake them freshly daily and finish them off. So they are the closest thing I would say you can get to a fresh-baked New York City bagel, La Peras Sweet Shop Co-Owner Kimberly La Pera said.

The shop will be open seven days a week, with hours varying.

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ISTANBUL (AP)  Istanbul s jailed mayor was questioned Sunday at the citys main courthouse as part of a newly launched investigation into possible charges of espionage.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside in a show of support for Ekrem Imamoglu, an opposition politician considered to be a rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The espionage investigation, launched two days ago, centers on alleged links between Imamoglus political campaign and a man arrested in July accused of conducting intelligence activities on behalf of foreign states. Imamoglus former campaign manager, Necati Ozkan, and journalist Merdan Yanardag were also questioned as part of the probe.

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Imamoglu was questioned for some three hours, the country's pro-opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.

Held in pretrial detention since March on corruption charges he denies, this was the first time Imamoglu left Istanbuls Marmara Prison, on the outskirts of Istanbul, in seven months.

Critics view Imamoglus arrest  along with those of other mayors from the main opposition Republican Peoples Party, or CHP  as part of a broader crackdown on the opposition, which made significant gains in last years local elections. Several CHP-run municipalities have faced waves of arrests throughout the year.

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse to show solidarity. CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel addressed the crowd, saying: As long as these interrogations continue, as long as this cruelty continues, as long as this oppression continues, we will struggle democratically  without harming anyone and without allowing anyone to trample our dignity.

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Faruk Klc, a 26-year-old electrician, told The Associated Press that he joined the rally to protest what he called injustices against Imamoglu.

I believe these injustices will never cease, so I will offer my support till the very end," he said.

Imamoglus arrest in March sparked nationwide protests. Erdogans government insists that Turkeys judiciary is independent and that the investigations are strictly focused on corruption.
Lahore has ranked as the world's most polluted city for the past three days, with air quality plummeting to hazardous levels as smog blanketed the city and the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 412, prompting health warnings and a province-wide crackdown on pollution sources. According to Dawn, Lower Mall was the worst-affected neighbourhood, with an AQI of 680, followed by Iqbal Town (577), Syed Maratib Ali Road (543), Shadman (507), the Punjab University area (506), and Shalimar (495). Environmental experts have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, particularly in the morning and evening, and to wear masks when outside. PM2.5 concentrations in Lahore's air are multiple times above global safety thresholds, raising risks of respiratory and cardiovascular illness among other serious health issues, especially for children and the elderly. The Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued a high alert across eastern districts of the province, including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Multan, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and Khanpur. "The intensity of smog is expected to increase from November to mid-December," warned DG PDMA Irfan Ali Kathia, citing forecasts from the Meteorological Department. The PDMA has directed all commissioners and deputy commissioners to ensure the implementation of government measures to combat smog. Authorities have announced a strict, multi-pronged strategy to tackle pollution at its source. A comprehensive ban has been imposed on the burning of crop residues, solid waste, tires, plastic and rubber. Kathia stated that a case would be registered for any violation, including the burning of crop stubble and garbage. Simultaneously, the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) has intensified anti-smog operations, using advanced drone cameras to monitor industrial zones, agricultural land, and urban areas. In the last 24 hours, this tech-driven initiative identified over 460 smog-related violations. More than 200 e-challans were issued to smoke-emitting vehicles, with real-time data shared with departments for immediate action, Dawn reported. While enforcement is critical, the government is also pushing for long-term, sustainable solutions. At a seminar in the Kabirwala town of Khanewal district, the Department of Environmental Protection and Climate Change educated farmers on using modern machinery to manage crop residue, particularly rice stubble, without burning. Officials and experts highlighted that this waste can be repurposed in biomass plants to generate steam and energy, turning an environmental problem into an economic opportunity. "Smog is a serious environmental and public health issue, requiring collective and coordinated efforts to address it," said Project Coordinator Younus Zahid. As the government leverages technology for enforcement and promotes alternative farming practices, the public has been urged to play its part. Citizens have been asked to report smog-inducing activities on the emergency helpline 15, with authorities emphasising that only a collective effort can clear the hazardous air and protect public health. Earlier, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that nine departments were conducting large-scale operations against smog. Dawn reported that the minister said the environmental protection force and the department were fully mobilised, that all sectoral squads were present in the field, and that brick kilns were being monitored through drones, in addition to issuing a live report. She added that anti-smog cannons and air-quality monitors are deployed and that AQI forecasting, which she said has been introduced for the first time in Punjab, has enabled earlier interventions to curb pollution spikes, Dawn reported. (ANI)
NEED TO KNOW

A Brazilian influencer has broken her silence after being arrested in connection with an alleged drug trafficking ring

Melissa Said, 23, often uses her social media platform to post information about cannabis use

She has denied any involvement in drug trafficking

A Brazilian influencer, who was recently arrested in connection with a drug smuggling ring, has broken her silence.

Melissa Said, 23, a social media star with more than 375,000 followers, was taken into police custody on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Salvador, the capital of the state of Bahia in the northeast part of Brazil, per local news outlet Correio.

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She had allegedly been hiding at a friends house in the Itapua neighborhood of the city since Wednesday, Oct. 22, after learning that police were looking for her, per the outlet.

"On digital platforms, she advocated drug use and used her reach to sell marijuana, with suppliers identified in Bahia and Sao Paulo," police said, per Correio. Investigations also indicate that she purchased the drug and passed it on to some followers through social media contacts.

In a video shared by The Sun, Said could be seen in handcuffs being led out of an official building by authorities.

Melissa Said/Instagram Melissa Said Melissa Said

Its a shame  no one in the world should be arrested for smoking marijuana, she told reporters, per The Sun.

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.

Said admitted to using marijuana but denied any connection to a drug ring, according to the outlet.

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Saids social media posts frequently feature her smoking marijuana and discussing the potential benefits of cannabis use.



Melissa Said/Instagram Melissa Said Melissa Said

PEOPLE reached out to Said for comment on Sunday, Oct. 26, but did not receive an immediate response.

Saids arrest was part of a larger operation, which has resulted in several arrests, per The Sun.

In a statement obtained by The Sun, Ernandes Junior, director for the State Department for Prevention and Suppression of Drug Trafficking (DENARC), said the objective of this operation is to combat drug trafficking, with the main target being a digital influencer who promotes crime.

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He added, It was discovered that in addition to promoting crime and drug use, she also sells and distributes narcotics in Bahia, with some people from Sao Paulo as one of her suppliers.

Melissa Said/Instagram Melissa Said Melissa Said

Authorities initially began looking into Said and her potential involvement in drug trafficking when she was allegedly detained in an airport for possession of drugs in 2024, according to the New York Post.

PEOPLE reached out to the Brazilian Secretary of Public Security and the Bahia Public Security Secretariat for comment on Sunday, but did not receive an immediate response.

Personal possession of small amounts of cannabis was decriminalized in Brazil in 2024, and medicinal cannabis is legal for patients with certain conditions. However, selling cannabis for recreational use is still a crime, per the Associated Press.

Read the original article on People
OTTAWA  Long overlooked by Ottawa, Canadas remote and resource-rich Arctic is suddenly at the center of a new national project  one whose potential was recognized early on by outside players, including the United States.

There was a lot of interest from other places, R.J. Simpson, the premier of Canadas Northwest Territories, told POLITICO recently. Even the U.S. Department of Defense has made investments into a couple mining projects in the Northwest Territories, yet we did not. We couldn't seem to get any interest from Canada to get anything done up north.

But Simpson says that is finally changing  driven by a mix of economic ambition and military necessity. With Prime Minister Mark Carneys new nation-building agenda and U.S. pressure to secure North Americas northern frontier, Canada is turning its attention to the Arctics critical minerals, infrastructure and defense potential  a shift that could redefine the Norths role in both national sovereignty and continental security.

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The premiers assessment comes as Carney and President Donald Trump continue talks toward a new economic and security agreement that will see Canada leverage the critical mineral wealth of its North and bolster its military footprint in a vast, sparsely populated region increasingly eyed by Russia and China.

New Arctic spending will help Canada achieve its commitment to NATOs new spending target of 5 percent of GDP by 2035  including a 1.5 percent component for military-related industrial spending. The move is likely to please the Trump administration, which shares Canadas concerns about Russian and Chinese incursions into a resource-rich area as melting polar ice opens up new shipping lanes.

Carneys nation-building policy  aimed at building major projects in a bid to make the economy more resilient to Trumps economic pressure  has an Arctic focus that Simpson thought hed never see in his territory, a region roughly the size of California and Texas combined, but with only 42,000 inhabitants  about the population of Burlington, Vermont.

Simpson also pointed to ongoing American interest in Canadas Arctic  and to Carneys focus on both economic and military investments across the region, which includes Yukon and Nunavut.

'This is not a no-man's land'

A joint critical minerals pact between Canada and the former Biden administration helped spark that interest. In 2024, the Pentagon invested C$8.74 million ($6.23 million) in the Northwest Territorys NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper project  part of a broader Pentagon push to secure rare earth minerals needed to power military hardware. Ottawa contributed C$7.5 billion ($5.34 billion) to the project.

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Now, Simpson is optimistic Ottawas new enthusiasm in the North could translate into ports, highways and military infrastructure that will benefit civilian populations. Those projects could help unlock oil and gas and critical minerals while giving Canada and the U.S. a stronger hand in a global supply chain dominated and manipulated by China.

Simpson recently led a delegation of territorial Indigenous partners for two days of meetings in Ottawa that focused on energy security, Arctic sovereignty, housing and climate resilience.

The visit came after Carney released two lists outlining his governments nation-building priorities. The first identified five fully baked projects his office wants to push over the finish line.

The second list outlines six projects that require further development but could be truly transformative for the country. Among them is an Arctic Economic and Security Corridor  a proposed road and port network designed to link communities, spur economic development and support the Canadian Armed Forces in the North, including critical minerals development.

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By seeing the benefits from military investments in the communities, we're going to see stronger communities, Simpson said. That's a good expression of sovereignty.

He added that he wants Canadas defense department to invest in hard infrastructure that will benefit his territorys civilian population.

Security is the hard infrastructure  being able to shoot down missiles or whatever they want to do, he said. Sovereignty is actually living there and showing that Canada is here, people are here, living. This is not a no man's land.

Active talks on a 'Golden Dome'

During an Oval Office meeting with Carney, Trump said Canada and the U.S. are working very closely on his Golden Dome missile defense shield.

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Canada would play an integral role in the shield, since the U.S. would need access to Canadian airspace and radars to track incoming missiles.

Defense Minister David McGuinty avoided using the term Golden Dome at a recent Canada-U.S. summit, but he told a Toronto business audience that hes in active talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about Canadas participation in a continentwide shield.



He said Carney turned him loose to have those discussions  nearly two decades after Canada opted out of the U.S. ballistic missile defense program in 2005, which ended bilateral discussion of the subject.

McGuinty said the current conversation includes expanding the role of NORAD, the joint Canada-U.S. aerospace defense command, including Canadas over-the-horizon radar upgrade to detect missile threats across its airspace.

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The question then becomes, What do you do, if you know something is coming at you? McGuinty said. And that's why we're modernizing NORAD. That's why we are rebooting our entire fighter jet capacity. That's why we are talking to the United States now about what we call a continental shield  because we're going to need one.

McGuinty said hes working with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson to develop the Arctics critical minerals and oil reserves. The two, he said, are taking a very integrated approach ... under the rubric of not just defense.

We're looking at landing strips and dual use, multi-use  installations. We're evaluating deep-sea ports. We're evaluating our forward operating locations under NORAD, McGuinty said.

Six months ago, Simpson said getting Ottawas attention on northern development was like trying to swim upstream in a dry riverbed.

Now, he says, We have defense. That's next.




Crews finally demolished the home at 2020 Lamar Dr. in Pasadena in February 2023. "I'm glad it's gone," a neighbor told ABC13. The Pasadena Economic Development Corporation purchased the lot with plans to transform it into a trailhead. "I think it's good," said the neighbor.

For 50 years, the home at 2020 Lamar Dr. stood with a long shadow and a past darker than any home that has ever stood in the Houston area. In fact, few homes in U.S. history were as notorious, as it's the place where Dean Corll, with the help of David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, raped and killed several young boys.

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In August 1973, after Henley confessed that he had taken part in one of the most heinous criminal activities in modern U.S. history, investigators throughout Harris County descended on the multiple grave sites Corll created for his victims. They also went through Corll's Pasadena home in an attempt to figure out just how this son of a candy magnate pulled it off over three years.

Dean Corll's house at 2020 Lamar Dr. in Pasadena, Texas. The building no longer stands here, but it stood for 50 years after Corll's murder. (Blair Pittman/Houston Chronicle)





The crimes

Criminally Texas

Criminally Texas is a regular series from Chron detailing the true stories of some of the Lone Star State's most notorious incidents, unsolved or otherwise.

This week's edition is the fourth of a multi-part series about the "Candyman" murders of 1970-73.

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"Now, Wayne, tell him how you did it."

That's the line Henley's attorney gives in a short story within the 1976 James Conaway book The Texans, which was excerpted at the time by Texas Monthly. Henley told Conaway that Brooks introduced him to Corll, and in the beginning, likely in the late 1960s, they'd drive around the Heights aimlessly. Soon they'd turn to petty theft.

"Before kids started coming around, we got money from Dean for thieving, for setting up places to rob. I didn't think there was anything to it, but at least I did get money for it," Henley said. "That's what kept me around before he started talking about killing people. Later, he got down to the fact that we was going to be killing people."

Dean Corll's boat shed, where several victims of his sex and torture ring were buried. The boat shed was one of several locations searched for bodies. (Greg Smith/Houston Chronicle)





Corll would ask for Brooks and Henley to bring young boys to him. Corll would pay them $200 for each boy, then lie and say each would be sent to a Dallas as part of a sex ring. Around the same time, Corll would start performing fellatio to boys, including to Brooks. Conaway's telling of this made sex out to be just another way to pass the time.

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In other words, Corll had a way of, over a long period of time, grooming others and normalizing to them his criminal behavior-theft, underage drinking and drug use, sexually assaulting children, then murder.

It shows through the way Henley talked to Conaway in 1976. Only about 20 at the time, Henley spoke about killing people like it was any old job, like fixing a dripping faucet.

"I became fascinated with how much stamina people have," Henley said. "I mean, you see people getting strangled on television and it looks easy. It's not. Sometimes it takes two people half an hour."

How it all happened

So it became the thing they did. Brooks and Henley would find another friend, or local school kid, usually a boy coming from a broken home. His parents could be divorced, or in a poor situation, and maybe he was looking for some camaraderie, some guidance even. That's where Corll came in. Come to the house, have some beers, take some drugs, feel at ease.

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Corll tortured the boys, strapping them against a manmade wooden board before performing sex acts on them (he made a similar board that was kept at his cabin near Lake Sam Rayburn). When he finished, he might kill them. Then he'd wrap the body up in plastic and shove it into a grave, maybe under his boat shed, maybe out in High Island or near the lake. Then he'd cover them with lime to keep down the odor during decomposition.

San Augustine County Sheriff deputies Robert McCroskey, left, and Charles Martin, display torture implements found inside and under a cabin on Aug. 15, 1973, Broaddus, Texas. The cabin was owned by the parents of Dean Corll. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)





Over three years Corll, Brooks and Henley went through this cycle-pick up a boy, bring him to Dean's, drug him, brutalize him and kill him. It became almost routine, Henley saying that he "enjoyed" what he was doing and "didn't dwell on it later."

To reporters in the days following Corll's death, Henley desired to correct the record. He "didn't go to bed" with 15-year-old Rhonda Williams, he said. He didn't turn Brooks into the police or implicate him, he said. And his name was "Junior, not Elmer Wayne Henley," he said. Years later Henley talked about liking the works of Ayn Rand, of not being controlled and particularly by the government, and of being an individual who can live outside the expected boundaries of human nature.

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"I feel remorse because I'm supposed to," Henley said. "That's something I've tried to build in me. I don't really feel about it, you know."

The role of police

As unbelievable as Corll and his accomplices' crimes may seem, it's also demoralizing to realize that dozens of boys, of near similar ages, and from generally the same Houston community, disappeared one by one over just a short amount of time.

Less than one week after the story broke, Houston Police Chief Herman Short said most of the boys reported missing by their parents were classified as runaways, and that once a case is considered a runaway, it becomes hard to investigate.

"A police officer can't obtain a warrant of arrest nor can he force entry to a location if he is denied admittance," Short said.

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Short noted that Houston police would contact parents every seven to 10 days for at least a month "to determine if additional information is available." But the parents of Corll's victims typically didn't get new information. Their boys would go missing, they would hear nothing, and by seven days their children would be dead.

In the more than 50 years since the murders, reporters, forensic anthropologists, investigators and other experts have said there could be far more than 29 victims. They conclude that officials wanted to end the probe for a number of reasons-shame over Corll's homosexuality, embarrassment over the sheer volume of victims chief among them. Because of this, in recent years, volunteers have taken the search into their own hands, digging in the yard behind the old property at 2020 Lamar Dr. in Pasadena.

The house at 2020 Lamar may be gone. But make no mistake, the story of Dean Corll, the boys he killed, and the impressive shadow he cast over the Houston area, has not concluded.

Criminally Texas

About the series

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A series detailing the true stories of some of the Lone Star State's most notorious incidents, unsolved or otherwise.

The life of Dean Corll | Behind the Houston man who killed at least 29 boys

The mystery of Roberta Mumma | How did a Pennsylvania woman turn up dead 1,500 miles away?

The story of Maria Mendez and Janet Gregston | Two women lost and gone over one hazy month in Odessa

The double slaying of Karen and Frederick Cremean | How the grisly discovery unearthed Texas' drug underbelly

The unsolved case of Tara Breckenridge | A car was found on Houston's 610, and its driver has been gone for decades.

The murder of Joey Fischer | What led a mother to orchestrate the slaying of a teen boy

This article originally published at Inside the shock of the Houston Mass Murders of 1970-73.
ROWLEY, Iowa  Authorities say a Buchanan County man has been arrested for attempted murder following a vehicle collision in northeast Iowa.

According to the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to the 500 block of Oak Street in Rowley just before 12:10 p.m. on Friday after reports of a car accident with injuries.

Teenager injured in morning shooting on Des Moines eastside

A 911 caller told authorities that a vehicle had driven off the road and struck a person before colliding with a garage. Authorities arrived on scene and found that the victim had sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the crash.

The BCSO says following an investigation, 70-year-old Raymond Leroy Gienau was arrested and charged with Attempted Murder. Gienau was booked into the Buchanan County Jail.

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Authorities say that Gienau had intentionally driven his vehicle at the victim, striking them and then continuing into a garage.

This incident remains under investigation. The Buchanan County Sheriffs Office was assisted at the scene by the Rowley Fire Department, Quasqueton Fire Department and AMR Ambulance.

Iowa News:

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com.
In an unusual move, Israel allowed a Hamas representative to enter the Israeli-controlled area of the Gaza Strip to work with Egyptian representatives and the ICRC in locating the hostage remains.

For five days now, Hamas has not transferred the remains of Israeli hostages to Israel, and Israeli officials are making it clear that their patience is running out.

We wont wait forever, a senior political source told The Jerusalem Post. We want to see progress. President Trump gave Hamas a 48-hour ultimatum to make some kind of advancement on the issue of returning the bodies of the kidnapped victimsand we will take action if, in the end, Hamas fails to move forward on this matter.

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According to Israeli sources, Hamas could return most of the bodies immediately. The terrorist organization is capable of returning a large number of the murdered hostages bodies without any difficulty, an Israeli official told The Post.

There may be some bodies that require an operation to retrieve them from underground, and there are others whose burial sites Hamas may not knowbut the majority could be returned right now.

In an unusual move, Israel allowed a representative of the terrorist organization to enter the Israeli-controlled area of the Gaza Strip to work with Egyptian representatives and members of the Red Cross in locating the bodies.

IDF troops marking the ''yellow line,'' where Israeli troops had withdrawn to in accordance with the US-brokered hostage, ceasefire agreement, October 20, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Its just one individual operating there, under full IDF control, an Israeli official said, clarifying that Egypt sent only a symbolic delegation and a small number of tools to assist in the recovery. Theres one excavator and two trucks for moving sand, the official added.

Discussions for broader plan for Gaza continue

Meanwhile, discussions continue regarding President Trumps broader plan for Gaza.

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While there is a broad consensus that Hamas must not play a role in Gazas central governmentwhat is being referred to as a technocratic administrationthere is a possibility that the organization could still have a limited role in local municipal governance.

According to a source familiar with the details who spoke with The Post, Egypt has suggested that Hamas submit candidates for municipal positions across the Gaza Strip. It might be a form of compensationsomething meant to encourage Hamas to cooperate on the day after issues, the source said.

At the same time, there are efforts underway to arrange a meeting between senior American officials and Palestinian Authority leaders. Such a meeting has not taken place since Trumps special envoy, Whitcoff, met with Hussein al-Sheikh in Saudi Arabia earlier this year. President Trump also spoke with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas a few weeks ago during the Sharm el-Sheikh conference.

If this meeting takes place, it would be significant, as it would signal that the Palestinian Authority is also expected to play a key role in discussions regarding Gazas future. The Trump administration has demanded that Abbas implement major reforms within the Palestinian Authority in order to take part in governing the Gaza Strip.
Israel does not need permission to launch strikes on Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu has said.

Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, the Israeli prime minister said his countrys security policy was in its own hands after suggestions Israel was a client state of the United States.

We are not willing to tolerate attacks against us, we respond at our discretion against attacks, as we saw in Lebanon and recently in Gaza, said Mr Netanyahu.

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The Israeli leader was speaking after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which killed a commander in the groups elite Radwan special forces unit on Sunday.

On the same day, the IDF launched an air strike in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza, killing what Israel said was a member of Islamic Jihad who had planned to carry out an imminent attack against Israeli troops.

We are not asking anyone for approval for this

Mr Netanyahu said that Israel had dropped 150 tonnes of munitions on Hamas following an attack that killed two Israeli soldiers in Rafah last Sunday, which threatened to derail the US-mandated ceasefire.

Of course we also thwart dangers in their formation before they materialise, as we did just yesterday in the Gaza Strip. We are not asking anyone for approval for this, he added.

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Mr Netanyahu also insisted Israel would determine which countries were allowed to contribute to an international stabilisation force to be set up to enforce the disarmament of Hamas.

There have been reports that Turkey is likely to be excluded from the stabilisation force after objections from Israel.

Mr Netanyahu added: This is of course also acceptable to the United States, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days. Israel is an independent state.

We will defend ourselves on our own and we will continue to control our own destiny.

The IDF launched an air strike in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza on Sunday - Jehad Alshrafi/AP

Earlier this week, Mr Netanyahu was forced to deny that Israel had become a client state of the US, accusations that JD Vance, the US vice-president, also denied.

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Speaking on his first visit to Israel, Mr Vance said: We dont want a client state, and thats not what Israel is. We want a partnership. We want an ally here.

Marco Rubio, Americas top diplomat, was also dispatched to Israel this week amid concerns that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire could collapse.

Speaking as he travelled to Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, Mr Rubio said: Every night will bring new challenges on how to keep it together. So we recognise that, but we also feel like weve made tremendous progress in the last 12 or 13 days.

Marco Rubio was dispatched to Israel this week amid concerns that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire could collapse - FADEL SENNA/POOL

Mr Netanyahu also reiterated his rejection of claims that Israel is acting at the behest of the United States, which he previously dismissed as hogwash.

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When I was in Washington, it was said there that I control the American administration, that I dictate its security policy to it. Now, the opposite is being claimed  the American administration controls me and dictates Israels security policy, he said.

Neither of these is true... The relations between us are relations between partners, and this partnership, which has reached an all-time high, was also expressed in the operational co-operation in the second part of Operation Rising Lion, he added, referring to Israels war against Iran in June.

It comes after Donald Trump issued another warning to Hamas over the release of the remaining 13 deceased hostages.

The US president wrote on his Truth Social network: Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other countries involved in this gret peace will take action...

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Lets see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.

Khalil al-Hayya, Hamass top negotiator abroad, confirmed to Al Jazeera that there will be an entry into new areas in the Strip today to search for the bodies of hostages.

An Egyptian team, equipped with an excavator and bulldozers, also entered Gaza to help locate the bodies.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Syrian FM Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani accused Israel of pursuing expansionist goals and said Moscow aided Assads regime, as Syria rebuilds ties with China.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani warned that, in his view, Israel is "pursuing expansionist projects, exploiting recent changes in Syria and destabilizing the region," during an interview with state-run Al Ikhbariyah TV last week.

Israel wanted to impose a new reality and an expansionist project, exploiting the change that took place in Syria, he said.

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He also affirmed his view that Israel's actions are reinforcing Syria's instability.

Violence in Sweida is a 'wound'

The violence in Sweida is "a Syrian wound," while commenting that attempts to "internationalize" the events in the Druze city served "specific external agendas," Shaibani said.

Agreements made between Russia and the deposed Assad government have been suspended and are "not accepted."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani shake hands during a press conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, July 31, 2025 (credit: REUTERS)

"Syria's dealings with Russia have been gradual, and no new agreements have been signed," Shaibani said.

Shaibani: Moscow caused suffering for Syrian people

Moscow participated "in the suffering of the Syrian people" as an ally of Assad, Shaibani claimed.

Before Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the militant group led by Sharaa which deposed former president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, launched their final military offensive in November, they were "planning how to deal politically with the change that was going to happen," Shaibani said.

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The challenge was "how to prevent Russia from supporting Assad's regime in any confrontation," Shaibani clarified.

Any relations with Russia, China, or Europe must be harnessed for the benefit of the Syrian people, he added.

A meeting between HTS and Russia was held on December 6, 2024, in order to remove the threat of Russian forces, Shaibani said, according to Al Arabiya.

A Russian military convoy heads towards Hmeimim air base in Syria's coastal Latakia, Syria, December 14, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/UMIT BEKTAS)

Russia has reduced their deployment in Syria, limiting their presence to Hmeimim and Tartus bases, Shaibani noted.

Remaining issues concerning Russian troops in Syria were raised during Sharaa's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, Shaibani noted.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed to Shaibani that the Russian military would not remain in Syria if Damascus refuses their presence, Al Arabiya reported.

"We have succeeded in transforming Syrian diplomacy into one that is open to dialogue and cooperation," he added.

Shaibani emphasized during the interview that Syria has not aligned with "any international camp or axis," and is "engaging with all countries in a balanced way," Syria's official news agency SANA noted.

"At this stage, we are planning Syrias diplomacy rather than merely responding to it, to firmly place Syria on the international map," Shaibani said.

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He also claimed that the foreign ministry is working to repair the "image tarnished by the previous regime, particularly in Lebanon, and to address the issue of Syrians detained abroad on politically motivated charges," SANA reported.

Syria rebuilding relationship with China

"We are restoring our relationships with China, which previously sided politically with the former regime and used its veto power in its favor," Shaibani said, noting that Ahmed al-Sharaa's government will make its first official visit to Beijing in November.

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi, attends an interview with Reuters in Shaddadi, Syria, June 13, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Orhan Qereman)

He also affirmed the need for swiftly implementing the agreement to integrate the Kurdish-led US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces into Syrian state institutions.

"There is a historic opportunity for north and east Syria to play an active role. Any delay in implementing the agreement will harm civilians and impede the return of displaced people," Shaibani said, adding that the government completely rejects federalism in Syria as a "non-negotiable."

Economic progress following US call to lif sanctions, UK removing terror designation

Shaibani also addressed economic progress in Syria, amid the US envoy Tom Barrack calling for the lifting of all remaining sanctions, and Britain's removal of HTS from its proscribed terror list.

"It will take time, but next year the people will see tangible improvements in living conditions," he promised.
An apparent effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen dangling from a construction crane in north-eastern Turkey has caused outrage in Israel.

Photos published by the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak showed a figure hanging from a crane in the Black Sea city of Trabzon. Above it, a poster reads: "Death penalty for Netanyahu."

Who was behind the stunt was unclear.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, writing on X, said that a Turkish academic had created the doll and was "proudly aided by a state company."

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"Turkish authorities have not disavowed this disgraceful behavior," the post continued. "In Erdogans Turkey, hatred & antisemitism isnt condemned. It's celebrated."

A spokeswoman for the ministry in Jerusalem noted only that the university in Trabzon is state-owned. There was initially no reaction from Turkey.

Relations between Turkey and Israel, strained for years, deteriorated even further after the massacre by the militant Palestinian Hamas on October 7, 2023.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Netanyahu of "genocide" in Gaza. Turkey played a mediating role in the most recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
The Kremlin has welcomed Japan's desire to sign a peace treaty with Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. This follows a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who told parliament that pursuing an agreement is part of her government's foreign policy agenda. Japan and Russia never signed a peace treaty after the end of World War II. The absence of a treaty stems from a longstanding dispute over the four southernmost islands of the Kuril archipelago, which were incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1945 as part of the postwar settlement. Tokyo, however, continues to claim what it calls the Northern Territories, RT reported. Speaking in parliament, Takaichi said, "The Japanese government's policy is to resolve the territorial issue and finalise the peace treaty." The Kremlin responded by saying the statement is "rather to be welcomed. ""Moscow also supports signing a peace treaty with Japan," Peskov told journalists, RT reported. However, Peskov noted what he called Tokyo's "rather unfriendly stance" towards Moscow, adding that Japan has taken part in "all the unlawful sanctions and restrictions against our country" imposed by the West. Dialogue between the two nations has also been "reduced virtually to zero" in recent years due to Tokyo's actions, the spokesman added. The territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands has remained a major obstacle to improved relations between Russia and Japan. Although Tokyo renounced its claims to the islands under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty, it later said the disputed islands are not part of the Kuril archipelago. Russia, however, maintains that all four islands are part of its sovereign territory, RT reported. Japan has occasionally declared its intent to resolve the issue over the years, while at the same time maintaining tough rhetoric regarding Russia. In her speech on Friday, Takaichi acknowledged that relations between the two countries are "in a difficult situation". (ANI)
Some of the missing hostage remains may be located behind the Yellow Line Israel withdrew to under the terms of the US-brokered Gaza deal.

The Red Cross has been working with Hamas to locate the bodies of deceased hostages inside the area of Israel's military control in Gaza, Israeli media reported on Sunday, citing Israeli and international sources.

Some of the missing hostage remains may be located behind the Yellow Line Israel withdrew to under the terms of the US-brokered Gaza deal.

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Hamas is capable of returning the remains relatively quickly, the same sources said.

The Israeli government authorized Hamas members to enter territory under IDF control to join the Red Cross members, Army Radio said.

The deceased hostages are located in Rafah, Khan Yunis, and Nuseirat, in central Gaza, Hamas told the Red Cross, according to Army Radio. Most of the sites the hostages are said to be located in are beyond the territory of the IDF.

A Red Cross vehicle transports the bodies of hostages who were held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023, attack, after they were handed over by Hamas terrorists as part of a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, October 15, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/DAWOUD ABU ALKAS)

Members of the Red Cross met with Hamas's "Shadow Unit," which is responsible for guarding hostages, to guide them to the location of Israeli remains located in the Tel al-Sultan neighborhood of Rafah, in southern Gaza, Hamas-affiliated media outlets reported.

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Egyptian teams and equipment have entered Gaza to help locate the remains of slain hostages after the Israeli government provided approval, The Jerusalem Post reported Saturday evening.

US President Donald Trump said in a social media post the same evening that Hamas must do more to return the remains of hostages still held in Gaza.

If they do not, then "the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," he warned.

Difficulty in reaching some remains

"Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now, and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, Both sides would be treated fairly, that only applies if they comply with their obligations," he added.

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As of Sunday, 13 deceased hostages remain in Gaza. According to Israeli estimates, just the whereabouts of approximately five remain unknown, according to Ynet.

However, on Thursday, during a meeting at the Kirya military headquarters, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior Intelligence Directorate officials reportedly told US Vice President JD Vance that Hamas has the ability to return at least ten of the remains, KAN News said.

This is a developing story. Amichai Stein contributed to this report.
The Israeli government said on Sunday it had identified a senior Iranian official as the mastermind behind failed attack plots in Europe and Australia.

In a joint statement, Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the individual was a high-ranking representative of Iran.

According to Israel, Tehran has intensified efforts to target Israeli and Jewish sites worldwide since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The statement said that attempted attacks in Germany, Greece and Australia had been thwarted this year and last year with Mossads assistance.

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The man allegedly responsible was named as Sardar Amar, described as a senior commander in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"Under Amar's command, a significant mechanism was established to promote attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets both in Israel and abroad," the statement said.

"This mechanism is directly responsible for the attempted attacks exposed in Greece, Australia and Germany in the past year alone, and its numerous failures led to the wave of arrests and its exposure."

In June, German prosecutors revealed that a Danish national in Berlin was suspected of spying on Jewish individuals and institutions, as well as sites linked to Israel, on behalf of Iranian intelligence. The 53-year-old man, of Afghan origin, was later arrested in Aarhus, Denmark. Prosecutors said the surveillance may have been intended to prepare for attacks.

Iran at the time rejected the espionage allegations as "unfounded and dangerous." The Iranian embassy in Berlin said the claims were part of a campaign to distract from Israels war with Iran in June.
Israeli officials believe several deceased hostages in areas under IDF control  Red Cross enters Rafah to locate more remains along with Egyptian teams

Israel believes that several deceased hostages may be located in areas of the Yellow Line under IDF control, and searches are currently underway to locate them, two Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday morning. The Yellow Line marks the ceasefire demarcation zone between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Additionally, a Red Cross team has arrived in Rafah, near the Yellow Line, to locate additional deceased hostages, N12 reported. The Israeli government approved Cairos request to allow the entry of Egyptian equipment and personnel to assist as part of the efforts to locate and retrieve remains of slain hostages, an Israeli security official told the Post on Saturday evening.

Egyptian teams enter Gaza to help locate remains of slain hostages

The team and equipment have entered the Gaza Strip. Israel was preparing for the possibility that Hamas would release the remains of two more hostages soon, Army Radio and N12 News reported earlier, each citing an Israeli source. On Friday, there were indications that the terror group was preparing to do so; however, it did not.

Red Cross vehicles escort trucks transporting the bodies of deceased Palestinian prisoners in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza Strip, October 15, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

Hamas could return eight more hostages to Israel; however, there are another five whose whereabouts are unknown, a senior Israeli official told Ynet.

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No more remains of hostages have been returned since Tuesday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would determine which foreign forces it would allow into Gaza as part of a planned international force to help secure a fragile ceasefire under US President Donald Trumps plan.

It remains unclear whether Arab and other states will be ready to commit troops, in part given the refusal of Hamas terrorists to disarm as called for by the plan, while Israel has voiced concerns about the makeup of the force. While the Trump administration has ruled out sending US soldiers into the Gaza Strip, it has been speaking to Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and Azerbaijan about contributing to the multinational force.

We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate, Netanyahu said. This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days, he told a session of his cabinet.

Turkish involvement

Israel, which began a military campaign in Gaza against Hamas after the terror groups cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, continues to control all access to the territory. Last week, Netanyahu hinted that he would be opposed to Turkish security forces having any role in Gaza. Once-warm Turkish-Israeli relations soured drastically during the Gaza war, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasting Israels military campaign in the enclave.

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to Israel aimed at shoring up the truce, said on Friday that the international force would have to be made up of countries that Israel is comfortable with. He made no comment on Turkish involvement.

Rubio added that Gazas future governance still needed to be worked out among Israel and partner nations, but could not include Hamas. Rubio later said US officials were receiving input on a possible UN resolution or international agreement to authorize the multinational force in Gaza and would discuss the issue in Qatar, a key Gulf mediator on Gaza, on Sunday.

Challenges to Trump's plan

A major challenge to Trumps plan is that Hamas has balked at disarming. Since the ceasefire took hold two weeks ago as the first stage of Trumps 20-point plan, the terror group has waged a violent crackdown on clans that have tested its grip on power. At the same time, the remains of 13 deceased hostages remain in Gaza, with Hamas citing obstacles to locating them in the pervasive rubble left by the fighting.

An Israeli government spokesperson said on Sunday that Hamas, which released the remaining 20 living hostages it had kidnapped in its October 2023 assault, knew where the bodies were. Israel is aware that Hamas knows where our deceased hostages are, in fact, located. If Hamas made more of an effort, they would be able to retrieve the remains of our hostages, the spokesperson said.

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Israel had, however, allowed the entry of an Egyptian technical team to work with the Red Cross to locate the bodies, she said, adding that the team would use excavator machines and trucks to search beyond the so-called yellow line in Gaza, behind which Israeli troops had initially pulled back under Trumps plan.

Netanyahu began the cabinet session by stressing that Israel was an independent country and rejecting the notion that the American administration controls me and dictates Israels security policy. Israel and the US, he said, are a partnership.

Diplomats and analysts say Trump managed to push Netanyahu, who had long rejected global pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza, to accept his framework for a broader peace deal and also forced him to call Qatars leader to apologize after Israels failed bombing raid targeting Hamas negotiators in Qatar.

Trump also persuaded Arab states to convince Hamas to return all the Israeli hostages, its key leverage in the war.
Former Ivory Coast commerce minister Jean-Louis Billon has conceded defeat to incumbent Alassane Ouattara in the countrys presidential election, as early partial results show the latter with a strong lead nationwide.

The initial results place the incumbent President, Mr Alassane Ouattara, in the lead, designating him the winner of this presidential election, Billon said in a statement, congratulating the president on Sunday.

Billon was among four opposition candidates running against Ouattara, the 83-year-old former International Monetary Fund executive who is seeking a fourth term in office.

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Billon failed to secure the endorsement of the opposition PDCI party, led by Tidjane Thiam  the ex-Credit Suisse chief who was barred from the ballot.

Earlier in the day, the countrys Independent Electoral Commission began announcing partial results from Saturdays polls on national television.

The results of 20 departments or divisions are being read out, and 10 or 11 departments remain, Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris said, reporting from the economic capital, Abidjan on Sunday. This included diaspora votes from six countries.

This is the most critical stage of this election, where results from various polling booths and centres are being collated and announced, Idris said.

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From the initial results, its clear the incumbent is leading by a wide margin in many of the areas so far.





Nearly nine million Ivorians were eligible to vote in an election marked by a divided opposition further hobbled by the barring of two leading candidates.

Ivorians are watching closely what happens here, said Idris. And the result of this election will determine whether or not the streets will remain calm.

So far, the streets of Abidjan have remained quiet and calm, Idris reported, apart from reports of scattered violence in other parts of the country that has led to two deaths.

Security patrols are all over the place; at least 44,000 security personnel have been deployed for this election before, during, and after, in case trouble breaks out, he added.

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Ouattaras leading rivals  former President Laurent Gbagbo and Thiam  were barred from standing, Gbagbo for a criminal conviction and Thiam for acquiring French citizenship.

This led to pre-election protests and calls from some quarters for a boycott of the polls.

While an official voter turnout is not yet known, the president of the election commission, Ibrahime Coulibaly-Kuibiert, earlier put the figure at about 50 percent.

Polling stations in Abidjan and historically pro-opposition areas in the south and west were nearly empty, the AFP news agency reported. Meanwhile, it said voters turned out in large numbers in the north, where Ouattara had most of his support.

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With key contenders out of the race, Ouattara was the overwhelming favourite.

Saturdays vote was reminiscent of the last election in 2020, in which he obtained 94 percent of the ballots with a turnout slightly above 50 percent in an election then boycotted by the main opposition.

None of the four candidates who faced Ouattara represented a major party or had the reach of the ruling Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace.
TOKYO (AP)  Japan's space agency successfully launched Sunday its most powerful flagship H3 rocket, carrying a newly developed unmanned cargo spacecraft for its first mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the HTV-X1 spacecraft successfully lifted off atop the No. 7 H3 rocket from Japans Tanegashima Space Center in the country's south and confirmed it entered targeted orbit 14 minutes after liftoff.

The spacecraft was separated and placed into a planned orbit, JAXA said. If everything goes smoothly, it is expected to arrive at the ISS in a few days to deliver supplies. Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, currently at the ISS, is set to catch the craft with a robot arm in the early hours of Thursday.

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The HTV-X is the successor to JAXAs unmanned H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori, or stork in Japanese, which flew nine missions to the ISS between 2009 and 2020.

The new freighter can carry a bigger payload and supply power during flight, enabling the transport of lab samples that require storage at low temperatures.

The HTV-X is designed to be connected to the ISS for up to six months to deliver supplies and retrieve waste from the ISS, then conduct technical missions while making an orbital flight after leaving the station, this time for three months.

Sundays launch also marks a successful debut for H3 rockets most powerful version, with four rocket boosters and a bigger fairing, a top compartment for payloads, officials said.

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JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa called Sunday's launch a major step forward that demonstrated Japan's capability of delivering supplies to space, which serves as the basis of autonomous space activity.

Iwao Igarashi, head of the Space Business Department at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, responsible for developing H3 with JAXA and operating rocket launches, said Japan's track record of on-time launch and accuracy in delivering payloads and the newly modified rocket prove they can accommodate a range of customer needs. He said his company plans to expand its launch facility.

H3 rocket replaces Japan's long-beloved mainstay H-2A rocket, which made its final flight in June, as a new flagship model designed to be more cost-competitive in the global space market. The H3 has so far made six consecutive successful flights after a failed debut attempt in 2023, when the rocket had to be destroyed with its payload.

Japan sees a stable, commercially competitive space transport capability as key to its space program and national security.
Ocean City has declared a local state of emergency after a noreaster eroded much of the islands beach earlier this month, according to Mayor Jay Gillian.

The Oct. 12-13 storm swept away dunes and caused serious beach erosion from 1st to 13th streets, officials said.

The emergency designation could be a tool to help our legislators who are fighting to fund a scheduled Army Corps beach replenishment project, Gillian said Friday in his weekly community update.

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Gillian said city officials discussed the erosion on Thursday with U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist.

We are continuing to explore every available option, Gillian said.

Gillian said the city also has awarded a professional services contract to help us get the permits necessary to do some emergency work before the summer season.

New Jersey officials have said much of the shoreline from southern Ocean County to Cape May County experienced moderate to major sloped erosion during the storm two weeks ago that brought heavy rains and flooding.

The storm damaged a wide swath of beaches, including in North Wildwood, Atlantic City and the Strathmere section of Upper Township.

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Van Drew, who represents much of the Jersey Shore, has said he is working to coordinate a sand loss response with the Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that leads projects to restore the states beaches.

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JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  Fire crews are still putting out hot spots from a fire that devastated a home outside Nicholasville on Sunday.

Officials with the Nicholasville Fire Department told FOX 56 News that around 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 26, crews got a call about a fire at a home on Logana Pike.

When crew members arrived at the home, it was reportedly fully involved with flames and smoke.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Officials said no one was at the home during the fire, and no one had been injured.

While crews fought the house fire, their water supply became an issue. Tankers were used to bring water to the trucks from other areas, responders said.

The home has been declared a total loss. An investigation into what caused the fire remains ongoing.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  The Johnstown Symphony Orchestra will continue to serve the region under the artistic leadership of James Blachly.

The music director has accepted an extension of his contract through 2029, ensuring he will guide the symphony into its landmark 100th anniversary season.

The announcement was made at the symphonys 97th season-opening concert Saturday at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.

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I am very honored that the board has extended my contract to run through the 100th year of this extraordinary orchestra, Blachly said. We have so much to look forward to, and all that we do is built on the love that this community has for our orchestra, from the first notes we played in 1929 to the future that we have to look forward to together.

Since assuming the role of music director in 2016, Blachly has transformed the JSO into a nationally recognized ensemble, known for artistic excellence, community engagement and innovative programming.

His tenure has included performances that brought orchestral music out of the concert hall and into the heart of Johnstown, from concerts in a historic Bethlehem Steel machine shop, GapVax Inc. and JWF Industries, to a groundbreaking performance on the runway at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport and a 2024 performance at 1st Summit Arena @ Cambria County War Memorial.

Blachly also led the orchestra in a moving performance for the 20th-anniversary commemoration of United Airlines Flight 93, honoring those lost and the resilience of the nation.

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In the first few years of becoming music director, people were concerned that I would only be here for a short period of time, but I told people then that I was committed to this community long-term, and I think they wanted to believe me, but now I can say Im a man of my word, he said.

Whats amazing about making a commitment like this is what you can accomplish when you make that long-term commitment. It gets so much deeper over time.

Under Blachlys direction, he has expanded the symphonys repertoire with world premieres and American masterworks; strengthened its ties to Johnstown through partnerships with local organizations, schools and cultural institutions; attracted national attention for bold, site-specific concerts that celebrate the citys history and resilience; and celebrated milestones such as the Johnstown Symphony Chorus collaborations, the launch of new education programs, and the growth of youth and community ensembles.

Its been an amazing experience, and its been a time of growth for the orchestra and me personally, he said. I feel that Ive grown so much over the course of this time by getting to know so many people in the community.

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Weve performed so much music over the past 10 years and so many concerts in so many places for thousands of people, so its remarkable to look back and just feel this sense of gratitude for what we have accomplished together.

Mark Addleman, president of the JSOs board of trustees, said Blachly has redefined what it means for an orchestra to belong to its community.

His creativity, passion and commitment to Johnstown have built a bridge between world-class artistry and the people who call this city home, he said. We are excited to know he will be leading us through our 100th year and beyond.

Blachly said the goal moving forward is to continue the sense of joy and celebration thats felt at every concert.

We want to continue to involve as much of the community as we can in our concerts, he said. We want to stay extremely creative with our programming and make sure that every concert we put on is one that nobody would want to miss.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan has left for Seychelles to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Patrick Herminie, the President-elect of Seychelles, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday. In a post on X, the MEA noted how the visit would add further momentum to the India-Seychelles ties. "Adding further momentum in India-Seychelles bilateral ties. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan has departed for Seychelles to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Dr Patrick Herminie, President-elect of the Republic of Seychelles." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1982301721922777580 Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles Rohit Rathish said on Saturday (local time) that Radhakrishnan's visit to the island nation of Seychelles will strengthen bilateral relations and reaffirm the long history of cultural and historical ties. "We are honoured that the Vice President of India is visiting Seychelles on the swearing-in of the country's President, and it is a double privilege for us as it is the Vice President's first foreign visit. India and the Seychelles have a long history of bilateral relations and cultural and historical ties. We also share democratic values and a pluralistic society ethos," the High Commissioner told ANI here. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan's visit to Seychelles aims to boost cooperation, and new areas of cooperation, such as AI, will be explored to address Seychelles' needs as a small island developing state. "This visit by the Vice President of India will be an opportunity for us to examine those areas of cooperation, maybe artificial intelligence, depending on the priorities of the government of Seychelles... I'm sure in the times to come, we will have new signature projects, new initiatives being announced by both sides to strengthen our bilateral partnership," added the High Commissioner. India offers short-term courses in IT, renewable energy, audit, and tourism, empowering Seychelles' human resources. At the invitation of the Government of Seychelles, the Vice President of India, CP Radhakrishnan, will visit the Republic of Seychelles from October 26-27 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Patrick Herminie, President-elect of the Republic of Seychelles, on behalf of the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement. During the visit, the Vice President will convey India's warm felicitations to Patrick Herminie and reaffirm the close, longstanding, and time-tested ties between the two countries. The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's earlier congratulations to Patrick Herminie on October 12, following his victory in Seychelles' Presidential Elections. Modi had expressed confidence that the long-standing ties between India and the island nation would grow stronger under Herminie's leadership. The Prime Minister highlighted that the Indian Ocean serves as a "shared heritage" that connects the people of both countries and supports their aspirations. He said India looks forward to working closely with the new government in Seychelles to enhance cooperation across sectors. Opposition leader Patrick Herminie emerged victorious in the Seychelles presidential election, defeating incumbent President Wavel Ramkalawan in a closely contested runoff, according to official results released early Sunday. The election commission announced that Herminie secured 52.7 per cent of the vote, while Ramkalawan garnered 47.3 per cent. Herminie, representing the United Seychelles party, returns the political group to power after four years in opposition. (ANI)
Police are looking for answers after two men were shot early Sunday morning in the 200 block of Edgewood Avenue South.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, officers rushed to the address just after 3:40 a.m. when calls came in about a shooting.

They found a man in his 30s with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and is currently undergoing surgery.

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A short time later, another man, also in his 30s, arrived at a hospital on his own.

Investigators say he was involved in the same incident and is now in stable condition.

Detectives believe a large crowd had gathered outside in the parking lot after the nearby bar closed. An argument broke out, leading to the shooting.

Police say the crowd quickly scattered, and so far, no witnesses have come forward, and no arrests have been made.

The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office is asking anyone with information to call them at (904) 630-0500 or email jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org.

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After a week-long manhunt, two men have now been arrested in connection with the shocking jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Authorities say a man was arrested late Saturday night at Charles de Gaulle airport trying to escape to Algeria. A second man was also arrested in connection with the heist, although police have not yet released information about how that suspect was apprehended.

Video of the daring burglary  conducted in broad daylight  has gone viral over the past week. Footage showed four men armed with power tools and dressed in high-visibility jackets breaking through a second-floor window of the museum as they gained access via a maintenance area. They smashed display cases in the Apollo Gallery, grabbed the French crown jewels, and escaped on motorbikes.

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The stolen items were said to include; crowns, necklaces, earrings and brooches  some belonging to Emperor Napoleon and his wife. A prosecutor said the value of the good exceeded $100 million.

Officials said at least two other suspects remain at large. It was not immediately clear if any jewels had been recovered in either of the arrests.



The post JUST IN: Two Men Arrested in Connection With Massive Jewel Heist at the Louvre first appeared on Mediaite.
Kamala Harris made it clear she hasnt ruled out another run for the presidency, telling the BBC shes not done with politics.

The former vice president sat down with Sunday host Laura Kuenssberg as part of her London book tour, where she promoted her political memoir, 107 Days.

Kuenssberg broached the topic of a possible 2028 run by asking Harris when she thought her nieces would see a woman in charge in the White House. After Harris assured the newswoman that she was confident a female president would happen in their lifetime, Kuenssberg asked point-blank if Harris thought it would be her.

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Possibly, Harris replied. However, she made it clear she had not made a decision on running  but hinted she was still considering the idea.

That is correct: I am not done, she went on. I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and its in my bones. And there are many ways to serve; I have not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I am doing right now.

Harris was then confronted by the current polling for 2028, some of which  per Kuenssberg  put her behind Hollywood actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson.

I think there are all kinds of polls that will tell you a variety of things, Harris responded. Ive never listened to polls. If I listened to polls, I would have not run for my first office or my second office  and I certainly wouldnt be sitting here in this interview.

https://t.co/avEHZHBiGi@KamalaHarris confident there'll be a woman in the White House, and tells us it might be her

A flavour of our interview here, much more tomorrow.. pic.twitter.com/MHoHMj2fGV  Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) October 25, 2025

Harris comments come nearly three months after she shut down speculation that she would run for governor in her home state of California. During a July appearance on The Late Show, she told host Stephen Colbert she did not intend to run because Americas political system is broken.

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Harris, who lost the presidency to Donald Trump in 2024, added at the time: I want to travel the country. I want to listen to people. I want to talk with people, and I dont want it to be transactional.

Watch the highlight from Harris interview above.

The post Kamala Harris Confirms Shes Not Done With Politics and Teases Another Presidential Run: Its In My Bones | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
NEED TO KNOW

Kamala Harris says she has not ruled out another presidential run after losing the 2024 election

During an interview with the BBC, Harris said that her grandnieces would "in their lifetime, for sure," see a female president

When asked if it would be her, she replied: "Possibly"

Kamala Harris has not ruled out another presidential run.

Speaking with the BBC for her first U.K. interview, the former vice president, 61, said she is confident there will be a woman in the White House someday.

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During the interview on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Harris said her grandnieces would "in their lifetime, for sure," see a female president. When asked if it would be her, she replied: "Possibly."

"I am not done," she said, noting that she had not yet made any decision about another presidential bid after losing the 2024 election to Donald Trump. "I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and it's in my bones."

Harris also told Kuenssberg that she wasn't putting any stock into polls that say she doesn't have good odds at winning the presidency.



"If I listened to polls, I would have not run for my first office, or my second office  and I certainly wouldn't be sitting here," she said.

Leigh Vogel/Getty Kamala Harris on Sept. 27, 2025 Kamala Harris on Sept. 27, 2025

The former vice president also criticized Trump, 79, saying that predictions about him running an authoritarian government had been realized.

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"He said he would weaponize the Department of Justice, and he has done exactly that," Harris said, using the example of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension by ABC  sparked after the late-night host made a joke about how MAGA supporters reacted to Charlie Kirk's assassination.

"You look at what has happened in terms of how he has weaponized, for example, federal agencies going around after political satirists," Harris continued, referring to how Trump and the FCC's Brendan Carr voiced frustration with Kimmel's comments and threatened to halt broadcasts due to the joke.

"His skin is so thin he couldn't endure criticism from a joke, and attempted to shut down an entire media organization in the process," she continued.

In a statement to the BBC, a White House spokesperson called Harris' comments "absurd lies."

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"When Kamala Harris lost the election in a landslide, she should've taken the hint  the American people don't care about her absurd lies," spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the outlet. "Or maybe she did take the hint and that's why she's continuing to air her grievances to foreign publications."



SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Kamala Harris and Donald Trump during a presidential debate in September 2024. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump during a presidential debate in September 2024.

Elsewhere in her conversation with Kuenssberg, Harris criticized public figures whom she said have given in to Trump's demands too easily.

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"There are many that have capitulated since day one, who are bending the knee at the foot of a tyrant, I believe for many reasons, including they want to be next to power, because they want to perhaps have a merger approved or avoid an investigation," she said.

Harris won the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination after President Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy for reelection in the final weeks of the race. She tapped Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to join her ticket.

The pair won 48.3% of the popular vote and 226 electoral votes, losing to Trump and his vice presidential pick, JD Vance.

Harris previously announced in July that she would not seek higher office in 2026 after many expected her to run for California governor.

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The former vice president and 2024 presidential nominee would have been the automatic front-runner in the 2026 gubernatorial race had she sought to succeed outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom. California term limits prohibit Newsom from serving more than eight years.



Andrew Harnik/Getty Kamala Harris in August 2024 Kamala Harris in August 2024

"In recent months, I have given serious thought to asking the people of California for the privilege to serve as their governor," she said in a statement at the time. "I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for Governor in this election."

The nation's first female VP stated that "our politics, our government and our institutions have too often failed the American people, culminating in this moment of crisis," adding that Democrats will need to embrace "fresh thinking" and not be "bound by the same playbook" moving forward.

"For now, my leadership  and public service  will not be in elected office," Harris continued. "I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans."



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Nothing is off the table for Kamala Harris. In an interview with the BBC which will air in full on Sunday evening, the former vice president tells journalist Laura Kuenssberg that she has not ruled out the idea of running for president again in the future.

Kuenssberg asks Harris, 61, when her young great-nieces will see a female president of the United States. In their lifetime, for sure, replies the former senator for California. Could it be you? presses the journalist, to which Harris replies, Possibly.

Harris, who became the democratic nominee in July of 2024 when sitting president Joe Biden withdrew his candidacy and went on to lose the election to republican Donald Trump, clarifies that she has not yet decided if she will in fact run in 2028. But Kuenssberg points out that Harris wrote in her memoir 107 Days that she is not done.

I am not done. I have lived my entire career a life of service, and its in my bones. And there are many ways to serve. I have not decided yet what I will do in the future beyond what I am doing right now, says Harris.

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In my experience interviewing politicians, when someone says Im not done, it means they are thinking seriously about running. But when you look at the bookies odds, they put you as an outsider, replies Kuenssberg, flagging that some polls even place Dwayne The Rock Johnson ahead of Harris.

I think there are all kinds of polls that will tell you a variety of things, replies Harris. Ive never listened to polls. If I listened to polls I wouldve not run for my first office or my second office and I certainly wouldnt be sitting here in this interview.

This story Kamala Harris Says She Is Not Done, Would Consider Future Presidential Run first appeared on National Enquirer. Add National Enquirer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kamala Harris isnt ruling out another run for the White House.

In an interview with the BBC posted Saturday, Harris said she expects a woman will be president in the coming years, and it could possibly be her.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

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I am not done, she said. The former vice-president said she hasnt decided whether to mount a 2028 presidential campaign. But she dismissed the suggestion that shed face long odds.

I have lived my entire career a life of service and its in my bones. And there are many ways to serve, she said. Ive never listened to polls.

Shes recently given a series of interviews following the September release of her book, 107 Days. It looks back on her experience replacing then-President Joe Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee after he dropped out of the race. She ultimately lost to Republican President Donald Trump.

In an interview with the Associated Press last week, Harris, 60, also made clear that running again in 2028 is still on the table. She said she sees herself as a leader of the party, including in pushing back against Trump and preparing for the 2026 midterms.

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Asked in an Oct. 17 interview with AP whether she had plans for a 2028 bid, Harris said, I havent decided. Sincerely. I have not decided. I may or I may not. I have not decided.

Asked specifically whether she still wanted to do the job itself, she used the past tense, saying, Its a job I wanted to do. But she noted that the only way to do it is to run and win.

Meanwhile, political jockeying among Democrats for the 2028 presidential contest appears to be playing out even earlier than usual.



Several potential candidates are already taking steps to get to know voters in key states, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, term-limited Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and California Rep. Ro Khanna. Upwards of 30 high-profile Democrats could ultimately enter the primary.



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Oct. 26---- Over the summer, parts of Kandiyohi County and the surrounding area received 8 to 12 inches of rain in a day, enough to be considered a 500-year storm  meaning a 1 in 500 chance, or 0.2% chance, of such an extreme weather event in any given year.

The excessive rainfall  paired with additional rains throughout the summer  caused flooding in many parts of the county, some of which had not yet subsided as of the beginning of September. The floods caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages across the county, according to

In order to help mitigate these and future flooding events, Kandiyohi County and the city of Willmar have invested in miles of infrastructure in the form of storm drains, ditches and relief ponds.

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Kandiyohi County topography causes a split in the county's drainage. The county feeds into four watershed districts: the Chippewa River Watershed to the northwest, the North Fork Crow River Watershed to the northeast, the Hawk Creek Watershed to the southwest and the South Fork Crow River Watershed to the southeast.

Of the four watersheds, only the North Fork Crow River Watershed receives significant water from another county.

The split in the watershed districts also splits much of the drainage infrastructure in the region, with disconnected ditches and stormwater pipes spreading in different directions.

"There are kind of two systems. One system heading towards Hawk Creek isn't going to overlap too much with the other system. There is a line and we have infrastructure going this way, and infrastructure going that way," said Justin DeLeeuw, Willmar Public Works director.

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The city of Willmar sits on a slight crest, which splits city rainfall between the Hawk Creek and South Fork Crow River watersheds.

In order to ensure that water is funneled out of the city quickly, stormwater pipes between 12 and 48 inches in diameter lie beneath the ground. These pipes then connect to retaining ponds and ditches to hold any slower-draining water.

Private properties within the city are responsible for their own drainage system maintenance. In large open areas, like parking lots, the landowner will be required to build and maintain their storm drains up to where they connect with the public drainage system.

According to DeLeeuw, replacing these pipes can cost a significant amount, and the city tries to update pipes while they are doing other work on roads in the area.

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"When excavating and increasing pipe sizes, you have to rip out your old pipe  but you have to put a new one in that is even bigger. You're looking at tens of thousands of dollars, minimum," DeLeeuw said. "To do projects like that, we look at what else the city is doing  as we are reconstructing streets and we have the asphalt ripped off where we have already dug down, that is the time to upsize the stormwater pipe or add in more drainage."

Retaining ponds hold water to reduce the amount flowing through pipes and ditches at any one time. On a larger scale, Grass Lake collects water from around 7,000 acres in order to ensure that water from Willmar and other agricultural land is able to drain first. Located on the southeast edge of Willmar, Grass Lake can almost double in size before spilling into emergency outlets.

"Before Grass Lake was there, Willmar's water and all of the other water was competing for that outlet," said Austin Hilbrands, Kandiyohi County Public Drainage manager.

A Grass Lake restoration project was completed in 2021. Flood relief was one of the projected benefits. A project summary from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources notes that drainage from more than 7,000 acres of ag land in the Peach Creek Watershed roughly between Kandiyohi and Willmar was diverted into the lake and away from the stormwater system that serves much of Willmar.

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Grass Lake then feeds into the South Fork Crow River Watershed, a relatively flat area of the county which can have trouble draining.

"We have flooding issues in the southeast (part of the county) because these ditches were designed, or they were dug with a flat grade. They were most likely working with what they had at the time," Hilbrands said. "If you have a large hill, we'll design a ditch with more grade. If you get too much grade, then you end up getting erosion and other issues with that."

In the northern portion of the county, elevation changes allow for water to naturally run off without causing flooding in unexpected areas. However, the flat lands in the south of the county require far more constructed ditches in order to drain.

"You don't see county ditches where there is naturally a lot of grade because they don't need it. They were dug in areas that needed help to drain the land," Hilbrands said.

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According to Hilbrands, the county has more than 440 miles of open ditches and another 251 miles of county tile beneath the ground.

Among these ditches, the most notable is Judicial Ditch 1. This ditch collects water from more than 141,000 acres of land. However, the flat terrain causes the ditch to drain slowly.

According to Hilbrands, a ditch should have around 2.5 feet of decline in elevation over the course of a mile. Judicial Ditch 1 has a decline of just 6 inches over the same distance.

Fixing the issue of the gradual elevation decline isn't as simple as digging the ditch to be steeper. If the ditch becomes too low, it can disrupt the drain tile systems in farmlands throughout the area.

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The flatter systems also need to be cleaned out more frequently. Buildup of sediment in a ditch which descends 2 feet every mile won't need to be cleaned out as often as a ditch that descends 6 inches with the same amount of build up, Hilbrands said.

Maintenance for the county ditches  and for Willmar's stormwater pipes  is common and necessary. As water flows through the system, it carries debris and sediment which can build up and cause slower drainage.

In the city, large vacuuming machines remove any clogs. In county ditches, frequent inspections are done to ensure there are no blockages  such as those caused by trash or beaver dams.

"We have to inspect each ditch system at least once every five years. I have only been here for two years now. I did all the inspections on one side; next year I'll be doing the northern part," Hilbrands said.

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Landowners are able to help relieve the pressure on ditch systems throughout the county, according to Hilbrands. Programs are available for farmers to construct ponds on their property, especially in frequently flooded areas of farmland.

"You can restore wetland on your farm if you are consistently losing crop there. It'll benefit the ditch system," Hilbrands said. "Generally, there is funding for that through (the) Soil and Water (Conservation District) or other federal and government programs."
A 1905 double exposure "spirit" photograph shows a girl surrounded by spectral figures. It was made by G.S. Smallwood of Chicago. (Library of Congress)

When it came time for John Seybold to place the ring on his brides finger, he was given a warning: he must not touch any other part of her body or risk death.

That should have been enough to alert the 71-year-old retired Kansas farmer that things were not as they seemed, but love does weird things to people. He proceeded with the ceremony, held in a darkened seance room, and later sat during a festive wedding dinner next to an empty chair reserved for his spectral bride.

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Seybold was in love with Sarah, the ghost of a girl he had known in his youth back in Ohio, and he trusted the spirit medium who had summoned her from the great beyond.

The medium, 36-year-old Nellie Moore, had been holding classes in spiritualism in Wichita for the curious and the credulous. She had introduced others to their ethereal soulmates, but being matchmaker to Seybold and his gossamer love had been a singular achievement.

She had enjoyed material benefits from her association with the lonely farmer, who had come to her two years before from Liberal and asked to make contact with his long-dead son. In a darkened room with black curtains and a wardrobe that produced such wonders as spirit photos and floating luminous stars, Moore had done just that.

Or at least Seybold thought she had.

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Soon, Moore had a new car and furniture and even deeds to the farms Seybold owned, one near Liberal, a couple of hundred miles away in southwestern Kansas, and another across the state line in Oklahoma.

When it finally dawned on Seybold that hed been taken for his life savings, he did what many disappointed spouses do: He sued. The case must have been one of the strangest ever to come before a Wichita judge, and it made headlines across the country.

She was really after his money, author and historian of the strange Tim Shepard told me. When it was all over, she got him for $7,500.

Because Im a diurnal skeptic when it comes to paranormal activity  my answer changes according to how often things go bump in the night  I asked Shepard for his take on Wichitas ghost bride case.

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Shepard is the author of two books of Kansas ghost stories, the most recent of which is Return to the Prairie: More Tales of History and Hauntings. Hes working on a forthcoming book about hauntings along Route 66, and as research for that book he drove the length of the mother road in a 1934 Hudson Terraplane. Hes given ghost tours across the state, worked at the Red Rocks State Historic Site at Emporia, and at 52 says hes considered the grandfather of ghost hunting in Kansas.

Moores tactics were very similar to what most spiritualists were doing in the late 1800s, Shepard said. The room she held her seances in was painted black, with black curtains, a large wardrobe, and a couple of chairs. She actually told him not to touch the spirits because if he did both he and she would die. Based on the details he gave of meeting Sarah, there was probably somebody hidden in the cabinet.

At one seance, Moore was instructed to write a $500 check to an organization for wayward girls. He did so, Shepard said, and an otherworldly hand took the check.

While Seybolds actions may seem foolish now, he seems to have had a serious interest in spiritualism, a belief system that holds the soul survives death and spirits of the dead can communicate with the living.

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It all began with the Fox Sisters in western New York in the 1840s, who claimed they could communicate through raps and knocks with the spirit of a murdered peddler. The sisters were soon demonstrating spirit communication at public events that drew hundreds, dividing the press and the public on whether they were genuinely in touch with the spirit world or youthful hoaxers seeking money and attention.

During and after the Civil War, spiritualism surged in popularity. The bloodiest conflict in American history drove many to the comforting belief that they could communicate with their beloved dead. Even Mary Todd Lincoln held seances at the White House. Years after the war, the last photograph taken of Mrs. Lincoln contributed to another spiritualist-related craze, spirit photography. A photo by Boston photographer William Mumler purports to show the ghost of Abraham Lincoln looking kindly down upon her, hands on her shoulders. But it was a cheap photographic trick relying on a double exposure.

Spiritualism was not just a fad in Victorian American, but a serious societal and political movement. The first woman to run for president was Victoria Woodhull, a trance medium and free love radical. Kate Bender, of the murderous Bender Family of Kansas, also claimed to be one. While some mediums were perpetrating hoaxes on their credulous victims, often with the use of mechanical tricks such as the magic slate tablet, there were millions of Americans who embraced spiritualism as proof of life after death.

After the First World War, the movement gained renewed popularity. Its chief proponent was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Despite having created the epitome of the rational detective and being trained as a medical doctor, Doyle was gullible and proclaimed his belief in spirits, including the now-debunked Cottingley Fairies photos.

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If Doyle was the champion of mediumship, Harry Houdini was its nemesis. The world-famous magician and escape artist (and friend of Doyles) spent much of his career campaigning against charlatanism. He devoted himself to exposing the tricks used by fake mediums. Houdini was an expert in those tricks, because he and his wife Bess had started their careers by using them.

In November 1897, they had appeared at the opera house in Garnett, Kansas, promising to name the killer of a recently murdered local woman. Houdini had already demonstrated an escape from the local jail, according to The Secret Life of Houdini by William Kalush and Larry Sloman. Bess had been promoted as a psychometric clairvoyant and her seances with Houdini were a hit. But it was all trickery, and in Garnett, according to the authors, Bess feigned a swoon at the climactic moment to avoid actually naming the murderer.

In addition to tricks like the spirit slates, charlatans used rhetorical sleight-of-hand. If a medium failed to materialize a spirit it was because there were unbelievers present. Some, like Nellie Moore, claimed they couldnt remember anything while under control of spirits. If Seybolds dead son or the ghost of Sarah told the old farmer to do things, such as take $3,000 out of the bank to give to her, she would just have to take other peoples word for it.

During the wedding ceremony, Shepard said, he actually places a diamond ring on the ghosts finger. And he said it felt solid. But the old man was so fearful of dying from touching the ghost that he dared not embrace his bride.

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Seybold, who had two previous marriages to living women, moved from Liberal to Wichita to be close to his medium and was directed to deed all of his property to her. When the aging farmer said he wanted to consult an attorney, Moore produced the ghost of Samuel B. Amidon, a recently deceased Wichita lawyer. But it seems unlikely the famous jurist would have advised him to trust Moore.

In the very first seance, Mrs. Moore, in a semi-trance, told the Kansan his son had come to her and was telling her what to say, reported the San Francisco Examiner in July 1927. He was cautioned that turning on the lights, or otherwise interfering with the spirits, would result in immediate death.

Like many of us, Seybold was susceptible to flattery. He was called doctor by those in his mediums orbit, apparently after healing somebody of a headache, and was told he could quickly become proficient at piano if only he bought one for Moores home.

Heres a lonely old man, Shepard said. He believed he was really in love with a ghost. At trial, he pondered whether he was really married to her or did he need to get a divorce?

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The only time Sarah visited him in his bedroom, according to Shepard, Seybold became suspicious. All he saw of her was her hands, he said. But instead of just fading away, she backed out of his room and around the corner. Ghosts dont do that, do they?

The case went to trial in November 1927.

Moore claimed that Seybold came to establish a spiritualistic class room, but that he soon began claiming healing powers of his own. She admitted she had been the recipient of gifts and loans secured by mortgages, but denied having hoodwinked Seybold. Witnesses testified, however, that Moore had shown them devices used in her seances, including a speaking trumpet with a rubber hose and a star that glowed with luminous paint.

An Aged Farmer Loses his Battle with the Spooks, the Wichita Eagle reported Nov. 17. Superlative advice might come from the trusted sources of the spirit world, but all of Seybolds business transactions were drawn in black and white.

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The judge, J.E. Alexander, ruled Seybold had no case because he had reached a compromise settlement with Moore before bringing his suit. Any question of spectral evidence was not considered. Even if fraud had been involved in summoning Sarah, it was not for the court to decide whether spirit communication was possible or had been practiced by Moore.

While Seybolds faith in Moore was shattered, he remained an ardent spiritualist. He later married again, this time to a woman named Dollie who was an ordained spiritualist minister.

He was looking for something, Shepard said. I think we all desire to connect with something beyond ourselves.

In the years hes been investigating the paranormal, Shepard said, hes run into only three people he considered true mediums. One of them is a woman in Topeka, and when she does her readings for groups of 30 or 50 people, she doesnt turn the lights off.

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Real paranormal research isnt done in the dark, he said. They want the lights on. They want to see whats happening around them. Theyre trying to answer the questions were still searching for. Where do we go when we die? Is there life after death?

Shepard said he was both a believer and a skeptic. He says he believes there are spirits out there, but that he doesnt necessarily believe every story thats told to him.

But there is still mystery to the ghost bride case, he said.

What was Seybolds sons name, and how did he die? What was Sarahs last name? Seybold said he knew her during his youth in Dayton, but theres no evidence from him of how she crossed over  or whether she existed at all.

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We may never know.

Seybold died in 1941, aged 85, of lingering injuries suffered when he was struck by a car a year earlier at Third and Broadway in Wichita. Moore moved to California, where she died in 1974, at San Diego. She was 83.

A century after Seybold attended that first seance in Wichita, it might be easy for us to dismiss him as a fool. Here in the modern and allegedly rational age, we would never fall for such tricks. Right?

But there are people who fall in love with their AI chatbots. This year, a Colorado man married his digital companion, with the approval of his real-world wife. And the MIT Technology Review cautions that its easy to stumble into an emotional relationship with a digital assistant.

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Were all looking for something, whether its Sarah or Siri.

Perhaps in a hundred years, some cyber columnist will look back and be incredulous that any chatbot could ever fall for an ephemeral something made of meat and bone.

Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP)  A wet week awaits us, which is welcome news after a very lengthy stretch of dry weather. As we enter the last few days of October, monthly rainfall totals are only at 0.08, which is dramatically below normal. That will change beginning Monday as showers are likely to move in overnight and become more widespread by the afternoon and evening.

Rainfall chances will continue every day through Thursday before tapering off by Friday morning. It will not be raining every moment of each day, but there will be moments we see better coverage, especially Wednesday into Thursday.

Bottom line, keep the rain gear handy this week because it will be a soggy week. Both the American and European models are forecasting over 1.5 of rainfall for the Piedmont by Friday afternoon; heavier amounts are possible along the coast and in Upstate South Carolina.

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In addition to the rain, it will be a very chilly week with temperatures forecast to remain well below normal. Highs on Monday will only top out at 53 degrees, and we will only see low 50s on Tuesday and Wednesday. Morning lows will be in the mid-40s. Typically, we would see highs in the upper 60s this time of year.

By Friday, we will see improving skies, and temperatures will slowly begin to moderate as well. Highs on Friday will be in the upper 50s with partly cloudy to mostly sunny skies. This is good news if you have plans for Halloween! Temperatures will quickly fall after sunset, so a jacket with the costume will be a good idea if you plan to go trick-or-treating.

Next weekend, we will finally make it back to 60 degrees and should have very nice weather on Saturday with a small chance for showers on Sunday afternoon. This will give us an opportunity to dry out for a couple days.

Tracking the Tropics

A quick note on the tropics: Hurricane Melissa has inundated Jamaica and will cause catastrophic damage to the country over the next couple days with rainfall totals in excess of 30, which will lead to deadly flooding and mudslides. Michelle strengthened into a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Saturday and is forecast to intensify to a Category 5 with winds of 160mph before moving north, over Jamaica, splitting the Dominican Republic and Cuba, eventually moving to the northeast and out to sea, with no impacts to the U.S. Melissa is now the 4th major hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season and if it continues to intensify, as forecast, would be the 3rd category 5 of the year.

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Hurricane season will run through the end of November.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday praised US President Donald Trump's role in facilitating the landmark agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Both leaders proceeded to the bilateral meeting shortly after the signing ceremony, Malaysian state media reported. "You personally did call both Prime Ministers to urge for the speedy peace settlement... the world needs leaders who promote peace strongly," Anwar told Trump duing the signing ceremony. "When I first received your call, urging me to do more in supporting the peace initiative -- and you personally called both prime ministers to urge for a speedy settlement -- I would say thank you," the Malaysian PM said. Among those attending the ceremony US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D Kagan. Co-signed by Trump, the Thailand -Cambodia agreement seeks to officially end hostilities and establish a foundation for long-term stability in the region following a short but intense five-day conflict in July that resulted in dozens of casualties. The deal, dubbed the "KL PEACE Accord," was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, marking a formal step toward halting hostilities and restoring peace along their disputed border. Speaking at the event, US President Trump said, "This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand." He added, "Earlier this year, an armed clash broke out along the border of these two countries... because of America's strong commitment to stability and peace in this region... my administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating." Meaqnwhile, Trump also praised Anwar's successful mediation helped resolve the year-long dispute between the two Southeast Asian neighbours. "The two leaders (Thailand and Cambodia) have great respect for each other, but the Prime Minister (Anwar) played a very important role in helping convene the two sides for discussions here in Kuala Lumpur," Trump said before witnessing the signing of the agreement, formally titled 'Delivering Peace: Cambodia-Thailand Peace Deal.' Highlighting economic cooperation, Trump said, "Today, alongside this peace treaty, we are also signing a major trade deal with Cambodia, and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand." He concluded, "On behalf of the United States, I'm proud to help settle this conflict, and forge a future for the region where proud independent nations can prosper, and thrive in safety, security, and peace." The declaration reinforces the ceasefire understanding reached in July and formalises the establishment of an ASEAN Observer Team to monitor compliance and prevent renewed clashes in the border zones. Thailand and Cambodia have long been in dispute over their 817-kilometre border, with a central point of contention being ownership of the ancient Hindu temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear, perched on the Dangrek Mountains. Severe clashes near Preah Vihear in 2011 resulted in at least 16 deaths, prompting a UN Security Council meeting. (ANI)
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly (Ariz.) said he and his fellow senators were presented with evidence that does not back up the Trump administrations claims that targeted boats in the Caribbean Sea are smuggling fentanyl into the U.S.

We were presented some evidence that does not back up the story that the White House is telling to the American people, Kelly said to Martha Raddatz on ABC Newss This Week.

Since early September, President Trump has authorized military strikes on boats off the coast of Venezuela and in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 people. The administration has alleged the vessels had fentanyl on board but has not presented public evidence of such claims.

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Trump has also authorized CIA operations in Venezuela, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the South American coast Friday. The moves are part of an escalation between the U.S. and Venezuelas authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, increasing tensions throughout Latin America.

They have also garnered criticism from Democrats in Congress and select Republicans. On Oct. 17, Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) backed a measure to block the strikes, after a similar resolution was voted down 51-48 by the upper chamber the week prior.

Paul and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski were the only Republicans to vote in favor, while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote against the push.

According to an unclassified intelligence report by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2020, Mexico and China are the primary sources of fentanyl flowing into the U.S. The report also noted India is emerging as a source of the drug.

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Kelly said Sunday that while the evidence the administration presented showed there were drugs on the boats, it was not fentanyl.

This doesnt make the United States more safe. This makes us less safe, Kelly said. Starting a war against [a country] over what is a law enforcement action does not make any sense.

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EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  What do you get when you combine a car show with candy? A Trunk-or-Treat, of course! Hundreds of kids and their families headed to the Gateway Shopping Center on Sunday for the event.

It gave kids the chance to load up on treats from some of the more than 100 cars that participated. Children also had a chance to check out chickens and even pet them.

The groups Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Cars and Coffee and Long Live Playtime teamed up for the event.

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Residents take part in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

Very cool things like theres a chicken that you can pet over there. Theres also some toothbrushes that you can get. I need one because my toothbrushes are absolutely destroyed, Mattis Walter, a 10-year-old from Dallas, explained.

Weve been very busy. We had a lot of donations to pass out today. I collected. Most of its gone. We are down to just candy, Car Participant from Wyoming, Kylie Talipski, told 28/22 News.

I think it just gets more special every year because we get, you know, we have kids that are coming back now year after year that look forward to seeing certain cars or certain. What somebody, you know, what car that was here before, what decoration theyre doing, Event Host and Volunteer from Dallas Philip Walter said.

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This marked the third year for this trunk or treat event in Edwardsville.

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NEED TO KNOW

Lynette Campbell, 35, disappeared on May 31, 1996

Her decomposing remains were found in a nearby Florida river a few weeks later

Her case remains unsolved in 2025

Lynette Campbell was a 35-year-old single mother when she vanished on May 31, 1996.

The Salvation Army clerk was last seen at the Bridge Lounge in Tarpon Springs, a city on central Floridas Gulf Coast known for fishing and sponge diving.

A few days after she walked out of the home she shared with her mother and 10-year-old daughter, her mother reported her missing. She told police she last saw her daughter around 11 p.m. on May 31, before she left to meet up with a guy named "Mark."



Witnesses said they saw Campbell at the popular local bar with a different man she was dating.

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That man, says Paul Novack, a Florida attorney investigating the cold case, was 5'10" with a dark complexion and clean-shaven.

However, the man left before Lynette did, he says.

Eight days later, Lynettes 1978 Oldsmobile was discovered in the woods near the Anclote River  less than a mile from the bar.

Paramount the Bridge Lounge the Bridge Lounge

The car had been ditched, and it had been ransacked, Novack tells PEOPLE. Everything was strewn all over the place, possibly by vandals or homeless people that had an opportunity to take whatever they could.

Lynettes sister, Karin Miller, says when she learned that police found her sisters car she drove with her mother and daughter to the site. There, she says, she found the Little Mermaid children's blanket Lynette had bought for her daughter in a pile of trash. She also found her sisters shoes.

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I walked around the pile over towards the fence, and there were her shoes sitting right there as if they were placed there, she tells PEOPLE. Karin says somebody had also torn the license tag off the cars license plate, dug a hole behind the car and buried the tag.

It wasnt long afterwards that Lynettes decomposing body was found near the Anclote River bridge  not far from where a homeless man told police he saw two people rolling around or struggling on the ground next to a car around 2:15 a.m. that morning.

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He couldn't tell whether they were rolling around affectionately or having a fight, says Novack. And he continued on his way.



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Karin says her sister was establishing a new path forward after her divorce from her husband, who she started dating when she was a teenager. Lynette, she says, once was a homebody who didn't work much while she was married. After the divorce, she got her drivers license and started answering personal ads, going to bars and hanging out with friends.

Strangely, Lynette, who liked reading Tarot cards, seemed to predict her own death.

For two years before she died, she used to tell me, she told other people too," says Karin. "She said, 'it's like a dream, but it's not a dream. They punch me in the stomach, they choke me, and they throw me in the water.'

Over the years, the case has garnered multiple theories about what happened to the woman.

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It was a serial killer, it was a fisherman, it was a sponge diver, Novack says. And those types of people would be coming in and out of Tarpon Springs. Somebody might've been there for the night, gone the next day. You're never going to find them, that kind of theory. Then of course there was always who is Mark?

The investigation eventually stalled, and no arrests have ever been made.

Karin hopes that changes with the help of Novack, who began investigating four months ago after a podcaster asked him to take a look at the case after he and some friends helped solve the Danny Goldman murder in collaboration with the Miami-Dade Police Department.

I'm very grateful, Karin says about Novacks involvement. I was responsible for her ever since we were kids. I feel like if I was there with her, this would've never happened.

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Anyone with information about Lynettes murder is being asked to contact Paul Novack at paul@paulnovacklaw.com. Additionally, anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Pinellas County.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office confirmed to PEOPLE that Campbell's murder is "still an open and active investigation assigned to our Cold Case detectives."

Read the original article on People
This article was originally published in Chalkbeat.

New York Citys troubled yellow school bus system is in the spotlight once again, with threats of a service disruption and looming mass layoffs due to a contract dispute with the city.

The citys largest school bus companies notified the state Department of Labor that they are preparing to shut down operations and lay off employees on Nov. 1 if they dont receive a contract extension, the New York Post first reported Monday.

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Lawmakers, advocates, and city officials immediately condemned the bus companies threat, with schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos calling the move deeply upsetting and an act of bad faith.

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The timing of the bus companys push, just before Novembers mayoral election, for a five-year extension that would outlast the incoming mayors first term, effectively bypassed the oversight of voters and elected officials who manage these vital services, Aviles-Ramos said.

Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani agreed, telling reporters at an unrelated Tuesday press conference that the oversight panel in charge of approving the contract is right to not give in to the threats.

The bus companies argue they have no choice because their temporary contract is expiring and they can no longer operate without a longer-term agreement.

The episode is the latest in a long history of conflicts over how to manage the sprawling yellow bus system, which relies on a patchwork of largely for-profit companies to ferry some 150,000 students across nearly 19,000 routes each day. All told, the city spent nearly $2 billion on school busing last year.

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Parents and advocates hope this clash can draw renewed attention to problems in a system notorious for delayed and no-show buses, long rides without sufficient AC, and a lack of transparency.

Theres this tug of war over the money, said Sara Catalinotto, the executive director of the advocacy group Parents for Improving School Transportation. But this is a service, and without it these kids are discriminated against.

Whats the history behind these bus contracts?

The current dispute springs from a disagreement over how to handle the citys legacy school bus contracts, which date back to the 1970s and are typically renewed every five years. They most recently expired in June.

In the months before the contracts expired, city Education Department officials signaled they were interested in rebidding the contracts, or soliciting offers from a new set of companies to more efficiently modernize buses, increase service, and strengthen sanctions for contract violations.

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Simply renewing the existing contracts gives the city far less negotiating ability  because we have to continue with this same set of vendors, Emma Vadehra, the Education Departments former deputy chancellor, told the City Council in May.

But city officials say they cant move forward with rebidding without the option to offer something called the Employee Protection Provision, or EPP.

That protection  built into the legacy contracts for decades  ensures unionized bus workers laid off by one company are prioritized for hiring by other companies, at their existing wages. Drivers and union officials consider the provision a dealbreaker  and would almost certainly strike without it.

But city officials say a 2011 state court decision prohibits them from inserting EPP into new contracts if they rebid  and only allows them to keep EPP if they extend existing contracts. The only fix, city officials say, is changing state law  an effort that has so far stalled in Albany.

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Without that state legislation, city officials faced a choice: inking another five-year extension or pushing for a shorter-term contract in the hopes state lawmakers quickly clear the way for a rebid.

Who is opposed to a five-year contract renewal?

While the city moved ahead with negotiations for a five-year extension, a growing number of advocates, parents, and lawmakers flooded meetings of the Panel for Educational Policy, or PEP  the body that approves Education Department contracts  to push for a shorter-term contract.

Do not vote yes to extend for some long period of time, said Christi Angel, a parent leader in District 75, which serves students with significant disabilities who disproportionately rely on busing, at the September PEP meeting. Roughly 43% of students who ride school buses have disabilities. Dont reward bad behavior, Angel said. This is a broken system.

Their arguments quickly gained traction in the PEP, where multiple members expressed their opposition to a five-year extension at Septembers meeting.

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The panel is expected to vote on the five-year extension next month, after the mayoral election, said PEP Chair Greg Faulkner, though he would prefer to wait until the new mayor takes office in January.

Shouldnt the mayor-elect have some say in a billion dollar contract? said Faulkner. I just think thats sound governance.

Why are the city and bus companies at odds right now?

Over the summer, the city and bus companies agreed to two emergency extensions to keep service running, the second of which expires on Oct. 31.

Without a guarantee of an active contract after that date  since the PEP is not voting this month  the bus companies claim they have no choice but to consider layoffs.

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The city, however, had long planned to offer an emergency extension for November and December, and officials delivered the agreement to the bus companies on Monday, Aviles-Ramos said.

The PEP only votes on those extensions after theyve already taken effect, Faulkner noted.

The bus companies, he said, are attempting to create confusion in order to hold us hostage for a longer term agreement.

The bus companies reject that assertion and say they simply cannot survive any longer on emergency extensions, which dont allow them the kind of long-term certainty they need to operate their businesses.

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Banks will not finance 30-day extensions, buses cant be bought, payroll cannot be paid, said Sean Crowley, a lawyer representing several companies. Enough is enough!

The companies claim that they have already worked out the contours of a new five-year contract extension with the city and are just awaiting the PEPs approval, though Faulkner said the Education Department hasnt yet presented the PEP with the contract.

What happens from here?

A spokesperson confirmed that several bus companies had received the citys offer for another emergency contract extension and were reviewing the documents.

Aviles-Ramos said the city is working to get alternative transportation services in place if that falls through.

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But even if the bus companies and city do manage to avoid a service shutdown Nov. 1, the episode raises larger questions about how to make lasting improvements in the troubled system. Ongoing driver shortages make that task even harder.

The bus companies argue that the five-year contract agreement they sketched out with the city would achieve many of those goals, including stricter accountability to ensure drivers use GPS tracking, more staffing to field parent complaints, and monetary penalties for companies that underperform, according to testimony submitted to the PEP in September.

But critics continue to push for a shorter-term extension to give the state legislature time to pass EPP legislation, and clear the way for a rebid.

Mamdani has not offered specifics about how he would manage the school bus system, but said Tuesday that given the many concerns about yellow bus service, any contract extension deserves a hard look.

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Some reformers point to changes already underway. Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, the city bought out the largest bus company and turned it over to a nonprofit overseen by the city.

Matt Berlin, the CEO of that nonprofit, called NYCSBUS, and former director of the citys Office of Pupil Transportation, believes the nonprofit model has a lot to offer the city and could expand.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has said it is withdrawing all its forces from Turkiye to northern Iraq as part of a peace process with Turkiye, bringing an end to a months-long disarming process following a four-decade armed conflict that killed tens of thousands of people.

We are implementing the withdrawal of all our forces within Turkiye, the Kurdish PKK said in a statement read out on Sunday in the Qandil area of northern Iraq, according to a journalist with the AFP news agency present at the ceremony.

It released a picture showing 25 fighters  among them eight women  who had already travelled there from Turkiye.

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A spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) party posted on X that the PKKs announcement falls within the framework of the Terrorism-Free Turkiye process.

Omer Celik said the government considered the announcement and its continuation a strategic and historic step.

The PKK, which formally renounced its 40-year armed struggle in May, is currently making the transition from armed rebellion to democratic politics in a bid to end one of the regions longest conflicts, which killed some 50,000 people.

But it urged Turkiye to take the necessary steps to push forward the process, which began a year ago when Ankara offered an unexpected olive branch to its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan.

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The legal and political steps required by the process  and the laws of freedom and democratic integration necessary to participate in democratic politics must be put in place without delay, it said.

The group has said it wants to pursue a democratic struggle to defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in line with a historic call by Ocalan.

In July, the group held a symbolic ceremony in the mountains of northern Iraq, at which it destroyed a first batch of weapons, which was hailed by Turkiye as an irreversible turning point.

Today is a new day; a new page has opened in history. Today, the doors of a great, powerful Turkiye have been flung wide open, Erdogan said at the time.

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The end of Turkiyes conflict with the armed group could have wider consequences for the region, including with neighbouring Syria, where the United States is allied with Syrian Kurdish forces, which Ankara deems a PKK offshoot.




The PKK said it will withdraw militants from Turkey as part of a disarmament process, urging Ankara to take legal steps toward Kurdish integration.

The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group said on Sunday it was withdrawing from Turkey as part of a disarmament process it is coordinating with the government, and pressed Ankara for concrete measures to move the process along.

The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, decided in May to disarm and disband after a call to end its armed struggle from its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan. The fighting has killed more than 40,000 people.

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In July, the group, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, European Union, burned some weapons in a symbolic act of good faith.

Decided to withdraw all of its militants - PKK

In a statement from northern Iraq on Sunday, the PKK said it had decided to withdraw all of its militants to lay the foundations of what it called a "free, democratic and brotherly life," while carrying the processes of disarmament and integration into a next phase.

It said the move showed the PKK's commitment to the process and that the Turkish government should now also take "legal and political" steps without delay. Ankara should pave the way for the PKK's transition into "democratic politics" through laws on integration, it added.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gestures outside the White House ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump, September 25, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST)

Omer Celik, spokesman for President Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party, said on X that the PKK's withdrawal decision marked a concrete result of the government's "terror-free Turkey" goal, and would help shape the "positive framework" to be established by a parliamentary commission for the legal leg of the process.

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The PKK has been based in northern Iraq after being pushed well beyond Turkey's southeastern frontier in recent years. Turkey's military carries out regular strikes on PKK bases in the region and has established several military outposts there.

Over the years, the PKK's goals shifted from seeking an independent state to seeking greater Kurdish rights and limited autonomy in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey.

Turkey says it protects Kurdish rights but that it will not allow separatist moves.

The end of NATO-member Turkey's conflict with the PKK could have consequences across the region, including in neighboring Syria, where the United States is allied with Syrian Kurdish forces that Ankara deems a PKK offshoot.
A Kurdish militant group that waged a 40-year insurgency against the Turkish state will withdraw from the country as part of a disarmament process being coordinated with the government.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) decided in May to disarm and disband after a call to end its insurgency from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. The decades-long fighting has killed more than 40,000 people.

In July, the outlawed group, which is designated a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and European Union, burned some weapons in a symbolic act of good faith.

The PKK disarmed and disbanded in May after a call to end its insurgency from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan - Thaier Al-Sudani/REUTERS

In a statement read during an event in the Qandil Mountains, the groups stronghold in northern Iraq, the PKK said it had decided to withdraw all of its militants from Turkey to lay the foundations for a free, democratic and brotherly life.

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It said the step reflected the groups commitment to the disarmament and integration process, adding that the Turkish government should now pave the way for the PKKs transition into democratic politics by passing integration laws.

As a senior official read the statement aloud at Sundays event, about two dozen PKK fighters stood in formation, with a large image of Ocalan prominently displayed in the background.

We are on the path to executing leader Ocalans peace project, a PKK spokesperson said.

Therefore, the other side, Turkey, must carry out political changes and prepare a suitable environment for the project to be implemented, Hiwa said.

In July the militant group burned weapons in a symbolic act of good faith - Thaier Al-Sudani/REUTERS

Omer Celik, spokesperson for President Tayyip Erdogans ruling AK Party, said on X that the PKKs withdrawal decision was a concrete result of the governments terror-free Turkey goal, and would help shape the positive framework to be established by a parliamentary commission for the legal leg of the process.

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The PKK has been based in northern Iraq after being pushed well beyond Turkeys southeastern frontier in recent years. Turkeys military carries out regular strikes on PKK bases in the region and established several military outposts there.

Over the years, the PKKs goals shifted from seeking an independent state to seeking greater Kurdish rights and limited autonomy in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey.

Turkey says it protects Kurdish rights but that it will not allow separatist moves.

The end of Turkeys conflict with the PKK could have consequences across the region, including in neighbouring Syria, where the US is allied with Syrian Kurdish forces that Ankara deems a PKK offshoot.

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Mashaal praised the "resistance" of youth on university campuses, and rejected Hamas disarmament as tantamount to "taking away our souls," in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday. A slight majority, 51%, of Americans between the ages of 18-21 are not only involved in the Palestinian cause, but are active in Hamas "resistance," leader of the terror group Khaled Mashaal said in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his "decisive leadership and steadfast commitment" in supporting lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand. "On behalf of the Cambodian people, I wish to express my deepest gratitude to President Donald Trump for his decisive leadership and steadfast commitment to supporting the lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand, and for his tireless efforts to make it a reality," he told Trump during the signing ceremony. The ceremony on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur marked the signing of an expansion of a ceasefire that Trump had helped negotiate earlier, aimed at ending the border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. Speaking ahead of the signing, Trump called the day "momentous" and said, "This is so exciting because we did something that a lot of people said couldn't be done. And we saved maybe millions of lives on this one piece deal itself. And I'll tell you what makes me so happy is the two countries we're dealing with and the third that helped so much, I appreciate so much. Maybe it couldn't have been done without you, but they really like each other. I'm not used to that. When I do these deals. Usually there's a lot of hatred. They liked each other, so it made it a little bit easier. But millions of people are alive today because of this peace treaty." He added, "This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand." The US President watched as Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the deal. Hun Manet called it a "historic day," while Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement establishes "the building blocks for a lasting peace." Under the accord, Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been in custody. Both nations also began removing heavy weaponry from the disputed 800-kilometre (500-mile) border, a region that has experienced intermittent confrontations over the decades. Alongside the ceasefire, Trump also signed trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia, as well as a critical minerals deal with Thailand. The signing was his first official engagement since arriving at the ASEAN Summit. Trump's regional visit is set to continue with stops in Japan and South Korea, and may include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. (ANI)
QANDIL, Iraq (AP)  A militant Kurdish group announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing its fighters from Turkey to Iraq as part of a peace effort with the Turkish government.

The statement delivered in northern Iraq by the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, follows a symbolic disarmament ceremony held months earlier, where a group of its fighters began laying down their weapons to show its commitment to the peace process.

The group has been waging a decades-long insurgency in Turkey that has led to tens of thousands of deaths since the 1980s.

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In a news conference, Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdish umbrella organization, the Kurdistan Communities Union, said all PKK forces in Turkey were being withdrawn to areas in northern Iraq "to avoid clashes or provocations.

PKK calls for concessions from Turkey

In a statement read in Turkish, Ok said the move was made with the approval of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Vejin Dersim, a member of the PKK's women's wing, read the statement in Kurdish.

Also, similar regulatory measures are being taken with regard to those positions along the border which could carry the risk of clashes and possible provocations, Ok said.

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The statement also called for legal and political concessions on the part of the Turkish state.

"It is quite clear that we are committed to the resolutions of the 12th congress and decisive in implementing them," the statement said. "However, for these resolutions to be implemented, certain legal and political approaches ... need to be adopted."

A group of some 25 fighters who had recently arrived from Turkey were present at the news conference.

The PKK announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm.

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Turkey says decision is a significant step

In Turkey, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party, said the PKKs announcement was a step toward the states long-term goal of eradicating security threats in Turkey.

The PKKs announcement that it is withdrawing from Turkey and taking new steps toward disarmament are concrete results of the Terror-free Turkey road map, he wrote on X.

He warned against external and internal sabotage efforts, saying maximum care must be taken to protect the process from any kind of provocation.

Efkan Ala, a ruling party deputy chairman, described the announcement as the completion of another significant phase in the elimination of terrorism.

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Erdogan to discuss peace efforts with Kurdish legislators

Sunday's announcement comes days before Erdogan is scheduled to hold his third meeting with a group Kurdish legislators who have been holding talks with Ocalan on the prison island of Imrali.

A separate 51-member parliamentary committee was formed in August to propose and supervise legal and political reforms aimed at advancing the peace process following the PKKs decision to disband and disarm. Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

PKK spokesman Zagros Hiwa said Sunday's announcement aimed to show the PKKs determination to move the process forward.

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This is a one-sided step to show our assertiveness and seriousness that we wholeheartedly want this process to move forward, he told The Associated Press.

Hiwa, however, also expressed disappointment with the Turkish government, accusing it of not taking steps to advance the process, including allowing Kurdish to be spoken in Parliament and improving Ocalans conditions.

So far, there have been no signs that the Turkish state has changed its mentality or politics, he said. They havent even allowed the peace initiators to speak in Kurdish at the parliament. This is a sign that their denial politics is still ongoing and leader Ocalan is still in prison from 27 years.

Nuda Arin, one of the 25 fighters who arrived from Turkey, said: We are ready to move by leader Ocalans word and do everything to make this process successful.

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The PKK launched its armed insurgency against Turkey initially with the aim of establishing a Kurdish state in the southeast of the country. Over time, the objective evolved into a campaign for autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkey.

The group is considered to be a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

Previous peace efforts between Turkey and the PKK have ended in failure  most recently in 2015.

___

Kiper reported from Bodrum, Turkey. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

___

This story corrects the spelling of PKK spokemans family name to Hiwa.
QANDIL, Iraq  A militant Kurdish group announced on Sunday that it is withdrawing its fighters from Turkey to Iraq as part of a peace effort with the Turkish government.

The statement delivered in northern Iraq by the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, follows a symbolic disarmament ceremony held months earlier, where a group of its fighters began laying down their weapons to show its commitment to the peace process.

The group has been waging a decades-long insurgency in Turkey that has led to tens of thousands of deaths since the 1980s.

Advertisement Advertisement

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In a news conference, Sabri Ok, a member of the Kurdish umbrella organization, the Kurdistan Communities Union, said all PKK forces in Turkey were being withdrawn to areas in northern Iraq to avoid clashes or provocations.

In a statement read in Turkish, Ok said the move was made with the approval of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan. Vejin Dersim, a member of the PKKs womens wing, read the statement in Kurdish.

Also, similar regulatory measures are being taken with regard to those positions along the border which could carry the risk of clashes and possible provocations, Ok said.

The statement also called for legal and political concessions on the part of the Turkish state.

Advertisement Advertisement

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It is quite clear that we are committed to the resolutions of the 12th congress and decisive in implementing them, the statement said. However, for these resolutions to be implemented, certain legal and political approaches ... need to be adopted.

A group of some 25 fighters who had recently arrived from Turkey were present at the news conference.

The PKK announced in May that it would disband and renounce armed conflict, ending four decades of hostilities. The move came after Ocalan, who has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999, urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm.

In Turkey, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans ruling party, said the PKKs announcement was a step toward the states long-term goal of eradicating security threats in Turkey.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The PKKs announcement that it is withdrawing from Turkey and taking new steps toward disarmament are concrete results of the Terror-free Turkey road map, he wrote on X.

He warned against external and internal sabotage efforts, saying maximum care must be taken to protect the process from any kind of provocation.

Efkan Ala, a ruling party deputy chairman, described the announcement as the completion of another significant phase in the elimination of terrorism.

Sundays announcement comes days before Erdogan is scheduled to hold his third meeting with a group Kurdish legislators who have been holding talks with Ocalan on the prison island of Imrali.

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A separate 51-member parliamentary committee was formed in August to propose and supervise legal and political reforms aimed at advancing the peace process following the PKKs decision to disband and disarm. Their next meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

PKK spokesman Zagros Hiwar said Sundays announcement aimed to show the PKKs determination to move the process forward.

This is a one-sided step to show our assertiveness and seriousness that we wholeheartedly want this process to move forward, he told The Associated Press.

Hiwar, however, also expressed disappointment with the Turkish government, accusing it of not taking steps to advance the process, including allowing Kurdish to be spoken in Parliament and improving Ocalans conditions.

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So far, there have been no signs that the Turkish state has changed its mentality or politics, he said. They havent even allowed the peace initiators to speak in Kurdish at the parliament. This is a sign that their denial politics is still ongoing and leader Ocalan is still in prison from 27 years.




LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH)  A historic Lancaster church will undergo a $4 million transformation to become a dynamic mixed-use facility with a co-working space, a makers kitchen and restaurant, and new retail opportunities.

The project will transform Mills Memorial Church at 402 N. Broad St., founded in 1898 and last used for worship in 2019. Backed by a $700,000 JobsOhio Vibrant Community Grant, the redevelopment aims to honor the nearly 125-year legacy of the church, while creating a dynamic space that serves Lancasters 40,000 residents, a news release said.

The Mills Memorial Church has stood in Lancaster for well over a century, and I commend the communitys vision and the partnerships created to renew and transform this historic structure, said Gov. Mike DeWine in the release. The revitalization of the Mills Memorial church will serve future generations by restoring an important part of Lancasters heritage while creating opportunities that will attract jobs and commercial activity downtown.

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Livewell to expand Ohio pawprint with Dublin animal hospital, Westerville urgent care

Once completed, the buildings co-working space will be Lancasters first, the release said, while the makers kitchen will give food-based startups access to the tools and certifications they need to scale their operations. Alongside new retail and dining, these additions will bring more activity downtown and create better opportunities for residents and visitors.

The redevelopment project marks a collaboration between Columbus-based real estate firm Trivium Development, the city of Lancaster, the Lancaster Port Authority, Destination Downtown Lancaster, One Columbus at the Columbus Partnership and JobsOhio.

City shutters southwest Columbus flop house for alleged drug activity, violence

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We are thrilled to bring such an exciting project to Lancaster, said Tim Spencer, president of Trivium. Revitalizing this historic church into a place for innovation, dining and community gathering is both a privilege and an opportunity to contribute to the citys momentum. We believe this space will quickly become a centerpiece for Lancasters growing downtown.

A rendering of the redeveloped Mills Memorial Church at 402 N. Broad St. in Lancaster. (Courtesy Photo/The Columbus Partnership)

Lancaster is on the rise, said Lancaster Mayor Don McDaniel. By transforming this historic landmark into a hub for entrepreneurs and community activity, we are honoring our past while building a vibrant future.

Its unclear when the redevelopment will finish construction and reopen as the mixed-use facility.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Police broke up a large crowd Saturday night of what they say is about 1,000 people near Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles.

The crowd appeared to come from Thrasher Magazine's "Halloween Hell Bomb" skater event.

Officers responded to the scene after being called by the L.A. Department of Transportation when the large crowds began to flood the streets near Grand Park, according to LAPD.

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LAPD says that when officers arrived, the crowd started throwing rocks and bottles. Police called for backup and formed a skirmish line. They were able to disperse the crowd using less lethal rounds.

During the incident, a Waymo car got stuck in the middle of the crowd and was damaged, LAPD said.

At least one person was arrested.

No further details were immediately known.

This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.
DENVER (KDVR)  On Saturday morning, The Center on Colfax, a resource center for members of the LGBTQ community, said it had to close its doors for the remainder of the day, after learning that The Center on Colfaxs building was vandalized, according to a release on the organizations website.

The Center on Colfax said that somebody tried to throw a large rock through three of the windows near the main entrance of the building. The rocks being thrown triggered the alarm, and members of the organization were alerted.

Volunteers go door-to-door in Golden to install, replace hundreds of smoke detectors

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FOX31 reached out to the Denver Police Department, which confirmed that it is investigating the incident.

The incident is reported, and Denver Police is investigating it. At this time, we can not confirm the alleged suspect, as investigators are looking further into it, said a spokesperson for the Denver Police Department in a statement to FOX31.

The incident was caught on the security cameras of the building.

It was purposeful, said Kim Salvaggio, CEO for The Center on Colfax, in a news release. As a community, we know that these moments are not simply random acts of mischief. While we may never know the intent behind this vandalism, we understand it within a broader history of attacks and intimidation that our community has faced.

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Saturday programming was canceled, but the organization said that future programming will be unaffected.

Our commitment is unwavering  this is what resilience looks like. We will not disappear, Salvaggio said in the release.

The front windows of the building are boarded up, while the organization begins repairs. The Center on Colfax said that it intends to make additional investments in safety and security.

We know these changes can be difficult and even triggering to see. Please know that these decisions are made with deep care and reflection. Unfortunately, we are in a time when we must prioritize security in new and more visible ways  but we will do so while continuing to center community, connection, and care, said Salvaggio.

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While the repairs to the windows are being made, the boards covering the damage display the messages, You wont break our soul, and Broken windows never break community.

The organization said that every challenge it faces only reaffirms its dedication to inclusivity and authenticity.

These messages are not just declarations  they are reflections of our mission: to engage, empower, enrich, and advance the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community of Colorado. That mission is more than a statement; it is a living promise  one built on generations of courage and love. Every challenge we face reminds us why we exist: to create a world where everyone can live authentically, safely, and with pride, said Salvaggio.

The Center on Colfax has been in operation for 50 years.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Sunday marked the last day of the 2025 season to enjoy the Wicker Park farmers market.

With Halloween less than a week away, the Northwest Side community wasted no time getting into the spooky spirit.

The Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce hosted its Halloween-themed farmers market and "Meet Me on Milwaukee" events on Sunday.

This year, there are over 60 vendors at the market, Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce Pamela Maass said.

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Some of the spooky activities include trick-or-treating, costumes, a scavenger hunt, face painting and more.

"Our team is dressing up as villains, so I know I'm currently a pumpkin, but don't get me wrong, I will be Captain Hook later today," Maass said.

Walgreens will also host a free flu shot and COVID vaccine clinic.

Nicole Kmiotek is the founder of the Coffee Nook, a coffee company that's grown with this farmers market.

"I am working in to a brick-and-mortar and being here I have had the opportunity to build a client base, try new recipes, perfect my own in-house syrups. I have a chai coming to market," Kmiotek said.

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The farmers market is happening near Damen and Schiller.

Heads up! Parking is expected to be tight; organizers encourage drivers to arrive early.

SEE ALSO | CTA riders find alternate travel methods amid weekend halt of trains on elevated Loop tracks
LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56)  Deputies in Laurel County wrote that Jack Halbrook had been found on Saturday evening following a brief search.

Authorities said Halbrook had last been seen around 6 p.m. on Oct. 25 in the area of Drake Lane, just two miles outside London.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

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Officials noted that Halbrook had been driving a red Ford F-150 pickup truck with Kentucky tags. The license plate reads 629-YNB.

Halbrook was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 180 pounds, with gray hair above his ears and blue eyes. He was wearing a dark blue UK shirt and blue jeans.

A Golden Alert was issued on Saturday evening in Laurel County for Jack D. Halbrook, 82. (Laurel County Sheriffs Office)

Anyone with information that could help find Halbrook is asked to call the sheriffs office at (606) 878-6600 or email g.acciardo@laurelcountysheriff.gov.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Lawmakers in Pakistan are weighing their options regarding legislation that would strengthen restrictions on the sale and marketing of e-cigarettes and vape products to anyone under the age of 18.

As reported by Pro Pakistani, the bill was introduced by Senator Sarmad Ali in an effort to crack down on underage users vaping. While the country has previously outlawed vape use in children, officials will soon debate whether more can be done regarding how vapes and e-cigarettes are legally sold in the country.

According to the proposed ban, any electronic product containing nicotine would be required to be sold in child-resistant packaging. Vapes would also need to be labeled clearly enough to ensure that only those over the age of 18 are legally able to purchase vapes in Pakistan. Stores within 50 meters of nearby schools would also be prohibited from selling electronic nicotine products.

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In a recent study published in the journal Future Science OA, a team of researchers identified a growing concern of underage vape users in Pakistan. "The availability of flavored liquids among vaping products in Pakistan makes it especially appealing to the youth, who are the primary target market," the study reads. "Other factors such as peer pressure, the absence of social stigma, and easy accessibility contribute to its popularity among young people."

The proposed bill would also look to limit how vapes are marketed to consumers. If passed, all forms of advertising and promotion of electronic nicotine products would be outlawed. This would specifically target billboards, print media, and online advertisements.

Anyone found in violation of the ban would be hit with a fine of over $175. However, repeat offenders may face fines double that amount.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that vaping can impact underage users by harming brain development. This could result in a higher risk of addiction as well as impaired concentration, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Vaping also poses significant risks to respiratory health, potentially causing lung damage and chronic issues.

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Plastic pollution and e-waste from discarded vape products can lead to the leaching of toxic chemicals and potential fire hazards. The plastic in vapes can slowly break down over time into microplastics, which can find their way into the soil and water.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The Alabama Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit the city of Birmingham filed against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway that claimed he refused to accept inmates from the city.

The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office announced Sunday the court ruled the Jefferson County Jail can choose not to accept inmates arrested by Birmingham police officers without a valid warrant. The lawsuit was filed in civil court in February 2024.

The lawsuit alleged Birmingham police officers arrested several people on misdemeanor and felony charges in October 2023. When officers transported them to the Jefferson County Jail, staff at the jail informed them it could not accept people who did not have a warrant issued by a Jefferson County magistrate.

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Randall L. Woodfin, Mayor of the City, and Scott Thurmond, Chief of the Birmingham Police Department, contacted Sheriff Pettway shortly thereafter and held a conference call to discuss said policy, the lawsuit stated. During the conference call, Sheriff Pettway confirmed that it was his policy to refuse to accept into his custody at the Jefferson County Jail prisoners transported thereto as the result of a warrantless arrest, even in those instances when the offense was committed in the presence of Birmingham Police Officers. Sheriff Pettway also refused to accept into his custody at the Jefferson County Jail prisoners arrested by Birmingham Police Officers within the police jurisdiction of the City for misdemeanor offenses under State law.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Birmingham suing Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway over allegedly not accepting inmates arrested by city

City officials claimed it discussed the policy with Pettway until December 2023, when Pettway allegedly agreed to change the policy. Pettway then allegedly told Thurmond on around January 10, 2024, the jail could no longer accept city inmates.

The JCSO stated the lawsuit was filed after the termination of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the county to temporarily hold city inmates. The JCSO claimed the agreement ended after the parties failed to reach terms on compensation and operational responsibilities.

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This decision affirms what weve maintained from the beginning, that the Jefferson County

Sheriffs Office operates under the rule of law, not political pressure, Pettway said in a statement. We have always been willing to work with the City of Birmingham, but any agreement must be fair to Jefferson County taxpayers and follow proper legal standards. My priority is to keep our facilities secure and our operations transparent, so that every resident of Jefferson County knows were doing things the right way.

The JCSO stated the Alabama Supreme Court determined though a trial courts reasoning for dismissal was procedurally incorrect, its ruling was valid because no law requires a sheriff to accept those arrested by a city without a warrant.

Our mission is to serve the entire county with integrity, Pettway stated. We will

continue to partner with municipalities on lawful, effective approaches that keep our communities safe.

The city of Birmingham has not released a response regarding the lawsuits dismissal.

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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 CBS 42.




A staffing shortage tied to the ongoing federal government shutdown brought Los Angeles International Airport to a halt Sunday morning, grounding flights from Oakland and delaying travelers across the Bay Area.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued the ground stop just before 8:30 a.m. after reporting inadequate staffing at the air traffic facilities that manage Southern California's busy airspace.

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The order affected flights bound for LAX from areas controlled by the Los Angeles and Oakland air traffic centers, including those departing from Oakland International Airport.

The FAA said planes headed for Los Angeles were held at their origin airports starting at 8:42 a.m., with average delays of about an hour and 40 minutes.

Travelers move through Los Angeles International Airport in July. The FAA issued a ground stop for LAX on Sunday morning due to staffing issues. (Luke Johnson/Tribune News Service)





The restriction was lifted around 10:30 a.m., but the agency warned of further effects as the nation's air traffic controllers experience staffing issues caused by working without pay during the shutdown.

Los Angeles World Airports confirmed that the stoppage began around 8:45 a.m.

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By 4 p.m. Sunday, FlightAware's status page showed 82 delays had occurred Sunday at Oakland International and 212 at San Francisco International Airport, though there were few cancellations at either airport.

The FAA had said a "ground stop or delay program" could extend to SFO later in the afternoon, depending on staffing levels. There was no indication that that occurred, but at 2 p.m., the FAA said that inbound flights to SFO were delayed for another reason: weather. The delays averaged 44 minutes, with departures to SFO within about 1,600 miles impacted, the FAA said. Rain descended on the Bay Area by early afternoon.

A sign directs travelers to terminals at Oakland International Airport last year. (Bronte Wittpenn/S.F. Chronicle)





U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Sunday that more controllers are calling in sick as they continue to work without pay.

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"Just yesterday ... we had 22 staffing triggers," Duffy said on Fox News. "That's one of the highest that we have seen in the system since the shutdown began. And that's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin."

The FAA said similar staffing-related disruptions across the country.

Bay Area travelers heading to or through Los Angeles were urged to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

The FAA added that further restrictions at SFO remain possible.

This article originally published at LAX flights resume after FAA staffing shortage causes halt.
Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai joined Cambodian leaders on Sunday to sign a historic peace agreement aimed at ending the recent military conflict between the two nations, during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur. During the signing ceremony, Phumtham expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his role in facilitating the peace process, saying, "I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for your personal dedication to peace between our two countries." The accord was witnessed by Trump, who hailed the efforts of both sides, calling it a "momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia." The US President also co-signed the ceasefire pact alongside the two leaders. Brokered with the involvement of the United States, the agreement aims to end hostilities and lay the groundwork for lasting stability in the region. It comes after a brief but intense five-day clash in July that claimed several lives and heightened tensions along the border. Under the terms of the accord, Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been in custody, while both nations began withdrawing heavy weapons from their 800-kilometre border, a region long marred by sporadic clashes. The signing also underscores Washington's continued engagement in Southeast Asia, with Trump reaffirming the US commitment to promoting peace and regional security as he concluded the first leg of his Asian tour. After Malaysia, Trump will fly to Japan to meet the new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss trade agreements and security cooperation before heading to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju, meet President Lee Jae Myung, and address business leaders. A crucial bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled, focusing on trade tensions, rare earth exports, and fentanyl cooperation. Through these engagements, Trump seeks to negotiate favourable trade agreements, reduce tariffs, and boost US exports, with his return to Asia potentially redefining regional trade and diplomacy. (ANI)
A Ballard kennel has closed its doors for good after a former employee was accused of beating a dog to death.

Lazy Dog Crazy Dog sent out an email to customers about the closure on Sunday, saying it was effective starting at 6 p.m.

Over the past two weeks, we have received hundreds of menacing messages and threats of violence directed at our employees and our business, the email stated.

It went on to state that the threats came in all forms: email, social media, phone calls, and even some in-person confrontations.

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The safety of our employees, the dogs in our care, and our customers are paramount  we simply cannot continue to safely offer our services under these conditions," stated the email.

The company apologized to customers whose holiday plans may be impacted by the abrupt closure.

We will deeply miss caring for your dogs and being part of the Ballard community, the note read.

Customers with prepaid credit are asked to contact the business at play@lazycrazydog.com to get a refund.

On October 13, KIRO 7 reported that former employee Dejean Cornelius Bowens pleaded not guilty to an animal cruelty charge.

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He is accused of beating a black lab named Mitch to death on August 3.

According to a report from the Seattle Police Department (SPD), Bowens became irritated after Mitch spilled or knocked something over, and Bowens allegedly lost control and kicked the dog multiple times, causing internal bleeding.

According to that report, Mitch wasnt taken to the vet for almost an hour after the incident.

Veterinary staff told police that Mitch was not able to stand on his own and his abdomen was full of blood. Despite five rounds of CPR, Mitch passed away.

We are heartbroken and outraged by what happened. The actions of this former employee are in complete violation of our values, our mission, and the standard of care weve upheld for over 16 years while serving tens of thousands of dogs. We continue to support law enforcement and hope that justice is served for the dog, read a statement from the business.

Bowens next court date is scheduled for November 26.
A top journal publisher has been accused of abandoning science in favour of a social justice agenda.

Nature, which produces several leading science journals, faced criticism over its position on equality, diversity and inclusion from leading scientists.

Prof Anna Krylov, a professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California, shared an open letter online encouraging fellow scientists to boycott Nature until it recommits to scientific excellence.

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She said: The Nature group has abandoned its mission in favour of advancing a social justice agenda.

She accused it of trying to play identity politics and promote specific demographics instead of focusing on science, which is supposed to be guided by a commitment to finding objective truth.

The letter was backed by Prof Richard Dawkins, an expert in evolutionary biology, who said on X: Nature used to be the worlds most prestigious science journal.

Now its one of many accused of favouring authors because of their identity group rather than the excellence and importance of their science.

Prof Richard Dawkins claimed that the Nature journal has now become one of many accused of favouring authors because of their identity group - John Lawrence

Prof Krylov claimed Nature had institutionalised censorship, implemented policies that have sacrificed merit in favour of identity-based criteria, and injected social engineering.

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The result is that papers published in Nature journals can no longer be regarded as rigorous science, she added.

She was writing in response to an invitation to peer-review a study for a publication in Nature Communications by one of its editors.

It is standard practice for journals to require research to be peer-reviewed, which is when experts in the field critically evaluate work to assess its quality, accuracy, and suitability for publication.

She said: I have decided not to engage with journals belonging to the Nature group in any professional capacity in the future because the group has adopted policies and practices that are incompatible with the mission of a scientific publisher.

Inclusion over scientific rigour

Prof Krylov cited examples of guidelines and policies whereby the publisher appears to prioritise inclusion over scientific rigour.

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For example, she stated that the Springer Nature Diversity Commitment published in 2019 tells editors to intentionally and proactively reach out to women researchers, while authors are instructed to suggest reviewers with diversity in mind.

She added: I cannot stop but wonder  was I asked to review the manuscript because of my expertise in the subject matter or because of my reproductive organs?

Prof Krylov also criticised one of the publications, Nature Reviews Psychology, for encouraging authors to practice citation justice.

She said it was to social-engineer their manuscripts bibliography to promote members of favoured identity groups, and that it was particularly harmful because it undermines the rigour and reliability of published research.

The integrity of science is compromised

Prof Krylov, who is an expert in theoretical and computational quantum chemistry, said when references were being selected based upon demographics, that the integrity of science itself is compromised.

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She also said Nature Human Behavior had published a censorship manifesto in which they openly declare their intent to censor legitimate research findings that they deem potentially harmful to certain groups.

She said it was arrogant for editors to presume they have the expertise to make such judgments and antithetical to the production of knowledge.

A spokesman for Springer Nature, which published the journals, said: A citation diversity statement is an optional section that authors may choose to include in their article, review, or book chapter.

Whether the author opts to include one does not affect the evaluation of the content itself.

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We believe this option is valuable because it encourages authors to engage with a wider spectrum of relevant research from a broad range of scholars, disciplines, and perspectives; and that this can contribute to a more informed foundation for scholarly work.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also the prime minister at the time, defended the decision from 2018 to push Qatar to give money to Gaza.

A 2020 document signed by a former senior official at the National Security Council revealed how Israel encouraged Qatar to transfer money to the Gaza Strip, despite knowing that significant sums were reaching Hamas, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported on Sunday.

The former senior official, Ronen Levy, known by his pseudonym "Maoz," who had previously worked for the Shin Bet, wrote, "Qatar works through the Gaza Reconstruction Committee and its chairman Alemadi (Mohammed Al Emadi) in an ongoing fashion to assist in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip by providing financial support to the people of Gaza and by leading civilian and infrastructure projects, in electricity, residential areas, civilian infrastructure, medicine, and support for the population."

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Levy was later appointed by then-foreign minister Eli Cohen as the ministry's director-general and acted primarily as the liaison for Qatari funds.

"This humanitarian assistance has continued throughout the coronavirus crisis. It has been vital and has improved the humanitarian situation in Gaza during this complicated time," the letter continued. "Despite the many challenges involved in transferring the assistance, the cooperation and coordination between our countries has ensured that it continues to reach the people of Gaza."

Palestinians seek aid supplies from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), in the central Gaza Strip, August 4, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)

"We reiterate the importance of continuing to transfer the Qatari humanitarian financial assistance through the existing mechanism, i.e., the Ambassador Alemadi and the Qatar Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, in order to maintain the aforementioned excellent achievements," Levy wrote to the Qataris.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was also the prime minister at the time, defended the decision from 2018 to push Qatar to give money to Gaza.

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Democrats party leader Yair Golan accused Netanyahu of being a Hamas asset and a "dangerous partner of its main sponsor, Qatar" on social media in response to the report on the letter.

"Netanyahus connection to Qatari money must be investigated and fully exposed," he said. "There can be no compromise on establishing a state commission of inquiry - the truth must be revealed."
NEED TO KNOW

Multiple people were wounded in a shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Saturday, Oct. 25

At least one person has died due to their injuries, according to authorities

A suspect has been detained in connection with the incident



At least one person is dead and six others are injured after a shooting during homecoming festivities at a college in Pennsylvania.

At around 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 25, gunfire erupted outside the International Cultural Center at Lincoln University, said Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe in a press conference.

NBC10 Philadelphia/YouTube Shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Oct. 25 Shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Oct. 25

A post-game celebration had been taking place at the location when the shooting unfolded, according to Lincoln University Police Chief Marc Partee. Barrena-Sarobe said the incident was a chaotic scene as people fled in every direction.

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One of the at least seven victims struck by gunfire in the incident has since died.

A suspect has been detained after being found in possession of a gun. However, no charges have been announced at this time.

Barrena-Sarobe said that it is a likely possibility that there was more than one shooter in the incident, but didn't share details about any other potential suspects.

He added that the shooting does not appear to have been a planned attack. Were operating as if this is not an incident where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus, said Barrena-Sarobe in the press conference.

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Lincoln University announced in a post on Instagram that they would be offering counseling services for students and staff following the shooting from 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

The Chester County District Attorney has urged the public to avoid the area around the university following the incident.

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Chester County District Attorney/Facebook The Chester County District Attorney speaking at a press conference on Oct. 26 The Chester County District Attorney speaking at a press conference on Oct. 26

It is not known what may have led to the shooting at this time.

We are monitoring all of the victims and we are investigating with the full power of federal, state and local law enforcement tonight, Barrena-Sarobe said in the press conference.

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We do not believe theres an active threat to the campus, he added.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 1-800-CALLFBI.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on X, "I've been briefed on the shooting at Lincoln University tonight, and my Administration has offered our full support to President Allen and local law enforcement. Please avoid the area, continue to follow the guidance of local law enforcement..."

PEOPLE has contacted Lincoln University for further comment.



Read the original article on People
NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WAVY)  A CSX coal train derailed in New Kent County Saturday afternoon.

The incident happened at approximately 3:10 p.m. on the railroad tracks between Roxbury Road and South Mountcastle Road, according to a statement from CSX. 53 coal cars and two locomotives derailed into the wetlands in the area.

The locomotives lost an unknown quantity of diesel fuel and CSX has coordinated closely with US Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to recover the lost diesel fuel.

Courtesy: New Kent County Sheriffs Office

Courtesy: New Kent County Sheriffs Office

Courtesy: New Kent County Sheriffs Office

No injuries were reported, and no hazardous materials were spilled, officials said.

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The New Kent County Sheriffs Office, New Kent Fire Department, James City Fire Department, Charles City Fire Department and Charles City Sheriffs Office were on scene assisting CSX Police, who are leading the investigation.

The trail derailment led to Amtrak cancelling all services between Richmond (RVM) and Newport News (NPN) until Saturday, Nov. 1. Officials said all those impacted by the cancellation will be contacted.

Officials said the only traffic impacted was at Barnetts Road in Charles City County. Residents were urged to avoid the area while emergency personnel and railroad officials conducted recovery operations.

There is currently no word yet on when the rails will be back open. The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

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Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
NEED TO KNOW

At least two people were killed and 11 others were injured in a North Carolina shooting on Oct. 25

The incident took place during a Halloween party

Police are currently searching for a suspect, and no arrests have been made

At least two people are dead and 11 others are injured following a shooting at a Halloween house party in North Carolina.

At around 1:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 25, police were dispatched to the home due to a noise complaint and reports that multiple people had been shot, the Robeson County Sheriffs Office (RCSO) said in a news release shared on Facebook.

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Two people died at the scene. They were identified as 49-year-old Jessie Locklear Jr. and 16-year-old Nehemiah Locklear, per the RCSO.

Robeson County Sheriff's Office/Facebook Robeson County Sheriff's Office car Robeson County Sheriff's Office car

The injured victims ages range from 18 to 43. One person suffered life-threatening injuries, while the remaining victims were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The surviving victims are Nicole Harris, 18, Anthony Harris, 18, Jerami Locklear, 18, Trevor Jacobs, 18, Tylon Locklear, 20, Kiona Oxendine, 22, Erin Hatcher, 23, Gabriel Bullard, 27, Lacy Chavis, 29, and Delilah Locklear, 43. An unidentified 17-year-old victim was also injured, according to police.

The shooting took place during a Halloween party, a family member of one of the victims wrote on Facebook.

Getty Police tape (stock image). Police tape (stock image).

This was yet another senseless act of gun violence that has taken the lives of two individuals and left many others seriously injured, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in a statement after the shooting.

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What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol and guns at a large house party, he continued. Dozens of videos posted from the party  simply show that alcohol and guns dont mix, regardless of age. As seen here, the consequences are once again tragic.



Police are currently searching for a suspect. No arrests have been made.

The RCSO is investigating the incident with assistance from several agencies, including the Robeson County Emergency Management, Fairmont Police Department, the Hoke County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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.

PEOPLE reached out to the RCSO for comment on Sunday, Oct. 26, but did not receive an immediate response.



Read the original article on People
At least one person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting at Pennsylvanias Lincoln University Saturday night, during the historically Black universitys homecoming weekend, according to officials.

The shooting is the latest in a disturbing trend of violence surrounding games and homecoming celebrations across the country this football season.

A total of seven people were hit with gunfire after shots rang out near the schools International Cultural Center, where homecoming crowds were celebrating after that afternoons football game, authorities said at a news conference early Sunday.

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That festivity was interrupted and decimated by gunfire. It was a chaotic scene, and people fled in every direction, Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said.

Officials did not give details on the conditions of the six injured. Multiple gunshot victims were taken to hospitals in nearby Delaware, authorities told CNN earlier.

Several others were treated at the scene after being knocked to the ground and trampled as people ran for cover, de Barrena-Sarobe said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has been in constant contact with university officials since the shooting and offered the full support of his administration and the state police.

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This weekend at Lincoln University should have been spent celebrating the legacy of our nations first degree-granting HBCU, not putting the pieces together after a mass shooting, he said in a post on X. Lori and I are praying for the six people injured, the families sick with worry, and the one soul who will not come home. May their memory be a blessing.

Officials have not yet determined a motive in the shooting, but de Barrena-Sarobe said it does not appear to be a case where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus.

One person who was carrying a gun has been detained, the district attorney said, according to the Associated Press.

So far one person has been jailed on charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, and authorities were investigating whether that weapon was used in the shooting, de Barrena-Sarobe said.

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We dont have a lot of answers about exactly what happened, he said, noting it is possible there were multiple shooters.

Jujuan Jeffers, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware, was shot in the head and died just after midnight, the Associated Press reported, citing the district attorney.

Local, state and federal law enforcement are investigating, the district attorneys office said in a statement, asking anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact the FBI.

Lincoln University is located about 55 miles west of Philadelphia. The schools website says it is the nations first degree-granting Historically Black College and University.

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This was to be a joyous occasion, the university Chief of Police Marc Partee said, expressing regret over what was supposed to be a celebration of the universitys legacy.

Homecoming  when individuals come back, and they give back to their alma mater, and they live the good memories of their time at Lincoln University  This was interrupted by gunfire that should not have occurred, the chief said.

Witnesses recalled seeing people run as loud music played in the background. Moments later, police and firefighters arrived and taped off a section of the campus.

It was chaos, one witness told CNN affiliate WPVI, saying she hadnt heard the shots over the music.

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It was a great time until we heard a couple of shots go off, another witness told WPVI, describing how everyone in the huge crowd started running at once.

The campus is no longer under lockdown, though the site of the shooting remains an active crime scene, officials said during the news conference.

Counseling will be available Sunday morning for anyone who needs it, the university said on its Instagram page.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has been briefed on the shooting and offered his administrations full support to the university and local law enforcement.

Join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community, Shapiro said.

Violent homecoming

Saturdays shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents at homecoming weekends and football games.

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Five people were injured in a shooting near the campus of Howard University, another historically Black university, in Washington, DC, as the school began its homecoming activities Friday. Police said none of the victims were Howard students.

Two more people were killed and 12 others injured in Montgomery following Alabama States homecoming game and the Tuskegee-Morehouse historic rivalry game. Montgomery police announced that a juvenile is in custody and charged with capital murder.

At least three shootings across Mississippi this month, all apparently connected to high school football games, have left at least six people dead and others wounded.

There have been at least 353 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, leaving at least 300 people dead and 1,600 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
At least nine civilians were killed and 45 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities reported on Oct. 26.

Of the 101 Shahed, Gerbera and other types of drones Russia launched at Ukraine overnight, 90 were downed by the Ukrainian air defense, the Air Force reported.

A Russian drone attack targeted Kyiv for the second consecutive night, killing at least three people and injuring 32, including seven children, local authorities said. Local authorities said three districts of the capital sustained damage, including multiple apartment buildings. The Kyiv Military Administration said two of the wounded children were hospitalized.

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Read also: 3 killed, 29 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack on residential buildings

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 26 that Russia had launched more than 50 missiles, nearly 1,200 strike drones, and more than 1,360 guided bombs against Ukraine this week. Kyiv is currently grappling with power outages after repeated Russian attacks on the energy grid.

In eastern Donetsk Oblast, regional governor Vadym Filashkin said that Russian attacks killed four civilians and injured one over the past day.

In Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and the surrounding area, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said that one person was killed and seven were injured, including two children, over the past day.

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In southeastern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, regional governor Ivan Fedorov said that a person was killed and another was wounded in the heavily shelled town of Huliaipole.

In central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, regional governor Vladyslav Haivanenko said that a 63-year-old woman was injured over the past day.

In southern Kherson Oblast, regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russian attacks over the past day wounded three people.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Liberman said Netanyahu erupted at Smotrich over his camel remark, fearing it would harm efforts to reach a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted with such fury to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrichs recent camel remark that aides feared he might collapse, MK Avigdor Liberman claimed Sunday.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that if Saudi Arabia demands a Palestinian state as the price for normalization with Israel, it can keep riding camels in the Saudi desert, on Thursday.

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Someone who was in the room told me that after Smotrichs comment about the camels, the shouting from the Prime Ministers Office could be heard in Kedumim and all the settlements in Samaria, Liberman said in an interview with Walla.

Bibi screamed. They wanted to call a doctor because they feared he would faint, he said. No one has heard shouting like that since the Prime Ministers Office was established. It is no coincidence that Smotrich rushed to apologize. Netanyahu is counting on an agreement withSaudi Arabia.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich attend a discussion and a vote on the state budget at the assembly hall of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, February 7, 2024. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Criticism of US involvement in Gaza war decisions

Liberman also credited former US President Donald Trump for progress on the hostage issue, while criticizing Israels current lack of autonomy in the Gaza conflict.

We need to thank Trump for bringing back the living hostages and some of the bodies. He deserves huge credit, he said. But we also need to understand that the Americans have completely removed from the October 7 government the ability to make decisions about strikes in Gaza.

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He alleged that the IDF cannot carry out any strike in Gaza without American approval. Any attempt to reduce humanitarian supplies also requires American approval. He claimed that everything is being managed from an American operations room in Kiryat Gat.

Liberman said American drones are monitoring Gaza in real time, and that the IDF is operating under the command of that operations room.

Additional goods crossing to open, Liberman claims

Liberman also said that Israel plans to open a third goods crossing into the Gaza Strip this week.

Today, two border crossings are operating. This week, they are opening a third one at Zikim to increase humanitarian aid, he said.

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He added that officials at the Rafah crossing are affiliated with the Palestinian Authority.

That is the truth. Everything else is nonsense, he said. The only organization actively operating inside Gaza is UNRWA.

'Stop fooling around'

Responding to criticism that he supports a deal at any price, Liberman said the coalitions promises of independence from the Palestinian Authority and UNRWA were false.

Correct, he said of the accusation. But the coalition said there would be no Palestinian Authority and no UNRWA. We are independent. At least dont lie. This is the price. These are the facts. Stop fooling around.

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He further claimed that Hamas is delaying the return of the bodies of hostages, while simultaneously strengthening its control over the Gaza Strip.

Hamas is stalling in returning the bodies, and with each passing day, it tightens its control on the ground, he said. All this talk about demilitarizing Gaza or disarming Hamas is nonsense. This government is busy confusing people. In reality, the opposite of what they said they would do is happening.
Ruby Wax is set to take part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!.

Ruby Wax is set to take part in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

The 72-year-old comic - who previously spent 10 days on a remote island for Channel 5's Ruby Wax: Cast Away in 2023 - is in talks to leave her home comforts behind once again to take part in the tough reality show in Australia, which returns to screens next month.

A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: Rubys a proper TV legend and adds real gravitas to this years line-up.

Shes interviewed some of the biggest stars in the world so will have no problem getting to know her fellow campmates.

It will make great TV for viewers.

Ruby would be joined on the show by the likes of Kelly Brook after it recently emerged the Heart FM broadcaster is finally ready to take part following years of refusals.

A source said: Show bosses have been after Kelly as a campmate for years and think she could possibly be their sexiest contestant ever.

Shes glamorous, witty and a familiar face to ITV audiences, having appeared as a panellist for Loose Women and other shows.

"Shes guaranteed to make perfect TV viewing.

Many viewers will be excited to see her strip off for the famous jungle waterfall shower too.

And 25-year-old rapper Aitch is also in line to take part in the show.

A source said: Aitch has a massive following among teenagers and 20-somethings and bosses will be hoping hell bring a new generation of fans.

"Hell make for great viewing as he has a plethora of stories from his time in the music industry.

Hes also known for having a sharp wit which will keep his campmates and viewers entertained.

Producers want a broad appeal for audiences at home, and he forms part of the bid to have celebrities of all ages taking part.

Emmerdales Lisa Riley, 49, EastEnders Shona McGarty, 33 and LBC broadcaster Nick Ferrari, 66, have all been tipped to join the show.

An ITV spokesperson has refused to be drawn on any of the names being linked with the programme.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul joined Cambodian leaders on Sunday to sign a historic peace agreement aimed at ending the recent military conflict between the two nations during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur. During the signing ceremony, Charnvirakul expressed his gratitude to US President Donald Trump for his role in facilitating the peace process, saying, "I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to President Donald J. Trump for your personal dedication to peace between our two countries." The accord was witnessed by Trump, who hailed the efforts of both sides, calling it a "momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia." The US President also co-signed the ceasefire pact alongside the two leaders. Brokered with the involvement of the United States, the agreement aims to end hostilities and lay the groundwork for lasting stability in the region. It comes after a brief but intense five-day clash in July that claimed several lives and heightened tensions along the border. Under the terms of the accord, Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been in custody, while both nations began withdrawing heavy weapons from their 800-kilometre border, a region long marred by sporadic clashes. The signing also underscores Washington's continued engagement in Southeast Asia, with Trump reaffirming the US commitment to promoting peace and regional security as he concluded the first leg of his Asian tour. After Malaysia, Trump will fly to Japan to meet the new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to discuss trade agreements and security cooperation before heading to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju, meet President Lee Jae Myung, and address business leaders. A crucial bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is also scheduled, focusing on trade tensions, rare earth exports, and fentanyl cooperation. Through these engagements, Trump seeks to negotiate favourable trade agreements, reduce tariffs, and boost US exports, with his return to Asia potentially redefining regional trade and diplomacy. (ANI)
LIMA  Theres no place like home for the holidays.

That well-known line from a popular Christmas song will ring true for the Magana family and for Otisha Calhoun, both of whom will be welcoming the upcoming holidays from their new homes. Two newly constructed homes on Hazel Avenue were dedicated Saturday, celebrating these new, first-time home buyers and their new homes.

The houses, built at 1205 Hazel Ave. and 1248 Hazel Ave., were constructed by New Lima  Housing for the Future and intended for first-time home buyers needing a little help.

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Being an affordable housing developer in the city of Lima, we were tasked with promoting affordable housing opportunities for low to moderate-income citizens, New Lima Executive Director Scott Frenger said. So what I do is apply for grants through the city or state or federal government and then we package those grants together to people to build the houses. In the end, we sell them based on whats affordable to the household.

The typical maximum income New Lima works with is 80 percent of the area median income, according to Frenger.

Then were one of the partners in the down payment assistance program with the city, the First Time Lima program, he said. So when we know that were going to have a house thats going to be coming on board eventually, I always advertise that the house is coming on board in advance so the buyers can reach out. Its kind of a first come, first serve situation at that point. Then they can be part of the development process, where the buyer is actually going to be picking out the colors, picking out the flooring, picking out the finishes such as door handles and faucets and counter tops and cabinets, siding, roofing, all of it.

For Heather Magana, this new home is truly a new chapter for her, her husband David and their two children, as they have always rented their home.

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Weve been in our current house for seven and a half years, she said. We have been home hunting for three to four years. We were going to buy our rental at one point, and nothing worked out.

As the family went through the first-time home buyer program, they learned about the new houses being built and were able to get connected with New Lima. After working with the home builder on customizing their new home, it was gratifying for them to see their vision become a reality.

Its been a long time coming and picking everything out and slowly watching it come together, Heather said.

The Maganas are already pegged with hosting extended family for the holidays, something Heather is excited about.

Christmas is going to be very nice this year, she said.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Hurricane Melissa is currently a major Category 4 hurricane in the Caribbean Sea, and is forecast to further strengthen into a Category 5 storm in the coming few hours (as of 3:30 p.m. Sunday).

Tropical Tracker: Hurricane Melissa now a major Cat. 4 hurricane near Jamaica.

Melissa continues to slowly move west at 5 mph. Sea surface temperatures near Jamaica are the hottest in the Atlantic Basin in the upper 80s and low 90s, which is one of the main reasons Melissa rapidly intensified over the weekend.

The National Hurricane Center forecast cone has Melissa making landfall in Jamaica early Tuesday morning as a high-end Category 4 or a Category 5 storm.

Melissa forecast cone (Sunday afternoon)

Rain totals are forecast to be historic, with 20-30 of rain possible for the eastern half of Jamaica, and even an isolated 40 through mid-week.

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The National Hurricane Center notes, Damaging winds and heavy rainfall today will cause catastrophic and life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides before potentially devastating winds arrive Monday night and Tuesday morning.

By mid-week, Melissa will strike Eastern Cuba, with several other islands such as Turks and Caicos in the NHC forecast cone.

Across The United States

There is an elevated severe weather threat for parts of the Gulf Coast through Sunday, with a low-end tornado and hail threat. Severe weather is limited starting Monday through mid-week, with general thunderstorms possible for parts of the Southeast and Central Plains.

An upper-level low-pressure system will work across the lower 48 this week, bringing mountain snow in the Rockies and heavy rain from the Pacific Northwest to New England.

Clouds and Radar Regional

A strong cold front will swing cooler than normal temperatures to states like Texas, which will finally receive fall weather. Its about time

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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.




DARIEN - For weeks, activists with Indivisible Stamford had pestered Gov. Ned Lamont's office about scheduling a town hall event with the advocacy group's members, something the governor's office had committed to previously.

Finally, feeling that they'd asked nicely enough times, the activists decided on a new tactic. They reserved a space at Stamford Government Center for Oct. 9 and published a flyer advertising an event that would feature either Lamont or an empty chair.

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"We have scheduled the event and invited the governor," the flyer read. "Please join us."

They then emailed the governor's chief of staff informing him of the date and time they'd selected and promising that "if (Lamont) chooses not to attend, we will hold an empty chair event."

Almost immediately, Indivisible Stamford leader Michelle Abt says, Lamont's office responded that the governor would attend at the appointed time. Sure enough, he was there a week later, facing difficult questions about housing policy, immigration and his posture toward President Donald Trump's administration.

It was a show of organizing power - not to mention chutzpah - from a group that has increasingly demonstrated plenty of both.

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"Many of us are the backbone of our local Democratic Party. We're the ones who will go and walk for three hours in North Stamford and knock on doors," Abt, 68, said over coffee in Darien. "So please come talk to us. Please acknowledge us."

Lamont's office, which did not dispute Indivisible Stamford's account of the scheduling process, said in an email the governor and his team appreciated the group's invite "as well as their advocacy, courage and collaboration" and that "our door will always be open."

Indivisible - a sprawling national liberal advocacy network that has emerged since Trump was first elected in 2016 - has had a presence in Connecticut for years, but activity has accelerated this year, amid Trump's second term. Today, Connecticut is home to 46 registered Indivisible chapters, and if you've followed or engaged with state politics in recent months, you've probably encountered their work.

Indivisible activists, all of them volunteers, have played key roles in organizing massive "Hands Off" and "No Kings" rallies across the state, some of which have drawn thousands of people. They've also staged smaller, more targeted protests against Tesla, Avelo Airlines and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, calling attention to Trump administration links in Connecticut.

Thousands of protesters gather at the Capitol building as part of the national 'No Kings' protest in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. (Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media)





In late August, more than a dozen Indivisible chapters collaborated on a letter to Lamont urging him to strengthen Connecticut's protections for immigrants without legal status, and some joined Indivisible Stamford in grilling the governor at the recent town hall. Last week, an Indivisible chapter based in West Hartford that includes members from across central Connecticut announced it was formally endorsing State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest in her primary challenge against longtime U.S. Rep. John Larson.

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Dating to Trump's first term, Indivisible's focus on preserving democracy has been received as uncool on parts of the left and melodramatic on much of the right. Jim Chapdelaine, 71, who founded the West Hartford chapter in 2016, hears the stereotype that Indivisible activists are just a bunch of "old white hippies."

And yet in recent months, Chapdelaine says, he has seen his chapter grow quickly, becoming younger, more racially diverse, more ambitious and, above all, more powerful - and elected officials at all levels have noticed.

"The people who are for democracy right now are the ones with the energy," he said.

Jim Chapdelaine, co-founder of Indivisible CT, an activist group, at his West Hartford home Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media)





'We just stuck with it'

Most Indivisible chapters in Connecticut fall into one of two categories: those that started after Trump was elected in 2016 and those that started after Trump was elected in 2024.

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In either case, the stories are largely similar. A few like-minded friends, frustrated and scared by the election results, get together to discuss how to respond. They slowly realize how many others in their communities feel the same. Meetings grow, leadership structures crystallize and actions become more ambitious.

Chapdelaine started his central Connecticut chapter after Trump was elected the first time, calling it Indivisible CT - a name that has since caused mild confusion as other chapters have arisen elsewhere in the state. He worked closely off a handbook written by the founders of the national Indivisible organization, ex-congressional staffers who offered practical advice for those organizing to oppose Trump in both red states and blue states.

"We started with eight people in my living room," he said. "And we just stuck with it."

Chapdelaine, a professional musician and music teacher, had some experience in activism as a survivor of a rare cancer who had spent years raising awareness and funds, but he had never built a political organization before. He and his fellow activists, many of them older liberals with time on their hands but little formal experience in this kind of work, had to learn through experience what was effective and what wasn't.

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"I remember at one point we had a committee for every single issue, and we'd have these breakouts at a meeting for 15 minutes," Chapdelaine said. "And it turns out, you cannot solve climate change in 15 minutes with eight people who don't know each other."

Still, Chapdelaine points to successes during Trump's first term. Connecticut Indivisible chapters, for example, sent hundreds of thousands of postcards to Georgia voters urging them to support Democrats in the Senate runoff elections held in January 2021, playing their own small role in Democrats taking back control of Congress.

Jim Chapdelaine, co-founder of Indivisible CT, an activist group, at his West Hartford home Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media)





The group's momentum slowed during President Joe Biden's presidency but picked up almost immediately after Trump was reelected last November. Membership in the Indivisible CT Facebook page has more than doubled since before the election, Chapdelaine said, from about 3,600 people to more than 8,000.

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The same was true in other chapters that had also been around since the first Trump term.

"We had gone quieter during the Biden years, and could take a little bit of a break," said Carol Rizzolo, who leads the Guilford-based CT Shoreline Indivisible chapter. "But it was really just like turning the water back on."

Other groups started from scratch in response to Trump 2.0. In Norwalk, Melissa Murray gathered with friends at a coffee shop in January to discuss how to push back against the Trump administration and emerged with the idea for Good Trouble Norwalk, an advocacy group that would later affiliate with Indivisible.

"We expected 10 or 15 people," Murray, 50, recalled. "We ended up with standing room only, and customers are having a hard time getting into the store because actually so many people showed up."

Protesters stand outside the Milford Tesla showroom on the Boston Post Road on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The protest was held in opposition to President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency. Orange CT Indivisible organized the event. (Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media)





Nancy Neff, a 73-year-old resident of the small town of Ashford, in northeastern Connecticut, said she had never considered herself a particularly political person. In college during the 1970s, she recalls, she was the type to walk around anti-war protests on the way to the library.

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Yet when Trump began his flood of executive orders earlier this year, she began cornering friends and acquaintances asking them to join her in fighting back. Given the relatively conservative tilt of her corner of the state, she initially kept her expectations low.

"I set the first meeting and hoped I'd get seven or eight, maybe. Well, 26 showed up," she said. "At the second meeting, I still hadn't advertised or anything, and 54 showed up. At the third meeting, I listed it in on mobilize.us, and 130 showed up."

The fast-growing group became Quiet Corner Indivisible-CT, one of several chapters to spring up in more remote, conservative parts of the state. Multiple members of the chapter are now campaigning for local or state office, including Neff, who is running to join the board that oversees Ashford's public library.

The largest, most visible show of Indivisible's growing power has been the sequence of large protests statewide organized in coordination with advocacy groups across the U.S.

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In Hartford, crowds have grown with each major rally, culminating Saturday when an estimated 12,000 people showed up at the state capitol. Chapdelaine received feedback the next day that the sound system he secured for the event wasn't strong enough. Next time, he promised, he'll find a louder one.

Protesters gather for a 'No Kings' rally in front of Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 18, 2025. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media)





Republicans, including Trump, have criticized these rallies as overwrought and hysterical. This weekend, the president posted an AI-generated clip of himself dropping large quantities of feces on the heads of protesters. In Connecticut, Republican Party Chair Ben Proto said Democrats were protesting "some authoritarian concept that doesn't exist," creating what he sees as "a disconnect between what they're saying is happening and what's actually happening."

For Democrats, though, the demonstrations represent a rare source of hope and exhilaration. In late September, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy announced he was donating $100,000 in campaign funds to the national Indivisible organization, part of a broader effort to fund groups mobilizing against Trump. It was an unusual decision, one he said reflected the will of his small-dollar donors.

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"They're giving me that money not because they want me to put it in the bank so I can use it years from now," Murphy told CT Insider at the time. "They're making those small donations to me because they want to make a difference right now."

The best way to do that, he concluded, was through Indivisible.

'More impact in Hartford'

Inevitably, there are some within Indivisible who remain focused on national politics, whose activism mostly starts and ends with holding signs at rallies.

Much of the Connecticut chapters' most-pointed advocacy, however, has been aimed at state officials and, in particular, the governor.

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"When you've done this for a while, you know better where you may have more impact," said Abt, from Indivisible Stamford. "We have more impact in Hartford than we do in Washington."

Lamont, a moderate Democrat, has frustrated many advocates in recent months for what they see as an insufficient response to the Trump administration. He doesn't typically yell and shout the way some other Democrats do, and his decision to attend Trump's inauguration rankled some in his party.

Gov. Ned Lamont answers questions at a town hall meeting hosted by Indivisible Stamford at the Stamford Government Center on Oct. 9, 2025. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media)





Most frustrating for many Indivisible leaders has been Lamont's response to increased ICE presence in Connecticut. The governor has vowed to protect immigrants but also blocked a proposal to further strengthen Connecticut's TRUST Act, which bars communication with federal immigration authorities, and has resisted activists' calls for a special legislative session on the subject.

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One recent letter from Indivisible Stamford urged Lamont "to stand up against President Trump's tyranny and to protect our immigrant community and defend the rights afforded to all of us under the U.S. Constitution." In an email Thursday, a spokesperson for the governor said Lamont's administration "stands firmly with our immigrant communities" and that the state "will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to uphold due process, protect privacy, and preserve trust between communities and local government."

Lamont, who will almost certainly run for reelection next year, has further angered many Democrats by vetoing an ambitious affordable housing bill his office had helped negotiate, citing concerns from municipal leaders in Fairfield County.

At the recent town hall event in Stamford, Lamont faced questions about immigration, housing and more. Many speakers began by saying they'd voted for him, then pivoted to questioning his recent decisions, from vetoing the housing bill to ordering flags lowered in honor of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Murray, from Norwalk, was among those questioners, telling the governor to his face she was frustrated with what she saw as a lack of urgency in facing down Trump. In her view, holding Democrats accountable is essential to the Indivisible project.

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"I voted for Lamont. I also was at a town hall where I was critical of him," Murray said this week. "This is the time where we let our elected officials know they really have to earn our vote."

Melissa Murray, founder of Good Trouble Indivisible Norwalk, asks Gov. Ned Lamont a question at a town hall meeting hosted by Indivisible Stamford at the Stamford Government Center on Oct. 9, 2025. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media)





Indivisible members have regularly testified at the state Capitol for or against bills they feel passionately about, and that is only likely to continue moving forward. Every Indivisible leader interviewed for this story, from Stamford to the Quiet Corner, voiced opinions about the direction of state government and a desire to make themselves heard.

Murray said the TRUST Act has been a particular focus in part because it represents an intersection of local and national.

"That's clearly a state issue, but it's also a national issue," she said. "It's protecting us from what's coming down from the federal government."

Most Indivisible chapters in Connecticut have not waded too deeply into endorsing candidates, though the largest ones are at least giving the idea some thought. Chapdelaine said the Hartford-area chapter's decision to endorse Gilchrest for Congress was a special circumstance, given her prior involvement with the group. Regardless of which Democrat wins that primary, he said, Indivisible members will offer support.

Gilchrest, perhaps unsurprisingly, said she welcomes Indivisible's entry into state politics.

"The more everyday people are engaged, they're realizing that their voices can make a difference," Gilchrest said this week. "Elected officials - the whole point is for them to represent people."

'A big tent'

Because the Indivisible network is so large and diffuse, it can be difficult to define what specifically the organization stands for.

Some chapters focus fairly narrowly on opposing the Trump administration, whereas others delve deeper into local and statewide issues. Some proudly use the p-word - progressive - as others resist that label. In some cases, activists are friendly with Democratic politicians, while in others that relationship is more adversarial.

Indivisible leaders in Connecticut mostly emphasize a desire for a "big tent," encompassing anyone who supports democracy and opposes Trump.

"It has to be a big tent," said Susan Vogel, 62, a leader with Indivisible Stamford. "We need everyone who sees the Trump administration as a threat to our country on board."

This inevitably creates some tensions. Chapdelaine said he gets nervous when the subject of Israel and Gaza comes up among members because he knows the discussion will consume the rest of the meeting and likely divide the group. In Stamford, members have asked Abt and Vogel to ban people from sharing pro-Palestinian sentiments at Indivisible events, something they have declined to do.

"You don't have to agree with them at all, but they're here," Vogel said. "Yeah, you may feel uncomfortable. No, I'm not going to ask them not to come."

Indivisible Stamford leaders say they heard from progressive members who didn't support inviting U.S. Rep. Jim Himes to an event, as well as from centrist members who objected to working with the proudly progressive Working Families Party. In both cases, they chose to move forward anyway, stressing the need for a wide coalition.

Protesters travel down Tresser Boulevard for a 'No Kings' march in Stamford on Oct. 18, 2025. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media)





During an interview this week, Abt noted at one point that Indivisible Stamford's leaders aren't socialists, only for Vogel to jump in and clarify that socialists aren't necessarily so bad. Her adult daughter, she says, supports New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified Democratic socialist, and Vogel says she's learned a lot from their conversations about politics, even if mother and daughter don't always perfectly align.

At the same time, Connecticut Indivisible chapters say they have plenty of moderate Democrats and unaffiliated voters among their ranks, as well as some ex-Republicans who oppose Trump. Chapdelaine said he could imagine his chapter supporting a Republican candidate one day, though he said it "would have to be a very special Republican."

While Connecticut's Indivisible chapters largely sprang up in response to Trump, leaders say their ambitions extend beyond fighting his administration. If Democrats sweep back to power in the coming years, they say, they won't declare "mission accomplished" and pack up their protest signs but will continue working to hold their leaders accountable.

Abt and Vogel, among other Indivisible leaders, spend a lot of time plotting how the organization can move forward, ideally passing the proverbial torch to younger leaders who have new ideas about how to create a fairer society. The energy of the past few months, they say, may be just the beginning.

"We have not stopped," Abt said. "We are not stopping."

This article originally published at From living rooms to the Capitol: How Indivisible's grassroots revival Is shaping CT politics.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

President Donald Trump reportedly told former Vice President Mike Pence he would go down in history as a wimp in a shocking phone call on Jan. 6, 2021.

According to a preview of Jon Karls new book Retribution published Sunday by ABC News, the former vice presidents notes from the call detail Trump trying to shame Pence into refusing to certify the results of the 2020 election.

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If you do that, I made a big mistake 5 years ago, Trump told Pence  according to Pences notes, as published in the book. Trump added, Youll go down as a wimp.

The president also reportedly told his vice president, You listen to the wrong people.

That final Jan. 6 phone call was the culmination of a failed weeks-long effort to try to get Pence to withhold certification. Special counsel Jack Smith, in his 2023 indictment of Trump, cited Pences notes from a Jan. 4 meeting in which the president put on a full court press.

During the meeting, as reflected in the Vice Presidents contemporaneous notes, the Defendant [Trump] made knowingly false claims of election fraud, including, Bottom linewon every state by 100,000s of votes and We won every state, and askedregarding a claim his senior Justice Department officials previously had told him was false, including as recently as the night beforeWhat about 205,000 votes more in PA than voters? The Defendant and Co-Conspirator 2 then asked the Vice President to either unilaterally reject the legitimate electors from the seven targeted states, or send the question of which slate was legitimate to the targeted states legislatures. When the Vice President challenged Co-Conspirator 2 on whether the proposal to return the question to the states was defensible, Co-Conspirator 2 responded, Well, nobodys tested it before. The Vice President then told the Defendant, Did you hear that? Even your own counsel is not saying I have that authority. The Defendant responded, Thats okay, I prefer the other suggestion of the Vice President rejecting the electors unilaterally.



The post Youll Go Down as a Wimp! New Book Reveals Shocking Details of Trumps Final Call to Mike Pence On Jan. 6 first appeared on Mediaite.
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  One local humane society is looking to raise money to help animals in need.

Campbell Cruelty and Humane Rescue hosted its first-ever jeep and car show.

Jeeps and classic cars were on display at Austintown Township Park, all decked out and ready for Halloween.

There were many vendors and a bake sale at the event. The goal was to raise $1,000.

If you see an animal in need or suffering, reach out to somebody, whether its your local police department, the humane society, or even a group like ours. Any group is going to try and help. Well do the best we can to get out there and help. We dont want to see any of these animals suffering, said Campbell Cruelty and Humane Rescue founder Renee Habart.

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If you wish to donate, you can visit Campbell Cruelty and Humane Rescues website and Facebook page.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
WASHINGTON BORO, Pa. (WHTM)  A Red-necked Grebe is now able to continue its migration thanks to the help of a local wildlife center.

The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center helped the bird after it was struck by a vehicle.

The non-profit treated a wound to its neck and upper beak.

With the wound treated, it can continue on its way.

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According to the wildlife center, it was the first Red-necked Grebe they had treated.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
LONDON (AP)  London police said Sunday they arrested a convicted sex offender and asylum-seeker who was mistakenly released from prison in a blunder that has embarrassed the government.

The Metropolitan Police said Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was arrested in the Finsbury Park area in north London. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would be deported as soon as possible.

Before he was released in error, Kebatu had already been in the national news because his arrest earlier this year over the sexual assault of a teenage girl triggered a wave of angry anti-migrant protests in London and other cities.

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Authorities said they were alerted Friday afternoon that Kebatu was released by mistake at a prison in Chelmsford, Essex, and was seen catching a London-bound train there. British media reported that he was wrongly categorized as a prisoner due to be released, instead of being sent to an immigration detention center.

The migrant was sentenced in September to 12 months in prison for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in July in Epping, on the outskirts of London, just over a week after he had arrived in England by boat.

Thousands of people protested outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast of London, where he was staying along with other newly arrived migrants. Multiple protests targeting other hotels housing migrants followed in British cities and towns, with some demonstrations attended by far-right activists and spilling into disorder.

The group Stand Up to Racism also rallied in counterprotests.

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The Prison Service said prison officer has been removed from discharging duties while an investigation takes place.

Government officials have described the mistaken release as an egregious failure." Justice Secretary David Lammy said he ordered prisoner release checks to be strengthened immediately, and an investigation will find out what went wrong and who was accountable.

This man was behind bars because of serious sex offenses," Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News Sunday before Kebatu's arrest. He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, what was supposed to be happening is he was meant to be transferred for deportation. So the idea that hes loose on our streets is incredibly serious. It is a serious failure.

The issue of unauthorized migration  especially the tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel in overloaded boats to reach the U.K.  has risen to the top of the political agenda in Britain.

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More than 36,900 people have made the dangerous crossing from France to the U.K. so far this year, figures show, surpassing the total number recorded in the whole of 2024. Efforts by authorities in Britain, France and other countries to crack down on people smuggling gangs or deter migrants from coming have so far been unsuccessful.

The governments policy of using hotels to house migrants who are awaiting a decision on their asylum status has also come under heavy criticism.


Takeaways

 Cecil Lane Weatherbee led The Piedmont Journal-Independent for over 40 year

 Lane Weather was a Past Grand Master of Alabamas Grand Lodge of Masons from 20132014.

 A member of the Shriners since 1980, he helped raise over $2 million through a license plate program

 Weatherbee was an active member of The First United Methodist Church of Piedmont.

 A memorial service will be held Oct. 26 at the church to celebrate his life and legacy.

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PIEDMONT  Cecil Lane Weatherbee, a respected newspaperman, Mason and civic leader who dedicated his life to service, faith and family died Oct. 22. He was 82.

Lane was a great asset to the city for many years, said the soon-to-be mayor of Piedmont, Kevin Farmer. He was a member of the Commercial Development Authority, and we appreciate his dedication to our city.

For outgoing mayor, Bill Baker, Lane was a longtime friend, He was very committed to the city of Piedmont and always looking to see progress being made, he said. We served together on the East Alabama Planning Commission and Lane was instrumental in helping businesses and other agencies obtain grants. My prayers go out to his family for peace and comfort.

Born in Gadsden on May 11, 1943, Weatherbee was the only son of Cecil and Mable Weatherbee. After graduating from Gadsden High School in 1961, he went on to shape the voice of his adopted hometown as owner, editor, and publisher of The Piedmont Journal-Independent. Over more than four decades, he built the paper into a trusted local institution known for its focus on community issues and small-town values. He retired in 2006, leaving behind a legacy of fair reporting and community commitment.

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Lane was always full of energy and he loved the Piedmont Journal newspaper, said Piedmont native Margaret Anderson, a longtime employee of Consolidated Publishing. He was a highly intelligent person and as the editor and publisher intent on putting out the best product possible.

Regarding his work in the business community, Piedmont businessman Kevin Cunningham said Weatherbee was tireless in his efforts to help Piedmont rebound from decades of economic losses: He saw what we saw in Piedmont, a blank slate for virtually any viable business concept. I know he loved Piedmont and was a champion for the city.

Outside the newsroom, Weatherbee was involved in civic and fraternal work. A member of Lozahatchee Masonic Lodge No. 97 for 57 years, he also served as Past Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Alabama from 2013 to 2014. His involvement with the Shriners began in 1980, where he found another avenue to serve others.

One of Weatherbees lasting contributions was helping create the state of Alabama vanity license plate program that benefits the Shriners organization. The initiative has since raised more than $2 million to help provide medical care for burned and disabled children at no cost to their families.

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He was a member of The First United Methodist Church of Piedmont, where he remained active throughout his life.

Weatherbee is survived by three children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, Carol Ann Weatherbee.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 26 at The First United Methodist Church of Piedmont. Donations in his memory may be made to the Lozahatchee Scholarship Fund or the Zamora Shrine Temple.
Lord Taverne, who has died aged 97, was an early casualty of the internecine warfare that engulfed the Labour Party from the early 1970s.

A promising frontbencher, he resigned his seat at Lincoln in 1972 in protest at his partys policies on Europe, then held it at a by-election as a Democratic Labour candidate.

Dick Tavernes hopes of triggering a realignment of centre-Left politics proved premature, and in October 1974 he lost his seat. Though his optimism revived after the formation of the SDP seven years later, he never returned to the Commons, becoming a Liberal Democrat life peer in 1996.

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He suffered from having taken a stand against extremism before other Labour moderates were ready  or desperate enough  to join him. And though he showed courage in the face of threats from the hard Left, he probably would not have broken away but for his constituency party voting to deselect him.

It would not be Taverne and other defectors who eventually defeated Labours extremists, but the moderates who stayed and fought, galvanised by successive defeats at the hands of Margaret Thatcher.

Ironically, Tavernes nemesis in Lincoln, Margaret Beckett, went on to be Labours campaign manager for the 1999 Euro elections, fought on a pro-EU manifesto he might have written himself.

His political hopes were reawakened by the formation of the SDP - Srdja Djukanovic

Dick Taverne was born in Sumatra on October 18 1928, the son of a Dutch oil man. His family, which he recalled as conservative in inclination, moved to London in 1939, and Dick won a scholarship to Charterhouse, where he was head of school and one of only three boys to welcome the Labour victory in 1945.

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At Balliol College, Oxford, he was chairman of the university Labour Club and treasurer of the Union. At Christmas 1951, he and William Rees-Mogg lost a debate against two inmates of a Massachusetts prison.

Graduating with a First in Greats, Taverne  having acquired British nationality  was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1954, taking Silk in 1965. He appeared in 1961 before the Committee of Privileges to support the claim of Anthony Wedgwood Benn  later his leading adversary in the Labour Party  to renounce the peerage he had inherited and stay in the Commons. He also made his mark as a television interviewer and presenter.

Having contested Putney in 1959, Taverne rallied Labour candidates behind Hugh Gaitskell as the party split over nuclear disarmament. In 1962 he was selected to fight a by-election at Lincoln caused by Sir Geoffrey de Freitass appointment as High Commissioner to Ghana.

The contest that March was memorable for the competition between the Liberal and Labour candidates to field the best-looking female canvassers, and for Tavernes campaign cha-cha There Is a Taverne in the Town. The Tory candidate, Percy Grieve, was not helped by his slogan: Grieve for Lincoln.

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Doubling Labours majority to 7,652, Taverne used his maiden Commons speech to back Benns campaign. He pressed for more liberal divorce laws, an end to hanging, and the televising of the Commons. Visiting Aden in 1963 to investigate allegations of torture by the British authorities, his Land Rover was stoned by 300 screaming tribesmen.

Taverne won his first seat at the Lincoln by-election in 1962 - Evening Standard

Though tipped for early promotion, Tavernes ambition grated with his colleagues. When, after the 1966 election, Harold Wilson appointed him Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office under Roy Jenkins, The Daily Telegraph joked that Taverne would consider no post that was offered to him beyond the reach of his abilities.

Welcomed into Jenkins inner circle, Taverne helped pilot through the introduction of the breathalyzer, the decriminalisation of private homosexual acts between consenting males over 21, and the Bill establishing the Gaming Board.

Judge Block, jailing the Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Keith Richard on drugs charges, censured Taverne for making remarks prejudicial to the case; he responded that the judge was talking nonsense as he had made no such comment.

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In March 1968, four months after Jenkins swapped places with James Callaghan following the latters devaluation of the pound, Taverne joined him at the Treasury as Minister of State, specialising in the minutiae of taxation.

Promoted in October 1969 to Financial Secretary  his final ministerial post  Taverne oversaw preparations for a decimal currency. He resisted pressure to save the sixpence as a 2p coin  it was later reprieved until 1980  and championed the seven-sided 50p against complaints that it would be confused with the two-shilling (10p) piece.

Taverne at home in London - John Downing

Labours defeat in 1970 triggered infighting, mainly over Europe. Wilson had gone into the election in favour of joining and come out against, and though Taverne remained on the front bench, he found himself increasingly out of line. While many colleagues kept their heads down, he came out fighting.

In 1971 he wrote a pamphlet arguing that European economic and monetary union should have Labours support, as it would require key economic powers to be transferred to a central authority, and new powers for the European Parliament.

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When it came to the vote on Edward Heaths application for membership that October, Labour MPs were whipped to oppose it. Taverne was among 69 who rebelled, defying the whips again in February 1972 to vote with the Government on the Second Reading of the European Communities bill.

Tavernes trenchant pro-Europeanism irritated Wilson and led to his resigning from the front bench  with Jenkins and Harold Lever  that April. Weeks later, the Lincoln Labour Party, led by Margaret Becketts future husband Leo, dropped him as its candidate.

There had been rumblings before the 1970 election, and when Taverne first voted for entry a no-confidence motion was narrowly passed. Now the party voted 75-50 to seek a new candidate. Taverne appealed to Labours national executive, which sided 12-8 with the Lincoln party.

Ignoring advice from Jenkins, Taverne announced that October that he would resign and fight a by-election as Democratic Labour. He declared himself sick at the endless calculations of party balance, of the maximum concession for the sake of minimum disturbance, of the confusion of ends and means, of the muffled voice and the over-the-shoulder glance that fears the reaction of the block vote or the doctrinaire bigot.

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Labour stalled the by-election until March 1973. It was notable for dirty tricks and venom from Labour campaigners, and for atrocious weather which inspired Taverne (who had taken to a bicycle) to make Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head his campaign song.

When his victory  by a decisive 13,191 votes  was announced, the returning officers voice was drowned by cries of traitor - Dennis Oulds

His chances were boosted by the Liberals deciding not to contest the seat and the Tories choice of Jonathan Guinness (later Lord Moyne), Right-wing chairman of the Monday Club. When his victory  by a decisive 13,191 votes over Labours John Dilks  was announced, the returning officers voice was drowned by cries of traitor; Tavernes supporters were kicked, punched and jostled.

Lincoln Labours vice-chairman said: You have no idea how much we hate that filthy Tory bastard, but at Westminster two Labour MPs braved colleagues hostility to introduce Taverne. His application to serve in the nominated European Parliament was accepted, but the Social Democratic group at Strasbourg blocked him for a time.

At first it seemed that Tavernes victory would set a bandwagon rolling. In June 1973 his new party triumphed in local elections, taking control of Lincoln council and holding it for four years. That September, Taverne launched a Campaign for Social Democracy, a catalyst for realignment in British politics with the aim of fielding candidates to fight Benn and other leading Left-wingers.

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Though he held Lincoln at the snap February 1974 election, his majority  over Margaret Beckett  was reduced to 1,293; no other Social Democrat came close to being elected. The party organisation was wound up, and that October Taverne lost his seat by 989 votes.

Taverne now devoted himself to business and broadcasting. From 1970 he was founder-director (and from 1979 to 1981 director-general) of the Institute for Fiscal Studies. He also chaired the radio programme You the Jury.

After the formation of the SDP in 1981 by Labours Gang of Four  Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams  Taverne worked hard to persuade centrist Labour MPs to defect to it, and headed the SDPs policy group on tax and social security, coming out strongly against a wealth tax.

In 1982 Taverne fought a by-election at Peckham, but was well beaten by Labours Harriet Harman. In the next years general election, he finished third at Dulwich.

March of Unreason

An early advocate of the eventual merger with the Liberals, he went along with the bulk of his party in forming the Liberal Democrats after further disappointment in 1987. Later he served on the House of Lords Committee on the Use of Animals in Scientific Procedures and its Science and Technology Committee.

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In 1993 Taverne founded a think tank, The Public Policy Centre, which evolved into a consultancy, Prima Europe, specialising in economic and political analysis.

Concerned about uninformed public debate on scientific issues  mobile phones frying your brain, genetically modified Frankenstein foods, public panic over the MMR vaccine and so forth  he founded Sense About Science in 2002. Two years later he became president of the Research Defence Society, publishing in 2005 The March of Unreason: Science, Democracy and the New Fundamentalism. That year the Association of Science Writers voted him Parliamentary Science Communicator of the Year.

He was a humanist and a republican.

In 1955 Dick Taverne married Dr Janice Hennessey, a scientist he met while canvassing for Dr Edith Summerskill in the 1950 election. His wife survives him with their two daughters.

Dick Taverne, born October 18 1928, died October 25 2025

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Halfway through the second episode of Amazon Prime Videos Shiny Happy People, a recent docuseries about the Duggar family and the fundamentalist Christian world they came from and helped shape, Pastor Bill Ligon demonstrates a ritual that almost every person who has grown up in conservative evangelicalism has seen at least once from the pulpit. Most of us have seen it multiple times. I couldnt watch it the first time through.

A grown adult man demonstrates how to spank a child a tenth of his age.

Family: 21 Hilarious Yet Humbling Things Kids Have Said To Their Parents

The man is tall and grandfatherly, wearing a gray suit and tie. He smiles and asks someone in the audience at this particular Bill Gothard conference to loan [him] a little boy so that he can demonstrate how to spank a boy and bless him at the same time.

If you believe in deeply personal journalism  the kind that connects us in our hardest, most honest moments  please consider becoming a HuffPost member today.

A slight child, about 6 years old, walks up wearing the uniform of fundamentalist boys: a too-large striped polo shirt tucked into belted navy pants, along with a buzz cut.

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Its clear that these two have never met because Ligon says to the boy: Hi, Son. Whats your name?

Also Read: ICE Is Offering Voiceover Actors Like Me An Insane Payday  But Look At What They Want Us To Say

The little one meekly answers, Jason.

As the scene continues, Ligon moves the little boy face down across his lap, holding the childs right upper arm with his left hand. The boy is limp. Ligon proceeds to lightly tap the childs buttocks with his open palm 13 times. While hes doing this, he states: Jason, youre a fine boy, and youre going to grow up to be an outstanding man. Gods hand is on your life, Son. His hand pauses longer on that last line. Ligon mugs to the audience here, satisfied with his pun that Gods hand is his hand. The audience laughs uproariously.

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Ligon then orders the child to give Daddy a hug. Limply, the boy hugs this complete stranger, but it wasnt good enough for the pastor, who responds, I dont think you put yourself into that hug, Son, so lets spank a little more.

Three more taps.

Also Read: I Spent 3 Years In Conversion Therapy. The Things I Experienced There Traumatized Me For Decades.

Lets see if we can get a good hug out of this, Ligon tells Jason. Give Daddy a hug.

Clearly the boy realizes theres one way to escape this, so he throws himself at the stranger, and the audience firmly approves.

The boy learns to be limp until he must prove that he has a happy heart.

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Ligon isnt an aberration. He is a graduate of the flagship seminary of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, the Southern Baptist Convention.

Also Read: I Went To My Sons Class To Explain How He Goes To The Bathroom. Heres Why.

For too many people, the grace that they claim for their own salvation never applies to the children in their care. Certain adults get grace; all children get hit.

When I saw that little boy with Ligon, I saw my own child, who would have faced his own stranger with no choice but to go limp while an entire system looked on.

When my oldest was born  I called him my screamer, since my daughters stillbirth two years prior had filled the delivery room with only an ominous silence  I wanted to care for him like God cared for me.

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I was working at the infamous Bob Jones University in South Carolina. I was in middle management, if you will  the head of the rhetoric and public address department. My husband and I had graduated with two degrees each from BJU, and we had both earned our terminal degrees at Indiana University. Mine was a Ph.D. in rhetorical studies with a minor in American studies.

The author (right), with her husband, Grant, and their son at Bob Jones University's commencement on May 8, 2004. Courtesy of Camille Kaminski Lewis

When I sat in that first BJU graduation ceremony after my son was born, I read Isaiah 49 to myself while the event droned on: Can a woman forget her nursing child? ... Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. That had been the first time I was away from my son for over three hours. My body could not forget my nursing child. But God says here that just like I couldnt forget my child, He will not forget you.

A thought startled me: So, God loves his people like I love my son!? And wait  God loves my students like I love my son?!

Also Read: My 8-Year-Old's Experience At A Soccer Game Traumatized Me. It Will Be Years Before He Understands The Gravity Of What Happened.

That changed everything. I realized that God wasnt transactional. I loved my son because hes my son, not because he obeys.

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Choosing to parent my son like God parented me  foregrounding love and care over transactions  brought me to the decision that I would never hit my son, no matter what the church instructed. I told myself that I would just keep this choice quiet until he was grown up and a wonderful young man, and no one from the community needed to know.

Things were fine in those early months of his life. The campus medical clinic (which our insurance benefits required we use) had instructed all of us mothers to look to fundamentalist parenting guru Gary Ezzo for our child-rearing. I knew his books well, but I chose differently. Ezzo said to feed-wake-sleep and to only feed every three hours for a minimum of 30 minutes. I used to joke that my son hadnt read the books, so he would eat for an hour every two hours. His contrary plan was eat-wake-eat-wake-eat-eat-eat-sleep-eat-eat-wake. If Ezzo was wrong about feeding, I wondered, what else was he wrong about?

In defiance of Ezzo, I made a 67-cent ring sling to carry my son around the house while I vacuumed, cooked and folded laundry. That child was never happier. But I could not use this sling in public. That would get me labeled as Ezzos dreaded marsupial mom.

Then, one day, I had to. It was raining. A stroller didnt make sense. If I wore my son, I could keep him close under my umbrella with me.

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I left the house with him nestled close to me, and I sang a song my mother-in-law taught me as we walked: Raindrops, raindrops, tiny little raindrops, in each drop is Gods great love.

The author and her son with a (slipped) ring sling. "This is outside my office at the Gustafson Fine Arts Center at Bob Jones University in the summer or 2004," she writes. Courtesy of Camille Kaminski Lewis

Maybe I was singing the song to myself.

That innocent walk left me marked. I became the talk of the campus, especially among its day care staff. Still, I wasnt too worried  I was used to campus gossip and didnt think it was a big deal.

Like with the university medical clinic, I was required to enroll my children in BJUs cradle-to-baccalaureate educational programs, including its day care. The employee handbook stated that it would expect this of the faculty and staff.

Additionally, I couldnt afford to choose anything else. My completed Ph.D., 3-3 teaching load  or three courses per semester, a full load under most academic standards  and role as department head earned me a gross salary of less than $20,000 in 2006.

One day while while I was waiting for my son outside of his classroom, I heard the Big Room teacher marching all the way down from the last classroom on my left. Clip-clop, clip-clop. When she appeared, a little boy around 3 or 4 was reluctantly but dreamily walking beside her. As she got closer, I could see that her jaw was clenched in frustration.

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No more than 10 minutes later, the same teacher walked past me again, headed back to her classroom. The child was sobbing. I understood whole story now. The teacher had taken him down to Miss P, the day care supervisor, for a spanking.

As she marched back with a whimpering child, I heard her repeat that ominous fundamentalist phrase: Happy heart, Joshua! Happy heart!

She just had taken a child to get hit by a complete stranger, and he wasnt even allowed to own his own feelings.

It was the same thing that Ligon did in front of thousands of people at that conference. I saw my sons future in front of me.

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I didnt want him to experience that. Not ever. I vowed to protect him from that pain-driven ideology.

The author with her sons on the second floor of the Gustafson Fine Arts Center at Bob Jones University in August 2006. "This was a few weeks before receiving the memo from the campus day care," she writes. Courtesy of Camille Kaminski Lewis

When my oldest was 2 years and 8 months old, I could no longer shield him or keep my commitment silent. The campus day care sent me a memo giving them legal permission to hit my son, which they instructed me to sign and return. Just like Ligon and Jason, a virtual stranger would be causing my child pain outside of my purview, and then he would inevitably be told to repeat, Happy heart!

The memo was innocently tucked into a packet with innocuous forms and info like campus directories and calendars, all of which we received during our opening in-service meeting. I laid it on my knee and stared at it throughout the entire event.

I didnt sign it. In fact, a social worker friend told me to write a letter that stated the opposite  that no one was allowed to hit my son.

That was the beginning of the end for me in fundamentalism. Within weeks, my academic dean called me in with my division chairman to inform my 38-year-old self that I was merely a young mom who didnt have enough life experience to know biblical parenting. I thought that burying a baby, completing a Ph.D. and spending over 20 years under BJU preaching would count for something. It didnt.

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After countless meetings with many men higher on the org chart than I, the ultimatum came from the university president himself: If you cannot hold your position without openly promoting it in spoken or written communication to colleagues, students, or others at a distance from the University, we would have to come to a parting of ways.

Openly promoting.

The phrase is vague enough to include any statement I made at all. It could be me wearing a child on my chest on campus in defiance of university medical advice. It could be me refusing corporal punishment for my son in defiance of the required campus day care. I couldnt communicate in any way to anyone that God loved my two sons and my students unconditionally, and that Jesus was enough. They wanted me limp and happy.

Within 10 days, my husband and I both resigned.

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Hitting a child a tenth of your age and a fifth of your size was so important to this bastion of fundamentalism that it could not tolerate my refusal.

I have no regrets about resisting the pain-driven ideology at Bob Jones University. This practice is exactly why evangelicals vote for authoritarian political candidates like the Donald Trump. They are all that little boy who has to be a limp noodle in front of thousands of approving limp noodles.

Shiny Happy People is not only about a small group youve never heard of. Its a part of a larger ideology infecting American Protestants. That ideology has seeped into generations of homes. And its hard to resist. When I did, I lost my job, my church and all of my friends.

But I didnt lose my sons or my husband  and I didnt lose God.

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And I didnt lose myself either. Because of this experience, my scholarly agenda is now to try to understand how this pain-driven political ideology gets cloaked in religious language, and how it gets repeated and reinforced. Ive seen it in conservatives reactions to the 2015 Charleston massacre. Ive seen it in their COVID-19 pandemic response. Ive seen it in an old segregationist sermon from 1960. And Im currently researching it in evangelical revivals from the 1920s. I have found people who resisted this ideology a century ago, and I want to identify their strategy for us to use in our own time.

We cant be limp in the face of authoritarianism, no matter how shiny and happy. We have to resist.

This piece was published in June 2023 and were rerunning it now as part of HuffPost Personals Best Of series.

Camille Kaminski Lewis is an assistant professor of communication studies at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She is working on an original manuscript titled Klandamentalism: The Puzzling Intersection of Race, Religion, Revivalism in America and an edited volume called One Hundred Years of Women Debating the Equal Rights Amendment: An Anthology, 1923-2023.

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US President Donald Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday as part of a five-day mission aimed at boosting America's engagement in Asia and reinforcing trade ties with key regional partners. The visit comes amid growing diplomatic efforts in the region and includes planned meetings with several Asian leaders. The White House on Sunday (local time) shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) that read, "TRUMP DANCE MALAYSIA VERSION." The short post, issued from the official White House handle, has attracted attention online for its unusual phrasing. https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1982336709762175080 Trump, 79, made a lively entrance in Malaysia's capital, dancing to the rhythm of drums on the airport tarmac near Air Force One, his energetic moves drawing smiles from onlookers. He joined performers dressed in colourful traditional costumes representing Malaysia's major ethnic groups. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also took part, swaying to the music alongside the president. The visit is part of a broader five-day trip focused on expanding the United States' presence in Asia and strengthening trade relations. As part of the itinerary, Trump is expected to meet Japan's newly elected leader, Sanao Takaichi, in Tokyo and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. During Trump's visit, Thailand and Cambodia on Sunday signed a joint declaration on a peace deal in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, marking a formal step toward ending hostilities and restoring peace along their disputed border. Dubbed the "KL PEACE Accord", the deal was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, chaired by Malaysia. Speaking at the event, President Trump said, "This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand." He added, "Earlier this year, an armed clash broke out along the border of these two countries because of America's strong commitment to stability and peace in this region. My administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating." Highlighting economic cooperation, Trump said, "Today, alongside this peace treaty, we are also signing a major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand." He concluded, "On behalf of the United States, I'm proud to help settle this conflict, and forge a future for the region where proud independent nations can prosper, and thrive in safety, security, and peace." The declaration reinforces the ceasefire understanding reached in July following talks between Thailand and Cambodia. It also formalises the establishment of an ASEAN Observer Team to monitor compliance and prevent renewed clashes in the border zones. The peace deal marks a milestone in ASEAN's regional diplomacy, reflecting the bloc's commitment to conflict prevention, stability, and cooperation under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship, with its theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability," according to Bernama. Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia had flared into a military confrontation on July 24 along their 817-kilometre border. On July 28, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted a meeting in Putrajaya between Manet and then Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, successfully defusing tensions. The ceasefire, widely seen as a major ASEAN achievement, prevented broader escalation and ensured the safety of thousands of civilians, Bernama reported. A Central issue in the dispute has been competing claims over the ancient Hindu temples of Prasat Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear, perched on the Dangrek Mountains along the natural border. In 2011, clashes around Preah Vihear resulted in at least 16 deaths, prompting a UN Security Council meeting and press statement. En route to Malaysia, Trump had stated aboard Air Force One that he, along with Cambodia and Thailand, would sign the "great Peace Deal." He posted on Truth Social: "I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand. I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. To accommodate everyone for this major event, we will sign the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival. See you soon! President DJT." (ANI)
Bakersfield's historic Woolworth's building is surely a dichotomy, a study in contrast.

It's both a time capsule filled with nostalgia and memory and it's the home of a new and modern vision made of concrete, steel, confidence and determination that exists not just in the past, but in the here and now.

This local pioneer of the five-and-dime retail style opened 75 years ago in 1950 in Bakersfield's burgeoning post-war downtown business district.

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On Saturday, it opened again  some say it was reborn. Four years after Sherod and Emily Waite and former business partner David Anderson announced they were buying it, the Waites closed 19th and K streets and threw a grand opening and block party to mark the occasion.

The entire community was invited to join the celebration  with music, food and fun  all to begin another chapter in the 44,000-square-foot building's rich and diverse history.

"Emily and I were born and raised here in Bakersfield," Sherod Waite told the several hundred people who gathered on that city block and inside Woolworth's famous luncheonette, the last operating Woolworth's luncheonette in the country.

"We both graduated from Bakersfield High School. I went to Bakersfield College and graduated from Cal State Bakersfield, and we raised our three boys here," he said.

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"This town has given us so much, and our hope with this project is to be able to give back to the town and specifically give back to the downtown urban core."

Not only is the project bringing nearly 50 jobs to the city's downtown, he said, they hope it will help anchor the ongoing effort to improve and grow the historic business district.

Emily Waite, who managed the four-year effort, said she thought long and hard about what she wanted to say to all the well-wishers in the crowd Saturday.

"This project has been challenging and difficult and complex," she said. "It has also been moving and meaningful and joyful at the same time.

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"We have often said that this building is our love letter to Bakersfield, and that is truly how we feel. Those are not just words," Waite said.

"Over the course of my life here in Bakersfield, what I've come to understand and what I have chosen to believe is that a life of purpose and meaning and joy is a life in which one contributes to, engages in, nurtures and gives back to the community in which they live.

"So that is what this building is about for us. And our desire and our goal is for this building to be a place for you all to do the same, to participate in and nurture and give back to each other in this community that we call Bakersfield.

"We love Bakersfield. We love all of you," she told the crowd. "Welcome back to Woolworth's."

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As a wide variety of musical artists performed on a big stage set up for the event, hundreds slowly filed into the newly restored luncheonette for free burgers, fresh-cut fries and ice cream cones for dessert.

Dale Oprandy, executive director of nearby Inclusion Films, was sitting at the counter inside the luncheonette just taking it all in.

Oprandy is working on a documentary about Bakersfield and its history, and a tour of Woolworth's was a must in his exploration.

"When I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, we had a Woolworth's in the town next to mine ... So as kids, we would go there with our parents, and the last thing you would do after you shopped was sit at the lunch counter and have a hot dog," he remembered. "They had balloons, and if you'd pop a balloon, you may get a free ice cream, or free French fries, but it was the greatest thing."

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There's something about the Woolworth's in Bakersfield, he said. "It's a very nostalgic place."

Nostalgia was also on the mind of 18-year-old Bakersfield College student Alysa Murphy, but the double major is nostalgic for the antique mall that operated for years at the store before the former owner sold to the Waites.

"My grandma and my dad would both bring me here," she remembered. "I love antiques and Woolworth's was one of my favorite places to go.

"It's early Saturday morning and I'd get together with my dad," Murphy recalled. "We'd walk down the street and hit all the different antique stores and then we'd end up here for lunch.

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"And I always remember getting the biggest chocolate shake with my burger and my fries, and it held so many memories for me."

During that period, the old Woolworth's was owned and operated by one-time Taft resident Mark Sheffield, who bought the boarded-up building in 1994.

Sheffield and his wife, Linda, eventually settled on renting spaces for antique dealers.

Jeremy Tremell and his brother later took over operations of the beloved luncheonette, transforming it into a local favorite, according to the history on the Waites' website.

In September 2021, the Waites announced they were purchasing the grand fixer-upper, and the rest is history.

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"Coming just from a tourism standpoint, I think it's going to bring in not just people from Bakersfield, but people from out of the area as well," said Alan Alvarez, vice chairman of the Downtown Business Association and chairman of the Downtown Business Development Corp.

"I genuinely believe that that is going to bring tourism to our downtown area," he said. "That tying in with all of the other Eastchester projects that are going on."

The newly refurbished building, Alvarez said, is a "key anchor" that he believes will help already established businesses and help attract new businesses to the area east of Chester Avenue.

"This is a historic day for downtown Bakersfield," said Ward 2 Bakersfield City Councilman Andrae Gonzales, who represents most of the downtown area.

"The fact that we're able to restore such a beautiful building associated with so many stories and memories for people in the community ... and also the fact that this investment and revitalization will help spur future growth in this area, is huge," he said.
As the Halloween season ramps up in earnest in San Luis Obispo County, the lucky 13th Witches and Warlocks Paddle attracted hundreds of spooky sailors to the harbor in Morro Bay.

Starting at Coleman Park around noon on Saturday, a procession of hundreds of pagan paddlers made their way into the harbor, drifting lazily along the Embarcadero.

I love seeing the smile on everyones faces, whether theyre in the water or theyre watching from the shore, event co-founder Annette Ausseresses told The Tribune. Its just so fun, people just light up.

A team of witches rows a longboat at the Witches and Warlocks Paddle in Morro Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the water on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.

Attendees took to the harbor wearing witch costumes, skeleton masks and even a Beetlejuice or two, circling the waters on paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and even a longboat crewed by a team of synchronized witch rowers.

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Witch and Cayucos resident Linda Van Fleet has been to five paddles prior to this year.

She both said she loves seeing the harbor filled with people celebrating Halloween in true festive spirit.

A skeleton man paddles a kayak at the 2025 Witches and Warlocks Paddle in Morro Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the water on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.

Last year, I brought my 94-year-old mom, and she loved it, Van Fleet said. It was just the highlight of Halloween for her.

Former Cayucos residents Alyx Lemos and Keely Tedone, both dressed as witches and crewing a double kayak, said the paddle is one of their favorite regional events and keeps them coming back to Morro Bay most years.

Its just fun, people coming out for good vibes, Lemos said. I feel like community events are few and far in between these days, and this is like a true community event, which I think is cool, too.

Hundreds of witches take to the harbor at the Witches and Warlocks Paddle in Morro Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the water on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.

Witches and other creatures of the night launch their kayaks in the water near Coleman Park at the Witches and Warlocks Paddle in Morro Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the water on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.

A pair of witches cruise through Morro Bay during the Witches and Warlocks Paddle on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the water on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.

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A witch wearing a festive fall skirt paddles along at the Witches Paddle in Morro Bay on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The 13th annual paddle attracted hundreds of witches and creatures of the night taking to the watter on paddleboards, kayaks and other small craft.
The massacre in Lewiston the evening of Oct. 25, 2023, when 18 Mainers lost their lives almost instantly in two separate attacks with semi-automatic weapons, changed our lives. Our sense of safety and security in this low-crime state, and our illusion that we were somehow immune to the mass violence that has continued all across this nation, are gone. We know it could happen again.

Americas weak and inconsistent laws concerning firearms safety are in large part to blame, though at least in New England theres been a reasonably adequate response  but not in Maine. Among several tools enacted in four states, among 21 nationally, were red flag laws, which function as an early warning system for imminent violence, to oneself and others, available to family members who can see whats happening long before law enforcement gets involved.

When Gov. Janet Mills gave her State of the State address the following February, the big question was whether she would go beyond the yellow flag law she had devised with Sportsmans Alliance of Maine (SAM) director David Trahan, passed in 2019, which allows only police to begin gun removal proceedings and which had rarely been used before Lewiston  and failed there, as was incontestably established by a commission the governor herself appointed.

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Mills wouldnt budge, however, leading me to write, Before the Legislature leaves town in April there should be a red flag law on the books. There still isnt; legislative leaders wouldnt even bring the issue to a vote.

That is why we are deciding Question 2 on Nov. 4, and its vitally important voters understand why the red flag procedure, also known as an extreme risk protection order, needs to become law. First, it works. The process is similar to what already exists in Maine law in domestic violence cases, where guns can be ordered removed by a judge where high risk to a spouse or partner is shown.

The earlier extreme risk bill was endorsed by the late George Smith, Trahans predecessor at SAM, who understood the need to balance safety against gunowner rights in a way Trahan simply does not. The law has been upheld by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and, implicitly, by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024 in the Rahimi case.

Thats why Mills, in her recent op-ed, is wrong to call it constitutionally suspect, which suggests that defending the yellow flag, which she calls our law, is more important to her than getting at the root of the problem. Its the yellow flag law, which will remain if the red flag amendment is approved, that raises some uncomfortable issues.

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While the yellow flag has repeatedly been called more moderate than the red flag, it isnt. It requires police to take someone into protective custody  jailing them  so a mental health evaluation can take place, plus a full court proceeding on the gun possession issue. This is, to put it mildly, a highly unusual procedure.

While its true the yellow flag has been invoked far more often after Lewiston  1,100 times, according to Mills  we know nothing about what happened to those who, at least temporarily, lost their liberty and for how long. Removing firearms through a red flag law, also temporarily, is far less intrusive, so its hard to understand Mills insistence that we dont need it.

Far more persuasive is an op-ed by Anne Jordan, a former commissioner of Public Safety who served as executive director of the Mills-appointed commission. She wrote that the facts led me to a resounding, inescapable conclusion over the course of nine months, thousands of pages of reports and records and hundreds of hours of videos and interviews: we need a better law.

The red flag is that law. As Jordan says, its proven to work in 21 other states, and that the yellow flag was an experiment, an attempt to blaze our own trail that tragically failed. She said of Mills, Im disappointed shes chosen to side with the gun lobby.

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As Mainers, its our responsibility to add to our limited set of tools in preventing violence. One law the Legislature did pass, a 72-hour waiting period for purchases, has been dubiously put on hold by federal Judge Lance Walker, making this referendum vote more urgent.

Even if Question 2 is enacted, it wont prevent every gun death; no law could. But had it been in place, its far more likely lives could have been saved in Lewiston, and in the hundreds of firearms deaths that have occurred since then. That is the simplest and best reason to vote yes.

Douglas Rooks

Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter for 40 years. The author of four books, his new study of the Ken Curtis administration is due next year. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine Question 2s Red Flag needed now more than ever: Rooks
Maines shortage of affordable housing has led to calls to aggressively build new homes and apartments: up to 84,000 more by 2030, according to a 2023 state report frequently cited by Maine media.

But other numbers paint a more complicated picture, showing how it can be deceptive to focus solely on this statistic, as housing can become less affordable even if construction outpaces population growth. Thats exactly what has happened in Maine over the last 50 years.

According to U.S. Census data, the construction of new housing units in Maine has outpaced population growth since 1970, statewide and in every county. Maine now has more housing units per person than it did 50 years ago.

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The big change is neither the growth in population nor a decline in housing construction. Rather far fewer people are living in each housing unit: 2.5 in 1970 versus 1.8 today. Thats a 30-percent decline in 50 years.

If Mainers returned to the number of people per housing unit that was typical in 1970, the state could house an additional 500,000 residents without erecting a single new building.

Its really quite an astonishing statistic when you look at it, said Evan Richert, a retired planner and former director of what was the Maine State Planning Office. And its driven by demographic factors at both ends.

On one end, Richert said, are young adults having fewer children, and later in life. On the other end are older Mainers who are living longer, own single-family homes and dont want to move.

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Its a hard question, how to make better use of the homes we have, but its worth raising, Richert said. It deserves more discussion. Im not sure what the answer is. People value their privacy.

Abraham Dailey, a housing consultant in Raymond, agreed with Richert on the demographic factors driving the trend. Dailey cited Kittery as an example. Although the town saw very little population growth between 1980 and 2010, it had steady housing growth of about 500 units per decade.

Dailey also cited the mismatch between the housing that is in demand and the homes that are being built. Many Mainers are looking for smaller starter homes, one-to-two bedroom apartments or accessory dwelling units (in-law apartments), while much of the new construction is of single-family homes on a few acres, arranged in the pattern known as sprawl.

Planners and policy wonks have seen this coming for years. The trend was predicted in a 1989 Commission on Maines Future report.

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"By 2010, nearly half of Maine's population will be over the age of 40 and almost three quarters of the households will be without children, the authors wrote. Household size will continue to decline as the population ages.

The trend of housing production outpacing population growth is exaggerated in Maine, partly because its residents are the oldest in the nation, but it is mirrored nationwide. Kirk McClure, a professor emeritus of urban planning at the University of Kansas, has researched this and said its poorly understood.

Many continue to believe in a shortage when the best data (decennial census) say otherwise, he wrote in an email.

A 2024 Realtor.com report found 33 million extra bedrooms in the United States, more than four times the number in 1980. (And this report dedicated the first extra bedroom in a house to an alternate use such as an office, so it could be tallied as 66 million extra bedrooms.)

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Dailey said another element is that some new construction is for vacation houses, and some year-round homes have been converted to seasonal occupancy or short-term rentals. He said its easy to focus on these as driving the statewide trend.

I think probably the most popular explanation would be, maybe thats all seasonal housing, Dailey said. But I dont think thats the case. Seasonal housing has been an issue in Maine long before Airbnb, and that just amped it up a bit.

The 2023 state housing report said the percentage of seasonal housing has been roughly level at about 16 percent.

But Andy Jackson of Dovetail Consulting, a housing development consultant specializing in affordable housing in Maine, said seasonal housing plays a big role in some areas. In the Portland area, he said, The number of short-term rentals and Airbnbs has gone through the roof.

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This is one of the factors that makes the affordable housing problem look very different in different parts of Maine. In Portland, Jackson said, theres a lot of investment in housing, while in places like Skowhegan and Rumford theres often disinvestment: older houses that are falling apart, vacant buildings and absentee landlords.

He said although its logical to try to better inhabit existing buildings, their condition sometimes precludes investment, and it makes more sense to tear them down and build new affordable housing.

Is it worth investing in the old structures? Jackson said. In some cases it will be yes. In other cases it will be no.

The occupancy side of the equation gets less attention than the construction side, in part because the latter has multiple natural constituencies and allies, especially builders, contractors and real estate agents. Few are motivated to speak up for better occupying the tens of thousands of empty bedrooms.

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One state initiative, Maine Home Share pilot project hosted by Nesterly, is the result of a bill by former legislator Maggie ONeil (D-Saco). This is an effort to connect renters seeking housing with older Mainers who have extra rooms. ONeils bill gave a $200,000, one-year state contract to the online platform Nesterly.

Nesterly CEO Noelle Marcus said it makes sense to better use existing buildings.

This is potential affordable housing that weve already zoned for, we already have all the infrastructure lined up, we dont have to deal with NIMBYism, we dont have to deal with buying land or construction timelines and costs, Marcus said.

Marcus said the program received additional state funding for 2025, but Nesterlys work in Maine is still in the early stages. She declined to provide numbers but said Nesterly has completed a handful of placements in Maine. (At least one Belfast resident has used the program.)

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The state agencies that sponsored the 2023 report thats driving so much of the housing discussion in Maine are not focused on this trend of empty bedrooms. The Governors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future declined to comment for this story.

In response to the question of whether this pattern deserves more discussion, Maine State Housing Authority spokesperson Scott Thistle said that there is an interesting sociological discussion to be had about the changes in family structure.
Maine, once a national competitor in student achievement, now sits at or below the national average for standardized test performance.

While scores nationwide have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic, Maine student performance has been sliding for more than a decade.

And a Maine Monitor analysis of 20 years of student test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, showed that some students are sinking to the bottom faster than others. Low-income students and children with disabilities saw peak test scores on the NAEP starting around 2007. Then these students started to see huge losses.

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Between 2007 and 2024, the portion of all Maine students reaching at least a partial, basic level of understanding of reading and math fell more than 14 percent.

But the percentage of students with disabilities reaching the same, bare-minimum performance level or higher fell more than 32 percent  in some subjects more than 40 percent. The group of low-income students meeting that level, meanwhile, fell more than 23 percent.

The percentage of Maine test takers performing at a basic level or more is lower than the national average. (The NAEP results are only presented as percentages, not total numbers, and the exact loss in performance depends on the subject and grade level.)

The Maine Monitor ran the data by two education researchers to confirm that children with disabilities and from low-income households were sliding significantly.

Students with disabilities have plans that provide accommodations for learning; they may have autism, dyslexia and more.

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Economically disadvantaged students include children who come from low-income households, are homeless, or may qualify for programs such as free and reduced lunch.

Other groups of students have been struggling as well. Black students saw significant losses in test scores, as did English language learning students, though data collection for both of these groups has been inconsistent over the years given their small numbers.

On the NAEP test, students can score at four levels. If they meet the basic level, it means they showed some, but not a complete, understanding of the fundamental things kids usually know at their grade level.

For instance, in reading, fourth graders meet the basic level if they can at least make simple inferences from text, and eighth graders meet it if they can answer specific questions about the text.

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At the proficient level, or the level that the National Assessment Governing Board describes as the goal for all student performance, children show a solid understanding of challenging math and reading skills. The percentage of students performing at the proficient level in Maine started to decline between 2013 and 2017 across grade levels and subjects.

Advanced-level students, meanwhile, have mastered math and reading skills. As a whole, between 2 and 10 percent of Maine students perform at an advanced level across grade levels and subjects. This range for the top tier of performance has stayed fairly consistent over time.

Students fall into a fourth category of performance, called below basic, when they cannot demonstrate even fundamental knowledge in reading or math.

The Monitor analysis showed that the percentage of students performing at this lowest level has grown since 2007. For instance, about 59 percent of fourth graders with disabilities tested below the basic level on reading in 2007. By 2024, about 78 percent of these students did.

In the same subject in 2007, 41 percent of low-income fourth graders tested at the below basic level. In 2024, 59 percent of these students did.




Hurricane Melissa, which formed Saturday, has become a Category 5 storm and is expected to remain a powerful major hurricane when it makes landfall in Jamaica Monday night or Tuesday morning and southeastern Cuba late Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center said Monday.

As of 8 a.m. Monday, the rotating center of Melissa was about 135 miles southwest of Kingston, Jamaica's capital, and creeping west at 3 mph. The intensifying hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Hurricane-force winds (74 mph or stronger) extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical storm winds (39-73 mph) extend outward up to 195 miles.

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TRACK MELISSA: Keep an eye on tropical storms and hurricanes as they develop this hurricane season.

"A slow turn toward the northwest and north is expected today and tonight, followed by a northeastward acceleration beginning on Tuesday and continuing through at least Thursday," National Hurricane Center forecasters said in a bulletin Monday. "On the forecast track, the core of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica tonight and Tuesday, across southeastern Cuba Tuesday night, and across the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday."

This weather satellite photo of the Caribbean Sea taken early Sunday shows a clearly defined eye in the center of an organized Hurricane Melissa south of Jamaica. (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites/CIRA and NOAA)





Early Sunday, Melissa became a major hurricane, which is defined as a Category 3 or stronger storm on the Saffir-Simpson wind and damage scale:

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Category 1: Low-end hurricanes with winds from 74 mph to 95 mph.

Category 2: These hurricanes have winds between 96 mph and 110 mph.

Category 3: Hurricanes that produce winds of 111-129 mph and are capable of devastating damage to structures and utilities.

Category 4: Hurricanes that pack winds of 130-156 mph.

Category 5: These are the most powerful hurricanes, producing maximum winds that are 157 mph or stronger.

Where is Melissa headed?

Although the hurricane has experienced fluctuations in its intensification, "Melissa is expected to reach Jamaica and southeastern Cuba as a powerful major hurricane, and will still be at hurricane strength when it moves across the southeastern Bahamas," forecasters said.

The hurricane is projected to make "a painstakingly slow turn toward the northwest and north" all day Monday before spending Tuesday plowing through Jamaica on its way to Cuba, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"A trough (of low atmospheric pressure) moving across the southeastern United States is then expected to cause Melissa to turn northeastward and accelerate, crossing southeastern Cuba and the southeastern Bahamas Tuesday night and Wednesday, and then reaching the vicinity of Bermuda Thursday night," the hurricane center said.

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Regardless of whether Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica at Category 4 or 5 storm, forecasters said, Melissa will produce catastrophic wind damage. Jamaica also is under the threat of catastrophic, life-threatening flash flooding and numerous landslides Monday and Tuesday.

"Destructive winds, especially in the mountains, will begin by this evening, leading to extensive infrastructural damage, long-lasting power and communication outages, and isolated communities," the hurricane center said. "Life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected along the southern coast through Tuesday."

Southwestern Haiti also faces deadly flash flooding and landslides through midweek, the hurricane center said.

This article originally published at Hurricane Melissa, now Category 5, to make landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday, en route to Cuba.
Democratic strategist James Carville unloaded on President Donald Trump, branding him a loser and arguing that his winning streak is over. Hes not getting away with it, Carville, 81, said about Trump, 79, on a Wednesday episode of the Politics War Room with James Carville and Al Hunt podcast. Hes done. We just got to butter this toast and slice it and eat it, Carville continued, adding, Youre a loser, dude! Youre losing everywhere, and youre going to lose more because you, my friend,
NEED TO KNOW

Jamie Boyd was attacked by seven dogs while walking to his mailbox in Alabama on Sept. 24

According to a local news report, the 81-year-old remains in critical condition and faces the possibility of having multiple limbs amputated

The dogs' owners, William and Lacey Mitchell, are facing criminal charges for control of dangerous dogs and a civil lawsuit

A man is at risk of losing multiple limbs after being attacked by seven dogs while walking to his mailbox in Alabama.

Jamie Boyd was attacked by canines allegedly belonging to his neighbors, William and Lacey Mitchell, in Bibb County on Sept. 24, local news outlet WBRC reported. The 81-year-old's wife tried to help amid the attack, but she had been on a walker and ended up falling herself.

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After police arrived on the scene, Brent Police Chief Carl McMillan fired a shot at the dog, who he believed had its eyes on Mrs. Boyd. I dont know if I hit him or not. He didnt holler out, but they took off running, McMillan told the outlet.

A lawsuit has been filed against William, 53, and Lacey Mitchell, 50, and they were indicted by a Bibb County grand jury on Oct. 3. The Mitchells were charged under Emilys Law  an Alabama law that addresses the owners of dogs that attack or cause serious injury  with one count of control of dangerous dogs.

Boyd's scalp was ripped from his head and he lost 50% of his muscle tissue in the attack, WBRC reported, citing the lawsuit. He remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at UAB Hospital.

He is facing amputation of his arm and potentially leg in order to stop the infection that is just out of control and the family seeks prayers for everyone in the community, Boyd's attorney, Paul Patterson, told WBRC one month after the attack.

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According to Patterson, the dogs were a combination of pit bulls and pit bull mixes.

According to the indictments cited by WBRC, the Mitchells had prior knowledge that the dogs were dangerous. Court records also indicate they both signed a plea of not guilty and a waiver of arraignment form.



Bibb County Sheriff's Office William Mitchell and Lacey Mitchell William Mitchell and Lacey Mitchell

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This is one of the most tragic dog mauling attacks that Ive handled over the years practicing civil law, Patterson told the outlet, alleging that the attack was a brutal mauling.

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I think the legislature really needs to take another look at Emilys Law to make it a little more punitive on people who have a reckless disregard for the safety of others when they own these types of dogs," he continued.

"If a court has not declared the dog vicious previously, then the punishment is  in my opinion  not as severe as it should be," Patterson added.

The seven dogs have since been impounded at the Bibb County Animal Facility.

The Michells are out of jail on $5,000 bond each, local news outlet AL reported. Arraignment is set for early December.



PEOPLE has reached out to Brent Police and Boyd's attorney, Paul Patterson, for further comment.

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NEED TO KNOW

A New York state man is accused of strangling his girlfriend and setting their home on fire while she and their newborn baby son were inside

Kidane Haile, 30, was indicted and arraigned on Oct. 23, following the deaths of 29-year-old Kathleen Carrig and their 4-day-old son, Noah

Haile has been charged with second-degree murder, and officials are investigating the cause of death for the newborn

A New York man is accused of strangling his girlfriend and setting their home on fire while she and their newborn baby son were inside.

According to the Erie County District Attorney's Office, 30-year-old Kidane Haile was indicted and arraigned for second-degree murder on Thursday, Oct. 23, following the deaths of 29-year-old Kathleen "Katie" Carrig and their 4-day-old son, Noah.

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The DA's Office said in a statement that the Buffalo Fire Department was called to an apartment on the city's Norwood Avenue on Oct. 18 at around 8:35 p.m. local time after receiving a report of a fire.

Carrig and her newborn baby were pronounced dead at the scene, and Haile was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, the DA said. He was discharged on Oct. 22 and was taken into police custody, Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane told BTPM.

"The cause of death of their infant son, 4-day-old Noah Carrig, remains under investigation at this time," the statement continued.

Google Maps The family's apartment building in Buffalo, N.Y. The family's apartment building in Buffalo, N.Y.

"[Haile] is accused of intentionally causing the death of his girlfriend...inside of their shared apartment," the D.A.'s Office said, adding that they anticipate filing additional charges against Haile. "The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office determined that the manner of death was homicide caused by asphyxia due to strangulation."

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We are saddened by the tragic death of this young mother and her newborn baby," Keane said in a statement. "My thoughts remain with the family of these victims as we continue to seek answers and justice."

During a press conference, Keane also alleged that Haile intentionally started the fire after strangling Carrig.



"The allegations are that Mr. Haile murdered Kathleen Carrig by strangulation, and that he had done so prior to intentionally starting the fire. We anticipate that the evidence is going to show that he intentionally started the fire with gasoline," Keane said, per BTPM.

"The cause of death for baby Noah remains under investigation, but we expect to be able to verify and report his cause of death in very short order," he added.

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The building and its contents sustained around $100,000 in damage during the fire, WIVB reported.



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An obituary described Carrig as a "loving mother," as well as a "loving dog mother," who is survived by her parents, sister and "many loving and supportive aunts, uncles, cousins and friends."

According to WIVB, Haile, a college financial aid advisor for the University at Buffalo, was held without bail following his arraignment. The DA's Office said he faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

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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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The leadership of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) has urged the US administration to take up the cases of American citizens unjustly detained or subjected to exit bans in China, describing Beijing's actions as part of a "systemic tool of coercion and hostage-taking". In a joint letter addressed to the President, Senator Dan Sullivan, Chairman of the CECC, Representative Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chair, and Representative John Moolenaar, Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, thanked the administration for its continued commitment to securing the release of wrongfully detained Americans and reuniting families separated by coercion and violence. They called for the issue to be raised directly with Chinese General Secretary Xi Jinping at the next opportunity. The lawmakers asserted that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has become "the world's largest hostage-taker", accusing it of using detentions and exit bans to punish and censor Americans, gain leverage over US businesses, and influence US policy. The letter emphasised that these practices disproportionately affect Chinese-American and Uyghur-American communities and are carried out with impunity. The Commission specifically asked the President to draw attention to the cases of Nelson Wells Jr and Dawn Michelle Hunt, both incarcerated for more than a decade following arrests and trials that reportedly lacked due process. Each has endured mistreatment and now suffers from serious medical conditions requiring urgent care. Their families, comprising US military veterans and law-enforcement personnel, have sought humanitarian transfer or release. Alongside these cases, the lawmakers urged the administration to address the widespread use of "exit bans" that prevent American citizens and their family members from leaving China. They cited reports indicating that tens of thousands of such bans are imposed annually. While most cases remain unpublicised, the letter mentioned the recent lifting of the exit ban on Wells Fargo executive Chenyue (Jesse) Mao as an example of progress achieved through persistent diplomacy. Two ongoing cases were highlighted as evidence of the CCP's expanding use of exit bans: Gao Zhen, a U.S. lawful permanent resident and artist, detained over artwork disfavoured by the CCP, whose U.S.-citizen son and wife are barred from leaving China; and a US government employee, travelling in a personal capacity, who has also been subjected to an exit ban. The lawmakers said these cases show that even Americans in public service are not spared. The letter also condemned the CCP's detention of individuals as retaliation against their US-based family members or to silence criticism of the Chinese government. It cited the harassment of relatives of Radio Free Asia's Uyghur Service journalists and the continued imprisonment of Gulshan Abbas as examples of Beijing's retaliatory tactics intended to suppress free speech. The lawmakers underscored the importance of humanitarian and diplomatic efforts to secure the release of these individuals, stressing that American citizens should never be used as bargaining chips in U.S.-China relations. They urged the administration to meet privately with affected families, expand consular access and medical oversight, and pursue all available avenues for humanitarian release, medical parole, or prisoner transfers. The letter called for coordination with US allies facing similar challenges and the use of existing legal authorities under Executive Orders 14348 and 14078 to ensure accountability for those responsible for unjust detentions, mistreatment, and exit-ban practices. "We are grateful for your unwavering dedication to reuniting American families," the lawmakers wrote. "We would appreciate continued top-level engagement until all hostages are liberated, and their families are free from fear, worry, coercion, and censorship imposed on them by the Chinese Communist Party." In conclusion, the lawmakers stated that a list of names and case details had been provided to the White House, with certain information withheld from publication at the request of families fearing retaliation against detained relatives in China. A confidential annexe of names was included for consideration. The letter, dated October 22, 2025, was signed by Senator Dan Sullivan, Representative Chris Smith, and Representative John Moolenaar, reaffirming their commitment to work closely with the administration to address what they described as "unjust detentions, mistreatment, and exit-ban hostage-taking" by the Chinese government. (ANI)
LACY LAKEVIEW (FOX 44)  Lacy Lakeview police had a busy afternoon Saturday (Oct. 25, 2025) after responding to a call about a man who reportedly pulled a gun on several people during a disturbance.

The incident started when officers arrived at the scene and saw the suspect and another person take off in a vehicle. This led to a police chase that crossed city lines and ended up in Waco.

The two men eventually abandoned the vehicle and tried to escape on foot. Following a brief chase, police were able to catch one of the suspects.

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While the individual who brandished the firearm is still at large, police say they have positively identified him and are currently getting warrants for his arrest. The Lacy Lakeview Police Department praised its officers for their quick response and thanked the community for its support.

We will update this story as more details become available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
When Stephan Smerk called Fairfax County Police Detective Melissa Wallace on Sept. 7, 2023, she was shocked to hear what he had to say.

"He says, I'm at the police department to turn myself in," Wallace told "48 Hours" correspondent Anne-Marie Green, in "Closing the Cold Case of Robin Lawrence," now streaming on Paramount+. "And I said, turn yourself in for what?"

Smerk, a married 52-year-old father of two living in Niskayuna, New York, was calling to confess to the 30-year-old cold case murder of Robin Warr Lawrence.

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"A million things start going through my mind," Wallace said. "The adrenaline was pumping so hard because the reality hit  of what this means and that we're getting ready to close this case."

Robin Lawrence with her daughter Nicole. / Credit: Warr Lawrence Family

Robin Warr Lawrence, an artist and mother, was brutally murdered in her home in Springfield, Virginia, in 1994. For two days, her daughter Nicole, just 2 years old at the time, roamed the house alone before her mother's body was discovered. And for three decades after that, detectives tried to figure out who could have done this to Robin.

"Who would do such a thing? Why?" said Mary Warr Cowans, Robin's sister. "I remember thinking at the funeral, Robin's killer could be in this room with us. We didn't know."

It took decades, but eventually the family would get their answers. DNA evidence  in the form of blood left on a washcloth  had been found at the crime scene back in 1994, and at the time it had turned up no matches when investigators ran it through CODIS  the FBI's national database. Years went by and new techniques were developed, including a process called genetic genealogy.

DNA evidence was recovered on a washcloth in Robin Lawrence's bathroom. / Credit: Fairfax County Police Department

In genetic genealogy, a suspect's DNA is used to find their relatives. Then investigators research those relatives' family trees until a potential person of interest is found  someone who would have been the right age and in the right place at the right time to commit the crime. Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company that often works with law enforcement, did not have high hopes for solving Robin's case using this technique because the database matches were very distant.

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"Parabon gave us a solvability rate of zero on the case," said Wallace.

Fairfax County Police Department volunteer Liz, who asked that her last name not be used, thought she'd take a crack at it anyway. The process proved difficult. "I was ready to give up a number of times," Liz told "48 Hours." "But I kept thinking, well, I'll just finish this or just do this one more thing."

After three years of doing just one more thing, Liz came up with a possible suspect. He'd lived in Virginia in 1994 and would have been around the right age to commit the murder. His name was Stephan Smerk.

"I wasn't very hopeful at the time," Wallace said. "I was just looking at this guy's background. I'm thinking, there is no way."

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Smerk had a completely clean record, without so much as a speeding ticket. He worked as a computer programmer in suburban Niskayuna.

Though they had their doubts, Detectives Melissa Wallace and Jon Long took the trip up to Niskayuna to talk to Smerk. Their goal was to get his DNA, to see if he was related to the person who had left their DNA at the crime scene  or if he was that person.

"He comes to the door right away," Wallace said. "All we said is we are detectives from Fairfax County, Virginia, and we're looking into a cold case from the 90s."

Smerk, detectives say, had no reaction. "Stone-faced," said Long. Smerk gave his DNA willingly, and Wallace and Long went back to their hotel. Then Wallace got that call.

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"I was freaking out," Wallace said. "I run down to [Long's] room, while I'm still on the phone, and I'm banging on his door, and he comes to the door, like, what is the problem? I'm like, we got to go to the police department."

When they met Smerk at the Niskayuna Police Department, officers had taken him into custody and he was ready to talk. Wallace and Long sat him down in an interrogation room, and without much prompting, Smerk confessed to the murder of Robin Warr Lawrence. He had gone to Robin's home that night in 1994, he told them, for no other reason than wanting to kill someone.

"I knew that I was going kill somebody," Smerk told the detectives. "I did not know who I was going to kill." At the time, Smerk was in the military and posted at a base nearby and was familiar with Robin Warr Lawrence's neighborhood because a friend had stayed there. He said he had no idea who lived in Robin's house.

"There could have been 50 people in that house. I don't know. They could have all had guns and shot me dead. I wasn't even thinking about that." All Smerk was thinking about, he told detectives, was killing. He said he had compulsions that he couldn't control.

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"I honestly believe that if it wasn't for my wife and my kids, I probably would be a serial killer," Smerk said. "I am a serial killer who's only killed once."

During questioning, Stephan Smerk, who confessed to killing Robin Lawrence, told detectives,

"It's such a shocking statement," Wallace told "48 Hours." "It makes no sense. You know, if you're a serial killer, you don't kill once. But, on the other hand, he was very candid and open and honest throughout the rest of the interview. So, it could be true that he has only killed one person."

Is it possible for someone with the impulses of a serial killer to kill just once? Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole says it can happen.

"We have learned over the years with cases like BTK and the Golden State Killer and other cases where they do stop," she explained. "The compulsions don't go away  they tell us that they rechannel it. They put it into a different activity. So that activity can be something that is less than murder, but it could involve, for example, Peeping Tom behavior, autoerotic behavior  but you don't just cut those urges off. Something has to replace them."

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Smerk had zero incidents on his record. O'Toole says it's possible he never committed another crime, but she doubts the ideas in his head went away. She said she'd like to know more about his ideation in order to determine whether he could be a threat in the future.

"That ideation that really led to the murder in the first place, that would be troubling to me until I knew a lot more about that. What triggered it? What are you doing with it now? Don't tell me it's never there. Don't tell me that it just went out the window after you committed that murder."

In his interview, Smerk expressed no remorse for what he had done. When asked if he had anything he'd like to tell Robin's family, he replied, "How do I say this? I know you're recording  I don't feel anything for the family. I feel bad that I did it because I knew someday my personal freedom would be affected."

Smerk pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2037, when he is 65. Robin's family said they are glad to have closure as long as Smerk spends the rest of his life behind bars, but the consequences of his actions will never leave them.

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"It helped to know that a person was found and being held responsible," Warr Cowans said in her statement to the judge at Smerk's sentencing, "but it didn't help to know what he did to [Robin] and how she suffered  it doesn't help and it doesn't bring her back. She would have been in our lives for the past thirty years. But that was taken from us."

She told "48 Hours" that for a long time she lived in fear, not knowing who had committed this horrible crime.

"I actually felt afraid at home, in my bed," she said. "Thinking about someone just from out of the blue could show up from anywhere and kill you in your house ... That's just a scary thought that you're not safe anywhere."

"It's scary," echoed Long. "From a community perspective, that's like your worst nightmare. Like, that's the reason why you tell like your loved ones to make sure that your doors are locked at night. He is the boogeyman."

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ST. BERNARD PARISH, La. (WGNO)  A man was killed on Saturday, Oct. 25, around 12:30 p.m. in a crash in St. Bernard Parish.

According to the Louisiana State Police, 64-year-old Scott Sanders of Metairie was killed in the crash.

Sanders was reportedly driving a 2025 Hyundai Palisade north on Highway 39 near Schnell Drive. LSP officials said the Hyundai ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a reinforced steel billboard support pillar.

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Sanders was unrestrained and suffered serious injuries, according to the LSP. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now)  A suspect is in custody after a man was found shot to death inside an Alexandria apartment building Saturday night, the Alexandria Police Department (APD) detailed.

Police said 26-year-old Damontie James has been charged with second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Just minutes before 11 p.m. on Oct. 25, police responded to reports of shots fired at The Nexus at West Alex Apartments on 3450 Berkeley Street.

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At the scene, officers found a man inside an apartment who had been shot. Police said the man, identified as 29-year-old Kory Anding, was pronounced dead.

Fairfax County police recruit charged with DWI in Fauquier County

His body was transported to the Office of the Medical Examiner to determine the cause and manner of death.

According to police, James remained at the scene where he was taken into custody.

Police said an initial investigation determined that James is believed to have shot Anding over a domestic dispute involving James sister.

Officials urge anyone with information about the shooting to call APD Detective Escobar at (703) 746-6819. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
The man fatally shot by Middletown police earlier this summer had killed his wife in an act of domestic violence and then had planned to die in a "suicide by cop," according to investigatory documents.

Ronald Hazen Kerr, 60, was shot by Middletown police officers in July at his home in the 3000 block of Mohawk Drive. Kerr's son had called police after he said heard Kerr arguing with his stepmother, 53-year-old Consuelo (Denise) Kerr, and then shoot her in the chest, according to an Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigative report.

When officers arrived, they believed it was a hostage situation and called for Kerr to exit the house with his hands up, the report states. Officers staged in both the front and back of the house, trying to convince Kerr to exit.

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After several minutes, officers heard a single shot fired from inside, toward what was believed to be in the direction of the other officers at the back door, the report states. Officers continued to call for Kerr to drop his gun, which he refused to do.

An officer then moved toward the open back door and fired several rounds at Kerr. Prosecutors said Kerr was shot four times in the head and three times in the torso.

Officers went inside and found Counselo Kerr in an adjoining room with 11 gunshot wounds.

The name of the officer who shot Kerr is redacted from the investigative reports. A BCI spokesman did not immediately return a message asking about the redactions.

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A Butler County grand jury later found the officers were justified in the shooting.

'She can't talk right now, she's a little busy'

Family told police Ronald and Consuelo Kerr had been fighting most of the day. Things became violent after Consuelo told Ronald she was leaving him, according to the investigative report.

At 3 p.m., Kerr called his niece and said he was suicidal and planned to do a "suicide by cop."

Police say the shooting happened before 5 p.m. Kerr began calling other family members and telling them he shot Consuelo, according to the investigative report.

Kerr's stepdaughter learned of the shooting from another family member. In disbelief, she called her mother's phone. Kerr picked up.

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"(Denise) can't talk right now, she's a little busy," Kerr said, according to the stepdaughter's account to police.

"Doing what?" the stepdaughter replied.

"Well she's laying here dead with four gunshot wounds," Kerr responded.

"I shot her, she wants to cheat on me with four different guys. She got a bullet for every guy," he added.

Soon after, Kerr called his former boss and left a voicemail, admitting to the shooting.

"You've been a true friend. I just shot and killed Denise. Thanks for being my friend," Kerr said in the 11-second voicemail, according to police.

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Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can call or text the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or 800-273-8255 any time day or night, or chat online at 988lifeline.org/chat/.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Middletown man shot by police had killed wife, wanted 'suicide by cop'
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  A man arrived at a Wyoming hospital Saturday night with a gunshot wound.

The man was not identified by police but is expected to survive, according to the Wyoming Police Department. He arrived at the University of Michigan Health-West Saturday night.

Its unclear where the shooting happened, said WPD Lt. Andrew Koeller.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Police are searching for a man who escaped police custody near Phoenixville Hospital.

Jairo Eliazar Ramirez-Lima was arrested Saturday morning on suspected DUI.

Officers say he was last seen running in handcuffs from the Phoenixville Hospital grounds at around 7 a.m.

Authorities say Ramirez-Lima has a history of violence and weapons offenses, and should be considered dangerous.

If you see him, you're urged to call police right away.
NEED TO KNOW

A North Carolina man won over $1 million in his local lottery

Ray Walker won after spending $1 in the Cash 5 game

Walker said he is still numb from the life-changing news

A North Carolina man could hardly believe his luck after he won over $1 million in his local lottery.

Ray Walker of Gastonia, a town about 25 miles west of Charlotte, purchased a $1 Cash 5 ticket for the Tuesday, Oct. 21, jackpot from a Kingsway convenience store, per a press release from the North Carolina Lottery (N.C. Lottery). He specifically bought a Quick Pick ticket  meaning a computer randomly selected five numbers for him.

Google Maps Kingsway in Gastonia, N.C. Kingsway in Gastonia, N.C.

Walker said that he checked his ticket just after midnight on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and he was shocked to find he had won the $1,022,795 jackpot.

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I hollered and jumped up and down. I let out a big old yell, he recalled while speaking to the N.C. Lottery.

I had to wet my face a little bit to make sure I wasnt dreaming, he added with a laugh.

Walker went on to say that he is still processing the news.

I only slept an hour last night. Im numb, he said, adding, This couldnt have come at a better time.

Walker claimed his prize on Oct., 22 at the N.C. Lotterys headquarters in Raleigh. After state and federal taxes, he ultimately took home $733,856, per the release.

He said he plans to put the money into savings and potentially take a trip to Florida to see family.

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Profits from the N.C. Lottery go to support education programs across the state, per the N.C. Lottery's official website. The lotto raised over $1 billion for education in the state in 2024.



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MANSFIELD - The Mansfield Fire and Emergency Services Department welcomed Deputy Chief Kevin Danielson home Friday evening after he was released from a hospital in the wake of a fatal alpaca farm fire, where he rescued three people, officials said in a social media post.

Danielson, who was with his wife and son, returned to the station to a warm welcome, the department's post said.

"His strength, resilience and dedication inspire us all," the post said. "We look forward to his speedy recovery and return to the job."

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Danielson rescued three people from the home after the fire broke out Tuesday evening, rushing inside without a breathing apparatus, the Mansfield town manager previously said.

A resident, identified as 79-year-old Carol Dauphin, died from injuries she suffered in the fire, according to the Connecticut State Police.

The home was at the Khuyay Farm on Warrenville Road and Danielson was first to arrive at the scene, Mansfield Town Manager Ryan Aylesworth had said. Danielson immediately entered the home without an air pack and got all three occupants out of the home, Aylesworth said.

Police said the fire investigation remains ongoing.

This article originally published at Mansfield crew welcomes deputy chief back from hospital after he rescued 3 people in fatal fire.
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) Holland Chapter has condemned two separate incidents in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region that resulted in civilian casualties and widespread outrage among locals. According to statements shared by PTM Holland on X, a quadcopter drone strike took place early Sunday morning in the Muski village of Mir Ali tehsil, North Waziristan. The strike seriously injured the father of Shafqat Dawood Sahib. After receiving initial medical aid, he was transferred from Bannu to Peshawar for further treatment. The PTM Holland Chapter described the drone attack as part of an ongoing "tyrannical campaign" against the Pashtun population. It alleged that despite being aware of the ineffectiveness of drone and quadcopter systems, the Pakistani state continues to target civilians using various means, including mortar shelling, airstrikes, and now drone bombings, which, according to the group, have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent people. In a separate tragic incident reported from Saroki Tehsil, a Havan rocket struck a house in Dagoo village, killing one family member and injuring seven others, including women and children. The condition of an elderly woman among the injured is said to be critical. All the wounded have been shifted to Dera Ismail Khan for medical treatment. Following the rocket strike, local residents staged a protest in front of the Brand Check Post, carrying the body of the deceased and demanding justice. Demonstrators denounced what they called continued "military aggression" and attacks on innocent civilians. PTM Holland Chapter urged the public and human rights organisations to stand with the affected families and raise their voices for peace, accountability, and justice in the region. Earlier, 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. (ANI)
Marines didnt give any prior warning before firing more than two dozen artillery rounds over a busy freeway in a rehearsal for last weekends Marine Corps birthday celebration at Camp Pendleton.

California Highway Patrol did not receive word that Marines would fire artillery rounds over Interstate 5 the afternoon of Friday, Oct. 17, according to reporting by the Los Angeles Times. A spokesperson for California Highway Patrol told the Times that although I Marine Expeditionary Force told them that Friday that there would be live-fire over the freeway the next day, it did not specify the rehearsal would also include live ammunition as well. The rehearsal took place in the afternoon, with Marines firing 30 155mm rounds while commuters traveled down the coast on the freeway and adjacent Amtrak train route.

Prior to the Oct. 18 celebration, the Marine Corps had said closing the freeway wouldnt be necessary, citing its own risk assessment. The Marine Corps said that its alert to the state included the plans to fire artillery in the test run.

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Then during the celebration, one artillery round detonated over the freeway, raining down bits of debris on the closed road. Bits of the round, including a two-inch-long chunk of shrapnel, hit California Highway Patrol vehicles. No one was injured. According to both I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Pendleton, and California Highway Patrol, the live-fire was cut short early after CHP patrolmen alerted Marines to the premature detonation and the road was swept before commuters were allowed back on it. Marines fired multiple rounds before it was called off. I Marine Expeditionary Force said it was investigating the incident.

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The Oct. 17 firings, part of a rehearsal for the actual celebration the next day, involved several M777 howitzers set up along the beach. Photos posted by the Marine Corps to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service show at least six howitzers were used, with teams of Marines from 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division loading and firing them inland during the day time.

The Marine Corps staged it as part of a large-scale amphibious assault demonstration during a celebration for the services 250th birthday. Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the event at the California base. The artillery portion happened just after 1:30 p.m.

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On Saturday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Highway Patrol closed a 17-mile stretch of Interstate 5 along the coast for a four-hour window. The state cited both the direct risk of the artillery and the potential for explosions to startle and distract drivers. Meanwhile Amtrak also stopped service for its Pacific Surfliner route for the duration of the event. On Saturday, California Highway Patrol had electronic signs over the freeways warning of Live weapons over freeway warning travelers in Los Angeles County about the risk dozens of miles to the south.

Interstate 5 is one of the busiest freeways in California, with tens of thousands of cars passing through it each day, and the main route between Los Angeles and San Diego. California officials including Newsom said that the decision to close the stretch of the freeway near Camp Pendleton came only after being notified on Friday afternoon of the plan to fire over Interstate 5.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Marion County special education teacher has been found guilty of assaulting a 6-year-old child with nonverbal autism.

According to the Marion County prosecutor, Jodi Grafmiller faces up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine at a future sentencing date after a jury convicted her of one count of assault, a fourth-degree felony. The charge stems from an October 2024 incident in which Grafmiller was accused of slapping a 6-year-old girl at Hayes Elementary School in Marion.

The prosecutors office reported that Grafmiller struck the girl after the child reportedly spit on her. As Grafmiller, 50, led students outside for recess, the victim, known to spit due to her nonverbal autism, spit on Grafmiller. In response, Grafmiller smacked the girl across the face, prosecuting attorneys said.

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Ohio legislator proposes school finance system without local levies, EdChoice

A classroom aide witnessed the assault and urged Grafmiller to report it, leading to an investigation by Marion police.

Surveillance video was used during the trial, which included testimony that the child had spit on two other employees at the school who did not respond with physical violence.

Grafmiller was placed on administrative leave after the incident and no longer appears on a staff directory for Marion City Schools.

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In 1935, two brothers  Curtis Blake, just 18, and 20-year-old S. Presley Blake  borrowed around $550 from their parents and went into business in Springfield, Massachusetts. They sold double-dip ice cream cones for a nickel and named their shop Friendly in honor of the atmosphere they'd provide their dessert-loving clientele. The Blake brothers made less than $30 that first day, but by the time they sold the company to Hershey Foods Corporation in 1979, they'd made much more (selling for $164 million) and operated 605 restaurants.

While some might not consider Friendly's one of Massachusetts' most historic restaurants, for many who grew up in that state, the rest of New England, or other parts of the East Coast, Friendly's was a staple. Dessert, at least for kids, was  and remains  the main attraction, though the classic diner fare, like burgers, was also beloved.

By 1987, the company began selling its ice cream at grocery stores, opening up a new revenue stream. At its height in 1996, Friendly's had 850 restaurants in 15 states, but after a series of financial setbacks and various owners, the company began to stumble.

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Read more: 8 Restaurants That Were Once Frequented By Al Capone

Friendly's is all about the ice cream

Friendly's banana split next to other frozen desserts - Friendly/ Facebook

When Curtis Blake and S. Presley Blake opened their first ice cream parlor, they were simply creating jobs for themselves during the heart of the Great Depression. By 1940, they'd opened a second location in nearby West Springfield, Massachusetts, where they added burgers to the menu due to customer demand. The company ceased operations briefly during World War II but quickly expanded during the post-war boom. Ice cream remained a centerpiece at the restaurants, where you could choose from 60 different flavors. The "s" was added to the restaurant chain's name in 1989.

Even before the brothers sold the company in 1979, trouble had been brewing. They had wrangled over the company's direction and saw some financial issues stemming from an expansion into the Midwest that didn't go as well as planned. Things got worse later on when the company filed for bankruptcy in both 2011 and 2020.

Today, there are fewer than 100 restaurants left, and they can be found in just 11 states on the East Coast, from Maine to Florida; visit one and you'll be met with an array of ice cream flavors, from Butter Crunch to Hunka Chunka PB Fudge to Vienna Mocha Chunk, plus a Retro Royal Banana Split for under $10. Like other fast-casual chains, such as Ruby Tuesday, changing American tastes and more competition have taken their toll. But with Friendly's, at least you can still find the chain's ice cream in grocery stores even if you can't make it to a restaurant.

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SURF CITY, N.C. (WNCN)  A massive house fire at the North Carolina coast destroyed one island home, damaged four others, and sent thick black smoke into the sky Saturday afternoon, according to the town of Surf City.

The blaze was reported around 5:30 p.m. in the north end of Surf City, which is located about midway on Topsail Island, with North Topsail Beach to the north and Topsail Beach in the far south.

Several photos and video clips were posted on social media showing the blaze with intense flames and a huge column of smoke. Surf City officials later said one home was destroyed, two others received significant damage, while two more houses had minor damage.

The beach house fire in Surf City on Topsail Island on Saturday, Oct. 25. Photo courtesy: Royal Feathers

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries during the incident and were being evaluated Saturday night, officials said. On Sunday, officials said the firefighters were out of medical care and ready to return to work.

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One witness, Marc Turner, said intense flames destroyed a home at 1715 North Shore Drive.

Two adjacent houses were damaged after the fire broke out about a block away from the Trailer Bar and Tortugas Nest. The fire quickly destroyed one home  an 11-minute video starts with a roaring fire, and the house is later in ruins as the video ends.

The fire and smoke from the massive blaze were visible for several miles on the clear Saturday. Residents in Camp Lejeune, adjacent to Jacksonville, noted that they saw the smoke.

Turner, who recorded video of the blaze, told CBS 17 that a man and his dog were in the home, escaped and were not injured. The other damaged homes were not occupied at the time, Turner said.

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Surf City officials confirmed no residents were injured in the fire.

The beach house fire in Surf City on Topsail Island on Saturday, Oct. 25. Photo courtesy: CryptoCartelUSA

The fire broke out at a Surf City home just inside Onslow County that faces the ocean and would be on the beach except for a small road  North Shore Drive  in front of the house.

In addition to Surf City Fire Department, the Topsail Beach Fire Department, the North Topsail Beach Fire Department, Pender EMS and Fire, and Surf City Police assisted during the incident.

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Washington (DC News Now)  The government shutdown is heading into its fourth week as lawmakers continue to be at odds on how to fund the government. The Senate left Thursday and wont returns until next week, meaning the shutdown will continue.

It comes after a separate Republican-backed bill to pay federal employees who continue to work during the shutdown failed.

Maryland Congressman Glenn Ivey (D) returns to Capitol Review.

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With wind speeds near 90 mph, Melissa has become a Category 1 hurricane, according to the Saturday afternoon forecast from the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Melissa is now the fifth hurricane of the 2025 hurricane season. Its center is 130 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, and 210 miles west-southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, while the government of Cuba has issued a hurricane watch.

The NHC expects Melissa to become a major hurricane Sunday, bringing life-threatening flooding and landslides to parts of Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Forecast for Hurricane Melissa  will it hit NC?

Melissa is expected to move slowly westward Saturday night and the rest of the weekend, according to the NHC. The center of the hurricane is expected to pass near or over Jamaica during the weekend and early next week and could be over or near Cuba by the middle of next week. The NHC forecasts the storm to turn northward as early as Monday or Tuesday.

Hurricane Melissa became a Category 1 hurricane as of 5 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Centers forecast. It is expected to turn northward Monday or Tuesday.

But as of now, Melissa is unlikely to trouble the U.S. East Coast and North Carolina, according to Phil Badgett, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Raleigh.

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As Melissa takes a northward turn in the middle of the week, an upper-level trough  an area of low pressure in the atmosphere  is expected to deflect the hurricane away from the East Coast like a protective wall, Badgett said. That could bring wind and rain to North Carolina, but not from Melissa.

Hurricane season 2025

Atlantic hurricane season continues through Nov. 30.

Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 13 to 18 named storms and up to nine hurricanes  including two to five major hurricanes  to form this season, an above-normal level of activity.

So far, there have been five hurricanes: Erin, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda and Melissa.
A Mesa man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for reportedly making online threats against an Israeli leader, the leaders son, and a state representative, according to court documents.

Marshal Wayne Plummer was indicted on four counts of interstate threats on Oct. 14. The indictment alleges that Plummer used two separate accounts on the social media platform X to post threatening messages throughout 2023 and 2024.

Court records state that on June 4, 2024, X suspended Plummers original account for violating its rules against violent speech. However, he created a new account on June 11 and resumed posting by June 20, according to court records.

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Court documents allege that Plummer used his social media account to post threats targeting people of the Jewish faith, including one message that read: Its open season on Zionists! Do not grant them the mercy you would a rabid wolf.

On June 24, Plummer replied to a post by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging Americans to track down his son and "neutralize him," court records say.

Court records also show that on July 9, Plummer threatened another Israeli official in a reply to a post on X.

Additionally, in 2023, Plummer reportedly used his account to threaten a state representative in response to a post about concealed carry, court records say.

What to know: 3 wounded in Mesa after shooting

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Social media threats lead to Mesa man's indictment, court records say
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  As the country enters the fourth week of the government shutdown, many residents of New Mexico who rely on food assistance may find themselves unable to purchase food by the start of next month. If they cant get to snap benefits from the federal government and get the backfill from the food banks, its going to get desperate, said Sen. George Munoz (D  Gallup).

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Approximately 460,000 residents in New Mexico use the federal SNAP program, which translates to one out of every five New Mexicansrepresenting the highest participation rate in the nation. Last month, the state allocated $8 million for food banks during a special session, a measure put in place in anticipation of federal changes that were enacted this summer.

During a recent Legislative Finance Committee meeting, a representative from the New Mexico Health Care Authority indicated that they are working to expedite the distribution of this funding, as food banks expect an increase in demand.

I think that we did what we can during special session and and really, what we addressed um were things that arent really going to affect us until 2027. So right now I would say reach out to those local food banks we have, Roadrunner Food Bank, and several others that do a lot of great work here in the community that Im sure can help people that are in need, said Sen. Nicole Tobiassen (R Albuquerque).

Some local lawmakers believe the state should step up by covering costs that the federal government has not funded. We have the money, its the right thing to do, and its taking care of New Mexicans, said Sen. Munoz, Were going to have to pay for it. Feds are not going to backfill it. Im fine with that. I think thats the best thing to do for people in New Mexico.

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Others argue that the states delegation in Washington needs to stop prioritizing party politics and instead focus on whats best for New Mexicans.

Theyre voting with their party instead of with their hearts and minds, which is youve got to take care of New Mexicans first. They owe it to their constituents throughout the state, and especially here in Albuquerque, to vote to open a government, said Senator Tobiassen.

According to the state, New Mexico requires an estimated $80 to $90 million in SNAP benefits.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is highlighting the importance of using safe practices when tucking an infant in for a restful nights sleep during Infant Safe Sleep Awareness Month.

Safe sleep practices help reduce the risk of sleep-related injuries or death in infants by providing a safe and secure sleep space.

MDHHS reports that a sleep-related infant death occurs every two to three days on average in Michigan.

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Safe sleep isnt just a routine, its a powerful tool to prevent infant deaths, said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, in a news release sent to 6 News.

With awareness and support, every parent and caregiver can feel confident and empowered to create a safe sleep environment for their baby. Every nap and every night should follow guidelines that protect babies and give parents peace of mind.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep:

Alone.

On their backs (on their back, not their side or stomach). Back sleeping protects a baby`s airway and ensures access to fresh air.

In a crib (in a safety-approved crib, bassinet, or pack and play with a firm mattress with a tightly fitted sheet and no soft bedding, pillows, toys, or bumpers).

Additional recommendations from Michigan to make sure your baby gets the best nights sleep include:

Removing clutter from sleep spaces. Stuffed animals, pillows, blankets, and other soft objects are a suffocation hazard and should be kept out of the sleep space.

Breastfeed, if possible. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of sleep-related death. It provides the best nutrition, builds healthy immune systems, and promotes bonding.

Avoid overheating. When a baby gets too warm, it can increase the risk of sleep-related infant death. Parents and caregivers should use a sleep sack or wearable blanket if the baby is cold.

Do not use seats, swings, or a couch for routine sleep. Babies are at risk of suffocation when they sleep in an inclined seat, on a sofa, or on a chair.

Falling asleep with a baby can put them at risk for suffocation, falling, and other injuries.

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External Affairs Minsiter S Jaishankar on Sunday met his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and appreciated the deepening of the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership. Both leaders also discussed further cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductors, defence, and shipbuilding between the two nations. Sharing the details of the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on X, "Delighted to meet @FMChoHyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1982382946393989253 Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27. The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, in his virtual address to the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, said that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN nations, and reaffirmed that the Association of South East Asian Nations is a major pillar of India's Act East Policy. "The 21st century is our century, the century of India and ASEAN," PM Modi said, stressing the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and civilizational bonds. He congratulated Malaysia and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and commended the Philippines for serving as the country coordinator for India. Further, he welcomed East Timor's inclusion as the 11th member state of the ASEAN community. He also extended condolences on the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother Sirikit. He noted that India and ASEAN together represent nearly one-fourth of the world's population, adding, "We do not just share geography, but are also connected by strong historical ties and shared values." PM Modi emphasised that India and ASEAN are fellow travellers in the Global South, working together to ensure stability, growth, and prosperity. "Even in this era of uncertainty, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has shown steady progress," he said, adding that the strong partnership is emerging as a key foundation for global stability and development. In his six-minute address to the summit, Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's consistent support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, underscoring that cooperation between the two regions is vital for peace and prosperity across Asia. (ANI)
A police officer had a woman jailed for over two years on false charges in connection with a bogus sex-trafficking ring. But the officer, Heather Weyker, cannot be sued, because a court ruled in July that she was acting under color of federal law.

For years, Weyker, an officer in St. Paul, Minnesota, gathered evidence, cultivated witnesses, and testified under oath in connection with an interstate sex-trafficking ring run by Somali refugees. She did all that while allegedly fabricating the very ring she was investigating. Her efforts resulted in 30 indictments, nine trials, and exactly zero convictions.

In 2011, Hamdi Mohamud, then just 16 years old, found herself arrested after a woman named Muna Abdulkadir attacked her and her friends at knifepoint. Inconveniently for Mohamud, Abdulkadir was crucial to Weyker's bogus investigation.

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After a call from Abdulkadirduring which she reportedly informed Weyker she had carried out a knife attack and was worried her arrest was imminentWeyker advised other members of law enforcement that Abdulkadir was a federal witness. She had information and documentation, Weyker noted, that Mohamud and her friends were out to intimidate Abdulkadir.

"The first part was true, but everything else Weyker said was false," summarized Judge David Stras for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. "There was no 'information' or 'documentation' that anyone was trying to intimidate Abdulkadir. Nevertheless, based on what Weyker told him, Officer [Anthijuan] Beeks arrested Mohamud and the others for witness tampering."

The government would dismiss those trumped-up charges, but only after Mohamud spent 25 months in custody.

Mohamud suedand succeeded. A federal court in 2018 declined to give Weyker qualified immunity, finding it was already clearly established at the time of her arrest that Weyker's alleged misconduct violated the Fourth Amendment.

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Two years later, however, Mohamud's luck soured on appeal. Though the 8th Circuit conceded that Weyker's sex-trafficking investigation was "plagued with problems from the start" (the trial judge found, for example, that she fabricated information and lied multiple times under oath), the court said she was, in fact, immune.

That wasn't because she was entitled to qualified immunity. Rather, although Weyker was a St. Paul police officer, she had been cross-deputized on a federal task force to carry out the investigation. That gave her the legal protections afforded to federal law enforcementa much higher bar for alleged victims to clear.

Lawsuits against federal employees are subject to the Bivens doctrine. Named after the landmark 1971 Supreme Court case Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the ruling allowed a man to sue the federal agents who conducted a warrantless raid on his home and then strip-searched him at a courthouse.

But the Supreme Court has made it almost cartoonishly difficult for plaintiffs to make use of their very good decision. In 2017, the Court ruled in Ziglar v. Abbasi that Bivens claims against federal agents can survive only if they clear a two-pronged test.

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Step one: Does the claim arise in a "new context"in other words, is it meaningfully different from previous Bivens cases decided by the Supreme Court? Unless a complaint mirrors the original facts of Bivens almost identically, or the facts of the handful of cases that were allowed to proceed in times past, then the answer is "yes."

That leads to step two: Are there any "special factors counselling hesitation"that is, reasons the judiciary should think twice about creating a new damages remedy against federal agents? The answer to that latter question, it seems, is also essentially always "yes," which dooms a claim.

"The focus in Bivens was on an invasion into a home and the officers' behavior once they got there. Here, by contrast, Weyker did not enter a home, even if the actions she allegedly tooklike manufacturing evidence and lyingwere just as pernicious," wrote Stras for the 8th Circuit in 2020. "Lying and manipulation, however bad they might be, are simply not the same as the physical invasions that were at the heart of Bivens."

Mohamud's remaining hope came down to proving that Weyker was acting under color of state law, because federal employees are, somewhat arbitrarily, granted even greater legal leeway than state agents. The 8th Circuit rejected that argument, in a case illustrating that greater power sometimes comes, paradoxically, with diminished responsibility.

The post Minnesota Cop Who Fabricated a Sex-Trafficking Ring Won't Be Held Accountable appeared first on Reason.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Police are searching for a suspect after someone was reportedly shot along Harding Place in Nashville late Saturday afternoon.

According to Metro Nashville dispatch, a shooting was called in at approximately 5:08 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 from the intersection of Travellers Inn Drive and Harding Place in the Paragon Mills area. Eight minutes later, a shooting was reported about half a mile away, from the 300 block of Harding Place in South Nashville.

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The Tennessee Department of Transportation SmartWay traffic map had two markers up for several hours indicating police activity on Interstate 24, which was between the two aforementioned addresses.

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The first police activity marker said the eastbound exit ramp was closed and the right shoulder was blocked on I-24 East at Exit 56 toward Harding Place. According to the second marker, Harding Place was closed in the southbound direction due to Police Activity at I-24/CENTER OF OVERHEAD reported at 5:30 p.m.

(Courtesy: TDOT)

However, when News 2s crew arrived at Travellers Inn Drive and Harding Place, the Metro Nashville Police Department said there was one shooting involving someone who came down Harding from midtown.

Drugs, guns seized from home of man charged with shooting at MNPD detective

According to law enforcement, one person was shot twice but is expected to be alright. Authorities said theyre looking for a red Dodge Charger, even though the shooters identity is currently unknown.

(Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN)

Harding Place was closed from Linbar Drive to I-24 for hours after the shooting, but it has since reopened, officials said.

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How Charlie Crist hopes to draw on his deep ties to St. Petersburg | Oct. 18

Mayors race

A St. Petersburg resident for over 40 years, I can readily attest that next years mayoral election will be one of the most consequential in recent history. I cannot recall a time when our city has faced such an enormous array of significant challenges, and has been so poorly mismanaged  skyrocketing water bills along with antiquated infrastructure being among the most egregious examples. Without question, Mayor Ken Welch is vulnerable.

Brandi Gabbard, having been elected to council back in 2017  while hard working and well meaning  is arguably part of the problem. Shell likely be weighed-down by the same issues and challenges as Welch. Then, there is Charlie Crist, an affable man from the past who has become a caricature for the hard-core political opportunist. Absolutely not the right person for the job.

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I remain cautiously optimistic that a viable candidate will emerge, an individual capable of leading the city forward during these challenging times, someone who will be committed to working hard on behalf of the Sunshine Citys working-class citizens (who seem to have been left behind in recent years).

Michael Mayo, St. Petersburg

What one school taught me about improving Floridas third-grade literacy | Column, Oct. 17

Reading success

Jeff Martins guest column on the dramatic increase in third grade literacy in Indian River County was a true eye-opener and a much-needed piece of good news. Too often, reports on Florida public education focus solely on failures, low scores and divisive issues like book banning. Martins experience, however, highlights a success story fueled by dedicated staff and a supportive community committed to real results.

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The key to Indian River Countys success was a step-by-step pursuit of what is best for kids, not some sweeping mandate. Crucially, their time and attention were not drained by book-banning issues or the adoption of politically motivated laws and policies on school curricula. This freedom allowed them to focus their energy entirely on their primary mission: teaching children to read. Their focus on whats best for their kids has created lasting value, ensuring these students will enjoy the benefits of an education that leads to a rewarding adulthood, rather than growing up in a failing system.

It is time we stop allowing noneducational controversies to distract the focus of our educators, and instead, commit fully to the focused, child-centered approach that has already yielded such impressive results.

Jon Crawfurd, Gulfport

Israel says it will return to cease fire after Gaza strikes | Oct. 20

Bullying with impunity

As a retired educator, I dedicated my life to the raising of generations to seek knowledge and to be kind, compassionate and tolerant of others. Our students learned to follow rules to protect themselves and others in society, which were based on humane ethics of respect, cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts. Bullying and bullies were not tolerated.

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What we see today in our country and in Palestine/Israel is that the bullies are running the show. Hence, we see violent, massive ICE raids and inhumane incarcerations of innocent people. We see the worst genocide of the 21st century and an Israeli-imposed famine on the people of Gaza. In the West Bank of Occupied Palestinian Territories, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is in full force with violent settler and Israeli Occupation Forces raids, burning of homes and olive trees, and massive displacement of thousands of Palestinians from their homes.

How have we in the United States allowed this to happen? Doesnt it fly in the face of our purported values of human rights, equality, democracy and justice? The answer is simple. Bullies and criminals have been given the power of total impunity, breaking our own laws and international laws and wreaking chaos and misery everywhere. I refuse to let my children and grandchildren live in a world like this. It is time to hold these bullies to account for their crimes, oppression and injustice. Our laws and international law must be enforced. Our humanity and future are at stake.

Pilar Saad, Tampa

Who are the 20 hostages who were released by Hamas?| Oct. 12

Not the same

There is no moral equivalency between individuals who were taken hostage by terrorists, and the terrorists themselves. Unfortunately, the Times seems to not understand this distinction, placing photos on the front page showing Israelis celebrating the release of hostages, and also Palestinian terrorists released by Israel being welcomed by their families. Israel was the victim on Oct. 7, 2023, and Hamas was the perpetrator of atrocities. Dont forget this distinction.

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Dennis LeVine, Tampa

Expectations vs. realities

My wife and I spent many years visiting Florida as tourists. Loved the warm weather, white sand and palm trees. Finally, after retirement, we moved here permanently. It has been good but not totally paradise as I had hoped. It is basically a one-party state controlled by a Napoleon-like governor who seems to enjoy putting people in cages. Not what I expected. Nor did I expect so many Floridians to: dismiss the danger of climate change to our state, accept the banning of good books, ignore and defy modern medicine and empower any kook to roam the streets and stores with an AK-47 strapped over their shoulder. Florida is a beautiful place that offers so much to its residents. Sadly, under the surface, there is a backwards and scary side to the state.

John Bonano, Gulfport

  

Submit letters at www.tampabay.com/opinion/submit-letter/. Letters are edited for clarity and length.
Russia faces an increase in the arson and spontaneous combustion of electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and other infrastructure helping Moscow wage its war against Ukraine over the past week, a source at Ukraines military intelligence (HUR) said on Oct. 26.

The HUR source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and communication towers burned in multiple cities across Russia, including Moscow.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify HURs allegations. Moscow has not commented publicly this week on the alleged incidents of arson and sudden fires.

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HURs claim comes as Russian regional and national media, controlled by the Kremlin, have reported several incidents in October involving civilians, including minors, being detained for burning railway relay cabinets and a telecom cabinet. Some Russian regional media have also reported electrical panel fires, but made no mention of a relation between the incidents and the war in Ukraine.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been local sabotage movements in Russia and the occupied territories, including a campaign of railway sabotage, but their impact is difficult to measure.

Below is a video that HUR says shows Russian saboteurs setting fires. The agency, citing representatives of the resistance movement, said there will be more to come.

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Read also: 3 killed, 32 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack on residential buildings

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Ihor, a company commander, was driving alone out of Pokrovsk, already semi-encircled by Russian forces, in September when the first Russian first-person-view (FPV) drone hit the back of his car, tearing the roof.

The second flew in immediately after, hitting the rear tire. He drove five kilometers before the third FPV struck the engine bay of his car. It stopped moving.

The first drone intercepts a car, and then one or two FPV drones fly in, Ihor from the 36th Marine Brigade deployed in eastern Donetsk Oblast said, describing Russias killer drone tactic against cars.

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While the Ukrainian military also lacks prestigious Western-supplied weapons and equipment, soldiers and commanders say the shortage of basic resources  from cars to drones and people  makes it extremely difficult to hold back the relentless Russian offensives. Though Ukraine has been eyeing the U.S. to finally green-light the supply of long-range Tomahawk missiles, those on the ground say the lack of more basic needs is a more pressing issue, and often shortages of critical but more rudimentary equipment play just as decisive a role.

Forced to get out of his car, Ihor walked three to four kilometers on foot before fellow soldiers picked him up.

They hit all cars, Ihor told the Kyiv Independent.

They just see someone driving by, and they'll hit absolutely every car.

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Ihor, like other commanders and soldiers who spoke to the Kyiv Independent for this piece, asked to be identified by first name only so he could speak freely without his commands authorization.

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Cars

Ihor says his infantry company currently only has two working cars, after three others were made inoperable either by Russian drone attacks or the often treacherous roads of eastern Ukraine. A typical infantry company at this stage in the war has around 50-70 men.

His unit has no armored vehicles because they are Russias priority targets and typically get destroyed quickly. But even armored equipment such as US-made MaxxPro mine-resistant vehicles or Turkish-made Kirpi is louder and harder to accelerate than normal cars, making it more challenging to avoid and escape Russian FPV drones, according to Ihor.

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With Russia constantly stepping up its drone game and coming up with FPVs that now have a range of about 20 kilometers, the gray zone extends as far as five kilometers from the front  significantly crippling Ukrainian logistics.

His unit relies on cars to bring guys to the front, with its speed and mobility allowing them to drive as close as 500 meters to a kilometer from the positions. But the cars quickly get destroyed or ruined by the beat-up roads in the Donbas, and the guys have to chip in from their own pockets for the repair, since fundraisers take too much time. Charity foundations said they are receiving fewer donations from the public the longer the war rages on.

Ideally, the unit would have five working cars so when one gets destroyed, another can easily come and help out without the risk of losing all cars, Ihor said.

A car has a life for up to a month, Ihor said. A week or two, and the car is gone.

A drone footage image shared by Ihor, a company commander with the 36th Marine Brigade, shows a pickup truck hit by a Russian FPV drone in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, in October 2025. (Courtesy)

Other commanders and soldiers deployed across the front line have also told the Kyiv Independent that the car deficit is significantly disrupting their fighting ability.

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Anton, a commander of a tank company in the 59th Assault Brigade, admitted that there are almost no cars to bring his crews to the position, even though they have enough tanks and shells.

A soldier from the 63rd Mechanized Brigade named Dmytro said that there is constantly a car deficit because they often get destroyed, damaged, or break down.

An infantry company often just have one car to be used for getting people to the front, delivering food and weapon supplies even though they usually need to happen simultaneously, according to Vladyslav Urubkov, a director of the military department at the Come Back Alive charity foundation.

These things often need to happen at the same time, but if the vehicle has already gone to the front line to transport personnel, it cant also deliver food  and vice versa, Urubkov told the Kyiv Independent.

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The army is always working under shortages, but when it comes to vehicles, its truly a matter of life and death.

The vehicles that are most in demand have been pickup trucks and minibuses since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Andrii But, Head of the HeroCar project run by the Ruslan Shostak chairty foundation, which supplies cars to the Armed Forces.

But said that the organization is also seeing a growing demand for motorcycles, particularly cross-country ones, from front-line units.

Dmytro Romanchenko, 22, director of Raptor Engineering, adjusts parts of an FPS front before flying a fiber-optic-controlled FPV drone from a launch pad at a test site in Ukraine, on April 12, 2025. (Ed Ram / For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Drones

With drones getting lost constantly, either because they are downed by Russian troops or due to electronic warfare, Ukrainian troops are often short on drones, and launch fundraisers to help cover the cost of replacing them.

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Illia, a commander of an anti-drone platoon in the 80th Airborne Brigade deployed in Sumy Oblast, stressed that there is a lack of everything, from drones to manpower.

The situation with supplies (from the military command) is terrible at the moment, Illia told the Kyiv Independent, suggesting that the state is not interested in diminishing the stark deficit.

"And you have to buy everything yourselves.

Illia says that his unit lacks the necessary reconnaissance drones to see beyond the line of sight, preventing them to see anything beyond five kilometers and unable to disrupt Russian logistics. He said his unit needs 10 times more drones than are supplied.

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Read also: AI drones in Ukraine  this is where were at

Resources are not equally dispersed across Ukrainian units, allowing some to have more than others. A few drone pilots from other units, such as from the Unmmaned System Forces of Ukraine and the 82nd Airborne Brigade, said that they have enough drones.

The Ukrainian military uses about 9,000 drones a day, inflicting about 85 percent of the damages on Russia's equipment and troops compared to 67 percent, according to Dmytro Zhmaylo, co-founder and executive director of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, a Kyiv-based think tank.

With Ukrainian infantry units often "depleted" of manpower, especially of young men, drones are particularly important in an army where an average soldier's age is around 40 years old, Zhmaylo said.

The crew of an M-109 self-propelled howitzer conducts fire missions toward Russian lines from a well-camouflaged position while nearby soldiers scan the sky for hostile FPV drones and stand ready to shoot them down, in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on Oct. 16, 2025. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)

People

Ukrainian military experts who spoke to the Kyiv Independent stressed that the Ukrainian militarys number one shortage is manpower. Zhmaylo stressed that sometimes certain Ukrainain units may have drones in bulk, but no pilots to fly them.

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Serhiy Hrabskyi, a retired Ukrainian colonel and military analyst, said that well-trained reserves are what the military lacks the most.

The Ukrainian military has always grappled with a worsening manpower shortage since fewer people began to voluntarily join the army in 2023, after the initial influx of volunteers all headed to the war.

Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort

While the mobilization still continues, many units  particularly in the infantry  are critically lacking men in battle-hardened brigades that have had to face heavy losses after fighting extensively in hot spots of the war. The soldiers are often sent to the positions for weeks, and months in some cases, due to the lack of new trained recruits and the challenges with infils and exfils in the drone era.

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The Russian military on the other hand is accumulating troops each month, recruiting more men than the losses they face on the front, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, admitted in August.

Despite the critical need for mobilization, Ukrainian politicians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, rarely mention the topic, with political experts saying that they are likely afraid of their rating falling by tackling a highly unpopular topic. It remains a taboo topic in politics.

Ukraine is mobilizing about 30,000 people per month, but only a third of them are fit to fight, a senior Ukrainian official told the Kyiv Independent in July on condition of anonymity.

Of the roughly 30,000 that Kyiv says it is mobilizing, about half of them are the soldiers who are returning from AWOL, or absent without leave, according to another Ukrainian official familiar with the matter.

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Bohdan Danyliv, head of military affairs at Serhiy Prytula charity foundation, said that there is absolutely not enough people, especially with the battle-hardened brigades barely or not receiving new, well-prepared recruits at all.

Danyliv pointed out that the Ukrainian command still frequently sends recruits into newly formed units that lack battlefield experience or in headquarters rather than filling up the gaps in battle-hardened brigades. Training centers also often lack the resources to adequately train new soldiers, which, for instance, forces them to use fake grenades or rocks instead of the actual ones to practice throwing, he added.

Danyliv stressed that this is especially an issue as kill zones of drones continue to expand for both sides, making it extremely dangerous to go anywhere near the front.

I would even say that it is no longer a matter of material needs, Danyliv told the Kyiv Independent.

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There are not enough people, there is not enough proper coordination, there is not enough communication between units (and between different ranks).

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Oct. 25Five people, including a Morgan State University student, were shot and two suspects were arrested near Howard University's campus in Washington, D.C., during homecoming festivities Friday night.

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Originally Published:October 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM EDT
Israels Mossad named a senior IRGC officer behind thwarted attacks on Jewish and Israeli targets abroad, triggering diplomatic fallout in Australia and Germany.

Israels Mossad on Sunday publicly identified a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) figure it says oversaw multiple foiled attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide in 20242025 and pointed to fresh diplomatic fallout, including Australias expulsion of Irans ambassador and Germanys summoning of Tehrans envoy.

In a statement released via the Prime Ministers Office on behalf of the Mossad, the agency said it was exposing for the first time a network under Sardar Ammar, a senior IRGC commander operating under Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force, which it said directed attempts in Australia, Greece, and Germany.

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The Mossad described the modus operandi as terror without Iranian fingerprints, high compartmentalization, recruitment of foreigners, use of criminals, and covert communications, adding that thanks to intensive activity with partners in Israel and abroad, dozens of attack tracks were thwarted, saving many lives.

The agency said Ammars mechanism was directly responsible for the attempted attacks revealed in Greece, Australia, and Germany over the past year, alleging it sought to strike Israeli and Jewish targets in Israel and abroad but was repeatedly exposed, leading to a wave of arrests.

The Mossad also cited diplomatic repercussions it said were tied to the networks exposure and broader Iranian activity.

In late August, Australia expelled Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi and said it would move to designate the IRGC a terrorist organization after intelligence linked Tehran to antisemitic arson attacks in Melbourne and Sydney; Sadeghi denied the allegations as he departed the country.

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In Germany, authorities in July summoned Irans ambassador, Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, after the arrest of a Danish suspect accused of surveilling Jewish and Israel-linked sites in Berlin on behalf of Iranian intelligence, with officials warning such activity could be preparatory to terrorist attacks.

Years-long campaign

The Mossad statement framed Irans approach as a years-long campaign to exact a cost from Israel by harming innocents around the globe while maintaining deniability, and said the new exposure strips Iran of its space for denial, removes its immunity, and exacts heavy diplomatic costs.

Recent cases in Greece illustrate the pattern: in 2024, Greek police arrested suspects, including Iranian and Afghan nationals, over arson attacks on an Israeli-owned hotel and a synagogue in Athens; earlier, in 2023, two Pakistanis were charged over an alleged Iranian-directed plot to target Israeli and Jewish sites in the city.
(KRON)  A Mountain View barber charged with sexually assaulting unconscious victims fled the United States while on bail in 2024. On Friday, police announced Franklin Enrique Sarceno Orla was captured in Guatemala and has been extradited to the Bay Area.

Orla, 35, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on Thursday. The Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office has filed 43 sexual assault felonies and other related charges against Orla. Prosecutors believe that he may have drugged and assaulted more than 60 victims dating back to 2018 or before.

According to the DAs office, Orlas medical records show he is HIV positive. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

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Before fleeing the U.S., he had been formally charged by the DAs office for the sexual assaults of two men. One of the victims reported to police in July 2024 that he had lost consciousness, and when he woke up, he was injured from a sexual assault, according to investigators. A second victim told police that he had lost consciousness while getting drinks with Orla, who was his barber.

Franklin Enrique Sarceno Orlas California drivers license photo was released by the SCCDAO.

Orla was initially arrested in the case in August 2024 and posted $250,000 bail. On Nov. 20, 2024, the DAs office announced that Orla was on the run.

Evidence seized by authorities showed that Orla videotaped many of the sex crimes, according to the DAs office. The victims appeared to be unconscious or heavily intoxicated during the assaults, prosecutors said.

Orla is set to be arraigned on charges on Oct. 27.

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The Mountain View Police Department said multiple international agencies were instrumental in Orlas capture and extradition, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office, the U.S. Department of States Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and Guatemalan authorities, and the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the "main pillar of India's Act East Policy" while extending a warm welcome to Timor-Leste which was formally inducted as the eleventh member of the grouping at its ongoing summit in Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. During his virtual address at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, PM Modi said, "India and ASEAN together represent one-fourth of the global population. We not only share geography, we share deep historic relations and shared values. We are part of the global south. ASEAN is the main pillar of India's Act East Policy." Introduced in 1992, the Look East policy focused primarily on economic ties with Southeast Asia. With the changing dynamics of the world, PM Modi, in 2014, introduced a new vigour in India's foreign policy and transformed the Look East Policy into a more dynamic Act East Policy (AEP), emphasising stronger action and outcomes. Addressing the ASEAN summit, PM Modi congratulated Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully organising the 47th ASEAN summit under its chairmanship and expressed condolences over the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother. He further emphasised the shared historical, cultural, and economic ties between India and ASEAN nations, which together represent one-fourth of the global population. "I have again got an opportunity to join my ASEAN family. I congratulate PM Anwar Ibrahim for a successful organisation of the ASEAN Summit... I welcome Timor-Leste as the newest member of ASEAN. I express my condolences on the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother," the Prime Minister said. Earlier today, Timor-Leste became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is ASEAN's first expansion in 26 years since Cambodia was admitted in 1999. The island nation had applied for membership in 2011. PM Modi also reiterated India's support for ASEAN centrality and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the continuous growth of the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership amid global uncertainties. "During these times of uncertainty, the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continuously increased. Our strong partnership is emerging as the basis for global stability and development," he stated. Speaking on the summit theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', PM Modi reflected on joint priorities in digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains, underlining India's commitment to these shared goals and highlighting collaboration in disaster response, maritime security, and the blue economy. "India supports this and is committed to moving ahead in this direction. India has always stood strong with its ASEAN partners in every disaster. Our collaboration in HADR, sea security, and the blue economy is rapidly increasing," he added. The Prime Minister also declared 2026 as the 'Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation', aimed at deepening ties in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cyber security. "The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEAN's century," PM Modi further asserted, expressing confidence that initiatives like "ASEAN Community Vision 2045" and "Viksit Bharat 2047" will create a brighter future for humanity. Prime Minister Modi has participated in all ASEAN-India Summits since 2014 (including the 2018 Commemorative Summit held in New Delhi in January 2018), except in 2022. ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with founding members including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietna,m and, most recently, Timor-Leste are its members. The ASEAN Charter provides legal status and an institutional framework, and entered into force in 2008. The ASEAN Secretariat, set up in February 1976, is based in Jakarta. Malaysia is the ASEAN Chair for 2025, and the Philippines will be the Chair in 2026. India began formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" (Secretary-level interaction) and subsequently as a "Dialogue Partner" in 1995. (ANI)
A suspect previously featured in The Dallas Express Dirty John crime blotter series has been hit with new sex crime charges, according to updated jail records from Collin County.

Collin County Sheriffs Office records show that Marty Duwayne Griego, 52, now faces three felony charges, including one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Disabled Individual, along with two additional charges out of Nueces County: Indecency with a Child Sexual Contact and Aggravated Sexual Assault. His combined bond has been set at $425,000, according to the county jail listing.

Marty Duwayne Griego

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Griego was originally booked into the Collin County jail on June 25, 2025, on the single charge of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Disabled Individual with a bond of $200,000. Updated jail information now shows that two additional warrants were lodged against him from Nueces County, carrying bonds of $100,000 and $125,000, respectively.

Collin County Sheriffs Office Public Affairs Officer Sergeant Jessica Pond told The Dallas Express that the discovery of the Nueces County charges occurred during a routine process where the county searches for other outstanding charges against inmates in its custody. Pond said the jail records were updated after it became apparent that Marty was also facing charges in Nueces County.

According to the updated booking sheet, Griego remains in Collin County custody. The charges from Nueces County are tied to separate cases involving alleged sexual contact and assault, but details surrounding those allegations were not immediately available.

Griego, a Plano resident, is described in jail records as a white male, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with black hair and green eyes. He is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Griego was previously featured in the June edition of Dirty John, which ranked him among Collin Countys most serious sex-crime suspects at the time based on total bond amount. That earlier list included five defendants accused of various sexual offenses, including assaults on minors and disabled individuals.

The updated jail listing now lists Griegos total bond as more than double the original figure, reflecting the new charges lodged against him outside Collin County.

As of October 24, court proceedings in both Collin and Nueces Counties remain pending.

DX contacted Griegos court-appointed defense counsel for comment, but did not respond by the time of publication.
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. (WHTM)  One person was killed and multiple others were wounded at a Chester County university Saturday evening, the Chester County District Attorney confirmed early Sunday morning.

Chester County District Attorney Chris de Barrena-Sarobe confirmed in a news conference Sunday morning that one person was killed and six others were injured after shots were fired at Lincoln University in Lower Oxford Township Saturday evening.

de Barrena-Sarobe said the shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m. in front of the ICC building during Lincoln Universitys Homecoming festivities.

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It was a chaotic scene and people fled in every direction, de Barrona-Sarobe said. I dont have complete information because this happened four hours ago, but we are monitoring all of the victims and we are investigating with the full power of federal, state, and local law enforcement tonight, and we will continue to do so for the rest of Sunday and into Monday, if need be.

de Barrena-Sarrobe said one person, who was in possession of a firearm, was detained.

Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe asked for prayers for students and faculty.

Governor Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed on the shooting and said his administration has offered our full support to President Allen and local law enforcement.

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Pennsylvania House Majority Education Chairman Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) also issued a statement on the shooting:

As the father of a college student, last nights horror at Lincoln University is every parents worst nightmare. This was a senseless act of violence against all of us. My heart goes out to Lincolns students and their families, faculty and the entire Lincoln University community as they grieve. I know that Dr. Allen and her leadership team will do everything in their power to bring together this strong community, and we stand fully behind them as they move forward during these most difficult of days. Pennsylvania House Majority Education Chairman Peter Schweyer

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de Barrena-Sarrobe added that if anyone has information on the incident, they are urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  The Medical University of South Carolina hosted its fourth annual Breast Cancer Survivors Wellness Expo a day dedicated to celebrating strength, sharing resources, and spreading a message of hope.

Held at MUSCs Wellness Center, the event brought together survivors, support groups, healthcare professionals, and vendors for a day filled with education and empowerment.

Launched in 2022, the Survivors Wellness Expo was created to help women battling breast cancer connect with experts, discover new resources, and celebrate their journeys toward healing.

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Theres not many events like this theres really no specific events like this, said Colby Denton, MUSCs Marketing Director. Weve got over 20 vendors this year, which is fantastic for the community. This event was created with survivors in mind, as well as their family members, just to show them what resources are available.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of activities from free wellness services and health screenings to pink swag giveaways, lunch, and interactive photo stations.

Guest speakers shared their personal stories of survival and discussed topics like healthy living, recovery, and cosmetic care after surgery.

Vendors also offered practical resources, including information about Medicare benefits that may cover three free bras every three months a small but impactful way to help women feel more comfortable and confident during recovery.

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Weve met survivors whove gone years without realizing whats available to them, said Sherry Norris, spokesperson for the Alala Cancer Society. Events like this give them hope, comfort, and the tools to feel confident again.

According to the National Institutes of Health, more women under 50 are being diagnosed with breast cancer a trend doctors link to fewer screenings and lower self-exam rates.

Survivor Bernette Chifoll said she hopes to take what shes learned and share it with others in her community.

Right now, cancer is affecting the younger generation. Its not the older generations getting diagnosed its the younger generation, infants, children so its important to be aware of whats going on, said Chifoll.

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The events message was clear no one fights breast cancer alone.

To learn how you can support breast cancer patients, visit MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.

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

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The mystery donor who offered $130 million to pay troops during the government shutdown is Timothy Mellon, sources told The New York Times on Saturday.

The extremely private billionaire is a top Republican backer and contributed $125 million to the Make America Great Again super PAC that supported Donald Trump during his presidential bid last year.

Trump announced the anonymous donation on Thursday, declining to name the benefactor, only saying that the individual was a patriot and a friend.

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When asked about Mellon on Friday, Trump declined to identify him as the donor while speaking to reporters. He said the individual was a great American citizen and a substantial man.

He doesnt want publicity, Trump said, according to The Times. He prefer that his name not be mentioned which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.

The Pentagon told The Times it accepted the donation under the general gift acceptance authority.

But the donation may be in violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prevents federal agencies from spending more money than Congress allows or from using unpaid help that Congress hasnt approved.

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The Mellon family foundation did not respond to Fortunes request for comment, and attempts by the Times to reach Mellon were unsuccessful.

Mellons fortune

Mellon founded the now-defunct railroad company Guilford Transportation Industries in 1981, but much of his wealth is from his grandfather, Andrew, who was Treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932. During this time, Andrew successfully campaigned to remove estate taxes so he could leave his fortune to his heirs.

Prior to working for the Treasury, Andrew accumulated his wealth in banking, industrials and investing in the early stages of companies.

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The Mellon family was named one of Americas richest families by Forbes last year and has a combined net worth of just over $14 billion.

Although Timothy Mellons share of this wealth isnt well understood, he said his net worth was about $700 million in 2014. The London Times estimated it to be about $1 billion last year, and a relative told Vanity Fair it was closer to $4.2 billion, adding that Mellon didnt want people to know his true net worth.

Between 1996 and 2018, Mellon donated about $350,000 to political causes, according to the Wall Street Journal. But during the 2020 election, his political spending exploded, donating $60 million to Republican candidates, including $20 million to Trump.

In the 2024 cycle, Mellon donated a total of $165 million, according to campaign finance tracker OpenSecrets. This included $25 million to the political action committee American Values 2024 that supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s presidential campaign.

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In Mellons self-published autobiography panam.captain from 2015, Kennedy is quoted as saying, Tim Mellon is a maverick entrepreneur who embodies the most admirable qualities of what FDR called American Industrial genius.

Government shutdown

Mellons donation comes as Trump has promised to pay military service members, immigration agents and law enforcement officials despite not having approval by lawmakers for money for their wages.

He signed an executive order this month ordering the Pentagon to use portions of research and development funds to cover troops salaries.

About 670,000 workers have been furloughed, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington-based think tank. And about 730,000 are working without pay.

As the shutdown drags on for its third week, thousands of federal workers have also experienced missing their first paycheck this week.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Burlington County will receive $750,000 to continue preservation work at historic Smithville Park under grant recommendations announced by the New Jersey Historic Trust.

The grant will fund stabilization and repair work on 14 structures and the wall surrounding Smithville Mansion in the former 19th-century industrial village that now serves as a county park in Eastampton.

Burlington Countys historic sites are precious assets and Smithville is unquestionably one of the most important, Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, liaison to the County Department of Resource Conservation and Parks, said in a statement.

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The grant comes as Burlington County marks the 50th anniversary of its purchase of Smithville for just over $595,000.

The county transformed what had become practically a ghost town into its first county park.

It was a visionary decision in 1975, and decades later, the park is still the crown jewel of our expanded park system, Eckel said.

The planned restoration work includes repairs to the Thomas Merritt House, also known as the Pike farmhouse, which was built in 1786 and stands as the oldest property in Smithville.

The site is believed to have once housed a Lenape village and operated a grist mill during the American Revolution.

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Smithvilles industrial heritage traces back to 1865, when industrialist Hezekiah B. Smith purchased what was then known as Shreveville.

Smith transformed the mill town into a thriving industrial center that manufactured woodworking machines and American Star bicycles for national distribution.

The H.B. Smith Machine Company factory operated until the 1950s.

Since acquiring the property, Burlington County has invested more than $17.5 million in preservation and restoration work at Smithville, along with park enhancements, including Smiths Woods Park, a floating trail across Smithville Lake, fishing docks, pavilions, and a playground.

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The park now houses two art galleries in the Smithville Mansion Annex and a restored workers house, plus the Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County in a former workers cottage.

The Smithville grant represents one of 67 projects recommended by the Historic Trust, an affiliate of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

The total recommended grants amount to $13.8 million for historic preservation statewide.

Other Burlington County projects recommended for grants include $94,387 for the Roebling Museum in Florence, $21,712 for the Whitesbog Preservation Trust in Pemberton Township, and $39,465 for Willingboro Townships City Federal Savings and Loan Space Bank Futuro site.

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Additional recommendations include $57,188 for Saving Historic Moorestowns Thomas Cowperthwaite House, $40,722 for The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America for Old Schoolhouse preservation work in Mount Holly, and $49,500 for the Community House of Moorestown.

The grants draw funding from New Jersey corporate business tax revenues dedicated to open space, farmland, and historic preservation.

The Historic Trusts recommendations must still receive approval from the New Jersey Legislature and Governor through the normal appropriations process.

Stories by N.J. News Report

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Oct. 26There were bites of beluga whale. A jar of seal oil. Hemlock branches coated thick with herring roe. Salmon pies. Salmon head soup. Salmon bellies. Salmon strips. Salmon roe. Glossy canned salmon. King salmon heads. Frybread. Moose soup with elbow macaroni. Moose fried rice. Moose sticks. Moose jerky. Several types of muktuk. Pilot bread. No fewer than seven different takes on akutaq.

On a recent night, the basement of St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral was full of people and a table heaving with Native foods, a potluck offered both as a meal to feed Western Alaska evacuees and as a salve for a hunger for home.

Hundreds of people evacuated from villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region to Anchorage after a historic storm caused widespread devastation to homes and infrastructure. Many of them have been staying in shelters in Anchorage for the past week, and had to leave behind their subsistence foods.

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In Anchorage, organizations including the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium have gathered donations of traditional foods for evacuees.

On Friday, the St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral in East Anchorage held its own potluck.

With so many Yup'ik clergy and parishioners, offering a comforting meal from home seemed right, said Father Thomas Rivas, the dean of St. Innocent Cathedral.

"Everyone lost their freezer, so we thought maybe we could offer this," he said.

There are about 50,000 Orthodox in Alaska, according to the church. The Yukon-Kuskokwim region is one of the most heavily Orthodox in the state, with the river village of Kwethluk hosting a rare canonization of St. Olga, the first Yup'ik and first female North American Orthodox saint, this summer. Bilingual church services and songs are common.

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Kipnuk, where the largest number of evacuees are from, is predominantly a Moravian community, said Rivas. The Moravian Church is one of the oldest Protestant denominations, and is also prevalent in rural Alaska.

Kwigillingok, Kongiganak, Tuntutuliak and other communities seriously damaged in the floods also have an Orthodox presence, he said. The Orthodox Diocese of Sitka and Alaska estimates at least several hundreds of the evacuees thought to be in the Anchorage area are Orthodox.

Father Noah Andrew, the priest who serves Kwigillingok, lost his home in the flood. The village's Orthodox church was also destroyed. Andrew and his wife are now in Kongiganak, a neighboring village.

"He doesn't want to leave the people," said Father Michael Nicholai, who teaches at St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak and is originally from Kwethluk.

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Irene Thomas is a church member who lives in Anchorage but is originally from Kasigluk. She and other volunteers had been busy in the kitchen slicing steaming hot fish pies and stirring great vats of moose soup. Hosting a potluck emphasizing Native foods was something the church could offer, she said.

"We can somehow help and make everyone feel at home," she said.

Elena Dock walked in, looking around for people she knew.

Her home in Kipnuk floated off its foundation in the storm, she said. Dock had already evacuated to the school after hearing 80-100 mph winds were forecast. In her lifetime in the village, she'd experienced fierce storms and many floods.

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But none were anything like this, she said. She and her husband were eventually airlifted out of Kipnuk on a helicopter. She was one of the last to be evacuated.

"We were reluctant to go," she said.

She left behind the remains of her home, the graveyard where her family members are buried, her cache of subsistence foods. She thought of some of those she was missing especially: King eider. Geese. Walrus.

"We miss our Native foods so much," she said.

Dock had been staying in the mass shelter at the Alaska Airlines Center, as had some of her children and grandchildren. She had no idea how long they'd be in Anchorage. It could be chaotic and uncomfortable, being in a room with so many people, she said.

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She said she was happy to taste something from home.

"I hope they have geese," she said.

A line formed for the potluck. People were encouraged to take to-go containers back to the shelters to share with those who couldn't attend. The room was packed with black-robed clergy and families sitting around round tables. In the hallway, the scent of incense mixed with the warm smells of cooking food.

"These are soul foods," said Mother Philothea, a nun who lives in Kodiak. "Everybody needs this right now."
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. The federal goverment remains under a partial shutdown. If there is no progress made or an agreement made on how to fund the federal government, on Wednesday, the will enter its fifth week of the shutdown.

Proposed Change by Treasury Department Could Harm Tribal Economic Development

Source: NAFOA

U.S. Treasury officials have proposed moving up the Tribal expenditure deadline for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) from October 2026 to November 2025. Congress created SSBCI to strengthen small business lending and investment nationwide, including in Indian Country. This proposed change represents a significant shift in program expectations and could have a serious impact on Tribal governments and Native-owned businesses.

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Background: The State Small Business Credit Initiative

SSBCI is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury that provides capital to states, territories, and Tribal governments to expand access to financing for small businesses. Initially established in 2010 following the financial crisis, the program was reauthorized and expanded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which allocated $500 million to Tribal governments.

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Under SSBCI, Treasury does not make loans directly. Instead, participating governments design and implement their own programs, partnering with banks, credit unions, and Native Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to leverage private capital and expand opportunities for small business financing.

The proposed acceleration of the expenditure deadline by 13 months (from October 2026 to November 2025) could:

Undermine Tribes ability to effectively deploy allocated funds

Compromise the development of sustainable lending infrastructure

Reduce support for Native-owned businesses and entrepreneurs

Limit job creation opportunities in Tribal communities

NAFOA has prepared a summary document that provides an overview of the NAFOA Member Tribes and their SSBCI funding by State.

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury has prepared an SSBCI Tribal Government Program Summaries document, which includes all Tribal SSBCI projects. The documents show that the potential impact on Tribal Nations and the surrounding communities of rural America is significant.

Tribal Early Childhood & Family Economic Well-being Research Center Grant Opportunity

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) announces the availability of funds and requesting applications for the Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC). The TRC will support relevant and actionable research, evaluation, and measurement of ACF-funded early childhood and family economic well-being programs that serve Native American communities. The TRC program areas include child care programs, Head Start/Early Head Start center and home-based programs, and Tribal TANF. The primary goals of the TRC are to:

Conduct relevant and actionable research, evaluation, and measurement of early childhood programs and family economic well-being initiatives in Native American communities; Serve as a hub for information and peer exchange to promote this research, evaluation, and measurement. The TRCs information sharing and research activities will be constructed with input from Tribal program administrators and providers, Tribal leaders, researchers, and federal staff from the TRC program areas.

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Funder: Administration for Children and Families

Eligibility: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, for profit organizations, small businesses, private institutions of higher education, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, city or township governments, county governments, state governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), others.

Amount: $750,000  $1,000,000



Contact: Link 

FEMA Funds Approved for Leech Lake Reservation

FEMA announced on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, that federal disaster assistance is now available to members of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to support recovery efforts following severe storms and straight-line winds that struck the area on June 21, 2025.

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The announcement makes federal funding available to affected individuals and families within the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. This assistance may include grants for temporary housing, home repairs, and replacement of personal property lost or damaged in the storm.

In addition, the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is eligible to receive federal funding on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the storms.

Frederic Kaehler has been appointed as the Federal Coordinating Officer for recovery operations in the affected areas. Additional designations may be made later if requested by the Tribal Nation and supported by further damage assessments.

Tribal members who suffered losses on or near the designated area are encouraged to first file a claim with their insurance provider before applying for federal assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Individuals using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, should provide FEMA with the number for that service.

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About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often still referred to as food stamps, helps around 41 million people per month have enough food on their plate. Unless Congress acts soon, that wont happen in November.

That means low-income families across the country, including people with disabilities who are unable to work, elderly individuals, and around 16 million children, are not only wondering if theyll have a Thanksgiving dinner this year, but are also second-guessing whether theyll even be able to afford Ramen and rice.

Food banks, churches, and local organizations are working to help make ends meet, but its an uphill battle.

Who Is Using SNAP Benefits In The U.S.?

Photo by VitalikRadko on Deposit Photos

First, lets address who receives these benefits. Despite persistent stereotypes, there is a work requirement, so SNAP households are households with working adults, with some exceptions for disabled individuals and older adults.

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The Center on Budget & Policy Priorities shares that about 62% of households receiving benefits have children under the age of 18, and about 37% have elderly individuals or individuals with disabilities. About 40% of the total number of recipients are children under age 18.

Furthermore, the USDA reports that more than 11% are children under the age of 5. That means that out of 41 million recipients, more than 16 million are minor children, and more than 4.5 million are children under age 5.

There is also an income requirement. A family of three qualifies in 2025 with a gross income of about $33,576 or less and assets valued at or below $3,000.

What Happens In November If SNAP Stops Providing Assistance?

If Congress doesnt reach an agreement to reopen the government or at least provide a stopgap, SNAP recipients will be among the groups affected. At this time, Coast Guard members and civilian contractors working for the U.S. military dont expect to be paid either.

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Since SNAP benefits are distributed at different times, families may start to feel the effects at various points.

In some states, this will happen within the first few days of November. In Connecticut, for instance, the USDA schedule shows that recipients are divided into three groups alphabetically, with benefits distributed to one group on the first, one on the second, and the last on the third day of the month.

In others, it will be more gradual. Delaware, for example, divides its recipients alphabetically and distributes benefits on the second day of the month, with last names starting with A, on the third day with B, and so on with X, Y, and Z receiving theirs on the 23rd.

Other states organize distribution by case number or by Social Security number. Those states may still be distributed within the first few days of the month or gradually throughout the month.

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That means some families will miss a SNAP deposit next week, while others will face the struggle later in the month.

Further Complicating Factors For Families

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The Government Accountability Office estimates that as many as 275,000 active duty military families qualify for SNAP benefits, as do more than a million veterans.

These are individuals who may also see other effects of the shutdown, especially those who may not receive their next paycheck. They may also miss other benefits, forcing them to stretch their budget even further.

WIC benefits may also disappear for many. Thats the Women, Infants, & Children program, which provides specific foods (like milk, cheese, bread, eggs, and produce) to low-income pregnant women, infants, and children under age 5. This program also provides infant formula and, in some cases, specialty formula, such as for children with a feeding tube, those who cant tolerate lactose, and those with other food sensitivities. Out of pocket, these formulas can be costly.

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Some states have said theyll work to keep WIC funded, but that still leaves many mothers wondering how theyll cover the cost of baby formula next month.

As an added complication, food banks are already struggling with lost federal funding, meaning that with military families and SNAP households getting in line, things will be stretched even thinner.

Where Are Families Turning For Support?

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Though food banks are already stretched thin, theyre working hard to keep up with the need. Many of them are reaching out for extra volunteer hours and food donations from those who can give.

Some grocery stores are stepping up. In my area, the Food Lion chain is doing so. A food bank employee recently told me that almost everything on their shelves at the moment was donated by Food Lion. Other grocery chains and food distributors who are donating include H.E.B., Walmart, Kroger, Publix, Trader Joes, and Aldi.

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Many churches and schools are also taking extra steps. Some churches are incorporating food drives into their fall festivals, and schools are redoubling their efforts to ensure that kids have access to food. Many have programs that send home a grocery bag full of food to kids in need on weekends.

Local organizations are working together to boost support, too. In my area, Ive seen individuals volunteering to collect donations and deliver them to the food bank, and working to organize others to participate.

What Can You Do To Help Families Who Rely On SNAP?

If your family is in need, start with your local food bank. They can offer direct support by providing food, and are also usually good resources for information. They may be able to tell you where to get additional help.

Your childs school is another good step. There, you can request to be added to any food support programs they offer, and theyll also connect you to any other available resources.

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Local churches can also be a good option. If youre not sure which ones to reach out to, start by checking their websites or social media pages. If theyre doing outreach, theyll usually have a post sharing information.

If youre able to donate to help others, these are the same organizations youll want to make connections with. Remember that food banks can often buy in bulk, so donating cash is usually better than donating purchased items. You can check with your specific organization to be sure, and any donation helps.

As always, you can also reach out to your elected representatives to let them know what you think and what actions youd like to see from them!
Thousands of shoppers continue to throng the main marketplace in the city of Birgunj near the Indian city of Raxaul as preparations for Chhath enters final phase for the devotees. The Hindu festival of Chhath that last for four-days commenced on Saturday with the first ritual, 'Nahay Khay,' drawing massive crowds at various ghats. Devotees thronged riverbanks to take a holy dip and offer prayers to the Sun God, marking the beginning of the auspicious Chhath Mahaparv. On Sunday, the second day of Chhath Puja, known as Kharna, devotees are observing a fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from both food and water. The fast is broken only after making offerings to the Sun God at sunset. Dedicated to the worship of the Sun god and his sister Chhathi Maiya, the festival emphasises purity, gratitude, and the well-being of one's family. "I am here at the Birgunj linkroad making last minute purchase for the Chhath- today it's Kharna. We perform rituals in the evening (at home), I have purchased the essentials for the rituals- it consists the sugarcane and other varieties of fruits in the market," Aman Srivastav, a shopper from the city of Birgunj in Nepal told ANI. The four-day Chhath Mahaparv, dedicated to the worship of the Sun God, begins with the sacred ritual of Nahay-Khay. This year, the festival will be celebrated from October 25 to 28, with rituals including Nahay-Khay on Chaturthi Tithi of Kartik Shukla Paksha, Kharna on Panchami, Chhath Puja on Sashti, and concluding Usha Arghya on Saptami. "For the rituals we need sugarcane, apples, oranges, special rice grains and other varieties of fruits which are pre-requisite for this festival as it is said that Chhati Maiya demands it all. We have been celebrating this biggest festival with grandeur and fervor by the Hindu devotees," Deepak Srivastav, another devotee told ANI. (ANI)
The last thing any of us want to find out is that a product we own is being recalled. But when it comes to the food we love, its always better to know about any potential dangers before it's too late. And while nothings stopping anyone from enjoying their favorite seasonal/year-round eats, the health and safety of ourselves and the ones we love most should always come first.

This week, Hormel Foods Corporation is giving us all a reason to check our freezers, as the Austin, Minnesotabased company just announced a recall of roughly 4,874,815 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen chicken products. Working together with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the official notice cites the reason for the recall as the potential presence of metal pieces in the identified products.

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How to Identify the Frozen Chicken Products Being Recalled

According to the FSIS, the affected products include frozen chicken breasts and thighs that were sent to HRI Commercial Food Service locations across the country. These products were distributed on various dates between February 10, 2025, and September 19, 2025, the labels of which can be viewed here. Products subject to recall are as follows:

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13.9-lb. cases containing Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN THIGH MEAT, with item code 65009 printed on the label.

13.8-lb. cases containing 3-oz. Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 77531 printed on the label.

13.8-lb. cases containing 4-oz. Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 46750 printed on the label.

23.8-lb. cases containing 5-oz. Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 86206 printed on the label.

13.95-lb. cases containing BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, with item code 134394 printed on the label.

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Each product carries the establishment number P-223 in the USDA mark of inspection, and a detailed list of the specific pack dates included in the recall can be found here.

Related: This Popular Frozen Breakfast Item Is Being RecalledSee Why

What to Do Next

If any of the products named above are in your freezer at home, its strongly recommended that you throw them away and do not eat them. You can also return them to the place of purchase for a refund or exchange. The FSIS notes that some of these products may also be in the freezers of hotels, restaurants, and other institutions. These businesses are urged not to serve the affected products and to dispose of them completely.

The problem is said to have been discovered after Hormel received multiple complaints from food service customers who found metal in their frozen chicken breast and thigh products. After an investigation, Hormel determined that the metal likely came from the conveyor belt used in production. And while there have not yet been any confirmed reports of injury from consuming these products, anyone concerned about a potential injury should absolutely contact a healthcare professional immediately.

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Those with further questions or concerns about the recall are welcome to contact Hormel Foods Customer relations via their website, or by calling 1-800-523-4635. Otherwise, be safe, stay diligent, and always err on the side of caution when it comes to food safety!

Related: A Popular Snack Has Been Recalled Due to an Undeclared Allergen

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hormel Foods has issued a recall of nearly 4.9 million pounds of its frozen boneless chicken products distributed to restaurants, cafeterias, and other commercial food outlets, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service

The recall follows customer reports of metal fragments found in chicken breast and thigh products. FSIS said Hormel traced the contamination to a damaged conveyor belt used during production. No injuries or illnesses have been reported.

The affected Hormel Fire Braised chicken products were shipped nationwide to HRI Commercial Food Service, a restaurant supply company, between February 10 and September 19. The products are only sold to food service companies, not directly to consumers.

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The following products are the subject of the recall:

13.9-lb. cases containing Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN THIGH MEAT, with item code 65009 printed on the label.

13.8-lb. cases containing 3-oz.Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 77531 printed on the label.

13.8-lb. cases containing 4-oz.Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 46750 printed on the label.

23.8-lb. cases containing 5-oz.Hormel FIRE BRAISED MEATS ALL NATURAL BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST, with item code 86206 printed on the label.

13.95-lb. cases containing BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST WITH RIB MEAT, with item code 134394 printed on the label.

Hormel fire-braised chicken thighs are among the recalled items (HORMEL)

The full list of affected pack dates can be found on the USDA website.

FSIS advised that any recalled chicken still stored in hotel, restaurant, or cafeteria freezers should be discarded. Hormel stated it has contacted all customers who received the impacted items.

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The Austin, Minnesota-based business released a statement saying that No other Hormel products are affected, and no illnesses or injuries have been reported in association with this recall.

The news comes days after a major recall on more than 140,000 bottles of cholesterol medication was upgraded to a higher risk level.

In September, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Enforcement report announced that Ascend Laboratories was recalling bottles of its Atorvastatin Calcium Tablet due to failed dissolution specifications.

However, as of October 10, the recall was declared a Class II, which is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, per the FDA.

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The recall affects tablets that were distributed nationwide, in 90-count, 500-count, and 1,000-count bottles. Bottles have Expiration Dates up to February 2027.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.
A Nebraska teacher and her boyfriend were charged with sex trafficking this week after one of her female high school students reported inappropriate interactions with the pair, the Holdrege Police Department announced Thursday.

Elizabeth Jamie Love, 36, and her boyfriend, Jarid Jack Krause, both of Holdrege, have been charged with felony sex trafficking of a minor.

Love, who is listed as a transition coordinator and teacher of the deaf on the Education Service Unit 11s website, also faces an additional felony charge of sexual grooming by a school employee.

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Police say they received a report on October 14 of possible sexual abuse involving a juvenile girl. They did not identify the students school in a news release, but said Love had worked for years with ESU-11, serving more than a dozen schools across south-central Nebraska.

According to an affidavit obtained by Nebraska TV, the current high school student, taught by Love through her role with ESU-11, claimed she overheard an August phone call where Krause allegedly told Love he wanted to have sex with the girl.

Elizabeth Jamie Love allegedly drove a student to her Nebraska home, where her boyfriend, Jarid 'Jack' Krause, allegedly asked the juvenile girl for sex (ESU-11)

Love allegedly picked the girl up on October 11 and brought her to her home. There, Krause reportedly led her to an upstairs bedroom and made a request she thought was for sex.

The girl said she declined Krauses request and asked to leave, which he allowed her to do, according to the affidavit.

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Authorities reportedly said they reviewed security footage showing Love following the girl in a black Dodge Durango. The girl later got in the vehicle, and Love drove her home.

The girl told police that Love apologized, warned her not to tell anyone, and gave her $100, which Love later claimed was a gift for a new phone, not hush money.

The Independent has contacted ESU-11 outside of traditional school hours for comment.

Authorities are not aware of any other cases involving the couple and current or former students. Still, anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call the Holdrege Police Department at 308-995-4407.

Love and Krause are being held in the Phelps County Jail on $250,000 bonds and are set to make their first court appearance on Monday (Phelps County Jail)

Love and Krause are being held in the Phelps County Jail on $250,000 cash bonds.

If convicted, they could face life in prison and mandatory lifetime registration as sex offenders.

Their first court appearance is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. in Phelps County Court.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Start of the Government Meeting on Sunday October 26th, 2025. (photo credit: GPO)

Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected claims that the US dictates Israeli security policy, saying Israel is a sovereign state that will decide which forces it works with.

Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that as a sovereign state, Israel would determine its security policy and which foreign forces to work with.

Netanyahu said, "Over the past month, we have been witnessing ridiculous claims regarding therelationship between the United States and Israel. When I was in Washington, it was said there that I controlled the American administration, that I dictated its security policy to it. Now, the opposite is being claimed  the American administration controls me and dictates Israel's security policy."

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"Neither of these is true. Israel is an independent country; the United States is an independent country. The relations between us are relations between partners," he continued.

"We do not seek anyone's approval for this. We are in control of our security, and we have also made it clear regarding international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, and this is how we operate and will continue to operate," Netanyahu said at the outset of a cabinet meeting.

"This is, of course, acceptable to the United States as well, as its most senior representatives have expressed in recent days."

US President Donald Trump seen with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (illustrative) (credit: SHUTTERSTOCK/NIMNETH X, YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Ally, not protectorate

Netanyahu's insistence that Israel will act independently from the US comes days after US Vice President JD Vance made a similar statement while visiting Israel.

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"We want Israel as an ally, and for the US to have less interest in the Middle East," Vance said to Netanyahu while discussing his hopes for expanding the Abraham Accords.

"In the last year, we've had an unmatched alliance and a partnership with the United States," Netanyahu went on, saying that Vance had impressed him with his visit. "That is changing the Middle East, and it's also changing the world."

"We are not an American protectorate," Netanyahu emphasized. "Israel will have the final say regarding her security."

"We don't want a protectorate," Vance responded, noting that he is "optimistic that the ceasefire will hold."
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  With Halloween fast-approaching, Portlanders have their eyes on some trending costumes  and no, an inflatable frog is not one of them.

Every year, Google Frightgeist reveals which spooky season looks are most popular across the U.S. while also ranking the most popular costumes in certain regions. In the Portland area, the top five costumes reflect nationwide trends.

Not feasible: Spirits brand closing Oregon, Washington tasting rooms

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Rumi, from Netflixs KPop Demon Hunters, took the Rose Citys No. 1 spot. The character is one of three members of the K-pop girl group featured in the Netflix fantasy film. Her groupmates, Zoey and Mira, are also trending as the second-most and fifth-most searched costumes in Portland.

Another character from the record-breaking animation, Derpy the Tiger, landed at No. 4.

The only high-ranking costume that was unrelated to the movie was a Labubu, the collectible plush toy that went viral over the summer.

Labubus and KPop Demon Hunters also took over the rankings of the top 25 costumes nationwide. Minecrafts chicken jockeys, Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked, The Lorax, and the nurse from Silent Hill were among other popular searches.

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Elsewhere in Oregon, Care Bears, Raven from Teen Titans, aliens, Uncle Fester from Wednesday and Pomni from The Amazing Digital Circus were the Eugene areas top picks.

Alaska Airlines adds direct flights to 4 new destinations from Portland

Bend-area residents are searching for costumes of Labubus, Lord Farquaad from Shrek, Tinkerbell, clowns and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

In the Medford area, Ghostface from Scream, Shrek, Rumi from Kpop Demon Hunters, fairies and The Lorax were popular.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NEED TO KNOW

Neutrogenas Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes have been recalled by the company that owns the brand due to concerns over a potential bacterial contamination

The FDA has classified the recall as a Class II risk, meaning it may cause temporary health consequences

The recall is in effect in four states

A popular Neutrogena product has been recalled due to a potential bacterial contamination.

An internal investigation by Kenvue Brands LLC, the company that owns Neutrogena, revealed the brands Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes tested positive for a bacteria known as pluralibacter gergoviae, per information released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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The FDA has classified the risk level of the recall as Class II, meaning that use of the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, though the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, per the FDAs website.

Walmart Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes

The recall, which was issued on Sept. 19, is in effect in Texas, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, per the FDA.

The lot code number for the wipes is 1835U6325A.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Kenvue said that "the health and safety of the consumers who use our products is our top priority."

Despite meeting release specifications, one lot of the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes, 50 [count] may have been impacted by procedural deficiencies observed during manufacturing, Kenvue continued, adding that the company voluntarily recalled the product out of an abundance of caution.

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Pluralibacter gergoviae is a bacteria that has been linked to respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, eye infections and sepsis, particularly in immunocompromised people, according to Melbec Microbiology, a microbiology testing company that specializes in cosmetics. It has become a growing concern in the cosmetics industry due to its resistance to a number of common preservatives, per the company.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

This recall isnt the first of its kind this year.

New Jersey-based skincare company DermaRite Industries LLC announced the recall of several of their products, including hand soaps, skin creams and hair products on Aug. 8 due to the presence of Burkholderia cepacia, which can cause life-threatening infections.

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DermaRite issued an expansion of the recall, including more than 30 additional products on Aug. 27, according to a press release.

In March, the FDA also issued a voluntary recall of six widely available acne treatments, stating that the products had elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen.

Read the original article on People
California Governor Gavin Newsom hit out at President Donald Trump, calling him a man child after the president announced increased tariffs on Canada as punishment for the Ontario government running ads featuring Ronald Reagan.

In a post made to X, Newsom shared a screenshot of Trumps Truth Social post, writing, The man child in the Oval got his feelings hurt, so he is punishing the American people with higher costs.

Justin Sullivan/Alex Wong/Getty Images

Trump wrote in his post, Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagans Speech on Tariffs, referring to the ad run by the government of Ontario that featured a minute-long clip from an address given by the 40th president.

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Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didnt! Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD. Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now, he continued.

The man child in the Oval got his feelings hurt, so he is punishing the American people with higher costs. pic.twitter.com/VmAdfOEMY7  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 25, 2025

The video was aired on television after a $75 million ad spend by Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Trump had previously condemned the ad on Thursday, calling it fake and arguing that it was designed to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts.

In response to the ad, he suspended trade talks with Canada, Americas second-largest trading partner, having also previously done so in June.

The ad was also criticized by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, who argued that the ad misrepresents Reagans address and complained that Ontario did not seek permission to use the footage.

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The ad only includes excerpts from the original five-minute-long address, and does not alter Reagans remarks in any way; it does, however, change the order in which he made those remarks. Despite this, the meaning of Reagans wordshis argument in favor of free trade and against high tariffswas preserved.

Its official: Ontarios new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched.



Using every tool we have, well never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.



Watch our new ad. pic.twitter.com/SgIVC1cqMJ  Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 16, 2025

Despite Trumps condemnation on Thursday, the ad aired during the first World Series game on Friday evening that saw the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers.

A spokesperson for Ford told CNN on Friday that the ad would be paused on Monday.

In July, Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods from 25 percent to 35 percent, with some sectors seeing higher tariffs, including metals at 50 percent.

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While many goods are exempt under existing free trade agreements, it is unclear to which goods the additional 10 percent would apply.

The Daily Beast has contacted the White House and the Office of Prime Minister Mark Carney for comment.
In a sign of Californias rising status as a major hub of Democratic politics, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Sunday hes considering a run for president in 2028  just a day after the news that former Vice President Kamala Harris had made the same pronouncement.

Newsom, a Democrat who has become a nationally renowned figure this year pitching himself as a leader of the resistance to President Trump, acknowledged for the first time publicly that he is carefully weighing a 2028 presidential run.

In an interview with " CBS News Sunday Morning ," Newsom was asked whether he would give "serious thought" after the 2026 midterms to a White House bid.

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"Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise," Newsom replied. "I'd just be lying. And I'm not  I can't do that."

Harris said in an interview with the BBC posted this weekend that she expects a woman will be president in the coming years. Possibly, she said, it could be her.

I am not done, she said. "I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and it's in my bones."

With more than three years until the November 2028 election, it is entirely possible that only one or neither of the two California politicians could ultimately throw their hat in the race.

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But the early willingness of Newsom and Harris to publicly consider a White House bid shows that the Golden State remains a central power base in Democratic politics. It also sets up a potential 2028 political showdown between two of Californias most prominent and nationally polarizing political figures.

For years, Newsom has denied presidential ambitions, even as pundits have considered him a potential candidate. But since Trump defeated Harris in the November 2024 election, the California governor has emerged as a more vocal, combative critic of the Trump administration's agenda.

"This is Gavin Newsom finally saying out loud what everyone's been whispering for years," said Thad Kousser, a professor of political science at UC San Diego. "He has obvious presidential ambitions and now hes ready to own them."

Under Newsoms leadership, California has filed dozens of lawsuits against Trump  most noticeably against the Republican administrations deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. The governor has also become more aggressive on social media , taking to X to taunt and troll Trump.

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Still, Newsom, whose term as governor ends in January 2027 and who cannot run again because of term limits, cautioned that he is not rushing into a 2028 presidential campaign.

"I have no idea," Newsom said Sunday of whether he will actually decide to run.

Kousser said Newsom was probably motivated to express his presidential aspirations now because Harris has signaled her willingness to run.

"There could be a concern here that Gavin Newsom would be boxed out by the other most prominent Democrat from California if he doesn't join the field and doesn't admit his presidential aspiration at the same time she's declared hers," Kousser said.

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But Kousser emphasized that Newsom had always had ambitions to run when the time is right.

"Now, the political success he's had in staunchly opposing President Trump on immigration raids, on National Guard deployments, and potentially now on redistricting, that has elevated him in the field," he said. "It means his time might be now."

After Trump defeated Harris in November, she was viewed as a possible candidate for California governor. But in July she announced that, after serious thought, she would not run for the top California office.

For now, my leadership  and public service  will not be in elected office, Harris said in a statement. I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.

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Newsom's interest in the White House raises the stakes for passing Proposition 50, a California ballot measure he has pushed  in response to a similar initiative in Texas  that would allow state Democrats to temporarily change the boundaries of U.S. House maps so that they are more favorable to Democrats. California voters will vote on Proposition 50 in a special election next week.

Newsom has promoted his effort as a response to Trump's push to redraw maps in Republican-controlled states to make them benefit the GOP. Some blue states have rules that prevent political gerrymandering, but Virginia is now following California's lead, and a few others, such as Illinois and Maryland, are weighing similar actions.

"I think it's about our democracy," Newsom said in the CBS interview. "It's about the future of this republic. I think it's about, you know, what the Founding Fathers lived and died for, this notion of the rule of law, and not the rule of Don."

If Newsom is successful and Proposition 50 passes, that could potentially help future Democratic candidates' White House bids.

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But either way, both Newsom and Harris would face high hurdles in battleground states if they ran for president.

Just being a Californian is a liability, some argue, at a time when Republicans depict the state as a bastion of "woke" ideas, high taxes and crime.

While California boasts the worlds fifth-largest economy and is home to the massive tech powerhouse of Silicon Valley and the cultural epicenter of Hollywood, it has struggled in recent years with high housing costs and massive income inequality. In September, a study found California tied with Louisiana for the nations highest poverty rate.

Although Harris and Newsom both hail from the Bay Area and worked their way up the Democratic political system in San Francisco, they have yet to compete for the same office.

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Weve been sort of on this track, but it was always adjacent, Newsom told The Times last year shortly after Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee. The tension was a sort of manifestation of punditry.

Newsom and Harris have had parallel, but not intersecting, political careers, Kousser said.

"This would move them from cooperation into competition," he said. "But that's part of politics."

Newsom, 58, a former San Francisco mayor who was born to a well-connected San Francisco family, suggested in the CBS interview that he had surmounted significant obstacles to get to this point. Early on, Newsom struggled in school and suffered from dyslexia.

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"The idea that a guy who got 960 on his SAT, that still struggles to read scripts, that was always in the back of the classroom, the idea that you would even throw that out is, in and of itself, extraordinary, Newsom said. Who the hell knows? I'm looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment. And that's the question for the American people."

Harris, 61, who was born to immigrant parents in Oakland and raised in Berkeley, was San Francisco district attorney before she served as California attorney general, U.S. senator and became vice president in 2021 and then the Democratic Party's nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

She received criticism last year after losing to Trump not only in the electoral college but in the popular vote  by nearly 2.3 million votes. Some Democrats accused her of being an elite, out-of-touch candidate who failed to connect with voters in battleground states who have struggled economically in recent years.

But speaking in Los Angeles last month as she promoted her new memoir, 107 Days, Harris did not appear to reflect on any errors she made in 2024.

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I wrote the book for many reasons, but primarily to remind us how unprecedented that election was, she said.

Think about it. A sitting president of the United States is running for reelection and 3 months before the election decides not to run, and then a sitting vice president takes up the mantle to run against a former president of the United States who has been running for 10 years, with 107 days to go.

Harris' book received some criticism for keeping score and dishing dirt on Democrats who did not immediately support her bid to become the Democratic nominee. When she called Newsom, she wrote, he texted her that he was hiking and would call her back. According to Harris, he never did.

Already this year, Newsom has raised eyebrows by traveling to crucial battleground election states.

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In July, Newsom traveled more than 2,000 miles to South Carolina , a state that traditionally hosts the Souths first presidential primary. He said he was working to help the party win back the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026. But there are a dozen competitive House districts in California . South Carolina, a staunchly conservative state, does not have a single competitive race.

After Newsom spoke at an event in Camden, S.C., Rep. James Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress and renowned Democratic kingmaker who played a key role in salvaging Joe Bidens 2020 campaign, told The Times that Newsom would be a hell of a candidate.

But other leading South Carolina Democrats voiced doubts that Newsom could win over working-class and swing voters in battleground states.

Richard Harpootlian, a South Carolina attorney and former chairman of the state Democratic Party, dubbed Newsom a handsome man with great hair.

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But he said the party was searching for someone quite different: "a left-of-moderate candidate who can articulate blue-collar hopes and desires."

If he had a track record of solving huge problems like homelessness, or the social safety net, hed be a more palatable candidate, Harpootlian said. I just think hes going to have a tough time explaining why theres so many failures in California.

Kousser said Newsom had long grappled with the question of whether he could break through to a broader, more mainstream audience.

"He certainly has taken that challenge of being too California and too Democratic to win in November head-on over the past year," he said, noting that Newsom had taken a national advertising campaign defending California values to red states, debated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and appeared on a string of conservative podcasts.

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"He's been trying to counter that narrative  and to develop the centrist reputation that it'll take to win  for a while now," Kousser said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.




California Gov. Gavin Newsom told "CBS News Sunday Morning" that he will consider whether to run for president after the 2026 midterm elections.

Newsom has been a fierce and nationally visible critic of President Donald Trump, sparring with him over climate policy, congressional redistricting efforts and interstate federal troop deployments.

Most recently, Newsom accused Trump of trying to suppress Californians' vote by sending more than 100 immigration agents to the region last week. Trump abruptly called off his planned Bay Area immigration enforcement surge Thursday after he said he was persuaded by tech leaders and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to pause the anticipated crackdown in the city.

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In the CBS interview, Newsom was asked whether he would seriously consider a presidential bid after next year's midterm elections.

"Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise," Newsom told the interviewer. "I'd just be lying. And I''m not - I can't do that."

Newsom's term ends in 2027. The Democrat, who has been governor since 2019, cannot run again due to term limits. Previously, he served as San Francisco's mayor from 2004 to 2011.

Newsom speaks at Fisher Hill Community Baptist Church in Cheraw, S.C., during a July trip to campaign for the state's Democratic Party. (Sean Rayford/Tribune News Service)





In recent years, Newsom has been working to raise his national profile, including a July trip to South Carolina to campaign with the state's Democratic Party.

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On Nov. 4, California voters will decide the fate of Proposition 50, the Newsom-backed measure to redraw California's congressional maps to combat similar moves in Texas and other Republican-led states.

This article originally published at Newsom says he'll consider presidential run after 2026 midterms.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed growing concerns that Washington's expanding strategic ties with Pakistan are meant to sideline India, noting that the relationship with Islamabad would not undermine the US' "deep, historic, and important" partnership with New Delhi. The US State Secretary, while addressing the press en route to Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, asserted that New Delhi understands the necessity of engaging multiple nations in a mature diplomatic framework. "I don't think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important," Rubio told reporters when asked about India's apprehensions over the recent surge in the US-Pakistan relationship. Acknowledging India's concerns, the top US diplomat said, "We know they're concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically." However, he emphasised the broader imperative of global engagement, noting that Washington sees an opportunity to expand its "strategic relationship" with Pakistan and that it aims to work with countries on matters of common interest. "We have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and that's our job - to try to figure out how many countries we can find and how we can work with them on things of common interest," Rubio said. He further praised India's diplomatic maturity, noting that "the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. They have some relationships with countries that we don't have relationships with. It's part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy." Rubio's remark comes during a time when the Trump administration has been increasingly renewing its engagement with Pakistan, which has reportedly caused concern in New Delhi. In May, following India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which came in retaliation to Pakistan's sponsored terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 people in the name of religion, both countries had agreed to halt the full-scale military action, after the Pakistan Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called their Indian counterpart for cessation of hostilities. However, US President Donald Trump had repeatedly claimed credit for helping de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear nations, a claim India had categorically denied. Meanwhile, Pakistan had welcomed Trump's claims, even nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Trade tensions have also surfaced, with the US imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, 25 per cent of it due to India's purchase of Russian oil, which Washington claims fuels Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine, compared to 19 per cent for Pakistan, as well as signing agreements with Islamabad on mineral mining and oil exploration. (ANI)
Californias Gov. Gavin Newsom seems to have been running for president for months, but today he made it a little bit more official.

Yeah, Id be lying otherwise, the two-term Democrat told CBS Sunday Mornings Robert Costa hes giving serious thought to a White House bid. Id just be lying, and Im not  I cant do that, Newsom added in a pre-taped interview aired today.

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Fate will determine that, the 58-year-old politician declared of if 2028 would really be his shot.

However, testing the waters in Red States for months and taking swings at Donald Trump on every platform available, Newsom had the caveat that he was not going to make up his mind about 2028 until the 2026 midterms were over. After that vote, which could see the Democrats retake control of the House of Representatives, and less likely, the Senate  its game on.

Im looking forward to who presents themselves in 2028 and who meets that moment, and thats the question for the American people, Newsom said of fellow Democrats seeking the big job, which could include fellow Californian and former VP Kamala Harris, who was the unsuccessful 2024 candidate.

To that, the term-limited governor who will leave office in Sacramento after the midterms, also warns that Trumps second term and a currently unconstitutional third term hang in the balance in next years vote.

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His presidency, de facto, ends next November, if were successful his presidency is over, de facto as we know it today, fire and fury signifying maybe something. But finally, you have rebalanced this system, Newsom told the Bari Weiss-run CBS News.

If you have a speaker Johnson, we may have a third term of President Trump.

Having fought Trump most of this year on a variety of fronts, Newsom has put a lot of his own political capital on the line with Californias redistricting measure Proposition 50. The only thing on the ballot for next months election in the Golden State, the Arnold Schwarzenegger-opposed Prop 50 would temporarily alter Californias congressional districts to favor Democrats. Looking likely to pass, the move is a response to Trumps desired gerrymandering efforts in Red States like Texas to ensure a GOP majority in Congress in 2026 by eliminating Democrat-majority districts.

Once noted for his own efforts to have a detente of sorts with the authoritarian Trump in his first term and the early weeks of his return to power, Newsom now calls the former Apprentice host an invasive species for California, for the country, for the world.

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Pointing to last weeks sudden demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make space for Trumps $300 million corporate donor supported new ballroom, the governor said POTUS is a wrecking ball, not just the symbolism and substance of the East Wing. Hes wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions.

Of course, the timing of todays interview, as Trump this weekend struts on the world stage at a summit in Asia, is intended to send a message to the spotlight craving White House.

Also, in terms of timing, the October 23 taping of the sit-down with Newsom came just before Trump announced he was reversing course on sending troops into San Francisco like he had LA earlier this past summer. The presence of Marines and National Guard in the City of Angels led to months of eventually successful court challenges from Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as well as state legislation to ban ICE agents and other law enforcement from being masked and unidentified.

As for that potential next step in his own political battles, Newsom said, in his opinion, any candidate for the presidency needs a compelling why  a possible missive across the bow of any fellow Democrats thinking about throwing their own hats in the ring.

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I think the biggest challenge for anyone who runs for any office is people see right through you, Newsom noted to CBS Sunday Morning. If you dont have that why, youre doing it for the wrong reasons.

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Houston fire officials battled an apartment fire along the I-610 South Loop at Kirby in southwest Houston on Saturday afternoon.

The fire reportedly broke out at the apartment complex just west of NRG Park.

According to fire officials, the fire impacted about 12 to 13 units.

The fire department said there were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.

As of late Saturday afternoon, the cause of the fire is unknown.
State police are investigating after shots were fired at an apartment complex near Slippery Rock University.

Police say the incident happened around 2:36 a.m. on Sunday.

Troopers were called to Vineyard Circle in Slippery Rock Township for reports of shots fired.

Investigators found the shots were fired after a fight that happened near a fire pit at the University Village at Slippery Rock.

No injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation.

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Anyone with information and/or video of the incident is asked to call PSP Butler at 724-284-8100.

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MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A man in Maryville took to the Junior High School track this morning, pushing his limits in a bold attempt to break a Guinness World Record. But, for Christian Anderson, its about far more than making history, hes honoring someone special while advocating for mental health awareness.

Anderson hopes to break the male world record for the farthest distance in a farmers walk carrying 100 pounds in one hour by hauling two 51-pound water jugs. All to honor his big sister.

Tennessee families prepare for possible SNAP benefit delays as shutdown persists

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Were doing this to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health; it is Mental Health Awareness Month. We lost my sister on Thanksgiving Day in 2018 to suicide, today would be her 51st birthday, so October 25th, 1974. She was on top of mind this whole time. I wanted to honor her. I wanted to give her a birthday present, so to speak, and its just one of those things that my sister was such a beautiful person inside and out, explained Anderson.

Anderson says mental health awareness is crucial and not talked about enough. He carries the weight for his sister and for everyone fighting a silent battle.

You just have to carry the weights, just push the distance. Its taxing your forearms, your grip goes, everything starts to get a little numb. Your back, your knees, your feet. They start to hurt. But this cause is more than that and I think thats the whole theme. Were trying to lift these people, the pain and the suffering theyve had and hold them up through this, through these weights, Anderson added.

51 pound water jugs timer Amy Elizabeth Anderson

He hopes this sparks conversation, spreading the message that its okay to not be okay and that help is out there.

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At her funeral, people were shocked, people didnt understand and so thats why this all came together its like there is no stereotype for suicide and mental health. It can impact everybody. Its not about my name on a record template or a plaque. Its about people seeing this and thinking, you know what I need to call that loved one thats struggling, or for the person that is struggling, I need to call someone and get help, said Anderson.

Where to find free food in East Tennessee as SNAP benefits lapse

Anderson tells 6 News, this is not the last time he will be advocating for the cause and while hes waiting to see if he holds the new record, he hopes to continue to raise awareness for mental health every day. For those who are seeking help you can call the Suicide and Crisis lifeline by dialing 988.

If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 988 or the Tennessee statewide crisis line at 855-CRISIS-1 or text *T-N* to 741-741 for 24-hour help. The McNabb Center also has a crisis line that can be reached at 865-539-2409.

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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 WATE 6 On Your Side.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  Norfolk Public Schools preschool programs recently earned ratings of Meeting or Exceeding Expectations from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

The ratings were part of the Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) Quality Profiles program, which assess statewide teaching quality and curriculum implementation.

Granby Elementary and Chesterfield Academy earned the highest designation of Exceeds Expectations, a distinction that officials say is shared by only four schools across neighboring districts.

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St. Helena Elementary was recognized for strong improvement. It earned the Meets Expectations designation.

Our early learning educators are rock stars, said Dr. James Pohl, Interim Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools. This recognition reflects their care, skill, and belief in every students potential.

To view all VQB5 Quality Profiles, you can visit the link here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A Canadian adventure-tourism investors bid to build gondolas, a zip line and expanded visitor infrastructure above Waialua has sparked one of the most energized community opposition campaigns the North Shore has seen in years.

The new application, filed Sept. 23 as 2025-MOD-55, seeks to expand activities at Kamananui Agribusiness /Kaukonahua Ranch, including a gondola system ascending Mount Kaala, zip lines, trails, viewing platforms, a cafe, restroom facilities and roadway improvements along Kaukonahua Road. The filing frames the project as a minor modification  to an existing agribusiness permit.

The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting confirmed it received the application on Sept. 23 and is now reviewing it, noting that unlike other land-use permits, there is no formal acceptance process or review deadline for minor modifications.

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The project, known as Kamananui, is being proposed by Kaukonahua Ranch LLC, listed with the state as an active foreign limited liability company organized in Washington. The company is managed by Canadian entrepreneur Joey Houssian, founder of a Whistler-based adventure tourism group. Property records show Kaukonahua Ranch LLC and K-View LLCinvolving landowner partner Sean Ginellaas the fee owners of the site at 65-603 Kaukonahua Road in Waialua, where the facilities would be built.

Houssian could not be reached for comment.

Critics, however, said the proposal would transform agricultural lands into a commercial amusement park.

North Shore resident and retired University of Hawaii law professor Denise Antolini argued that the project is fundamentally tourism-driven and clashes with the sacred significance, rural landscape and cultural character of Mount Kaala and the surrounding North Shore.

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Opponents contend that the developer is using minor modification  rules to sidestep more rigorous public scrutiny.

The applicant overstated the ability to do real agriculture /forestry,  Antolini wrote in her public comments on the application, which were due on Thursday, describing the current plan as a pivot toward demonstration agriculture  that she says is essentially a cover for tourism development.

DPP emphasized that the departments director may only approve a minor modification if the change is reasonable and consistent with the intent of the original permit, does not significantly increase the intensity or scope of the use and does not create adverse land-use impacts to surrounding neighborhoodsthe three criteria spelled out in city law.

Shift from agriculture The new application proposes sweeping changes to the Kamananui Agribusiness project, including a gondola system with stations ascending the slopes of Mount Kaala and a zip line.

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The plan also calls for expanded visitor facilities such as a cafe, restrooms, trails and viewing platforms, along with modifications to hiking and biking paths and accessibility infrastructure.

In addition, the project would revise the balance between agribusiness and agricultural uses, reducing previously mandated forest restoration obligations and relocating the visitor entrance while making improvements to Kaukonahua Road.

The ranch originally received a Conditional Use Permit  Minor, referred to as a CUP-Minor, in 2019 to support agroforestry and ranch operations across more than 2, 300 acres, including a requirement to restore 933 acres of forest. To date, only 51.5 acres of koa tree planting have been completed. The current proposal shifts the focus from agriculture toward tourism, raising concerns that core agricultural obligations remain unmet.

DPP said it monitors compliance through annual agricultural reports and site visits once agribusiness activities are established and may impose new or revised conditions if needed after reviewing the modification request.

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Community concerns Community pushback has been swift and vocal.

At a June 3 public meeting at Waialua High & Intermediate School, more than 200 residents turned outand none voiced support for the project, according to attendees.

Kathleen Pahinui, chair of the North Shore Neighborhood Board, said the strong opposition at that meeting reflected broader community sentiment.

On July 30, neighborhood boards from the North Shore, Wahiawa and Mililani convened at Leilehua High School, where they urged city officials to deny the modification request and revoke the original permit. The North Shore board approved a joint resolution opposing the changes, and other boards are expected to consider similar actions.

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Opponentsincluding Mike Pietsch, president and COO of Title Guaranty of Hawaii, a family business with more than a century of local rootspoint to multiple areas where they say the plan doesnt add up.

Wastewater is a big issue,  Pietsch said, noting the proposed system would require over 61 acres for treatment areas in sensitive terrain near waterways.

Traffic, emergency access and impacts on the islands limited skilled workforce have become flashpoints, too.

This is pristine land  supposed to be agriculture  We gotta keep the country, country,  Pietsch said.

Antolini argues the wastewater estimates appear engineered to avoid triggering a state Environmental Assessment requirement.

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She wrote : 11, 162 gallons per day  is equivalent to 39.9 dwelling units  does that seem gamed or what ?

However, DPP confirmed the project is not subject to the requirements of Hawaiis environmental review law, stating that it does not trigger HRS Chapter 343.

Antolini also criticized the lack of environmental review, noting that key studiessuch as wildlife surveysare missing, and that the traffic analysis appears outdated and insufficient, relying on data that is roughly seven years old and lacking updated, comprehensive evaluation.

Pahinui further emphasized that Mount Kaala holds deep cultural significance, connected to Hawaiian goddess traditions, historic burials and other cultural sites. She argued there is no community need for the gondola and said the proposal appears driven solely by profit rather than public benefit.

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Its a Disneyland project. Its an amusement park project. Its not conducive or appropriate for our community,  Pahinui said.

She criticized the developer for failing to engage meaningfully with the community, noting that despite claims of outreach, there has been no direct contact and that the project is primarily a for-profit amusement-style venture.

Honolulu City Council member Matt Weyer, who represents the area, said the law currently allows agritourism as an accessory use  on agricultural landsbut this proposal pushes that concept beyond recognition.

When you look at the big picture  this entire project seems to be the main intention of this out-of-state developer,  Weyer said.

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He said Council is pursuing legislative changes to ensure future agritourism projects require public notice and hearingsbut since the CUP is already granted, retroactive fixes are legally limited.

Awaiting key decisions The path to stopping the project now hinges on two key decisions by DPP : whether to reject the proposed minor modification  and whether to grant a petition to reconsider and potentially revoke the original 2019 Conditional Use Permit.

DPP said it is not aware of any precedent for a gondola or similar aerial transit infrastructure being approved on agricultural-zoned land on Oahu. The project site is designated AG-1 Restricted Agricultural and AG-2 General Agricultural under city zoning and is in the state agricultural district.

It is unclear when a decision might come. DPP noted that minor modification reviews have no statutory time frame and any appeal to the directors decision must be filed within 30 days of the mailing of that decision.

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Antolini described the gondola as a significant change to the landscape, saying it would have a lasting visual impact on Mount Kaala. She also questioned whether the gondola would meaningfully support agricultural operations, noting that few, if any, working ranches or farms use similar infrastructure.

The developer has promoted the gondola project as a source of hundreds of future jobs, though some community members, including Pahinui, have expressed skepticism about those claims.

Were hurting for people to fill the jobs we already have  Where are these 200 people miraculously going to come from ? she said.

She fears the positions could be low-wage, high-turnover, lacking benefitsand requiring specialized safety certifications the operator has not addressed.

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The deadline for public comments on the proposal passed on Thursday, leaving the decision in the hands of DPP.

The department must now determine whether the proposal qualifies as a minor permit change or if it requires a full CUP-Major review and an environmental impact statement. Community advocates are also preparing legal strategies in case the modification is approved.

Opponent such as Antolini have criticized the application, calling out what they see as flaws and greenwashing,  and urging DPP to reject the request and reconsider the original CUP.
Norton Police are investigating reports of objects being thrown from a dark-colored Ford F-150 truck at drivers and pedestrians in several areas.

The incidents have been reported over the past several weeks, occurring on Oak Street, East Main Street, West Main Street, and John Scott Boulevard.

Police have shared a blurry picture of the truck suspected to be involved.

The Norton Police Department is seeking public assistance to identify the truck and its owner.

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Multiple people have reported the incidents, but the identity of the person throwing objects remains unknown.

Anyone with information about the truck or its owner is encouraged to contact Norton Police to assist in the investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The 12-year-old girl allegedly stabbed by her deranged stepfather in The Bronx during a bloody rampage earlier this week was found with some type of tool driven up her nose, The Post has learned.

The girl underwent surgery at Cohens Childrens Medical Center in Queens to remove the object after the Wednesday night attack in the familys apartment on East 173rd Street near Boone Avenue in the Bronx, the sources said.

Shes not going to be right, a source said.

The bloody rampage started at the familys Bronx apartment arund 11 p.m. Wednesday, cops said. Christopher Sadowski

Her stepfather, Joshua Burnside, 28, allegedly stabbed the girl in the head, and plunged the knife into his 31-year-old wifes stomach and slashed her face, cops said.

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A neighbor said the desperate mom was knocking on doors following the terrifying episode, saying Help me! Help me!  and even asked him for a knife.

Shes bleeding from her head, she was showing us her stab wounds, she had a stab wound in her gut, the neighbor, who requested anonymity, said.

She asked for a knife, and I was like No. We were trying to be helpful and mind our business at the same time, you know? We dont want to bring problems.

The 12-year-old was stabbed in the back and had a tool driven up her nose, police and sources said. Christopher Sadowski

We were the first ones that came out, other people came out, the neighbor said. Somebody else told her to go away.

The accused maniac was arrested and charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and acting in a manner injurious to a child for the cold-blooded attack, cops said.

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Those charges are expected to be upgraded to attempted murder, sources said.

The woman was covered in blood, the neighbor said.

It was unclear why the stepdad flew off the handle, cops said. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock

Shes saying, Oh, I just got attacked. My husband of eight years attacked me, he recalled.

The neighbor, who said he was worried about his own kids, called 911.

She ended up running back upstairs, he said. We called the cops, by the time they came, we just saw, like, the aftermath of them carting the kids off and the man and her. It was a horrendous and very sad situation.

A neighbor said she heard the screams but was afraid to come out of her apartment. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock

The moms ex-boyfriend, who met her when both of them lived in Philadelphia, was shocked to learn of the incident.

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He shouldnt have done what he did, the ex-beau, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

The young girl used to call him Daddy, the man recalled.

The little girl had to undergo emergency surgery at a Queens hospital, police sources said. Kyle Mazza/Shutterstock

He is a monster, the ex said of the suspect. When you do something like that, it means youve got a really serious problem. You were trying to kill them.

It was unclear why the stepdad flew off the handle, cops said.

This doesnt make sense, the womans ex lamented. I dont know what else to do but cry.

Two younger children in the apartment, a 5-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl, are Burnsides natural children and were uninjured, police sources said.

Burnside had an injury to his wrist and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital in stable condition. It wasnt clear how he was hurt.

The knife was recovered on the scene, cops said.
Nearly 6,000 serious sex offenders live in NYC  where a legal loophole allows convicted predators to live frighteningly close to schools and childrens playgrounds, The Post has learned.

Paul Brown, a level 3 sex offender  the most serious classification, where the ex-con is considered most likely to re-offend  did seven years in prison for attempting to rape a 7-year-old girl in Brownsville, Brooklyn, according to records and police sources.

Brown was released in November 2009 and returned to custody two more times in 2009 and 2012 for unknown violations, records show.

Paul Brown, a level 3 sex offender, did seven years in prison for attempting to rape a 7-year-old girl  but now lives frighteningly close to a Bronx school and playground. Division of Criminal Justice Services

But because of a loophole in the state law  which prohibits sexual predators from living within 1,000 feet of playgrounds and schools, but only while the offender is on parole or probation  the 49-year-old lives just 450 feet from Edenwald Playground and 750 feet from PS 112 in the Bronx neighborhood of Wakefield.

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Two local moms, Jenifer Ramirez and Yakira Colon, were horrified to learn of the sickos proximity to their kids school and playground  and that a whopping 135 other offenders live in their zip code, the second-most in the city.

I am very surprised because I thought it was safe here, Colon, 34, told The Post, adding that her 10- and 6-year-old sons and 8-year-old daughter are in the playground nearly every day.

I feel very suspicious of the area now, echoed Ramirez, 40, who has a 14-year-old daughter. We know that many kids tell their moms, Mama, we want to go to the park now, and then the kids go alone. What will happen if theres a predator? The kids dont know how to defend themselves. We thought it was safe, but I dont feel secure anymore.

The loophole in state law allows Brown to live just 450 feet away from Edenwald Playground in Wakefield. J.C. Rice

If parents let their kids go to the park alone, in reality, theres going to be consequences, by these people who are not healthy in the head, agreed Colon. But its tough  its a dilemma  because many parents have to work and cant be with the children all the time.

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The same loophole allows level 3 offender Victor Guardiola  convicted in 2010 of sexually abusing his 10-year-old granddaughter, and sodomizing another 10-year-old girl in 1989  to reside 600 feet away from Martin Luther King Jr. Playground in East New York, the registry shows.

Lax location restrictions play into the hands of child predators, experts say.

We know from seasoned sex crime investigators is that a lot of sex offenders are disproportionately likely to commit sex offenses close to where they live, said Jane Manning, a former sex crimes prosecutor and director of Womens Equal Justice.

Moms Jenifer Ramirez and Yakira Colon were horrified to learn of Browns proximity to their kids school and playground. LP Media

The loophole is the reason state Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski (R-Allegany) is fighting to pass a bill which would prohibit sex offenders from residing within a quarter mile  or 1,320 feet  from any school, playground or park regardless of their parole or probation status.

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Convicted predators dont magically get better when their parole is up, Sempolinski told The Post. Theyre no longer incarcerated, but we need to make sure that were taking steps to protect kids at all times, and I think its a pretty reasonable ask that we, as a state, say that people who have committed and been convicted of crimes of this nature should not be living near places where kids congregate.

Victor Guardiola, a level 3 offender, resides 600 feet away from Martin Luther King Jr. Playground in East New York. Division of Criminal Justice Services

The legislation has been around since 2012 but has repeatedly died in the Democrat-controlled Assembly, records show.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, who has reportedly blocked bills that would benefit sex crime victims, did not respond to inquiries about the latest proposed legislation.

A total of 5,750 level 2 and 3 sex offenders  the most serious of three designations  live in the five boroughs, according to a Post analysis of the state registry, which is updated daily. The state registry lookup can be found here.

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The five zip codes with the highest concentrations of level 2 and 3 sex offenders include:

10035, which encompasses Wards Island and part of East Harlem, is home to 459 offenders. Most of them them are in psychiatric centers and mens shelters on Wards Island.

10466, which covers Wakefield, has 136 offenders. At least 55 reside at Project Renewal Anas Place, a 108-bed shelter for mentally-ill men at 430 Bronx Blvd.

11207, which encompasses East New York in Brooklyn, is home to 135 offenders.

10457, which covers parts of Belmont, Mt. Hope and Tremont in the Bronx, counts 129 offenders.

11208, which encompasses parts of Brooklyns East New York and Cyprus Hills, and is home to 128 offenders.

Melinda Perkins, the district manager for Brooklyn Community Board 5, which covers part of East New York, called Guardiolas proximity to Edenwald Playground terrible, and blasted city agencies for allowing the nabe to become oversaturated with sex offenders compared to other areas.

Certain facilities and services should be shared across the city, and shouldnt be oversaturated in any one community board  especially those communities that have had a history of neglect and disinvestment like East New York, Perkins told The Post.

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Even some of the citys ritziest zip codes are home to a significant number of level 2 and 3 sex offenders, including:

11222, which covers Brooklyns Greenpoint, where 45 offenders live. The majority of them  32  reside in Home-Life Services, a homeless shelter complex on Clay Street and Manhattan Avenue.

11201, Brooklyn Heights, is home to 17 predators.

11211, which covers Williamsburg in Brooklyn, has 17 offenders.

11217, or Brooklyns Boerum Hill, includes 15 predators.

10010, which encompasses Kips Bay in Manhattan, has 13 offenders.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa is not just in favor of restricting where sex offenders are allowed to live  but Im also for monitoring their activities and where theyre going using technology like ankle bracelets, he said.

Thats the only way you can stop it, if you make that mandatory, Sliwa said. They can live outside the zone, but what prevents them from just walking over and hanging out in a playground, in the park or outside of schools?

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We have to protect the children . . . and the demons that lurk within [offenders] may strike up at a moments notice.

Level 1 sex offenders  who are considered the least likely to reoffend  do not appear in the states public registry, but as of Oct. 1, there were 2,849 of them residing across the five boroughs, according to the latest data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Additional reporting by Tina Moore.
The two held talks on India-Malaysia bilateral cooperation.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Honoured to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a successful ASEAN Summit. Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people to people linkages."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1982432380146315660

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun and appreciated the deepening of the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership.

Both leaders also discussed further cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductors, defence, and shipbuilding between the two nations.

Sharing the details of the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on X, "Delighted to meet FM Cho Hyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1982382946393989253

Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27. The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi, in his virtual address to the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, said that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN nations, and reaffirmed that the Association of South East Asian Nations is a major pillar of India's Act East Policy.

"The 21st century is our century, the century of India and ASEAN," PM Modi said, stressing the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and civilizational bonds.

He congratulated Malaysia and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully hosting the 47th ASEAN Summit and commended the Philippines for serving as the country coordinator for India. (ANI)
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz urged New York City Jewry to vote for former NY governor Andrew Cuomo to become the city's next mayor, warning against Zohran Mamdani

Kehilath Jeshurun Synagogue Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz urged New York City Jewry on Friday to vote for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to become the citys next mayor, warning that NYC Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani represented a threat to the community.

Mamdani represents a genuine threat to our city and way of life. We must make sure he doesnt get elected, Steinmetz said in an open letter. The only way to do that is by voting for Andrew Cuomo.

Mamdani's obsessions and associations

The rabbi noted that he had always tried to avoid politics and had never endorsed a candidate before, but Mamdani was obsessed with Israel, a focus that had been his since his early political ventures.

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Steinmetz said that, given the circumstances, he has been warning about Mamdanis candidacy even since spring.

Further, the Modern Orthodox rabbi said that Mamdani had advocated for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, had refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and was reluctant to condemn Hamas.

Just a week after the October 7 attacks, while rockets still rained down on Israeli civilians, Mamdani accused Israel of genocide  a slander he continues to repeat. He will not condemn the phrase globalize the intifada, wrote Steinmetz.

This kind of rhetoric fuels the hatred that has led to violent demonstrations and deadly attacks. It is unthinkable that the city with the worlds largest Jewish population could elect someone who refuses to understand this.

Independent nominee, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (L) greets Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani before participating in a mayoral debate at Rockefeller Center on October 16, 2025 in New York City. (credit: Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty Images)

Steinmetz also expressed alarm at Mamdanis associations, noting that he has appeared alongside radical Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who once said that America deserved the September 11 terrorist attacks.

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Mamdani had also posed next to a controversial imam last Friday during a photography campaign. Imam Siraj Wahhaj was one of the unindicted coconspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings and has a history of extreme statements.

One shudders to think of the sort of people Mamdani would bring into his administration, said Steinmetz.

The rabbi said that it was therefore necessary to vote for the independent Cuomo.

Republican candidate and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa has absolutely no chance. Every vote for Sliwa is in effect a vote for Mamdani, said Steinmetz. A vote for Cuomo is what is best for your city, your neighbors, and your friends. You owe them your loyalty first.

'A growing chorus'

Steinmetz joins a growing chorus of NYC rabbis who have called on community members to vote for Cuomo over Mamdani.

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In a sermon last Saturday, Park Avenue Synagogue Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove told congregants that Mamdani was a danger to the Jewish body politic of New York City.

On Tuesday, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC NY) CEO emeritus Rabbi Michael Miller similarly said that the fate of the city and its Jewish citizenry depended on voting for Cuomo.

Over 1,000 rabbinical authorities from across the United States signed a Wednesday Jewish Majority open letter urging the public to vote for candidates who reject antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric, and who affirm Israels right to exist in peace and security.

One of the signatories, New York Board of Rabbis president and Stephen Wise Free Synagogue senior Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, on October 16, urged Mamdani to abandon positions that were geared toward delegitimizing and dismantling Zionism and Israel.
The Big Apples hotly contested mayoral race sparked a massive first-day voter turnout Saturday, with about five times more voters hitting the polls compared to 2021 as early voting kicked off, according to the Board of Elections.

The increase comes as a high-stakes showdown to replace Mayor Eric Adams pits former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an Independent, against Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee and beret-wearing Republican Curtis Sliwa.

The New York City BOE reported a total of 79,409 early voter check-ins as the polls closed Saturday night  a sharp jump from the 15,418 who showed up when early voting began four years ago.

New Yorkers casting their ballots on the first day of in-person early voting in Manhattan on Oct. 25, 2025. Michael Nigro

Officials said 24,046 ballots were cast in Manhattan, 22,105 in Brooklyn, 19,045 in Queens, 7,793 in the Bronx, and 6,420 in Staten Island.

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The numbers are staggeringly higher than first-day turnout in 2021, which recorded 4,563 voters in Manhattan, 3,751 in Brooklyn, 3,441 in Queens, 2,079 in the Bronx, and 1,584 in Staten Island, data showed.

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa voting at the American Museum of Natural History on Oct. 25, 2025. Robert Miller

Melissa DeRosa, Cuomos longtime top aide, touted the boost on social media.

Follow The Posts coverage of the NYC mayoral race

If these numbers hold, we could see 1.9M person turnout, she wrote.

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Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, is currently leading in the polls by double digits in the race to oversee the citys $115 billion budget and nearly 300,000-member workforce.

His victory in the Democratic primary drew controversy because of his far-left views and he failed to get backing from many prominent mainstream Dems.

Nevertheless, polls show the 34-year-old Queens Assemblyman trouncing Cuomo by nearly 20 points, 46.7% to 28.6%, while Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder trails in a distant third at 16.2%, according to a new survey of voters released Friday by Victory Insights.

If elected, Mamdani, a Ugandan-born Palestine supporter, has vowed to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal if he sets foot in the city.

Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani taking a selfie with supporters during a campaign stop in Brooklyn on Oct. 25, 2025. Aristide Economopoulos

Throughout the campaign, the mayoral candidates have fiercely clashed over hot-button issues, including crime, homelessness, affordability, and ties with Israel and President Trump.

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Adams, a centrist Democrat, suspended his faltering re-election bid last month after fundraising stalled amid a federal probe into corruption allegations, from which he was later cleared.

Many races are unopposed or noncompetitive, with registered Democrats holding a more than 6 to 1 advantage over Republicans in New York City.

The 2021 race pitted Democratic nominee Adams, who was an overwhelming favorite, against Sliwa during the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Adams trounced Sliwa with 66.99 percent of the 1.1 million votes cast.

Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo greeting supporters outside an early voting site in Co-Op City in the Bronx on Oct. 25, 2025. J.C. Rice

Cuomos spokesperson hailed the early turnout this year as a sign of hope for his campaign.

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Its been clear most voters dont want New York City to be a socialist experiment with a diminished police force, no jails, decriminalized prostitution, a weakened education system that encourages mediocrity, said Rich Azzopardi.

This is the most important election of our lifetime and the turnout thus far shows that New Yorkers know it.

A rep for Sliwa, meanwhile said they thought the numbers were good for them.

We actually have a solid get out the vote early voting effort. Im positive a lot of this activity is ours. Cuomo has no ground game, doubt its much in his favor, the rep said.

Reps for Mamdani couldnt immediately be reached.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11)  Some Harlem residents are raising concerns about whats coming out of their faucets, saying their tap water has been running brown for at least two weeks.

Gym owner William Marshall said the water in both his fitness center and his apartment above it has turned a murky brown.

NYC forecast and PIX11s Weather Center

We actually recorded it to send to our landlord to see if they had something to do with that, or if they knew anything in regards to our building, said Marshall. Then we end up hearing that other people are dealing with the same thing.

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Marshall tells PIX11 News he now buys bottled water for his family to use.

I guess this is a little bit of an inconvenience because were paying for water versus having water we naturally have in our own home, he said.

Its a problem several other residents in the neighborhood have noticed, too. Darren Samuel lives less than a mile away and said the issue interrupts his daily life.

It delays the day of you trying to get yourself together to start your day off, said Samuel. Its very frustrating. It clears up, but you have to run it for a long time.

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection said its aware of reports of discolored water. A spokesperson said in a statement, Our testing indicates that NYCs drinking water is safe to drink and that the discoloration has been caused by naturally occurring minerals in our upstate reservoir, which are higher than usual due to seasonal changes. DEP has made operational changes in to alleviate the change in color. However, some discolored water may still remain inside internal plumbing within buildings.

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Still, some residents are worried about drinking the water.

Thats not a good excuse to just say its safe to drink, Samuel said. I dont want to drink any brown minerals.

The NYCDEP also said its working to address the issue  drawing from different parts of the reservoir system and opening hydrants in the area to help flush the system.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Manipur's Tamenglong district has taken action to protect one of nature's most remarkable travelers, according to the Nagaland Post.

District officials reinforced a ban on hunting Amur falcons as the migratory birds began arriving earlier than expected this year. Residents of 36 villages were ordered to deposit their air guns with village authorities until the last flock leaves or until Nov. 30, whichever comes first.

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred under the said Act, I, Dr. L. Angshim Dangshawa, IAS, District Magistrate, Tamenglong, hereby order a total ban on hunting, catching, killing, and selling of Amur Falcons (Falco amurensis) by any person or group within Tamenglong District and its adjoining areas with immediate effect," the order read, per the Post.

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"Any person found willfully violating this prohibitory order shall face action under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and other relevant laws in force," the magistrate warned, per the article. Hunting, killing, catching, or possessing Amur falcons already carries penalties under the 1972 legislation.

The world's longest-traveling migratory birds, according to The Peregrine Fund, Amur falcons are known locally as Akhuaipuina or Tamuanpui. They started arriving the first week of October. Officials spotted the first flocks at Gungram village, one of their key roosting sites, Oct. 7.

Dangshawa issued the prohibitory order Oct. 14 after receiving a request from the Tamenglong Forest Division. The ban protects both the falcons and the communities that have come to value their presence.

These birds play a critical role in local ecosystems by controlling insect populations, per World Migratory Bird Day, benefiting agricultural communities. The raptors' annual arrival has also become an important draw for eco-tourism, providing economic opportunities for villages in the region.

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Recent conservation efforts have already shown success, the Post reported. The state forest department fitted two Amur falcons with satellite transmitters to track their routes. Officials confirmed that Chiuluan-2, a male raptor tagged in Tamenglong, completed its journey and returned to breeding grounds in Russia on May 28.

The Manipur government has collaborated with nongovernmental organizations, village councils, and youth clubs for ongoing conservation efforts, ensuring that citizens and travelers can witness the spectacular sight of thousands of falcons gathering in communities.

Similar conservation efforts are also gaining momentum, supporting biodiversity and local well-being. Wyoming lawmakers, for example, introduced legislation to strengthen animal protections, and several states are working to reintroduce gray wolves to rebalance their ecosystems.

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A local rancher bulldozed through a penguin nesting colony at Punta Tombo, Argentina, destroying over 175 nests and killing more than 100 penguins and their chicks, as reported by Esri.

When Dr. Pablo Garcia Borboroglu, founder of the Global Penguin Society (GPS), first saw the destruction, it didn't seem real. Hundreds of Magellanic penguins lay crushed beneath a bulldozed road, their nesting grounds in ruins.

"I was shocked," said Borboroglu. "This place was special."

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For Borboroglu and conservation director Laura M. Reyes, the site was gut-wrenching  and it lit a fire. The two immediately began documenting the scene, gathering measurements, photographs, and videos to present to officials. They knew the evidence had to speak louder than outrage.

Their persistence paid off. The rancher was tried and convicted, a first-of-its-kind ruling in Argentina. The case set a precedent for stronger protections for wildlife and accountability for environmental harm.

The conviction wasn't just about one rancher; it showed that destroying wildlife has real consequences. For years, conservationists had watched similar cases go unpunished. This time, though, justice was on the penguin's side, and it set a powerful example for others.

Borboroglu has dedicated decades to protecting penguins and their ecosystems, working alongside communities, scientists, and governments to create marine reserves and advocate for stronger conservation laws. His work shows that change doesn't just come from institutions; it comes from people refusing to look away.

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The Punta Tombo case became a symbol of what's possible when people take action to defend what they love. It also highlighted the growing power of environmental justice movements across Latin America, where citizens and scientists are working hand in hand to protect their land and wildlife.

Today, GPS monitors penguin colonies, especially in Patagonia and Argentina, leveraging mapping tools, satellite imagery, and community outreach to inform and guide habitat protection.

Over his career, Borboroglu has helped secure protection for 13 million hectares (roughly 32 million acres) of penguin habitat, benefiting 1.6 million penguins.

"I realized that one individual action can have a big impact," Borboroglu told Rolex.

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Borboroglu's mission isn't just about saving penguins; it's also about protecting the fragile balance that sustains all life. And his success proves that determined individuals can take on even the biggest threats  and win.

"This is war," Borboroglu said at the time. "And we won."

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ARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Several dogs died in a fire near Bangor early Sunday morning.

Two adult dogs and a litter of 19 mastiff puppies died in a fire in Arlington Township, according to a release from South Haven Area Emergency Services. The puppies were 19 days old.

The dogs were inside an out-building off M-43 when it caught fire. Two other adult dogs managed to escape, fire investigators told News 8.

Two adult dogs and several puppies died in a fire early Sunday morning near Bangor. (Courtesy South Haven Area Emergency Services) Two adult dogs and several puppies died in a fire early Sunday morning near Bangor. (Courtesy South Haven Area Emergency Services) Two adult dogs and several puppies died in a fire early Sunday morning near Bangor. (Courtesy South Haven Area Emergency Services) Two adult dogs and several puppies died in a fire early Sunday morning near Bangor. (Courtesy South Haven Area Emergency Services)

Firefighters from the Bangor Community Fire Department, Columbia Township Fire Department and South Haven Area Emergency Services, responded to reports of a fire just before 5 a.m. Sunday, according to a release. They arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames.

Investigators believe the fire was started by a heat lamp located near straw.

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Be careful with space heaters, Grand Rapids Fire Department warns

Heating equipment is the second leading cause of home fires nationwide, according to the National Fire Protection Association, and the third leading cause of home fire deaths. If you use a space heater, you should keep it at least three feet away from any combustibles, Grand Rapids Fire Marshal Bill Smith told News 8 in December.

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A new law will nearly triple the areas under protection at New Zealand's largest marine park.

The Conversation reported that the New Zealand Parliament passed the Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill into law.

New Zealand's Department of Conservation called the new law the "most significant increase in marine protection in over a decade."

The law will extend two existing marine reserves. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the no-take zones prohibit the removal of natural or cultural resources.

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There are also 12 high protection areas which, per The Conversation, will allow for "restoration activities and provide for customary practices of tangata whenua." Additionally, five seafloor protection areas will safeguard habitats on the seabed.

"Yesterday, the bill passed into law, and we couldn't be more delighted," Hauraki Gulf Forum Co-Chair Nicola Rata-MacDonald told Waatea News. "We're one big sea village in Tamaki that loves this moana and want to see it flourish and thrive."

Areas under protection have risen from 6% to 18%, as The Conversation detailed. However, there are also some downsides to the new law. While fishing in these areas will be restricted, commercial ring-net fishing will still be allowed in some cases.

Commercial fishing often results in the endangerment of marine animals. Per the International Fund for Animal Welfare, bycatch refers to marine life that becomes unintentionally entangled in commercial fishing equipment.

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Research from 2020 cited by the International Fund for Animal Welfare found that dolphin populations have declined by up to 80% in the Indian Ocean due to commercial fishing. Sea turtles and sharks are among other species impacted by bycatch.

Overfishing, habitat destruction, and pollution have been the biggest threats to marine species in the past, according to a study published in the journal Current Biology. More than 1,300 marine species are listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.

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A Facebook post from the Department of Conservation about the new law received hundreds of reactions from users.

Some were happy with the progress, while others sought even greater protection for marine life and habitats.

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"At last good news from the government!" one commenter said.

"Commercial fishing needs to go," another commenter wrote.

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The effort to draw new boundaries for Ohios 15 U.S. congressional districts has officially moved into phase two.

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The Ohio Redistricting Commission held its first meeting Tuesday, Oct. 21, our news partners WBNS-10 TV reported. The meeting lasted less than 30 minutes with no agreement on a bipartisan map.

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Democrats once again testified in support of the congressional district map they proposed that would create eight districts that favor Republicans and seven that favor Democrats.

The map we have put forward represents a fair, constitutional proposal, House Minority Leader and Ohio Redistricting Commission Member State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D- Cincinnati) said.

Under the current map, Republicans hold 10 of the states 15 seats in Congress, WBNS-10 TV reported.

So far, Republicans have not proposed a map.

WBNS-10 TV asked Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair State Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) if there was a Republican map proposal forthcoming.

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I think theres discussions ongoing and there have been, frankly, for weeks between leadership of the Republican Party and leadership of the Democratic Party, Stewart said. If those discussions start to bear fruit, youll see map here in this commission. But I think the ball is kind of in the Democrats court to decide what deal they are or are not willing to take.

Democrats accuse the Republicans of dragging their feet, WBNS-10 TV reported.

If its slow-walked through the month of October, it leads to November when the Republican majority can just pass a map of their own with only their members voting, Senate Minority Leader and Commission Co-Chair Nickie Antonio (D- Lakewood) said.

Thats not true, Stewart said. Were following the process.

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Antonio suggested Democrats may ask Ohio voters to repeal any map Republican lawmakers might pass in November, WBNS-10 TV reported.

She says she spoke with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about that possibility.

Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn said that there is national enthusiasm for such a referendum in Ohio.

I think people are fired up by the prospect of getting access to fair maps that they deserve, Isaacsohn said.

I mean, obviously thats a consideration when were deciding, you know, both sides have pros and cons depending which road you want to go down, Stewart said. Republicans have the ability in a phase three to pass a map with a simple majority vote, but there are some downstream effects of that if folks want to go that route.

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The commission did not take public comment on Tuesday. When the meeting ended early after only 28 minutes, many in the audience expressed their displeasure with the lack of progress, shouting do your job, represent us, and thanks for nothing, WBNS-10 TV reported.

The commission will hold another meeting within the next 10 days, according to Stewart.

If the Ohio Redistricting Commission does not pass a bipartisan map by the end of October, the process will go back to the General Assembly, where Republicans could pass a map with no support from Democrats, WBNS-10 TV reported.

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An Ohio woman was arrested on multiple felony drug charges.

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Last week, the Wilmington Police Department, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Apprehension Team, arrested a Wilmington woman in connection to a multi-count felony drug indictment, according to a social media post from the department.

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Melina Cogner of Wilmington, Ohio, was arrested on the following charges:

Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs  Second-degree felony

Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs  Third-degree felony

Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs  Third-degree felony

Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs  Second-degree felony

Aggravated Possession of Drugs  Second-degree felony

Possession of Fentanyl-Related Compound  Third-degree felony

Possession of Cocaine  Fifth-degree felony

Aggravated Possession of Drugs  Fifth-degree felony

She is being held in Clinton County Jail, awaiting her initial appearance at the Clinton County Common Pleas Court.

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The 13-year-old boy given a slap on the wrist in the infamous murder of Barnard College student Tessa Majors continued his life of violence after his release from juvenile detention  thanks to the Raise the Age law  adding an attempted murder and a vicious biting attack on a jail guard to his rap sheet, The Post has learned.

The boy, Zyairr Davis, and two older pals, Rashaun Weaver and Luciano Lewis, both 14, sent shockwaves across Gotham when they viciously descended on the college freshman as she strolled through Morningside Park at around 7 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2019.

Majors, 18, an aspiring punk-rock musician, fought like hell, biting Weaver in the finger and causing him to fly into a rage, stabbing her as feathers flew out of her down jacket. Davis admitted to picking up a knife dropped by Weaver and handing it back to him.

Tessa Majors was murdered on her way back to her dorm at Barnard College on Dec. 11, 2019 as she walked in Harlems Morningside Park.

Zyairr Davis, who was 13 at the time, was one of three teens arrested and charged in her death. Obtained by the New York Post

Lewis held Majors in a headlock, and Weaver repeatedly knifed her, piercing her heart and leaving her to die.

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Because of Raise the Age, which was pushed by lefty lawmakers and raised the age of criminal responsibility to 18 in an attempt to keep children out of jail, Davis was tried in family court and received only 18 months in juvenile detention. The two other teens were charged as adults, with Weaver getting 14 years to life and Lewis nine years to life.

Its not clear when Davis, who pled guilty to first-degree robbery, got out of lockup because juvenile records arent public, but by 2023 he was involved in another shocking crime.

This time, Davis and two new pals allegedly fired multiple shots into a crowd in Harlem on April 8. The shooting was apparent retaliation for the murder of Jaylen Duncan an hour earlier by Messiah Nantwi, a member of the local OTN Goodfellas gang, according to a Manhattan criminal complaint.

Luciano Lewis (pictured) put Majors in a headlock while his pal, Rashaun Weaver, stabbed her. William Farrington

The two older teens, who were 14 at the time, got prison sentences for the killing. vmodica

Davis, who was 16 at the time, ran from the murder scene to the Lincoln Houses to get a gun after the shooting, according to the complaint. He and two other teens then opened fire on a crowd about two blocks away from the Duncan murder scene, according to cops.

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Each aimed and fired multiple gunshots in the direction of the group of people standing on the southeast corner of Lenox Avenue and West 131st Street, the complaint states.

Nantwi was arrested April 11, 2023, and charged with killing Duncan, police said. He died in prison this year.

Majors parents said the aspiring punk-rock musician fought to keep her phone because it contained songs she had written and wanted to record over winter break. Getty Images

Raushan Weaver (left) leaving his lawyers office on Dec. 26, 2019. RICHARD HARBUS

Davis was locked up at the Horizon Juvenile Detention Center in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx on an attempted murder charge.

He was arrested yet again after a fight with other detainees around 11 a.m. Sept. 17, according to a Bronx Criminal Court complaint.

During the brawl, he allegedly attacked a youth counselor with the Administration for Childrens Services, which runs the Horizon center, the complaint states.

The college student was walking through Morningside Park when one of the teens ran up behind her and kicked her in the back.

She bit the Weavers finger during the altercation, sending him into a rage. Matthew McDermott

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Davis was caught on video biting the specialist on the right arm and charged with assault and harassment, records show.

ACS moved Davis to Rikers Island as a result of the incident, said his lawyer Neville Mitchell, an Independent Democratic write-in candidate for mayor.

I dont know that he got the help needed when he was there for 18 months, Mitchell said.

Im not sure what to what extent they can change whats happened to this young man in the first 13 years of life, the lawyer said. And then he comes out, and he goes right back into the community around the same sort of influences.

Retired NYPD Assistant Commissioner of Youth Services Kevin OConnor blamed the Raise the Age law.

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They always go back to He was a poor kid who had a bad childhood,' OConnor said. Thats not the victims problem. Thats where government is supposed to step in and do its job. You commit a murder you go to jail.

Majors parents submitted a statement for Weavers trial, revealing that their daughter fought fiercely to keep her iPhone because it contained three years worth of songs shed written.

DNA from one of her fingernail clippings matched stabber Rashan Weaver. csuarez

They wrote that they have no idea what it is to fight with three males  all of them larger than she  for over a minute, escaping two times only to be surrounded and targeted again.

They have no idea what its like to try and hail an Uber while sitting on a city bench after being stabbed. No idea what it is like to bleed to death on a New York City street in the presence of strangers, the parents wrote in the statement, the last time they publicly addressed the crime.
Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha on Sunday said that it was ironical how Pakistan portrays itself as a victim of terrorism, while it sponsors terrorism. Sinha, while talking to ANI, said that Pakistan's ISI sponsored the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has now turned against its mentors. "Obviously terrorism or extremism emanating from across the borders is problematic and that is why when we talk about cross border terrorism we refer to that precisely that is why India and Pakistan have such bad relations because Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism," he said. Sinha then echoed former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and said that the snakes Pakistan reared are now coming to bite them. "Similarly, the Frankenstein that Pakistan created in the 80s and '90s is now coming back to bite them, to hit them. So, you know, I think it was Hillary Clinton who said that if you rear snakes in your backyard, they will bite you. That's precisely what's happening. Who is the TTP? What is the TTP? These are extremist elements that Pakistan and Pakistan's ISI encouraged and now they have turned against their mentor," he said. Sinha said that due to same ideologies, TTP and Taliban are finding solace in each other. "And as far as the Taliban is concerned, their ideology is all the same. Their ideology and whether it's the Afghan Taliban, the TTP, or other extremist Islamic organisations, they have a similar ideology. So because of that, they find shelter and support in Afghanistan," he said. "They tried to assassinate or take out the leader of the TTP. When Pakistan says it is a victim of terrorism, it is sheer irony because they reared terrorism in the first place," he said. Sinha highlighted that Pakistan's army formulated wrong policies and is reaping its fruits. "You see, the Pakistan army is very strong and professional. We should not underestimate it. However, their wrong policies and the policies of their government have encouraged what is called fissiparous tendencies across Pakistan," he said. He said that Pakistan is treating Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as colonies. So, people there are frustrated. "Now, what's happening in PoK again is not new. It may be coming to a boil. Gilgit Baltistan, I remember long ago there were problems where Pakistan was trying to impose its will. So, they rule PoK and Gilgit Baltistan like colonies and the people there do not want that. They want some political freedoms that are not available to them. And again, it's an irony that the people of Jammu and Kashmir in India have those political freedoms, while in PoK, they're completely absent. So you know that if you see the PoK constitution, the role of Islamabad is very clear and then the army puts down these insurrections with an iron hand. Now obviously when there is no public support then the army will find it increasingly difficult to impose its will on the populace," he said. Sinha then said that the repression Pakistani army is unimaginable. "The only difference being that these areas are sparsely populated and the sort of repression that the Pakistan army has unleashed is unimaginable," he said. He further said that the international community have kept mum on Balochistan crisis since decades. "So I think and the international community is by and large silent or ignoring that for whatever reason in Balochistan too the movement is has been there for many years' writ of the Pakistan government doesn't run in a large part of that province and Balochistan, if you recall even in 1947 the Khan of Kalat has refused to secede to Pakistan. When they refused to secede to Pakistan they were forcibly taken over. Kalat was forced to submit," he said. "So there's always been problems as far as Balochistan is concerned and the denial of rights over the decades has made it even worse," he said. (ANI)
A small plane crashed in Salem County Saturday morning into a creek, injuring one person on board.

The crash happened before 11:30 a.m. near Rainbow's End Farm and Airport off of Route 540 in Mannington Township.

Chopper 6 was over the scene as a victim was placed on a backboard and airlifted out of the marshlands.

A Delaware State Police helicopter pulled victims and rescuers alike one by one to solid ground.

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First responders say there were two people aboard the small plane.

"I saw the barricade, my neighbor warned me I might not be able to get in," said Beth Butler, a neighbor.

The barricades blocked off a long stretch of Hawkes Bridge Road near where the crash happened.

"There's a small airport in the woods, and they'll come in, they'll land here, stay," said Andrew Hill, a neighbor.

The venue, Rainbow's End Farm and Airport, is a private events space with its own hangar.

"If you look at the way the runway sits, the crash site seems to be just beyond, in the meadow," said Hill.

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The plane became submerged in Mannington Meadow, and rescue helicopters from New Jersey and Delaware State Police and the Coast Guard were dispatched.

Crews say one of the two people on board was hurt and transported to the hospital.

"For a boring street like this, I only have 5 neighbors, nothing happens," said Butler.

Responders with Carney's Point Fire and Rescue squad came back through the meadow after the rescue; neighbors say they're grateful both pilot and passenger were saved.

"These are really good people. They're local people, they know the meadow, they know the tides," said Hill.
One person was seriously hurt and part of a New Hampshire highway was closed for hours when a box truck swerved off the road and into the treeline Sunday morning.

Investigators say that the box truck was traveling south on I-95 south in North Hampton around 9:30 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, it abruptly turned to the right and went off the road.

The truck then went around 50 feet down the embankment and crashed into the tree line.

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The driver, Aaron Carpenter, 42, of Providence, Rhode Island was trapped in the trucks cab but emergency responders were able to cut through the trees and free him.

Carpenter was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries.

The right lane of I-95 southbound was closed for around five hours while crews removed the box truck.

The crash is still under investigation.

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When the first composite structures for NASAs Artemis program rolled out of Hexcels plant in West Valley City, or when Utah engineers designed the solid rocket boosters that carried America back to the stars, the world may not have known it, but Utah was leading. From the mountains in the north to the desert skies in the south, this state has been quietly building technologies that keep America exploring, defending and dreaming.

Not long ago, Utahs economy was largely fueled by tourism and legacy industries. Today, it is one of Americas fastest-growing centers for aerospace, defense and space innovation  a transformation decades in the making. From Ogdens advanced manufacturing corridors to Logans satellite research labs and Provos biotech startups, Utah has proven that when education, industry and community align, entire economies can be reborn.

Deep tech isnt a buzzword  its the frontier of quantum computing, space systems, biotechnology, advanced materials and autonomous systems. These are the technologies that will redefine how we live, travel, communicate and defend ourselves.

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America has faced similar moments before: World War II accelerated radar, jets and cryptography; the space race catalyzed microelectronics and global communications; the internet revolution rewired every industry. Each era demanded national resolve  and rewarded it.

Today, nations worldwide are investing in dual-use technologies, those that serve both civilian and defense needs. A quantum computer that unlocks new materials could also crack encryption. A bioengineering platform built to cure disease might counter biological threats. The strength of dual-use technology lies in this fusion if we harness it.

Procurement reform: The 2025 breakpoint for defense innovation

For decades, U.S. defense procurement favored large contractors and slow, rigid cycles. That system often discouraged risk and delayed the adoption of commercial innovation. In 2025, that changed.

A new executive order directed the Department of Defense to prioritize commercial solutions and use flexible contracting tools like Other Transactions Authority and the Adaptive Acquisition Framework. Additional actions are streamlining the Federal Acquisition Regulation to reduce unnecessary red tape and make it easier for startups and nontraditional firms to work with the government.

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This shift is not about bypassing oversight  its about aligning procurement with purpose. The faster we adapt, the more lifesaving, security strengthening and economy boosting innovations we deploy.

Utah at the forefront: Connecting education, industry and community growth

In Utah, this national transformation is already underway.

Nearly every major university and college in the state  University of Utah, Utah State, BYU, Weber State and technical colleges  is investing in quantum research, space systems, bioengineering, autonomy and advanced materials. These institutions dont operate in isolation  they partner with local firms, co-sponsor research and spin technologies into commercial ventures. In Utah, the lab bench and the startup garage are connected.

The impact is measurable. Communities with deep-tech clusters enjoy higher wages, stronger tax bases and greater economic stability. Industries like aerospace, defense and advanced manufacturing offer salaries well above state averages. These jobs dont just provide paychecks  they also support schools, housing, infrastructure and community pride. When you have real engineering firms and cutting-edge R&D, you dont just get jobs  you retain talent, attract investment and build lasting prosperity.

A patriotic imperative and Utahs charge to act

This is bigger than regional success. Deep tech is a national imperative. Whoever leads in quantum, biotech, resilient space systems and advanced defense technology will set the terms of global security and progress.

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But ambition without action is wasted. The procurement reforms of 2025 are powerful only if states, institutions and citizens act. This means:

Policymakers must align incentives, infrastructure and regulation to support deep-tech growth.

Universities must invest in interdisciplinary training and accelerate commercialization.

Economic leaders must court dual-use firms and build bridges to NASA, DoD, NIH and DARPA.

Communities must invest in broadband, resilient power, industrial space and innovation hubs.

These conversations will converge in Salt Lake City at the Zero Gravity Summit  where defense innovators, technologists, investors and policymakers are not just discussing the future of deep tech; theyre shaping it. From AI-enabled defense to space infrastructure and energy resilience, this is where strategy meets reality.

I write this from Utah, a land of faith, grit and wide-open horizons. But my hope stretches beyond our mountains. America can lead again  not by legacy, but by leap. Let us accelerate, innovate and anchor our future in freedom, ingenuity and resolve.

And when the next moon landing, quantum breakthrough or medical revolution arrives, the world should say: America built it in Utah.
Oct. 26I can't think of more boring volunteer work, but if it helps restore faith in the voting process, what's the harm?

Members of the Journal Editorial Board met last week with a leader and board member of Observe New Mexico Elections, a group that recently started watching the election process that is underway now. The group started observing voting during last year's presidential elections and determined that the election was "generally well-run," according to Carmen Lopez, one of the group's co-leaders. New Mexico ranked No. 1 during the 2022 midterm elections in an Elections Performance Index determined by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Restoring faith in the Democratic process is needed. We don't need to rehash all the political violence that we've seen locally and nationally in recent years  orchestrated shootings against local Democratic leaders' homes, the firebombing vandalism of the state's Republican Party headquarters, the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

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So what's the harm in having a group, which says it is nonpartisan on its website, take a look at the nitty gritty of casting a ballot and make recommendations for improvement?

"I wanted to jump and do this as a former Republican chair ... in part to help Republicans. This is my kind of selfish side, to show Republicans in New Mexico that our elections are pretty well-done here," Ryan Cangiolosi, an Observe New Mexico Elections board member, told us.

Cangiolosi may want to help reassure GOP voters in New Mexico that their votes are being counted, but Democratic voters in Otero or San Juan counties should also rest easy knowing that the process of counting their votes is secure.

Lopez said the volunteers who spread out to observe elections won't disturb the process.

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"Don't help, don't intervene, don't criticize, just watch and know what happens," she said of their jobs.

The Secretary of State's Office allows the practice as long as the person is properly authorized, and there are rules against observers disrupting the process.

Observe New Mexico Elections fanned out 160 volunteers in 29 counties on Election Day in 2024, and in 24 counties during early voting, in addition to watching poll-worker training and voting machines being tested for accuracy.

The result?

"ONME's observation findings indicate that all votes were counted, the polls opened and closed on time, registered voters did not face long lines, equipment functioned properly, voting privacy was maintained, voters did not encounter intimidation or electioneering, and elections were certified," according to the executive summary of the election.

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Lopez did share one observation that is worth thinking about as we get closer to Election Day: Same-day voter registration, which was used in the 2024 election in New Mexico for the first time, can add time to the voting day process.

"There were hiccups there," Lopez said. "Same-day registration was rough in some parts of the state."

Hiccups essentially meant long lines. I reached out to the Secretary of State's Office last week. Alex Curtas, a spokesperson, said the office has had a "great working relationship" with ONME.

He said the office made some adjustments to the same-day registration process after last year's election.

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"We did work to mitigate what caused some slowness on the system," he said.

I flagged that information for upcoming voters, because your address needs to be updated and accurate. In this election, the control of city councils and school boards are up for grabs, and your address needs to be current to ensure you're voting in the correct race. You can take advantage of updating your registration if needed at any voting site on Election Day or during early voting, Curtas said.

We've devoted much of the Opinion section space in recent weeks to op-eds about the upcoming election, and we have a page devoted to the topic today. So it's important to remind voters that as you compare and contrast the candidates to decide who best deserves your vote, know that the evidence indicates your vote will be counted correctly, no matter which box you check.
Something wicked this way comes. What was once a far-fetched fear is now looking increasingly plausible, even likely: That Senate Republicans will blow up the filibuster to end the government shutdown.

This would be the ultimate nuclear option, toppling the last major hurdle to single party rule in Washington.

By removing the 60-vote threshold for most Senate votes, the current Republican majority  and any future Senate majority of either party  would be empowered to ram its agenda through without so much as consulting the other party.

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Despite the dangers, Republicans are openly entertaining it. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said last week that he is not willing to see children in my state go hungry  over some Senate procedure. And Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said of ending the filibuster, If we cant get anything done, thats what [Democrats] are gonna force.

There are three reasons this scenario is becoming more likely. First, Democrats have no leverage. In any negotiation, leverage only exists when the other side wants something, and President Trump doesnt place a high value on reopening the government. To him, the shutdown is an opportunity to act unilaterally, fire government workers, and save money. Thats why he has said he wont even negotiate until Democrats pass a continuing resolution to end the shutdown.

Second, Democratic leaders view backing down as politically impossible. The far left already sees them as incapable of standing up to Trump, and they cannot bear the perception of losing this standoff right as midterm season kicks off. This is why Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has broken with longstanding practice by refusing to accept a clean continuing resolution, potentially creating the very conditions that bring about his worst nightmare: Republicans ending the shutdown on their terms.

Third, the real-world impacts of the shutdown are about to get worse. State and local programs like food assistance and public health clinics will begin to shutter. The broader economy will suffer. And with the issue of Affordable Care Act subsidies unresolved, millions will see higher premiums or disrupted coverage just as open enrollment begins.

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As this happens, public pressure on the Senate will escalate, and the nuclear option may feel like the path of least resistance for Republican leaders.

For his part, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) vowed back in January that he would preserve the filibuster during his tenure. But notably, he has yet to reiterate that pledge during the shutdown. Trump has also stayed mum so far, but we know he pressed Republicans to drop the filibuster during his first term and that Senate Republicans have braced for him to make the same demand again. He may soon have his excuse.

But going nuclear would have devastating and permanent consequences. Once it has been removed, neither party will have any incentive to reimpose it while in power.

The filibuster exists to force the Senate to be what it was intended to be: a deliberative body, the greatest in the world. Eliminating it would destroy the last guardrail that forces compromise and restrains each partys worst impulses. Even a narrow carveout to end this shutdown would set a precedent that will be used by future majorities  Democratic or Republican  to ram through sweeping legislation. The resulting policy actions would drive our citizenry further down the road of division and rage.

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So how do we avert the disaster? We need a Hail Mary play from bipartisan leaders of courage and conviction.

It can begin with a coalition of Republican senators and pragmatic House Democrats who have not staked their reputations on an all-or-nothing shutdown fight  leaders like Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, and commonsense House Democrats like Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.).

Think back to the infrastructure deal in 2021: A bipartisan group worked in advance to shape the deal as an alternative to Build Back Better, and they were ready to push it forward when all else had failed.

We need the same now  a group to begin preparing a credible deal to reopen the government, even if it appears now that there is no appetite for one. That way, when public pressure crests and lawmakers feel the heat, going nuclear wont appear to be the only path out.

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A deal will, of course, require compromise. It will mean neither side fully wins this battle. But it will also mean America doesnt lose through a permanent and irrevocable blunder. And shouldnt that be the goal of both parties?

Nancy Jacobson is founder and CEO of No Labels.

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

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Utahns voted to legalize medical cannabis in 2018. Since then, more than 150,000 patients have enrolled, and polls show nearly 90% of voters now support the program. Thats a rare consensus in our state. However, nearly a third of those enrolled no longer have an active medical card and are now purchasing cannabis outside Utahs legal medical program.

New peer-reviewed research from Utahs own medical cannabis program confirms this and shows the system is at risk. Unless lawmakers act, patients will continue turning to illicit markets  undermining the very program Utah built to give medical providers and their patients access to safe, medical-grade cannabis products.

Cost and access drive illicit use

Nearly 80% of patients who used illicit cannabis said cost was the primary reason. High prices arent just about business decisions. Theyre driven by federal tax law (280E), which inflates costs, and by federal and state rules that restrict operational efficiencies. Add enrollment fees, frequent renewals, long wait times and longer travel distances, and barriers pile up. Unfortunately, many patients find driving to Nevada easier than keeping their card.

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Studies show patients dont stop using cannabis  they just step outside the regulated program. Thats not good for patients, law enforcement or lawmakers who want to preserve a medical-only model.

The most striking stat from the study found patients who reported difficulty understanding Utahs renewal requirements were nearly 59 times more likely to turn to illicit cannabis. No other prescription medicine requires patients to navigate a maze of state rules just to keep treatment going.

Stigma makes things worse

Patients who feared stigma  whether in the workplace or in conversations with providers  were six times more likely to use illicit cannabis. Even family or cultural disapproval pushed people away from the state program.

This isnt the fault of patients or providers. Its the result of public messaging and pressure from prohibitionist groups that portray medical cannabis patients as something less than legitimate. That stigma doesnt protect anyone or prevent illicit use. It drives people to the black market and increases legal risk to patients and those around them.

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The research also found that patients who trusted the state program for information were 84% less likely to use illicit cannabis. Confidence in medical cannabis pharmacists also dramatically reduced illicit use.

The clearest path forward is to strengthen trust, not weaken it. A transparent, patient-first program keeps people in the system and results in the best outcomes for patients and the public.

A Utah-only warning sign

This isnt national data. Its Utah-specific research, conducted within our own program. Lawmakers cant dismiss it as irrelevant. The warning is clear: without their support, illicit use will persist, safety will suffer and Utahs medical program will continue to lose patients and credibility until a recreational campaign finishes it off.

Utah has a chance to be different; the choice for lawmakers is straightforward. Utah can make targeted reforms  simplify renewals, cut red tape, expand access and confront stigma  and in doing so, reinforce the medical-only model.

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Or we can ignore the evidence, let patients drift into illicit markets and watch the program unravel.

Utah built this program carefully, and Utahns have embraced it. The research makes one thing clear: if lawmakers want to keep medical cannabis medical, the next step is reform.
Fresh clashes near the border with Afghanistan have killed at least five Pakistani soldiers and 25 fighters, Pakistans army says, even as the two countries hold peace talks in Istanbul.

The Pakistani military said armed men attempted to cross from Afghanistan into Kurram and North Waziristan on Friday and Saturday, accusing the Taliban authorities of failing to act against armed groups operating from Afghan territory.

It said on Sunday that the attempted infiltrations raised questions over Kabuls commitment to tackling terrorism emanating from its soil.

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Afghanistans Taliban government has not commented on the latest clashes, but has repeatedly rejected accusations of harbouring armed fighters and instead accuses Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty with air strikes.

Delegations from both countries arrived in Istanbul, Turkiye on Saturday for talks aimed at preventing a return to full-scale conflict. The meeting comes days after Qatar and Turkiye brokered a ceasefire in Doha to halt the most serious border fighting since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021.

The violence earlier this month killed dozens and wounded hundreds.





Open war

Pakistans Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the ceasefire remains intact and that Kabul appears interested in peace, but warned that failure in Istanbul would leave Islamabad with open war as an option.

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Pakistans military described those involved in the weekend infiltrations as members of what it calls Fitna al-Khwarij, a term it uses for ideologically motivated armed groups allegedly backed by foreign sponsors.

United States President Donald Trump also weighed in on Sunday, saying he would solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis very quickly, telling reporters on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia that he had been briefed on the ongoing talks.

Separately, Taliban-controlled broadcaster RTA said on Sunday that Kabuls delegation in Turkiye had submitted a proposal after more than 15 hours of discussions, calling for Pakistan to end cross-border strikes and block any anti-Afghan group from using its territory.

The Afghan side also signalled openness to a four-party monitoring mechanism to supervise the ceasefire and investigate violations.

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Afghanistans delegation is led by Deputy Interior Minister Haji Najib. Pakistan has not publicly disclosed its representatives.

Analysts expect the core of the talks to revolve around intelligence-sharing, allowing Islamabad to hand over coordinates of suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters for the Taliban to take direct action, instead of Pakistan launching its own strikes.




Lone Star Donuts recently opened their third location at the Town Square Port Orchard shopping mall, bringing big Texas-style doughnuts to more customers north of Gig Harbor.

The new location is in Suite 148 of the shopping center near Harbor Haute Dogs. Town Square Port Orchard is located at 1700 SE Mile Hill Drive.

In a phone call Friday, Lone Star Donuts manager Omar Santiago explained that their Texas-style doughnuts are bigger than your typical doughnut and are made completely by hand, icing included. The shop also sells other baked goods and kolaches, soft fruit-filled pastries that originated from Czech immigrants and are now popular for breakfast in Texas, reports Southern Living.

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Their giant apple fritters are especially popular, said Santiago. Each fritter is made by hand like their other doughnuts and have real chopped apples inside.

Other flavors include pistachio, pina colada, pumpkin spice and other seasonal flavors like mango in the summer, he said.

Lone Star Donuts is offering a special 20% discount from Oct. 24-31 for military and government employees affected by the federal government shutdown.

Doughnuts for sale at Lone Star Donuts, a pastry shop that sells big Texas-style doughnuts and other treats at their locations in Silverdale and Port Orchard, Wash.

Santiago said he was the one to convince his parents to move from Texas to Washington about five years ago and help him open a doughnut shop, seeing a lack of good doughnut shops around here.

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 ... we took a little bit of what we knew and we gave it a little twist to craft their different doughnuts, he said.

Santiago credited the business success in large part to his parents help and knowledge. His mother, for example, designs the doughnuts and is the main person in the back that makes sure everything comes out the way its supposed to be, he said.

After a few weeks in 2021 of making doughnuts in a restaurant owned by his former employer, who allowed them to use the restaurants kitchen, Santiago and his parents eventually opened their first Lone Star Donuts location in Silverdale in 2022. They opened a second Port Orchard location in 2023.

It wasnt easy to open their third location in Town Square, he said, noting the challenges they faced as a small business understanding the permitting requirements and regulations and working with the city on what is allowed. It took them a year and a half to open in Town Square, he said.

Lone Star Donuts opened their third location in the Town Square Port Orchard shopping mall Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 in Port Orchard, Wash.

The News Tribune reached out to the South Kitsap Chamber of Commerce to ask about the regulatory environment for small business in Port Orchard.

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Were aware that the permitting process in Port Orchard, and even outside city limits within (Kitsap) County-controlled areas, has been a point of frustration for some business owners, and weve been in ongoing communication with our members and incoming businesses regarding these concerns, Jaclyn Williams, the Chambers executive director, wrote via email.

At the Chamber, our role is to help bridge the communication between businesses and the relevant licensing entities. We regularly assist business owners by connecting them with the right contacts, and we remain committed to advocating for clearer, more efficient processes that make it easier to start and grow a business here in South Kitsap.

She added that the Chamber looks forward to continued collaboration with the city and county to maintain a welcoming environment for entrepreneurs.

Santiago expressed gratitude as he reflected on how far the business has come. The family started with very little and was able to build the business, he said.

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The community has been really, really good to us, and thank God that everything worked out and we are able to make enough money and sell enough doughnuts to be able to open this location in Port Orchard and Town Square, Santiago said.

Beginning this week, open hours at Lone Star Donuts at Town Square will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sir Stephen Fry was "minutes away" from death following a drugs and alcohol binge.

Sir Stephen Fry's drug use almost killed him

The Celebrity Traitors star's close friend Ben Elton claimed he "saved" his pal by rushing him to hospital in a cab when things took a dark turn after they had been out for dinner in 1992 before enjoying an afterparty at the London home of late author Douglas Adams, for whom Stephen was house-sitting at the time.

Ben revealed doctors told him Stephen had been minutes away from permanent brain damage  and not many more minutes away from death."

He joked in his autobiography What Have I Done?: I saved the most celebrated brain in showbiz.

The throbbing, cerebral epicentre of national treasure-dom has throbbed on these last three decades cos of me.

According to the Sunday Mirror newspaper, Ben wrote about how he and Stephen were smoking and drinking late into the night, with the former QI host, consuming some "weird organic Belgian stuff", despite not usually drinking beer and also snorting cocaine.

The Blackadder writer was about to head home when his friend began to wheeze and collapsed in his chair.

Ben called a taxi and they arrived at hospital around 2am, where he put Stephen in a wheelchair, where he slumped like a sack and his breath sounded like a death rattle.

But the 66-year-old writer, in his own drunken state, struggled to move the wheelchair and dragged it backwards, only for Stephen to bash his head against a wall as he tried to turn.

When they finally saw a doctor, Ben feared his pal could end up arrested and losing his career because he knew he had to tell the medics Stephen had been using cocaine.

He wrote: A doctor told me Stephen was in the emergency room. Has he had much alcohol? the doctor asked. Yes, a lot, I said, and many cigarettes. I took a deep breath. Also, I need to tell you that I think its possible  quite probable, in fact certain  that he has had cocaine. Have you any idea how hard that was?

Ben described his friend as looking like a corpse, with grey skin, almost lifeless eyes and numerous wires attached to his body, but Stephen still offered him reassurance when he admitted he'd divulged his drug use.

He wrote: He squeezed my hand and whispered that it was fine. Dont worry, he added between mercifully longer breaths. Ill be writing an entire book about it in 20 years.

Stephen did go on to disclose his 15-year drug addiction in his 2014 memoir More Fool Me, in which he revealed he had taken cocaine in numerous royal residences and the House of Commons.

He wrote: I am confessing to having broken the law and consumed, in public places, Class A sanctioned drugs.

 I have bought gorgeous palaces, noble properties and elegant honest establishments into squalid disrepute.

He admitted to having wasted tens if not hundreds of thousands of pounds, and as many hours, on the drug."
Vice President of India CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday held talks with Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, in Seychelles. The two reflected on historical ties between India and Mauritius. In a post on X, the VP said, "Hon'ble Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan met Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, in Seychelles. The leaders reflected on the strong and enduring bonds rooted in shared history and culture and discussed ways to further strengthen India-Mauritius bilateral relations." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1982438429435568218 Ahead of Radhakrishnan's address to the Indian community in Victoria, the Indian diaspora expressed their excitement. The diaspora members hailed the visit as a show of strong India-Seychelles ties. Sunil, a member of the Indian diaspora, said, "It is a great occasion... This shows the strength of the relationship between the two countries." Another member of the Indian diaspora expressed his excitement to ANI, "All of us are very happy... We all welcome him wholeheartedly... All of us will participate in this session..." Divya Pillay, a member of the Indian diaspora, said, "We are all excited upon his arrival. Some years ago, PM Modi was here as well. This visit is a motivation that we can't explain. Their presence strengthens India-Seychelles ties as well. We look forward to meeting him..." Hetal Shah, a member of the Indian diaspora, told ANI, "We are very excited and hopefully, this visit will enhance the relations between India and Seychelles." Earlier in the day, Radhakrishnan on Sunday arrived in Seychelles for a two-day official visit, during which he will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Patrick Herminie as well as addressing the Indian community there. His arrival was confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a post on X, stating that Vice President Radhakrishnan began his visit by addressing the Indian community there, followed by attending the swearing-in ceremony of the President-elect. This is the Vice-President's first overseas trip since assuming office in September 2025. "Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan has arrived in Seychelles on a 2-day visit. VP's series of engagements begin with an address to the Indian community followed by attending the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Mr. Patrick Herminie," the MEA stated in its post. https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1982384464706912737 Prior to his departure, the MEA noted how the visit would add further momentum to the India-Seychelles ties. (ANI)
Doctors are the medical professionals we trust to help us make decisions about our health, but that doesn't mean they're all of...upstanding character. Recently, Redditor u/cuteclinomaniac asked the Reddit community to share the absolute worst things a doctor has ever said to them, and the responses are utterly alarming. Here are some stories that might just leave you shocked, slightly confused, and horrified:

1. "I was told that they'd detected some abnormalities in my liver, so I wanted to see if I should get more tests done. I was told: 'You're wasting the healthcare system's time.' The same doctor also didn't believe in anxiety or depression, so it took me several more years to find a new doctor and actually get diagnosed and medicated for it."

Twenty47studio / Getty Images

Parabrella

2. "After my wife had our first kid, the doctor told her she had a sexually transmitted infection that I 'must've given to her,' alluding that I was a cheater. My wife did not actually have an STI, and I wasn't cheating. So, thanks, doc, for wildly misdiagnosing a yeast infection."

cat_prophecy

Related: I Always Thought Cheating Was Unforgivable. Then A Friend's Affair Made Me Question Everything.

3. "An OBYGN I switched to after my old one had moved came back with a sticky note after the exam, slipped it to me, and said, 'This is a really good plastic surgeon to take care of your labia asymmetry.' Mind you, she'd never mentioned any health concerns with my labia minora, I'd never mentioned any concerns or discomfort with it, and I'd never asked her for a plastic surgeon referral to correct it. That made me feel extremely self-conscious. Like, it's just a natural asymmetry  nothing dramatic. I changed my OBGYN after that encounter."

Spare_Hornet

4. "I recently went to the ER following a suicide attempt. They refused to admit me to the psychiatric unit, citing my long-standing mental health struggles and chronic homelessness. They said that admitting me would just be 'delaying the inevitable.'"

tek_nein

5. "My dentist, referring to my small mouth, said, 'Wow, I bet your husband hates that.'"

CG Tan / Getty Images

Barneyboydog

6. "I went to see a psychologist who was on my insurance, and he was the only one close by. However, his office was located inside a large church. When I called to make an appointment, I asked if he was affiliated with the church in any way, and he said that he just rented an office there. Well, when I got to his office, I saw in the waiting room that there were all sorts of books about Christianity. I was a Buddhist at the time, and when I finally saw the psychologist, I told him I had an issue with him due to his apparently lying about being affiliated with the church. He then went on to tell me that my mental problems would not be solved if I remained a Buddhist. What a douche."

Theological_Ecdysis

7. "My new male general practitioner insisted I come in for a pap smear six months after I just had one. When I refused and requested a female to perform the exam when needed, he said that I needed to see a psychiatrist. He's not my GP anymore."

PeachPanther88

Related: "I Hope This Helps Someone, Too": People Are Sharing The One Thing They Always Turn To When It Hasn't Been Your Day, Your Week, Your Month, Or Even Your Year

8. "While I was sitting there with multiple bald patches and wanting to know why clumps of my hair kept falling out at 15, a doctor said, 'There's nothing wrong with you. You just need a proper haircut.'"

indigoneutrino

9. "ER doctors hated seeing my wife because they thought she was a faker. Turns out she had endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She had so many surgeries and saw multiple doctors before she could have her hysterectomy and have her ovaries removed. I no longer trust doctors and their inflated egos."

Westend61 / Getty Images/Westend61

Toonough

10. "'I bet you're infertile. Good thing you have your one, because I'd wager you could never get pregnant again.' This was said to me while I was in the office with my infant, and I wasn't there for anything fertility-related. I wasn't even showing any symptoms of having fertility issues."

Outisdeux

11. "That I was making up my migraines to get attention after my dad had died from brain cancer. Mind you, I was 13 and entering puberty. Turns out, I have hormonal migraines, and the onset of puberty triggered them. I'm 37 now, and they're still problematic."

kaytay3000

Related: 19 Wholesome Posts I Saw This Week That Were So Cute, They Legitimately Put Me In A Happier Mood

12. "The doctor gave me a lecture on how I should get off my ADHD meds and antidepressants and instead practice meditation. Mind you, I was only at urgent care because a bee stung my eye shut due to the swelling."

boring_username_idea

13. "I had a hysterectomy when I was 25 due to debilitating endometriosis, so when I told an ER doctor that my symptoms were not from my period or due to pregnancy, he said, 'Listen, I understand what you're saying, but it's impossible, and I don't believe you.' He didn't believe me because he was convinced doctors aren't allowed to perform hysterectomies on patients younger than 30, regardless of circumstances."

Tim Kitchen / Getty Images

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SuppressiveFire

14. "As a teen, I was told I was 'too pretty to be depressed' by a female doctor."

JaHa183

15. "In front of my husband at a gyno appointment, a doctor said, 'It says in your chart that you're not safe at home.' I have no clue why my chart said that, but all I could think was what if I wasn't safe at home? What if I were a pregnant woman who had an abusive husband? That careless comment could've spelled my death. We definitely reported her."

lizzyote

16. "After going in for debilitating menstrual pain and disclosing that I was very high-risk for developing blood clots, I was told, 'Well...alcohol is a smooth muscle relaxer.'"

Spidercat99

Related: First Responders Are Revealing "Fatal" Safety Mistakes People Make All The Time (And What To Do Instead)

17. "A therapist told me that as long as there are people worse off than me, I've got nothing to be upset about."

Ridvan_celik / Getty Images

PainfullyLoyal

18. "I asked a doctor for help with resources for mental health issues, and he said, 'You don't need that, it's all in your head.' Uhhh, that's what the word 'MENTAL' means. My brain needs help with the issues."

Kissesfromthesky

19. Lastly: "I was told that the pain was all in my head and that it was 'just gas.' My doctor told me that I'd feel better if I lost weight. Turns out, the pain was caused by an ovarian cyst that turned into a tumor the size of a grapefruit."

LunaTunaBella

What's the worst or most unprofessional thing a doctor has ever said to you? If you want a chance to be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post, let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously share your story using the form below.

Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Also in Goodful: A New Study Has Revealed A Serious Downside To Being A Firstborn Or Only Child

Also in Goodful: "As A 34-Year-Old, I Think My Time Doing This Is Far Over": People Are Revealing The Everyday Things That Age A Person Really, Really Quickly

Also in Goodful: "My Husband Was Shocked": Women Are Sharing The Everyday Routines And Practices They Do In Private That Have Men Incredibly Baffled

Read it on BuzzFeed.com
Oct. 25EPHRATA  The 42nd annual St. Rose of Lima Catholic School auction Nov. 8 will have a 1960s-'70s theme, "A Time for Peace," which has two meanings, said St. Rose PTO President Jennifer Hickok. The first is taken from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: "There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens ... A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."

"I think (it's) really relevant with everything going on," said St. Rose PTO President Jennifer Hickok. "(We're) hoping to bring some unity to the community."

And the second? It's just fun to dress in bell bottoms and tie-dye.

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"It'll be a blast," Hickok said. "The music will be great. We have a DJ and the music will be ... from '68-'75. The kind of music I grew up with."

Michael's on the Lake of Moses Lake is catering the dinner, Hickok said, and the live auction will be conducted by Austin Booker of Booker Auction. There will also be a silent auction and raffles.

Many of the auction items are donated by local businesses, Hickok said.

"It always amazes me how generous businesses are, especially when times are tough," she said. "The community just comes through, and it's a beautiful thing."

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Besides the donated items, students in each grade create a work of art to be auctioned off. Those items are especially popular, Hickok said.

"People love getting into bidding wars over those," she said. "They're beautiful. They're not just a handprint on a piece of paper or something. These are projects that you could frame and put in your house. They're like a point of pride."

Last year's auction raised about $260,000, according to Columbia Basin Herald archives.

The auction is the biggest source of support for the school, which educates about 116 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. According to St. Rose's online report card, the cost of educating a student is just under $10,000 per year, which is substantially lower than at the surrounding public schools. The tuition of a single student is about $6,300, with discounts for younger siblings. That gap is filled by the money raised at the auction.

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In addition, there will be the traditional paddle raise for the Fr. Seamus Kerr Scholarship fund, which subsidizes the costs for families who cannot afford the tuition. The school has a policy of not turning away students based on ability to pay, Hickok said. The school also serves students of all religious backgrounds or none, she added.

Hickok's son has been at St. Rose since kindergarten, she said, and is now in sixth grade.

"I don't know what I would have done, honestly, if it wasn't for St. Rose," she said. "It's just different ... the staff is so vested in every single one of the kids. They walk down the hall and everyone knows each other's names. You just don't get that everywhere."

'A Time for Peace'

Nov. 8

Doors open 5 p.m.

Dinner 6 p.m.

Live auction 7 p.m.

St. Rose of Lima Catholic School

520 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata

www.saintroseschool.org
Donald Trump berated Mike Pence, calling his then-vice president a "wimp" during their final phone call on Jan. 6, 2021, hours before Congress certified the 2020 election of Joe Biden, according to Pence's previously unpublished notes included in a new book by ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

According to court filings, had his case against Trump gone to trial, special counsel Jack Smith planned to use the handwritten notes -- hastily scribbled on Pence's day planner -- as evidence to document the hours before Trump allegedly directed a violent mob to storm the Capitol.

Erin Schaff/Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: Vice President Mike Pence presides over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

"You'll go down as a wimp," Trump told Pence about his decision not to block Biden's certification, according to Pence's notes about the call on the morning of Jan. 6, just before the president took the stage at the "Save America" rally on the Ellipse. "If you do that, I made a big mistake 5 years ago," Pence wrote Trump told him.

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The exclusive details are reported in Karl's upcoming book, "Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America."

Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images - PHOTO: Special Prosecutor Jack Smith walks away after addressing reporters after his grand jury has issued more indictments of former President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.

The notes also include what appears to be a scribble of an angry emoji after Trump told Pence, "You listen to the wrong people," according to Karl.

From Jonathan Karl's book, "Retribution" - PHOTO: Images of notes written by then-Vice President Mike Pence about his phone call with then-President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, as reported in ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl's book, "Retribution."

From Jonathan Karl's book, "Retribution" - PHOTO: Images of notes written by then-Vice President Mike Pence about his phone call with then-President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021, as reported in ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl's book, "Retribution."

Among the terabytes of evidence Smith amassed in his investigation, including a forensic copy of Trump's own phone documenting his digital activity on Jan. 6, are draft versions of his speech on the Ellipse showing it was hurriedly changed to target Pence directly. The materials were never publicly released before the dismissal of the case following Trump's reelection, creating a gap in the historical record of the former-and-future president's alleged actions.

Trump's Cabinet officials sought to sabotage each other during transition process, new book says

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In his final report to Attorney General Merrick Garland made public this past January, Smith said the evidence his team gathered would have proved that Trump "used lies as a weapon to defeat a federal government function foundational to the United States' democratic process."

Karl reports the materials might have been some of the government's strongest documentary evidence about the days leading up to the Jan. 6 insurrection, but that the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling on presidential immunity potentially curtailed Smith's ability to use the evidence against Trump had the prosecution proceeded.

Penguin Random House - PHOTO: "Retribution," a new book by Jonathan Karl.

Before resigning in January, Smith argued in his report to Garland that he had enough evidence to convict the former president had voters not sent him back to the White House in 2024.

"The Department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a President is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Office stands fully behind," Smith wrote to conclude the report. "Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."

ABC News - PHOTO: ABC's "This Week" aired Mike Pence's interview with co-anchor Jonathan Karl on March 19, 2023.

'You'll go down as a wimp'

According to Smith's original indictment of the former president, Pence's "contemporaneous notes" of his meetings with Trump documented how the then-president was repeatedly corrected about his false claims of voter fraud, suggesting that he continued to push the claims despite knowing they were unfounded.

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In the days preceding the certification of the 2020 election, Trump and his allies had repeatedly pressured Pence to use his role overseeing the certification to block Biden's victory, though Pence said he consistently rebuffed entreaties to manipulate or delay the certification.

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at the "Save America March" rally in Washington D.C., Jan. 6, 2021.

According to Pence's memoir "So Help Me God," he received a phone call from Trump around 11 a.m. on Jan. 6 -- the time Trump was originally scheduled to begin his speech on the Ellipse -- during which Trump allegedly made his final attempt to persuade him to block the election's certification.

According to Pence's notes, Trump called him a "wimp" after Pence said he planned to issue a statement saying he lacked the "power" to block the certification.

ABC News - PHOTO: ABC's "This Week" aired Mike Pence's interview with co-anchor Jonathan Karl on March 19, 2023.

"You're not protecting our country, you're supposed to support + defend our country," Pence wrote, according to Karl.

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"I said we both [took] an oath to support + defend the Constitution," Pence said, according to his notes Karl reports. "It doesn't take courage to break the law. It takes courage to uphold the law."

Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol holds its last public hearing, Dec. 19, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Multiple witnesses in the White House that morning told the House Select Committee on Jan. 6 that the conversation between Pence and Trump quickly became "heated," with Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump recalling that her father used a "different tone" from what she'd previously heard him use with Pence.

"I remember hearing the word 'wimp,'" Nicholas Luna, Trump's former assistant, said in a taped deposition. "Either he called him a wimp, I don't remember if he said, 'You are a wimp, you'll be a wimp.' Wimp is the word I remember."

Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg -- Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia -- told the committee in a taped deposition that he remembers Trump telling Pence he wasn't "tough enough."

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Approximately an hour after their conversation, Trump would take the stage and call on his supporters to march toward the Capitol where Pence was set to certify the vote.

That punk' is 'going to want a security guarantee': How Steve Bannon influenced Trump's combative meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Trump's iPhone

Prosecutors were able to support their timeline of events in part using a forensic copy of Trump's iPhone, which showed a breakdown of when the phone was locked and unlocked by the president on the afternoon of Jan. 6, Karl reports.

According to Karl, the report also included a screenshot of Trump's iPhone lock screen, which showed an image of Trump in a red MAGA hat giving a thumbs-up.

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Trump's phone also appeared to contain evidence demonstrating that Trump understood he had lost the election and was aware of the extent of the violence taking place at the Capitol, the book says.

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE - PHOTO: President Donald Trumps supporters gather outside the Capitol building in Washington D.C., Jan. 6, 2021.

According to Karl, the FBI's report on Trump's phone showed that the device was used to access multiple images that depicted the violence at the Capitol, including violent confrontations between officers and protestors, and photos of then-mortally wounded Ashli Babbitt, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital after being shot as she tried to enter the House floor. At 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 -- the same day Trump was suspended from the social media platform -- his phone was also used to visit a Twitter help page about accounts locked on Jan. 6, one day after Trump was locked out of his Twitter account, Karl reports.

'Biggest Trump fan': How Bannon says he helped former Mafia hitman get early prison release

Smith would have used the digital forensic evidence to demonstrate Trump's state of mind and knowledge of events as they unfolded to support the special counsel's allegation that Trump knowingly deceived voters about the election result, the book says.

"The throughline of all of Mr. Trump's criminal efforts was deceit," Smith wrote in the final report.
Editors Note: Beat notes is a weekly feature from Dispatch journalists who share whats been happening in their area of coverage and upcoming events. This week we hear from Laura Bischoff, state government and politics reporter.

What I cover

I'm part of a team that covers politics and state government for more than 20 newspapers in Ohio, including the Columbus Dispatch. My beat includes the Ohio Supreme Court, the state criminal justice system, Ohio's five public pension systems and a hodge podge of other areas.

I have also been the lead reporter on multiple statewide investigations. We worked to document conditions inside Ohio's youth prisons, examine how and why people are dying in county jails and explained how the state's dangerous dog laws fail victims of brutal attacks.

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We also covered the largest public corruption case in Ohio history: Republican House Speaker Larry Householder's rise to power, passage of a $1.3 billion bailout bill for FirstEnergy Corp., and the FBI investigation that led to Householder's criminal conviction.

Working my beat

I've been covering state government for 24 years  most of that time for the Dayton Daily News. I joined the Dispatch in April 2021. With that much time on the beat, I have a long source list and gobs of institutional knowledge. But I'm always meeting new people and making more contacts. That's one of the things I really like about my job.

I try to write about issues that hit Ohioans in the pocketbook, affect lots of people, expose bad behavior by powerful people or are just plain weird.

Working my beat requires talking to sources, reading documents, attending meetings and filing public records requests. My favorite law is Ohio Revised Code 149.43  the state's public records law that gives everyone the right to get our hands on documents, messages, photos, videos and recordings.

What I'm paying attention to now

I'm keeping an eye on lawsuits swirling around the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio. The pension fund has seen staff exoduses, a turnover of board members and complaints about retiree benefits. In June, lawmakers tucked an overhaul of the board into the state budget bill in the middle of the night. That has triggered a lawsuit.

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I'm also following a House bill that will revamp Ohio's vicious dog laws. Avery's Law passed the Ohio House on a unanimous vote in June and it's now pending in the Ohio Senate.

Reporter Laura Bischoff congratulates 12-year-old Avery Russell of Columbus, as she celebrates with her family after the Ohio House approved a bill to revamp the state's dangerous dog laws on June 18.

It's named after Avery Russell, 12, who was severely injured and disfigured by two adult pit bulls in a brutal attack in June 2024. My colleague Courtney Hergesheimer and I have followed Avery's remarkable recovery and her fight for legislative change.

Got a tip? Reach out

I'm interested in story ideas and tips, especially when it comes to public corruption. I can be reached at lbischoff@gannett.com and you can follow my on X at @lbischoff.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Dispatch journalist Laura Bischoff explains her job
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man was seriously hurt in a Northwest D.C. apartment fire on Sunday, according to the DC Fire and EMS Department.

In a post to the X platform, firefighters responded to reports of a fire around 3:30 p.m., when smoke was seen coming from a three-story apartment building in the 600 block of Kennedy Street NW.

No one hurt after house catches fire in Northeast DC

There, firefighters located flames in the apartments basement and rescued a man who was trapped inside. Crews rushed him to the hospital with critical injuries, firefighters added.

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An additional firetruck was requested, and the flames were extinguished.

Firefighters said the man was displaced, and no other injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Hes the new Interim Jackson County Executive, and he has hit the ground running.

Phil LeVota quickly began tackling commercial assessments with a review of all properties of $5 million or less that are assessed at a rate more than 15 percent higher. In this weeks edition, he talks about how that will work, and possible changes at the county assessors office.

Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV

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Plus, stadiums and prospects for keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County, federal COVID funds and where they will be spent, and how he plans to restore trust with legislators and citizens alike.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
NEED TO KNOW

Newark Public Safety said the Newark Police Department and animal control officers responded to reports of wild monkeys spotted near Georgia King Village on Oct. 23

Authorities, who were not able to "locate any monkeys," said that any photos or videos" were "likely AI-generated"

The incident is still under investigation, but authorities preliminarily determined that it was likely a hoax"

New Jersey police searched for monkeys loose in Newark after photos went viral online  only to find out that they are likely AI-generated.

Officers with the Newark Police Department and animal control officers responded to reports of wild monkeys spotted this week, according to PIX11, News12 New Jersey and NJ.com, which cited Newark Public Safety.

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The city received a 311 tip that the primates were seen near the dumpster near Georgia King Village around 10:35 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23. One photo circulated online of the incident showed a monkey climbing up a wall, while two others were near trash piles, per News12.

NJ 101.5 A monkey in what police believe is from an AI-generated photo A monkey in what police believe is from an AI-generated photo

Animal control also received a separate tip of monkeys in Newark streets on Wednesday, Oct. 22, Newark Public Safety told PIX11. However, the agency was unable to confirm either report.

Officers have not located any monkeys, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda told PIX11. Any photos or videos posted on social media regarding this incident are likely AI-generated.

Thursdays incident is still under investigation, but authorities preliminarily determined that it was likely a hoax, per the outlets.

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PEOPLE reached out to the City of Newark for comment on Saturday, Oct. 25, but did not receive an immediate response.

Several residents who work in the Georgia King Village area weighed in on the incident, including Harriette Guity, who told News12 that false reports based on AI could stretch first responders thin.

"Use AI for the right things, not something like this, Guity told the outlet. Because when something really does happen, officers are going to take their time coming out because it could possibly be AI, something that's false.

Another Newark resident, Richard Chapman, agreed, telling PIX11, Having the police come for something thats not real is a waste of their time when they could be doing other things.

Kyle Mazza/Anadolu Agency via Getty A Newark Police Department vehicle A Newark Police Department vehicle

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

This isnt the first time something like this has happened in the tri-state area. Police in Yonkers also issued a warning about an AI homeless man prank, in which pictures were generated showing a homeless man inside peoples homes, per WABC-TV.

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"Here's the problem: officers are responding FAST using lights-and-sirens to what sounds like a call of a real intruder - and only getting called off once everyone realizes it was a joke," the police department wrote on Facebook.

"That's not just a waste of resources ... it's a real safety risk for officers who are responding and for the family members who are home if our officers get there before the prank is revealed and rush into the home to apprehend this 'intruder' that doesn't exist, they added.



Read the original article on People
TOKYO (AP)  U.S. President Donald Trump is returning to Washington after a five-day tour in Asia, where he attended a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, met the newly elected prime minister of Japan, and held a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea after receiving a medal and a golden crown from South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

___

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
This story is reported by South Dakota News Watch, a non-profit news organization. Find more in-depth reporting at www.sdnewswatch.org.

PIEDMONT, S.D.  Residents and government leaders in this small western South Dakota city are in shock that the state approved a limestone mining operation without notifying them in advance about the project.

Locals learned about the sprawling limestone mine set to encircle the city only after brief notices announcing project approval ran in a pair of newspapers published elsewhere in Meade County.

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What they discovered is that Simon Contractors, a Wyoming-based mining and materials company, has acquired state approval and private landowner agreements to allow limestone mining on 10 parcels of land that are either within the Piedmont city limits or which directly border its western boundary.

The 300-acre mine is expected to start running in August and operate through 2043, according to Simon.

Piedmont is a city of 1,000 people located in the foothills of the Black Hills along Interstate 90 about midway between Rapid City and Sturgis. The bulk of development is located between the interstate and the pine-laden hills on the west, where the mine is planned.

Piedmont consists mostly of homes and small ranches, several churches and a few commercial properties that include a gas station/convenience store, a couple bar/restaurants, a butcher shop and a campground. A few municipal buildings and an elementary school round out the community.

Many residents are worried about potential impacts of a limestone mine planned for the woodlands around their homes in Piedmont, S.D., shown on Oct. 23, 2025. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch/ South Dakota News Watch)

With almost no details released about the mine project so far, dozens of residents attended a standing-room-only city meeting on Oct. 21 to share their concerns about potential air, water, traffic and property value impacts.

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This is going to destroy Piedmont, said Paul Betts, pastor of Redemption Church in Piedmont, which borders the mine site on two sides. It will destroy the beauty of this area and it will look completely different. Your houses property values will decline and nobody is going to want to move here.

Speaking during the Oct. 21 meeting, Betts said he and his daughter have asthma and they worry it could be worsened by limestone dust that can blow about in the frequent high winds.

Im not going to put my daughter in danger by breathing in this silica that can cause years-long problems, Betts said. If this happens, we may have to move our church out of Piedmont, and we dont want to move out of Piedmont.

State and local laws limited notifications

A rare combination of a lax state mining law and a lack of county land-use regulations allowed the Piedmont mine to gain approval without input from the public or local government.

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South Dakota has two levels of permit requirements depending on the type and scope of a proposed mine, said Rich Williams, an attorney who represents the city of Piedmont. A more invasive mine, such as a gold or silver mine, requires a specific state permit that mandates an environmental impact study, an analysis by state regulators and a requirement for public input, Williams said.

But for a limestone, sand or gravel mine like the one proposed for Piedmont, a mining company only needs to obtain a general state mining license, submit project maps and pay a bond that enable it to mine on any piece of private property where it secures the right to do so.

No public hearings or notifications are required for that type of mine, so Piedmont residents and town leaders were not required to be notified in advance, Williams said.

Phil Anderson, municipal board chairman in Piedmont, S.D., shown on Oct. 23, 2025, walks on land next to where a limestone mine is expected to begin operations in 2026. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch/ South Dakota News Watch)

They were also kept out of the process by the lack of land-use regulations in Meade County, which has no zoning laws, said Phil Anderson, chairman of the Piedmont board of trustees. Attempts at public votes to enact zoning laws in the county have failed over the years, Anderson told News Watch.

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The responsibility for this resides on our people a little bit because they dont want government telling them what to do, though sometimes we need government to be involved, he said.

A spokeswoman for Simon did not respond to a list of email questions sent by News Watch. Simon is part of a French-owned conglomerate and has about a dozen mine or materials locations in the Black Hills region, ranging from Sturgis to Hot Springs.

Little recourse for mine opponents

The Oct. 21 meeting was marked by frustration and worry by both city officials and members of the public. Officials said that while they have some level of control over mining within the city limits, they are unable to regulate mining on parcels that surround the west side of the city.

Rep. Terri Jorgenson, a Meade County Republican, was one of four state lawmakers to attend the meeting.

Jorgenson said she has contacted several state agency officials  including those at the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources  to learn more about the limestone mine but was unable to find any firm path to opposing or blocking the project at this point.

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Basically what the state is doing is just reclamation, she said. After mining is complete, the states responsibility is to make sure the land goes back to what it was before.

DANR did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking comment.

Jorgenson said she has concerns about the mines potential impacts on air and water quality, property values and on the local elementary school, where children could be exposed to dust or noise. She promised to continue to push for answers on how to mitigate resident worries.

Jorgenson and others said it might take innovative thinking and a grassroots effort by locals to find ways to control the activities of the mining company or to mitigate negative impacts from the mine.

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Anderson said his research found that the mine area likely contains about 5 million tons of limestone that would sell for up to $33 a ton, about 10% of which will go to landowners who allow mining on their property.

The city of Piedmont will not see any financial benefit from this project, Anderson said.

Residents worried over health, property values

Resident George Malley, whose home borders the mine boundary, said he has four children who could be impacted by mine activities.

Im concerned about the air and water quality, Malley said. I have special needs children and I dont know what that blasting could do to them.

Piedmont, S.D., resident George Malley, shown on Oct. 23, 2025, lives in a home on the border of a proposed limestone mine site. (Photo: Bart Pfankuch/ South Dakota News Watch)

Bree Woods, a second-generation Piedmont resident, said the limestone mine could hamper agricultural operations of local landowners.

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Were still an ag community. We have horses and we have people that have cattle, Woods said. This is going to create massive vet bills for all of us that have animals that are our livelihood.

At the close of the Oct. 21 meeting, the residents, local officials and state lawmakers all agreed to work together to either block the mine from opening or to make the best of the situation if mining operations begin.

Ill do what I said I would, and that is to pray about this, Malley told Anderson, the city board chairman.

This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when theyre published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org.

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Former Indian diplomat Yash Sinha on Sunday said that Pakistan's reported air raids in Balochistan are "not new", recalling that similar actions have taken place in the past, including during the tenure of former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Speaking to ANI on Pakistan's recent air raids in Balochistan's Khuzdar district, Sinha said, "Even Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did that. This is not new. In the 70s, Bhutto used the Pakistani Air Force to strafe Balochistan. They have done this in the past, and they will do it again." He said Pakistan's leadership has historically resorted to using force to suppress the people of Balochistan and will "try at any cost to retain" control over the region. Sinha also criticised Pakistan for repeatedly blaming India for unrest in Balochistan. "They will try at any cost to retain Balochistan, and they will find scapegoats, like India, which is a scapegoat," the former diplomat said. Sinha further rejected Islamabad's accusations of Indian involvement, pointing out the geographical and ideological absurdity. "We don't even have a contiguous border with Balochistan, but they accuse us of being responsible for supporting Balochistan and the Taliban. How absurd can that be, because what India stands for and what the Taliban stands for are antitheses completely," he added. The diplomat's remarks come weeks after reports of alleged Pakistani airstrikes in Balochistan, where shelling and bombardments orchestrated by Pakistan Army drones and helicopters took place in the Moola Pass area of Bel Chari on October 5, leading to at least five immediate fatalities and numerous injuries, according to The Balochistan Post (TBP). Earlier, on October 1, an alleged drone strike by the Pakistan army near Trassani, Zehri, resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including two women, and left five others injured, among whom was a four-year-old child. Communication lines remain disrupted, complicating efforts to verify the extent of the operation or the total number of casualties, TBP reported. Balochistan is a region rich in natural resources, yet its people have consistently faced a lack of basic services. There are no hospitals available in Balochistan, and even where they do exist, medical facilities and equipment are grossly inadequate. The situation is similarly dire in education, transportation, water supply, agriculture, and nearly every aspect of life. Residents of Zehri tehsil in Khuzdar district have accused the Pakistani military of carrying out indiscriminate air and drone strikes that have killed civilians, including women and children, amid a siege that has continued for over a month. The strikes have devastated several villages, leaving families trapped without food, water, or medical aid under an indefinite curfew, as reported by The Balochistan Post. The Human Rights Council of Balochistan (HRCB) reported that the siege began in early September after clashes between Baloch fighters and government forces. In response, the military launched widespread raids, blocked roads, and severed communications, isolating entire communities. HRCB stated that these "retaliatory" strikes have disproportionately affected civilians. It documented multiple attacks: a September 15 airstrike that killed three villagers, a September 17 drone attack that killed four people, including two women and an October 1 strike near cotton fields that claimed four more lives. (ANI)
St. Maurice Church in Forest Hills will be the only remaining St. Joseph of the Worker Parish if the Bishop says its OK. The other seven Catholic churches are slated to close their doors due to significant financial constraints.

It seems like one church after the other that I belong to is being closed, and then I have to find a new one, said Joe Pricener of Monroeville.

For Catholics like Pricener, finding a church to permanently call home has been difficult lately.

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As soon as I get comfortable in the new one, they close it and you go to another one, Pricener said.

Talk about closing St. Joseph the Worker Parish facilities started last October. Now, St. John Fisher Church in Churchill is set to close along with Sacred Heart, Saint Anselm, Madonna Del Castello, Good Shepherd, St. Jude the Apostle and St. Colman.

Sister Sandy Pelusi belongs to St. John Fisher Church. She said, Its hard to lose. Ive lost my parish from when I was a child. Weve lost a lot of things in our lives, but God is with us, and we have to move on.

Thursday, parishioners found out that St. Joseph the Worker Parish would recommend to Bishop Mark Eckman to close seven of its eight church buildings, leaving only St. Maurice in Forest Hills.

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In a statement, St. Joseph the Worker Parish said, We know this is a difficult moment for many parishioners, and each church will be honored with opportunities for remembrance and a final closing Mass.

Pricener said, A lot of reasons for it, but they definitely are in trouble as far as Im concerned. Theyre losing the young people, and its just us seniors that continue to go to church.

The bishop is expected to make his decision in December. The closures would not begin until January of 2026.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A small plane conducted an emergency landing Sunday morning, Oct. 26, in far East El Paso, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office.

The call came in shortly after 10 a.m. on Oct. 26 along the 16800 block of Montana Avenue.

According to the Sheriffs Office, no injuries or fire were reported after the landing.

Deputies remain on scene and we will update you as soon as we learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Maine Senate candidate Graham Platners mounting controversies are testing the willingness of Democratic voters and politicians to support a compromised candidate who could be their best option to defeat Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) next year.

Platner has been hit with a string of negative headlines in recent days. Most notable was the revelation that he got a tattoo of a Nazi symbol on his chest, which he has subsequently covered up, along with numerous controversial statements he made in the past on Reddit.

Many of his supporters, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), are standing by him for now. And recent polling has suggested Platner is far more popular than Gov. Janet Mills, his top Democratic rival, raising the question of whether voters will overlook his baggage as the party seeks a new generation of leaders who could appeal to a broader demographic.

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I think Donald Trump has changed our politics for a long time, some for the good and some for the bad, Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha told The Hill. One thing for the good, in my opinion, hes done is proven that folks dont have to be perfect. They can have some rough edges and that America is pretty forgiving.

But other Democrats say theyre not willing to be forgiving of Platner.

I do not understand how we can go from having a subset of the party that is obsessed with calling Donald Trump a Nazi to then going to vast lengths to excuse a Nazi tattoo, said one unnamed Democratic strategist.

Platners allies say its not fair to compare his tattoo to what they argue is Trumps authoritarian style of governing.

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There is a huge difference between a Republican that supports Trumps gestapo-like tactics, sweeping people off the street with no due process and shipping them to El Salvador, and who has a Nazi symbol associated with themselves, said Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

One is somebody confirming a whole ideology that they actually believe in, and in Graham Platners case, its an unfortunate bump in the road, he added.

Last week, CNNs K-File reviewed posts that Platner once wrote on Reddit in 2020 and 2021 in which he criticized police officers, showed frustration and disillusionment about his time serving in the military and spoke about being a communist and a socialist.

And earlier this week, the LGBTQ news magazine The Advocate published past Reddit posts from Platner, which he originally posted under the handle P-Hustle, from 2016-21, in which he used vulgar, antigay slurs and used the word gay as an insult.

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The latest, and what some Democrats say is the most damning controversy, is over a tattoo resembling a Totenkopf, which is German for deaths head. The image was a symbol adopted by Adolf Hitlers troops in Nazi Germany.

Platner has apologized for the Reddit posts, saying there was no reason to deny the antigay Reddit posts and called them indefensible. Platner also said he has covered up the tattoo and said he did not realize it resembled a Nazi symbol until he heard from reporters in Washington.

Platners supporters argue that candidates such as him are an answer to growing calls for generational change within the party. Democrats have grappled with the issue of age over the past year, following former President Bidens decision to not run for reelection amid concerns over his mental acuity and fitness for office. Additionally, three House Democrats in their 70s died while in office this year alone.

On top of that, they point to the partys desire to appeal to more working-class voters, a demographic Democrats lost ground with in last years presidential elections.

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Were living in an outsider moment. There is a craving for those who are not creatures of the political system, Green argued. Somebody who makes a mistake, admits it, and moves onto fighting for working people is more favorable to most people than a 77-year-old governor who is perceived as a Chuck Schumer-endorsed creature of the inside.

The unnamed Democratic strategist hit back at this argument, noting that the anti-establishment, progressive wing of the party is risking alienating minority voters.

Yes, we are looking for fresh, young, new, interesting voices in the Democratic Party but those voices cannot come with Nazi tattoos, the unnamed strategist said. They have a long-standing history of not having any full-throated minority support.

Democrats also say they fear the controversies plaguing Platner will ultimately serve as fuel for Collins and her Republican allies.

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This matters next October when Republicans are putting money behind it in paid media, said a second unnamed Democratic strategist. If youre honestly serious about beating Susan Collins, and you now have these headlines that exist and you know that Republicans are going to pour as much money as humanly possible to helping Sen. Collins [get] reelected, then you should think twice about whether or not youre going to give them the opportunity to put money behind some of these headlines.

The Platner controversies come as scandal plagues another statewide candidate in Virginia less than two weeks away from Election Day. Democratic attorney general candidate Jay Jones has faced fierce pushback from Republicans over recently unearthed texts he sent in 2022 in which he openly talked about shooting the GOP former state House Speaker and suggested he wished the Speakers wife could see her children die so her husband would reconsider his political views on gun violence.

The scandal has created a massive headache for Democrats in an election where the environment is arguably more favorable to their party.

We have to vet candidates. We are in a rebuild period. These are the candidates that are going to represent the party going forward, said the first unnamed Democratic strategist.

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New England-based Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh noted that there is also a risk after an unvetted candidate wins a general election.

Theres the cost-benefit analysis of making someone the nominee and then if they do prevail, what are they going to be like when theyre in office? Marsh said.

A third unnamed national Democratic strategist urged Washingtons consulting class and Democratic leadership to step back and let the voters decide.

Look at what its done in New York? Youve made a mountain out of a molehill here, the strategist said, noting the divide between establishment and anti-establishment Democrats over the New York City mayoral race.

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The strategist urged the national Democratic class to remember that different candidates are better fits among certain constituencies.

What works in Maine is not going to work in Michigan or Wisconsin, the strategist said.

And for now, Platner enjoys good standing among Maines Democratic voters.

Polling conducted just before the Reddit posts and tattoo news has shown enthusiasm for Platner among Maines Democratic base.

A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll conducted Oct. 16-21 found Platner leading Mills with 58 percent support to her 24 percent among Maine Democratic primary voters. Another 14 percent said they were undecided, and 2 percent said they would back other candidates. The polls margin of error among Democratic primary voters was 4.3 percentage points.

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And recent internal polling commissioned by the National Republican Senatorial Committee suggests that the partys voters are sticking with him despite the controversies.

Platner leads with 46 percent support among Democratic primary voters, while Mills trails at 25 percent. Jordan Wood, another Democratic candidate, garnered 3 percent support in the poll, and 26 percent of respondents said they were undecided.

But there are also Maine Democrats who are condemning Platner and flocking to Mills. On Friday, Daira Smith-Rodriguez dropped out the race and endorsed Mills, citing past comments Platner made about military rape.

As a survivor of military sexual assault, I cannot, in good conscience, indicate support or remain silent if there is even a possibility that someone who questions the reality of this crisis could be elevated to the United States Senate, she said in a statement.

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Downtown Tacoma soon will have a poke place, a year after Sam Choys Poke to the Max vacated its storefront on Pac Ave.

The fast-growing Seattle-based chain, Just Poke, plans to open its Tacoma restaurant at 1716 Pacific Ave. in November.

Co-founder Norman Wu said the shop will double as a Wow Wow Lemonade, brand specializing in pressed lemonade with a tropical bent, as well as superfood smoothies and salad bowls.

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Initial permits for the space were filed in June. Located on the University of Washington-Tacoma campus, Just Poke and Wow Wow will join a few new retailers, including Lune Cafe and S-Level Tea.

Their arrival adds to the variety of quality dining options available to our campus community and visitors, said communications director Elizabeth Metcalf.

Wu opened the first Just Poke in Seattle with friend Danny Brawer in 2016. Both Seattle natives, they discovered poke while chasing sunsets in Maui. They set out to build a fast-casual restaurant with an eye toward sustainability.

According to the company website, Just Pokes tuna is line-caught and its salmon is certified by Best Aquaculture Practices, an international organization that works with seafood feed mills, hatcheries, farms and processors to confirm that their practices are safe, environmentally responsible and ethical. The business is also certified by the Surfrider Foundation. Stores also use biodegradable and compostable-friendly packaging.

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Wu and Brawer quickly started fielding queries from potential franchisees. Just Poke now has 34 locations around Puget Sound, including stalls at T-Mobile Park, Climate Pledge Arena and the Microsoft campus. The website lists nine coming soon locations, including Tacoma, as well as one in Washington, D.C., Salt Lake City and Scottsdale, Arizona.

The duo has opened other concepts: Pure Acai Bar, Matcha Magic, Pure Boba, Seattle Juice Co and Sugo Hand Roll Bar.

Just Poke bowls start around $13.99 for furikake rice and marinated shoyu salmon topped with scallions, pickled fresno chiles, masago (roe), seaweed salad, roasted corn and jalapeno crunchies. Add extra protein for $2.49 and other fixings like Hawaiian-style mac salad and house kimchi for about $1. Specialty bowls like the honey karaage (with Japanese fried chicken nugs), crispy tofu, the Surf and Surf with seared ahi and shrimp tempura start at $15.99.

Wow Wow has locations in nine states. In Washington, the brand operates in tandem with Just Poke and an offshoot called Catch by Just Poke.

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Lemonades (most $7) feature flavors like butterfly mojito, mango pineapple and strawberry mint, plus creamy coconut options such as the Blue Hawaii with blue spirulina and pina colada with pineapple. Smoothies, including protein options, range from coconut peanut butter and Kahuna Koffee to the Chia Tropical with ginger, guava and turmeric. The menu also offers fruit and avocado toasts with Hawaii flair (lilikoi butter with macadamia nuts and strawberry) and on-the-go salad bowls also packed with proteins like teriyaki chicken.

The Tacoma shop should open by mid-November, said Wu.

Just Poke & Wow Wow Lemonade - Tacoma
A well-known Israeli model was arrested with three others after a mans death in Petah Tikva was reclassified from suspected suicide to alleged murder.

Israel Police officers arrested a "well-known Israeli model" and three other suspects on suspicion of involvement in a murder that occurred 10 days ago in Petah Tikva, Israeli media reported on Saturday.

Initially, there was no indication of foul play, and the leading theory was that it was a suicide. The body was sent for autopsy to the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Abu Kabir.

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The four suspects and the victim were at the models house when an argument broke out during the evening, Israeli public broadcaster KAN News reported. During the dispute, the victim reportedly jumped from a window and was killed by the fall.

Police investigations led to witness testimonies which caused an investigation that began suspecting a suicide turning into a criminal case investigating an alleged murder following the arrest of the four suspects.

The model, described as being in a state of shock, has no previous criminal record according to her lawyers, Ynet reported.

Israel Police vehicles; illustrative. (credit: Tal Gal/Flash90)

The victims father is currently serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife, Ynet reported.

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He attempted to seek time out of prison to attend the victim's funeral, but was refused, later being allowed to leave for a few hours to attend a shiva mourning ceremony, the report added.

Gag order on further details, reports note

Police have issued a gag order on further details pertaining to the case.
The suspect reportedly attacked the staff member following a dispute over the treatment of the man's family member. The receptionist sustained a head wound during the altercation.

A 20-year-old Israeli man, from the Arab town of Kafr Kassem, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency room receptionist at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba on Sunday.

The suspect reportedly attacked the staff member following a dispute over the treatment of the man's family member. The receptionist sustained a head wound during the altercation.

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Kassem has been transferred to the city's police station for questioning.

The medical center said that the matter "will be handled with the necessary severity."

Ichilov Hospital, Health Ministry condemn attacker

Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv condemned the incident. "We stand by our colleagues at Meir Medical Center and wish a speedy recovery to the staff member injured in this severe incident," the hospital said, calling on authorities to fully enforce the law against the perpetrator.

Hostages families in the Ichilov Hospital. (credit: ALON GILBOA)

"Violence against medical staff is a red line," Health Ministry Director-General Moshe Bar Siman-Tov said. "We cannot accept a situation where those who dedicate their lives to saving others are exposed to threats, curses, and assaults. The message is clear: there will be no tolerance, no understanding, and no exceptions."
Police have asked for the community's help in identifying three individuals who vandalized Conley Elementary School in Chandler on Oct. 15.

The three suspects damaged property and smashed several iPads taken from a special education classroom, according to a Facebook post by the Chandler Police Department.

Police believe the act was done with malicious intent.

Anyone with information regarding this incident was urged to contact the Chandler Police Department at 480-782-4130.

Chandler Police Department asked for help identifying three individuals in an Oct. 23, 2025, Facebook post.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: IPads smashed, property damaged at Chandler's Conley Elementary School
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's "consistent support" for international law and the rule of law in the South China Sea, while highlighting New Delhi's growing strategic and economic relevance to ASEAN during his address at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit. Speaking at the summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Marcos highlighted India's growing role as a trusted partner in the region and its commitment to upholding peace and stability in maritime domains. "Foremost, as a maritime and archipelagic nation, I wish to highlight the great importance of the rule of law in our oceans. Both ASEAN and India should see peaceful settlement of disputes and maritime cooperation as essential, as our seas contribute to the peace and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region. In this regard, I thank Prime Minister Modi for India's consistent support for international law and the rule of law in our ocean," Marcos said. The Philippine leader, who came to India in August at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscored the shared identity and potential for deeper collaboration between the two Global South nations. "Last August, I had the privilege of visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, and during my visit to the world's largest democracy, I witnessed firsthand that as nations of the global south, we share common challenges and that deeper cooperation amongst us is essential," he noted. Marcos positioned India as a vital partner for ASEAN, especially as it is set to become the world's fourth-largest economy. "As Southeast Asia's next-door neighbour, it is set to become the world's fourth-largest economy. India has a lot to offer to ASEAN as a region. As a committed dialogue partner that recognises ASEAN centrality through its Act East policy, which stresses ASEAN as a core pillar of its engagement, we may also turn our gaze to India for solutions to our common concerns," he added. His remarks come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has faced repeated confrontations with Chinese vessels near disputed features in the region. Earlier this month, the Philippines accused China of "deliberately" ramming a Philippine government vessel and causing minor damage near an island in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The Philippine coastguard, in a statement, said a Chinese coastguard ship "fired its water cannon" at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel belonging to Manila's fisheries bureau and anchored off Thitu Island, which is known as Pag-asa Island in the Philippines, as per a report in the Manila Times. According to Al Jazeera, Thitu Island is part of the Spratly Islands, where Beijing has long sought to assert its sovereignty claims. The island known in China as Zhongye Island is the largest of nine islands, islets and reefs inhabited by Philippine forces in the Spratly Islands and also has a fishing community. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his virtual address at the summit, highlighted that the 21st century is the century of India and ASEAN nations and reaffirmed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a major pillar of India's Act East Policy. He further declared the year 2026 as the 'Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation'. In his six-minute-long address to the summit, PM Modi also reiterated India's support for ASEAN centrality and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the continuous growth of the India-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership amid global uncertainties. (ANI)
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The Mustang Ridge Police Department said a 14-year-old was located safe after the child was reported missing Saturday night.

The teen was last seen at Del Valle High School on Oct. 23, the agency said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Los Angeles police are searching for the driver of a black Audi SUV who struck and killed a pedestrian in a crosswalk Friday evening before fleeing the scene, authorities said.

The collision occurred around 5 p.m. on Oct. 24 near Pico Boulevard and Fox Hills Drive, according to the Los Angeles Police Departments West Traffic Division. Investigators said a 2011 to 2018 black Audi Q3 was traveling westbound on Pico when it hit a 74-year-old woman who was crossing southbound in the marked crosswalk.

The driver did not stop to identify themselves or provide aid, as required by law, police said. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and treated the woman, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said she was a Los Angeles-area resident, though her name has not yet been released.

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Detectives are asking for the publics help in identifying the driver involved. A city program offers a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the suspects identification, arrest, and conviction, or resolution through a civil compromise.

Police investigating fatal shooting tied to bar altercation in Long Beach

Police reminded drivers that if they are involved in a crash, they are required to stop, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact West Traffic Detectives at (213) 473-0234. During non-business hours or weekends, callers can reach 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), going online, or using the P3 Tips mobile app.

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Police and volunteers have rescued six residents of the frontline village of Prymorske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast under Russian drone attacks.

Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs

Quote: "Despite constant kamikaze drone attacks, police together with volunteers carried out a risky evacuation  they took four women and two men to a safe place."

Details: The ministry said that the Russians attacked several times with FPV drones during the operation. One drone exploded near a police car, another near a building where people were hiding. Due to burning cars, the crew had to change the route under fire.

One of the evacuated women said she walked more than seven kilometres to the gathering point, while the police constantly stayed in contact with her.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk does not expect lasting peace in Ukraine as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin is in power, he told British newspaper The Sunday Times.

The conflict threatens to become a "permanent forever war" unless something drastic changes in Russia, he said in the interview published on Sunday.

"Now the main question is how many victims we will see," he said.

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"I have no doubts that Ukraine will survive as an independent state," Tusk said.

According to the Polish head of government, Russia is facing dramatic economic difficulties, not least due to the new US sanctions against Russian oil companies.

However, the Russians have a great advantage over the West and Europe in particular: "They are ready to fight ... in wartime, this is absolutely the crucial question," Tusk said.

Tusk warned the UK not to succumb to the "sweet illusion" that the war against Ukraine is far away. Russia could reach any European capital, including London, with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. We are already exposed to massive attacks in cyberspace, Tusk added.
(The Center Square) - A vast majority of Americans do not believe the federal government should have control over education policy, according to a new poll.

The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll found that only 11% of American voters think the federal government should set standards for curriculum, testing and school choice.

Instead, 33% of American voters said local school districts should set curriculum, testing and school choice standards. About 23% of voters said parents should set educational standards.

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About 32% of Republican voters supported allowing parents to set education policy whereas only 13% of Democrat voters said the same.

The Center Squares Voters' Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, surveyed 2,565 registered voters between Oct. 2-6. The poll included 978 Republicans, 948 Democrats and 639 Independents, of which 262 lean toward neither major party.

At about 41%, a plurality of Democrats supported letting local school districts set education policy. About 36% of independent voters also supported allowing local school districts to set education policy.

Voters across the board are clearly signaling less D.C., more local control, said Mike Noble, founder and CEO of Noble Predictive Insights.

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Respondents' level of education also had little significant impact on the poll's results. About 15% of college educated respondents said the federal government should control education policy and only 8% of respondents with no college degree said the same.

About 37% of respondents with no college degree said local school districts should set testing, curriculum and school choice standards. About 32% of respondents with college degrees think state governments should control education policy.

That dovetails with the broader populist mood, Noble said, People want decisions about curriculum and standards made closer to their communities, not by federal bureaucrats.

The lack of popular support for federal control over educational policy appears to align with the Trump administrations efforts to reduce operations within the U.S. Department of Education.

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In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order giving Secretary Linda McMahon authority to dismantle the Department of Education.

McMahon spoke at the Defense of Freedom Institute and Federalist Societys Education Law and Policy Conference in September about the Education Departments efforts to withdraw federal funds from schools, expand trade and apprenticeship programs, and move its functions elsewhere to other agencies.

I have changed now how we are talking about closing the department, really to returning education to the states, and in order to do that I think we have to continue to uphold the law, McMahon said.

Even still, the department has launched investigations into universities and public school districts over policies allowing transgender students into women's locker rooms in Virginia and DEI practices.

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Ultimately, less federal control of educational policy appears to have popular support from a bloc of voters, according to the poll.

His administrations efforts to downsize the Department of Education and elevate 'parents rights' language resonated with that sentiment, especially among conservatives and independents, Noble said.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Authorities are investigating a Southeast Portland shooting that left one man dead Saturday evening.

Just before 5:30 p.m., Portland police responded to a reported shooting near Southeast Division Street and 142nd Avenue.

On the scene, police found a man with serious injuries, and applied trauma first aid until paramedics arrived. The man was transported by an ambulance where  despite lifesaving measures  he died, authorities said.

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Protesters rally against National Guard deployment, increased aggression at Portland ICE facility

During the investigation, authorities have shut down westbound Division St. between 145th Avenue and 141st Avenue.

Details surrounding what led up to the shooting are not clear.

Vehicle of interest found, teen interviewed after womans remains found in Mt Hood National Forest

Portland police told KOIN 6 News that the suspect or suspects left the scene, and no immediate arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Portland Police Bureau.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Portsmouth police are seeking the publics help in locating a man wanted in connection with the May death of a 5-year-old child.

On May 28, officers responded to the 300 block of Stratford Street for a report of an unresponsive child. The child was taken to a local hospital, where they subsequently died.

Police announced charges against Ekara Mikkia Cowles, 31, on Friday, including accessory to felony homicide, accessory to malicious wounding, accessory to child neglect, accessory to cruelty to a child, accessory to failure to secure medical care for an injured child, and accessory to contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Ekara Mikkia

PPD: Woman arrested in Stratford St. child death

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Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit are now attempting to locate 31-year-old Barthonia Lee Miller Jr. He has been charged with felony homicide, malicious wounding, felony child neglect, cruelty to a child, fail to secure medical for injured child, and contributing to the delinquency of a child.

Police believe Miller could be residing in Roanoke, Virginia, or the Eastern Shore.

10 On Your Side spoke to a resident who has lived on Stratford Street for over 20 years, who said he didnt know either of the suspects and that it is shocking to hear of something like this happening near his home.

Barthonia Lee Miller Jr.

This is a senior citizen area where everybody is retired, everybodys quiet, peaceful. We all look out for one another, said resident Fred Hines. My heart is saddened about the five-year-old because life is precious.

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Hines went on to say while hes deeply saddened to hear of the childs death, he has faith those responsible will be brought to justice.

Commit a crime, you think you can get away with it? We watched too much TV, and we think we can do whats going on TV. But all that stuff is just acting, said Hines. Were talking about real life here. Were talking about taking a five-year-old childs life. My heart is sad about what went on, but eventually, whoever it was, he will get caught. Its just a matter of time.

This remains an active investigation.

If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip.

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Oct. 26A man wanted on narcotics and firearms charges in Georgia was arrested early Sunday after a traffic stop on Interstate 65, according to the Priceville Police Department.

Around 4 a.m., officers observed a Dodge pickup truck committing several traffic infractions in the 3300 block of Alabama 67. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, it continued north onto I-65 before pulling over just beyond the 335-mile marker, police said.

During the investigation, officers identified a passenger, 46-year-old Andre Lewis Woody of Birmingham, who had active nationwide extraditable warrants related to narcotics and firearms offenses issued by the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office in Valdosta, Georgia. Authorities noted that Woody was considered armed and dangerous.

Woody was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Morgan County Jail as a fugitive from justice, according to police.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared the 21st century as the "century of India and ASEAN", while highlighting that the partnership between the two sides goes beyond trade and is deeply rooted in cultural, historical, and civilisational ties, during his virtual address at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Congratulating Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for successfully hosting the summit, PM Modi expressed condolences on the demise of Thailand's Queen Mother. Speaking on the summit theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', PM Modi said it reflects shared priorities in digital inclusion, food security, and resilient supply chains. He described ASEAN as the "main pillar of India's Act East Policy" while extending a warm welcome to Timor-Leste, which was formally inducted as the eleventh member of the grouping at the ongoing summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "India and ASEAN together represent one-fourth of the global population. We not only share geography, we share deep historic relations and shared values. We are part of the global south. We not only share trade relations but also cultural relations. ASEAN is the main pillar of India's Act East Policy. India has always supported ASEAN Centrality and ASEAN's outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the Prime Minister said. Introduced in 1992, the Look East policy focused primarily on economic ties with Southeast Asia. With the changing dynamics of the world, PM Modi, in 2014, introduced a new vigour in India's foreign policy and transformed the Look East Policy into a more dynamic Act East Policy (AEP), emphasising stronger action and outcomes. In a key announcement, PM Modi declared 2026 as the 'Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation' to strengthen collaboration across education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cybersecurity. "Our collaboration in HADR, sea security, and the blue economy is rapidly increasing. Seeing this, we declare 2026 as the 'Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation'," the PM said. "The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEAN's century. I am confident that the aim of 'ASEAN Community Vision 2045' and 'Viksit Bharat 2047' will develop a bright future for the entirety of humanity," he concluded. The member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India have also reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable tourism and preserving cultural heritage during the summit. In a joint declaration, the member states highlighted the vital contribution of tourism to economic growth, job creation, infrastructure development, and cross-cultural understanding, while acknowledging the need to maintain high standards of safety, service, and visitor satisfaction. The declaration emphasised the adoption of environmentally sustainable, socio-culturally responsible, and economically viable tourism practices. Measures include promoting green, blue, and circular economy principles; minimising pollution; protecting biodiversity; supporting women, youth, and local communities; and encouraging low-carbon, resource-efficient infrastructure. The ASEAN-India partnership also pledged to conserve historic and cultural heritage, integrate local arts, handicrafts, gastronomy, and museums into tourism, and strengthen capacity building through knowledge sharing, digital technologies, and institutional collaboration. The leaders also underscored the importance of tourism as a driver of regional cooperation and people-to-people contacts, noting that the ASEAN-India Year of Tourism 2025 is a platform to showcase sustainable tourism initiatives and enhance regional connectivity. Earlier today, Timor-Leste became the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This is ASEAN's first expansion in 26 years since Cambodia was admitted in 1999. The island nation had applied for membership in 2011. This is ASEAN's first expansion in 26 years since Cambodia was admitted in 1999. The island nation had applied for membership in 2011. Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined the 10 ASEAN leaders for the signing of documents confirming the nation's long-awaited entry. Meanwhile, Thailand and Cambodia signed a joint declaration on a peace deal in the presence of US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, marking a formal step toward halting hostilities and restoring peace along their disputed border. The agreement, dubbed the "KL PEACE Accord," was signed by Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit, which began today under the chairmanship of Malaysia. Speaking at the event, President Trump said, "This is a momentous day for all of the people of Southeast Asia as we sign a historic agreement to end the military conflict between Cambodia and Thailand." Japan's newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held talks with US President Donald Trump and agreed to strengthen the bilateral alliance during their first telephone talks, according to the Japanese premier's office. The telephone call between the two leaders was held on October 25, while they were attending ASEAN-related Summit meetings in Kuala Lumpur. The call, which lasted approximately 10 minutes, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and regional cooperation, according to comments posted on the Japanese premier's official website. The United States also signed reciprocal trade agreements with Cambodia and Malaysia and a framework agreement with Thailand and Vietnam during the Summit. "Alongside this peace treaty, we are also signing a major trade deal with Cambodia and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand," Trump said. ASEAN was established on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with founding members including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and, most recently, Timor-Leste are its members. The ASEAN Charter provides legal status and an institutional framework, and entered into force in 2008. The ASEAN Secretariat, set up in February 1976, is based in Jakarta. Malaysia is the ASEAN Chair for 2025, and the Philippines will be the Chair in 2026. India began formal engagement with ASEAN in 1992 as a "Sectoral Dialogue Partner" (at the Secretary level) and subsequently as a "Dialogue Partner" in 1995. (ANI)
MARTINEZ, Ga. (WJBF)  Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols made a campaign stop in Columbia County Saturdaywith the proposed data center project becoming the main topic of discussion.

Echols, whos running for re-election, said the project could bring new opportunities for the area.

I think its going to bring a lot of revenue into the county, and youre going to be able to do some improvements that you werent able to do, Echols said.

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My job on the Public Service Commission is to build power plants to provide power and gas for anyone coming hereto make sure that we have enough so we dont have rolling brownouts like they do in California.

The center has sparked debate among residents. Some support the project for its potential economic benefits, while others say they still have unanswered questions.

Columbia County resident Rickey Meridith said hes still on the fence.

My main concern is, is it going to affect the environment? Is it going to affect traffic? Meridith said.



It would be nice if someone from a community with a data center can come in and address the pros and cons of having that data center.

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Others, like Mike Welsh, believe the project could be beneficialif its handled responsibly.

No, nothings perfect, Welsh said. But if you look at the alternatives and lay them out logically, you come to the conclusion that its really not a bad choice, as long as everything is done correctly.

County leaders say theyre working to address those concerns.

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners are working on a new zoning ordinance thats specific for data centers, said Alison Couch, Vice Chair of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners.

And its sort of a guardrail that we would like to put in place for data center development in Columbia County.

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She says the data center issue is not a done deal in the sense that we are still working through this new zoning ordinance.

She said the ordinance should help address potential issues like lighting, sound, water usage, and other environmental factors.

Details on the zoning ordinance can be found here.

Meanwhile, Congressman Rick Allen described the data center as a huge employer and economic development opportunity, emphasizing the balance between growth and environmental protection.

Residents can continue to share their thoughts during the next Columbia County Board of Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, November 4.

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Echols faces Democrat Alicia Johnson the same day.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As protesters continue to hold a steady presence outside the ICE facility in South Portland, police say three people were arrested Saturday night, with one accused of harassment and two of disorderly conduct.

According to Portland police, two men from New Jersey were taken into custody after walking into the roads on South Bancroft Street, after being warned multiple times to return to the sidewalk.

1 dead after Southeast Portland shooting, no arrests made, Portland police say

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The men, aged 19 and 22, were booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct.

Later, PPB said officers arrested a 46-year-old Portland woman after observing her push another person. She was was booked into the MCDC on a harassment charge.

PPB said their officers also saw a person who used a wheelchair unable to use a sidewalk in the area as it was completely blocked by a canopy and various items from a camp set up in the area. Several people moved the items to open the sidewalk at officers request.

To date, Portland police say 58 arrests have been made related to the ICE facility protests.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Protesters braved the wet and cold to march, then rally outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland Saturday afternoon.

This is one of several recurring events organized primarily by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (PDXCD), originally beginning at Elizabeth Caruthers Park.

PDXCD claims the Saturday rally is being held in response to increased aggression by federal officers towards protesters at the facility, as well as the looming deployment of the National Guard.

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Takes a toll on everybody: 2 coffee house workers detained by ICE despite permits to work in US, owner says

Organizers are also steadfast in their demand to revoke ICEs permit to operate out of the current facility.

Protesters rallied outside of Portlands Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Oct. 25, 2025, among several events organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (KOIN). Protesters rallied outside of Portlands Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Oct. 25, 2025, among several events organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (KOIN). Protesters rallied outside of Portlands Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Oct. 25, 2025, among several events organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (KOIN). Protesters rallied outside of Portlands Immigration and Customs Enforcement building Oct. 25, 2025, among several events organized by Portland Contra Las Deportaciones (KOIN).

ICE agents have been emboldened by Donald Trumps deployment of the National Guard, and are currently using tear gas and pepper bullets to disperse crowds of peaceful protesters, PDXCD said in a release. The only appropriate response from our local government is to rid our communities of these dangerous hooligans by revoking the permit.

After winning their appeal to federalize the Oregon National Guard in a 2-1 decision, the Trump administration filed a motion to remove the order, claiming its logic is based on the same basis as the temporary restraining order (TRO) that had been appealed.

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Though a Friday ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused any National Guard troops coming to Portland, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut held a meeting that morning to discuss whether Oregons temporary restraining order blocking out-of-state troops should stay in place.

PHOTOS: Maine Coon cats rescued from neglect up for adoption at Oregon Humane Society

After hearing both sides arguments, Judge Immergut said she would have a decision by Monday.

I think its significant because due to community pressure, they keep having to push back the deployment of the National Guard, Holly Brown of PDXCD told KOIN 6 News. I truly think its because of the people that are coming out here and protesting. Even the courts are feeling the pressure themselves to stand up against the Trump regime and not allow the National Guard to be deployed here.

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Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
The Trump administration has opened a federal public comment period on a proposed rule that could reshape how the United States awards H-1B visas to foreign professionals, marking one of the most consequential immigration reforms since President Donald Trumps first term.

The Department of Homeland Securitys U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions. The rule would replace the random lottery used to allocate 85,000 annual H-1B visas with a system that gives preference to higher-wage offers.

The public comment period is open through November 24, 2025, under docket number USCIS-2025-0040.

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Anyone  individuals, businesses, unions, or advocacy groups  may submit a comment through the federal portal at Regulations.gov.

How To Submit a Comment

Step Details 1. Go directly to the comment page Click here to comment on the H-1B Weighted Selection NPRM. 2. Start your comment Use the text box labeled Comment* to type your comment (up to 5,000 characters). 3. Attach files (optional) You may attach up to 20 files, each no larger than 10MB. Supported file types: bmp, docx, gif, jpg, jpeg, pdf, png, pptx, rtf, sgml, tif, tiff, txt, wpd, xlsx, xml. 4. Enter your contact info or submit anonymously Choose to submit as an Individual, Organization, or Anonymous. Enter your first and last name, city, state, zip, country, and phone if not anonymous. Email is optional for anonymous submissions. 5. Submit your comment Click Submit. Comments are publicly disclosed; do not include sensitive personal info in the text or attachments. 6. Track your submission You may receive an email confirmation if you provide your email and are not submitting anonymously.

Deadline: November 24, 2025

Federal agencies are required under the Administrative Procedure Act to publish proposed regulations and invite public feedback. While agencies do not need to answer every individual submission, they must review and respond to substantive comments in their final rulemaking summary. Well-supported submissions offering data, reasoning, or detailed impact analysis can lead to revisions before the rule is finalized.

The proposed change follows an August 8 approval from the White Houses Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to publish the draft rule. The move steps toward a 2016 campaign promise by President Trump to end forever the use of the H-1B as a cheap labor program, and institute an absolute requirement to hire American workers first, although it falls short of totally executing this piece of his agenda.

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The reform would replace the present lottery system with a new weighted selection process that gives priority to better paid, more highly-skilled workers  but could mean more junior applicants miss out, according to The Independent.

H-1B Visa Basics

Here are the basic facts:

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers for specialty occupations that usually require at least a bachelors degree.

The visa is tied to the employers sponsorship  meaning if the worker changes jobs, they must obtain a new sponsor.

There are over 583,000 H-1B holders, according to the most recent federal data.

In most cases, there is no legal requirement for companies to first try to hire an American before seeking an H-1B worker.

72% of H-1B visas go to Indian nationals and 12% to Chinese nationals, according to USCIS data.

Pros and Cons of the Weighted H-1B System

Pros

Prioritizes higher-paid, more specialized professionals across industries.

Encourages U.S. employers to offer competitive wages for Americans and foreigners.

Reduces potential abuse of the visa lottery by staffing firms seeking cheaper labor.

Aligns with President Trumps Hire American economic strategy.

Cons

Could disadvantage recent foreign graduates or early-career professionals.

Smaller companies and startups may struggle to compete on salary.

May shift opportunities away from rural or lower-cost regions.

Risks of reducing the diversity of skills and backgrounds in the U.S. workforce.

Public Sentiment and Political Divide

Fifty-six percent of U.S. citizens believe H-1B visa holders create unfair competition and take jobs from Americans, a study reported by The Dallas Express found. The Blind survey of 4,230 professionals revealed a sharp divide between U.S.-born and foreign-born workers, with 87% of foreign professionals supporting the program versus only 49% of U.S. citizens.

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Lawmakers across party lines have questioned how companies use the visas amid ongoing layoffs. On September 24, Senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin wrote to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy: With all of the homegrown American talent relegated to the sidelines, we find it hard to believe that Amazon cannot find qualified American tech workers to fill these positions, DX reported.

Union and Think Tank Perspectives

The AFL-CIOs Department of Professional Employees stated in a 2025 fact sheet: The H-1B visa program must be reformed so that employers can no longer use the program to lower industry standards, engage in outsourcing and offshoring, and pay H-1B workers below market wages.

The labor organization said that in fiscal year 2019, 60 percent of H-1B positions were paid at the lowest two levels, meaning they were paid below the median wage for the occupation and location.

In contrast, the libertarian Cato Institute reported in April 2022 that H-1B workers are highly paid: their wages are in the 90th percentile of all wages in the United States. The group found that the median H-1B salary of about $108,000 was well over double the median wage for all U.S. workers.

Simple Checklist for Writing Good Comments

Step What to Do Tips for Success 1. Find a Rule to Comment On Search for open proposed rules on federalregister.gov or regulations.gov. Use keywords like the topic or agency name. Filter for Proposed Rules or Notices. Note the deadline (e.g., Comments due by [date]). Pick one that affects you! 2. Read the Proposal Skim the full document for key parts: What problem does it solve? What changes does it propose? Any questions the agency asks? Focus on the preamble summary. Jot down how it impacts your life, work, or community. 3. Structure Your Comment Write in five parts: Intro (who you are), Background (what rule section you address), Analysis (data or story), Recommendations (fixes), Conclusion (recap). Keep it 12 pages. Use facts, personal examples, or data. Answer agency questions directly. 4. Make It Helpful Does it explain impacts, highlight unseen issues, offer new ideas? Avoid just I oppose. Be polite, specific, and clear. 5. Submit It Go to regulations.gov, search the docket number (USCIS-2025-0040 in this case), click Comment, and upload or paste your text. Submit before the deadline. You can comment anonymously or with your info. Track it in the docket!

The comment period offers Americans an opportunity to directly shape a major policy affecting both the labor market and immigration system. Comments submitted by November 24, 2025, will help determine how  and to whom  the United States grants its limited H-1B work visas in the years ahead.
John Hines and Anders Ibsen, the two candidates running to become Tacomas next mayor, have been in the spotlight for years.

The politicians, who both hail from District 1  which covers the North End and West End  are ramping up their campaign efforts as election day approaches. Tacoma residents should have received mail-in ballots by now, and ballots should be dropped off at a drop box or postmarked by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4. The winner will take on the role of mayor in a time of significant transition for the city, which could see new faces in at least seven leadership roles in 2026.

As longtime public figures, Hines and Ibsens professional lives are well documented in public records. The News Tribune searched through some of those records. Heres what we found:

An ethics violation

In 2018, Ibsen was the subject of a complaint to Tacomas Board of Ethics  perhaps one of the most whispered-about stories of the mayoral race this year. The ethics board is one of few paths to accountability for Tacomas most visible and highest-paid employees. The board most recently discussed outgoing Mayor Victoria Woodards acceptance of an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel and found that she did not violate the citys code of ethics in doing so.

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According to documents obtained by The News Tribune, two people filed a complaint with Tacomas Board of Ethics in June 2018, alleging that Ibsen used his position as a City Council member to advance his real-estate business. The complaints cited an email Ibsen sent from his professional email address and text on his real estate website highlighting his experience as a council member.

As both a Certified Residential Appraiser and a two-term City Council member in Tacoma, realtor Anders Ibsens diverse experiences in public policy and our local market have given him a thorough understanding of the economic forces at work in our community, Ibsens website read at the time.

The ethics board considered the complaints that summer and ultimately found that Ibsen did use his position as a council member to promote and enhance the reputation of his private business  a violation of the citys ethics code. But it recommended no penalty against Ibsen because he had since revised his marketing materials to remove any explicit references to his positions as a city council member.

He has since described the incident as a marketing error and said that, if elected, he plans to maintain his business in real estate but will take a step back from its active operations to maintain a firewall between work with the city and work in real estate.

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I have since learned from the experience to make very clear distinctions between my business and my public service, he told The News Tribune earlier this week.

Finances

All candidates running for public office in the state of Washington are required to file an F-1 or Financial Affairs Disclosure with the states Public Disclosure Commission.

The report that Hines submitted most recently covers Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2024. It lists four sources of income. Hines reported earning somewhere between $100,000 to $199,999 for his work as an instructional facilitator for Tacoma Public Schools.

According to the Washington State Fiscal Information website, he earned $113,204 in the 2023-2024 academic year for a position listed as other support personnel with Tacoma Public Schools.

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Hines also reported less than $30,000 in per diem for board service with Pierce Transit and $30,000 through $59,999 for his service as a City Council member. Council members with the city of Tacoma earn $65,610.01 a year, an amount that is scheduled to increase to $67,445.11 in 2026. The F-1 report also lists $60,000 to $99,999 in income earned by Hines spouse or registered domestic partner as a physical therapist.

The form aligns with what Hines has said publicly  he often touts his background as an educator on his campaign materials.

The form lists a variety of assets, largely consisting of money in a state pension account and retirement accounts. Hines is listed as the owner on two properties in Washington: a home in Tacoma and a cabin in Hoodsport.

Ibsens F-1 report covers the same year-long time frame. He reported three different sources of income in ranges: $200,000 to $499,999 for work as a real estate broker, less than $30,000 for work as an appraiser and $30,000 to $59,999 for work as a property manager.

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Hes also listed as the owner of three properties, two in Tacoma and one in King County in the city of Pacific.

Lawsuits and court records

The name John Hines results in only one search result in Pierce County Superior Court  a suit filed against a defendant listed under that name in 2017 for failure to pay a roughly $1,000 credit card bill. The defendant in the case that was ultimately resolved is a Lakewood resident with a similar name, and the mayoral candidate confirmed to The News Tribune that it was not in reference to him.

Ibsen has been named in one lawsuit filed in Pierce County Superior Court, a ballot title appeal filed against Ibsen and the rest of the City Council in 2014 in its official capacity. The plaintiffs were dissatisfied with the ballot title for a proposal to amend the city charter. A judge ultimately denied the plaintiffs appeal.
UPDATE 10/27/25: The teen has been safely located. This article has been edited to protect his privacy.

PULASKI COUNTY, Mo.  The Pulaski County Sheriffs Office is asking for assistance in locating a teen who has been reported missing.

According to the sheriffs offices social post, the boy was supposed to return home before noon on Sunday, October 26, but did not show up at the residence.

The post states that the missing person was reportedly spending the night with a friend in Rolla, Missouri. Police later went to check up on him, but only found a vehicle running at the location with no one answering the door.

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The teen was last reported wearing a black Carhartt hoodie, gray sweatpants and a white hat with a tan bill.

If you have any information on his location, contact the sheriffs office at 573-774-6196.

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Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has held a meeting with Chief of Russia's General Staff Valery Gerasimov on tests of the Burevestnik cruise missile with a nuclear power unit.

Source: Meduza, Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Details: Gerasimov reported that the Burevestnik test was carried out on 21 October.

He said the missile covered 14,000 km and was in the air for about 15 hours.

Quote from Gerasimov: "The technical characteristics of the missile allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against highly protected facilities at any range."

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Details: Putin added that the tests "once again confirmed the reliability of Russia's nuclear shield" and said that the Burevestnik is a "unique weapon that no one else in the world has".

Quote from Putin: "We must determine possible ways of use and begin preparing the infrastructure to deploy this weapon in our armed forces."

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized his country's military strength during a meeting with military leaders.

In a video released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin, wearing military uniform, said that the armed forces had achieved numerous successes in the war against Ukraine and confirmed the successful test of the long-range, nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile. The meeting took place at a command centre at an undisclosed location.

Putin was first briefed by Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on the current situation on the front. According to Gerasimov, Ukrainian troops in the cities of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region and Kupiansk in the Kharkiv region have been surrounded.

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According to him, 5,000 Ukrainian soldiers are affected by the encirclement in each case. This information could not be confirmed independently.

The Ukrainian military analysis portal DeepState reported that Russian forces had formed only a semi-circle from the north-east to the south-west around Pokrovsk. The fighting around the city has been raging for months.

In the briefing with Putin, the military also reported that the Burevestnik missile, capable of being armed with a nuclear warhead, was tested during the latest manoeuvres by Russian nuclear forces on October 21.

Gerasimov said that the missile was in the air for 15 hours and travelled a distance of 14,000 kilometres. Putin praised the missile as a "unique product that no one else in the world has."

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The Russian president called on the chief of staff to create the infrastructure to introduce the new weapon into the armed forces.

Putin first mentioned the development of the intercontinental nuclear-armed cruise missile in 2018. Several tests are said to have taken place since then.
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan on Sunday attended the swearing-in ceremony of Patrick Herminie as President of Seychelles. Radhakrishnan conveyed greetings on behalf of India. In a post on X, the VP said, "Hon'ble Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan attended the swearing-in ceremony of H. E. Dr. Patrick Herminie as President of the Republic of Seychelles at Unity Stadium, Victoria, Seychelles, conveying greetings and best wishes on behalf of the Government and people of India." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1982478790770282824 Radhakrishnan said that India's presence in Seychelles for the swearing-in of the new government is a testament to New Delhi's steadfast support for the people of Seychelles, reaffirming the enduring partnership between the two nations. Radhakrishnan, while addressing the Indian diaspora, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of MAHASAGAR--Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions--reflects India's shared commitment to a free, open and secure Indian Ocean. In a post on X, the VP's Office said, "Addressing the Indian diaspora in Seychelles, Hon'ble Vice-President Shri CP Radhakrishnan said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji's vision of MAHASAGAR--Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth across Regions--reflects our shared commitment to a free, open & secure Indian Ocean. The Vice-President stressed that Seychelles remains a vital partner in advancing this vision and the priorities of the Global South." https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1982456142128189700 "Hon'ble Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said his presence in Seychelles for the swearing-in of the new President and Government, representing India, underscores India's steadfast support for the people of Seychelles--reaffirming the enduring partnership between the two nations," he added. Earlier, Radhakrishnan held talks with Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, in Seychelles. The two reflected on historical ties between India and Mauritius. https://x.com/VPIndia/status/1982438429435568218 In a post on X, the VP said, "Hon'ble Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan met Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius, in Seychelles. The leaders reflected on the strong and enduring bonds rooted in shared history and culture and discussed ways to further strengthen India-Mauritius bilateral relations." (ANI)
Kirill Dmitriev, Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's special envoy, said today that the message he has been conveying from Putin during his ongoing US visit is that pressure on Russia will not succeed.

Source: European Pravda, citing Dmitriev in a video on Telegram

Details: Dmitriev noted that this is the third day of the Russian delegation's visit to the United States, where they have been "conveying Putin's position on the futility of pressuring Russia".

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"We are seeing titanic efforts to disrupt the dialogue between Russia and the US," Putin's envoy said, without elaborating on who he believes is behind such efforts.

He said he had briefed unnamed members of the Trump administration on a meeting that Putin held with the Russian General Staff, particularly emphasising the claims made about supposedly successful Burevestnik cruise missile tests and the encirclement of Ukrainian forces near Kupiansk.

Dmitriev also claimed that he is "conveying" to the US authorities that what he called the "conflict in Ukraine" can only be resolved by "eradicating its root causes", and that the Russian economy is in good shape.

Background:

In April, Dmitriev became the first Russian official to visit Washington since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the time, his visit was seen as a significant step in attempts to establish ties between the Kremlin and the White House.

Putin's envoy has been in the US since at least Friday and has reported on meetings he claims to have had with American officials. However, the only publicly known meeting was with US Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who frequently repeats Kremlin talking points.

Earlier, Dmitriev appeared on Fox News and claimed that Russia, the US and Ukraine are "close to a diplomatic solution" that would end the Russo-Ukrainian war.

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Judge Menahem Mizrahi ruled police must return phones seized from Netanyahu aide Yonatan Urich in the ongoing Qatargate investigation.

Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court Judge Menahem Mizrahi ordered Israel Police to return to Qatargate suspect Yonatan Urich the cell phones belonging to him that authorities are holding in the context of the investigation into Qatari influences over figures close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police were expected to appeal the decision to the Lod District Court.

At a hearing on the matter on Sunday, investigators informed the court that extraction and hacking failed for two, while the model of the third is impenetrable. Police had asked for a 180-day extension on the seizure of the devices.

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Asked by Mizrahi why police still required possession over the phones if they aren't penetrable, police representatives responded that its hacking software is being updated, and that other impenetrable devices cracked open in the past, once the software had been updated.

Mizrahi denied the police's request to keep the phones, calling the decision, The easiest one I've ever made, and added, scathingly, that he had informed state representatives that he wouldn't consider a request without confidential evidentiary backing, which was the format of the Sunday request.

The Sunday hearing followed a request by Israel Police last month to extend the seizure of the devices.

Yonatan Urich who was arrested in the so-called Qatargate investigation arrives for a court hearing the court in Lod, August 19, 2025. (credit: Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)

The Qatargate affair centers on claims that Urich, an aide to Netanyahu, and El Feldstein, the former military spokesman for the Prime Minister's Office, promoted Qatar's interests during their tenure in the PMO. Per reports, Feldstein received payments from an Israeli businessman who acted as an intermediary between Qatar and Israel. Feldstein's attorneys have stated that the funds were for strategic and communication services provided to Netanyahu's office, and that Feldstein was unaware of any direct connection to Qatar.

Concerns about conflicts of interest

Both Feldstein and Urich were detained and questioned by authorities in March. Investigations revealed that a company working on behalf of Qatar had contacted Urich to enhance Qatar's image, particularly regarding hostage negotiations - as Qatar is a mediator between Israel and Hamas - and subsequently made payments to Feldstein. The suspects are facing charges related to contact with a foreign agent, money laundering, and breach of trust

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The investigation has raised significant concerns about conflicts of interest and the integrity of public office, particularly regarding transparency in financial dealings and the influence of foreign entities on Israeli domestic affairs.

Feldstein and Urich were arrested and later released to house arrest under restrictive conditions. Recently, the Lod District Court overturned the decision of the Magistrates Court, ruling that Urich must remain barred from working with Netanyahu under the restrictive conditions imposed on him. Another suspect is Netanyahus former advisor, Israel Einhorn.
A Queens dad with five kids who left home to get a turkey and cheese hero after a graveyard shift was struck and seriously injured in a crosswalk when a police SUV hurtling down the street ploughed into him, alarming video obtained by the Daily News shows.

Lamar Quello Hollins, 31, filed a notice of intent to sue the city earlier this month over the Aug. 25 incident on Jamaica Ave. at 169th Street in Jamaica which left him prone and motionless on the street and his sweatshirt hanging off the sideview mirror of the police vehicle.

In the official crash report reviewed by The News, the officer, Cody Duffy, of the 103rd Precinct, writes he slowed down entering the intersection, but Hollins, who was crossing against the light, contradicts that claim. Video of the incident does not show any obvious slowing in the seconds before the crash.

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I heard a sound like someone revving, I looked right and boom, Hollins told The News. By the time I could recognize what it was, it was in my face. I couldnt back up, I tried to run and as soon as I did, it curved and still hit me.

The incident renews questions about high-speed police responses in a crowded city. Hollins lawyer Nicholas Liakas said he has handled several similar lawsuits this year involving pedestrians struck by speeding police vehicles, including that of Amanda Edmond, a pedestrian injured in July when an police SUV knocked her over in Brooklyn. She has also sued the city.

In Hollins case, the officer was clearly speeding. If the cop had to cross that intersection, he had to make sure its safe before he does it, Liakas said.

In January, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch revised department policy to limit police pursuits to only the most serious crimes.

A circuitous route to a crash

Now 31, Hollins journey to that intersection followed a circuitous route. Born in Louisiana, he spent 20 years in Texas, working for a time just across the border in Oklahomas Winstar World Casino as a loss prevention officer.

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He moved to Atlanta where his wife worked at the QVC shopping network. But the family fell on hard times and they were evicted. His wife was from Flatbush, so they moved to the Big Apple in the hope of more opportunities and to be closer to her family.

Their five children  ages 10,9,7,6 and 4  remained in Georgia with family while Hollins and his wife dealt with employment and housing before bringing them here.

Hollins obtained a job unloading trucks overnight for $18 an hour at a Dollar Tree discount store in Jamaica and says he was close to getting a housing voucher so they could leave the Queens shelter where they live and find their own apartment, he said.

It was a chance to find new opportunities, he said. Its harder down south. When you are struggling they dont assist you.

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On Aug. 25, Hollins worked through the night and slept until 3 p.m.. He then left home to buy lunch for him and his wife from a bodega three blocks away. After ordering a honey turkey hero, hot wings and french fries, he crossed the street to a Dollar General and bought a bag of Fritos, a quart of milk, snack cakes, two sodas and a juice.

I figured by the time I got back, it should be ready, he said. I got my snacks and was returning.

The accident report indicates Duffy, a seven-year NYPD veteran, in a police SUV with his partner was driving west on Jamaica Ave., responding to a 10-85, meaning need additional unit, on a report of officers engaged in a foot pursuit regarding a knife involved job.

Security video from a store shows Hollins with a backpack. He entered the crosswalk at 169th St. going south to north and walked against the light to the median where he paused looking to the right for oncoming traffic.

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He waited 12 seconds as three cars go through the intersection as a woman also waits behind him, the video shows. A fourth car slows and pauses possibly to turn, a second security video shows.

Hollins then reacts with surprise as the police SUV barrels down the road.

Hollins takes one step backward then semi-crouches to sprint forward out of the way of the SUV. But, according to a second security video, as the SUV veers around the turning car it ploughs into him.

The NYPD crash report claims says that while approaching the intersection, Duffy had a steady green light and was slowing down in the safety median as he approached in order to avoid traffic.

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The notice of claim states that Duffy was driving and operating said vehicle at a rate of speed that was excessive under the circumstances.

His body is lifted on to the hood and thrown in the air, the video shows. He then slides across the asphalt about 20 feet from the place of impact. I was thrown from one crosswalk to the other crosswalk, Hollins said.

The SUV screeches to a halt and the officers emerge and rush to Hollins side as he lays on his back motionless in the street, the second video shows.

This s is crazy, screams a woman passerby, according to a third video taken by a civilian. What the f is wrong with cops nowadays!The cops took the man down! Get the f ambulance!

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The video shows Duffys SUV with Hollins sweatshirt still hanging off the drivers sideview mirror. Locals thinking Hollins was dead placed flowers at the crash intersection the following day.

Bradley Weekes, an NYPD spokesman, said a review of body cam video shows Duffy had his lights and sirens on. Hollins claims he did not hear any sirens.

In addition, Weekes said immediately after impact, Duffy stopped, called for an ambulance and rendered aid to Hollins.

Weekes declined to comment further citing a pending review of the incident by the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.

Liakas, Hollins lawyer, said even if Duffy was right to respond urgently to the 10-85 call, he still had a legal obligation to exercise due care.

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He clearly violated vehicle and traffic law. You cant just blow through the median where there are multiple pedestrians and cars without slowing down and checking the intersection, Liakas said. They cant put the public at risk like that.

For Hollins, the crash has thrown his familys plans into chaos, he says. After a month on injury leave, Dollar Tree laid him off because he was physically unable to work.

The couple has no income and has had to borrow from family. The housing voucher application has been put on hold since he has no employment.

He says even though hes lucky to be alive, hes still suffering from back and knee pain. His injuries included a concussion, a slight fracture to his right knee, and spinal contusions.

I had just worked long enough to be able to get approved for a voucher, Hollins said. It completely crushed everything we planned. I was finally on my way to having our own place and suddenly, it was gone. I dont know what Im going to do.




Young women in quinceanera dresses gathered Saturday for an event in Houston's East End that merged cultural tradition and civic participation.

Quince to the Polls: Voter Activation and Vendor Market was hosted by the Jolt Initiative, a Texas-based nonprofit organization focused on empowering young Latinos through civic engagement, leadership development and voter participation. The event used the quinceanera, a Latin American celebration of a girl's 15th birthday, as a symbol to encourage young Latinas to become active in future elections.

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"Quince to the Polls combines the Latino tradition of quinceanera to ensure that young Latinas are being civically engaged and that they are engaging their peers, their family and are centered around community to ensure that we carry on a long-term voting habit for young Latinos, not only in Texas, but the entire country, for years to come," said Jackie Bastard, 41, executive director of the Jolt Initiative.

HOUSTON EXPLAINED: For one hour a day, Hermann Park is home to these Houston princesses

The event featured music, local vendors, food and voter registration opportunities, and participants posed for portraits in gowns of pink, red, blue and white.

Among them was Sasha Monterroso, 17, who said she joined the event to inspire her peers.

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"I'm here today because it's important to empower women and young adults," she said. "As a student in high school, we talk about politics and polls, and it's really important to hear everyone's opinion, everybody's voice matters. Hearing someone else can make a big difference."

Monterroso said she hopes her generation continues to speak up, especially when it comes to civic participation. "Even though you feel like your voice isn't heard, don't stay quiet," she said. "Make sure your voice is always heard, always."

This article originally published at Quinceaneras meet civic engagement at Houston's Quince to the Polls event.
Keep your rain boots and umbrellas handy as scattered showers come through on Sunday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV Weather App for alerts wherever you go]

Its going to be a cloudy, cool and breezy day.

Severe Weather Team 2 Meteorologist Eboni Deon said there will be a few scattered light showers today.

Overnight, widespread rain moves into north Georgia and will last through the Monday morning commute.

Deon says rain will be heavy at times and scattered throughout the day on Monday. There could also be a few thunderstorms that develop with temperatures only reaching the high 50s.

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Theres a possibility of rain each day this week through Thursday, then clearing up for Halloween and the start of the weekend.

[INTERACTIVE: StormTracker 2HD Radar]

What you need to know:

Thunderstorms could develop

Cool high temperatures in the 50s and 60s

Chance of rain each day through Thursday

[UPLOAD PHOTOS: Share your weather photos with us here]
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) condemned President Donald Trump on two major issues during an appearance on Fox News Sunday with anchor Shannon Bream.

Bream began by asking Paul about what he would ask Trump if there were a briefing on the US airstrikes against alleged drug-transporting vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Trump claimed on Thursday, We may go to the Senate, we may go to the Congress and tell them about it, but I cant imagine theyd have any problem with it.

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We havent had a briefing. To be clear, weve gotten no information. Ive been invited to no briefing, Paul said, continuing:

But a briefing is not enough to overcome the Constitution. The Constitution says that when you go to war, Congress has to vote on it. And during a war, then, theres a lower rules for engagement, and people do sometimes get killed without due process. But the drug war orthe crime war has typically been something we do through law enforcement. And so far they have alleged that these people are drug dealers. No one said their name, no one said what evidence, no one said whether theyre armed, and weve had no evidence presented. So at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings, and this is akin to what China does to Iran does with drug dealers. They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public, so its wrong.

Bream then addressed the government shutdown with both Paul and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)  also appearing as a guest on Fox News Sunday.

What is the Republican alternative for getting health care back on track? Bream asked.

I think if you put Senator Kaine and I in a room, I think we could figure something out, Paul said. And thats part of the solution. I suggest that President Trump come forward and name three Republicans and three Democrats in the Senate to an official commission to figure this out over a one month period and come back with a solution.

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Paul continued, But in exchange for that, I think the Democrats need to open the government for a month and then we need to pay the workers, pay our soldiers. And then I think we could come to a solution, but there has to be something different. It cant be the same old same old, because just subsidizing insurance raises the cost of insurance, enriches the insurance company, and were still, you know, behind the eighth ball as far as insurance costs.

Watch the clip above via Fox News.

The post Rand Paul Takes to Fox News Sunday to Condemn Trump Over Shutdown Gridlock, Extrajudicial Killings On Suspected Drug Boats first appeared on Mediaite.




After several weeks of hot and dry weather to start fall, South Texas is finally starting to see some very welcome changes.

San Antonio recorded 1.19 inches of rain from Friday night through Saturday, the first significant rain event we've seen since early September. And now, we're tracking an actual cold front heading this way, set to arrive by Tuesday.

While there have been a few weak cold fronts over the past several weeks, nothing has forced us to reach for a jacket quite yet. That's likely to change later this week, as the chilliest air so far this fall will arrive in San Antonio. Temperatures may even fall into the 40s by the second half of the week.

Sunday's forecast

Sunday will bring a pleasantly cool morning as low temperatures fall to around 64 degrees in the San Antonio metro area. Areas to the north, like Boerne, Kerrville, and Fredericksburg, will start with lows in the mid- to upper 50s.

Shown are the expected high temperatures across the region on Sunday. (Pivotal Weather)





Partly cloudy skies will turn mostly sunny by the middle of the day, allowing temps to steadily rise. San Antonio will be near 80 degrees by noon, topping out at 85 degrees by late afternoon. There is no significant chance of rain, either, as Friday night's low pressure system treks farther east.

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Monday: The hottest day of the week is expected on Monday. Morning temps will stay cool as San Antonio hovers in the low 60s. However, increasing atmospheric pressure along with bright sunshine will result in high temperatures rising into the upper 80s by late afternoon. That's about 10 degrees above-average for late October.

It'll feel muggy, too, as high atmospheric moisture levels raise the humidity level and cause "feels-like" temps to rise a few degrees warmer than the actual temp.

Cold front incoming

A strong low pressure system is expected to dive into the Midwest and eventually into the Deep South by the middle of this week, and that system will send a significant cold front toward San Antonio.

The front will start to move through Texas on Tuesday. In San Antonio, high temperatures are still expected to reach the low-80s, but as the front moves through by late afternoon, you'll start to feel noticeable changes - north winds will jump up to around 20 mph and temps will start to cool.

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By Wednesday morning, temperatures are expected to drop into the mid-50s as breezy north winds continue at around 15 mph. Temps will warm a bit during the afternoon, but highs are not expected to rise much higher than 70 degrees. The front will also send dry air into the region, so rain chances will be slim to none.

Shown are the potential low temperatures across the region on Thursday. San Antonio could see temps drop into the upper 40s. (WeatherBell)





The chilliest air will arrive Wednesday night and into early Thursday. Overnight low temps are expected to fall into the upper 40s across the San Antonio metro area. The Hill Country will be even colder, likely falling to 40-43 degrees in Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and Boerne. A jacket or coat will likely be necessary as you walk out the door.

Temperatures will rebound Thursday afternoon, likely rising back into the low to mid-70s under bright sunshine. After another chilly start on Friday, the afternoon high will warm a few more degrees, into the upper 70s.

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Temperatures will trend warmer this weekend, but things will stay seasonably cool as lows sit in the 50s while high temperatures rise into the low 80s.

This article originally published at A true cold front takes aim at South Texas this week. Here's when it arrives..




Jessy Reyes didnt go looking for the neighborhood charter school. Her daughter enjoyed sixth grade at the Austin school districts Dobie Middle School, where she made friends, learned from her teachers and joined the school band. But in the spring, after hearing from administrators that Dobie could close, Reyes thought she had no other option. She found a charter school and enrolled her daughter there for seventh grade.

The decision was difficult and made her daughter sad to leave behind her friends and clubs, so Reyes was surprised when staff from the supposedly shuttered Dobie called asking about her daughter  the campus hadnt closed after all. The closure had been widely discussed but was ultimately scrapped after the Rundberg-area school failed to meet state academic ratings.

A kindergarten classroom sits empty at Walnut Creek Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





They were talking about it closing, Reyes said in Spanish. All summer I didnt hear anything  if it was going to be open, that it wasnt going to be closed.

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Because of that miscommunication, Reyes children became part of the districts 4% enrollment drop this year.

Fewer than 70,000 students enrolled this fall, the lowest number in three decades and a drop of almost 3,000 from last year, according to data obtained by the American-Statesman.

The sharp decline followed several years of smaller losses and was fueled largely by families leaving the district, even though Austins child population has grown slightly, said Victoria ONeal, the districts executive director of campus and family engagement. About two-thirds of the students who left last year moved away, she said.

Despite the citys continued population growth, the districts student losses arent new. Rising housing costs have driven many families to nearby counties such as Williamson, Bastrop and Hays. But this year, the city is also feeling the effect of a nationwide immigration crackdown. Facing fear or financial strain, many Austin families without legal status have left the country. With fewer new immigrants arriving too, local classrooms are thinning further.

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But not all factors pushing students away force them out of the city. More than 15,000 students who live within the Austin district attend a charter school  publicly funded campuses that operate independently of traditional districts and have no attendance zones or elected boards.

Theres been a real self-inflicted wound the district has put upon itself by being vague and uncertain and changing the story for parents  parents who are just trying to figure out Where can I get my kids in school and get an education? said Louis Malfaro, associate executive director of Austin Voices for Youth and Education, which provides family support services in low-income schools.

Walnut Creek Elementary School second-graders play soccer during recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





In parts of North and Southeast Austin, charter schools attracted families with specialized education models, flexible schedules, perceptions of higher test scores and aggressive marketing. Public school advocates told the Statesman the districts communication and recruitment shortcomings have exacerbated the enrollment slide.

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Because the state funds schools based on attendance, the districts dip below 70,000 students will cost money. School board President Lynn Boswell said losing just 72 students equals about $1 million less in funding. The district is currently facing a $19.7 million budget shortfall and has proposed closing 13 campuses and redrawing attendance boundaries for thousands of students.

District leaders have pledged to work with families to stem enrollment loss, but critics fear the school consolidation plan could push even more families to charters or private schools.

The districts demographers predict another 5,000-student loss over the next decade as birth rates decline and housing costs rise. The states new education savings account program, commonly called school vouchers, allows parents to use $1 billion in state funds for private school tuition and could accelerate the trend. Texas families will be able to apply in February and use the money next school year.

The slow drain of students and the rise of charters

Walnut Creek Elementary School students line up for recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





In neighborhoods like North Austin, charter schools have slowly chipped away at district enrollment over the past 35 years.

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The number of students living within the Austin school district boundary but attending a charter campus grew from 10,350 in 2015 to about 15,330 last fall. Charter schools are largely concentrated in North, East and Southeast Austin.

Brian Whitley, spokesman for Texas Public Charter Schools Association, said families are drawn to these schools, especially in Austins low-income neighborhoods because of their success preparing students for college.

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One disadvantage for the district, said Austin Voices staff member Jose Carrasco, is that charters market aggressively, especially in Spanish-language media and through neighborhood mailers.

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District spokeswoman Cristina Nguyen said the district doesnt plan to compete with charters on advertising because of limited resources.

We dont have the same investments, Nguyen said. We have been cutting and cutting and cutting, and so we just dont have the same financial setup.

The district also lacks a standardized outreach program for students who leave district schools but still live locally, leaving each campus largely responsible for promoting itself, ONeal said. The district plans to strengthen those efforts, but limited staffing remains a challenge.

Its just me over the summer, said Walnut Creek Elementary Principal Giseyla Lopez-Zubieta. We dont have anything like where I have the parents or teachers call. I wish I could go door to door and do all that marketing.

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Charter schools, by contrast, use a mix of advertising, community events and word of mouth to recruit students, Whitley said.

A recent blunder

Walnut Creek Elementary School on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





Poor communication also pushed families toward charters.

In recent weeks, Austin Voices called hundreds of families whose students did not return to three North Austin middle schools in August. Parents like Reyes were common, said Carrasco, who helped lead the project. Many switched to charters after assuming their schools had closed.

At Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools in North Austin, multiple years of failing state academic standards forced the district to create turnaround plans for those campuses. The district proposed closing Dobie before reversing course at the end of the school year. District officials said the process was hampered by narrow state-imposed timelines and changing criteria.

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Together, the three middle schools lost 334 students this year, though district data shows some transferred within the Austin district.

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The uncertainty around the middle schools trickled down to area elementary schools, too. When one child leaves for a charter, siblings often follow, Lopez-Zubieta said.

Reyes younger daughter, who was supposed to start kindergarten at Walnut Creek, now attends IDEA Rundberg with her sister. The two girls walk to school hand-in-hand each morning.

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Reyes said her older daughter begged to return to Dobie, but she plans to have her children finish the year at their charter campus before deciding whether to move them back to district schools.

Immigration fears and fewer new comers

Walnut Creek Elementary School second-grader Muska Wardak, 7, plays during recess on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





Austin's enrollment loss also comes amid an intensified federal immigration enforcement push. The full extent of student loss from departing immigrant families is difficult to pinpoint. Using a survey of 2,000 students who left, the district estimates about 15% left the country, including some who self-deported, ONeal said.

These moves often follow deportation orders or the removal of a familys primary breadwinner, said Esmeralda Alday, senior programs director for Texas-based ImmSchools.

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In an era of highly limited immigration  with fewer border crossings and a decimated refugee program  the district is also enrolling fewer new arrivals.

In past years, International High School, the districts high school program for immigrants, welcomed 90 to 100 new students annually; this year, it welcomed just nine, ONeal said.

Without international immigration, Travis Countys population would have contracted in 2024, Austin city demographer Lila Valencia said.

School enrollment is an early indicator and a canary in the coal mine of what is to come, Valencia said.

The long slide

A flag hangs in an empty, unused kindergarten classroom on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Walnut Creek Elementary School where enrollment has dropped 20% year-over-year. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman)





Although Austins child population has grown, school district enrollment has declined for the better part of 15 years as families  priced out of the city  moved to suburbs.

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In the past five years, voters in the Hays, Dripping Springs, Del Valle and Bastrop school districts approved bonds to build new campuses as enrollment surged.

Families with Black and Hispanic children left Austin at higher rates, while the number of Asian and white children grew.

Between fall 2019 to fall 2020, the district lost 6,000 students, part of a nationwide post-pandemic decline.

Across the country, enrollment could drop another half a percent annually for the next decade as birthrates fall, according to Georgetown Universitys Edunomics Lab. In Texas, overall student growth since 2019 was concentrated in charter and suburban districts, according to a Texas A&M University study. Nearly 60% of Texas traditional school districts are shrinking, the June study found.

With closures ahead, district continues on uncertain path

The district could face another shock next summer as administrators implement a sweeping proposal to close 13 campuses and redraw attendance boundaries for 75% of students.

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Some parents have already threatened to look outside the district for the 2026-27 school year.

We have to hang onto everyone we can and we have to invite new people in, Boswell said. I dont think that means we dont have to go through closures. I dont think that means we dont have to go through this really painful process. I just mean we need to be aware and thoughtful.

District administrators argue that having fewer schools will make it easier to distribute resources, said Ali Ghilarducci, senior executive director of communications and community engagement.

The district also plans to hire an additional front office staff member for each campus that's under a turnaround plan, Ghilarducci said.

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The city of Austin is working to expand affordable housing, but unless it acts decisively, families will likely continue leaving, Valencia said. Last week, Mayor Kirk Watson announced the "Generation ATX" initiative to improve Austin's quality of life for children.

But fewer than half of Austins households now include children, she said. Austin leaders will have to be strategic about creating a family-friendly culture, she said.

Oftentimes, when we do that, Valencia said, we get an additional diversity that appeals to more people.

This story has been updated to correct the percent change in student enrollment.
The meeting focused on enhancing their Strategic Partnership. In a post on X, he said, "A first meeting with Thai FM Sihasak Phuangketkeowin Kuala Lumpur today. Look forward to working together to take forward our Strategic Partnership."

https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1982448254932623839

Jaishankar on Sunday held a "very useful" meeting with Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, exchanging views on the evolving global and regional landscape while exploring new avenues to deepen India-Singapore cooperation.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, where both ministers participated in high-level regional diplomatic engagements.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Good to meet FM Vivian Balakrishnan of Singapore. A very useful exchange on the global and regional scenario, as well as opportunities for strengthening India-Singapore cooperation."

Before he engaged with the Singaporean FM, the EAM held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the summit in Kuala Lumpur.

The two held talks on India-Malaysia bilateral cooperation.

"Honoured to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia. Conveyed the best wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a successful ASEAN Summit. Value his thoughts on strengthening our bilateral cooperation and people-to-people linkages," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun and appreciated the deepening of the India-South Korea Special Strategic Partnership.

Both leaders also discussed further cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductors, defence, and shipbuilding between the two nations.

Sharing the details of the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on X, "Delighted to meet FM Cho Hyun of RoK, on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Malaysia. Appreciate the deepening of our Special Strategic Partnership. Discussed cooperation in automotive, electronics, semiconductor, defence and shipbuilding."

Jaishankar will represent Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 20th East Asia Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27. The East Asia Summit will provide an opportunity to deliberate on the challenges to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and also exchange views on regional and international developments. (ANI)
Timothy Mellon is a secretive billionaire who's the heir to a Gilded Age banking fortune.

He's recently spent millions backing Donald Trump and RFK Jr.

Now, Mellon is reportedly behind a $130 million Pentagon gift to help pay troops amid the shutdown.

Timothy Mellon is the heir to a Gilded Age banking fortune. While he's not the sort to flaunt it, recent political donations have repeatedly thrust him into the spotlight.

The reclusive billionaire's latest gift was an anonymous donation of $130 million to the Pentagon to help it pay troops during the government shutdown, which is nearing one month with no end in sight, The New York Times reported.

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Republicans and Democrats are in a budget standoff over healthcare subsidies, forcing hundreds of thousands of federal workers to go without pay. US troops are expecting their next paycheck next week.

The Pentagon is able to accept donations, but using them to pay workers during a shutdown is a legal gray area that could be challenged.

Melton, a GOP megadonor in recent years, emerged as a key financial backer of Robert F. Kennedy Jr's 2024 presidential campaign, contributing the majority of the funding for American Values 2024, the main super PAC supporting Kennedy's candidacy.

Mellon has also supported the pro-Trump super PAC, Make America Great Again Inc., contributing tens of millions.

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The day after Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts in his hush money trial, Mellon gave $50 million to Trump's super PAC, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Who is Timothy Mellon?

Mellon is the grandson of Andrew Mellon, the banking titan who served as treasury secretary from 1921-1932, spanning three Republican presidents.

He is an heir to the family fortune. Forbes estimates the family's net worth to be more than $14 billion.

When it comes to Mellon's own business ventures, he's perhaps best known for purchasing the former Pan Am.

Mellon is a former liberal who has veered rightward over the years, telling Bloomberg in 2020 that it was mostly about his business dealings.

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"I think it came largely from going into business with certain small companies and seeing the interaction between commerce and government  it just seemed like government was making things way too difficult and against the interests of working people," Mellon said at the time. "The more restrictions you have, the less likely you are to hire people."

He also once wrote in a self-published autobiography that welfare programs are "slavery redux," while saying that Black people became "even more belligerent and unwilling to pitch in to improve their own situations" after the expansion of social welfare systems.

He told Bloomberg that he "said everything I wanted to say" and doesn't "have any regrets" about the book.

He's a big contributor to GOP causes

In 2021, Mellon contributed $53 million to an effort led by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, effectively funding that entire venture on his own.

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He's given millions of dollars to GOP causes and campaigns in recent years, including $20 million to a pro-Trump super PAC in 2020, $45 million to a super PAC tied to GOP House leadership, and $30 million to a super PAC associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Correction: October 26, 2025  An earlier version of this story misstated that Timothy Mellon was a donor to John F. Kennedy Jr. It was Robert F. Kennedy.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Red Wing police say an investigation into false shooting reports has resulted in an overseas arrest connected to an extremist group.

According to the Red Wing Police Department, officers and fire crews responded to two separate calls reporting multiple shooting victims at a home on the 1300 block of East Avenue on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16.

Both calls were quickly determined to be swatting" incidents, which are "false reports intended to trigger a large-scale armed response," according to the department.

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An investigation by Red Wing police later found that the incidents had ties to an organized cybercrime network that targets children and teenagers through extortion and acts of violence.

Evidence also suggested that those involved are connected to an extremist group recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI.

Authorities in the United Kingdom made an arrest Friday in connection with the Red Wing incident on Friday.

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Washington (DC News Now)  House Republicans passed a bill that to fund the government through November 21. Democrats in the Senate have blocked that bill as they are calling on Republicans to negotiate on health care issues including Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year.

The Hill reports that Republicans are dealing with pubic polls showing the public places more blame on them than Democrats. Colin Reed, a republican strategist with South and Hill Strategies, returns to Capitol Review.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
A team of researchers has discovered a method that may help deliver potable water to communities that may still lack access to clean water sources.

As reported by Canadian Light Source, researchers out of Yukon University Research Centre and the Universite de Moncton have developed underground filters that could be utilized in an effort to clean up polluted groundwater.

Organic permeable reactive barriers have previously been used to remove many types of contaminants in temperate climates around the globe. However, their effectiveness in cold regions, like the Arctic, has largely been untested. Many believed that chemical and biological reactions could slow down in colder temperatures, affecting the removal of contaminants.

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Led by Dr. Morgane Desmau, an environmental scientist and assistant professor at the Universite de Moncton, the research team tested how well these filters could clean water similar to sources close to a mine at 5 degrees Celsius, or 41 degrees Fahrenheit, over the course of 36 weeks.

Using a custom-built water treatment system in a research lab, the team observed how effective the filters were at filtering harmful chemicals such as nitrate, arsenic, and uranium, which are often found in compromised water sources.

"Passive and semi-passive water treatment systems are based on what occurs in nature," Desmau said. "Wetlands are a good example. It takes some time to get it set up, but then it just runs on its own. The idea is to be more sustainable, more cost-efficient, and as effective."

At the conclusion of the 36-week trial, the results indicated that PRBs could still work in cold environments to remove several contaminants at once, especially arsenic and uranium. But it is still a bit tricky to remove all contaminants equally, since each behaves differently in cold and chemically complex conditions. Only 50% of the nitrate was removed by the filter.

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Despite the struggle to remove the nitrate, Desmau was strongly encouraged by the study's results. "It's a good first step in creating more semi-passive water treatment systems that work well specifically in the north," Desmau added, per Canadian Light Source.

In a separate study conducted by Rob Hope, a professor at the School of Geography and the Environment at Oxford University, it is estimated that over 4 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. Not only can this cause the spread of infectious diseases like cholera and diarrhea, but it can also worsen malnutrition and lead to food insecurity.

According to Desmau, the progression of PRBs could help alleviate the clean water crisis. "We need these semi-passive or passive water treatment systems in the north, not only in Canada but any country where there is a subarctic or arctic climate might use this research," said Desmau, per Canadian Light Source.

"What I found so interesting about what we did and what is so exciting about this research is that even though it was not working perfectly, even though it's not perfect, we were able to identify why it's not working and what we can maybe do to improve and better design those kinds of systems in the future," added Desmau.

How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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We've all seen it happen. That fresh produce you bought Sunday is looking pretty sad by Wednesday. It's a huge waste of money, but a new partnership is looking to nature for a fix.

Synbiobeta reported that two companies, Corbion and BRAIN Biotech AG, are creating natural preservatives from "antimicrobial compounds and their derivatives." The goal? To make our food last longer and be safer to eat.

It's a serious issue. Unsafe food makes at least 2 billion people sick across the globe each year. On top of that, more people are demanding natural ingredients in their food, instead of a list of synthetic chemicals they can't pronounce.

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For the rest of us, this could mean fewer emergency grocery runs and a lot less food spoiling in the fridge. The concept isn't brand-new, of course. People have used things like plant oils to preserve food for thousands of years. This project just brings that old-school wisdom into the 21st century to make our food supply more resilient.

The team behind the partnership is hopeful about its potential. Dr. Martin Langer from BRAIN Biotech AG said that he expects the partnership will "deliver real impact for the world's food manufacturers."

This isn't happening in a vacuum. It's part of a much bigger push in food science. In South Korea, scientists created an edible coating for fruit out of crustacean shells that makes it last longer. The University of Hawaii at Manoa is using a federal grant to see how CRISPR technology can do something similar.

It all points toward a future with a more stable food supply. With all the challenges facing the planet, some scientists are thinking way outside the box. One proposal even involves creating a seed and cell bank on the moon, just in case of natural disasters here on Earth.

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Ultimately, the collaboration is focused on speeding up progress toward a safer and more resilient food system. As Corbion's Domenico Vulcano stated, "we believe this kind of collaboration will help us bring the next paradigm-changing breakthroughs to market sooner."

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ChatGPT and similar tools have given people unprecedented access to artificial intelligence. But someone who uses AI for homework help or problem-solving might not be aware of the technology's harmful impact on the environment.

What's happening?

Tech companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google have set up huge data centers to meet AI demand, as Smithsonian Magazine reported.

These data centers are wreaking havoc on the communities where they are built, overwhelming residents with their constant noise and threatening public health with their harmful carbon pollution. Because most electric grids are fueled by dirty energy sources, data centers increase the pollution that contributes to rising global temperatures.

Why are data centers important?

Data centers require enormous amounts of energy  Goldman Sachs has estimated that the average ChatGPT query uses nearly 10 times as much energy as a Google search.

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In addition, data centers can tax local water supplies. The facilities use air conditioning to keep computers from overheating. Water that is converted to steam in the process is released into the atmosphere, where it can no longer be harnessed for human use, as research from the University of California, Riverside, explained.

A midsized data center uses as much water in a day as 1,000 American households, about 300,000 gallons, one research scientist told NPR. As Benjamin Lee, a computer scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, told Smithsonian Magazine, "Where water is scarce, it's a concern."

What's being done about resource-intensive data centers?

Tech executives like ChatGPT's CEO have been frustratingly opaque about how much energy their data centers use, and developers are already planning new dirty fuel projects to meet the facilities' energy demands, Smithsonian reported.

However, mounting public pressure could force tech companies to be more forthcoming about their energy usage. As NPR reported, Google has admitted to increasing its planet-warming gas pollution  while that is bad news for the environment, this could be the first step toward accountability. Microsoft, for its part, has promised that its newest data center won't rely on water for cooling, which is great news for the surrounding community that relies on this vital resource.

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Researchers are working on ways to make AI less energy-intensive, but anyone can help reduce demand on data centers by limiting their use of generative AI. Next time you're tempted to ask ChatGPT a question, try a simple browser search and revel in the energy you're saving.

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The island nation of New Zealand is finding itself even more vulnerable to the effects of our warming planet than previously thought.

What's happening?

According to an article from Agence France-Presse on Phys.org, researchers funded by the New Zealand government discovered that the oceans around the country are heating up far faster than the global average.

In fact, they discovered that they are growing hotter, more acidic, and rising faster than oceans in other places, and that is already beginning to threaten seaside communities and homes.

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The study found that New Zealand's oceans are heating 34% faster than global averages, to be specific.

"Climate change is driving significant changes in our oceans," the report said. "Ocean temperatures are increasing, and marine heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and longer-lasting. Sea-level rise is accelerating at many locations."

Why is the ocean heating up important?

As the ocean heats up, it becomes more acidic, and more oxygen is lost from within it. Fish rely on that oxygen to survive, which means populations of fish that are already stretched thin by commercial fishing are pushed even closer to the brink. On top of that, warming seas tend to rise more quickly, meaning that they encroach on coastlines and accelerate coastal erosion, putting coastal cities and towns at risk.

"Climate change is making existing problems in our oceans even worse," Shane Geange, Department of Conservation marine adviser, said. "For example, global warming has made New Zealand's sea temperatures rise much faster than the worldwide average. "This means we're seeing more frequent and severe marine heat waves. Sea levels [are] rising more quickly, and our oceans are becoming more acidic and losing oxygen."

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He pointed to New Zealand's population of yellow-eyed penguins as proof; the birds have seen population dips linked to swiftly rising oceanic temperatures.

What's being done about warming oceans?

Geange said this study is proof that New Zealand and the world need to act quickly to fix the problem.

"Because of these findings, how we manage New Zealand's marine environment needs to change," said Geange. "We now have enough evidence to take action, and delaying risks further harms to our marine ecosystems."

On a global scale, the best way to protect our oceans is to reduce carbon pollution, which causes global temperatures to rise and pushes the temperature of our seas higher and higher. You can explore critical climate issues to learn more.

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Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv overnight Oct. 26, killing at least three people and injuring at least 32, including seven children, in strikes on residential buildings, local authorities said.

Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv starting around 2:35 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Of the 101 Shahed, Gerbera, and other types of drones Russa launched at Ukraine overnight, 90 were downed by the Ukrainian air defense, the Air Force reported.

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Two children who were injured in the attacks had been hospitalized, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.

The overnight drone attack comes just one night after another Russian missile strike killed two people and injured 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 26 that Russia had launched more than 50 missiles, nearly 1,200 strike drones, and more than 1,360 guided bombs against Ukraine this week.

"This week, these are attacks on residential buildings, on our people, on children, on civilian infrastructure," Zelensky said in a video address posted on Facebook.

"These are the most important targets for the Russians."

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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitscko reported that a nine-story residential building was struck in the Desnianskyi district of the city, damaging the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building.

Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said that a 16-story residential facility was struck in the Desnianskyi district, leading to a fire. Windows were reportedly shattered between the 1st and 9th floors of the building.

The drone debris from the attack also fell on a 16-floor apartment building in Obolonskyi district, leaving minor damage, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Videos posted on social media appear to show a large fire at one of the buildings damaged.

Russia has repeatedly attack Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, with drones since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In recent month, Russia's military has intensified its attacks on energy infrastructure, forcing Ukraine to introduce blackouts.

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Klitschko warned on Oct. 23 that Kyiv is preparing for what could be the most challenging winter since the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

Read also: Pure terror  2 killed, 12 injured in Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv

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WESTERNPORT  About 40 people attended a town hall meeting Wednesday at the Bruce Outreach Center to share ideas and hopes for what a new Westernport Library could look like.

The library was devastated by flooding in May, leaving structural damages that insurance will not cover. Marylands appeal for Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster funding was denied Thursday, leaving an uncertain fate for the library.

As far as the future of Westernport library, I can say on our end, as part of Save the Westernport Library, were going to do everything possible to continue what weve been doing since February, said the groups founder, Trish Morgan Keating. And thats keeping the public informed, and trying to mobilize the community to stand behind the library both financially and in person.

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A temporary library location will open Nov. 3 at 121 Main St. in Westernport.

The damage to our library was not merely cosmetic, said Lisa McKenney, interim director of the Allegany County Library System. The foundation took a hit in the front of the building where the floodwaters came across the street, and theres now a height difference of approximately 6 inches from the outside walls to the inner wall ... the building foundation is sinking in some areas and heaving in others.

The library lost nearly everything in the flood, including movies, computers, furniture and more than 12,000 books.

McKenney said the library recently received a bill for cleanup that amounted to more than $130,000, and continues to raise money to help recover at https://givebutter.com/WesternportLibraryFloodRecovery.

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As you can imagine, if this bill stands and we do not receive additional funds from the insurance company, it will require a significant chunk of our insurance claim, McKenney said.

Additionally, flood insurance will not cover the costs of structural damage.

The meeting progressed with ideas and public comment from Westernport locals.

Participants were asked what role the library can play in the community, how it can support growth at all ages, how it can encourage more use and how it can foster a greater love of reading.

The biggest problems residents said faced the town were jobs, public transportation, lack of residents and police presence.

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Residents responded with thoughts of how the library may be of help to the community, including drug-preventative after-school programs, job fairs and a larger meeting room.

Many in attendance suggested the library collaborate with local churches and other businesses. Suggestions of improvements that could be made to the library included better hours, a stronger social media presence and lots of events.

In order to promote the library, we need to remind people of just how great books are, one resident said.

Programs that community members said they would like to see included book clubs, story times, resources for people of all ages and classes for parents to teach their children how to read.

A survey is available online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-vOx-wjqrKGDE2d48b-VNM6dXMz5khD0ydRaPBFKG1p9D9A/viewform.
The US has deported 54 youths from Haryana, India, for allegedly entering the country via the Donkey Route, an illegal pathway. They arrived at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, Terminal-3, on Flight OAE-4767, police said on Sunday. According to information received so far, 16 of these young people are from Karnal, 15 from Kaithal, 5 from Ambala, 4 from Yamuna Nagar, 4 from Kurukshetra, 3 from Jind, 2 from Sonipat and 1 each from Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak and Fatehabad. As per the data available, most of the deported youths are between 25 and 40 years of age. Karnal police handed them over to families; no agent complaints were received. The individuals were brought back to Delhi's IGI Airport and handed over to their families. The Trump administration's strict stance on illegal immigration has led to increased deportations. Karnal DSP Sandeep Kumar said that these deported individuals entered the US via the illegal donkey route. "Today, more Indians were deported from the United States, including 50 from Haryana, with approximately 16 from Karnal district. These individuals, from various villages and towns, had entered the US illegally via the 'donkey route' but were deported today. Karnal police informed the media that about 16 people who had gone to America through the "donkey route" were deported. Karnal police brought them back and handed them over to their families. They stated that no complaint has been received regarding any agent. They also advised against anyone attempting to go abroad illegally, emphasising that it is the wrong method that leads to significant problems later on. The police further stated that an investigation is underway, and if anyone has a criminal record, it will come to light during the investigation," he said. Earlier this year, hundreds of people were deported to India by US authorities. The US government regularly deports individuals who violate immigration laws or have no valid basis to remain in the country. After Donald Trump assumed office as the US President in January this year, the country's law enforcement agencies have launched a crackdown against illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough in its sustained campaign against organised crime, the Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana has arrested a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The accused has been identified as Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lakha, a resident of Titram village in Kaithal district and a close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been deported from the United States of America and arrested by the STF Ambala Unit after completion of all legal formalities. According to an official release, Lakhwinder Singh had been operating from the USA since 2022 under the directions of Haryana STF arrests close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Anmol Bishnoi and was actively involved in around a dozen cases of extortion and firing incidents related to extortion in Haryana and Punjab. Lakhwinder Singh has a significant criminal record in Haryana, including cases registered in Sonipat, Rohtak, Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal, and Ambala. A Look Out Circular (LOC) and Red Corner Notice (RCN) were issued against him in 2023 and 2024, respectively, by STF Haryana. After nearly a year of continuous coordination and legal follow-up with national and international agencies, his legal deportation from the USA has been successfully executed. (ANI)
I didnt have this on my bingo card Ilhan Omar savagely Defended President Trump while in the EU against an A-Hole who was attacking him  shes also working with Rep Luna to Repeal the Patriot Act  You might not like what our president is doing.. and you might not agree pic.twitter.com/Hxt1TLNKKL  MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 26, 2025

Here is something from the You Wouldnt Have Bet on It file: Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) passionately sticking up for President Donald Trump (R) to European politicians while traveling abroad.

But that is exactly what happened, according to Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), who shocked businessman and political commentator Patrick Bet-David by telling him the story on his PBD Podcast on Thursday.

Omar, Luna said, was part of a House delegation that went to speak with several members of the European Union in April. Luna said on the trip there was a total as*hole from Belgium who started ripping the congressmembers, saying how Trump did not respect them and felt they were a joke.

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That is when Omar, Luna said, jumped in, stared at the Belgian politician, and rebuked him.

You might not like what our president is doing, and you might not agree with our foreign policy, Omar said. But when were here, you will respect our president!

Stop it, a stunned PBD responded,

Luna told PBD that Omars defense of Trump blew me away and that it was pleasantly surprising. The Florida congresswoman added it was good for the Americans to present a united front when dealing with foreign leaders  especially when it comes to dealing with some jerk from Belgium.

Omars defense of Trump not only stands out because of the Democrat-Republican party difference, but because the Minnesota liberal has bashed the president repeatedly.

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Earlier this month, she branded the president an embarrassing, racist, corrupt liar, and she similarly blasted MAGA fans as racist and xenophobic in March. Trump, meanwhile, recently called Omar a disgraceful person for her reaction to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk being shot and killed.

You wan watch a clip of Luna talking about Omar above. And you can watch her full 170 minute PBD episode on YouTube by clicking here.

The post You Will Respect Our President! Ilhan Omar Defended Trump Hard When a European Diplomat Trashed Him, GOP Congresswoman Claims first appeared on Mediaite.
Oct. 26SANTA FE  A preliminary review into the state Children, Youth and Families Department's spending of funds intended for behavioral health services for minors has turned up more than $7 million in possibly misaligned spending and red flags over missing documentation.

State Auditor Joseph Maestas informed top-ranking members of the Legislative Finance Committee about his office's findings in a recent letter, after being asked by the committee this summer to review how a $20 million state appropriation was carried out.

The letter also said the State Auditor's Office plans to expand the scope of the annual audit for CYFD and another agency  the state Health Care Authority  in order to better examine the agencies' procurement processes and internal financial controls.

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The state Auditor's Office declined to comment on the letter, which was obtained by the Journal.

But Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, the LFC's vice chairman, said the preliminary review's findings validated lawmakers' previous concerns.

"If it was misspent or misappropriated, our trust level is getting lower and lower," Munoz said.

However, a CYFD spokesman said the beleaguered agency, which recently underwent a leadership shakeup, fully cooperated with the state Auditor's Office and provided all requested documentation.

CYFD spokesman Jake Thompson also said the state funding in question was directed to programs that "clearly extend community-based behavioral health capacity."

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"Together, these initiatives strengthen New Mexico's community-based behavioral health network and connect families to prevention and early intervention strategies," Thompson said in a statement.

He also said an outside firm would launch a special audit of CYFD's handling of the special appropriation in the next several weeks, while adding the audit would be made public upon completion.

The $20 million in question was appropriated by the Legislature in 2022 to address statewide shortages in behavioral health providers for children.

Much of the $20 million was transferred from the Health Care Authority to CYFD in September 2024, after going largely unspent, according to Maestas' letter.

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Over the last year, CYFD spent about $11.4 million of the appropriation, with roughly $3.4 million complying with the legislative intent and nearly $7.1 million not aligning with the intended spending of the appropriation, according to the state Auditor's Office review.

An additional $922,670 in payments could not be assessed because records and contracts were not provided by CYFD upon request, the state auditor's letter also claimed.

Of the spending flagged as not meeting legislative intent, some of the funding ended up being used on CYFD group homes or other shelter-related services.

That spending might not comply with the Legislature's budgetary directions that the funding be directed toward "behavioral health and community child welfare services" that are eligible for federal Medicaid spending.

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While state agencies have some discretion to determine how funds appropriated by the Legislature are spent, money spent in violation of legislative budgetary guidelines can lead to audit findings and possibly legal action.

Meanwhile, the scrutiny over CYFD's past spending comes as New Mexico continues to struggle with high rates of repeat child mistreatment and drug overdose deaths.

A recent legislative report found the state's ranking in behavioral health measures such as overall mental illness prevalence and addiction rates worsened from 2023 to 2024, despite lawmakers' appropriating hefty amounts of funding to the issues.
A man is dead following a motorcycle crash late Saturday night in Waterford.

Thomas Peabody, 55, of Westerly, Rhode Island was pronounced dead following a crash Route 32 southbound in the area Smith Cove, according to the Waterford Police Department.

Waterford Police was dispatched to the scene at 11:20 p.m. According to police, a Harley Davidson Motorcycle FLHXS was traveling southbound on Route 32 and hit a guardrail just prior to Richards Grove Road and the crash ejected Peabody into a wooded area adjacent the roadway.

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Police said witness statements and evidence showed that no other motor vehicles were involved.

The Shoreline Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is also involved in the investigation

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Waterford Police Department at (860) 442-9451.




WATERFORD - A Rhode Island man was killed in a motorcycle crash late Saturday, police said.

Thomas Peabody, 55, of Westerly, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Route 32 in the area of Smith Cove, police said.

The Harley Davidson FLHXS Peabody was operating southbound on Route 32 hit a guardrail just before Richards Grove Road, ejecting him into a wooded area, police said. Officers were alerted to the crash at 11:20 p.m., police said.

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Police determined the crash did not involve any other vehicles, a news release said.

The Shoreline Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call police at 860-442-9451, or at the anonymous tip line at 860-437-8080.

This article originally published at Rhode Island man killed in Waterford motorcycle crash, police say.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents The Greatest Show On Earth is set to return to Jacksonville from January 16-19, 2026, at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Tickets for this reimagined circus experience are now on sale, promising a blend of new acts and high-flying excitement.

The Greatest Show On Earth has been reimagined for a new generation, offering a high-energy, music-driven experience with bold circus performances and unforgettable characters.

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The show features world-class athletes and performers from 17 countries, showcasing extraordinary skills that bring audiences closer to the action.

The production includes several new jaw-dropping acts, such as the Acro-Salsa Troupe from Colombia, a contortionist from the United States, and acrobatic bike and hoop diving performers from China.

The show is powered by music, featuring live drumming, dance battles, and DJ-led moments, with a soundtrack that blends chart-topping pop hits and original Ringling songs.

A massive LED screen and cameras capturing impossible angles enhance the live performances, transforming every seat into a front-row experience.

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Before the show begins, the Ringling Hype Crew engages the audience, setting the tone for a nonstop party vibe.

The cast includes 65 performers from countries such as Mongolia, Chile, Ukraine, and Brazil, with many making their U.S. debut.

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This crossroads in Kingston upon Thames is catching out around 27 drivers a day

A cash cow double yellow box junction is generating almost 2,000 a day in fines from trapped drivers.

Between January and August, 6,568 penalty charge notices were issued for the intersection on Kingston Road in Kingston upon Thames in south-west London.

Made up of two yellow boxes, the junction catches out 27 drivers per day on average for stopping illegally on the criss-crossed lines.

The Liberal Democrat-led Kingston council earned 451,405 from the crossing in the first eight months of the year, according to data from a freedom of information request.

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Roland Head, who runs a butchers shop on the junction, described it as a cash cow.

Its not about traffic control, its a cash cow. The local government isnt going to change anything because its making them money, he told The Times.

It is reported that drivers often stop at the junction unintentionally, with many offences caused by the actions of other road users.

The yellow boxes, between Elm Road and Westbury Road, have been in place since 2015, but fines were not introduced until 2020.

Shortly afterwards, the council put a bollard in front of Mr Heads butchers to stop motorists from going onto the pavement to try to avoid a fine.

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The Highway Code states that drivers must not enter a yellow box until they can drive over it without needing to stop. They can only stop on the box if they are turning right and the exit is blocked by oncoming traffic.

The boxes are designed to keep traffic flowing through busy traffic.

Unfair punishments

Many believe the fines are unfair as drivers can be charged when they stop due to someone elses driving.

The Kingston Road junction is less than half a mile from New Malden ambulance depot, which means ambulances often get stuck when drivers are unwilling to move into a yellow box for fear of being fined.

The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames said all income generated from fixed penalty notices is used for traffic and parking management, with any excess funds used for initiatives like funding the Freedom Pass for the elderly and disabled.

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A spokesman said: These two yellow box junctions are in place to prevent traffic from blocking each junction, and to allow vehicles to enter and exit side roads, and to allow clear sight of pedestrians and cyclists to motorists who are turning right into Elm Road, to improve safety for all road and pavement users.

Yellow box junctions were introduced in the 1970s, however they did not incur penalties until 2004, when London became the first area to start fining drivers.

The Government introduced new legislation in 2022 that enables all councils across England to apply for enforcement powers.

There are now 595 enforced yellow box junctions across the country. The majority of these are in London, with 64 outside the capital.

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The penalty for illegally stopping in a yellow box junction is 160 in all London boroughs, but reduced to 80 if paid in the first 14 days. Outside the capital, it is 70, which can be reduced to 35.

Redbridge council in east London has the most number of enforced boxes, with a total of 68. It has made more than 10m from fines at yellow box junctions since 2022.

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CHICAGO (WGN)  The courtyard of a Rogers Park apartment complex filled with chants and signs on Sunday as tenants and housing advocates gathered to rally against what they call extreme rent hikes and unsafe living conditions.

Residents from four buildings owned by the same landlord near Fargo and Damen Avenues say they have endured rat infestations, bed bugs, broken appliances, holes in ceilings and poorly sealed windows, all while facing steep rent increases.

The tenants, who recently formed a union called Fuerzas Activas De La Damen, are demanding repairs and fair treatment from their landlord.

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We are not refusing to pay rent. Its how we are living is in terrible shape, one tenant said.

Union members say monthly rent currently ranges between $900 and $1,500, but some tenants have been told their rent will rise by $600 to $700 starting this month.

They argue that these increases are unreasonable, especially as many in the neighborhood struggle with a loss of income due to fears of immigration enforcement in the community.

This means theyre losing wages, and that means its going to be much more difficult to pay rent moving forward, said Danny Rosa of the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance.

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Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

The group says negotiations with the landlord have gone nowhere. Their proposed agreement calls for essential repairs, a limit on rent increases to no more than $50 per year and protections against eviction.

Its more than just rent. Its a fight for dignity, for justice and for community, for all tenants across the city, said Juan Reyes of the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance.

If their demands are not met, tenants plan to begin a rent strike on November 1. WGN-TV has reached out to the landlord for comment and is awaiting a response.

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

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Britain will acquire a fleet of underwater drones for minehunting as part of a 150m upgrade of the Royal Navy amid growing threats from Russia.

The cutting-edge vessels could be used for clearing mines in conflict zones such as the Black Sea, off the coast of Ukraine, or protecting underwater cables and gas pipelines from sabotage, The Telegraph understands.

Up to 24 will initially be acquired by the Ministry of Defence, though more could potentially be ordered on top of this, according to a newly-advertised contract.

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It was not immediately clear what type of drone defence officials were seeking, at a time when the Navy has been trialling various devices from small underwater gliders to larger, uncrewed submarine-like vessels.

However, the contracts value implies each one could cost as much as 6m each.

The purchase is being made as part of the Navys mine hunting capability programme.

Mine hunting has traditionally involved crewed ships equipped with high-definition sonar for detection and divers or remotely-controlled vehicles for defusing bombs.

But with the Navy set to retire most of its mine-clearing ships this decade, drones are gradually being introduced to do the job instead.

Leading edge of defence

A defence source said: Whether its hunting down deadly mines left by Putins forces or catching hostile activity near critical infrastructure, underwater drones are a vital part of modern warfare.

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Were calling on the defence sector to bring their best innovations to ensure Royal Navy sailors have the most advanced underwater technology ready to deploy from the North Sea to Nato operations.

This is putting the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation and delivering on our strategic defence review.

It is understood that the main focus of the drones will be to covertly detect underwater mines in conflict zones.

Extensive mine-laying has been seen in the war between Ukraine and Russia, including in the Black Sea where both sides have sought to deny each other freedom of manoeuvre.

However, the British drones will also be used to patrol UK and Nato waters for suspicious activity on the seabed.

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It follows concerns about activity by Russian vessels near critical infrastructure.

Last year, Nato forces were placed on high alert following a string of cable and gas pipeline outages in the Baltic Sea. The incidents were later linked to an oil tanker that was suspected to be part of Russias shadow fleet.

The Royal Navy has been trialling various uncrewed vessels as part of its switch to a hybrid fleet, including both drones which float on the water and those underwater.

These include the Excalibur submarine drone developed by Plymouth-based MSubs and autonomous underwater gliders developed by Anglo-German start-up Helsing.

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The Navys new mine hunting fleet will include a mothership, HMS Stirling Castle, coupled with various uncrewed vessels.

Uncrewed vessels are quicker and provide greater precision than crewed mine hunting vessels, according to the Ministry of Defence.

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Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, will visit Brussels, Belgium, on 27-28 October 2025, to hold high-level discussions with Maros Sefcovic, Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Trade of the European Union, the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry informed. The visit comes at a crucial stage in the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, as both sides intensify efforts to conclude a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest. Building on the momentum generated by the 14th round of negotiations held earlier this month, the Minister's visit aims to provide strategic direction and political impetus to the talks. "Discussions are expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA (Free Trade Agreement), including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation. The visit will also serve to review progress achieved so far and to identify areas requiring further convergence," the ministry said in an official statement. Minister Goyal's engagements in Brussels will include a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Sefcovic followed by a working dinner, where both leaders are expected to reaffirm the shared ambition to strengthen the India-EU trade and economic partnership. This visit takes place against the backdrop of the India-EU partnership gaining renewed strategic depth following the meeting between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and European Commission President H.E. Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year. The two leaders had underscored the importance of a future-ready trade relationship that advances prosperity, sustainability, and innovation on both sides. Minister Goyal's visit to Brussels thus marks an essential step in translating that shared vision into concrete outcomes. It reflects India's steadfast commitment to deepening engagement with the European Union -- one of its largest trading partners -- and to advancing an agreement that contributes to resilient supply chains, sustainable growth, and a rules-based global trading system. Notably, Goyal will travel to Brussels following his German visit, where he has met with various industry leaders across sectors. Earlier, Goyal met Anne-Laure Parrical de Chammard, Member of the Executive Board of Siemens Energy, in Berlin to explore ways to enhance cooperation in developing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy systems. (ANI)
Oct. 25ROCHESTER  Three cars collided early Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 in northwest Rochester.

According to a statement from the Rochester Police Department, at 7:50 a.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to a multi-vehicle collision in northwest Rochester.

Preliminary information indicates a vehicle traveling eastbound on 55th Street Northwest and two other vehicles collided near Chateau Road Northwest, the RPD report states.

Two people were transported by Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service with significant injuries. The intersection is temporarily closed.

RPD continues to investigate the cause of the collision.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  On Sunday, Rochester Regional Health hosted a stroke awareness education event for the Girl Scouts of Western New York.

Ahead of World Stroke Day on Wednesday, October 29, Girl Scouts were informed about the various signs of a stroke and how to call for help.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Additionally, the number of people 49 years old and under experiencing strokes has reportedly seen an increase since 1990.

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What to do and not do if someone is having a stroke

Weve seen a lot of, actually, an increase in younger adults getting some strokes and stroke-like symptoms. So, its really important to start early to actually prevent strokes. So thats why wed like to have these kids here today. And they also might even recognize symptoms in, say, their grandma or their mother, and honestly, its youre never too young to save a life, Angelina Wronski, the Stroke Coordinator at Unity Hospital, said.

Participants ended the day by earning a RRH Stroke Superstar patch, touring Rochester General Hospital, and meeting with Monroe Ambulance and EMTs.

Information about Rochester Regional Healths stroke care and prevention initiatives can be found on their website.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that Israel, the U.S. and the other mediators of the Gaza ceasefire deal are sharing information to disrupt any threats and that allowed them to identify a possible impending attack last weekend.

The State Department said a week ago that it had credible reports Hamas could violate the ceasefire with an attack on Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

We put out a message through State Department, sent it to our mediators as well, about an impending attack, and it didnt happen, he told reporters en route from Israel to Qatar, where he met up with President Donald Trump for a multistop tour in Asia. So thats the goal here, is ultimately to identify a threat before it happens."

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Rubio said multiple countries are interested in joining an international stabilization force that aims to deploy to Gaza but that they need more details about the mission and rules of engagement.

The U.S. could call for a U.N. resolution supporting the force so more nations can take part, he said, adding that the U.S. has been talking with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey and noting interest from Indonesia and Azerbaijan.

Many of the countries who want to be a part of it cant do it without that, he said of an international mandate.

He also noted that next week the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is expected to be the latest in a parade of U.S. officials to travel to Israel.

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Vice President JD Vance joined special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner earlier in the week in Israel in an effort to shore up the fragile ceasefire deal. Rubio arrived just as Vance was departing, meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and touring a U.S.-led coordination center monitoring the ceasefire.

Rubio touched on several other key foreign policy priorities in his remarks to reporters. Here's a look:

Sanctions on Colombia's president

A day after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade, Rubio said it was not about targeting the country itself, which is one of the closest American allies in the region.

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This is not a U.S. vs. Colombia thing, he said. This is us reacting to the actions of whats turned into a hostile foreign leader.

He said the U.S. has excellent relations with Colombia's people and institutions and that the Trump administration didnt want to hurt the countrys economy, so it held off on tariffs. Trump last weekend had threatened to unleash them.

Asked if he would rule out tariffs, Rubio said Trump makes those decisions but obviously the president was aware of the options available to him and chose these instead.

The sanctions ramped up tensions with Colombia's first leftist leader, who has hit back at the Trump administration.

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I believe the current U.S. government violated its rule of law by sanctioning me as if I were a mobster, when I dedicated my life to fighting the mafia," Petro wrote on X. "Their desperation will lead them to set traps for me. Im ready to fight. For myself and for my people.

Stance toward Venezuela

Reporters asked Rubio whether other leaders in the region may help urge Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down, with speculation swirling about whether recent U.S. military actions in Latin America are aimed at ousting Maduro.

Rubio responded that when the U.S. deploys assets in its own hemisphere, "everyone sort of freaks out."

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The Trump administration has launched a series of strikes against alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific and is deploying an aircraft carrier to South America, a major escalation of an already robust military buildup in the region.

Rubio insisted that the U.S. is taking part in a counterdrug operation. And he again accused Maduros government of allowing and participating in the shipment of narcotics.

This is a very serious problem for the hemisphere, and a very destabilizing one," Rubio said. "And that has to be addressed.

He says other countries in the region, including Ecuador, Mexico, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, cooperate in combating drug trafficking.

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Maduro said the U.S. government is fabricating a war against him.

They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal and totally fake one, Maduro said Friday night in a national broadcast. Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves.

Taiwan and China

Rubio said it was important for the U.S. to remain engaged with China but that Taiwan would not become a bargaining chip for the world's largest economies to reach a larger trade agreement.

Trump says he expects to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea in the coming days during his Asia trip. Beijing claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and vows to seize it by force if necessary. The United States is obligated by its own laws to give military support to Taiwan.

If what people are worried about is were going to get some trade deal or were going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan  no one is contemplating that, Rubio said.
Three people have been killed and 29 injured, including seven children, as Kyiv came under a Russian attack on the night of 25-26 October.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: Emergency workers are dealing with the aftermath of a drone strike in the Desnianskyi district where fires broke out. A nine-storey residential building caught fire after a drone hit and 13 people were rescued from upper floors.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

At another address, a drone strike hit a 16-storey building and windows were blown out from the ground to the eighth floors.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Reports also came of a drone strike on an apartment building in the Obolonskyi district but no fire was found at the site.

A firefighter extinguishing a fire. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

        26 .

:  pic.twitter.com/LCO491hcNt     (@ukrpravda_news) October 26, 2025

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Twenty-nine people, including seven children, were injured in the attack. All are receiving assistance.

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Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 101 drones on the night of 25-26 October. Ukraine's Air Force reported that 90 of these drones had been shot down or jammed.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Details: Sixty of the drones were Shaheds.

Five attack drones hit targets at four locations, and debris fell at five locations.

Background: On the night of 25-26 October, 3 people were killed and 29 injured, including 7 children, as Kyiv came under a Russian attack.

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Russia attacked the city of Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with a guided aerial bomb on the afternoon of 26 October, injuring one person.

Source: Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of Kryvyi Rih Defence Council

Details: Vilkul reported that the guided aerial bomb had been destroyed by air defence forces. However, its debris caused a fire at an industrial facility.

He added that the condition of the person injured in the attack is not serious.

Background: On the night of 25-26 October, Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district 15 times and injured a 63-year-old woman.

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Russian forces have used nearly 1,200 loitering munitions and 50 missiles, most of them ballistic, against Ukraine over the past week.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address

Quote: "This week alone, the Russians have used nearly 1,200 attack drones and 50 missiles of various types  most of them ballistic  against Ukraine.

Defence against such a threat can only be a shared effort  no nation in the world should be left alone against this."

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Details: Zelenskyy said Ukraine has made progress towards the decisions it needs this week.

"I had a conversation with the German chancellor, and we are also speaking with several other European partners regarding Patriots. I would especially like to thank the United Kingdom and France  France has decided to provide additional Mirage fighter jets to Ukraine and air defence missiles, and the UK will continue to support us with air defence  also with missiles, and in the production of interceptor drones  thank you for that. There have also been new decisions on contributions to the PURL programme from Finland and Spain," the president said.

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Editor's note: The story was updated with the latest details.

Russia has tested its newly developed nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed Burevestnik cruise missile, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov said in a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 26.

"I have a report from the industrial bodies, and in general, I am familiar with the estimates provided by the Defense Ministry. It's a unique product that no one else in the world possesses," Putin claimed, according to Russian state media.

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Russia was ready to test the low-flying nuclear missile ahead of Putin's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Aug. 15, Reuters previously reported. Satellite imagery revealed extensive activity at the Pankovo test site on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

"We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000-kilometer (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit," Gerasimov said, adding that the test launch lasted for 15 hours.

Trump said the announcement was "not appropriate," urging Putin to seek an end to the war in Ukraine instead of "testing missiles." He also noted that Moscow is aware the U.S. has a nuclear submarine deployed "right off their shore."

"They're not playing games with us; we're not playing games with them either," Trump told journalists on Air Force One on Oct. 27.

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U.S.-based researchers previously identified a possible deployment site for Russia's Burevestnik missile. The site is adjacent to a nuclear warhead storage facility known as Vologda-20 or Chebsara, located about 475 kilometers (295 miles) north of Moscow.

Norway's military intelligence told Reuters that the cruise missile was launched from Novaya Zemlya, an Arctic archipelago in the Barents Sea.

Western analysts remain skeptical of the cruise missile. Eight experts interviewed by Reuters pointed to the missiles troubled development history and inherent design flaws. They questioned whether its deployment would significantly alter the nuclear balance between the West and other adversaries.

Analysts say the Burevestnik missile has become more important to the Kremlin since the White House announced in January plans to develop the Golden Dome U.S. missile defense shield.

Read also: AI drones in Ukraine  this is where were at

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TOKYO, Oct 26 (News On Japan) - A 38-year-old man was arrested near the U.S. Embassy in Tokyos Minato Ward on October 24th after attacking a riot police officer with a knife, injuring the officers right leg.

Police said the suspect, identified as Tatsuya Shiota, was apprehended on the spot on suspicion of obstructing official duties. The injured officer sustained a serious wound to the leg after being stabbed while subduing the suspect.

According to investigators, Shiota made incoherent statements during questioning, at one point claiming that heavy rain during the incident was the Meteorological Agencys fault. He reportedly told police that the strengthening rain was also because of the Meteorological Agency.

The attack took place amid heightened security measures in the area, as police had increased patrols around the embassy ahead of a planned visit by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Source: FNN
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Russia targeted Ukraine's capital with drones, killing three people in their homes, authorities said early Sunday.

At least 29 people were wounded, seven of them children, in the second consecutive nighttime attack on Kyiv to claim civilian lives. Ukraine's Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said a 19-year-old woman and her 46-year-old mother were among the killed.

Russian drones caused fires in two residential buildings in the capital's Desnianskyi district. Emergency crews evacuated civilians from a nine-story and a 16-story building, put out flames and cleared the rubble.

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Olha Yevhenivha, 74, said there was so much smoke from the fire that she couldnt leave her apartment.

Even until now our windows are totally black from the smoke, and it was impossible to go down, so thats why we put wet blankets on our doors and balcony, she said.

Ihor Motchanyi, a soccer player, said he and his parents miraculously survived after a drone sparked a blaze inside their home the day after his 25th birthday.

My mother and I left. My father stayed behind in the apartment and wanted to take some documents, the most important things. He couldnt get out because there was a fire, so he jumped down from the (third) floor" into a nearby tree, Motchanyi told AP.

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He said his family were planning to leave Kyiv temporarily, and stay with relatives in a village.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 101 drones overnight into Sunday, according to Ukraine's air force, of which 90 were shot down and neutralized. Five drones hit four locations and drone debris fell on five other places, the statement said.

The attack came a day after a Russian missiles and drones killed four people, including two Kyiv, prompting fresh pleas from Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Western air defense systems.

Russias Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that over the previous day, its forces struck energy facilities and rail infrastructure serving Ukraine's war effort, as well as other military targets such as troop deployment points and a drone factory.

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It did not comment specifically on strikes on Kyiv, nor on the civilian casualties reported by Ukraine.

In Russias Bryansk region near Ukraine, two civilians were hospitalized following Ukrainian drone strikes, according to regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz. At least 26 Ukrainian drones were downed over southwestern Russia on Sunday, according to the Defense Ministry in Moscow.

Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country had tested a new atomic-powered missile that can carry a nuclear warhead and confound existing defenses, according to remarks released on Sunday.

The announcement, which followed years of tests, comes as part of nuclear messaging from the Kremlin, which has resisted Western pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine and strongly warned the U.S. and other NATO allies against sanctioning strikes deep inside Russia with longer-range Western weapons.

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Earlier this week, Putin directed drills of Russias strategic nuclear forces that featured practice missile launches. The exercise came as his planned summit on Ukraine with U.S. President Donald Trump was put on hold, the latest twist in Trump's stop-and-go effort to resolve the war.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks taped on Saturday that a date for the summit has not been agreed, and that Trump was the one to postpone it after initially suggesting it could take place by the end of the month.

But Peskov insisted that the summit had not been cancelled, and said recent U.S. sanctions against Russia's top oil companies were not a reason to abandon dialogue.

The presidents cant meet for the sake of meeting; they cant waste their time, and theyre open about it, he said in an interview with Russian state TV released on Sunday, describing peace talks as a complex process.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
This week, the Kyiv Independents Anna Belokur reports on new evidence of Russian war crimes in Pokrovsk, an embattled city in Donetsk Oblast, where intercepted communications reveal Russian soldiers were ordered to execute civilians. The episode also covers Russias continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other populated areas targeting kindergartens, homes, and energy infrastructure. While Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire with Ukraine, has U.S. President Donald Trump finally shifted his approach to Russia?

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A warehouse complex and office of Optima-Pharm, Ukraine's second largest pharmaceutical distributor, were destroyed in a Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of 24-25 October.

Source: Ukrainian news portal Liga.net, citing a market analyst and a company employee

Details: Early estimates indicate that the company's losses exceed US$100 million.

The Optima-Pharm warehouse has an area of 29,000 sq m.

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This was the second attack on the company. Russian forces also struck the pharmaceutical warehouse of Optima-Pharm in Kyiv on 28 August.

Optima-Pharm is the second largest pharmaceutical distributor after BaDM. The company has operated on the Ukrainian market for 31 years.

The owner is Andrii Hubskyi who remains out of the public eye.

Forbes Ukraine notes that his business, with a 33% stake and 12 pharmaceutical warehouses totalling 70,000 sq m, remains among the largest in the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market.

Background: Thirty-two people, including seven children, were injured and three killed in the Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of 25-26 October.

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A Russian loitering munition struck the roof of an apartment block in the city of Sumy on the afternoon of Sunday 26 October, injuring one person.

Source: Ukraine's State Emergency Service (SES); Artem Kobzar, acting Mayor of Sumy

The aftermath of the attack Photo: SES

Details: According to the SES, the strike on the roof of a nine-storey residential building caused a fire, which firefighters promptly extinguished.

Early reports indicate that one person sustained an acute stress reaction.

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Kobzar clarified that an Italmas-type UAV had caused a fire on the roof of the building in the Zarichnyi city district.

One person was injured: a 44-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction and was provided with medical assistance.

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A Russian drone has struck a fixed-route minibus on the Sumy-Bilopillia motorway in the Sumy district, injuring 10 people, including two children.

Source: Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office; Oleh Hryhorov, Head of Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: Sumy Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported that the attack occurred at around 16:50 on 26 October, when a minibus travelling on the Sumy-Bilopillia road was attacked by a Russian drone. There were five passengers and a driver in the vehicle. Five of them sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity.

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Quote from Hryhorov: "A Russian drone has hit a minibus on the motorway near the Mykolaivka hromada. The Russians have deliberately struck a passenger vehicle, directly hitting civilians.

Early reports indicate that five people have been injured, including a minor. One person is in a serious condition." [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

The attacked minibus. Photo: Prosecutor's Office

Details: Hryhorov added that the minibus, which had been heading towards Sumy, was completely burnt out.

"Scheduled public transport should not have been using this section of the road  other routes have been designated for such travel. We are currently establishing all the circumstances of the incident," he added.

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Update: Hryhorov later reported that the number of people injured as a result of the Russian strike on the minibus has risen to 10.

Among the injured are two children aged 15 and 8. Two of them  one child and one adult  are in a critical condition.

Hryhorov reiterated that this section of the road is subject to restrictions, as it is a high-risk area, and that a route scheme for passenger transport that bypasses dangerous roads has been developed and approved.

"Ignoring such requirements puts people's lives at risk and can have tragic consequences. Irresponsibility when it comes to safety is unacceptable. All the circumstances of the incident are currently being clarified, and I am confident that the law enforcement agencies will give it a proper assessment," Hryhorov added.

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated that Moscow does not consider its aggression against Ukraine to be a violation of the Budapest Memorandum.

Source: Lavrov in an interview with the Hungarian YouTube channel Ultrahang, as reported by Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti

Quote: "The [Budapest] Memorandum states that Ukraine, like other former Soviet republics that gave up nuclear weapons, would receive guarantees from nuclear powers to non-nuclear states. That's all. That's it. These guarantees say that nuclear weapons will not be used against non-nuclear states that are parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."

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Details: Lavrov justified Russia's actions by claiming that alongside the Budapest Memorandum, the same parties signed a declaration committing to OSCE principles, including minority rights, democracy and freedom of speech. He asserted that these obligations were violated by Kyiv.

For reference: The Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (the Budapest Memorandum) was signed on 5 December 1994.

Its text states that Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States "reaffirm their commitment to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine." They also pledged to "refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, and that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defence or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations".

The signatories further confirmed their commitment to "refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine of the rights inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind".

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It is evident that Russia has flagrantly violated these provisions of the Budapest Memorandum, having waged aggression against Ukraine since 2014 and launching a full-scale invasion in 2022.

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The Russians have claimed that their air defence systems shot down 82 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory on the night of 25-26 October.

Source: Russian Ministry of Defence

Details: According to the Russian ministry, most of the drones  30  were shot down over Bryansk Oblast.

Another 26 drones were downed over Tula Oblast, and seven over the Black Sea.

Four drones were supposedly destroyed over each of the Sea of Azov, Krasnodar Krai and Ryazan Oblast.

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Three drones were said to be downed over Rostov Oblast and two over the Moscow region, including "one UAV flying towards Moscow".

One drone was downed over each of Kursk and Lipetsk oblasts.

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Russian forces have launched a targeted strike on a civilian freight vehicle on the outskirts of the Bilopillia hromada in Sumy Oblast. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration

Details: A 36-year-old man delivering food to the city sustained injuries as a result of the attack. He received medical assistance at the scene.

Background: Over the course of 25 October, Russian troops carried out 64 attacks on 31 settlements across 14 hromadas in Sumy Oblast.

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They dragged desks down stairs, stuffed clothes still on hangers into cars and filled trunks, backseats and a U-Haul with other belongings.

Part eviction, part garage sale, members of the Rutgers University fraternity shut down over hazing allegations were clearing out their possessions Saturday as Homecoming Weekend visitors looked on.

The Alpha Sigma Phi brothers declined to discuss the hazing accusations leveled against the fraternity. But they made it clear that the fraternitys national organization knew about the safety hazards and maintenance issues with their New Brunswick house. And they said the chapter was aware well before a 19-year-old Rutgers student suffered an electric shock and needed to be hospitalized in an Oct. 14 incident authorities are still investigating.

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As the fraternity members came to clear out their belongings Saturday, they discovered signs of a break-in and vandalism, the brothers said.

Members and parents said they returned to broken glass, crowbar marks, and missing or damaged clothing and electronics. Security was on-site as they cleared out their things.

Rutgers University Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the alleged break-in.

Weve been complaining for a while, one member said Saturday about the state of the house. He spoke under the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. We just got it the worst because the violations kept adding up.

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Nationals knew what they were doing, another member said.

Fraternity students move out

The house had a history of code violations and lacked locks on multiple doors, according to residents. A July inspection found electrical hazards and exposed wiring.

CLVEN, the fraternitys housing arm, manages properties nationally. Records show the house was fined repeatedly for infractions dating to 2014, including obstructed exits, broken doorways and failing carbon monoxide detectors.

Conflicting accounts have emerged, with some claiming exposed wiring contributed to the students injury. The national chapter has not addressed the code violations. But it maintains hazing was involved.

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Based on our investigation, hazing did occur and as a result, the fraternity made the decision to close the chapter, Gordy Heminger, spokesperson for Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity Inc., said Friday.

At some point, water became involved  Heminger added. This was hazing.

The house at 106 College Ave. is now listed as closed on the universitys website.

University officials, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and Alpha Sigma Phis national office said the incident remains under investigation.

Rutgers Hazing Investigation

Fraternity students move out

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YOKOHAMA, Oct 26 (News On Japan) - Defense Minister Koizumi inspected Self-Defense Force bases and expressed his intention to boost defense equipment exports through stronger top-level sales efforts.

Koizumi visited the Air Self-Defense Forces Yokota Base and the Maritime Self-Defense Forces Yokosuka Base in succession, where he offered encouragement to personnel.

At Yokosuka, he inspected the escort ship Kumano, the same model of which is scheduled to be exported to Australia. Defense equipment and technology cooperation is expanding, and this reflects the worlds growing expectations for Japans high technological capabilities. Meeting these expectations will contribute to international peace and stability, and as I pursue defense diplomacy, I intend to strengthen top-level sales, Koizumi said.

He went on to note that, following the agreement between the Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) to remove restrictions on defense equipment exports, I will carefully explain the necessity of achieving a virtuous cycle between defense and the economy.

Source: FNN
SALEM, Mo.  A man has been taken into custody after allegedly shooting a firearm toward a moving vehicle in Salem, Missouri, on Saturday, October 25.

According to a Salem Police Department social media post, Allen Smith has been charged with three counts of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful discharge of a firearm and second-degree property damage.

The post says that police responded to a report of shots being fired near Warfel and East Scenic Rivers Boulevard in Salem.

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Officers found that preliminary findings showed that a single shot was fired at a motor vehicle that was occupied by three juveniles.

Through coordination with the Dent County Sheriffs Office, officers located Smith, and he was transported to the police department for questioning.

Smith is in the Dent County Jail with no bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.




Sami Hamdi, a British Muslim journalist and political commentator, was detained by immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday, federal authorities said.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that the State Department revoked Hamdi's visa Friday and that he was being "placed in immigration proceedings."

Hamdi, 35, had been on a speaking tour in the U.S., according to a statement by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which called for Hamdi's "immediate release."

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Hamdi is editor-in-chief of the International Interest, a newsmagazine focusing on the Middle East, Far East Asia and the United Kingdom. He has been an outspoken critic of Israel's attacks on Gaza.

"Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticize the Israeli government's genocide is a blatant affront to free speech," CAIR said in a statement.

Hamdi advises governments and corporations as managing director of a global risk and intelligence company and is a regular commentator on news outlets including Al Jazeera, BBC and Sky News.

He had spoken at the annual gala of CAIR Sacramento on Saturday and was scheduled to speak at the gala of CAIR Florida on Sunday, according to CAIR, which is the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.

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In a social media post, Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and self-described "proud Islamophobe," took credit for Hamdi's detainment, writing that she "demanded that federal authorities inside the Trump administration treat Hamdi as the major National security threat that he is."

CAIR wrote in another social media post that the organization had confirmed that Hamdi was still in custody. "Our attorneys and partners are working to address this injustice," the organization said.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin indicated in a social media post that Hamdi would be deported, writing that he was "in ICE custody pending removal."

This article originally published at Sami Hamdi, British Muslim journalist, detained by ICE at SFO after visa revoked.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 6-year-old boy was hit and killed by a vehicle in San Diego Saturday night, and police are searching for the driver who drove off from the scene.

San Diego Police officers found an injured child in the road around 6:50 p.m. Saturday at 54th Street and University Avenue on the border of the Colina Del Sol and Chollas Creek neighborhoods.

Police report the child was hit by an unknown vehicle while crossing University Avenue mid-block.

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Swimmer in critical condition after Oceanside Pier rescue

The police department reports the child was taken to the hospital. In an update later Saturday, police confirmed the child died later at the hospital.

Police are actively searching for a suspect driving a silver or champagne colored Honda Accord who was last seen by multiple witnesses driving north on 54th Street from University Avenue.

California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued a Sig Alert at 7:45 p.m. Saturday for University Avenue. Traffic was closed in both directions from 54th to 58th streets as San Diego Police investigated the hit-and-run. The road was expected to remain closed until after at least 10 p.m.

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Anyone with more information can call San Diego Police or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
ALBANY  A local organization is among those benefiting from more than $9.6 million in New York State Opioid Settlement Fund being released by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).

The funding is being used to support two initiatives designed to increase access to a range of addiction services across the state.

OASAS is awarding $4.2 million to fund non-medical transportation efforts with Save the Michaels of the World, Inc. as one of the beneficiaries.

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The non-medical transportation project supports a comprehensive program for New Yorkers seeking substance use prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services, by assisting them with transportation to a variety of destinations that support their recovery goals such as doctors appointments and job interviews. More than 40,000 rides have been given through this program since it began in 2024.

Save the Michaels, which has a Lockport location on Walnut Street, raises awareness of prescription and other drug addictions. The organizations House of Hope supports families during a loved ones journey through addiction and into remission, providing a nurturing and supportive environment to parents, grandparents and spouses.

The second initiative being supported with the state opioid funds is the In-Community initiative which builds on previous outreach and engagement work by the agency to link high-need individuals to services, while the non-medical transportation initiative provides transportation help to allow New Yorkers impacted by addiction to access a range of recovery supports.

A total of $5,466,210 is being awarded to 10 providers for the In-Community initiative. This project is designed to reach individuals who may have difficulty accessing substance use disorder services. Through this initiative, which builds on previous outreach and engagement work by OASAS, outreach teams will work to engage individuals in a variety of community settings, such as social service agencies, hospitals, jails, shelters, and parks. Services can be delivered either in person or through telehealth.

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Locally, the Allegany Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. is set to receive $444,626.

New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

To date, New York has made more than $454 million available through the opioid settlement fund, which is the most of any state in the country. A detailed list of initiatives funded with this money is available on the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund tracker.

This funding builds on our ongoing work, which has already helped thousands of New Yorkers access important services and supports, OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said. We continue to work closely with the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board to get this funding out quickly to communities that need it and help the individuals and families most impacted by the opioid and overdose epidemic.

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New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the states toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found on the NYS OASAS website: osas.ny.gov.




ROTTERDAM - A woman allegedly threatened to shoot a Schenectady County legislator over his support of President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon while the local lawmaker was canvassing for reelection with his two sons in Rotterdam.

The incident unfolded when Josh Cuomo, a Princetown Republican and Conservative from district 4, and his children visited a residence on Cardiff Road shortly before 4 p.m. to share information about his campaign, according to Rotterdam police.

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Cuomo said a woman who lived at the home asked him if he supported Trump. After telling her that he did, the woman threatened him, saying, "If you come back, I'll get a gun and shoot you," Cuomo told the Times Union in a phone interview Sunday.

"I'm hoping that this acts as a wake-up call for some people that this is not allowed and is totally unacceptable, and people will kind of hopefully come together," Cuomo said.

She was arrested Saturday by Rotterdam police and charged with harassment and endangering the welfare of a child. She was arraigned in Schenectady County Central Arraignment and released, according to Rotterdam Police spokesperson Paul Girard.

The charges were based on a statement that Cuomo gave to police, according to Girard. On Sunday, Girard wasn't sure if the woman had admitted to authorities that she made the alleged threat.

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Cuomo, one of four legislators representing Rotterdam, Princetown and Duanesburg in the Schenectady County Legislature, said that he was more alarmed by the alleged threat than his children, who were with him that day.

The situation comes at a time when political violence is on the rise nationwide. Earlier this year, pro-Trump conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a live event, and Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were assassinated at home. Both circumstances involved gun violence.

It also comes more than a year after former Rotterdam Town Councilman Joseph Mastroianni received a threatening letter from a Schenectady school district employee, resulting in a police report being filed. Mastroianni had been under scrutiny at the time after he was accused of stealing mail from his political opponent, Democratic state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara.

In a statement, Schenectady County GOP Committee Chairwoman Liz Joy said that local Republicans stand against all forms of political violence.

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"Every candidate, regardless of party or belief, deserves to engage with voters safely and respectfully," Joy said. "We are deeply grateful that Josh and his family are unharmed."

She added that she trusts law enforcement will "ensure accountability" of the woman arrested.

Schenectady County Democratic Chairman Frank Salamone said that he has consistently spoken out against political violence, including Kirk's assassination and Michael Coleman, former chief financial officer of the regional Ronald McDonald House in Albany, stealing conservative lawn signs in Duanesburg last year.

This article originally published at Schenectady legislator says woman threatened to shoot him after he voiced support for Trump.
For decades, scientists have wondered how the Suns outer atmosphere  the corona  burns millions of degrees hotter than its surface. A new study led by Northumbria University physicist Richard Morton offers a major clue: the Suns heat may come from tiny magnetic waves that twist and ripple through its outer layers like an invisible dance.

Cracking the Coronas Heat Mystery

The Suns visible surface, called the photosphere, sits at about 5,500 degrees Celsius. Yet the corona above it reaches temperatures exceeding a million degrees. For that to happen, something must transport and amplify energy upward  and fast. The heated plasma escaping from the corona forms the solar wind, a constant stream of charged particles that shapes space weather and interacts with planetary magnetic fields, including Earths.

Scientists have long suspected that waves moving along the Suns magnetic field lines  known as Alfven waves, after Nobel laureate Hannes Alfven  might carry that energy. But while large, violent versions of these waves had been observed during solar flares, the small, constant ones believed to power the Sun itself remained elusive. Until now.

An artists representation of twisting magnetic waves (inset) revealed for the first time by the NSF Inouye Solar Telescope. These upward-traveling torsional waves coexist with other wave types and may be an essential ingredient in solving the mystery of why the suns atmosphere is so hot. (2025). (CREDIT: NSF/NSO/AURA/J. Williams)

A Powerful New Look at the Sun

Morton and his international team captured the first direct evidence of these small-scale torsional Alfven waves, using the worlds most advanced solar telescope  the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in Hawaii. Equipped with its Cryogenic Near Infrared Spectropolarimeter (Cryo-NIRSP), DKIST can detect fine details in the corona that were previously impossible to see.

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With a four-meter mirror  the largest ever built for solar observation  and a specialized infrared spectrometer, the telescope observed iron in the corona heated to about 1.6 million degrees Celsius. The data, collected on October 30, 2023, revealed subtle shifts in light that showed plasma twisting back and forth along magnetic flux tubes about 0.1 solar radii above the Suns visible edge.

Morton explained that the challenge wasnt just spotting motion, but separating one type of wave from another. The movement of plasma in the suns corona is dominated by swaying motions, he said. These mask the torsional motions, so I had to develop a way of removing the swaying to find the twisting.

Watching the Suns Magnetic Dance

By filtering and analyzing the Doppler shifts  changes in wavelength caused by plasma moving toward or away from Earth  the researchers found the telltale red and blue pattern of twisting motion: one side of a magnetic tube moving toward us while the other moves away. This is the fingerprint of torsional Alfven waves.

Image of the solar corona taken with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory in the extreme ultraviolet (193 A channel) to provide context for the Cryo-NIRSP data. (CREDIT: Nature Astronomy)

The team measured twisting speeds averaging around 19.5 kilometers per second after correcting for viewing angle and other effects. Thats about the speed of a high-altitude jet aircraft and strong enough to move significant amounts of energy through the solar atmosphere. These waves were found in quiet regions of the corona, not just in stormy flare zones, suggesting they occur constantly across the Sun.

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Simulations run by the researchers supported the observations, showing that torsional motions dominate near the edges of magnetic structures while kink waves  the side-to-side swaying  dominate their centers. Together, these motions generate a steady flux of magnetic energy.

Enough Energy to Power the Suns Outer Layers

The study estimated that the energy carried by these Alfven waves ranges from about 100 to 400 watts per square meter. Thats more than enough to heat the quiet corona and help accelerate the fast solar wind that streams through the solar system.

The data also hint that these estimates may be conservative. Because multiple magnetic tubes overlap along the line of sight and telescope resolution has limits, some of the wave energy may go undetected. Correcting for these effects could push the energy levels even higher.

Cryo-NIRSP (right), the Inouyes advanced coronal spectropolarimeter, used to track twisting plasma motions in the suns corona. (CREDIT: NSF/NSO/AURA)

Mortons findings align with long-standing theories that Alfven waves convert magnetic energy into heat through turbulent interactions in the plasma. This discovery ends a protracted search for these waves that has its origins in the 1940s, he said. Weve finally been able to directly observe these torsional motions twisting the magnetic field lines back and forth in the corona.

The Global Effort Behind a Breakthrough

The research, published in Nature Astronomy, was a collaboration among scientists from Northumbria University, the National Solar Observatory in Hawaii and Colorado, Peking University, KU Leuven, Queen Mary University of London, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Northumbria Universitys contribution extended beyond analysis  it helped design cameras for one of DKISTs major imaging instruments. Morton secured telescope time even before full operations began, taking advantage of a rare testing window to capture the groundbreaking data.

Illuminating Space Weather and the Solar Wind

Understanding how energy moves through the Suns atmosphere isnt just about curiosity. The solar wind  the stream of charged particles flowing from the corona  influences the entire solar system. When it intensifies, it can disrupt satellites, interfere with GPS, and even overload power grids on Earth.

Results of 3D MHD simulations of wave propagation along an overdense open coronal waveguide. (CREDIT: Nature Astronomy)

Alfven waves may also explain magnetic switchbacks, sudden reversals in solar wind direction that have been recorded by NASAs Parker Solar Probe. If these twisting motions help drive such phenomena, they could become key to forecasting space weather events more accurately.

This work represents the first step toward decoding how energy flows and dissipates in the corona. The team plans to follow the waves farther out from the Sun to see how they evolve and where they release their energy as heat. Future studies combining DKISTs data with images from spacecraft like the Parker Solar Probe could reveal the full life cycle of these magnetic waves.

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As Morton puts it, having direct observations finally allows us to test these models against reality. For the first time, solar physicists can match their equations and computer models to whats really happening on the Suns surface.

Practical Implications of the Research

The discovery of small-scale torsional Alfven waves reshapes how scientists understand the Suns energy system. It provides a credible explanation for why the corona burns millions of degrees hotter than the surface and how the solar wind is accelerated.

On a practical level, these insights can improve forecasts of solar storms that threaten satellites, astronauts, and electrical grids on Earth.

The ability to trace how magnetic energy moves through the Suns atmosphere also strengthens our understanding of magnetic turbulence  a process that influences plasmas across the universe, from stars to fusion reactors.

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Research findings are available online in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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In a surprising twist to long-standing scientific concerns, new research from the University of Colorado Boulder suggests that some corals may be adapting to the changing climate, defying predictions about their decline in increasingly acidic oceans.

The study, published in Science Advances, focused on coral skeletons from the Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea, one dating back nearly 200 years and the other 115 years.

Using a high-tech method called Raman spectroscopy, researcher Jessica Hankins found that corals have continued building their hard calcium carbonate skeletons even though ocean acidity has increased since the Industrial Revolution.

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"We found that corals were able to regulate the mechanism they use to build and maintain their skeletons despite the ocean becoming more acidic," said Hankins, calling it "an unexpected and hopeful signal."

This matters because ocean acidification, caused by rising carbon dioxide levels absorbed from the atmosphere, reduces the availability of carbonate ions, a critical building block for coral skeletons.

Scientists have long feared this would lead to weaker coral structures and widespread reef collapse. But this study hints that some coral species may be more resilient than previously thought.

The research is particularly relevant as coral reefs continue to face extreme stress from warming seas, pollution, and overfishing. Between 2023 and mid-2024, mass bleaching events were reported in at least 62 countries and territories, highlighting the urgent threats these ecosystems face.

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Coral reefs aren't just beautiful underwater structures; they are vital to marine biodiversity, acting as nurseries, habitats, and feeding grounds for thousands of marine species. They also serve humans by protecting coastlines from erosion and storm damage.

While the findings offer a glimmer of hope, scientists caution that more research is needed to understand if this adaptability applies to other coral species and regions.

Still, the discovery reminds us that nature may hold more resilience than we realize, and it underscores the importance of protecting marine environments amid a changing climate.

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Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Liberals are taking to social media to call out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for claiming he feels the pain of soybean farmers because hes one of them.

ABC Newss Martha Raddatz asked Bessent Sunday about the plight of farmers facing Chinese boycotts on American soybeans due to President Donald Trumps tariffs.

American farmers have really suffered, Raddatz said Sunday. Do you see a real light at the end of the tunnel there, they may allow soybeans again?

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Martha, in case you dont know it, Im actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too, Bessent answered.

According to The New York Times, Bessent  a former hedge fund manager whose net worth is estimated to top $500 million  owns as much as $25 million worth of corn and soybean farmland in North Dakota that he rents out to farmers, netting him more than $1 million a year.

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) wrote, Bessent is hoping Americans dont know hes worth over $500M. He doesnt know the first thing about the pain farmers are feeling from this administrations reckless actions.

Bessent is hoping Americans dont know hes worth over $500M. He doesnt know the first thing about the pain farmers are feeling from this administrations reckless actions. https://t.co/D9FXU9T9G1 pic.twitter.com/SJSnipD65Y  Andy Kim (@AndyKimNJ) October 26, 2025

Oh my God. How is this even real? liberal think tank CEO Neera Tanden added.

Oh my God. How is this even real? https://t.co/cAIOiip7z4  Neera Tanden  (@neeratanden) October 26, 2025

Others followed suit, expressing their outrage.

Bessents net worth is over $500 million. Not sure hes feeling the same kind of pain as your average soybean farmer. https://t.co/EFHJBJGrVz  Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) October 26, 2025

 Bessent is literally worth more than 1/2 billion dollars. He says it's ok to put tariffs on farmers because "I have felt this pain too" https://t.co/HAiqOiq8Lo  Jesse Ferguson (@JesseFFerguson) October 26, 2025

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Martha Raddatz: China has been boycotting American soybeans and American farmers have really suffered. Scott Bessent: I'm actually a soybean farmer so I have actually felt this pain too We have addressed the farmers concerns. Our soybean farmers will feel good both for this pic.twitter.com/MdYj0zIIwK  Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) October 26, 2025

From his perch as a long-time global currency trader on Wall Street, Bessent also invested $25 million in Midwest land, which he leases out to actual farmers. He is not a soybean farmer. https://t.co/fedyo39FWO  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) October 26, 2025

Only a right wing elitist would think that owning a bunch of farmland makes you a farmer. No, farming makes you a farmer Scott. Youre an investor and land owner. https://t.co/eFLepOvdaL  Tim Wise (@timjacobwise) October 26, 2025

I have felt this pain too is truly a wild clip https://t.co/onYY3PPjz6  Rob Flaherty (@Rob_Flaherty) October 26, 2025

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Bessent added, I believe when the announcement of the deal that with China is made public that our soybean farmers will feel very good about whats going on both for this season and coming seasons for several years.

President Trump is on a week-long trip to Asia, and is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday.

Ahead of the meeting, Bessent told CBS News that he did not anticipate the 100% tariff on Chinese goods threatened by Trump coming into force, while China will resume substantial soybean purchases from the US.

Watch the clip above via ABC News.

The post Scott Bessent Mocked by Left for Saying He Feels the Pain of Soybean Farmers Because He is One: Net Worth is Over $500 Million first appeared on Mediaite.
Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro issued a rare plea to Donald Trump in English, calling for peace with the United States as tensions between Caracas and Washington escalate following a series of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific.

"Yes peace, yes peace forever. Peace forever. No crazy war, please!" Maduro said in English during a meeting with pro-government labor unions in Caracas. Maduro's comments were met with applause from the audience. Switching between Spanish and English, he repeated the appeal several times: "No war. No war. No crazy war. Yes peace. Please, peace forever."

 Maduro dedica unas palabras a Trump en ingles: Not war, not war. Yes peace, yes peace. No crazy war, please, please, please. pic.twitter.com/A4JigOGZNk  THE OBJECTIVE (@TheObjective_es) October 24, 2025

Since early September, U.S. forces have expanded operations off Venezuela's coast and in the eastern Pacific. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has compared the campaign to the post-9/11 war on terror, saying, "We will find you, we will map your networks, we will hunt you down, and we will kill you."

As a result, the United States has deployed stealth bombers, warships, and drones as part of a military campaign it says targets narcotics trafficking in regional waters. The Pentagon has not provided evidence that the eight vessels and one semi-submersible attacked since September were engaged in drug smuggling. At least 37 people have been killed in the strikes, according to figures compiled by AFP.

Flight data compiled on Thursday showed that two American B1-Lancers flew just 6 miles away from the Venezuelan coast before returning north, an approach that president Trump denied during a White House roundtable meeting.

Venezuelan officials have accused Washington of attempting to justify regime change under the guise of anti-drug operations. "We know the CIA is present in Venezuela," Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said Thursday. "They may deploy CIA-affiliated units in covert operations, and any attempt will fail."

Maduro has also ordered military exercises along the coast and activated what the government calls Zonas Operativas de Defensa Integral (ZODI), a network of regional defense units combining military personnel, police, and civilians under direct command of the armed forces. The move, involving tens of thousands of troops, is part of an initiative known as Objective Independence 200, launched after the first U.S. maritime strikes.

The Venezuelan authoritarian leader's English-language appeal marks his second public plea in as many weeks. On October 17, he addressed the Trump administration in a televised message, also in English: "Not war, yes peace. With the people of the United States. Please, please, please. Listen to me."

Originally published on Latin Times
TOKYO, Oct 26 (News On Japan) - Googles latest generative AI technology, unveiled at its Google Marketing Live event, is sending shockwaves through the advertising industry because much of the work marketers do today is now on track to be handled directly by AI in the near future, according to marketing strategist Kazuki Nishiguchi.

This program features TV Tokyo announcer Emika Furuhata putting a series of questions about marketing to Nishiguchi, a well-known figure in the field. The goal is to help business professionals understand marketing fundamentals and practical applications in an accessible way. The project is a collaboration between TV Tokyos Teleto BIZ and Nikkei Cross Trend, a digital media outlet focused on marketing.

Nishiguchi is president of Strategy Partners and Wisdom Evolution Company. He previously led marketing at companies including P&G, Rohto Pharmaceutical, and LOccitane Japan, and has advised more than 300 companies. He is known for his N=1 analysis approach, which starts by deeply understanding one individual customer and building product and service strategy from those insights. Furuhata is an announcer with TV Tokyo.

Asked for his reaction to Google Marketing Live 2025, Nishiguchi said his first impression was confusion  Google presented a series of individual tools and functions, and at first it was not obvious how they connected. But after watching the whole thing and thinking it through, he said he felt shock, because it became clear to him that Google is trying to take over the entire world of marketing.

In his view, this is not just about AI replacing certain human tasks. It is about AI collapsing the distance between a product and the person who will buy it  and doing so across every layer of marketing, from awareness to conversion to payment to even surfacing needs the customer has not yet put into words.

Nishiguchi said, Ive been working for 36 years trying to close those gaps manually. And now Im convinced this work wont exist anymore. Within five years, around 80% of the work currently called marketing will disappear.

He added that he does not like making predictions because people later complain that forecasts were off, but given the current speed of AI development by companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI since May, it is highly likely that most routine marketing jobs will be automated inside five years.

What exactly is being automated? Nishiguchi explains marketing as the act of narrowing five types of distance that exist between what a company offers and what a customer wants. He describes business as the pairing of who (the customer) and what (the product or service), and says money flows when the customer perceives real value in the product or service. But that exchange does not happen instantly  there are five kinds of distance that must be shortened.

The five distances are:

Recognition distance: whether the customer even knows the product exists, or understands its value.

Communication distance: whether the company can deliver the right message to the right person in a persuasive way.

Distribution distance: whether the customer can easily obtain the product at the moment they want it.

Transaction distance: how easily the customer can complete the purchase.

Latent-need distance: helping the customer realize needs they have not yet put into words.

Nishiguchi argues that all real marketing work is, in the end, an effort to shorten one or more of these distances, using budget, data, channels, and labor. What stunned him about Googles announcements is that Google is now positioning itself to compress all five distances, end to end, using AI.

On recognition distance: Until now, a user typed a search query into Google, saw a list of links and ads, clicked, refined the query, clicked again, and so on. That loop  search, skim, repeat  was where marketers fought for attention and inserted ads. Google is now moving toward AI Overviews, in which Google pre-assembles an answer: it predicts what you are likely trying to learn and simply presents a synthesized, proactive response at the top of the results. Instead of you digging through multiple sites, the platform surfaces, in one shot, Heres what you need.

Until recently, many people in the industry assumed Google would not fully commit to this model because it risks reducing the number of traditional ad placements, and therefore threatens Googles core ad business. Nishiguchi said the surprise is that Google appears willing to disrupt even its own revenue structure  which suggests that it already sees a viable path to keep the business running profitably under the new model, rather than acting out of idealism.

On communication distance: Traditionally, digital marketing teams spent large amounts of manual effort configuring campaigns, choosing keywords, defining target segments, designing banner ads and listing ads, producing and testing multiple creative variations, and gradually shifting budget toward what performed best. Google is now proposing to automate this entire workflow.

Systems such as Asset Studio, Power Pair/Power Pack, and Creator Partnerships Hub (introduced as part of the recent announcements) point toward a pipeline where you feed basic information about a product  a few images, product specs, and a short description  and the AI will generate ad copy, visuals, formats, and localized variations. It will then test creative variations automatically, learn which versions actually convert, and expand reach to similar audiences without human micromanagement.

Nishiguchi gave a simple example: Suppose you invent a new pen that fits perfectly in the hand, reduces strain, and feels like an extension of your body. You are not even sure who the ideal customers are yet. Under the traditional model, you would build different ads, guess at target demographics, buy some clicks, and iterate by hand. Under the AI model, you load product information and initial assets, and the system not only generates the ads and copy but also learns from early sales, figures out who is buying, and then automatically scales to find more people like them. It can even expand to overseas markets and automatically present the pitch in the local language, all without you manually instructing it country by country.

In other words, the act of who should we target, what message should we show them, and which creator should present it? is no longer a full-time human job. The platform itself decides, produces, matches, and runs.

He also noted the emergence of creator matching. Short-form video creators and influencers already drive product discovery, and viewers increasingly decide where to shop based on short videos rather than traditional search. Google is moving toward automatically pairing suitable creators with suitable products, while also using engagement and trust metrics to filter out low-quality creators. Nishiguchi said this implies a world where weak products that were once pushed with hype marketing will struggle to survive, because systems will continuously match high-performing creators with genuinely compelling products.

On distribution distance: Consumers increasingly expect I want it now, wherever I am. E-commerce and global logistics have already shortened this gap, but AI is positioned to push it further. Nishiguchis view is that Google is heading toward a model where, if there is demand for a product, the system will simply surface ways to get it to that person in their country, in their channel, in their preferred buying context  without the brand having to orchestrate channel strategy country by country.

On transaction distance: Payments, too, are being compressed. Nishiguchi pointed to how payment has evolved from cash, to cards, to tapping a transit gate with a smartcard or phone, to a near-future model where you simply walk through a gate and facial or biometric recognition handles settlement in the background. He described this as the same kind of friction removal: no wallet, no card, no QR code, no checkout step. AI ties identity to authorization and clears the purchase.

On the final distance, latent-need distance: This is where Nishiguchi thinks the change becomes almost eerie. Up to now, consumers had to articulate what they wanted, then search for it, then compare options. The emerging model flips that. The system can infer what kind of experience you are likely to want  even before you fully know it yourself  and then assemble and sell it to you.

He uses travel to illustrate this. Today, if you say you want to ride scenic mountain railways in Switzerland, hike in alpine air, and spend quiet time in nature, you might watch YouTube videos, read blogs, and then try to assemble lodging and transport. In the AI-driven model, you would instead be fed an automatically built plan: here is the route, here is the scenery, here is the timing, here is the cost, here is the packing list for that season and altitude (for example, a warning about humidity or temperature), and here is the add to calendar / pay now button. The system would even propose experiences you did not explicitly request but that people like you tend to love, effectively surfacing unspoken desires and converting them into booked revenue.

He argues that this is not science fiction on a 10-year horizon. It is a multi-year horizon. The fact that Google is openly moving to close all five distances  awareness, messaging, availability, payment, and subconscious desire  means the traditional marketing organization, which once existed to close those gaps by hand, will shrink.

For consumers, Nishiguchi said, this future is convenient: Only the good stuff finds you, and you spend less time searching and less time worrying about being misled by mediocre products. For marketers, he said, it is frightening, because AI systems that never tire, never stop testing, and instantly translate and distribute globally will outperform most human teams at the routine work of campaign planning, creative production, targeting, media buying, localization, creator outreach, funnel optimization, and even product positioning.

Nishiguchi concluded that in practical terms, if Google succeeds in what it has just begun to build, most of what people today call marketing work will either be compressed to near-zero human labor or vanish entirely.

Source: BIZ
A Covington Twp. woman pointed a gun at two other women on Thursday during a dispute over parking, Scranton police said.

At about noon officers were called to the 300 block of Lackawanna Avenue, near the Marketplace at Steamtown, for an individual pointing a gun at another person.

When officers arrived, they spoke with Imani Ingrim and Sharee Maultsby.

According to the criminal complaint:

Ingrim said she was parking her vehicle behind another vehicle, which Jessica Lopez had just parked, when Lopez rolled down her window and yelled, back up.

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Ingrim told officers she complied with Lopezs request and backed up.

When Ingrim and Maultsby got out of their car and headed for the parking meter to pay for parking, Lopez, 42, of 27 Jubilee Road, asked what their problem was parking behind her, according to the complaint.

The three began to argue, when Lopez reached into her waistband, pulled out a gun and pointed it at them, saying, I have a concealed weapon, Ingrim and Maultsby told officers.

Ingrim and Maultsby told Lopez they were calling the police and crossed the street to the Marketplace at Steamtown, where they called 911.

Lopez told officers she had just parked her vehicle and was attempting to move it closer to the curb, when Ingrim pulled up behind her.

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Lopez told officers her vehicle didnt have a backup camera and had a hitch, so she was concerned about hitting Ingrims vehicle.

Lopez acknowledged that Ingrim backed up when she asked her to.

When Lopez got out of her vehicle, the two were talking near the parking meter and she asked, Is there a problem?

Lopez told police Maultsby began egging her on and that she said, Lets move on with our day and pay for what we have to pay for.

When Ingrim and Maultsby walked toward her, she went back into her vehicle and got her gun, Lopez said.

She told police she put the firearm in her waistband and denied pointing it at the other women.

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A witness told officers they saw Lopez pointing the gun at the two women, but also said the two women seemed to be escalating the situation.

The gun was identified as a Springfield Hellcat 9 mm firearm. Police said Lopez had a valid concealed license to carry.

Lopez is charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 3 before District Judge Paul Ware.
A school administrator reported a 9-year-old girl missing after she hadnt been seen in months. When deputies went to Melodee Buzzards home to investigate, her mother was there  but the young girl was nowhere to be found.

Now, officials are investigating why her mom drove them in a rental car from California to Nebraska and why the 9-year-old was apparently wearing a wig in surveillance photos captured earlier this month.

The last person who was with Melodee was her mother, Ashlee, on October 7, possibly during the road trip to Nebraska, investigators have said.

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But Ashlee has been uncooperative with investigators throughout the search for the missing child, authorities say.

Melodees disappearance has sparked an investigation into the childs whereabouts as the search approaches its second week.

We are hopeful that Melodee might be with someone  perhaps an extended family member or friend  who may not be aware of the circumstances of her disappearance, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said.

Timeline narrows window of disappearance

With only years-old photos of Melodee and an allegedly uncooperative mother, officials are working with scant details about the young girl. But detectives have narrowed the critical timeline to three days in early October.

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Authorities first went looking for Melodee at her home in Lompoc, about an hours drive from Santa Barbara, after a school administrator reported her continued absence on October 14, but they did not find the child, and no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts was provided.

The investigation indicates that Melodee was with her mother as recently as October 7, 2025, the FBI said in a release on Facebook.

On October 7, the first day of investigators three-day timeline, the young girl was spotted in surveillance photos wearing what appeared to be a wig to disguise her natural hair, as well as a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over her head, authorities said. The surveillance photos were taken at a local car rental agency, according to authorities.

Surveillance images taken from a local car rental business on October 7 appear to show missing Melodee Buzzard wearing a wig. - Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Surveillance images taken from a local car rental business on October 7 appear to show missing Melodee Buzzard wearing a wig. - Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

During the following days, the FBI believes Ashlee took a road trip with her daughter in a rented white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate #9MNG101 as far as Nebraska, and the trip back included a stop in Kansas.

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On October 10, investigators said Ashlee returned to Lompoc  without her daughter  narrowing down a window of when the young girl could have gone missing.

CNN has attempted to reach out to Ashlee for comment.

Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now, the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office said.

Family members held a vigil in Lompoc on Friday near the home where investigators first went to look for Melodee, according to The Lompoc Record.

If shes listening, we love you. Were here for you, and we just want you to be happy, her grandmother, Lilly Denes, told CNN affiliate KSBY. Call me. There are numbers on the TV that you can call, and I will come pick you up.

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Melodees father died from a motorcycle crash when she was only six months old, KSBY reported.

The last known photo of Melodee that investigators are using is from 2023, investigators said, with an FBI missing poster describing her as being anywhere from 40 to 46 tall and weighing anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds.

Our detectives are following every lead in this case. We continue to seek information from the public that could help us find Melodee, said Brown. We remain determined to bring her home safely.

In an interview with NewsNation that aired Friday, Melodees aunt said she had not seen her niece in four years.

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She was just a little 4-year-old girl when we knew her, but that nose definitely reminds me of her dads, so yeah, it does look like her, Lizabeth Meza told NewsNation.

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UPDATE 6:47 P.M. 10/26/2025  The Campbell County Sheriffs Office says they have identified the suspect.

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Officials are asking for the publics help identifying a motorcyclist who they say eluded police on Saturday.

Campbell County Sheriffs Office says theyre looking for the man in these photos. He allegedly refused to stop when a Virginia State Police Trooper tried to pull him over on Route 29. They say the Trooper had to stop the pursuit for safety reasons.

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He was wearing a black hoodie and pants and riding a black and red sport bike.

Investigators are sharing photos from a nearby convenience store they believe the suspect visited before the incident.

Anyone with information about the mans identity or whereabouts is asked to contact:

Campbell County Sheriffs Office at (434) 332-9574;

Virginia State Police [Appomattox Headquarters] at (434) 352-7128;

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
An 82-year-old woman survived a bear attack in northern Japan, the latest in a string of such incidents across the country.

What's happening?

In early October, a security camera in Daisen, a town in the Akita Prefecture of northern Japan, captured the horrifying attack.

The video, shared on TikTok by CNA (@channelnewsasia), shows a bear running up behind the woman, jumping just past her, and clawing at her face. Understandably, the woman screams in terror and tries to get away, but the bear goes after her again.

Fortunately, a car pulled up and the woman was able to get in before getting seriously hurt. According to CNA, she was taken to the hospital with scratches on her face.

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"This could have ended so horrific," one TikTok commenter wrote. "It's a good thing it was a street that people drove on."

CNA also reported that this was at least the third bear attack in Japan over the course of just a few days.

Why is the bear attack concerning?

As Phys.org shared, seven people have died this year in Japan from bear attacks, the highest number since officials started keeping track nearly 20 years ago. At least 108 people have been injured across the country in such attacks since April.

Sadly, encounters like this have become more common around the globe.

Another video captured a bear attacking a Florida homeowner in his front yard, and a Canadian man needed surgery after he and his wife were attacked by a pair of grizzlies along the Kootenay River.

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The exact reasons for each attack are hard to pinpoint, but in general, experts believe the rise in animal attacks is due to a number of human-caused factors.

Urban sprawl and development have forced wildlife out of its natural habitat and into unfamiliar places, like neighborhoods. Meanwhile, heat-trapping pollution has caused global temperatures to rise, which has exacerbated extreme weather events, such as droughts.

This has caused a change to many animals' habitats and food supplies, all of which can leave wildlife feeling scared, vulnerable, and ready to lash out.

What can be done to stay safe?

The National Park Service offers several tips on how to stay safe around bears. First, not surprisingly, is to pay attention to your surroundings and keep your distance as much as possible.

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Knowing what type of bear you've encountered is crucial in case the animal attacks.

If a black bear charges you, the NPS urges you to fight back with any means possible. If it is a grizzly or brown bear, however, the agency says to cover your head and neck with your arms and to play dead.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
DUBLIN, Ohio (WCMH)  Black smoke rising in Dublin on Saturday afternoon raised alarm bells on social media.

But it was no cause for concern.

Posts began appearing on Reddit and Citizen of dark smoke rising near the northwest corner of Interstate 270, north of its interchange with U.S. 33 and State Route 161. The posts noted a large column of smoke and that there had no public information about reports of a fire.

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NBC4 reached out to Dublin police and was told that the smoke was from a training fire.

Deputies believe hidden camera found in Hocking Hills rental cabin violated dozens of victims

On Saturday morning, the Washington Township Fire Department, which serves parts of Dublin, posted on Facebook about the training fire in an empty residence on River Forest Road.

Our crews will be participating in a live burn training exercise TODAY in Dublin. This notice is to inform residents that smoke may be visible in the area during the training, the post read. Please note that this is a planned and controlled exercise, and our crews will be onsite ensuring all safety protocols are followed.

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The post said that the first burn was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., with others to follow throughout the day.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A key state Senate panel revived legislation that would set a one-year moratorium on the approval of new landfills in New Hampshire while creating a seven-person site evaluation committee to approve or deny such applications after July 1, 2027.

Senate leaders present new landfill moratorium, future siting plan

Howard Pearl

Gov. Kelly Ayotte first proposed the concept in her two-year state budget proposal last February.

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State Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, has authored the revised proposal, which unanimously cleared the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee late last week.

The panel tacked it on to a leftover 2025 bill (HB 707) the House of Representatives had approved dealing with state rulemaking on the approval of new landfills.

Despite Ayottes leadership, the issue fell apart last June when House and Senate negotiators could not reach final agreement on it as part of a trailer bill to the state budget.

Since then, Pearl said hes talked with House critics and stakeholders to try and reach common ground.

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I am not sure they will fully get on board with these changes, but I believe this is worth the effort to try and move it forward, Pearl said.

The new Senate offer would make two key changes to Pearls past proposal the Senate had advanced in its version of the trailer bill.

One would add two members to the site evaluation panel, one representing a state conservation commission and a second from the private waste management industry.

The governor would nominate and the Executive Council would have to confirm five members of this committee with the other two being the commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA) as its chairperson and the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (DES).

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The other change Pearl agreed to would allow the committee to double $20,000 application fee if necessary to support operations of the site committee.

Weve never done had this process before so we arent sure the fees will be enough and thats why Ive offered this escape valve, Pearl said.

Moratorium wouldnt apply in some cases

The new Senate plan also has language Ayotte had wanted regarding community impact by ensuring DES retains its authority even under this new process, Pearl said.

The one-year moratorium would not apply to any applications to expand existing landfills or any municipally-owned solid waste facilities.

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House advocates had been critical of Pearl's role in landfill moratorium debate

Kelley L. Potenza

Activists in Bethlehem criticized that exemption as it could allow for state approval to expand the North Country Environmental Services (NCES)-owned landfill in that community.

"Over the years since the mid 1990s the town has voted to put restrictions in our zoning and denied warrant articles that the select board negotiate for further expansion of the NCES landfill," said Andrea Bryant, a local resident against the expansion.

"The town spent over a million dollars fighting to protect our laws. We have a settlement agreement from 2011 that prohibits expansion. This amendment presented by Pearl would negate all of Bethlehems efforts to stop this mountain of trash from five or more states from further contaminating our town."

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Sen. David Watters, D-Dover, credited Pearl for these concessions while pointing out that State Sen. David Rochefort, R-Littleton, is backing his own site evaluation committee bill for the 2026 session that has the chief author State Rep. David Bixby of Dover, the ranking Democrat on the House Environment and Agriculture Committee.

It is important for us to reach a conclusion for what we are going to do about landfills, Watters said. We need to recognize the leadership of the governor as her proposal really opened a pathway to solving a really difficult problem.

Rochefort, who represents Bethlehem, offered an amendment to retain local control over landfill expansion decisions, but the Senate rejected it.

Last spring, some House members working on the issue sharply criticized Pearls actions.

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Rep. Kelley Potenza, R-Rochester, said Pearl proved to be a sellout to the waste industry and couldnt be trusted.

Sen. Kevin Avard, R-Nashua and chairman of the Senate panel, said Pearl deserves credit for working towards a compromise.

Its not been an easy topic to say the least. I know you have gotten a lot of grief, Avard said to Pearl.

Next Step: The full Senate is expected to endorse Pearls plan early on during the 2026 session.

Outlook: Unclear. The House options would be to accept the plan, disagree and create a conference committee to resolve the differences or kill it outright and turn attention to the Bixby-Rochefort alternative bill to be taken up months later in the spring of 2026. Given its past posture, the House is likely to reject this latest version.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko uric has stated that Belgrade is ready to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Fox News, as reported by European Pravda

Details: uric said Serbia "is also among the countries that are offering their good services".

He added that the war in Ukraine must end immediately.

"[Serbia is], in principle, supportive of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states in line with their UN borders,," including Ukraine, the minister said.

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uric also noted that Serbia values its position in Europe between East and West while maintaining close relations with the United States.

Quote: "Serbia is very proud of its independent foreign and security policy, which has been deeply rooted in the history of our nation and has enabled us to remain independent for centuries, although we are small."

Background:

Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his country is ready to host a meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump at any time.

His statement came after Trump changed his mind about meeting Putin in Budapest and expressed disappointment with the pace of negotiations with Russia.

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A slasher who cut a strangers face on a Brooklyn subway train went on to carry out two more random blade attacks over the next 24 hours, police sources said Sunday.

Police released a surveillance image of the suspect, who is still being sought, after he cut a 37-year-old man on the left side of the face on a Manhattan-bound Q train in Flatbush about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The victim got off the train at Church Ave. and alerted police while the attacker apparently stayed on the subway until the next stop, cops said.

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After cops asked the publics help identifying the suspect, he went on to attack two more victims, each time coming up from behind and slashing the left side of his targets face, sources said.

About 9:40 p.m. on Saturday he slashed a 53-year-old man near Foster and New York Aves., about a mile and a half from the Church Ave. station. Then about 6:55 a.m. on Sunday, he did the same thing to a 56-year-old man just a block away, near Newkirk and New York Aves., police said.

All three victims were taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, cops said.

The NYPD fanned out across several blocks in Flatbush looking for the suspect Sunday afternoon.

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Police described the suspect Saturday as wearing a navy blue jacket, black shorts and white sneakers.

The attacks come about a week after a disturbing subway stabbing in Manhattan

On Oct. 16, Justice Jackson, 30, an emotionally disturbed homeless man with an extensive criminal history, allegedly knifed a 51-year-old man in the back during an argument on a rush-hour D train.

Cops arrested Jackson the next day and charged him with assault, and hes been locked up at Rikers Island ever since. The victim was hospitalized in stable condition.

Anyone with information on the serial slasher is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A road in Wilson County was shut down for several hours following a crash involving a hayride-type vehicle, according to law enforcement.

The Wilson County Sheriffs Office announced shortly before 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25 that Central Pike was closed at Beckwith Road due to a multi-vehicle crash involving multiple serious injuries.

MNPD: 1 injured, Harding Place partially blocked after shooting

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The Mt. Juliet Police Department said its officers assisted with the incident, which took place just outside city limits.

Authorities urged motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes. The road reopened at approximately 11:30 p.m.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding the crash, which is under investigation by Tennessee Highway Patrol.

 Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go.

 Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox.

 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted, in his latest report to the Security Council on the Sahara, the scope of the major socio-economic development efforts underway in the Southern Provinces for the benefit of local populations.

The Secretary-General mentioned strategic infrastructure projects such as highways, ports, and airports, as well as projects in renewable energy, electricity, education, and health, and other social sectors.

Guterres also referred to the results of the census conducted by the Moroccan authorities in September 2024, which revealed an important increase in the population living in the Kingdoms Southern Provinces, from 450,000 to 600,000 inhabitants, compared to 2014. This significant indicator is illustrative of the attractiveness and quality of life in these Provinces, which are conducive to the settlement of a larger number of people, as well as the increase in the birth rate.

The UN Secretary-General also highlighted the organization of diplomatic, cultural, and sport events in the Sahara, which symbolize the influence that the Southern Provinces enjoy at the national and international levels.

These major references are a continually renewed sign of the Secretary-Generals positive regard for the development efforts initiated by Morocco, in accordance with the vision of Mohammed VI, and as enshrined in the new development model for the Southern Provinces.

It is also the UN Secretary-Generals scathing response to the fallacious lies spread by Moroccos adversaries regarding the alleged exploitation of natural resources, the lack of benefit for the regions population, and the existence of a so-called war in the Moroccan Sahara.

At the same time, Guterres repeatedly referred to the dramatic situation in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, as well as the poverty and precariousness suffered by the sequestered populations, who remain deprived of their basic rights.

In his report, Antonio Guterres also called out the polisario for its systematic and ongoing violations of the ceasefire, while providing supporting evidence.

Guterres described the circumstances of the polisarios terrorist attack on November 9, 2024, stating that a shooting incident took place in the town of Al Mahbes, near an area hosting civilian commemorations of the 49th anniversary of the Green March, with no damage to report.

He added that on November 11, MINURSO conducted an investigation at the scene of the incident and observed debris from four rockets 800 meters from the local market, leaving no shadow of doubt as to the terrorist nature of the polisario, whose objective was to attack civilians and population centers. The attack was neutralized by the bravery of the Royal Armed Forces.

In this regard, the UN Secretary-General recalled the letter addressed to him by the Permanent Representative of Morocco on November 12, in which he warned of the consequences of this attack and warned that the Kingdom reserves the right to take all measures and actions it deems appropriate to put an end to these threats and aggressions targeting its [] territorial integrity [] in full compliance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.

The Secretary-General also denounced another attack by the separatist polisario group and recalled that on June 28, 2025, four rocket explosions occurred near the MINURSO team site in Smara, specifying that one of the explosions occurred approximately 200 meters from the team site.

Furthermore, he indicated that this incident is the closest to a MINURSO facility since the resumption of hostilities in 2020, while noting that the armed separatist militia also fired four 122mm explosive rockets.

These actions demonstrate the irresponsibility and endangerment of UN personnel by the polisario, in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions, in particular Resolution 2589 (2021), which condemns attacks against peacekeepers and considers them war crimes.

Following this attack, the UN authorities contacted the separatist group, to hold it accountable while reaffirming their call for a cessation of hostilities.

The UN Secretary-General equally highlighted the content of the letter sent by the Royal Armed Forces to the relevant UN authorities, describing this act as criminal and terrorist by the polisario militia.
In an April 11, 2025, letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber and Harvard Corporation Lead Member Penny Pritzker, Trump administration officials from the General Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Education outlined terms of an agreement between the administration and the nations oldest and wealthiest university. The multi-pronged proposal raised two major questions: Were the governments complaints against Harvard justified? And did enforcing its demands for reform fall within federal governments limited powers?

The Trump administration observed that the U.S. government "has invested in" Harvard because the nation benefits from the universitys "scholarly discovery and academic excellence." However, the letter stressed, "an investment is not an entitlement." Because "Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment," the administration requested the university to undertake substantial reforms or lose federal funding.

In particular, the April 11 letter called on Harvard to practice merit-based hiring and admissions; recruit and admit international students committed to Americas founding principles and constitutional traditions; stop university programs and faculty from promulgating antisemitism; discontinue diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI); enforce student-discipline policies; establish reliable whistle-blower reporting and protection procedures; and create institutional mechanisms to facilitate transparent cooperation with the government.

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The Trump administrations most controversial demand involved steps to enhance "viewpoint diversity" throughout Harvard. "By August 2025," the administrations letter specified, "the University shall commission an external party, which shall satisfy the federal government as to its competence and good faith, to audit the student body, faculty, staff, and leadership for viewpoint diversity, such that each department, field, or teaching unit must be individually viewpoint diverse." Guided by the audits findings, the government would require Harvard to eliminate "ideological litmus tests" in admissions and hiring, and to achieve viewpoint diversity in the universitys departments, fields, and teaching units.

Critics accused the Trump administration of overreaching. Even distinguished conservatives who advocate viewpoint diversity objected on free-speech and limited-government grounds to the intrusive oversight that the Trump administration sought over the mix of opinions and perspectives at Harvard.

In "Seven Theses Against Viewpoint Diversity," published this fall in Academe (the quarterly magazine of the American Association of University Professors), Lisa Siraganian adopted a strikingly different criticism of the Trump administration. Her criticism was also surprising coming from a chair in humanities and professor in the department of comparative thought and literature at Johns Hopkins University, and JHU-AAUP chapter president.

Siraganian neither maintains that universities already adequately feature viewpoint diversity nor does she press the case that the Trump administration overstepped constitutional and statutory boundaries by endeavoring to supervise viewpoint diversity on campus. Rather, she argues that viewpoint diversity is undesirable in higher education because it conflicts with the universitys mission.

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Siraganian anticipates that friends of viewpoint diversity will invoke John Stuart Mills "On Liberty" to counter her rejection of viewpoint diversity "in any of its guises." In his 19th-century classic, Mill offers deft observations about human fallibility and corrigibility and adduces seminal historical examples of the persecution of heterodox figures. These inform his argument that the encounter with competing opinions advances the quest for knowledge because "very few have minds sufficiently capacious and impartial" to progress in understanding without testing their views against those who think differently.

Despite repudiating wholesale the case for cherishing diverse opinions - Mill himself emphasizes dissenting opinions - Siraganian, with a touch of bravado, appeals to the professed Millian dispositions of viewpoint-diversitys defenders. They, she asserts, "should be open to responding to and refuting" her seven theses. Accordingly, she challenges those who disagree with her "to defend their convictions openly, fearlessly, and logically."

Challenge accepted.

Siraganians first thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity functions in direct opposition to the pursuit of truth, the principal aim of academia." Citing the playful literary scholar Stanley Fish, she contends in all seriousness that "the pursuit of truth and the value of different opinions" not only "do not work together seamlessly," which is true, but also that "they are directly opposed," which is mistaken. Yes, as Siraganian notes, the science is largely settled - at least for now - on DNA structure. Then again, the contentious debates about viewpoint diversity do not generally concern elementary aspects of the natural sciences but rather usually revolve around the humanities and social sciences. And thats for good reason. Like the natural sciences, the humanities and social sciences rest on and discover facts. But the natural sciences are decidedly closer to mathematics, in which, as Mill in "On Liberty" observes, "there is nothing at all to be said on the wrong side of the question." In contrast, as the great English liberal explains at length, in ethics, politics, and religion there is typically much to be said on the many sides of their hard and enduring questions.

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Siraganians second thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity can work only as an instrumental value." Shes right that viewpoint diversity serves as a means to an end. That, however, is no more an argument against viewpoint diversity than it is an argument against valuing the learning of Greek as instrumental to understanding Plato. She further objects that viewpoint diversity is summoned in support of two competing university goals - seeking truth and forming good citizens. The former depends on acquisition of technical knowledge and questioning ruthlessly, while the latter, in the United States, involves gaining an appreciation of, and cultivating the virtues that support, freedom, democracy, and American constitutional government. Yet far from undermining the claims of viewpoint diversity, its importance to both seeking truth and forming good citizens underscores viewpoint diversitys versatility and doubles its value.

Siraganians third thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity assumes a partisan goal based on unproven assumptions." Contrary to her insouciant assurances that there is little or no reason to suppose that universities have excluded conservative scholars and ideas - and notwithstanding her sly insinuation that conservatism amounts to QAnon - evidence abounds of such exclusion and of the damage it has done to scholarship and teaching. For example, in 2024 in "Beyond Academic Sectarianism," Siraganians Johns Hopkins University colleague, political scientist Steven Teles, examined how the paucity of conservatives scholars has resulted in the decline of scholarship and teaching in vital topics that progressives tend to neglect and disparage. These include American political ideas and institutions, and diplomatic, military, and religious history. A 2024 Foundation on Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) survey provides additional evidence that universities have constructed censorious progressive monocultures. And a July 2025 working paper by professors Jon A. Shields, Yuval Avner, and Stephanie Muravchik demonstrates the drastic left-wing slant of college syllabi on contentious issues. Two of the coauthors discussed their findings in an August Wall Street Journal op-ed, "Evidence Backs Trump on High-Eds Bias."

Siraganians fourth thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity undermines disciplinary and specialized knowledge and standards as well as the autonomy of academic reasoning and scholarship." She again observes that debate has ended about DNA structure. But inquiry into and arguments about human nature, justice, virtue, regimes, citizenship, friendship, romantic love, family, the soul, and God differ from inquiry into and arguments about molecules. Thats in part because molecules do not have opinions, much less divergent opinions about good and bad, right and wrong, noble and base.

Siraganians fifth thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity is incoherent." This, though, does not follow from the key observation she offers in support of the thesis. She rightly maintains that background assumptions about what constitutes a sound argument and a well-ordered university limit the range of viewpoint diversity on campus. To identify an ideas or a practices limitations, however, does not to refute it but rather clarifies it.

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Siraganians sixth thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity has already been used, both in the United States and abroad, to attack higher education and stifle academic freedom." On occasion it has. But on occasion science has been used to justify eugenics, enlightenment has been invoked to subjugate peoples, and tenured professors have been known to enforce ideological conformity on students and untenured faculty. Abuses of science, enlightenment, and academic authority discredit the abuser, not the thing abused.

Siraganians seventh thesis states, "Viewpoint diversity is an argument made in bad faith." Sometimes it is. But Siraganian ignores or suppresses the substantial evidence that universities ignore or suppress empirical data, rational arguments, and research paradigms that conflict with - and stymie and shun scholars who depart from - progressive pieties. This represents a failure of scholarly inquiry and moral imagination on her part, and a betrayal of what she herself regards as the universitys principal mission, which is pursuit of the truth.

Siraganian could have avoided these numerous miscues of reason and rhetoric by studying the arguments on the other side of the question. If she had had better opportunities to run her categorical pronouncements by colleagues - in her department, university, and disciplines - with perspectives that differ from her own, perhaps she might have discovered the weaknesses afflicting her opinions and the strengths contained in theirs.

What goes for the attack on viewpoint diversity goes also for its promotion.

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The Trump administration would do well in its justified efforts to encourage viewpoint diversity on campus to consider views on the other side of the question, particularly arguments concerning the federal governments limited role in managing opinions and perspectives at the nations wayward universities.

Peter Berkowitz is the Tad and Dianne Taube senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. From 2019 to 2021, he served as director of the Policy Planning Staff at the U.S. State Department. His writings are posted at PeterBerkowitz.com and he can be followed on X @BerkowitzPeter. His new book is "Explaining Israel: The Jewish State, the Middle East, and America."
A Taoist ceremony with holy water and chants blessed the grand opening of the San Francisco Chinese Culture Center's new permanent home in the heart of Chinatown.

"This is such a historic moment for the community," Jenny Leung, executive director, told the crowd gathered for the ribbon-cutting

The Chinese Culture Center is the oldest Asian American arts organization in the United States.

Leung said, for six decades, the center has played a role in shaping Chinatown's activism and identity. She added that its new home also marks a new vision for the neighborhood.

MORE: Ester Hernandez's art has been censored, shown at Smithsonian. Now it's being preserved at Stanford

"A community-based arts organization that is still continuing to uplift our agency, our stories and our humanity," Leung said.

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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie spoke of the center as a cultural anchor for Chinatown and for the city.

"I say this all the time: as Chinatown goes, so goes San Francisco," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. "Arts, culture is going to drive San Francisco's comeback. We are already showing it."

The new space is designed for shops and multimedia exhibits, and it will incubate up-and-coming artists -- all with a focus on continuity and lineage to Chinatown, said Hoi Leung, the center's curator.

MORE: North America's 1st large-scale manga exhibit opens at San Francisco's De Young Museum

"We are looking back at the archive, the exchanges, with our founders, you know. Just getting any space was a radical move," Leung said.

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The center was born in the middle of the civil rights movement. Over the decades, it has worked to build cultural power to fight for Chinese representation, especially coming off decades of racist immigration policy and exclusionary acts toward Chinese and other Asian Americans.

Saturday night's 1960s-theme dance party is part of the weeklong grand opening celebration. Each day celebrating activism of a different decade, with a vision towards the future that is hoping to make Chinatown a museum without walls.

"Transformed into another very wonderful place, where you can continue to draw tourism, draw people to come, to learn about Chinatown, Chinatown's history," says San Francisco Supervisor Chyanne Chen.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
The Miami County Sheriffs Office recently completed its annual sex offender address verification sweep, according to Sheriff Dave Duchak.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Dozens of law enforcement officials completed the sweep of all registered sex, violent, and arson offenders in the county on Oct. 23.

Authorities with the U.S. Marshals Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Adult Parole Authority, Common Pleas Court Probation, and more helped the sheriffs office.

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Ohio law requires all registered offenders to report their home address to their county sheriff, according to Duchak.

Deputies in Miami County conduct random checks to make sure all offenders are compliant each quarter.

107 of the 166 addresses registered to offenders were verified by law enforcement on Thursday, Duchak said.

Three offenders are currently under investigation for possible non-compliance, but no other arrests or seizures were made.

Duchak said the remaining addresses will be randomly re-checked before the end of the year, and any violations will be investigated.

Outside of this sweep, the sheriffs office has investigated 10 complaints of possible non-compliance this year.

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These investigations led to four verified addresses and two prison sentences.

Authorities also learned that one of the offenders had died.

I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to all of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.. This operation would not be possible without their support and assistance, Duchak said.

Those who want more information about the S.O.R.N. program or the recent operation can call the Miami County Sheriffs Office S.O.R.N. Section at (937)335-8343.

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Students and staff at Curry College were put under a shelter-in-place order early Sunday morning after two cars were shot at in a residence hall parking lot, police say.

Milton police say they responded to a report of shots fired on Currys campus shortly before midnight and found two vehicles with gunfire damage.

Ballistics evidence was also found in a residence hall parking lot at 886 Brush Hill Road.

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No one was injured in the shooting.

A shelter-in-place order was put into effect shortly after 2:00 a.m. Curry school officials told Boston 25 News. It was lifted in less than an hour.

At this time, investigators believe there is no continued threat to the safety of the Curry College community, Milton police say.

The incident is under investigation by Milton police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. (AP)  Gunfire erupted during outdoor festivities at Pennsylvanias Lincoln University late Saturday, killing one person and wounding six others as students and alumni celebrated homecoming at the historically Black school, authorities said.

Investigators were operating under a strong belief that there was more than one shooter but did not think they came to the campus with a specific design to cause a mass casualty event, Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said Sunday during a news conference.

So far one person has been jailed on charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, and authorities were investigating whether that weapon was used in the shooting, de Barrena-Sarobe said.

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Authorities said the shooting took place around 9:30 p.m. outside a large building called the International Cultural Center, where tents and tables were set up for tailgating and socializing after a football game earlier in the day.

Jujuan Jeffers, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware, was shot in the head and died just after midnight, the district attorney said.

The other victims, who range in age from 20 to 25, were expected to survive, but the district attorney declined to provide individual updates on their conditions. He said they included a current student, a graduate and four people with no direct affiliation to the school.

De Barrena-Sarobe said authorities were conducting grid searches and declined to speculate on how many shots were fired until all bullet casings were recovered. He urged anyone with video from the scene or other information that could help the investigation to contact the FBI.

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The campus is about 45 miles (70 kilometers) southwest of Philadelphia. Chester County detectives are leading the investigation, with support from state police and the FBI.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on X that he was briefed on the shooting and offered the support of his administration and family.

Join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community, he said.

Lincoln University Police Chief Marc Partee said the shooting devastated the school's community on what was supposed to be a joyous day focused on the schools legacy. The school was to be closed Monday, with an event planned for students and the community.

If there was another word to describe that, thats more impactful, I would use it, he said, but devastated is a start.
The air is thick with talk of revenge, and its not limited to Donald Trumps personal vendetta against individual enemies like James Comey, Letitia James, and John Bolton. In 2023, when Trump proclaimed to a conservative audience, I am your retribution, he said that it would be for those who have been wronged and betrayed, no small group in Trumps mind. For years he had been telling his followers that they had been betrayed by the nations leaders on diversity policies, trade, immigration, foreign wars, and much else. He would be their instrument for a historic settling of scores.

Trumps own desire for personal revenge hardly needs a complex psychological explanation. His emotions are on full display. I hate my opponent, he declared at the Charlie Kirk memorial, an event where revenge against the left was a prominent theme, despite the call for forgiveness by Kirks widow.

For Trump, revenge is a perfectly rational strategy, consistent with his other efforts to consolidate power. IF YOU GO AFTER ME, IM COMING AFTER YOU! he wrote on Truth Social in August 2023 and, sure enough, he has come after his enemies, with considerable effect. He has intimidated an entire political party into obsequious submission and had some success doing the same to universities, media, law firms, and other institutions. If voters in 2024 thought his threats were just bluster, they must know now that, as Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said, retaliation is real.

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While there is no mystery about Trumps interest in vengeance, there is a larger and more difficult question about American politics and culture. How did we get to the point where one of the two major parties and about half the electorate were willing to empower a leader who was openly intent on revenge and is now using state power for that purpose?

When Trump promises his aggrieved supporters retribution, he is promising payback for the transformation in American life brought about by the progressive currents in liberalism since the mid-twentieth century. That transformation did not involve only racial change, though that is where things began. The Black freedom struggle of the mid-twentieth century set off a series of movements upending almost every traditional hierarchy: white over Black, men over women, straight over queer, the religious over the irreligious and more secular. Liberals and progressives challenged virtually the whole system of social precedence: who stands higher, who comes first, whose values and interests are identified with the whole of America. They undertook that astonishingly ambitious project in a nation where the fear of being diminished, overrun, emasculated, mongrelized, or denied historic privileges and immunities has always been a potent source of political reaction.

The backlash against the social revolutions of the twentieth century did not appear suddenly with Trump. It started as soon as the egalitarian movements did. So why revenge now? What additional fuel was added to the original fire? What happened in recent decades that enabled Trump to take over the Republican Party and turn it into a far-right movement of revenge?

From Richard Nixon in 1968 to Ronald Reagan in 1980, Republicans courted the forces of backlash to win elections, but in office they didnt fully reverse liberal reforms, nor did they even try. Temperamentally, Nixon prefigured Trump, and he also abused his executive powers. In substantive policy, though, Nixons presidency was mostly a continuation of midcentury liberalism. His administration introduced affirmative action in private employment and desegregated Southern schools. He signed laws vastly increasing environmental and economic regulation, came close to enacting a nationally guaranteed income, and proposed a broader national health insurance plan than any later Democratic president dared endorse.

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Although Reagan carried out a more consistently conservative agenda, even his presidency and George H.W. Bushs didnt halt the social movements for racial and gender equality. To be sure, Reagans policies on taxes, spending, business, and labor sharply increased economic inequalities. Reagans impact fell hardest on what by 1980 was already the weakest part of the liberal coalition, the unions.

But two of Reagans Supreme Court appointments (Sandra Day OConner and Anthony Kennedy) and one of Bushs (David Souter) provided pivotal votes not just for preserving key liberal precedents on race and gender but for extending them in regard to LGBTQ people. Reagan signed an amnesty for three million illegal immigrants, agreed to make Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday a national holiday, and had none of Trumps dark anger and hostility. Compared to Trumpism, Reaganite conservatism was only half a counterrevolution.

The turn toward a full counterrevolution and ultimately Trumpism began in the 1990s and chiefly involved developments within the conservative movement and Republican Party. At the risk of some oversimplification, we can put those developments under two headings: fear and aggression.

The Fear Factor

From the 1990s to the early 2020s, racial and cultural change created a sense of rising opportunity on the left and rising danger on the right. Liberals became righteously overconfident about the future. Conservatives became obsessed with impending political catastrophe.

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Americas changing demography affected both sides of the political divide. Until the late twentieth century, the United States was a 9010 society: Americans thought of the countrys racial makeup as 90 percent white, 10 percent Black. Even whites who were agitated by the civil rights and Black Power movements knew that Blacks could never take power nationally.

Immigration, however, turned America into more of a 5050 society, just as it also became a 5050 country politically, with the two major parties closely matched in electoral strength. Based on new U.S. census projections in the 1990s, many analysts even began proclaiming a future when whites would become a minority. The inference many people drew was that the United States was approaching a tipping point, when politics would shift decisively toward a left powered by growing numbers of people of color. Barack Obamas election seemed to validate these expectations.

The demographic forecasts have been deeply misleading. While the racial and ethnic makeup of the American people has been changing, whites are not close to becoming a minority, much less losing their dominant position in the economy and politics. The misleading forecasts assume that all immigrants from Latin America and their future descendants, even if they intermarry with non-Hispanic whites, will belong to a permanent racialized minority, as though the millions of white-passing and white-identifying Hispanics suffer from delusions about their ability to assimilate. In fact, the majority of Hispanics do not self-identify as people of color. Neither were all people of color destined to vote as a bloc for Democrats.

Nonetheless, the fiction of an imminent reversal in the position of whites became a political fact of the first importance at a time when other cultural developments increased conservative anxieties. The share of Americans self-identifying as Christian was falling, down from 90 percent in 1972 to 64 percent in 2020, while the proportion of nonespeople who identify with no religionrose from 5 percent to 30 percent. Rising percentages of young people identified as LGBTQ. Young women were surpassing young men in education and employment.

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Progressives mostly celebrated these changes and pressed for reckonings and reparations, unaware that they were sleepwalking into revenge. Conservatives saw the same development as signs of national decline. They feared that snowballing racial and cultural changes in the American people would permanently cost them control of the nation.

By the early 2000s, the conservative story about Democratic responsibility for national decline had resonance among many working-class whites for another reason: It seemingly explained the loss of economic security they were experiencing.

The decline of manufacturing employment has been a long-term process thats dealt a double blow to liberal hopes. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Black communities were devastated by the loss of industrial jobs and the ensuing damage to family and community life, evident in rising family breakup and a drug crisis (heroin and crack cocaine). That setback canceled out early gains from antidiscrimination law and the Great Society and appeared to discredit liberal reform. In the early 2000s, the same sequenceloss of manufacturing jobs, rising family breakup, and a drug crisis (opioids this time)unfolded in white working-class communities. That brought a second blow to liberal hopes: the turn to the political right of the white working-class in areas that lost jobs to imports.

Here too Democrats went sleepwalking into revenge. By supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 and the opening to China later in the decade, the Democratic Party seemed to abandon working-class interests. One political consequence was a change in the makeup of the two parties. While college-educated whites since the 1990s have moved toward the Democrats, the far more numerous non-college whites have moved in the other direction. That influx changed who Republicans were, creating an opening for right-wing populist appeals, an insurgency within the party, and the overthrow of the old Republican leadership.

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Fear of the future came to animate Republicansfear of racial replacement, fear of economic decline, fear of liberalisms moral influence. This wasnt just a bottom-up panic. Right-wing politicians and media told Americans that the nation was being stolen from them. Desperate times would require desperate measures. Fear would underwrite aggression.

Aggression

The 1990s might have initiated an era of good feeling in the United States. Not only was it a prosperous decade; the collapse of the Soviet Union made irrelevant old battles over anti-communism and foreign policy. But, instead, the United States went from Cold War to culture war. Now that the other Cold War is over, the real cold war has begun, Irving Kristol wrote in 1993.

The new domestic war didnt erupt just because Democrats and Republicans became more ideologically polarizedthe usual story that political analysts tell. Republicans broke with their own past. Newt Gingrich was the key figure in leading Republicans to put aside bipartisan civility and treat Democrats as enemies, traitors, and sick degenerates. New conservative media with a mass audienceRush Limbaugh and Fox Newsrelentlessly attacked Democrats and liberals in similar terms. Polarization was strategic. It had a political logic for Republicans. Like the Cold War, the culture war gave their party an urgent moral purpose as defenders of the American way of life.

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The Republican Party has undergone not one but two distinct transformations since the mid-twentieth century. Reagans presidency represented the triumph of the traditional conservative wing of the party over moderate, progressive Republicanism. Gingrich and then Trump brought a second transformation. The difference has not just been in policy positions and populist appeals (indeed, the party continues to cut taxes for the rich and favor business over labor). Gingrich and Trump have modeled a different way of doing politicsrelentlessly aggressive, uninterested in compromise, indifferent to democratic norms, openly hostile to enemies, contemptuous of the opposition.

Trump has carried the open expression of contempt and indifference to norms to a new level, but he didnt initiate them. Nor is Republican rhetoric and behavior matched by similar patterns among Democrats. Neither Obama nor Kamala Harris as candidates or in office ever publicly projected hostility, hatred, or even anger, perhaps because Black people and women in public life do not have the same permission as white men to be openly angry, much less hateful. Yet the white men who have led the Democrats in recent decades have also not given vent to the hostile emotions Trump expresses (as when Trump in 2023 called his political enemies vermin).

Republicans have been more willing than Democrats to breach long-standing norms about public civility and restraint, while Democrats have pursued their aims by upholding norms and making high-minded appeals for public support. Although it was Michelle Obama who said, When they go low, we go high, she might as well have been speaking for her husband and other Democratic leaders, who have shied away from bare-knuckle politics.

Trump has used breaches of norms strategically at least from the time he began repeating the lie that Obama wasnt a natural-born citizen. When he announced his candidacy in June 2015, he characterized Mexican immigrants as rapists and said they were bringing crime and drugs. Shock value helped vault his campaign into public consciousness. Shock waves were his medium. Shock politics was the Trump method for seizing attention, his way of reaching people who ordinarily tuned out politics. Precisely because he did not hold back from bluntly offensive language, he proved himself, in the eyes of many supporters, to be more truthful and trustworthy than other politicians. He not only spoke his own mind, he spoke thoughts of theirs that they never heard from other public figures, and they idolized him for being their unfiltered and unashamed voice.

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Trumps public demands for retribution work the same way. They have a shock effect that is chilling to people who believe in normal, democratic politics and thrilling to people who reject democratic conventions. Of course, what Trump is implicitly saying is that since James Comey, Letitia James, Adam Schiff, and Jack Smith went after him, hes going after them. Hes just doing to them what they did to him; by bringing charges against them like mortgage fraud and misuse of classified documents, hes saying its tit for tat. Some editorial writers pair Jack Smiths lawfare with Trumps vendetta against his enemies.

But the charges that Smith tried to bring against Trump were not, excuse the phrase, trumped up. Trump orchestrated an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 election. If political leaders refuse to accept the loss of elections, democracy is impossible. The prosecutors who went after Trump were upholding the principle that no one is above the law. The prosecutors Trump has ordered to go after his enemies are debasing that principle.

If rule of law means anything, its that the power of the state not be used for vengeance. One of the central purposes of law is to stop cycles of revenge. Republicans who go along with Trumps pursuit of revenge and his assertion of unconstrained presidential power seem to be expecting that the presidency will never change hands again. For who would ever give up such power once they had used it that way?

We are dangerously near the precipice of an executive coup. It should never have come to this, but Democrats have no choice now but to fight back with all the resources they can marshal. There have been other dark times in Americas past and other dangers we have faced and overcome. We need the courage and determination that others before us have shown in leading the country through darkness to the other side.
Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in office since 2021, has failed in his attempt to form a new government, potentially putting the country on a path to snap elections.

In a parliamentary vote in Pristina, his proposed administration received only 56 votes, short of the 61 required for approval.

Kurtis leftist Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement won parliamentary elections in February but, unlike four years ago, fell short of a governing majority. He has been serving as prime minister in a caretaker capacity.

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In Sunday's vote, only a few minority representatives supported his programme alongside the outgoing ruling party. Lawmakers from the main opposition parties voted against it, with 48 votes opposed and four abstentions. Twelve of the 120 deputies did not take part in the ballot.

Following Kurtis failure to form a government, President Vjosa Osmani must, within 10 days, nominate another politician to try.

The most likely candidate would come from the conservative Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), which finished second in the February election. However, PDK leader Memli Krasniqi told reporters after Sundays vote that his party would not accept the mandate, as it could not secure a majority in parliament.

If no alternative coalition can be formed, Osmani will have to call new elections.

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The prolonged political turmoil risks economic repercussions for the young Balkan state. It now seems increasingly unlikely that a state budget for 2026 will be passed in time, and millions of euros in EU aid could remain unclaimed.

Kosovo, now almost entirely populated by ethnic Albanians, was formerly a province of Serbia. After an armed uprising against Serbian rule and a NATO intervention in 1999, the territory declared independence in 2008.
Oct. 26If the federal government shutdown continues, Lawrence Countians who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to eat are going to be facing serious issues come Nov. 1 because their cards are likely not be fully reloaded. SNAP is funded by the federal government.

"The government is going to continue operations of SNAP as funds allow," said Missy Evans, the director of Jobs and Family Services. "But there is not going enough funding to pay the entirety of all SNAP benefits to all states if the shutdown doesn't end."

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has said it doesn't know what could happen if the shutdown lasts past October. There may be some funds available for November but most likely not for a full payment.

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"It is going to be a trickle effect on everything, I'm afraid," Evans said. "None of us know what is going to happen, and as of (Tuesday) with the government still be shut down, we don't know how Novembers benefits are going to look, if they are going be available at all. We are here to try to help as best as possible."

Evans said that if SNAP beneficiaries are having food insecurity, they can contact J&FS at 740-532- 3324 and they will help link them up with food pantries and other resources.

You can log into the Ohio Benefits self-service portal or by calling 1-844-640-6446 to speak to someone about your case. You can also call the number on the back of your EBT card or use the Connect EBT app to get balance information.

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Judges order Trump administration to use emergency reserves for SNAP payments during the shutdown

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More than 40 million low-income food assistance beneficiaries are expected to receive less help with grocery bills  or no help at all  in the coming days.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is threatening to withhold billions of dollars in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) contingency funding, which Congress has already allocated for emergency scenarios, if the government shutdown stretches into November.

There is between $5 billion and $6 billion currently in that fund, experts say. Thats not enough to cover the estimated $8 billion in SNAP benefits due out next month, but it would allow for partial payments to help low-income Americans defray food costs.

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On Friday, however, the USDA released guidance saying it wont use those funds to cover SNAP benefits if the government shutdown extends beyond Oct. 31  a move that appears designed to maximize the pressure on Senate Democrats to support a GOP spending bill to reopen the government.

In a memo, first reported by Axios, the USDA said the reason is simple: The contingency fund was designed to respond to unforeseen events, like natural disasters, and the current shutdown doesnt qualify because it was manufactured by Democrats. To spend the money on SNAP benefits during such an event, the USDA argues, would be illegal.

[T]he contingency fund is a source of funds for contingencies, such as the Disaster SNAP program, which provides food purchasing benefits for individuals in disaster areas, including natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, that can come on quickly and without notice, the memo reads.

The memo contradicts the shutdown plan prepared by USDA earlier in the year, which said the department is legally obligated to pay SNAP benefits in the event of a shutdown.

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Congressional intent is evident that SNAPs operation should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown, that policy read.

The plan has since been deleted. And Brooke Rollins, the secretary of the USDA, had forecast the new policy in recent days, saying the burden is on Senate Democrats to liberate those funds by voting to end the shutdown.

Youre talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families, that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown, Rollins told reporters recently.

Democrats and other SNAP supporters have denounced the shift, saying the law is clear: USDA must release the contingency funds. And theyre hammering the administration for not acting sooner to ensure that benefits dont run out.

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It could have, and should have, taken steps weeks ago to be ready to use these funds, Sharon Parrott, the head of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said in a statement. Instead, it may choose not to use them in an effort to gain political advantage.

While SNAPs administrative costs are split between the states and the federal government, Washington covers the full cost of the benefits themselves. And states, which operate the program, have been bracing for the worst. Some are warning that no SNAP benefits will be distributed after Oct. 31, while others say the cuts might happen even sooner.

The funding shortfall is affecting red and blue states across the country  including Texas, Oklahoma, California and New York, where officials had posted warnings that SNAP benefits would be paused in November even before the USDA memo became public.

Some states, such as Virginia, have announced they will tap state funds to cover the shortfall, at least temporarily. But the USDA has stipulated that it wont reimburse those costs, and many states simply lack the funds to make that investment on their own.

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The threat to suspend food aid has been denounced by Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are accusing the administration of purposefully exacerbating the harmful fallout of the shutdown, even in cases when they have the power to soften the impact.

This is perhaps the most cruel and unlawful offense the Trump administration has perpetrated yet  freezing funding already enacted into law to feed hungry Americans while he shovels tens of billions of dollars out the door to Argentina and into his ballroom, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, and Angie Craig (D-Minn.), the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee, said Friday in a statement responding to the USDA memo.

Trump officials have located stopgap funding to fill other shortfalls amid the budget impasse  including money to prop up another nutrition program benefiting women and children, known as WIC. But theyve declined to do the same with SNAP.

The contingency fund is another backstop. That fund is rolled over in three-year increments, and heading into November, it contains about $6 billion, from appropriations provided in fiscal 2024 and 2025, but lacks the $3 billion from fiscal 2026 because Congress is at odds over that funding bill  the impasse thats created the shutdown.

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Before the USDA released its guidance Friday night, The Hill posed a series of questions to the department, including why it wont tap the SNAP contingency fund after Nov. 1. The response did not address any of those inquiries, instead amplifying Rollinss previous statements that the fate of the food subsidies is in the hands of Democrats in Congress.

We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. Continue to hold out for the Far-Left wing of the party or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive timely WIC and SNAP allotments, a USDA spokesperson said in an email.

Democrats previously had requested a briefing on how the shutdown would affect SNAP, but were denied. When Democrats asked the reason why, USDA officials said it was because their party is to blame for the shutdown, according to a source familiar with that exchange.

The USDA spokesperson did not respond to questions about that episode.

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The fight over SNAP arrives as Trump and his budget director, Russell Vought, are leaning on the shutdown to accelerate their ongoing efforts to shrink the federal government, including the mass firing of federal workers. Trump has said the impasse provides him an unprecedented opportunity to slash programs, and hes made clear that hes targeting those initiatives favored by Democrats.

Were only cutting Democrat programs, I hate to tell you, Trump said earlier in the month.

Even so, the administration has shuffled funding around to prop up some programs championed by his political rivals.

At the start of the shutdown, for instance, the administration had stepped in to prevent a shortfall facing WIC, another USDA initiative that provides food aid to a smaller subset of low-income people (roughly 6 million), including pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of 5.

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To keep WIC benefits whole through October, Trumps budget team had tapped $300 million from the presidents tariff revenues. But that money, too, is soon to expire, according to advocates, and theres no indication the administration is preparing a similar transfer for November.

The question of how the shutdown will impact federal food aid has been complicated by the changes to SNAP  including new work requirements and other eligibility limits  that Trump and Republicans adopted in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the package of tax cuts and GOP policy priorities enacted over the summer.

Republicans have touted that law as a necessary step toward rooting out waste, fraud and abuse across major federal programs, including Medicaid and SNAP. And GOP leaders in recent days have argued the importance of reopening the government to ensure those food benefits flow to those in need. Only Democrats, they say, are standing in the way.

We have lots of SNAP recipients in our state, as we do in many others, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Thursday. Youre talking about  I think its 42 or 43 million Americans rely upon that vital service  and its unconscionable that they would be held at bay and held as leverage on this.

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Democrats say Republicans ceded the moral authority over the issue when they cut SNAP by an estimated $186 billion in Trumps big, beautiful bill.

Thats the largest SNAP cut in American history. And people are to believe right now that Republicans actually care about hunger when they rip food away from the mouths of hungry children, seniors, families, women and veterans to provide massive tax breaks to their billionaire donors? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters Friday in the Capitol.

Get lost with that, he added. The American people are not buying it.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Despite all the early mockery centered around nerds hiding in their Moms basement alone on the internet, the web has always been first and foremost a means of communication and socialization. The earliest internet applications were things like email and Usenet groups. Later, bulletin boards became popular and people used them to build entire communities, make new friends, and form new groups of like-minded individuals.

Social media then made that connectivity more easily available to less technically savvy people, but it didnt innovate the idea of the internet as a social system. Thats always what it was.

All social media did was open the door for people who werent smart enough to use a computer to take part in the already social internet. Social media became so dominant that it basically swept away all other forms of internet socialization to become the dominant platform.

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Now its over. Social media is dead, and with it dies the internets one true, shining purpose: connecting people. Instead, its become a place for slop eaters.

Why Theres No Longer Anything Social About Social Media

Initially, social media was a place where humans talked to other humans. Now its a place where humans go to see robots talking to each other.

dead internet theory (n.)  a hypothesis claiming that most online activity, including comments, news, and social media interactions, is no longer generated by humans but by automated systems, bots, and AI, suggesting the web has become a ghostly simulation of itself, endlessly echoing synthetic life where authentic voices once existed.

Log on to your social media platform of choice. Look at your feed. The algorithm will likely serve you these three kinds of posts.

TYPE 1: ENGAGEMENT FARMERS

Engagement farmers are accounts owned by companies or groups, often in India or Pakistan. They employ hundreds or thousands of low-paid workers or AI bots to impersonate a real person.

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The purpose of these accounts is not socialization or connection with others because they arent people. Rather, they are to post content that will maximize the number of views served by algorithms in pursuit of profit.

Sometimes, their content is AI-generated. YouTube, in particular, is now flooded with this content, and human creators are in crisis as their contents views plummet while YouTube promotes robot-generated slop.

Often, engagement farmer content is stolen human-created content. Ironically, the content they stole from real people was usually buried by the same algorithm now promoting it. Algorithms prefer to promote engagement with farmers over real people, since they deliver a higher volume of engaging content than any one actual person could ever do.

TYPE 2: MARKETING BOTS PRETENDING TO BE HUMANS

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Corporate America has always used fake accounts to promote its products, but with the rise of AI, that practice has been dialed up to eleven. Social media is now flooded with fake accounts whose only purpose is to spread the good news of some app, movie, or terrible new product.

Comments are especially infested with these, and the average person often mistakes these for being organic posts from real people, but they arent.

The net result is that its now nearly impossible to see what actual people actually like. No matter how terrible the movie is, youll see nothing but comments about how awesome it was. No matter how bad McDonalds food might get, youll mostly always see posts about how great it is that McRib is back.

TYPE 3: PURCHASED PEOPLE

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Algorithms still promote posts from famous people. Technically, these are real humans, but they arent normal humans. Theyre not posting to make any kind of social connection with other people; rather, theyre spreading their fame or point of view. But the purpose of their posts isnt social.

Worst of all, most of these famous social media users have secret sponsors paying them to say the right things. Influencer marketing is a big business, and huge agencies are making billions of dollars paying your favorite famous real person to behave like all the other robots.

This has also infested and taken over communities like Reddit. There, celebrities are the moderators, and theyre often owned by influencer organizations that curate what users are allowed to see.

Where Are The Actual Humans?

You might think that you can find the responses of real people in comments or replies, but thats all moderated by algorithms, too. So, the same three types of people that dominate your feed also feature prominently in comments. To find replies made by actual humans, youd have to scroll down to the Earths core. Its not possible.

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Humans still post on social media, but its to an empty room. Although I follow hundreds of actual people with my X account, I never see them in my feed. Instead, I see posts from bots and farmers I havent followed.

To catch up on what the humans I want to get posts from are saying, Id have to physically type in their account addresses and manually scroll through their accounts. No one does that.

Most people assume that if they arent seeing posts from the humans they follow, its because those humans havent said anything interesting. Thats not whats going on at all. Whats going on is that instead of making posts that had to compete for attention against thousands of posts made by other humans, now your posts must compete against billions of posts made by highly specialized robots designed to cause dopamine addiction.

dopamine (n.)  a neurochemical currency of anticipation and reward, released in the brain to make pleasure feel earned, motivation seem meaningful, and bad habits irresistible; the molecule that tricks humans into chasing the feeling of progress rather than the progress itself.

Communities Are No Longer Forming

In the days of message boards, friendships were formed and communities were built. Internet users formed real and lasting bonds with one another. Now you cant even get that on dating apps, which have become nothing but hookup echo chambers where the top ten percent of people use each other for physical pleasure.

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Its impossible to build a community of real people on the modern internet, because real people arent allowed to see other real people there. Youre talking to AI bots and minimum wage cubicle workers from India whove been trained to pretend their name is Ron and post things off a script generated for them by an AI foreman.

Cinema Blends vibrant message board community in 2008

In the early days of the internet, it was common to meet couples whod confess they met on a dating app, a message board, or even by some guy sliding into a girls DMs on Twitter. Thats no longer happening. When was the last time you ran into a long-term couple that met online? Its been a while.

The social age of the internet is over. The dead internet is here, and were all just being swept along, helpless victims lost in a never-ending tidal wave of robots talking to other robots, pretending theyre us.
The U.S. federal government this week declared sanctions on two of the largest Russian crude oil exporters, Rosneft and Lukoil, which together account for about half of the countrys total outflows. Oil prices jumped, traders got excitedthen prices fell. But the supply security of some major importers just got problematic.

Russia exports around 4 million barrels of crude oil daily. Some of the major producers have already been sanctioned earlier  Gazprom Neft, for example, and Surgutneftegaz. Rosneft and Lukoil are also the target of many sanctions, but none of these until now have directly targeted their sales overseas. With the latest sanctions, as much as three-quarters of Russian oil exports will effectively be banned to anyone using U.S.-dollar-based payment systems and the U.S. financial system, Russian business daily Kommersant reckons.

Three-quarters of 4 million barrels daily is a lot. It is, in fact, larger than the size of the oil market surplus that the International Energy Agency has predicted for this year. That surplus, per the IEA, will be 2.35 million barrels daily. The portion of Russian exports under sanctions amounts to some 3 million barrels, with the latest additions of Rosneft and Lukoil. Assuming the sanctions will be 100% effective in cutting that much oil from Russias exports, the global oil market will be rebalanced in the blink of an eye, more or less, quenching concerns about a glut.

Related: Trump Reopens Alaskas Arctic Refuge to Oil and Gas Drilling

Of course, history teaches us that no sanctions are 100% effective, and there is also the matter of the latest declarations phrasing, as noted by the Wall Street Journal. The sanctions, the Department of Treasury said, mean financial institutions and other persons may risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in certain transactions or activities with designated or otherwise blocked persons. According to the WSJ, this sort of phrasing suggests there are loopholes that can be used by Indian and Chinese financial institutions that, per the WSJ again, couldnt survive long if they lost access to U.S. banks and dollars.

The thing, however, is that China and India have already been testing local currency payments for Russian oil. Chances are that this testing would accelerate thanks to the latest sanctions, with even more Russian crude being sold for yuan or rupees. The latest reports say that both Chinese and Indian buyers are suspending orders from Russia, but this is most likely an immediate, knee-jerk reaction until the implications of the latest sanctions are measured and analyzed.

Countries are not going to do any dramatic shifts because Mr. Trump wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, Harsh V. Pant, senior analyst at the Observer Research Foundation in India, told the Wall Street Journal.

Trumps sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil [will] have significant implications for Russian seaborne crude exports, potentially prompting major buyers to scale back purchases  if not halt them entirely  in the near term, Muyu Xu, a senior oil analyst from Kpler, told CNBC. The analyst added that a complete halt of Russian oil purchases was unlikely.

Over the longer term, oil will find a way as it always does. CNBC noted in its report that Indian buyers of Russian crude were currently checking their paperwork to make sure none of their barrels came directly from Rosneft or Lukoil. The Chinese government denounced the sanctions as having no basis in international law, while Chinese oil buyers probably checked their own paperwork for direct links to the two new sanctioned companies. Before too long, flows will resume, at least in part. It is the size of that part that would determine oil prices going forward.

The reaction of oil markets to the sanction announcement this week spoke volumes. First, prices spiked, then they calmed down, suggesting the panic was momentary and, for now at least, few expect an actual dramatic disruption in Russian oil exportsor global oil balances.

Crude is levelling off, some profit-taking is setting in, indicating the market is not hitting the panic button over Russian supply, Vandana Hari from Vanda Insights told Reuters. It is likely to be wait-and-watch mode, until the next twist in the saga, that could be an escalation or a de-escalation, she noted. Looks like the market is betting on the latter.

The market may as well be betting on the fact that the U.S. president does not want oil prices to go much higher because he promised his voters he would keep fuel prices low. Perhaps this has something to do with the phrasing of the sanction declaration. Perhaps Trump aims to both give the impression that he is being decisive with Russia and, at the same time, is aware of the realities of energy security, which have a lot to do with the international price of crude oil, of which Russia is the third-largest exporter.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A Chinese naval fleet including a guided-missile destroyer, missile frigate and comprehensive supply ship set sail earlier this month from a port in eastern Qingdao, heading to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters.

It was the 48th escort task group to be sent to the region in a Chinese navy programme that has been helping to protect commercial ships and counter Somali piracy since 2008, when there were numerous attacks by Somali pirates.

Since 2013, however, there have been very few Somali pirate attacks, and in some years none at all. Yet, the Chinese navy has continued to rotate task forces to the Gulf of Aden on a regular basis, maintaining a continuous, uninterrupted anti-piracy deployment.

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The Chinese navy has also prolonged its stays, from four or five months to over 10 months in the previous two missions due to extended diplomatic port calls and heightened regional security concerns.

Experts said there was a clear "evolution in duration and sophistication" of the naval escort task groups, with the anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden evolving from a specific security response into a long-term strategic programme capable of transforming the Chinese navy into a modern maritime military force operating in global waters.

David Shinn, a China-Africa expert and professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said the task forces gave Beijing a rationale to establish a military base at Djibouti, which became operational in 2017.

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"The ongoing task forces give China an excuse to continue a permanent [Chinese] naval presence in the western Indian Ocean, to train its personnel and to test its ships and equipment under harsh oceanic conditions," he said.

After completion of their duty in the Gulf of Aden, Shinn said these task forces usually made port calls to build relations with other navies and routinise a Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean, along Africa's Atlantic coast and in the Mediterranean.

"This engagement has contributed enormously to the [Chinese navy's] ability to become a blue-water navy," he added.

One example is when China's guided-missile destroyer Baotou, part of China's 47th naval escort task force, docked at the Port of Mombasa in Kenya last weekend for a five-day technical port call to undergo maintenance, replenish supplies, conduct courtesy visits and take part in joint drills.

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Paul Nantulya, an expert on the Chinese military who has written extensively about China's activities in the Gulf of Aden, said in a report earlier this year that the People's Liberation Army had conducted a total of 55 naval port calls and 19 bilateral and multilateral military exercises in Africa since 2000.

Chinese military activities have become more frequent since the 2017 establishment of the Djibouti naval base, which is strategically located on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to Nantulya.

As China's first overseas naval base, it now serves as the crucial logistical hub that enables more sustained and extensive engagement.

The Chinese navy has continued to send a task force to the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean in a protection capacity despite very few Somali pirate attacks occurring since 2013. Photo: Weibo alt=The Chinese navy has continued to send a task force to the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean in a protection capacity despite very few Somali pirate attacks occurring since 2013. Photo: Weibo>

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Nantulya told the South China Morning Post in an interview earlier this year that the People's Liberation Army was an infantry-heavy force that had evolved to give the navy an increasingly important role.

This is reflected in the military platforms being developed - such as destroyers, submarines, naval aircraft and even aircraft carriers. Notably, China, which did not have one carrier in 2008, is poised to put its third into service.

A sizeable number of Chinese sailors, airmen, marines and soldiers have now been exposed to the complexities of operating overseas in such unpredictable environments, according to Nantulya, a research associate at the US National Defence University's Africa Centre for Strategic Studies in Washington.

He added that as China last engaged in active combat in Vietnam in 1979, the region had effectively become a testing ground for military troops.

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Alessandro Arduino, an affiliate lecturer at the Lau China Institute, King's College London, and an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the deployment of the escort fleet "reflects a renewed assertion of Chinese commitment to maritime security and the protection of international shipping".

He said the security environment off the Somali coast had improved significantly over the past decade, a development that coincided with China's sustained participation.

The Chinese navy has been able to test and refine its capabilities under real-world conditions of threat, according to lecturer Alessandro Arduino. Photo: Weibo alt=The Chinese navy has been able to test and refine its capabilities under real-world conditions of threat, according to lecturer Alessandro Arduino. Photo: Weibo>

In contrast to the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and Air Force, the navy has been able to test and refine its capabilities under real-world conditions of threat and uncertainty, according to Arduino.

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"[The navy] has enhanced its confidence in power projection and expeditionary operations," he added.

Arduino said the resurgence of jihadist activity affiliated with al-Qaeda and Islamic State across parts of East Africa reinforced China's rationale for maintaining a forward naval presence capable of both protecting national interests and contributing to regional stability.

The deployments in the Gulf of Aden have enabled China to effectively practice power projection, according to Nantulya.

This was also key due to its rivalry with India, which saw the Indian Ocean as its sphere of influence, making the ability to operate effectively there crucial, he said.

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Further, China had used these deployments to conduct evacuations of Chinese nationals in distress, from countries such as Libya, Sudan and Ethiopia, Nantulya added.

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 Space Coast hosted its 89th orbital launch of the year with another SpaceX Starlink mission on Sunday morning.

A Falcon 9 on the Starlink 10-21 mission carrying 29 satellites lifted off at 11 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Space Launch Complex 40.

The first-stage booster made its 24th flight with a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

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The latest batch of Starlink satellites continues to add to SpaceXs massive constellation already in orbit.

The company recently surpassed more than 10,000 Starlink satellites launched since the first operational mission in 2019, according to data maintained by astronomer Jonathan McDowell, although only 8,700 of those remain in orbit.

A launch from California on Saturday was SpaceXs 135th of the year, besting the previous record of 134 launches it had 2024. The Florida launch made it 136, not counting the five suborbital Starship missions from Texas.

The company had 96 launches in 2023, 61 in 2022 and only 31 in 2021.

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For the Space Coast, SpaceX has flown all but five of the years missions with United Launch Alliance managing four launches so far this year, and Blue Origin responsible for one. Both ULA and Blue Origin have launches lined up for early November, while SpaceX will try and squeeze one more Falcon 9 launch in before the end of the year.

The Space Coast could surpass the record 93 launches seen in 2024 among all launch providers by mid-November, well on its way to likely surpassing 100 for the year.
Speakers and advocates gathered outside Black & Brass Coffee Saturday for a Speak Out event, urging voters to retain Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty.

The three justices  part of a 5-2 Democratic majority in the Supreme Court  were elected in 2015 and assumed office the following year. Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices serve 10-year terms.

While retention elections are normally routine, non-partisan matters and are basically foregone conclusions, Republicans are working to vacate the three justices from their seat.

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State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., urged voters to remember how important the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is, as the first line of protection for citizens of the state.

Kosierowski, who spent more than 25 years as a registered nurse, said the retention vote would have an impact on health care issues.

She described the justices up for retention with three words: protection, independence and experience.

*

Representative Kyle Donahue speaks at a Speakout rally on Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote yes to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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*

Jennifer Graham Partyka, RN, speaks at a Speakout rally on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote yes to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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Representative Kyle Donahue speaks at a Speakout rally on Oct. 25, 2025. The rally was to encourage voters to vote yes to retaining three PA Supreme Court Justices in the upcoming election. (GERI GIBBONS/STAFF PHOTO)

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Vote yes, not Yaas

The three justices are running for another term, but appear on the ballot simply as a yes or no vote, in answer to the question, Should this judge be retained?

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One of the themes of the Speak Out rally was, Vote Yes, not Yass, referencing billionaire Jeffrey Yass efforts to finance the Republicans campaign against retention.

Alicia Duque, a member of Action Together NEPA and a mother of three boys with special needs, feels like the system is rigged against hardworking families.

We work harder than ever to make ends meet, yet billionaires like Jeff Yass continue to hoard their wealth without paying their share, she said in a statement read at the rally. Now, Jeff Yass wants to rig our Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve his own political agenda. But, we wont let him.

State Rep. Kyle Donahue, D-113, Scranton, emphasized the importance of the states Supreme Court.

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Courts arent political arenas, he said. Justice is not for sale and not swayed by politics.

Instead, courts are to base their decisions on principles and precedent, he said.

Justices Wecht, Donohue and Dougherty are guided by experience, integrity and commitment to justice, Donahue said.

Jessica Brittain, Action Together NEPA, emphasized the states Supreme Court impacts issues such as womens rights, public school funding, Medicare and healthcare.

She pointed out that the current U.S. Supreme Court is composed of nine justices, six of whom were appointed by Republican presidents and three by Democratic presidents.

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Its important, she said, for the state to retain its current balance.

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.

Action Together NEPA Executive Director Alisha Hoffman-Mirilovich urged voters not only to educate themselves on the issue, but share information on the retention vote with others by word-of-mouth and social media.

Following the event, many of the speakers headed out to canvass local neighborhoods.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KCAU)  The streets of downtown Spirit Lake, Iowa lived up to the towns name today as ghosts, ghouls and clowns invaded the area.

The Spirit Lake chamber of commerce held their annual Candy Walk today. Kids of all ages dressed up in their favorite costumes as businesses handed out candy to the trick-or-treaters

Its cool to see families of all ages come down and theres something for babies to grown-ups. Its cool to see everyone come out to one location and have something to do for everybody, said Kristi Smith, the Executive Director of the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce.

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And the owner of Lagniappe Tea Room says its her first time as a business.

Its my first year of doing it as a business owner and I just love it, said Cathie Critchett. Its great to see all the families out and the kids and their cute costumes and to see the community spirit.

The event started at the Great Lakes Mall from 10:00-2:00 P.M., then moved to Downtown Spirit Lake from 2:00-4:00 P.M. this afternoon.

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The album was pink, with a few splotches of discoloration. It was bound with a pink cord and embossed with the words, Our Little Baby.

It lay on a table at a local antiques shop. I carefully opened it.

Although nearly 79 years old, this baby book remains in remarkable condition. How it ended up in a South County antiques store is a mystery.

The doctor's formula directions were still tucked inside, as though the baby had just been brought home from the hospital yesterday.

But the year was 1946. The place was Springfield, Missouri.

I leafed through it. The pages had been carefully filled in with a fountain pen, the handwriting not cursive but print, the letters fashioned with long, accurate ascenders and descenders.

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After the customary categories  baby's first steps, first words, first Christmas  was an album of photographs. Here was the baby boy at one month, two months, three months, four.

In one picture, the mother holds him while standing next to a 1940s coupe. I could only think, How adored this baby was.

And yet this record of that adoration was just another relic in an antiques store, more than 1,000 miles from the home that boy had been brought to almost 79 years ago. How on earth had it gotten from Missouri to Rhode Island?

Aleen Grace holds her son, Stevie, in early 1947. Aleen, a schoolteacher, died in 2006; her husband, Rufus, died in 2000.

I wanted to buy it. But what would I do with it? Lord knows I have enough family memorabilia of my own, including my sisters' baby books and my own children's.

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I walked on.

But Our Little Baby haunted me. For days I could not stop thinking about this boy, born in the early days of the Baby Boom. How faithfully the mother had kept the record of his infancy. What affection she had shown him.

By the end of the week, I was back at the store, clutching the pink album in my hands and bringing it to the register. For $15 plus tax, I was now the owner of a 78-year-old man's baby book.

His name is Rufus Stephen Grace. He weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces at birth.

Little Stevie, as they called him, was precocious. He took his first steps at 8 months. He said Da Da at five months (which seems hard to believe) and by eight months could say No no, Mom Mom, Drink, and Bla Bla. Before he was two years old he could recite nursery rhymes.

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On and on the account went, and his mother's joy is palpable. For his second birthday, he spent the day singing Happy Birthday to himself. At his third birthday, he was just beaming while we sang to him.

His fifth birthday was remarked upon in the local newspaper as it was celebrated by his entire kindergarten class.

Stevie appears to have been a first and only child. Some of the photographs contain other children, but these may be a boy and girl who lived next door.

His mother, Aleen, was a schoolteacher (thus the handwriting), and his father worked for a local utility.

They married in 1938, and his father served four years in England during World War II. A baby arriving eight years into a marriage would be especially beloved.

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The snapshots provide more evidence that he was doted on. There he is, in snowsuits and sailor suits, dressed up for Halloween, toting a plastic gun. The lists of Christmas and birthday presents are long.

Stevie Grace's mother meticulously recorded the highlights of his early years in Springfield, Missouri.

But in some ways, little Stevie was typical of the 3.4 million babies born that year. Father a veteran, mother a teacher. I thought of my own parents.

My sister Mary Jane was born two years later, in 1948. Her pink baby book is titled simply Our Baby.

There's the same formula prescription for Dextri-Maltose (four level tablespoons  Stevie got only three) and evaporated milk. There are lists of hospital visitors and gifts.

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Her first steps were at 10 months; her first words, Ma Ma and Da Da, at 10 to 11 months.

How did Stevie Grace's baby book end up in an antiques store? Did someone clean out his mother's house after her death in 2006 and sell it? Did an antiques dealer put it on eBay?

Was no one in the family sentimental enough to keep it?

I have been unable to contact little Stevie Grace, but I know a little about him. He grew up to be Dr. R. Stephen Grace. Obstetrician.

That's right. The little baby who was so beloved  who spoke his first words early  who could recite nursery rhymes  became a doctor. One who helped usher in many babies of his own.

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If he's out there, I'll happily mail him this artifact from his childhood.

Betty J. Cotter teaches journalism at the University of Rhode Island. She can be reached at bettycotter1960@gmail.com. This column originally appeared in the The Westerly (R.I.) Sun.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: From Springfield to Rhode Island, a baby book found far from home
ST. LOUIS  St. Louis community members gathered Saturday to honor the people who the citys iconic symbol, the Gateway Arch, ahead of its milestone 60th anniversary.

The Gateway Arch was completed on Oct. 28, 1965, marking the end of a three-year construction process. Tuesday will officially mark 60 years since the landmarks completion.

On Saturday, the Arch hosted a builders day celebration. Visitors had the opportunity to meet some of the original Arch builders and hear their stories. Many of the Arch builders even signed autographs on commemorative posters.

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Everybodys [mindset was] the main goal was to get the job done and do it right. That was an incredible thing. Ive never forgotten that in my whole career, said Jim Woodworth, a Gateway Arch architect.

Saturdays celebration concluded with fireworks on the riverfront.

The Gateway Arch will also hold events celebrating its 60th anniversary on Sunday or Tuesday. Donations have allowed the Arch grounds to stay open for a limited time during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.

For a closer look at upcoming events at The Gateway Arch, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
ST. PETE BEACH  City commissioners presented the developer of a revamped Corey Landings project with a lengthy list of demands Oct. 14 before agreeing to vote on the proposal.

After nearly four hours of deliberation, commissioners delayed action on the first reading of an ordinance that would allocate 25 residential units from the citys density unit pool reserve, along with a conditional use permit for the mixed-use development. The items will be reconsidered at Tuesdays meeting, giving the developer time to address commissioners demands.

City planner Brandon Berry told commissioners the developer, KT Corey Ave., is requesting 133 luxury condominium units in three towers reaching 86 feet in height. The project has been significantly downsized from a 2022 proposal for 243 apartments and was further reduced after a February community meeting.

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The developer is returning 125 units to the reserve unit density pool that were approved in 2022 but is requesting permission to use 25 residential units from that pool.

The project includes 11,000 square feet of commercial space, with a 4,500-square-foot restaurant and 6,000 square feet of retail. The developer also plans a public park and a 39-slip dock, with four slips dedicated to restaurant and retail visitors and 35 reserved for residents.

Since the original Corey Landings project was approved in 2022, the former Charlies Transmission and Blue Parrot Restaurant have been demolished and vacant parcels added to the development site.

Attorney Elise Batsel, representing the developer, said the property has struggled to attract successful development since 2007 and 2008 and has changed hands multiple times.

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New development would revitalize an area thats essentially been abandoned and left to grow weeds and to hold the stormwater facility equipment from the city, Batsel said. Were excited about what this project can bring to the east end of Corey Avenue.

Community benefits

Mayor Adrian Petrila said the proposed community benefits were insufficient.

I appreciate the initial effort, but that is all that it is  an initial effort, because many of the things that are on this list are things youre going to have to do anyway, Petrila said. So youre not giving us anything extra, above and beyond; theres not an additional community benefit.

The mayor noted the developer would be required to repair the seawall and add landscaping regardless of whether the 25 density pool units are approved.

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Were going to have to look and see what community benefits we can bring to the table here in exchange for the allocation from the density pool, Petrila said.

The mayor said four public boat slips  down from eight in a previous iteration  was inadequate and suggested the developer provide eight slips, including one for kayak or paddleboard launches. He also requested additional shade in the proposed park and raised the possibility of a water taxi dock to reduce traffic.

Ken Metcalf, a planner working with the developer, countered that the project exceeds code requirements and noted its density is half that of the previous proposal.

Im not arguing with that, and in fact I appreciate it very much, Petrila responded. However, my responsibility as a steward of the citys assets is to make sure that if you ask for something, I dont give it away for nothing, and the community receives something of like value.

Several concerns

Commissioner Jon Maldonado said he saw no compensation for improvements to the sanitary sewer collection system, which runs approximately 1.5 miles from the development to Pump Station One.

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Scot Gilner, a civil engineer representing the developer, said the team would replace an 800-foot segment of infrastructure from Bay Street and Corey Avenue to Boca Ciega as part of the development cost. He added the developer is willing to contribute up to $250,000 to line or repair sections of the stormwater system.

Commissioner Lisa Robinson said she is very concerned about traffic and will require traffic calming measures along Gulf Winds Drive and Bay Street.

Thats kind of nonnegotiable for my neighborhood, Robinson said. She asked the developer to work with the Florida Department of Transportation to eliminate the turn lane at Mangrove Street and suggested closing a section of Bay Street so it would dead-end around 73rd Avenue.

When Batsel questioned whether residents would support closing their street, Robinson replied: Absolutely. Ive already been talking to them.

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Batsel noted the developer lacks authority to close a city street.

I like the project  Id like to see something over there, Robinson said. I think all the residents I talked to are excited about it, but again, theyre not willing to give it up for free. Theres been too much that has been given away for free, and the residents are a lot wiser and the commission is probably a lot tougher.

Batsel told commissioners the development team would return to the Tuesday meeting with a better proposal that addresses your concerns in a more comprehensive way.
(FOX40.COM)  While Starbucks is gearing up to serve its famous holiday drinks, the company faces a national wave of strikes from baristas to protest the companys stonewalling negotiations.

Video Above: Starbucks to overhaul its iconic cup

Starbucks Workers United announced coast-to-coast rallies and a picket to elevate Starbucks workers demands for a fair contract that delivers improved staffing, hours, take-home pay, and on-the-job protections for baristas, and to protest the companys unfair labor practices.



Starbucks knows where we stand. They know our demands: more take-home pay, better hours, resolving legal issues. Its time to finalize a contract this fall before the all-important holiday season, said Michelle Eisen, Starbucks Workers United spokesperson and 15-year veteran barista.

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A rally is expected to take place around 2 p.m. at the Starbucks on 30016 County Road 8 in Dunnigan on Sunday.

The union said that rallying against Starbucks is an attempt to escalate the push for the company to return to the bargaining table to better working conditions for Baristas. Hundreds of strikes across the U.S. have taken place in September and are continuing through the rest of October.

Since the company marked its Back to Starbucks plans in September, baristas have spoken up on how the strategy leaves out valuing Starbucks workers. The union continues to speak up about this issue, alongside Starbucks customers, allies and elected officials are joining forces to support fair labor practices and safe working conditions for baristas

Workers United President Lynne Fox recently laid out the stakes for Starbucks if the company does not settle fair contracts with the union before the holiday season in an article.

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Starbucks is on the ropes as its competitors are thriving. Investors should know that if Starbucks continues to stonewall and fight with union baristas, they arent afraid to do what it takes to win the fair contract that theyve earned. This includes going on strike if they must, which has the potential to further damage the brand, Fox said in her column.

Since then, over 45 major organizations representing more than 85 million people sent a demand letter to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, urging Starbucks to finalize a fair contract and pledging not to cross picket lines if baristas are forced to strike.

We remain ready to negotiate whenever Starbucks is willing to bargain in good faith and offer new proposals that address our demands, Eisen said.

Neither Starbucks nor CEO Brian Niccol has responded to the unions plea to settle a contract. However, in a recent release, Niccol argued that Were building back a better Starbucks experience and a better business.

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Starbucks argues that the union was the party that chose to walk away from the bargaining table.

If theyre ready to come back, were ready to talk, a Starbucks spokesperson said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Starbucks has proposed opening a new store with a drive-thru in Bergen County.

While Starbucks recently announced the closing some New Jersey stores, plans have been submitted for a new store to open Tenafly.

The proposed Starbucks would be at 71 County Road, according to the plans submitted to the borough planning board earlier this month.

Plans call for a drive-thru lane along with parking on the property.

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The project has not yet received approval from local officials.

Starbucks said at the end of September that it would close more than 500 North American stores, including five in New Jersey, as part of a $1B restructuring to cut costs.

The closing list included two Starbucks stores in Fort Lee, and one each in Morristown, Manchester and West New York.

Stories by N.J. News Report

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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Editors note: A few years back, we asked, and some heeded our call for creepy stories about things that go bump in the night. Kathryn Lowry shared this hair-raising experience about Kadena Air Bases building 721  and one more reason why you should never forget your CAC ID.

The grumpy spirit of a forgotten Englishman

My commander didnt believe when I told him why I was late. Last week I had shown up without my CAC for the same reason. My office is haunted.

Some of my coworkers had warned me that staying in our office after dark would not end well. I had laughed off these concerns, our building was only 60 years old, made of solid concrete, and did not have any questionable backgrounds such as being a mortuary or something as morbid. Besides, I didnt believe in ghosts and any Japanese or American who might have died in that area during the Battle of Okinawa likely had bigger things to care about than messing with some new airman.

While all of these things were true, there was one story I hadnt factored into my reasoning. Englishmen. Thats right, from England. I wasnt expecting to see a ghost, but I especially wasnt expecting to meet an English one.

The windows started rattling unexplainably, but then I would hear a whine and the rattling would stop. During broad daylight things like this can be shrugged off easily, along with the shrill creaks that come from the dense foliage that backs up to our parking lot.

But one night I forgot my CAC at work and drove back in the dark of night pick it up, and the strangest thing happened. I left the door on unlocked, but when I returned it was locked tight and from the outside I could hear the windows of my office rattle.

I heard an odd rustling and turned just in time to see the back of a British naval garb vanish into the foliage. Although no words were spoken, I could almost have sworn I got the phrase Dont even think about entering, colonial rebel put into my head as if someone had whispered it to me.

I fled to my car and drove away without any more attempts to go inside. I spent the next morning with the base historian learning about what could possibly be roaming outside building 721. Turns out that I wasnt imagining the navy uniform the night before.

During 1853, Commodore Perry came onto Okinawa and forced the government to open up the island to trading. While he was here on his mission, one of his rowdier sailors, Rueben Noland, got a little too celebratory with the gin rations and missed the call back to the ships and got left behind. Rueben was a less than likeable character and so he outstayed his welcome in the locals homes and was forced to wander as far south as current day Kadena Air Base. He was always bitter about being left behind and died within two months as a terrible drunk.

No one was really sure what to do with the body because the locals cremated bodies and put them in family tombs, but he had no family tomb to go into. Therefore, the ashes were simply spread in the forest, and unfortunately 170 years later our well-meaning construction workers picked up some of the ashes in the piles of dirt they used to make the concrete of our building. Needless to say, Rueben has been less than pleased ever since his homeless body was molded into walls to house the operations of the American patriots (I guess he didnt hear the U.S. and England ended up as allies). While his physical matter is encased in the walls of 721, Ruebens ghost is said to haunt the outside and become especially irritable at night.

Not entirely convinced, I came in early the next morning before the sun was up. As I pulled up, I could almost see Ruebens distinct uniform coming out of the foliage behind parking lot getting ready to pounce on anyone who dared disturb him at night.

I quickly drove to the edge of the parking lot closest to the road, kept all my lights on and waited for the sun to come up.

Although I was supposed to get something ready before I went to meet my commander at 06:30, I made a decision in the parking lot. I decided Id rather be the airman that got in trouble for being late, rather than the airman who was carried off by the ghost of an angry Englishman.

And although I am no longer fearful of Rueben, I sometimes leave him tea and always, ALWAYS make sure I finish all of my work during daylight hours.

Tales from the class

Editors note: Here are some ghoulish tales from Ms. Migita and a couple of her students at Lester Middle School.

I was home alone at my house on Foster. It was around 9 oclock, it was pitch black outside and none of my family was home. I was watching Netflix in my room in the back of my house. My door was shut and all my lights where off while I wrapped myself in a cocoon of blankets in my bed, snuggly and warm. Suddenly my door knob started rattling as if someone was trying to get into my room. I froze; I couldnt breathe, knowing that no one was home.

There was a shadow pacing back and forth that I could see from the small slip of light from under the door in the hallway. Both my dogs where on my bed laying down but heads and ears perked up listening, but suddenly jumped down and started barking at the door looking like they were about to attach whatever it was they were looking at. I felt weak and scared, my eyes almost bulging out of my head in fear while I sat there in my dark room. I couldnt hear anything but the quiet voices from the T.V. that I drowned out. I got up barely being able to walk and slowly lurked my way over to the door andsteadily opened my door, and peaked out my door just to see that nothing was there.

This was a few months ago during summer and nothing has happened since.

 Alexia Harre

Vanishing woman

This is a story that my uncle told me, in Japan theres this week when all of our family members that died comeback. Well not literally but we celebrate it because we miss our family members.

One of those days my uncle was driving to my grandmas house because we always get together at my grandmas house, and while he was driving he saw this women. She looked like a regular woman but when she walked behind a bus stop, usually it would only take you about three or four seconds to walk past the bus.

After three seconds he could see her when he drove past the bus stop he looked behind him and she was gone. She just disappeared...

 Yumi Alvarado

Silhouette in the woods

This is a story that my great-grandfather used to tell my dad: One time, in the middle of the night, I needed to use the bathroom. This was back in the day when there was no indoor plumbing, so we had to use the outhouse that was deep in the woods, if we wanted to relieve ourselves. So, I got up and looked into the darknsess of the woods through the window as shivers went down my spine.

I opened the front door and proceeded to walk into dark and scary woods. All of a sudden, I heard something breathing on my shoulder, so I ran as fast as I could, to get away from whatever was behind me. When I reached the outhouse, I was petrified at the sight of a dark silhouette of a face staring straight into my eyes.

For a while, I thought it was my brother Alton, he was the mischievous kind who liked to play tricks. Alton i...is that you I stammered.

It didnt speak.

I bolted out of there at the speed of light, fearing what would happen next.

When I finally reached my house, I saw a light shining from the porch. There was Alton, sitting at the porch. To this day, I never knew who or what that creature was that was sitting in the outhouse.

 Rio Oliver

Ghostly grasp

I know of someone who didnt believe in ghosts at all until experiencing one in Okinawa.

While traversing the parking lot to their car from the Hamby Town San A, they felt their wrist grasped tightly by an unseen hand. Dropping the newly purchased items they screeched and tore at their unseen captor. The sensation lifted, but left them with an uneasy stomach and a drumming heart.

Later I was informed that Hamby Town San A used to be the Morgue for the military shortly after World War II. While this hasnt ever happened to me, I feel a little hesitant whenever I am in that parking lot.

 Kendra Migita
A Claremore Economic Development scholarship program will get $60,000 in state funds to continue the program into next year.

The Rogers County Technical Training Program, started in 2023, has awarded $434,752 in scholarships to 235 mostly low-income students to study at Rogers State University or Northeast Tech tuition-free. Claremore Economic Development uses state Community Development Block Grants to fund the scholarship, originally granted to Claremore and Rogers County by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.

At their Oct. 14 meeting, the Rogers County Commissioners approved a request to the commerce department for $60,000 to extend the scholarship. They also asked the department to delay its end from Dec. 31, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

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"That was presented at our last meeting," said District 2 Commissioner and Chairman Steve Hendrix at the commissioners' Monday meeting. "The difference here is that we're documenting acceptance and signing on the OKGrants website, so we acknowledge that."

According to the commissioners' application, $10,000 of the extension funds will cover administration costs while the rest will fund additional scholarships.

Also Monday, the commissioners approved a zoning change tabled from the previous meeting that had drawn opposition from several neighbors.

The commissioners rezoned a parcel along South Highway 169 near Oologah to allow its owner, Ron Mitchell, to house an RV and boat storage business there. The parcel, which had been partly agricultural and partly residential single-family, remains mostly agricultural but now has commercial central service district zoning along the highway.

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They'd deferred voting on the change Oct. 14 because a neighbor, Mark Keys, told the commissioners the neighborhood was organized with covenants that prohibit "noxious businesses."

Todd Wagner, the county's attorney, said the commissioners are not bound by covenants between property owners. Wagner said though property owners must respect these agreements, the commissioners don't need to consider them when they are weighing a zoning change.

Brittany Senters, deputy director of the Rogers County Planning Commission, said though the county doesn't enforce covenants, she'd decided to research the one governing Keys' and Mitchell's neighborhood.

"Mr. Mitchell's property was included in the original covenants for this unplatted land," Senters said. "That was in 1994. In 2005, there were covenants filed again for the property, which removed Mr. Mitchell's property. All the covenants that were submitted do not apply to Ron Mitchell's property, as it was removed."

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A second neighbor, Stan Baker, said Oct. 14 he worried an RV storage business on Mitchell's property would funnel commercial traffic down 4064 Road, the adjoining rural road on which Baker and Keys both live.

Senters said it would not  while Mitchell's driveway sits on 4064 Road, customers could only access the commercial part of his property from Highway 169.

The commissioners also signed a contract Monday with Wallace Design Group to provide structural inspection services at the Port of Inola.

Missy Richardson, director of the county planning commission, said the county works with residential and commercial inspectors but has no similar agreements with a structural inspection firm.

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"The type of structures that are going in out at the port are at such a magnitude that I need to hire a structural firm to make sure that everything is to standards," Richardson said.

Richardson said because Rogers County has an interlocal agreement with the Port of Inola, Wallace Design Group will pay the county, which will pay that money to the inspectors on site.

Hendrix asked if Wallace could also perform structural inspections outside the Port of Inola; Richardson said they couldn't, under the agreement approved Monday.

"When we are ready to pull the trigger on other large inspections, we can look at them again," Richardson said.

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The commissioners also agreed to pay Range Systems Inc. $75,663 to supply a range target system at the Rogers County Sheriff's Office's shooting range.

Range Systems, Inc. will install the target system and also build a long knee-high wall to protect it. Its price was the highest of the three bidders; Captain Bronson Smith asked the commissioners to choose Range Systems because it offered a three-year warranty while the other bidders' warranties would last just one year.

He said other area law enforcement agencies have contracted with Range Systems for their firing ranges.

"It's something we're going to be shooting at a lot, and so we would prefer to have the additional warranty period," Smith said. "And we are familiar with the system itself, and the quality that the system runs at, and the quality of service."
ENOLA, Pa. (WHTM)  The late state budget continues to impact people across the Commonwealth  even the youngest Pennsylvanians.

For 40 years, Bright Futures Learning Center has been able to provide resources and community support to its students and their families.

We provide care for students aged six weeks up to 12 years old, said Shayla Mitchell, the early learning centers executive director and president.

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Lawmaker proposes loan reimbursement for schools and local government during budget impasses

However, thats all been put on pause since Oct. 10 when Bright Futures Learning Center had to close its doors.

Theyre currently closed, because the budget is not passed, said Asia Schroeder, inclusion consultant at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit. So, that means that almost 500 children are out of places to go for their preschool program.

This, even after school officials took out loans to keep class in session.

It was a very long summertime, and it took us quite a few months to come to a decision, Mitchell added. But we met with our finance team earlier in the week and they were like; were not going to be able to survive this if we keep going.

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In an effort to survive  there was a bake sale at the Capital Area Intermediate Units 5th annual fall fest on Saturday.

So, we put this together with vendors, tons of free kid events, so that is accessible to all parents food, trucks, music, shared Dr. Andrea Saia, the CAIUs executive director.

We decided to do a bake sale, said Aiyana Smith, an educational paraprofessional at the CAIU. Just a fundraiser to get money for the school as much as we can, because anything will help.

All of the money raised went right to Bright Futures Learning Center.

Whatever it takes to make sure that we get to reopen our doors and welcome our families back, Mitchell told abc27 News.

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The House and Senate will meet in Harrisburg this upcoming week.

Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices

Will they get the state budget completed by then? Many people are hopeful.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Intelligence analysts inside the Trump administration were reportedly divided over whether Vladimir Putin was sincerely interested in negotiating an end to the Ukraine war.

Ahead of a controversial August summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin, the State Departments internal intelligence agency took a more dim view of the question than other sectors of the administration, warning the president of Putins reluctance to end the conflict in assessments and presidential briefings, The Wall Street Journal reports.

We kept standing firm, John Williams, who resigned earlier this year from his post as director of the State Departments Russia-Eurasia analysis in the intelligence bureau, told the paper. We didnt see that [Putin] had incentive to negotiate an end to the war.

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In the Intelligence Community, differing perspectives arent just normaltheyre necessary, the office of the administrations Director of National Intelligence said in a statement in response to the reporting. That debate is how we ensure our decision-makers have the most accurate picture possible to protect the safety and freedom of the American people.

In the end, the August summit yielded no firm agreement, and progress on ending the war hasnt moved much, drawing increasing irritation from Trump as he continues to publicly frame himself as a Nobel Prize-worthy peacemaker president.

State Department analysts reportedly warned President Trump Vladimir Putin has little interest in negotiating an end to the Ukraine war (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

This month, hopes inside the White House briefly appeared high that some progress would be made, with the president describing a productive call with Putin and claiming he would sit down again with the Russian leader for talks in Budapest in November.

The Trump administration has since called off those plans, claiming it does not want to have another wasted meeting with Putin.

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Trump then hit Russia with its toughest round of sanctions yet, targeting two top oil producers.

Announcing the move, the president said he just felt it was time for action to push Russia towards a resolution.

The White House has said a potential Budapest summit between the two leaders will not occur, with Trump warning he wont engage in more talks until a clear deal can be reached (Getty)

As the president headed to Asia to kick off this weekends diplomatic tour, he again turned the screws on Putin, claiming no further talks would take place until a deal seemed reachable.

"You have to know that we're going to make a deal, I'm not going to be wasting my time," the US president told reporters in Doha on Saturday.
Sign up for our Texas Politics Newsletter and the State of Texas Podcast today.

New episodes of State of Texas are on KXAN or the KXAN+ app every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Dont want to wait? Scroll down to continue watching this weeks segments now.

AUSTIN (Nexstar)  Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is speaking out against a proposal from President Donald Trump to increase imports of beef from Argentina to help lower prices for consumers.

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We would buy some beef from Argentina. If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down, Trump told reporters while traveling on Air Force One last weekend. The proposal could more than quadruple the amount of beef imported from Argentina to the United States.

Cattle ranchers across Texas and the U.S. have voiced concerns over the proposal, fearing that it could undermine their profits as they face higher costs.

Miller said he had a disagreement with President Trump on how to lower beef prices. On Thursday, Miller released his own five-point plan, with the intention of helping Texas ranchers and producers while also moving to reduce prices.

Miller said high beef prices are spurred by a low supply of cattle, which is the lowest it has been in 75 years. One priority on his list is to create a tax credit similar to the child tax credit, but with heifers instead. Heifers are young female cows that have not given birth yet.

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These cow calf producers, theyve been making pretty decent money. They could actually use a tax credit. Take it right off their taxes. That would encourage them, and they would start keeping heifers immediately and that rebuilds our herds, Miller said.

Another point in Millers plan is to import live cattle from Mexico rather than beef in a box from Argentina. Miller claims that doing this would decrease beef prices overnight, but this has been complicated by the threat of the new world screwworm, a parasite that eats the flesh of cattle.

Miller said strict quarantine procedures would prevent spreading the parasite.

Before any cattle are imported, they go to a quarantine pen. The U.S. veterinarians have to inspect every single one of them. You can give a shot of Dectomax or ivermectin, which are anti-parasitic drugs. It would kill any screw worms, if they were infected. Theres virtually no chance of bringing an animal that had screwworm infection, Miller explained.

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Cooper Little, the executive director of the Independent Cattlemens Association of Texas, said his organization does not support that bullet point of Millers plan because of how much destruction the parasite could cause if it does make it north of the border, like it did in the 20th century.

Safeguarding the herd is a big thing the government can do for Texas cattleman, at this point, especially if youre concerned with high beef prices. Let screwworm get across the border and then see how high beef prices rise, Little said.

Election officials investigate potential noncitizens registered to vote

The Texas Secretary of States office announced Monday it identified 2,724 potential noncitizens who are registered to vote in the state using data from a federal database.

The list of potential noncitizens were sent to county election officials last week who are now responsible to verify the eligibility of these voters, according to election code. Seven counties had more than 100 of these potential noncitizens on the voter registration list. Those counties include:

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Collin  109

El Paso  165

Bexar  201

Dallas  277

Harris  362

Hidalgo  149

Tarrant  145

Texas election code said county election officials must notify these potential noncitizens in written form that their voter registration is at risk of being cancelled and for them to provide proof of eligibility. That person has 30 days to respond before they are taken off the voter registration list. A person can be immediately reinstated following a cancellation if they provide proof of citizenship to an elections office or polling location.

Coast Guard launches new Rio Grande patrols, plan for new border buoys announced

The Rio Grande is seeing increased militarization as the Trump Administration seeks to exact its campaign promise of securing the border.

Perhaps the most significant signal of increased security is the deployment of the Coast Guard to the Rio Grande. The deployment, titled Operation River Wall, includes a surge of 100 Coast Guard boats.

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Border Report correspondent Sandra Sanchez covered the start of the deployment. She notes that the increased Coast Guard presence is a way for DHS Secretary Kristi Noems to heighten the profile of the Coast Guard, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security.

Theyre really trying to show that they have maritime border security super skills, and she wants to use them to defend the border.

Sanchez also reported on a new plan to add more giant buoys as barriers in the Rio Grande. U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wednesday confirmed the plan.

The new buoy barriers will total 80 miles and will include 17 miles from Brownsville, Texas, to the Gulf; and two more strings of 23 miles and 40 miles in the Border Patrols Del Rio Sector, near the border towns of Eagle Pass and Del Rio, Texas.

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The flotation devices are similar to what Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 put in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas. However, that state-funded string was only 1,000 feet long, cost relatively less at $1 million, and all of the orange buoys are 4-feet wide.

The announcement comes days after signs were posted on different types of buoys, warning that a large span of the Rio Grande is now a military zone. The warning buoys were recently put in the water, months after the Department of Defense announced that 250 miles along the Rio Grande in the South Texas border counties of Hidalgo and Cameron were now National Defense Areas.

Anyone crossing into this zone could face six months in prison and a hundred thousand dollar fine, Sanchez said. It really ups the ante down there.

Texans could lose SNAP benefits if shutdown continues

Texans are beginning to sound the alarm regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Plan (SNAP) benefits.

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SNAP benefits for November wont be issued if the federal government shutdown continues past Oct. 27, the Texas Department of State Health Services website said.

While the website stipulates that Medicaid, WIC, TANF and CHIP benefits wont be affected, the 3.7 million Texans (roughly 11% of the population) who rely on SNAP to pay for groceries will be the first to feel the fullest and most direct effects from the federal shutdown.

Food banks are also bracing for an influx of customers after already taking on an extra load.

Weve already seen about a 35% increase in reliance on our services, Sari Vatske, the President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, said. In the 21 counties that the Central Texas food bank serves alone, we have about 127,000 households that rely on SNAP assistance. Assuming the average household receives about $400 a month, we are looking at a shortfall of about $51 million a month.

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Currently, most food banks serve in a supportive role to SNAP but not as a replacement.

[For] every 10 meals a low-income person gets, nine are from SNAP and one is from a food bank, San Antonio Food Bank Chief Philanthropy Officer Michael Guerra said. [SNAP benefits expiring] probably means that were just going to have to ration. We do ration food right now because theres more need than there is food, but if we have a need that two, three [or] four times what we normally serve, we wont be able to scale that fast.

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TODAY:

Were starting out in the mid 50s to low 60s under mostly cloudy to overcast skies across the region. We had a few light showers around early this morning, but they have since mostly dissipated. Today, we stay mostly cloudy and we could see a few isolated showers, but most of the rain will come later tonight. Highs today will be in the upper 60s to near 70. Tonight, well see those rain chances increase in the evening, with rain likely in the overnight with some rumbles of thunder. Severe weather is not expected.

THE WEEK AHEAD:

We stay fairly active until the end of the week. After some Monday morning rain and storms, isolated showers will stay in the forecast through Monday afternoon with highs only near 60, about 15 degrees cooler than average for this time of the year. Tuesday is looking mostly dry, but mostly cloudy as were in-between system. Highs will be in the low 60s, lows will be in the low 50s. Then Wednesday, another frontal system swings through to give us another chance for some rain. But, this paticular system doesnt seem to have quite as much rain associated with, but youll probably still need the umbrellas through early afternoon. Highs will be in the low to mid 60s. Thursday, we could see some isolated showers, especially north of Columbus, thanks to some wrap-around mositure. But, late afternoon, we should start to see some sunshine return. Friday, things continue to improve just in time for some trick-or-treating. Highs Friday will be in the low to mid 60s, and morning lows down in the low 40s.

NEXT WEEKEND:

Saturday is looking great with mostly sunny skies and afternoon highs in the mid 60s. There is some uncertainty for Sunday, as we could have some energy arrive in time to give us a slight chance for some showers, but nothing widespread. Highs will be in the upper 60s both days.

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TROPICS:

Yesterday morning Melissa was a Tropical Storm with winds of 70 mph. She underwent rapid intensifaction, and this morning, Melissa is making a run at Category 5 status! As of the 8am EDT advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Melissa is a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph, and on radar has developed a well-defined, almost perfectly circular eye! She is forecast to become a Cetegory 5 today! Melissa is not expected to impact the continental U.S., but will have devestating impacts in portions of the Caribbean, especially the island of Jamaica.

Thanks for watching WRBL News 3 and have a great week!  Meteorologist Brian Thomas

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Though hailed by some for signing new laws to combat antisemitism in California schools, Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed enough reservations about the bills to urge state lawmakers to make some changes.

Supporters of the legislation, Senate Bill 48 and Assembly Bill 715, said it was needed to protect Jewish students on campus, while opponents argued it was broadly written and would stifle free speech and classroom discussions about current events in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hamas war.

Newsom, when he signed the bills, directed legislators to work quickly on a follow-up measure to address urgent concerns about unintended consequences.

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The governor made similar requests for nearly a dozen other major bills he signed into law this year, including measures providing safeguards on artificial intelligence, protections for children online and banning law enforcement officers donning masks  a direct response to federal agents hiding their identities during immigration raids across the state.

Newsom's addendums provide a glimpse into the sometimes flawed or incomplete process of crafting new laws, at times hastily at the end of legislative session, requiring flaws or unresolved conflicts to be remedied later.

San Jose State University professor emeritus and political analyst Larry Gerston said governors sometimes go this route when, despite having concerns, they feel the legislation is too urgent to veto.

Read more: Newsom signs bill that targets antisemitism and other discrimination in schools

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"I think you are looking at a situation where he thought the issue was sufficiently important and needed to go ahead and get it moving," he said.

Gerston, however, noted those with a cynical view of politics could argue governors use this tactic as a way to undo or water down legislation that  for various political reasons  they wanted to pass in the moment.

"Depending upon your attitude toward the governor, politics and legislation, [that viewpoint] could be right or wrong," he said.

One of the authors of the antisemitism bills, Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles), said he will put forth another measure next year and continue working with educational organizations and the California Legislative Jewish Caucus to ensure the right balance is struck.

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"The assertions that the bill is intended to prevent instruction about controversial topics, including topics related to Israel, is just not accurate," said Zbur, who introduced AB 715. "We will be making sure that it's clear that instruction on complicated issues, on controversial issues, that critical education can continue to take place."

Zbur said he will reexamine a provision requiring the factual accuracy of instructional materials.

One of the things that weve agreed to do was focus on making sure that the bill continues to meet its goal, but revisit that factually accurate language to make sure that, for example, you can continue to teach [works of] fiction in the classroom, he said.

Another new law flagged by Newsom bans local and federal agents from wearing masks or facial coverings during operations.

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The governor approved Senate Bill 627  carried by Sens. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Jesse Arreguin (D-Berkeley)  last month as a response to the Trump administrations aggressive immigration raids that are often conducted by masked agents in unmarked cars. Newsom said it was unacceptable for "secret police" to grab people off the streets.

This bill establishes important transparency and public accountability measures to protect public safety, but it requires follow-up legislation, Newsom wrote in his signing statement. Given the importance of the issue, the legislature must craft a bill that prevents unnecessary masking without compromising law enforcement operations.

Newsom said clarifications about safety gear and additional exemptions for legitimate law enforcement activities were needed.

I read this bill as permitting the use of motorcycle or other safety helmets, sunglasses, or other standard law enforcement gear not designed or used for the purpose of hiding anyones identity, but the follow-up legislation must also remove any uncertainty or ambiguities, he wrote.

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Wiener agreed to revisit the measure.

"Im committed to working with the Governors office to further refine SB 627 early next year to ensure it is as workable as possible for many law enforcement officers working in good faith," he said.

California is the first state to ban masking for federal law enforcement and the law will likely be challenged in court. The move drew ire from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who called the legislation despicable and said forcing officers to reveal their faces increases their risk of being targeted by criminals.

Newsom is also urging legislators to adjust two new tech-related laws from Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland).

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Assembly Bill 853, dubbed the California AI Transparency Act, is intended to help people identify content created by artificial intelligence. It requires large online platforms, such as social media sites, to provide accessible provenance data on uploaded content starting in 2027. Provenance data is information about the origin and modification history of online content.

In his signing statement, Newsom called the legislation a "critical step" but said it could interfere with privacy.

"Some stakeholders remain concerned that provisions of the bill, while well-intentioned, present implementation challenges that could lead to unintended consequences, including impairment of user privacy," he wrote. "I encourage the legislature to enact follow up legislation in 2026, before the law takes effect, to address these technical feasibility issues."

Assembly Bill 1043 aims to help prevent children from viewing inappropriate content online. It directs operating system providers to allow parents to input their children's ages when setting up equipment such as laptops or smartphones, and then requires users to be grouped in different age brackets. It gained approval from tech companies including Meta and Google while others raised concerns.

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Streaming services and video game developers contend that this bills framework, while well-suited to traditional software applications, does not fit their respective products, Newsom wrote in his signing statement. Many of these companies have existing age verification systems in place, addressing complexities such as multi-user accounts shared by a family and user profiles utilized across multiple devices.

The governor urged lawmakers to address those concerns before the law is set to take effect in 2027.

Wicks was unavailable for comment.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  One thing that northwestern New Mexico is known for is lots of dinosaur fossils. Previously, paleontologists estimated that the fossils in the Birsti Badlands were 70 million years old, but now, a team of scientists from around the world, including at New Mexico State University, has new evidence. They said the rock in the Bisti Badlands holds a snapshot of the period of time when a massive asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs. Its a paper that could rewrite what we know about the end of the dinosaurs time on Earth.

Story continues below

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Fossils from the time of the dinosaurs come from all over the world. Mass Extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago is probably the most well-known mass extinction. Most people know about the meteorite impact in the Yucatan Peninsula that wipes out the dinosaurs and a whole bunch of other organisms, said Dr. Andrew Flynn, Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, NMSU.

But for decades, the only known fossils from that extinction period came from sites in Montana and North Dakota. Now, Dr. Andrew Flynn and his colleagues said that some of New Mexicos dig sites also show evidence from that time period. If Doctor Flynn and his partners are right, that would mean that the fossils from the Bisti Badlands come from the extinction period, and that challenges some previously held theories. Specifically, that dinosaurs were already dying off when the meteor hit. That lends support to the fact that dinosaurs were not on their way out. and we just need more sampling and more data, said Dr. Flynn.

New Mexicos fossils would imply much more dinosaur diversity, at a time when some paleontologists say there shouldnt be. The dinosaurs in that area are quite different from Montana. Theyre dominated by a 100-foot-long, long-necked sauropod dinosaur, that is only found in the south of North America. For reference, thats roughly the length of a 737 jet, and it weighed as much as six full-grown African elephants, said Dr. Flynn.

Dr. Flynn said the more we keep digging in the rocks, the better idea well have about the end of the age of dinosaurs. Its really important to study all kinds of new areas, particularly in parts of North America that we havent really worked in before, said Dr. Flynn.

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Dr. Flynn worked with scientists from all over the world on this study. This latest published paper took 13 years to complete.

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A new study by Transport and Environment (T&E), "Europe's leading advocates for clean transport and energy," says plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are nearly as dirty as gas cars. This marks another reason plug-in hybrids may not be a great step towards EV adoption after all.

"In the real world, plug-in hybrids emit 135g of CO2 per km on average, according to T&E analysis of data gathered by the European Environment Agency (EEA) from fuel monitors on 127,000 vehicles registered in 2023. Petrol and diesel cars emit 166g of CO2/km on average."

T&E researchers analyzed emissions data from 127,000 PHEVs registered in the European Union in 2023. The study, using data gathered by the European Environment Agency (EEA), found that those PHEVs produced carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions nearly five times higher in the real world than tests conducted under lab-conditions suggest. That means that instead of PHEV delivering a 75% reduction in emissions as originally indicated by lab tests, they only produce 19% less pollutants.

Read more: Every Formula 1 Team Runs Brembo Brakes, But Not All Are Alike

Why do PHEVs produce excessive emissions?

PHEVs promise the best of both worlds but fail to deliver. - Techa Tungateja/Getty Images

One reason plug-in hybrid vehicles for sale in the U.S. produce excessive emissions is they're typically heavier than more economical vehicles, not to mention it's unknown how often owners actually charge their vehicles. The T&E study found that PHEVs with electric-only ranges exceeding 75 km produced more CO2 emissions than shorter-range PHEVs due to the increased weight of the larger batteries.

"PHEV emissions are also increasing because of the trend towards longer electric ranges as bigger batteries make the vehicles heavier and, therefore, burn more fuel in engine mode. These heavier vehicles also consume more energy than smaller cars when driven on the battery."

The underlying reason for the excessive PHEV emissions is that the electric drive motors they use don't actually have enough power to propel the vehicle under all conditions, such as "higher speeds or steep inclines." Instead, the PHEV uses its gas engine to compensate, burning up to three liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (0.8 gallon per 62 miles) even while operating in electric mode. That results in an electric-only-mode emission of 68g of CO2 per kilometer, or about 8.5 times the official prediction.

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By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Independent journalist and homeless advocate Kevin Dahlgren has this amazing mini-video where an addict complains of the free drug items the government hands-outs. View the post below, then follow Dahlgren and financially support him.

A young homeless addict living in Portland questions why harm reduction workers give her and her friends, the tools to keep using drugs, which inevitably leads to them dying. She doesnt appreciate being enabled and feels like theyre being taken advantage of. pic.twitter.com/lewljT84yE  Kevin Dahlgren   (@kevinvdahlgren) October 21, 2025
Two local favorites, a brewery and a bakery, are teaming up to make a difference for Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October.

Bitter Pops, located at 3357 Lincoln Avenue in Lakeview, and EvaDeans Bakery, located at 1115 Central Avenue in north suburban Wilmette, are featuring specialty releases and events through this Friday, Oct. 31.

PAWS Chicago Pet of the Week: Rica

Megan Gill, Bitter Pops co-owner, and Garrett VanBergen, EvaDeans Bakery executive chef, joined Sean Lewis for this weeks WGN Weekend Morning News Sunday Brunch to talk about their partnership to help raise money for breast cancer awareness.

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This industrys all about partnerships and collaborating and coming together, Gill says. As you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Delirium Tremens is a Belgian brewery that brews an all-woman brewed beer. It releases in October, and they donate proceeds to breast cancer awareness.

So we partnered with our friend Garrett, who actually helped us launch our breakfast program at Bitter Pops two years ago, and we did a hot pink smash burger. Its been our feature all month long.

 Its been super fun, and were matching donations with Delirium to donate to breast cancer research.

Plant Daddy: Testing soil, getting rid of pests & more

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VanBergen said EvaDeans Bakery will soon be celebrating two years in business after opening on Feb. 29 during the 2024 Leap Year.

The name is my wifes late grandmother, who died just before she was born, VanBergen explains. We named it after her.

As for the hot pink bun on the smash burger this month?

Its a brioche bun. We make it pink with a little bakery magic, VanBergen says.

Check out the attached video player to watch the whole Sunday Brunch segment. Visit bitterpops.com and evadeans.com for more information.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
As federal workers remain in limbo amid the government shutdown, President Trump is traveling to Asia in an effort to unpack key foreign policy topics at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits.

Trump is also set to meet with high-ranking counterparts during stops in Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Among the planned meetings include a confab with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

South Korea is still awaiting a firm trade agreement with the White House to help solidify taxes on imports and exports. Trade discussions are expected to trickle down to Americans as they battle an increase in grocery prices, the cost of gas and products like toys ahead of the holiday season.

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Earlier this week, Sanae Takaichi was elected to serve as Japans first female prime minister. She will take the lead in implementing Tokyos $550 billion investment in U.S. projects over four years in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy, shipbuilding, computer chips and metals.

The president has signaled an initial approval of Takaichi, whos known as a conservative leader and protege of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Earlier this month, Trump called her a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is joining Trump on the trip, has been at the helm of trade talks and will remain at the forefront of discussions during the Asia tour. He will likely preview his objective for the meetings during appearances on CBSs Face The Nation, NBCs Meet the Press and ABCs This Week.

Meanwhile, tensions are simmering between the U.S. and Venezuela amid the militarys recent counternarcotic strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and elsewhere.

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Dozens of people have been killed after the Trump administration claimed they were attempting to transport drugs. Venezuelan officials launched their own independent investigations of those targeted and said allegations of their involvement in drug trafficking were false.

I dont think were going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war, Trump told reporters on Thursday, referring to strikes on Venezuelan citizens. I think were just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. OK? Were going to kill them.

Some members of Congress have referred to the overseas strikes as an act of war initiated without input from lawmakers.

The president has turned the volume up to 11 and said, No, were going to stop drugs coming into our country that are killing folks, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) said on Thursday.

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Those are entirely appropriate to do. What were missing is the communication, the coordination, and the ability to be able to say, lets talk out loud about this. Were not his opponent on this. Were an ally in this to be able to solve it, but we need to be able to have a voice on it as a co-equal branch, he added.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also spoken out against the strikes on Venezuelan vessels. He will likely address the strikes again during an appearance on Fox Newss Fox News Sunday.

Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a member of the House Appropriations Committees subcommittee on Defense, may also hit on the topic during an appearance on NewsNations The Hill Sunday.

Elsewhere, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is expected to rail against Republicans as the government shutdown and its impacts persist during an interview on CBS Newss Face The Nation.

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One shutdown effect has been flight safety and delays, as air traffic controllers are forced to work without pay. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will likely address these developments during an appearance on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures.

These topics and more will be discussed on this weeks Sunday morning news shows. Please see the full list of planned guest appearances below:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Cato Institute vice president Scott Lincicome

CBS Newss Face The Nation: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.)

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NBC Meet the Press: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.)

ABCs This Week: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), journalist and author Jonathan Karl

CNNs State of the Union: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)

Fox Newss Fox News Sunday: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)



Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Nobel Peace Prize recipient Marina Corina Machado of Venezuela, author Lee Smith

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People came together at Oklahoma Project Womans annual Pink Ribbon Luncheon Thursday to honor those who have fought and continue to fight cancer.

OPW is a statewide 501 3 nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive breast health care to Oklahomans with no insurance and limited financial resources.

The late Donita Wynn  the former District 18 district attorney and Pittsburg County special judge  led the drive to get the event started in McAlester.

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Lori Few, speaker, said the event was "not only in remembrance of those who have fought and continue to fight breast cancer, but in celebration of the survivors among us."

Keynote speaker Michelle Morris spoke about her journey with cancer.

When I was first diagnosed, I didnt know the strength I would need or the strength I already had in me, Morris said.

In October 2018, she felt a lump in her left breast. She did not know what it was, but she said God stepped in and reminded her to check it every day. She reached out to her OBGYN provider when it grew.

Her provider assessed her and said it did not feel like normal cancer, but that Morris should continue with testing to make sure.

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Morris said she began the journey alone, being someone who worries about everybody else before worrying about herself.

Im also the kind of person that I dont want to talk about negative things, because thats just going to make everybody think negative about it, Morris said, so she kept it to herself.

When they told her she needed to have special testing in Tulsa, she reached out for support from her family.

She received the results the next day while she was at work. They told Morris to write down her diagnosis, and she used a sticky note.

This is my Post-it note that I wrote that day, Morris said as she showed everyone. Its scribbled, its shaky. I carry this with me at all times.

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That night she struggled to sleep. She went on the Internet, which scared her. Morris said she did not know what to do.

Morris said when her family moved homes, her stepson did not want to sleep in his own room. He suggested that maybe if he put his Bible in his pillowcase that he could sleep throughout the night.

Morris tried the same thing.

Thats what Im going to do. I go get my Bible, and I shove that in my pillowcase, Morris said, and it helped her fall asleep.

She continued her journey, and when she had her port put in, she worried that the cancer had spread. She prayed it had not, but they confirmed it had after the procedure.

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I always say God has not brought me this far to ever let me give up, ever. No matter what life has handed me, Morris said.

She continued with the surgery, the chemotherapy, blood draws and radiation treatment. On Sept. 20, 2019, she became cancer free and has been since.

I would like to say that God brought me through it all," Morris said. "He held my hand each and every step of the way, and so did my friends and family and the community."

She said McAlester never let her down with the food, money and encouragement. She was overwhelmed with love and support.

What I learned is that cancer may touch your body, but it does not take your spirit, Morris said.
A suspect arrested in connection with the attempted rape of a woman on a train near Paris after a video of the incident went viral on social media has admitted to an altercation with the victim but denied any sexual assault, prosecutors said on Sunday.

The suspect, aged 26 and of Egyptian nationality, was taken into custody on Friday as part of the investigation, the Creteil prosecutor's office said.

At the end of his police custody, the man will be brought on Monday before the Creteil prosecutor and could be handed preliminary charges of attempted rape. The public prosecutor also requested pre-trial detention.

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The incident has reignited the debate over sexual violence on public transport in France, which has been rising in recent years.

A 26-year-old Brazilian woman was allegedly attacked by a man earlier this month on a Paris suburban train. The incident occurred in the morning in a nearly empty carriage.

The prosecutor's office said the woman filed a complaint, stating that she had been the victim of a sexual assault. She was examined by a forensic doctor who put her on five days of sick leave.

CBS News partner BBC News identified the woman as Jhordana Dias, who told the newspaper Le Parisien that the man boarded the train, pushed her and attempted to pull down her underwear. Another passenger filmed the incident, which shows a man fleeing the train as it pulls into a station. The man was not carrying identification documents when he was arrested but told police he was a 26-year-old Egyptian national, BBC News reported.

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French media reported that the woman said she was sexually assaulted, slapped and bitten. Another passenger rushed to intervene and began filming the scene on her mobile phone as the man fled. The video was later shared on social media.

According to a recent government report, the number of victims of sexual violence on public transport has increased by 86% since 2016.

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BALLSTON SPA - A Herkimer County man accused of stealing a purse from a 76-year-old woman before hitting her with his vehicle was extradited from Pennsylvania and arraigned in a Saratoga County town court on Saturday.

Joseph Hess, 32, is accused of backing his vehicle over the woman's legs after she confronted him in the parking lot of a McDonald's for allegedly stealing a purse from the passenger side of her car on Oct. 16. She suffered multiple compound fractures to her leg and remained hospitalized at Albany Medical Center Hospital as of Saturday, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office.

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Hess, of Frankfort, faces first-degree robbery and assault charges, both felonies. He was arraigned before Judge Ellwood A. Sloat Jr. in Malta Town Court on Saturday and has been transferred to the Saratoga County Jail, according to a news release from the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. He is set to reappear in Ballston Town Court at a later date.

Deputies say that after Hess allegedly hit the woman with his car, he abandoned the vehicle, which had been reported stolen from Colonie. He left the car behind Mabey's Moving and Storage on Route 67 before he allegedly fled into a wooded area east of the warehouse.

Police put out a call for public assistance in their search for Hess on Oct. 17. The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office said U.S. Marshals took Hess into custody around 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 21 at a hotel in Tinicum Township, an area just south of Philadelphia near the city's airport. He was extradited back to New York from a jail in Delaware County, Pa., the sheriff's office said.

This article originally published at Suspect in Ballston Spa purse snatching extradited, appears in court.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating after a suspect was shot by a Buckner, Missouri, police officer during an overnight pursuit.

According to MSHP, at about 1:25 a.m., a Buckner officer was chasing a suspect on westbound US-24 Highway near Hoover Road. As the suspect drove toward Blue Mills Road, it was reported that they crossed into the eastbound lanes of the highway, driving in the wrong direction of traffic.

View the latest headlines from Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas at fox4kc.com

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MSHP says the suspect then put their car into reverse, accelerated forward and hit the officers patrol car.

The officer subsequently fired their weapon, leading the suspect to be taken into custody. MSHP says the suspect suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to MSHP, the officer was uninjured in the incident.

At this time, MSHP is investigating the officer involved in the shooting. The other criminal charges related to the case will be investigated by the Buckner Police Department.

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Four suspects involved in the September arson attack near Prime Minister Netanyahu's residence were released to house arrest after a court hearing on Sunday.

The four suspects in the arson attack that took place near the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September were released to house arrest after a hearing on Sunday, Ma'arach Otef Atzurim, a legal aid group for protester rights, whose staff have been representing the suspects, announced on Sunday afternoon.

The prosecution was set to appeal the decision.

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On September 3, an arson attack occurred near the official Balfour residence in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem. The incident involved the ignition of several trash bins, leading to the destruction of a car and prompting the evacuation of nearby residents. The attack took place during a protest advocating for the return of hostages held by Hamas.

In connection with the arson, four people were arrested and later indicted. The suspects - Lt.-Col. (res.) Amos Doron, 60; Shmuel Reuveni, 61; Eyal Giller, 54; and Mark Foigel, 57, are charged with arson, causing property damage, and obstruction of justice. According to the indictment, the group planned to create a ring of fire around the Prime Minister's residence by setting fires at six locations. They organized their activities through an encrypted messaging app, procured combustible materials, and divided tasks among themselves.

Four activists arrested for setting fire to recycling bins and a car near the Prime Ministers residence arrive at a court hearing at Jerusalem District Court, October 26, 2025. (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

During a hearing on September 4, the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended Doron's detention by five days. A police representative stated that Doron was disguised when he set fire to the bins.

The incident has sparked public debate over the balance between protest actions and public safety, as well as the legal implications of such acts during times of national tension.

'A criminal plan that was organized and detailed'

During the Sunday hearing, the prosecution had originally said it agreed to release Doron, Reuveni, and Giller to house arrest - but asked to keep Foigel in custody.

Attorney Asaf Swissa, representing the state, said the incident was a criminal plan that was organized and detailed, not the accidental lighting of a trash bin... This act contains elements of a threat to state security. The lawyers representing the defendants countered that they are normative, low-risk individuals, and their arrest neednt be extended.
HEAL team does lots of good

As street outreach workers for several decades now, we write in favor of the HEAL team.

We live in a neighborhood which is blessed with a shelter, low-income, transitional housing and outreach services.

During the height of the pandemic, we estimate 150 to 200 people slept on our street.

As a neighborhood we had very little success finding temporary housing for anyone, let alone permanent housing.

Eventually, unhoused and housed experienced the fallout from competition among various gangs that infiltrated the encampments and were trying to claim this territory for their drug and sex trafficking businesses.

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Screaming, overdoses, gunfire, glass breaking, sirens, etc. The next day, scarce details about the rape, injury, overdose, even murder. Details scarce, but the suffering was great.

The HEAL Team got a lot of people out of that hell and into shelter. They continue to do that to this day. They are doing the hard work that no one sees.

Michael Sterbick and Dotti Krist-Sterbick, Tacoma

Shouldnt back ethics violator

I was disappointed to see The News Tribune endorse a mayoral candidate who has been found in clear violation of the citys ethics code. This same candidate also failed to secure the endorsement of his own professional peers at the Association of Realtors.

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In contrast, John Hines has earned the unanimous support of the current City Council, along with endorsements from nearly all of his former primary opponents!

Todd Steel, Tacoma

Krishnadasan provides good perspective

In a time when politics feels constantly divisive and toxic, Senator Deb Krishnadasan is a breath of fresh air. Her reasonable, proactive approach to working for our community is in stark contrast to her opponent, Michelle Caldier, whose approach both to governing and to campaigning has been very negative and divisive.

I believe in a state legislator who is focused on getting things done for our community as Senator Krishnadasan has done, not on making personal attacks, which has been Caldiers approach. In her first legislative session, Senator Krishnadasan passed six bipartisan bills that increased childcare options and made our ferries safer. She also secured funding for our schools and completion of the tech school in Bremerton. Her opponent accomplished nothing and voted against funding healthcare, education, and transportation needed by our district.

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Im happy to have Senator Deb Krishnadasan on my ballot this year and plan to vote for her.

Luellen Lucid, Gig Harbor

Need more forest protection

Commissioner Upthegrove was elected on a promise to permanently protect 77,000 acres of Legacy Forest. Yet his day-one action was only a temporary pause, not a true moratorium.

Last month, when he held a press conference to announce permanent protection of those 77,000 acres, the map told a different story. It was riddled with mistakes  protecting only part of the promised acreage while putting 29,000 acres, including some of the most ecologically valuable forests, back on the auction block for logging.

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This is a broken promise to the public and to the future of Washingtons forests. The map must be corrected, and the remaining 5% of Legacy Forests on State Lands must be permanently protected  no exceptions, no loopholes, no more rollback.

Washingtonians voted for real forest protection, not a shell game. Its time to honor that commitment and safeguard all remaining Legacy Forests  fully, accurately, and forever.

Laurie Kerr, Battleground
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Its been an interesting week in Arkansas and national politics.

Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock met with Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge to talk about the issues facing Arkansas farmers and what solutions are being looked at, including the expansion of the biodiesel industry in the Natural State and around the United States.

Roby then talks with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist John Brummett to discuss the conventional wisdom in recent political happenings.

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Talk Business & Politics airs on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
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:

Sky region of the first observations with 4MOST with an example spectrum. In the Sculptor Galaxy (top right), 4MOST took spectra from its center, star-forming regions and globular clusters. The old stars of the globular cluster NGC 288 (bottom left) from the outskirts of our Milky Way showed hardly any signatures of heavy elements. The colored line in the image corresponds to spectrum captured with 4MOST of a distant galaxy with an active nucleus. Credit: AIP/R. de Jong, CRAL/J.-K. Krogager, Background: Harshwardhan Pathak/Telescope Live

On October 18, 2025, the 4-meter Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) facility, installed on the VISTA telescope at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Paranal Observatory in Chile, obtained its first light. This milestone is a crucial step in the life of any telescope, marking the moment it is ready to begin its scientific journey.

Moreover, 4MOST does not simply take images of the sky; it records spectra, capturing the light of each object in every individual color. With this capability, it can unravel the light of 2,400 celestial objects simultaneously into 18,000 color components, allowing astronomers to study their detailed chemical composition and properties.

Once fully operational, 4MOST will investigate the formation and evolution processes of stars and planets, the Milky Way and other galaxies, black holes and other exotic objects, and of the universe as a whole. By analyzing the detailed rainbow-like colors of thousands of objects every 1020 minutes, 4MOST will build a catalogue of temperatures, chemical compositions, velocities and many more physical parameters of tens of millions of objects spread across the entire Southern sky.

The components of the 4MOST instrument at the VISTA telescope. Credit: 4MOST Consortium

4MOST is the largest multi-object spectroscopic survey facility in the southern hemisphere and is unique in its combination of large field of view, number of simultaneous observed objects, and number of spectral colors simultaneously registered. Development started in 2010 and the facility has been designed to operate for at least the next 15 years.

The Leibniz-Institut fur Astrophysik Potsdam (AIP) is the lead institute of the 4MOST Consortium that has built and will scientifically operate the facility. Next to overall management, AIP has been involved in many aspects of the facility, like its wide field camera with six lenses up to 90 cm in diameter, its guiding and focusing system, and its fiber system that contains more than 2,400 glass fibers, each with a diameter of a human hair. AIP is also strongly involved in determining 4MOST's operations scheme, including observing planning and data archiving.

4MOST Principal Investigator Roelof de Jong, Milky Way section head at AIP, remarks, "It is incredible to see the first spectra from our new instrument. The data looks fantastic from the start and bodes well for all the different science projects we want to execute. That we can catch the light that has sometimes traveled for billions of light years into a glass fiber the size of a hair is mindboggling. An outstanding feat only made possible by an amazing development team. Can't wait till having the system operating every night."

The 4-meter Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (4MOST) is ready for observations. At the top is the telescope itself; below (black boxes) are two of the three spectrographs that break down starlight into thousands of color components. Credit: AIP/A. Saviauk

4MOST Project Manager Joar Brynnel adds, "Reaching this milestone is a wonderful achievement after more than a decade of intensive efforts. It is hard to put in words the excitement of realizing that the facility not only meets, but even exceeds the required performance. It has been a true privilege to manage this huge consortium for over a decade. Without the commitment by all team members and institutions involved, which has genuinely been beyond expectations, we would not have been able to deliver 4MOST to the VISTA telescope in such good shape. I am really looking forward to the exciting results from 4MOST over the years to come."

"With the First Light of 4MOST, we are opening a new chapter in sky surveys. Its 2,436 optical fibers allow us to capture thousands of objects in the southern sky simultaneously. 4MOST will help to answer fundamental questions about the formation of the Milky Way, the evolution of galaxies and the forces that shape the universe," says Prof. Dr. Matthias Steinmetz, Scientific Director of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP).

Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly.

The First Light observations exemplify the unique capabilities of 4MOST: its ability to observe a very large field of view and its capability to investigate a large number of very different objects and science cases simultaneously in great detail. One of the objects dominating the First Light observation of 4MOST is the elongated galaxy NGC 253, also called the Sculptor or Silver Coin galaxy.

Except for the Magellanic Clouds, it is the galaxy with the largest apparent diameter in the southern sky, with nearly the same diameter as the moon, only much fainter. It was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783, is at a distance of about 11.5 million light years, and is known to currently form a lot of new stars. The 4MOST observations also capture a super star cluster, various hot and cold stars and their movements, and gas glowing from newly formed stars in this galaxy.

The wide-field corrector before installation in Chile. The lens system expands the field of view of the VISTA telescope for 4MOST to 2.5 degrees. Credit: AIP/A. Saviauk

The other large object seen in the field is the Globular Cluster NGC 288, a very dense group of about 100,000 very old stars on the outskirts of the Milky Way at a distance of about thirty thousand light years. It formed about 13.5 billion years ago in the very earliest phases of the formation of the Milky Way. Its stars contain very small amounts of most chemical elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, reflecting its pristine composition.

Next to these two very large objects, 4MOST obtained spectra of more than two thousand other objects in its first science observation of just 20 minutes. These include spectra of a large variety of bright and faint stars in our Milky Way, allowing scientists to determine their temperature, mass, diameter, velocity, age and evolutionary stage, and chemical composition.

Beyond the Milky Way, spectra of a pair of overlapping galaxies at 900 million light years were obtained, as well as spectra of more than a thousand other galaxies near and farup to 10 billion light yearsto determine their distance, internal velocity, and star formation history or the mass of their central black hole.

The 4MOST science team consists of more than 700 investigators from universities and research institutes around the world. In its first five years of operations, 4MOST will conduct 25 different science programs, ten designed by institute members of the consortium that built the instrument, whereas the other fifteen programs were selected by an external committee of astronomers nominated by ESO. Uniquely, the multi-fiber nature of 4MOST enables many science programs to be observed simultaneously.

For example, a few fibers can be used to study rare objects, while at the same time, another program can use most other fibers to make large statistical samples of stars or galaxies. Highlighted 4MOST science cases are the origin of the chemical elements and the formation of the first stars, the growth of the Milky Way over cosmic time, the formation and evolution of galaxies and black holes, the make-up of the unseen dark matter that seems to encompasses most of the mass in galaxies, and the nature of dark energy that drives the accelerating expansion of the universe.

The sky around the Sculptor Galaxy NGC 253 and the globular cluster NGC 288 was the target of the first observations with 4MOST. The blue frame shows the boundary of 4MOST's field of view. Each circle symbolizes one of the more than 2,400 fibers. The embedded images show the spectrum of a stellar cluster in the Sculptor galaxy (top) and the spectrum of a star in the globular cluster (bottom). Credit: AIP/R. de Jong, CRAL/J.-K. Krogager, Background: Harshwardhan Pathak/Telescope Live

At the heart of the system, 4MOST uses 2,436 optical fibers, each the size of a human hair, to catch the light of celestial objects. Light from each of these fibers is transported to the spectrographs that break up the light into its different colors. A large, new, nearly 1m-diameter optical camera lens system was installed in the VISTA telescope of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile to give 4MOST a field of view on the sky of 2.5 degrees diameter, five times larger than the diameter of the moon and one of the largest in the world for a 4m-class telescope.

4MOST will observe a new set of objects in the sky every 1020 minutes, using a fiber positioner that moves all fibers to observe new objects in less than two minutes. The fibers transport the light to three spectrographs that each observe 800 objects simultaneously, where their light is first broken up into red, green, and blue components and then in further detail to then be registered by large 36 megapixel detectors. There are two spectrographs that cover the entire color spectrum from the very blue all the way into the infrared (370950 nm), whereas a third spectrograph looks at higher wavelength resolution in three selected color bands to better measure chemical element abundances in stars.

Planning of 4MOST observations is done remotely from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Garching near Munich. A few minutes before the next observation needs to start, the next field and objects are optimally selected based on the latest weather and observing conditions.

Executing the observations and maintaining the instrument is the responsibility of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The data obtained are transferred to the 4MOST data center at the University of Cambridge, where they are analyzed with an extensive set of software pipelines to extract physical parameters of the studied objects. The analysis results are then transferred to data archives at the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) and ESO to be distributed to all project members and to the entire scientific community for scientific exploration.
NEED TO KNOW

Deputies found a loaded handgun in Anthony Orion Daltons bag after a Snapchat photo circulated, according to the outlets

Dalton was sentenced to 9 years in prison, with 4 suspended, per the sheriffs office

Weapons have no place in our schools, Sheriff Bill Overton said in a statement about Daltons case

A Virginia high school student will serve 5 years in prison for bringing a loaded handgun onto school grounds earlier this year, officials said.

Anthony Orion Dalton, 17, was sentenced on October 8 to a total of 9 years in prison, with 4 years suspended, after he was found in possession of a firearm on campus in April, according to an October 9 press release from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

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He will remain at the Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center until he turns 18, at which point he will be transferred to an adult detention facility to complete his sentence, per the release.

Dalton shared a photo on Snapchat on April 1 showing the gun he had brought to Franklin County High School, WSET, WDBJ7, and The Roanoke Times reported.

A school resource officer was alerted to the image, and a deputy and administrator confronted Dalton, finding the loaded gun in his bag, according to the outlets.

Dalton was tried as an adult and convicted of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm on school property, and transportation of a firearm by a person under 18, per WDBJ, WSET and WSLS.

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This sentencing reflects the severity of the offense and reinforces that weapons have no place in our schools, Sheriff Bill Overton said in the release. Our School Resource Deputies play a critical role in maintaining the safety of our campuses, and their quick responsealong with that of our school partnersmade all the difference that day.

Officials said the case serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of bringing a firearm onto school property and the life-altering consequences that can result, per the release. The sheriffs office urged parents to discuss gun safety with their children and reiterated its message: See something, say something, according to the release.



Read the original article on People
Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect that Unique Kaheem Johnson turned himself in to authorities Sunday night, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)  Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) say two people are now in custody and facing charges after a teenage girl was shot during a dispute at a Halloween part Friday night.

Troopers say on Friday, October 24, about 11:45 p.m., they were called to a home on Carillon Drive in Smithfield Township for a reported 911 hangup call.

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While on their way to the scene, state police say they got information saying there was a large gathering in the area and that a 16-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound.

During their investigation, authorities found the home and a large Halloween block party.

State police say during the party, 20-year-old Unique Kaheem Johnson and 18-year-old Benjamin Carl Booth got into an argument in the street with other unknown persons.

Remembering beloved community member at memorial gala

Officials said as the parties separated, Johnson pulled a handgun and shot several rounds at the other residents. It was then, troopers say, that the 16-year-old was struck by gunfire.

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The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of her gunshot wound and is expected to survive, authorities explained.

State police say Booth was taken into custody and charged with attempted homicide and other related charges, while Johnson turned himself in to police Sunday night and was taken to the Monroe County Correctional Facility.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News.




Halloween week in San Antonio and most of Texas includes actual fall temperatures as a strong cold front moves into Texas that will continue to drop temperatures into the 40s and 50s, with some regions in the state seeing temps plunge into to 30s.

We'll continue to see temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s to end the weekend and into the early part of the week on Monday and Tuesday, October 27 and 28, as lows begin to trend downwards.

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According to NWS, a strong cold front will move into the area on Tuesday, and the forecast shows nighttime lows in the low-to-mid 50s.

Wednesday, October 29, will see daytime temps in San Antonio falling to the low 70s and nighttime temperatures are forecast to be around 47 degrees.

The forecast for Thursday, October 30, is much of the same with daytime temps lingering in the mid 70s and nighttime temps in the mid 40s. In the Texas Hill Country, NWS says that some areas may see sunrise temperatures on Thursday and Friday in the 30s.

Halloween in San Antonio is forecast to see highs around 76 degrees and lows around 53 degrees, so you may want to make sure you'll be warm when you head out on your trick-or-treating adventures.

North Texas

NWS Fort Worth reiterated a similar forecast on Sunday, noting that the region is expected to be "rain-free with near to below normal temperatures." The forecast includes daytime temperatures in the 60s for most cities in the region from Wednesday through Friday, and then warm ups to the low-to-mid 70s by Sunday.

South Texas

NWS Brownsville noted there is moderate rip current risk on Sunday as "hot and dry weather will close-out the weekend at local beaches," with water temps at 83 degrees and wave heights around 2-to-3 feet.

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The region will see high temperatures in the 90s through Tuesday, when the strong cold front moves into the region. The front will bring rain chances to the area, with Brownsville facing a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms late Tuesday into Wednesday morning.

A 20 percent chance of rain will linger on in the morning on Wednesday, which will see a high temperature in the upper 70s and nighttime lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. Thursday's forecast shows similar temperatures.

Halloween on Friday will see highs in the low 80s and nighttime temperatures in the mid-60s.

Panhandle

NWS Amarillo described the front as "an aggressive cold front," noting the Texas Panhandle will see the cold front move into the region on Monday night into Tuesday, bringing a slight chance of showers for the northeastern Panhandle area.

This article originally published at Temperatures in San Antonio to plunge into 40s amid strong cold front.
Russia tested a new nuclear-capable and powered cruise missile fit to confound existing defences, inching closer to deploying it to its military, President Vladimir Putin said in remarks released on Sunday.

The footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin in military fatigues receiving the report on the missile from Russian Army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.

Gerasimov reportedly said the missile remained in the air for about 15 hours and covered 14,000 kilometres, adding that "this is not the attainable limit". No further details are known at this time.

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The announcement comes as part of nuclear messaging from the Kremlin, which has resisted Western pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine and strongly warned the US and other NATO allies against sanctioning strikes deep inside Russia with longer-range Western weapons.

Putin said the Burevestnik, code-named Skyfall by NATO, is "unlike any other in the world."

We need to determine the possible uses and begin preparing the infrastructure for deploying these weapons to our armed forces, Putin told Gerasimov.

What we know about the Burevestnik missile

Little is known about the Burevestnik, meaning storm petrel in Russian, and many Western experts have been sceptical about it, noting that its nuclear-powered engine could be highly unreliable.

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When Putin first revealed that Russia was working on the weapon in his 2018 state-of-the-nation address, he claimed it would have an unlimited range, allowing it to circle the globe undetected by missile defence systems.

The Russian leader also claimed it was invulnerable to current and future missile defences, due to its almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path.

British intelligence has previously described it as a nuclear-powered subsonic cruise missile system with a global range and almost indefinite in-flight time, capable of attacking from unexpected directions.

However, many observers argue that such a missile could be challenging to handle and pose an environmental threat.

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The US and the Soviet Union worked on nuclear-powered missiles during the Cold War, but they eventually shelved the projects, considering them too hazardous.

The development of the Burevestnik began after the US withdrew from the 1972 Ballistic Missile Treaty in December 2001, Russian state-run news agency Tass reported.

Related

The Burevestnik reportedly suffered an explosion in August 2019 during tests at a navy range on the White Sea, killing five nuclear engineers and two service members and resulting in a brief spike in radioactivity that fueled fears in a nearby city.

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Russian officials never identified the weapon involved, but the US said it was the Burevestnik.

Kirill Dmitriev, a top Putin aide who was in the US when the video surfaced, said his delegation informed US colleagues of the successful testing of the Burevestnik, which he described as an absolutely new class of weapon.




Open enrollment for Affordable Care Act marketplace insurance plans start next month, and Texans could see steep rate increases if ACA tax credits expire - the dispute at the center of the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Advocates in the Lone Star State warn that uncertainty surrounding these policy changes could lead to a chaotic open enrollment period and cause some Texans to lose insurance altogether. Texas already has the highest rate of people without health insurance in the United States, according to some studies.

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"At this point, we're so close to open enrollment that if Congress does extend tax credits at this moment, which they absolutely should, then there will be a mad dash to try to figure out how the infrastructure of healthcare.gov will work," Lynn Cowles, director of health and food justice at the advocacy group Every Texan, told KERA News. "Issuers would likely not readjust their rates at that point."

Texas did not expand Medicaid coverage to include insuring working age single or childless adults, making its criteria for the federal health insurance program more restrictive than in many other states. Many Texans rely on the ACA marketplace, which offers private health plans subsidized by federal tax credits. In the past few years, a record number of Texans have signed up for marketplace plans.

RELATED: Fact check: Will health insurance premiums spike by 75% if Republicans don't extend ACA subsidies?

Cowles told the radio station that nearly 2 million Texans automatically re-enrolled in plans last year at no additional cost because of the tax credits. Many may not realize they'll face new bills this year or understand how to navigate the enrollment process. Those who expect to auto-enroll but fail to pay new premiums risk losing their coverage.

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The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-passed bill to fund the federal government in an effort to negotiate over Medicaid coverage rollbacks and the expiring ACA tax credits. Republicans say Democrats must agree to end the shutdown before negotiating on health care policy.

The two sides are at a standstill, and the shutdown is about to enter its fifth week.

This article originally published at Texas advocates brace for uncertain ACA open enrollment period as shutdown continues.




Earlier this year, a small group of people - less than 200, most of whom worked for or were otherwise affiliated with SpaceX - voted to make Texas' newest city a reality. But the Starbase community, located along a lonely highway in deep South Texas, didn't wait for their city's incorporation election to become official before diving headlong into a massive development effort that has seen hundreds of millions of dollars in investment in industrial, residential and commercial development.

From a mega-factory that will one day send rockets to Mars, to a "retro-futuristic" hangout meant to evoke the nostalgia of tomorrow's yesteryear, to shopping centers, clinics, and schools, the strip of land along Texas 4 whose most defining features were rolling sandy hills called "lomas," tidal flats, and scraggly, sunworn patches of brush now looks like something straight out of a science fiction novel. Here's everything we know about the developments that have already sprung up at SpaceX's company town, are currently in the works, or are coming soon.

A construction crane is seen near the SpaceX launch site in the city of Starbase on June 23, 2025. (Dina Arevalo)





GigaBay

Perhaps the biggest thing happening at Starbase - both in terms of size and cost - is GigaBay, the megafactory that will one day pump out as many as 1,000 Starship spacecraft per year, according to SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk. Musk first teased the supersized industrial facility during an all-hands presentation inside Starbase's Starfactory on May 29, just two days after SpaceX launched its ninth test flight of the Starship/Super Heavy combination vehicle.

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During the presentation, Musk said he intends for GigaBay to reach a production capacity of three ships per day in order to meet a demand for the launch of multiple reusable spacecraft to both travel to Mars, and to fuel and supply those ships heading outside of Earth's orbit. SpaceX is investing $506 million to construct the factory by the end of 2026.

A few months after the announcement, Starbase's inaugural city commission unanimously approved an effort to have the future factory designated as a "Texas Enterprise Zone," which would make it eligible for millions in tax incentives. In exchange, the company has pledged that GigaBay will employ at least 500 people, of whom at least 25% will be local hires.

A construction crane is seen near the SpaceX launch site in the city of Starbase on June 23, 2025. (Dina Arevalo)





Taking kids 'to the stars' at Ad Astra school

In the leadup to May's Starbase incorporation election, city leaders were required to file reams of demographic data about the community to Cameron County, which administered the election. That data revealed something new, if not surprising, about Texas' newest space hub: lots of children live there - at least 100 at the time that election planning was underway. And kids need somewhere to go to school.

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To that end, a filing for a $20 million school called Ad Astra Phase 1 appeared on TDLR in February of this year. "Ad astra" is Latin for "to the stars." And according to the TDLR filing, the school will accommodate children "from infancy to grade 12."

Starbase Community Center

Residents of Starbase will soon have a new place to hang out that isn't inside their tiny manufactured homes, or Boca Chica Beach. That's because the town is planning for a $22 million community center, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) records filed in May. TDLR records are subject to change. According to the filing, the community center will be built within sight of the Rio Grande. The 20,000-square-foot building will also include a pool.

Chompy's restaurant

Another riverside development could include a mysterious restaurant that may be called Chompy's. The $2 million proposed build of a 3,000-square-foot restaurant space at 50520 Rio Grande Drive first appeared on TDLR in September. But not much else is known about the potential restaurant, including what kinds of food it will serve, or whether it will be open to the public. Currently, none of Starbase's few retail or dining amenities are open to the public. But another TDLR filing could indicate that Chompy's may be part of a larger commercial development dubbed Rio West. According to that filing, a proposed restaurant listed for construction at that same address will include "an outdoor deck overlooking the Rio Grande River."

Rio West

MySA first reported on the RioWest development in January 2024. According to what we knew then, the $15.2 million commercial development was expected to include the aforementioned restaurant space, and $9 million retail development that was expected to include a grocery store and a cafe. But as of February of this year, the project appeared to be stalled.

Dinner and a movie at the Tesla Diner

In July, Musk teased that Starbase could one day house a so-called "Tesla Diner" in response to a social media post celebrating the opening of a prototype in Hollywood, California. Musk described the combination restaurant and drive-in movie theater as a "retro-futiristic diner" and added that, if the California concept was successful, more could be built at "major cities around the world" and at Starbase.

Construction workers are seen near the SpaceX launch pad at Starbase on June 23, 2025. (Dina Arevalo)





Other development

Crews have also been working full tilt on a number of industrial facilities in and around Starbase, including the $400,000 renovation of an existing building to include a small grocery store and retail center in what is called the LBJ Building in TDLR filings. That location is likely what has come to be known as The Hub, a community center located along LBJ Boulevard in the heart of the town's residential district. The Hub has also become the location of Starbase City Commission meetings, since Starbase has yet to construct a city hall.

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Plans to build a small medical clinic along LBJ Boulevard were filed with TDLR in early February, while plans for a $1 million power plant elsewhere in town were filed in January. And in July, SpaceX filed documents with Cameron County as part of the process to seek permission to build an air separation unit (ASU) near the Starbase launchpad. The ASU will be able to generate the liquid oxygen that fuels SpaceX's proprietary Raptor rocket engines.

Can I visit Starbase, Texas?

You can visit the town of Starbase, but not the SpaceX facility.

This article originally published at Texas' newest city is already home to millions in new development.
A newly surfaced report indicates that accused killer Luigi Mangione was beaten in a fight with several transgenders in Thailand months before allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson.

Mangione told a friend through WhatsApp messages that he was attacked by seven ladyboys  a local slang term for transgender men who choose to present themselves as a woman, usually in the context of prostitution during a night out in Bangkok in March 2024, according to reporting published this week in The New York Times. He attached a photo of a scratched arm following the altercation.

Mangione, 27, who has pleaded not guilty, faces state and federal charges in the December 2024 killing of Thompson, who was shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where his company was holding an investor conference. Prosecutors allege Mangione meticulously planned the assassination and left behind a manifesto railing against the American health insurance system.

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The fight in Bangkok reportedly occurred while Mangione was on an extended backpacking trip across Asia, a period that investigators and reporters now believe marked a turning point in his mental state. The New York Times reported that he spent the early part of 2024 traveling through Japan, Thailand, and India, where he appeared increasingly isolated and preoccupied with themes of justice, technology, and modern civilization.

While in Thailand, Mangione met two American expatriates in the popular nightlife district of Soi Cowboy in Bangkok. One of them, Christian Sacchini, told Ashleigh Banfield on NewsNation that Mangione was intelligent and friendly, but was visibly consumed by discussions about health care costs in the United States. Sacchini recalled that Mangione was astonished at how inexpensive medical care was in Thailand compared with prices back home.

After the fight, Mangione told friends he wanted a slower pace and soon returned to Japan. He checked into a guesthouse in the small mountain village of Tenkawa, where he spent days meditating, writing, and hiking near the sacred Mount Omine, a pilgrimage site for practitioners of Shugendo, an ancient fusion of Buddhism and mountain worship.

A local innkeeper described Mangione as quiet and polite, saying he left his room completely spotless and took out his own trash. Others who encountered him said he sought spiritual renewal but also seemed adrift.

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From Japan, Mangione traveled to Mumbai, where he met with an author who had previously written admiringly about Ted Kaczynski, the convicted Unabomber. The author, Jash Dholani, said Mangione had tried to purchase hundreds of copies of his self-published book, encouraging creative risk in pursuit of beauty, a transaction his bank reportedly later blocked.

By the summer of 2024, Mangione was back in the United States. Prosecutors allege that by October, he was writing in his journal about the target being the health insurance industry, which he called a parasitic system. In December, Thompson was fatally shot outside the Hilton Hotel on West 54th Street in New York City.

Mangione was arrested five days later at a McDonalds in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where police said he was eating a hash brown and browsing on his laptop. Federal prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty.

Mangiones attorneys have fought to defeat any possibility of the death penalty being used against their client. His lawyers filed a motion to dismiss several counts of his federal indictment, including the only charge that could carry the death penalty, The Dallas Express reported at the time. His counsel also asked the Biden-appointed judge to toss statements allegedly obtained without Miranda warnings and to scrap evidence collected from what they say was a warrantless search of Mangiones backpack.
Seacoast New Hampshire and Maine restaurants are busy preparing their plans for your dine-in and takeout Thanksgiving celebration this year.

Heres a list weve compiled from their websites and social media. We will update this list as we near the holiday on Nov. 27. If a restaurateur or business owner out there wants to add your offerings to this list, please email news@seacaostonline.com or news@fosters.com. Please also send any information on Thanksgiving fundraisers, free meals for the community and more.

RESTAURANTS

Many Seacoast restaurants are offering Thanksgiving meals in 2024.

Roundabout Diner, Portsmouth

Dine in at the Roundabout on Thursday, Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a plated family-style dinner and enjoy slow-roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, classic sides, dinner rolls and homemade dessert. Dinner is $32.95 for adults and $16.95 for kids under 12. Call (603) 431-1440 to make a reservation. For takeout, enjoy all the classics in two sizes. Meal 1 serves 6 to 8 for $204.99 and Meal 2 serves 10 to 12 at $289.99. You can also get sides, pies and roasted turkey breast a la carte. Pickups are available all day Wednesday, Nov. 26 (you can earn gift cards if you pick up cold on Wednesday) or on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Order online at roundaboutdiner.com.

The Oar House, Portsmouth

Thanksgiving dinner will be served with a three-course, price-fixed menu for $75, or $45 for the kids portion. Main course choices include a traditional turkey dinner with herbed stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash casserole, green bean almandine and cranberry sauce. There's also a vegetarian option, and the choice, for an added cost, to add lobster, New York strip steak, filet mignon or prime rib. Dessert choices include pumpkin cheesecake, apple pie a la mode, creme brulee and chocolate torte. Information on reservations at oarhousenh.com.

The Library Restaurant, Portsmouth

The Library Restaurant will offer a dine-in Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 27 and is encouraging you to make a reservation soon, but no menu or prices have been posted just yet. Reservations are available from noon to 8:30 p.m. at libraryrestaurant.com.

Atlantic Grill, Rye

The Atlantic Grill is offering Thanksgiving Catering with a full turkey dinner including salad, sides and dessert for $250. Also available a la carte are Seafood Chowder, Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Mac and Cheese, Turkey Gravy and Homemade Pecan Pie. Deadline to order is noon on Nov. 22. Pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 26 from noon to 8 p.m. Order online at theatlanticgrill.com.

The Galley Hatch, Hampton

The Galley Hatch will be offering Thanksgiving meals, sides and bakery items for pre-order at their Thanksgiving Market. Deadline to order is Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. Orders can be picked up on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25 to 26. They will be closed Thanksgiving Day. An individual turkey dinner is $21.69, and you can choose dinners, brunch items, sides for any number of people. They are also offering pies, cakes and cookies for purchase. Gluten-free pies and a Double Chocolate Mousse cake are available, too. Visit galleyhatch.com.

Victorias Kitchen, Hampton

Victorias Kitchen in Hampton is offering a Turkey Dinner To Go with roasted turkey breast, brussel sprouts in bacon cream, green bean almandine, roasted butternut squash, carrots, mashed sweet and gold potatoes and much more. Cost is $179.00 for three to four people; $239.00 for six to eight people; or you can choose a Herb Rubbed Beef Tenderloin with burgundy mushroom sauce with all the same sides for six to eight people for $339.99. A la carte appetizer options are also available. Bakery items include pumpkin, apple, pecan and chocolate cream pies ranging from $12.99 to $22.99; or assorted dessert platters, assorted breakfast danish platters or bagel platters with cream cheese. Pick up is Wednesday, Nov. 26 or Thanksgiving morning by 11 a.m. Visit victoriaskitchencafe.com or call (603) 926-2076.

CRs the Restaurant, Hampton

CRs will host a dine-in Thanksgiving Day dinner from noon to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 27. Visit crstherestaurant.com or call (603) 929-7972 for reservations.

The Old Salt, Hampton

On Oct. 13, fire struck the attic of The Old Salt Restaurant at Lamies Inn in Hampton. The restaurant and inn are working to repair the damage and hope to open on Nov. 1. They usually host a dine-in Thanksgiving dinner and offer turkey dinners with all the fixings to pre-order and enjoy at home. The menu for takeout has been posted. The roasted turkey dinner with six sides and rolls is $139 and serves four to six people. Deadline to pre-order is Nov. 21. Pickup is Wednesday, Nov. 26 from 3 to 6 p.m. They are also offering individual turkey meals to go on Thanksgiving Day between noon and 3 p.m. Cost is $28 and pre-order is requested but not required. Visit oldsaltnh.com for updates and to pre-order or call (603) 926-8322.

Shanes Texas Pit, Hampton

Visit Shanes Texas Pit on Thanksgiving Day for a celebratory feast from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to its website. For reservations or pre-orders visit shanestexaspit.com.

Epoch at the Exeter Inn, Exeter

From Nov. 26 to 30, Epoch Restaurant & Bar at the Exeter Inn will offer a Taste of Thanksgiving, a seasonal small plate and specialty cocktail offering to celebrate the holiday. Visit epochrestaurant.com.

Holy Grail, Epping

The Holy Grail is offering To-Go Thanksgiving Dinners to enjoy at home. Theyre doing two sizes: one for four to six people for $95, a second that serves eight to ten people for $180. If you need to feed a few more, you can add people to these for $18 per person. Or for less than four people, turkey and all the fixings is available for $18.95 per person. Pies To Go are available in pumpkin, harvest apple or chocolate cream for $20 each. Call (603) 679-9559 ext. 1 to place orders and pay. Deadline is Sunday, Nov. 23. Pick up is on Wednesday, Nov. 26 or by 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27. You can set up the time when you call. Visit holygrailrestaurantandpub.com.

The Governor's Inn, Spaulding Steak & Ale, Rochester

The Governors Inn is taking reservations for Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The three-course dinner is $35 for adults and $18 for kids 12 and under. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included. You get a choice for each course of starters, entrees, sides and desserts. Individual meals with the same menu are available for takeout at the same price. Call (603) 332-0107 to reserve a table in one of their small dining rooms or for a larger table in the Ballroom. Go to governorsinn.com.

Kelleys Row, Somersworth

Dine in from 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. and enjoy a buffet of turkey, steak tips, roast pork loin, jumbo stuffed shells, baked haddock, lobster bisque and sides. Cost is $39.99 per person, $15.99 for kids 6 to 12. Make a reservation by emailing reserveatkelleysrow@gmail.com or call (603) 973-2335. Tax, beverages and dessert not included.

Mezzanine Catering, Dover

Mezzanine is offering a turkey dinner for four including roasted white meat, dark meat roulade with roast garlic, mashed potatoes, challah and herb stuffing, house gravy, potato dinner rolls and house cranberry sauce, a choice of two vegetable sides including sweet potato casserole, brown butter roasted carrots and parsnips, roasted honey nut squash, green bean casserole or corn with butter and herbs, and a choice of one pie from apple, pumpkin, maple cream, peanut butter smores, chocolate cream (gluten-free) or apple crisp (gluten-free and dairy-free). And you can add on extra anything for an additional cost. Local delivery available on Thanksgiving between 10 and 11 a.m. Pickup Wednesday, Nov. 26, between 4 and 5 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 27 between 10 and 11 a.m. Use the code TURKEY30 when ordering to get $30 when you pickup. Mezzanine Catering is located at 42 Dover Point Road Suite 1 in Dover. mezzaninecatering.com.

The White Apron, Dover

Order a ready-to-serve Thanksgiving dinner for four including a cheese and charcuterie board appetizer, slow roasted turkey, roasted butternut squash, fall salad, roasted root vegetables, mashed potatoes, Parker House rolls and more. Cost is $500. Pickup is Tuesday, Nov. 25 or Wednesday, Nov. 26 at their kitchen in Dover, at the 1 Washington Street Mills. Visit thewhiteapron.com.

Jonathans, Ogunquit, Maine

Thanksgiving dinner includes Jonathans famous relish tray and a la carte starters, soups, salads and a choice of entrees, which come with sides, including a Roasted Tom Turkey with Pan Gravy. Or you can choose a Maine lobster or Wild Mushroom Pappardelle. Reservations are highly recommended at (207) 646-4777. See the full menu at jonathansogunquit.com.

Shearwater at the Stage Neck Inn, York Harbor, Maine

The Shearwater is offering a dine-in Thanksgiving Buffet on Nov. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. at Stage Neck Inn for in-house guests and outside patrons. Buffet includes turkey, ham and prime rib carving stations, raw bar, sides, salads and desserts, and a holiday coffee and cordial bar. Cost is $119.95 for adults, $29.95 for 12 and under. See the full menu at stageneckinn.com. In-house guests can also enjoy a complimentary make-your-own soup, salad and sandwich bar from 6 to 8 p.m. Call (207) 573-7416 for more information.

York Harbor Inn, York Harbor, Maine

Dine at York Harbor Inn from noon to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and enjoy a buffet for $74.95 per person, $29.95 for kids 12 and under, plus a 22 percent service charge and state tax. Dishes include roasted turkey, prime rib au jus, Mediterranean halibut, seafood melange, maple dijon chicken, wild mushroom pasta, many sides including mashed Yukon Gold potatoes, creamed spinach, chowder, salads and many desserts. Reservations are required. A 100 percent deposit is required for all reservations. Visit yorkharborinn.com or call (207) 640-2462.

Clay Hill Farm, Cape Neddick in York, Maine

Clay Hill Farm is offering a three-course dinner with a choice of starter, entree and dessert. In addition to a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner turkey entree, they are also offering Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus, Atlantic Haddock Thermodore, Grilled Salmon and Mushroom Hut Risotto. Dinner will be served from noon to 5 p.m. Theres also a kids menu. Reservations are required at (207) 361-2272.

The Tiller at Cliff House Maine, Cape Neddick in York, Maine

The Tiller is offering Thanksgiving brunch and dinner on Nov. 27, and to-go meals, too. Brunch features Short Rib Hash, Misty Knoll Turkey, Sweet Potato Gratin, Green Bean Casserole, Parker House rolls, special beverages and desserts. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner offers Misty Knoll Turkey and Cod Saltimbocca, and many choices for sides and desserts. The Thanksgiving Take Home Feast comes with all the trimmings and treats for four to six people for $425 plus tax and gratuity. There are a la carte entrees and sides available too. Orders must be placed by Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Call (207) 361-6277. Pick-up time must be coordinated between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. To see the full menus and pricing, visit cliffhousemaine.com.

Mamma Luca, Portsmouth

Mamma Luca located in downtown Portsmouth at 111 State St. will be offering an Italian-inspired Thanksgiving takeout menu that feeds 6-8 guests. Guests can place orders from now until Friday, Nov. 21 and pick up will be Wednesday, Nov. 26 between 2:00-6:00 p.m. The Thanksgiving Takeout menu is $225. Orders can be placed by visiting this link.

MARKETS AND GROCERY STORES

McKinnons Market, Portsmouth

McKinnons offers a complete Turkey Dinner on its regular catering menu. It serves eight to ten, comes fully cooked and ready to reheat. It includes turkey, mashed or roasted potatoes, break stuffing, turkey gravy butternut squash, sweet corn, sweet peas, cranberry sauce, dinner roll and choice of an apple or pumpkin pie for $199.00. Visit https://www.mckinnonsmarkets.com/catering.

Whole Foods Market, Newington

Whole Foods offers a variety of fully cooked Thanksgiving meals from $99.99 to $549.99 depending on how many youre feeding and how elaborate your preferences in sides and desserts are. Orders begin on Oct. 30 and pickup is between Nov. 21 and Nov. 27. They also offer sides, desserts and turkeys a la carte. Find all the options under the Catering tab at wholefoodsmarket.com.

Market Basket

Market Basket is offering complete Thanksgiving turkey or ham dinners. They serve 8 to 10, are fully cooked and ready to heat up. Turkey Dinner includes Butterball turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, butternut squash, stuffing, cranberry sauce and 15 dinner rolls. Spiral Ham Dinner includes Carando Spiral Ham, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, glazed carrots and 15 dinner rolls. Both meals include a choice of apple or pumpkin pie. Cost is $79.99 each, and orders can be placed with the store's deli manager.

Shaw's

Shaw's is offering a holiday turkey dinner for $79.99. Order in the deli department or at shaws.com/shop. Also available is an individual turkey dinner with sides for $6.99, and a la carte sides such as gravy, potatoes, etc., ranging in price from $4.99 to $6.99.

BAKERIES: PIES AND TREATS

Ceres Street Bakery, Portsmouth

Thanksgiving specials to order and pick up include pies, tarts, cakes, sweet breads, mashed potatoes, stuffing and rolls. Call (603) 436-6518 or email ceresbakeryportsmouth@gmail.com to order. Pickup is Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25 and 26, as the bakery will be closed on Thanksgiving. Check out directions and deadlines at ceresbakery.com.

Lous Pastry, Rochester

Lous Pastry is offering Thanksgiving pies, cookies and mini-pastries for pre-order by Nov. 23. In-store orders only at 185 Wakefield St., Rochester. Price range from $24.99 for most pies to $48 for some of the platters. Ten different kinds of pie available. Visit louspastry.com.

Potters House Bakery and Cafe, Rochester

Potters Bakery always offers pies and cakes to pre-order for special occasions such as holiday dinners. They havent posted a specific Thanksgiving menus, but you can place an advance order at (603) 948-1229. Located at 10 Chestnut Hill Road in Rochester. Visit pottershousebakeryandcafe.com.

Seacoast School of Technology Culinary Arts

The Seacoast School of Technology Culinary Arts and Julias Scratch Kitchen is taking orders for its annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale, which offers much more than just pies. You can order a turkey pot pie, apple cider doughnuts, pumpkin whoopie pies, honey cinnamon cornbread, spinach and artichoke dip, buffalo turkey dip, pumpkin challah dinner rolls, baked brief among others goodies and the traditional pies, all priced between $12 and $22. You have to order by Oct. 31 and get payment to them by Nov. 7. The form for ordering can be found on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/sstculinaryThe following bakeries always offer pies, cakes and goodies, too, with Thanksgiving-specific information likely coming soon:

Beach Pea Baking, Kittery

Visit beachpeabaking.com.

Popovers, Portsmouth and Epping

Visit popoversonthesquare.com/shop.

Ginger Fox Bakery, Stratham

Visit order.toasttab.com/online/gingerfox.

Elephantine Bakery, Portsmouth

Visit elephantinebakery.com.

Two Bees Cafe and Patisserie, Dover

Visit order.toasttab.com/online/twobeespatisserie.

Fogartys Restaurant and Bakery, South Berwick

Visit fogartysrestaurant.net/takehomedessert.html.

Wallingford Farm, Kennebunk

Visit wallingfordfarm.com/bakery.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast restaurants, bakeries with Thanksgiving meals listed here
Priscilla Timmons of Cooper City had been in a coma at Memorial Hospital West for more than 24 hours when something wonderfully odd occurred.

She felt Scrunchie, a golden retriever, nuzzle her finger, and reached out to the therapy dog who had been brought to her bedside in the intensive care unit at Memorial West Hospital in Pembroke Pines.

Until then, Timmons, only 38 at the time, said she could hear her family beside her in the ICU praying and encouraging the medical staff to pray. She knew she was fighting for her life, but had been unable to open her eyes or communicate. Her cousin, knowing Timmons is a dog lover, asked for the therapy pet to visit.

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I remember, while unable to open my eyes, having a very special visitor, one of the Memorials special therapy dogs, Timmons said on Wednesday when she returned to Memorial West to reunite with her medical team and 7-year-old Scrunchie. I remember everyone telling me she was there. I then felt her paw and thats when I was able to move my fingers and lift my hand off of the bed.

By almost every measure, Timmons had less than a 10% chance of survival. She now acknowledges its a miracle she is alive and that her days in a coma are behind her.

In March, after collapsing in the bathroom of her Cooper City home, Timmons suffered a massive pulmonary embolism that triggered three cardiac arrests and required 41 minutes of resuscitation before Memorials medical team restored her pulse.

Most of the time, ICUs or resuscitation teams dont persist after several rounds of resuscitation, but we persevered, said Dr. Daniel Mayer, chief of critical care for the Memorial Healthcare System. One or two people said to me, Are you sure you dont want to stop? But something made us continue.

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However, Timmons trauma didnt end there. Her body began shutting down, and she endured multi-organ failure, dialysis, liver and respiratory failure.

Mayer said it took staff from throughout the hospital working together to keep Timmons alive.

It was all hands on deck  all of our divisions, all of our departments are so intertwined between the ER, the ICU, the IR (interventional radiology) teams, nurses, doctors, were very interconnected and so we had this continuous heavy flow of care, which really made a world of difference, he recounted.

At Memorial West Hospital on Wednesday, Timmons and her family thanked the medical team who saved her life and helped her heal  Scrunchie included. Yes, Im a miracle, but its because of you. You are all true heroes, she said.

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Nearly a month after she arrived in an ambulance, Timmons recovered enough to be discharged. After regaining her strength and mobility, she has returned to her everyday life.

In my eyes, faith and medicine go hand in hand, Timmons told the dozens of hospital staff gathered to celebrate her. Theres the science aspect, which consists of studies and medicine.  Then theres the faith aspect, which gives you hope to lean on and helps keep you going. You all gave me medicine to help me, and God gave you faith not to give up. So I would just like to say thank you for not giving up on me.

Mayer, who has spent many years working in critical care, said it is unusual for someone as young as Timmons to experience a pulmonary embolism, which is a blood clot in the lungs. In Priscillas case, it was what we call idiopathic. There was no cause for it. It was one of those just very unfortunate situations.

Timmons cousin, Kandi Barnwell, said Wednesday she is grateful for the therapy dog program at Memorial Healthcare System, and talked about watching Priscilla respond.

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Scrunchie came in, walked to her bedside, and in that moment, for the first time, I got to see Priscilla move her hands and reach out to pet Scrunchie, Barnwell said. It was such a beautiful thing to witness. There wasnt a dry eye in the room.

Along with Scrunchie, Honeycrisp, a 5-year-old golden retriever, also visited Timmons during her recovery at the hospital.

Thank you for allowing these incredible animals to do what they do best, bring light into the darkest moments, Barnwell said.

Mayer said Timmons experience boosts morale.

You know, being an ICU doctor, we deal with a lot of suffering.  So patients like Priscilla make us want to come back to work, make us want to try harder, he said. Its just a just a tremendous feeling seeing Priscilla all right.
Officials gave an update about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the federal government shutdown.

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The Montgomery County Government Organization wrote in a social media post that residents relying on SNAP benefits may face delays starting on Nov. 1.

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The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has announced potential delays in the issuance of new SNAP benefits if the shutdown continues.

This would affect over 83,000 residents in Montgomery County who depend on these benefits to feed their families, according to a county spokesperson.

Montgomery County will continue processing new applications and client recertifications to ensure benefit accuracy once federal funding resumes.

In response to the uncertainty surrounding federal and state funding, the Board of County Commissioners has redirected $1 million from the 2025 Economic Development/Government Equity Fall Funding Cycle to The Foodbank, Inc., to provide immediate relief.

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The Foodbank, Inc. collaborates with over 110 partners, including food pantries, community kitchens, and shelters, to distribute food where it is needed most.

Residents seeking food assistance can find local resources and partners through The Foodbank, Inc.s network.

While SNAP benefits may be delayed, other programs such as Medicaid, Cash Assistance (TANF), and Child Care are not expected to be impacted by the shutdown.

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(FOX40.COM)  Over thousands of people were gathered in Downtown Sacramento on Saturday morning for its annual Out of the Darkness walk to honor their loved ones.

The Greater Sacramento Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hosted its annual Out of the Darkness walk at the State Capitol.

The event had over 27 mental health resources that were tabling to give attendees a chance to learn about whats available.

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According to the AFSP OOTD website, over 1,200 people signed up to participate in this years walk. This community event raised over $80,000, a large portion will go back to Sacramento County to plan for next years walk.

Jolene Prosser-Tift, Out of the Darkness Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told FOX40.COM, I feel very inspired. I know that everyone comes together to make a difference.

Lauren Pulido, Area Director for the Greater Sacramento and Central Valley Chapter, told FOX40.COM that Sacramento took a brave step to create space for suicide awareness.

Today our community in Sacramento County took a brave and courageous step to create space for suicide awareness and to bring hope to those affected by suicide. With over 1,000 people present, our out of the darkness walk continues to make a lasting impact on all those involved and symbolizes the reason behind our mission, our communities, Pulido said.

Image: Sacramento Walk AFSP./ Credit: Adoreil Ayoubgoulan Image: Sacramento Walk AFSP./ Credit: Adoreil Ayoubgoulan Image: Sacramento Walk AFSP./ Credit: Adoreil Ayoubgoulan Image: Sacramento Walk AFSP./ Credit: Adoreil Ayoubgoulan

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Thousands of pilgrims turned out Sunday in Romanias capital for the consecration of religious paintings inside the worlds largest Christian Orthodox church that was being opened after 15 years of construction.

Worshippers and officials arrived in droves at the Peoples Salvation Cathedral, known as the National Cathedral, which at its highest point stands more than 125 meters (410 feet) and has an inner capacity for 5,000 worshippers in the deeply Orthodox country. The cathedral's opulent interior is covered with frescoes and mosaics depicting saints and icons.

Proposals for a national cathedral in the country of about 19 million people had been put forward for more than a century, but its fruition was hampered by two world wars and the decades of communist rule, which sought to suppress religion. The Romanian Orthodox Church has called the cathedral a symbol of national identity.

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Romania is one of the most pious countries in the European Union, with around 85% of the population identifying as religious.

Situated behind the hulking Palace of the People built by the late communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu, construction for the cathedral finally began in 2010, and its altar was consecrated in 2018. It has so far cost a reported 270 million euros ($313 million), with a majority drawn from public funds, and some works are yet to be completed.

Traffic was restricted for Sundays service, which was attended by President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. Many worshippers watched via TV screens set up outside the cathedral.

The cathedrals mosaics and iconography cover an area of 17,800 square meters (191,000 square feet), according the cathedrals website.

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Daniel Codrescu, who has spent seven years working on the frescoes and mosaics, told The Associated Press that much of the iconography has been inspired by medieval Romanian paintings and others from the Byzantine world.

It was a complex collaboration with the church, with art historians, with artists, also our friends of contemporary art, he said. I hope (the church) is going to have a very important impact on society because  its a public space.

With one of the largest budget deficits in the EU, not everyone in Romania was happy about the cost of the project. Critics bemoan that the massive church has drawn on public funds, which could have been spent on schools or hospitals.

Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, said the project was a waste of public money but said it could offer a boost to national pride and identity for some Romanians.

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The fact that they have forced, year after year, politicians to pay for it, in some cases taking money from communities that really needed that money, indicates it was a show of force, not one of humility and love of God, he said. Economically, it might be OK in the long term as it will be a tourist attraction.

Rares Ghiorghies, 37, supports the church but said the money would be better spent on health and education as a matter of good governance."

The big problem in society is that most of those who criticize do not follow the activities of the church, he said.

___

McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  As a fall storm brings strong wind and rain into the region, some Oregonians are seeing power outages Saturday.

Soaking rains continue to work their way into western Oregon and southwest Washington. The threat of severe weather also increases during the afternoon hours when storms become more isolated and scattered in nature. A marginal risk of severe weather means Oregon could see a great chance of damaging winds, large hail, and lightning.

Around 10:15 p.m. Portland General Electric reported 225 outages affecting more than 7,900 customers. More than 1,000 outages were reported around Gresham and Sandy, with just under 100 reported in Portland and Beaverton.

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Strongest winds, heaviest rain expected Saturday: What to know

Our crews are out right now working as quickly and safely as possible making repairs to equipment impacted by todays weather, a PGE spokesperson told KOIN 6 News just before 3 p.m. Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pacific Power reported 171 outages around 10:15 p.m. affecting more than 5,800 customers. A majority of those outages are reported around Salem and Corvallis.

Tillamook Peoples Utility District reported five outages around 10:15 p.m. impacting 49 customers.

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KOIN Severe Weather Alerts

Just after 5:30 p.m., the Washington Department of Transportation announced that the southbound Gee Creek Rest Area along Interstate 5 near Ridgefield is closed because of a power outage. Officials said the northbound rest area is still open.

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Ahead of the outages, Pacific Power announced Friday that the company is monitoring the storm and impacts to customers in Oregon California.

The utility company said the weather forecast showed potential for strong winds and rain starting Friday night into Sunday  increasing the potential for outages.

PHOTOS: Maine Coon cats rescued from neglect up for adoption at Oregon Humane Society

Pacific Power said crews are on standby to respond to weather-related outages.

Pacific Power is urging customers to be prepared for outages, have an emergency plan in place and be prepared for up to 72 hours without essential services. The utility company also recommends keeping mobile devices charged in case of an emergency and staying away from downed trees and power lines.

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The utility company warns that even if power lines are not sparking, they could be energized and extremely dangerous, asking customers to call 911 if they see a downed line and report the outage to Pacific Power.

This is a developing story.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Three people were killed and dozens wounded, including seven children, in an overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv.

More than 100 drones were launched on the Ukrainian capital during the overnight attack, which came just a day after a Russian missile strike killed two people and injured 12, also in Kyiv.

Pictures shared by Ukraines emergency services showed apartment blocks across the city with gutted, scorched facades.

More than 100 drones were launched on Kyiv during the overnight attack - Dan Bashakov/AP

Residential buildings were struck in the Desnianskyi and Obolonskyi districts, according to Vitali Klitschko, the Kyiv mayor.

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Every Russian strike is an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible on ordinary life, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, wrote on X.

This week, theyve been striking residential buildings, our people, children, and civilian infrastructure In just one week, Russia has used nearly 1,200 attack drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of different types against Ukraine.

Residents of the capital received their first air alert instructing them to proceed to shelters just after midnight, with attacks continuing into the early hours of the morning.

Residential buildings were struck in the Desnianskyi and Obolonskyi districts - Valentyn Ogirenko/REUTERS

A video posted on social media purporting to show the aftermath of one drone strike showed several storeys of a residential building ablaze as a woman could be heard screaming save us! from within the inferno.

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Russia is a terrorist state and deserves full international isolation for its constant terror against Ukraine, Andriy Sybiha, the Ukrainian foreign minister, wrote on X.

Moscow has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraines energy infrastructure ahead of winter, hoping to demoralise a beleaguered population by cutting off domestic and industrial power supplies as the country experiences subzero temperatures.

The flurry of strikes by Russia also follows another week of frantic diplomacy by Kyiv and comes amid signs of a growing rift between Washington and Moscow.

Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv

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On Saturday, Donald Trump described talks with Vladimir Putin as very disappointing and told reporters that he did not plan on wasting his time with a bilateral meeting unless he saw clear efforts towards peace.

Kremlin officials have attempted to downplay the abrupt cancellation of a second summit between Mr Trump and Putin in Budapest, describing it as postponed.

Putin also dismissed the sweeping sanctions that were imposed by the US president on energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil earlier this week, claiming the Russian economy would be immune to their shock.

However, there were signs that Putin was concerned about the effects of the sanctions as he deployed his top economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Miami to meet the presidents special envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday.

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Meanwhile, Mr Zelensky embarked on a diplomatic blitz across Europe to discuss deepening economic support for Ukraine and increasing the provision of long-range missiles that could be used to strike deep inside Russia.

On Saturday, the Ukrainian president announced that he had finalised a deal for up to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets after a mid-week meeting with Swedish premier Ulf Kristersson.

Mr Zelensky also met with Sir Keir Starmer and Coalition of the Willing members on Friday in London, after which the UK prime minister called on allies to supply more long-range weapons and advance plans to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, an initiative which was blocked by Belgium over legal concerns.

On Sunday, Putin announced the final test of a new nuclear-powered cruise missile with a range of up to 14,000 kilometres (8,700 miles) known as the Burevestnik.

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In a video posted to the Kremlins Telegram channel, the Russian president, donning military garb, described the missile as a unique product and said we need to identify potential uses and begin preparing the infrastructure for deploying this weapon in our armed forces.

Valery Gerasimov, Russias top general, said that the missile had spent around 15 hours in the air and demonstrated advanced capability to evade anti-missile and anti-aircraft defences.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that the TikTok deal announced last month is set to be finalized on Thursday when President Trump meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"We reached a final deal on TikTok. We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea," Bessent said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

President Trump signed an executive order last month that paved the way for a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. under a new corporate structure with American investors. But the details were not immediately clear. Asked about the details of the TikTok transaction Sunday, Bessent said he is "not part of the commercial side of the transaction."

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"My remit was to get the Chinese to agree to approve the transaction, and I believe we successfully accomplished that over the past two days," he said

Bessent spoke from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where President Trump began a three-country visit to Asia. Mr. Trump is expected to meet with Xi at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea on Thursday.

Mr. Trump said last month that Chinese President Xi Jinping had signed off on the deal during a call. The deal represented a "qualified divestiture," satisfying a law passed by Congress in April 2024 that required TikTok's China-based parent company to divest or face a ban. The move also delayed enforcement of the bipartisan law by 120 days to allow for the agreement on the video sharing social media app's operations in the U.S. to be finalized.

The White House outlined last month that the deal would establish a U.S.-based "joint venture" made up of a majority of U.S. investors and owners, along with a board of directors with a majority of Americans. ByteDance and its affiliates were set to own less than 20% of the new entity. The White House said a consortium of American investors, including Oracle, will have a stake in the new TikTok. (Oracle was cofounded by Larry Ellison, whose son David Ellison is the chairman and CEO of Paramount Skydance, which is the parent company of CBS. The Ellison family owns a controlling interest in Paramount Skydance.)

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Republican Rep. John Moolenaar of Michigan, the chairman of the House China committee, also appeared Sunday on "Face the Nation." Moolenaar, who previously expressed concern about the TikTok deal, said Sunday that said "as long as the Chinese are involved, I think there's reason for distrust."



When asked about ByteDance and its affiliates continuing to own up to 20% of the new entity, Moolenaar added, "I'm still concerned about it."

"The Chinese report to the Chinese Communist Party, and they will leverage every advantage they get," Moolenaar said. "But the president has set a goal of making this available to the American people, following the law that was passed in a bipartisan way, and I trust that they are doing that."

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Maybe youve heard about the socialist candidate running for mayor of New York City. Hes an immigrant from a complicated ethnic background, and his opponents accuse him of being unpatriotic, anti-American, a Communist agent and a supporter of overseas terrorist movements. Some have suggested that electing him mayor will make antisemitic bigotry  already far too widespread in America  much worse, and is likely to fuel a vicious, jingoistic right-wing backlash.

For his part, this insurgent socialist  an articulate and dynamic speaker, and a persistent critic of the Democratic Partys hypocrisy and cowardice  insists that he represents the finest traditions of American patriotism, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. His movement, he says, represents the enormous diversity of New York, a city endlessly renewed by immigrants from all over the world.

Most of his campaign hasnt been about abstract issues of foreign policy or political ideology. Instead, he has remained focused on the real conditions of working peoples lives, and the rising cost of living in Americas most expensive city. He has promised to control rising rents, improve public transit and make groceries more affordable, perhaps by selling food directly to consumers through farmers markets and city-owned stores.

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Im talking about Morris Hillquit, the Socialist Party of Americas mayoral nominee in 1917. But you knew that, right?

If history often rhymes, as the familiar slogan holds, this time it rhymes like crazy. In structural and thematic terms  and even on a more personal and narrative level  Zohran Mamdanis 2025 campaign is startlingly similar to Hillquits. Even those elements that might strike some observers as important differences are arguably more like parallels. Mamdani was born in Uganda to a Muslim family with South Asian roots; Hillquit was born in Latvia (part of the Russian Empire at the time) to a German-speaking Jewish family. In other words, both were outsiders from birth, and remained so in America, a fact that clearly forged their political identities as well.

The similarities between their campaign themes  incumbent mayor John Purroy Mitchel, according to Hillquit, had brought New Yorkers high rents, high prices, 10-cent bread, 14-cent milk  points us toward the unsurprising conclusion that the fundamental problems of life in the capital of American capitalism havent changed much in the last 108 years. The proposed solutions offered by socialist reformers remain familiar as well. (Despite all the Red-baiting, both then and now, neither Hillquit nor Mamdani could remotely be described as a revolutionary.)

Poster featuring portrait and text, from the 1917 mayoral campaign of Morris Hillquit.

(Socialist Party of New York/Public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Hillquit campaign poster, 1917.

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But the differences between the two men and their historical moments are just as important and, believe it or not, they offer reasons for optimism. If the political and ideological divisions that made Hillquit unelectable are still with us  yeah, he lost; lets get the spoiler out of the way  the clear and present danger posed by Donald Trumps authoritarian movement has changed the context dramatically. What we see here and now, in New York City and across America, is that the political machinery that crushed Hillquit and 20th-century socialism has broken down, and ordinary people are looking for more.

Hillquit may seem like a historical footnote today, but he was a well-known political figure in 1917. In the same year he ran for mayor, he also served as the defense lawyer for several left-leaning publications that Woodrow Wilsons administration tried to ban or shut down, including the radical culture magazine The Masses, the nations two socialist daily newspapers (!) in New York and Milwaukee, and the Jewish Daily Forward (then published in Yiddish). If youre experiencing an uncanny, reverse-deja-vu sensation right now, I feel you.

After arriving in New York as a teenager, Hillquit  born in 1869 as Moishe or Moses Hillkowitz  became a prominent New York labor lawyer and then a co-founder, with Eugene V. Debs and Victor Berger, of the Socialist Party of America, a big-tent effort meant to unite a wide range of political opinion to the left of the overtly racist and blatantly corrupt Democratic Party.

If Hillquits mayoral campaign was close to a high-water mark for official American socialism, it was also the beginning of the end. Debs had received more than 900,000 votes in the 1912 presidential election  about 6 percent of the national total  and the SPA had elected two members of Congress and more than 1,000 local and state officials all over the country. While its greatest strength was among recent immigrants, it also prospered in what we would now call red or purple states: Kansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona. Socialist mayors were elected, just for example, in Butte, Montana; Gulfport, Florida; Red Cloud, Nebraska; and Star City, West Virginia.

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But by the time of Hillquits campaign, the American left was already bitterly divided over U.S. intervention in World War I, which Hillquit and most of the SPA strongly opposed. Socialists, anarchists, pacifists and other perceived radicals were also under tremendous stress from the aforementioned government campaign of persecution and censorship, including the infamous Espionage Act.

Over the next few years, those factors, along with the global ripple effects of the Russian Revolution, would split the Socialist Party into multiple warring factions. Hillquit remained loyal to the SPA until his death in 1933, but many of its more militant members joined the newly-hatched Communist Party USA, whose overt alignment with the Soviet Union meant that virtually all avowed socialists were exiled to the political margins for decades to come.

In case youre wondering, there appears to be an almost-direct line of political descent from Hillquit to Mamdani: The last remnants of Hillquits SPA splintered into three offshoots in the 1970s, one of which eventually became the present-day Democratic Socialists of America, whose members include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and 200 or so other elected officials, along with the likely next mayor of New York.

Hillquit surely never expected to win the mayoral election, which may be the most significant difference between his campaign and Mamdanis. After all, he was fighting the combined power of the Tammany Hall political machine and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, who united behind John Francis Hylan, a vaguely populist Brooklyn Democrat with few discernible positions. (Hylans name now graces a nondescript boulevard in suburban Staten Island, while Hillquit is memorialized in a housing project for union members on Manhattans Lower East Side. Both seem fitting.)

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Hillquit ran a strong campaign under the unique conditions of that world-historical year, by all accounts, winning almost 150,000 votes across a fractious range of communities who were generally understood to be at odds. Its not surprising that Jewish socialists and much of the labor movement were behind him, and also not surprising that Manhattans Uptown Jews, a term then used to indicate the affluent, assimilated Jewish community of long standing, viewed him as a dangerous interloper who threatened their safety. Black voters were largely ignored or bought off with low-level patronage jobs in the Tammany era, but future civil rights hero A. Philip Randolph organized for Hillquit in Harlem, winning him about one-fifth of the African-American vote.

Less plausibly still, Hillquit made modest inroads into New Yorks other dominant ethnic community of the time. I first encountered his name, in fact, in a 1970s biography of the Irish revolutionary Liam Mellows by Marxist historian Desmond Greaves, who mentions Hillquit several times without bothering to explain who he was. Ireland and Irish issues are never mentioned in Hillquits online archive or his (largely hostile) Wikipedia entry. Greaves reports, however, that he was friendly with Irish republicans like Mellows (then living in New York exile), and was backed by the Irish Progressive League and the Irish World, a socialist (and vigorously anti-British) newspaper.

Given that the Tammany-backed Hylan and incumbent mayor Mitchel were both of Irish ancestry, its not likely that Hillquit got an objectively large number of Irish-American votes. But the point Greaves makes is that the Irish in America faced a moral and political choice in 1917  effectively, a choice between anti-imperialism and cross-ethnic solidarity on one hand and Americanism on the other  that would determine their future. By extension, the Jewish community, the Black community and the American left at large faced their own versions of that choice. I would argue its still with us today, and still urgent: Consider the spineless vacillation of Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer over whether to stand behind their own partys mayoral nominee in their own city.

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In the political hothouse atmosphere of 1917, there was a stark dividing line: You could stand on your principles  socialism, internationalism and anti-imperialism, for example  and suffer the consequences, or you could swallow the kind of unquestioning patriotism that accepted the carnage of the Great War in Europe as noble or at least unavoidable. Hillquit wrote about that kind of patriotism, calling it a very much abused term:

In this campaign the country is infested with a swarm of professional patriots, including men who are aspiring to the highest office in the land, men who have occupied the most exalted positions in the gift of the nation and other great national luminaries. They travel throughout the country prating about true Americanism, they wave the American flag with rivaling frenzy, they flatter our national vanity, they appeal to our basest instincts, they foment racial antagonism at home and pave the ground for strife and war with foreign nations. Their agitation is harmful to the people, it is grossly unpatriotic.

Is he describing the warmongering of 1917, or the Charlie Kirk memorial of 2025? Im not quite sure.

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For many groups of people over many decades, the sacrifices and compromises required to be seen as fully American seemed to be worth it. The Irish had nearly completed that process by Hillquits time, and his own community was about halfway there. For Black people in America, its safe to say that progress has been painful, intermittent and slow. Wasnt the basic premise behind that sacrifice that what it meant to be American was not a fixed quantity, and would continue to evolve and expand? That certainly seemed to be happening, for a while. Now its very much in question.

Morris Hillquit lost the 1917 mayoral election, and never came close to political power again. He was decidedly a moderate within the socialist movement, not a revolutionary or an uncompromising radical, which may be why he has almost entirely vanished from history. But he fought for cheaper milk and better subway service, and refused to abandon his convictions for short-term political advantage.

Whether or not Zohran Mamdani has ever heard of Hillquit, he should be proud of inheriting his century-old legacy. Hillquit would have understood the importance of this moment, when too many Americans are once again ready to crumble before the most toxic forms of patriotism. What Mamdanis surprising campaign  and his likely victory  have shown us is that we still have moral choices to make, and that courage isnt just for losers.

The post That time a foreign-born socialist ran for mayor of New York appeared first on Salon.com.
PARIS (AP)  Seven people have been arrested so far in the investigation into the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, but the jewels haven't been found.

Heres what we know about the timeline of what happened:

Oct. 10

Thieves use a false pretext to steal a basket lift from the town of Louvres, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Paris. Prosecutor Laurence Beccuau said they made an appointment with the company that owned the truck before leaving with it, using threats but no violence. The company filed a complaint. The name of the town has made many wonder whether it was a coincidence.

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Oct. 19

9 a.m.: The Louvre museum opens to visitors.

9:30 a.m.: Thieves dressed like renovation workers park the truck equipped with a freight lift on the sidewalk at the foot of the Louvre, on Quai Francois Mitterrand alongside the Seine River. They put traffic cones around the truck to simulate a maintenance operation. Two people climb a ladder to reach a balcony and gain entry through a window.

9:34 a.m.: The two thieves enter the south end of the Apollo Gallery. An alarm is triggered at the security control room. A staff member in the room makes a radio call to command center members to alert them to the intruders.

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9:35 a.m.: Robbers use disc cutters to neatly cut the glass of two display cases and take the jewels. Security officers make visitors evacuate, in line with requirements that focus on crowd safety. The museum manager calls the nearby police station to report a theft in progress and asks for immediate help.

9:36 a.m.: A team leader at the command center activates a special button linked to Paris police headquarters.

9:37 a.m.: A message is sent to staff to request that all the museums doors be closed.

9:38 a.m.: The thieves leave via the same window and flee eastward with two other people waiting for them on two scooters, according to the prosecutor. They leave behind a yellow vest similar to those often worn by construction workers and other equipment, including a disc cutter. Culture Minister Rachida Dati said that security officers on site prevented one thief from setting fire to the truck with the freight lift.

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10:34 a.m.: Dati announces on social media that a robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum.

Later that day: The emerald-set imperial crown of Napoleon IIIs wife, Empress Eugenie, containing more than 1,300 diamonds, is found outside the museum. The thieves left with eight other objects of inestimable historic value.

Oct. 22

The museum reopens. Beccuau, the prosecutor, says that about 100 investigators are working on the case, in addition to forensics experts who are analyzing surveillance footage and 150 samples taken from the basket lift, inside the museum and on items found.

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Oct. 25

Investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts arrest two men in the Seine-Saint-Denis region north of Paris. One was preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Oct. 26

Beccuau announces the arrests.

Oct. 29

The two suspects are handed preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy and theft committed by an organized gang, and ordered held in custody pending further investigation. The prosecutor says they partially admitted involvement in the theft, and appeals for anyone who has the jewels to return them.

Oct. 30

The prosecutor announces five more arrests overnight, including one person believed to be part of the four-person team at the Louvre the day of the theft.
SPRINGFIELD  A project to restore four historic downtown buildings and provide market-rate housing is expected to start next spring.

Last week the City Council granted a special permit allowing renovations of the vacant buildings, which are considered significant to the citys downtown. The project will create 111 apartments as well as retail and commercial space.

The city acquired most of the buildings through a tax title process and then put the buildings out to bid. McCaffery Interests Inc., of Chicago, was selected as the preferred developer with a roughly $68 million project.

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A very prominent site in Springfield, we feel this could be sort of a catalyst to other sites downtown, said Julian Looney, the project architect and principal at Antunovich Associates of New York.

The project includes the Clock Tower building at the corner of State and Main streets and the attached building at 1163 Main St., the Colonial building at 1155 Main St. and a smaller building at 11-21 Stockbridge St.

While the majority of the redevelopment will be market-rate residential, with 94 apartments being studios or one-bedrooms and 17 set aside for two-bedroom units, the first floors will be set aside for commercial use. That follows what was historically in the buildings, Looney said.

We feel we can attract strong retailers, food and beverage, mom-and-pop type retailers to the ground floor, he said.

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The plan is to begin construction in earnest in the spring and be finished and ready for tenants in 13 to 15 months, said Carol Dooney, director of construction and development for McCaffery.

Because the buildings are vacant, work is expected to be done simultaneously, instead of having crews work on one structure and then move to a second building, said Dooney, who is overseeing the project.

The company is already doing small jobs, such as abatement, and historic restoration such as repairing the prominent clock on the corner building at State and Main streets, which has not worked in years.

Major work will not be completed until final approvals are done to place all the buildings into a historic district. The company is using historic tax credits to help finance construction, she said.

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All four of those buildings will be, in the next few months, part of the historic district and will be part of the improvements in this project, Dooney said. Some of the buildings have already been declared historic.

Work, including extensive outside masonry repair to some of the buildings, will be done under the state and federal historic preservation guidelines, she said.

At the same time, the city is working to construct the 364-space South End parking garage off Willow Street that will be owned and managed by the Springfield Parking Authority. The new structure is designed to serve as overflow parking for the project, as well as provide parking for multiple other downtown uses.

Developers estimate they will need 120 parking spaces for the units, but are only able to provide 46 on-site, according to the plans.

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The City Council voted 11-0 with two members absent to approve the special permit. There was no opposition from the public and councilors had some questions but no objections to the proposal.

Two members aired concerns about the impact the project will have on the neighboring Community Music School.

McCaffery officials are working with the school to ensure staff and students will still have safe access and parking during and after construction, Dooney said.

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As President Donald Trump ramps up his lethal campaign against alleged drug traffickers in Latin America, Hawaii lawmakers say he risks dragging the U.S. into a new war and alienating allies as the Pentagon pulls in more military forces from around the world to join the expanding operation.

In September, the U.S. military began a series of strikes on boats off the coast of South America that Trump administration officials say are being used by drug trafficking organizations. The campaign has killed dozens of people so far.

However, the Trump administration has not publicly released any evidence that any of them were traffickers or cartel members. When questioned on the legality of the operations, administration officials have said that the documents outlining the legal framework are secret.

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On Tuesday, Trump told reporters at the White House that strikes on land may soon be next and said that officials would likely brief Congress before those strikes beginbut also insisted he doest need congressional approval. U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that when youre publicly talking about strikes on land, thats threatening war right there. War powers clearly belong to Congress, but we have a president here who could care less about the balance of power.

Much of the U.S. military buildupand many of the strikeshave been off the coast of Venezuela. The Trump administration has said it seeks regime change  in the country and in August it offered a reward of $50 million for the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of being one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.

Trump is absolutely required to get approval from Congress before recklessly authorizing military strikes in Venezuela, or other Latin American countries, which could drag our nation into another overseas conflict and put American lives at risk,  said U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Continuing to launch these attacks without congressional approval is yet another example of the ways this regime disregards precedent and the law.

On Friday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced in a social media post that the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, which was conducting operations in the Mediterranean, will sail to the Caribbean in a sharp escalation.

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Tokuda accused the administration of exploiting the current government shutdown to ramp up operation without oversight.

I think its extremely intentional by this president to be ramming this through, these actions, amidst a government shutdown,  said Tokuda. Hes literally leveraging and using this shutdown as a cover because Congress isnt even in session right now. The United States Senates whole focus has been on reopening government  you have him intimating, threatening potential land strikes, killing citizens from allied countries, all under the cover of a government shutdown.

While most of the strikes have been in the Caribbean, on Monday U.S. forces launched their first deadly strike in the Pacific Ocean. Several news outlets reported that it took place near Colombia, which has accused the U.S. of killing its citizens within its territorial waters.

Among them is 40-year-old Alejandro Carranza, who went missing more than a month ago after he went out to sea in the Caribbean. Carranzas wife, Katerine Hernandez, has told media that he was a fisherman with no ties to drug traffickers. Colombians now believe he was killed in one of the strikes, which Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called murder.

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In response, Trump called Petro an illegal drug leader  and said he would cut off all counter-narcotics aid to Colombia and impose new tariffs on the country. Trump also said he better close up  drug cultivation sites or the United States will close them up for him, and it wont be done nicely. On Friday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Petro and his family.

The U.S. has a long history of working closely with the Colombian military and Colombian service members have trained in Hawaii during Exercise Rim of the Pacific. Many Latin American countriesincluding Colombiahave lately sought closer cooperation with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard to counter illegal fishing near their coasts, largely by Chinas large state- subsidized fishing fleet.

Petro visited Hawaii in October 2023 and met with senior military officials with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. During RIMPAC 2024, Colombian navy Rear Adm. Ernesto Segovia Forero, commander of Caribbean Naval Forces Colombia, came to the islands to observe training and speak with senior leaders.

Tokuda said that Trumps approach to Colombia raises serious concern in the Indo-Pacific, where we are constantly needing to strengthen, defend (and ) amplify our support for Taiwan amidst Chinas aggression. Acts like this really chip away at the United States reputation that we support our allies, protect our allies, when now we have allies literally accusing us of killing their people in these attacks, and we cannot even provide concrete evidence that there have been threats to the United States.

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Escalation and secrecy The campaign against the alleged traffickers, which the administration now calls an armed conflict,  has grown exponentially. The Navy has pulled at least three ships from the 3rd Fleets area of operationswhich includes Hawaiito join operations in the Caribbean, dispatching at least one from Washington state and at least two from San Diego.

When asked if any ships or other units in Hawaii have been called upor are already participatinga U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson told the Star- Advertiser they were unable  to answer during the government shutdown,  but that the Navy continues to defend the nation, conducting ongoing operations worldwide. Another Pacific Fleet official told the Star-Advertiser to reach out to U.S. Southern Command, where a spokesman reached by phone saidafter consulting with superiorsthat we dont comment on the movement of personnel or assets.

Lawmakers say they are similarly in the dark.

Democratic and Republican leadership in the House has sent a letter to the Pentagon asking the administration for evidence on these strikes, and theyve gotten no answers,  said Tokuda. So literally, what you see on Truth Social, you know, grainy pictures they decide to release of boats being blown up and things floating in the water, thats all that the members of the House Armed Services Committee has also received.

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Tokuda said that its been months since the committee has received a briefing on U.S. Southern Commands operationsclassified or otherwise.

Hirono and several other Democratic senators sent a letter to Trump asking the administration to give lawmakers information on the strikes shortly after they began in September. She told the Star-Advertiser that so far SASC members have received one classified briefing relating to the recent operations in SOUTHCOM.

We have thousands of Marines and sailors in the area, we have no less than three Aegis guided missile destroyers there, weve got a nuclear sub,  said Tokuda. Youve got all these military assets there for what is, quite frankly, a law enforcement operation, but starting to look like Trumps war in that region when Im concerned, quite frankly, about the Indo-Pacific.

Under Trumps first presidency and that of Joe Biden, the Pentagon said that the Pacific was its top priority theater as the U.S. competes with China for power and influence.

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U.S. officials have for years accused Beijing of defying international law in the Pacific, particularly in disputes with other countries over territorial and navigation rights in the South China Sea, a critical waterway that a third of all international trade moves through. In 2016, an international court rejected most of Chinas territorial claimswhich encompass nearly the entire seabut Beijing has called the ruling illegal.

The Chinese military has built bases on disputed islands and reefs and routinely harasses and attacks fishermen from the Philippines and Vietnam. But Tokuda noted that while Chinese forces have sometimes seriously injured people in attacks on vessels, theyre not bombing ships in the South China Sea, right ? Theyre not killing people in the South China Sea.

In September, as the strikes were just beginning, Indo-Pacific Command hosted an international law conference in Waikiki, drawing in military lawyers from across the region.

Adm. Samuel Paparo told them the gathering reflects our belief that the law is not a constraint. No, its a shared value that is a force multiplier for military commanders such as myself. It reflects our conviction that human dignity and its expression at the state level, sovereign rights, transparency and principled cooperation are not optional values, they are fundamental pillars of security and fundamentally underpin the social contract and the community of nations.

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But Tokuda said the Trump administrations campaign in Latin America threatens to undermine that message, and that she worries the consequences could ripple across the Pacific.

This absolutely destroys our credibility when we call out China and we talk about rules-based international order, respect for sovereignty, and here we go doing absolutely the opposite,  said Tokuda. Im fearful that it will embolden countries like China to try to see just how far there they can go, under the guise of well, the United States is doing this, why cant we ?
The kalivikodi bird went undocumented in the wild for decades, until researchers captured proof of its existence through extensive audio monitoring and trail camera footage.

As ETV Bharat and Earth.com reported, forest officials confirmed that the rare bird, which was first recorded in 1848 in India's Penna River Basin, was rediscovered in the YSR Kadapa district after years of effort and about $5.63 million invested into research, sanctuary creation, and fieldwork.

The rediscovery, sparked by an audio recording of the bird's call on Aug. 24, according to Earth.com, sends a hopeful message to conservationists and communities working to restore fragile ecosystems.

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Part of the financial investment went toward a 3,000-acre Malleshwara Sanctuary, a protected reserve dedicated to confirming and safeguarding the kalivikodi population, according to ETV Bharat.

Researchers from Sri Venkateswara University and the Bombay Natural History Society documented the bird's footprints and bird call in the early 2000s before recording it again in 2025.

Forest officials said the kalivikodi  sometimes spelled as two words, kalivi kodi, and also known as the Jerdon's courser  generally does not fly, preferring to run, and it nests by laying its eggs among small pebbles. The bird is nocturnal and has a call that is audible up to 200 meters away, which helped scientists identify it in the Kadapa forests.

"Measuring about 27 centimeters in length, the Kalivikodi is unlike most birds," they said, per ETV Bharat. "It cannot fly and instead thrives in dense thorny bushes." Other sources say the bird is capable of flight but rarely does so even when threatened.

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Rediscovering wildlife previously thought to be extinct through trail microphones and cameras demonstrates how modern technology aids researchers in monitoring conservation efforts.

For example, a conservation photographer in Papua New Guinea documented a New Britain goshawk that hadn't been documented in 55 years. In Colorado, a trail camera caught an endangered Lynx thanks to Colorado Parks and Wildlife reintroduction efforts.

These examples help further conservation efforts because the more we see these animals and what we have to lose, the more passionate we can be about protecting them.

Trail cameras help preserve and monitor sanctuaries for wildlife. The United Nations has warned that biodiversity loss directly affects human well-being and global food security. Therefore, protecting wildlife restores ecosystems and secures resources for both humans and wildlife.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.




The following is the transcript of the interview with Rep. John Moolenaar, Republican of Michigan, that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Oct. 26, 2025.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And joining us now is the chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Michigan Republican Representative John Moolenaar. Welcome, congressman.

REP. JOHN MOOLENAAR: Thank you, Margaret, good to be with you.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: So much to get to with you. But just quickly, if the prime adversary and threat to the United States is in China and the Pacific is bringing them to the west- all the military the Western Hemisphere in such full force and focus the thing to do?

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well, I think we're sending an important message that we're no longer going to allow drug trafficking coming in and killing American lives. And you know, China is very much behind the Fentanyl crisis that's killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and so--

MARGARET BRENNAN: --That's out of Mexico, primarily.

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well, and I think the president takes the Western Hemisphere very seriously, and getting the drugs out of our backyard, I think is an important step forward.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: On the committee work that you've been doing, I'm sure you heard from Treasury Secretary Bessent at the top of the program that he says China has agreed to the TikTok deal. 170 million Americans use this social media app. Congress had passed a law to force this sale and cited it as a national security threat if it continued to operate the way it has. Have your national security concerns about the app and about this transaction been addressed?

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well, I think it's important that we note that it- the law requires a divestment and getting the Chinese Communist Party control away from the app as well as the algorithm, and it allows ownership only up to 20% for Chinese entity ByteDance. And to me, it's very important that that's carried out. We don't know all the specifics of this, but we know that American companies are very interested in participating. There's the proposal for a lease agreement, but how you get that algorithm completely out of the Chinese control is going to be up to the experts. You know, there's 6 million pieces of code in this algorithm, and we need to make sure that it's protected for the American people.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So that algorithm is the data tracking system that's pulled from a user's habits. And so the accusation was also that this was basically manipulating consumers in terms of what they were able to see. So will that algorithm be maintained, and will upgrades only be conducted by, for example, American engineers?

REP. MOOLENAAR: That would be my recommendation because, ultimately, we don't want a Chinese propaganda effort affecting 170 million Americans. We also want to make sure that to make sure that data from Americans is kept secure, and as long as the Chinese are involved, I think there's reasons for distrust, and--

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MARGARET BRENNAN: Even with the 20% stake?

REP. MOOLENAAR: I'm still concerned about it. Quite frankly, you know, the Chinese report to the Chinese Communist Party, and they will leverage every advantage they get. But the President has set a goal of making this available to the American people, following the law that was passed in a bipartisan way and I trust that they are doing that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: The President has not been following the letter of the law that you voted for. You know that.

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well, I think- I think the goal has been to come to an agreement, to come to a deal, and they've been working very hard to do that. But when you have the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, with direct leverage on this in terms of what they will do, what they won't do, it's very difficult to continue to make that available. But I trust the people who are negotiating that, recognize we've got to get the control of the algorithm away from the Chinese Communist Party, the app, and make sure that the ownership is controlled by America, not China.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: So let's talk about that ownership. The president said the investors would include Michael Dell, Lachlan Murdoch, whose family owns Fox News, and Larry Ellison, whose son owns Paramount, parent company of CBS News. Do you have concerns that people who are boosters of the President will have ownership of social media in this way?

REP. MOOLENAAR: You know, I think--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Since it's so powerful.

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well there are some, I'm sure investors. Not everybody is simply a supporter of the President, but I believe that in this case, Congress has a role for oversight, and we will be meeting with the parties of transaction. We also will have hearings on this, because at the end of the day, we want this controlled by American companies, regardless of what their political affiliation. We don't want it controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: But Secretary Bessent said he got the Chinese to say yes, and on Thursday, he used the word "consummated", that this deal will be signed off between Xi and Trump. So are your hearings just after the fact? Or, you know, what effect do you hope they will have?

REP. MOOLENAAR: Well, oversight. Congress has a legitimate role of oversight. We passed a law--

MARGARET BRENNAN: -- Meaning you assume this deal is done. That this transaction is happening, and you're just going to monitor it?

REP. MOOLENAAR: I would assume that if the President comes to an agreement, which he's charged to do under the law, and if that happens on Thursday, then it will move forward. And there may be challenges to that law or the implementation of it, but Congress has a role of oversight to ensure that the law is followed.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: The Wall Street Journal reported that Xi Jinping called TikTok, quote spiritual opium, and he saw this as just like a low cost bargaining chip for China. Do you think that- that's what's happening here? That this is just an easy thing to hand over to--

REP. MOOLENAAR: I believe it's a very addictive app. China has made a lot of money because of that, but they've also used it in a way that allows you know their information, their propaganda, to be propagated. They control the algorithm, and that's why we passed that bipartisan law. So I believe Xi Jinping views this as a strategic asset. That's why he didn't want to sell it to some of the other American companies that were interested in purchasing it. So as long as they're involved, I think we have to recognize that TikTok, even an American version still could be open to influence from the Chinese Communist Party.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Or whoever owns it.

REP. MOOLENAAR: Whoever owns it.

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MARGARET BRENNAN: The algorithm.

REP. MOOLENAAR: The algorithm.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Congressman, thank you very much, and we'll be watching for those hearings.

REP. MOOLENAAR: Thank you.

MARGARET BRENNAN: We'll be right back.

June Lockhart, beloved for "Lassie," "Lost in Space," dies at 100

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Traveling for a vacation is support to be a fun, carefree and relaxing experience, but that's not always the case. The most important thing for anyone traveling is to stay safe and healthy. For example, according to Dr. Ashima Oza, a primary care physician and an instructor in the Division of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, "from flu-like symptoms to digestive tract upsets, feeling ill post-vacation affects up to 80 percent of returning travelers."

In extreme cases, traveling can even be deadly. According to a report from Fox News Digital, a U.S. tourist died in Laos after "suspected alcohol poisoning this summer." News that like is causing governments to issue new travel warnings, including the British government.

According to Fox News, the British government has added eight countries to its list of travel warnings, and it relates to to the risk of methanol poisoning from tainted alcohol.

Travels 'May Face Risk' of 'Contaminated Alcohol

"The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned that tourists visiting Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda may face a risk of methanol poisoning from counterfeit or contaminated alcohol," Fox News reports.

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They add that "according to an Oct. 21 advisory from the FCDO, the new warnings follow 'an increase in cases of serious illness and death caused by alcoholic drinks tainted with methanol in popular overseas travel destinations.'"

"The expanded list builds on existing guidance for countries including Thailand, Laos and Vietnam," the FCDO added.

Methanol, according to Merriam-Webster, is a "light volatile flammable poisonous liquid alcohol CH3OH used especially as a solvent, antifreeze, or denaturant for ethanol and in the synthesis of other chemicals."

Methanol is sometimes added to alcoholic drinks to make them cheaper to make. As the Guardian notes, "Sometimes it's added deliberately and illegally during or after manufacturing as a cheaper way to increase the alcohol content in a drink."

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The Guardian adds that "death is not inevitable if only a small amount of methanol has been consumed and rapid treatment will greatly reduce damage," but "permanent vision damage can occur even at non-lethal doses if treatment is not administered quickly."

Common Symptoms of Methanol Poisoning

The common symptoms of methanol poisoning are "blurry vision, vomiting, confusion, nausea, visual loss, headache and intoxication," according to Dr. Sampson Davis, an emergency room physician, who told Fox News Digital the information.

"Methanol binds to the same receptors as alcohol and will give you the same elated feeling," the New Jersey-based physician said.

So, even though this travel warning is from the British government, Americans would be wise to consider it themselves, too.

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was confronted, Sunday, about the idea that President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Canada because of a TV ad he didnt like.

In an interview on NBCs Meet the Press Sunday, Kristen Welker grilled Bessent about how Trumps anger over an ad which shows Ronald Reagan bashing tariffs is dictating U.S. trade policy.

This week, President Trump abruptly broke off trade talks with Canada and put another 10 percent tariff on Canada in response to an ad that the government of Ontario ran, Welker said. It features former President Ronald Reagan. Why is the president setting trade policy based on a television ad he doesnt like?

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Bessent defended the president and slammed the Ontario government for running the ad.

This is a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens, Bessent said. Its psy-ops. Why would the government of Ontario  Im told that they have spent or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to come across the U.S. border  what was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion? And its some kind of propaganda that the premier of Ontario unilaterally launched.

But Bessent then waffled on the specifics of the new tariffs when Welker pressed him on it.

Will the 10 percent tariffs apply to all Canadian goods, Mr. Secretary? Welker asked.

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Kristen, Ive been traveling since this unfortunate event happened, Bessent said. I know that the ads been taken down. So, you know, well have to see. But I just think it was terrible, terrible judgment by this premier, you know, who has a bit of a reputation for being a hothead.

Welker tried following up, but  again  Bessent could not provide any details about Trumps added tariffs.

Does the president know if the 10 percent tariffs will apply to all Canadian goods? Welker asked. Has he made a determination about that?

Well, Im sure he knows and Im sure the [U.S. trade] Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer knows. But, again, you know, were here out in Asia and were doing these big trade deals out in Asia.

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Trump made the tariff announcement late Saturday in a post on Truth Social.

Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagans Speech on Tariffs, Trump wrote. He added, Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didnt! Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD. Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now.

Watch above, via NBC News.

The post Treasury Secretary Awkwardly Dodges Questions On Trump Jacking Up Canada Tariffs Because Reagan Ad Made Him Angry first appeared on Mediaite.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent tried his best to fend off a question about why President Donald Trump increased tariffs on Canada because of a TV ad he despised.

Speaking with Kristen Welker on Meet the Press Sunday, the NBC host pressed Bessent for an answer on why the president put another 10% tariff on Canada in response to an ad that Ontarios government ran that featured former President Ronald Reagan.

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Trumps vocal displeasure over the ad prompted him to end trade negotiations between the U.S. and Canada, threatening once again to turn the key economic relationship between the United States and its second-biggest trading partner topsy-turvy.

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Without answering Welkers question directly, Bessent launched into arguing that the ad was a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens. He also accused the ad of utilizing psychological operations, a military and government tactic that uses the media to influence peoples emotions to help shape the publics perceptions.

Its psy-ops. Why would the government of Ontario  Im told that they have spent or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to come across the U.S. border  what was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion? Bessent said of the ad. And its some kind of propaganda that the premier of Ontario unilaterally launched.

Welker then questioned the government official over whether the 10% tariffs will apply to all Canadian goods.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent awkwardly avoided a question about President Donald Trump's increased tariffs on Canada. Getty Images/YouTube.

Kristen, Ive been traveling since this unfortunate event happened, Bessent replied. I know that the ads been taken down. So, you know, well have to see. But I just think it was terrible, terrible judgment by this premier, you know, who has a bit of a reputation for being a hothead.

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Welker tried again grilling Bessent about whether Trump has made a determination on whether the 10% tariffs will apply to all Canadian goods, prompting the GOP leader to skirt around the question yet again.

Politics: Heres The Canadian Viral Video That Triggered Trump Into A Full-Blown Meltdown

Well, Im sure he knows, and Im sure [U.S. trade] Ambassador [Jamieson] Greer knows. But, again, you know, were here out in Asia and were doing these big trade deals out in Asia, he responded.

A furious Trump heavily condemned the 38-year-old ad that quoted Reagan criticizing Trumps favorite economic tool  tariffs  in a radio address on April 25, 1987.

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Calling the ad fraudulent and a hostile act in a scathing Truth Post late Saturday night, Trump declared that due to the countrys serious misrepresentation of the facts, he would be slapping a 10% extra tariff on Canada in retaliation over the Reagan trade ad.

The president also claimed in the post that Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy.

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In a separate Truth Social post, Trump also criticized the Ontario provincial governments decision to keep airing the ad during U.S. broadcasts of the World Series.

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They could have pulled it tonight, Trump said. Well, thats dirty play  but I can play dirtier than they can, you know.

Watch Bessents appearance on NBCs Meet the Press below.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he endorsed President Donald Trump demolishing the East Wing of the White House to build a $300 million, 90,000-square-foot ballroom.

[Construction] is moving at warp speed, and I think its going to be something that all Americans can be proud of, Bessent said Sunday on Meet The Press.

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The East Wing of the White House was demolished on Thursday to begin construction of the new ballroom. Preservation groups have expressed concern over the construction because there was little communication on how it would affect the structure of the main building. In July, Trump initially said the ballroom construction project wouldnt interfere with the current building.

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Itll be near it, but not touching it, and pays total respect to the existing building, which Im the biggest fan of, Trump said in July.

But that doesnt seem to be the case. The entire East Wing was torn down last week.

When Meet The Press host Kristen Welker asked Bessent why Trump didnt tell the public that the entire East Wing would be torn down, Bessent defended Trump, saying asbestos or mold could have led to the destruction.

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I completely endorse what the president is doing here with the ballroom, and I assume that maybe parts of the East Wing could have been asbestos, could have been mold, could have not fit with the design, Bessent said.

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Its unclear if the White House had asbestos or mold. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, a nonprofit aimed at preventing asbestos exposure, called on the administration to be transparent with its safety measures during the demolition to reaffirm its commitment to prevention, accountability, and the protection of public health in all federal construction projects. The organization said the East Wing was built during a period of extensive asbestos use in government buildings.

The last time the White House underwent a major exterior change was in 1942, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt added the East Wing for additional staff.

Bessent said the construction was a judgment call from Trump, who is a master builder and the ballroom will be a magnificent structure.

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He added that America has a history of presidents renovating and adding to the White House, including President Thomas Jefferson, whose designs of the East and West Colonnades in 1801 drew criticism for reflecting aristocratic tendencies.

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Trumps ballroom, which will reportedly look a lot like the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Florida club, is being built to better accommodate larger social events. It will seat 650 people and be a ornately designed and carefully crafted space.

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There is value in looking into the ways and depths other communities invest in their hometown school districts.

Local public schools matter heavily in every town. They serve as neighborhood community centers, give many students their first chance to interact with kids of different backgrounds, foster long-term connections between families and staff, generate jobs and help young people to break the chain of generational poverty, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Schools also can be a source of encouragement for families to move to or remain in a community, the SPLCs Learning for Justice report in June said.

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Vigo County is no different and can benefit from all of those possibilities.

As the debate continues to stir over how to fund a modernization of Vigo County School Corp. school buildings and the extent of such an upgrade, it is worth assessing this countys situation in comparison to other Hoosier places.

Data shows that Vigo Countians, relative to other Hoosiers, are not overpaying for their local school district.

Vigos overall county tax rate is relatively high. At fourth-highest among Indianas 92 counties, according to Purdue University property tax expert Larry DeBoer. But the portion paid by Vigo Countians toward the VCSC unit rate  about 98 cents out of every $100 of taxable assessed value  ranks 146th highest out of 290 school corporations in the state. By contrast, the city of Terre Haute unit rate ranks 22nd highest out of 563 city districts.

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The VCSC district unit rate (97.61 cents to be exact) is below the median portion of property taxes paid by all Hoosiers toward their local school districts  $1.05 per $100 of taxable assessed value.

If youre looking for a reason that your property taxes are high, the school corporation isnt it, DeBoer said of Vigo County in a July Tribune-Star interview.

So, while the funding possibilities for a long-overdue modernization of many Vigo County schools get debated, it should not be forgotten that a majority of Indiana communities are paying a larger slice of their property taxes for their schools.

State legislation approved last spring opened the possibility for existing county funds to be used for school facilities. That option could decrease the size of any property-tax increase, which voters would have to OK through a ballot referendum. But a 4-3 vote by the Vigo County Council on Oct. 14 appeared to block any use of county funds for school facilities without voter approval through a ballot referendum.

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The county commissioners had requested council approval of $100,000 for startup costs of an independent committee to oversee a school facilities project. The commissioners sought those funds, which wouldve come from the countys casino gaming-tax account, in support of a VCSC school facilities modernization and consolidation plan.

The VCSC plan would trim the roster of schools from 23 to 16, including a consolidation of Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South high schools into one larger school, a renovation of West Vigo High School, upgrades at several schools, and a repurposing of other schools. The process could take up to seven years.

That proposal comes three years after Vigo Countians voted down a ballot referendum for a $261-million rebuilding and renovation project for North, South and West Vigo high schools, and West Vigo Middle School.

If the VCSCs new, more comprehensive plan requires another ballot referendum, the statewide track record for school funding referendums is mixed.

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Since referendums became the primary mechanism to raise property-tax funds for school facility projects in 2008, 97 referendums have been proposed to voters in communities around the state. Fifty-two were approved, and 45 were rejected, according to DeBoers calculations.

Vigos $261-million school facilities referendum in 2022 was among the 45 turned down. But local voters approved a referendum in 2019 to provide $7 million annually for eight years to cover operational costs, and it is among the 52 referendums approved throughout Indiana since 2008.

Outside of a property-tax referendum, the funding sources are still uncertain. An intriguing possibility arose Friday, when a new nonprofit  the Terre Haute Casino Resort Foundation  announced it was actively exploring ways to fund a new VCSC high school. That commitment could span a quarter-century. The foundation, established earlier this year, received $4.2 million in funds in its first year.

The modernization will benefit Terre Haute kids, build an educated workforce and draw new residents and employers.

In the end, it may require more investment of resources than the current, relatively modest commitment. Local kids are worth the extra amount.
Good evening, everyone. Weather Specialist Nick Dunn here to take a look at what is quickly becoming a grim situation for Jamaica. The tropics this year have largely been quiet in terms of land impacts compared to recent years. That is about to change in a big way for those in Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and parts of Haiti.

As of the latest update before 8PM, Melissa is Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 miles per hour. This is an increase of 30 miles per hour from the 2:00 PM update earlier today. Of note, the movement is west at only three miles per hour. This is a bad sign over the next few days as rain and wind will hammer Jamaica for several days. Another sign the storm is quickly gaining intensity is the bright pink flare of convection in the core. This is a sign of cold cloud tops on this satellite imagery where convection is most intense.

The steering currents we look at aloft show no good signs to help drive Melissa anywhere quickly. This only compounds the issues of flooding and strong winds that will likely lead to catastrophic damage.

The latest track shows Melissa becoming a Category 5, at least briefly, Monday with winds of 160 miles per hour. Melissa is likely to make landfall Monday evening and slowly drift away by Tuesday. Should this verify, this will be the strongest hurricane to hit the island since Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, which was a Category 4 storm. Evacuations are underway for at least parts of the island.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Storm Center 7 Weather app for alerts as news breaks]

I mentioned the rain was a big concern. Check out the projected rainfall totals through Wednesday of next week. Some pockets of over 3 feet of rain are possible. For reference, that amount of rain is about what Kingston, Jamaica receives per year. The flooding concerns are heightened due to that amount of rain over a span of a few days.

[WATCH Storm Center 7 Weather on the following devices]

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The future wind gust forecast shows Category 3+ wind gusts (111+ MPH) by Monday afternoon as the storm approaches. Keep in mind, the most intense winds are generally close to the core of the storm, but hurricane force gusts (74+ MPH) can extend several hundred miles away from the center of the storm.

As a refresher, here is the Saffir-Simpson Scale that we use to rate the intensity of hurricanes.

We will continue to track this storm, but the good news is this will stay away from making landfall in the United States. Some higher waves and rip currents along the Atlantic Coast are expected, but no rain or wind impacts are expected as the storm eventually curves out to the open Atlantic.
President Trumps bid to be awarded as much as $230 million by his own Department of Justice as compensation for the various federal probes into his conduct would likely face few legal backstops if successful.

The president confirmed Tuesday that his personal legal team was seeking out a settlement, a request that could prompt his own appointees  among them his former defense attorneys  to make the determination of whether to pay up.

The unique scenario has drawn outrage from Democrats, who have called the move blatantly illegal and unconstitutional.

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But experts say theres little legal recourse if DOJ decides to settle, even as ordinary Americans are far less likely to get paid on claims like the presidents.

The New York Times first reported the possible settlements. Trump later alluded to the situation in remarks from the Oval Office.

Trump filed two claims seeking damages, according to the Times: The first, filed in late 2023, alleges various violations of his rights stemming from the FBI and special counsel investigation into Russian ties to his 2016 campaign. The second, submitted in the summer of 2024, accuses the FBI of violating his privacy by searching Mar-a-Lago for classified documents and what he deems the Justice Departments malicious prosecution.

The claims are required to kickstart the process of suing the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), the law Trump invoked, which allows damages lawsuits against the U.S. for government employees negligent acts. After six months of waiting, a claimant may sue.

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Rupa Bhattacharyya, former director of the Justice Departments Torts Branch-Civil Division, told The Hill that FTCA claims are brought every day and that it is one of the most active areas of litigation against the government.

She explained that the typical claim that settles during the administrative claim process is something like a traffic accident or medical malpractice, where its pretty clear somebody did something wrong. Such settlements arent rare, but theyre certainly not used in cases like this, she said.

I honestly cannot imagine a circumstance in which a career Justice Department person looking at that settlement would approve it, Bhattacharyya said.

For everyday people seeking compensation from the government, getting a pay-out over an administrative claim like Trumps alone is unlikely.

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Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and co-founder of West Coast Employment Lawyers, which represents plaintiffs in personal injury and civil litigation, said he has handled hundreds and hundreds of such claims and never had one be accepted.

They are denied every single time, Rahmani said.

So, you make your claim, it is denied and you file your lawsuit, he added, saying it would be shocking if Trumps settlement was approved.

Nonetheless, Trump seems poised to be paid without taking the government to court.

The president told reporters Tuesday that he hadnt discussed specifics with his attorneys but was owed a lot of money. He vowed to give it to charity.

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Its awfully strange to make a decision where I am paying myself, Trump said.

The decision would not belong to Trump himself, but instead, his subordinates at the Justice Department.

While lower-level career employees can make settlement decisions under certain dollar amounts, a high-sum compensation like the $230 million Trump is seeking would be decided by either the deputy attorney general or associate attorney general.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche was Trumps former defense attorney, and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward represented Trumps co-defendant, Walt Nauta, in the classified documents case.

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Stephen Gillers, a legal ethics scholar at NYU School of Law, said in an email that government officials who serve at the presidents discretion should not decide whether the legal fees Trump incurred while defending himself can be reimbursed.

Their interest in keeping their jobs conflicts with their obligation to their client, the United States, to make a disinterested decision, he said.

Earlier this week, Justice Department spokesperson Chad Gilmartin said officials would follow the guidance of career ethics officials. Attorney General Pam Bondi fired the departments top ethics adviser in July.

On Thursday, the top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees announced an investigation into the settlement bid.

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Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), ranking members of the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees, respectively, suggested Trump could have taken his claims to court if he believed they had merit, but instead, waited until he was president to secretly order his subordinates to approve the settlement.

They called the move a blatantly illegal and unconstitutional effort to steal $230 million from the American people, contending it violates a provision barring the president from taking payment from the federal or state governments beyond their salary.

Paul Figley, a former deputy director of the DOJs FTCA Staff in the Civil Division, suggested looking at the situation with changed facts: Imagine a helicopter flew to pick up the president at his home, and the helicopter crashed and burned the house down.

You would have the same ethical issues that youve got here. Whos going to approve the settlement? said Figley, a professor emeritus at American University and visiting professor at Villanova University.

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We can all see that theres liability and that this is something that would be within the waiver of sovereign immunity, he continued, and it would not be illegal or unconstitutional for the president to file an administrative claim and then take the money.

That the decision lies with the Justice Department is ultimately Congresss fault, Figley suggested.

Before 1948, Americans seeking compensation from the government would have to go to Congress for a special bill, he said. However, Congress hated that process, because their constituents were never satisfied, and there was no good way to determine whether money should be paid.

When Congress passed the FTCA, it turned that power over to the executive branch, which pays any settlements out of the Judgment Fund  a pot of indefinitely appropriated funds to pay court judgments and settlements in suits against the government.

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Because Congress has given the power over to the executive branch, it is an executive branch decision, Figley said.

Rahmani agreed theres no legal recourse whatsoever to challenge any decision to settle with Trump.

They can be heard politically, but legally, there is no process whatsoever for a taxpayer or a representative in Congress to challenge a bona fide settlement, Rahmani said.

And Bhattacharyya, while declining to rule it out entirely, said mounting a legal challenge to a possible settlement would be difficult, primarily because it would be hard to find a third-party plaintiff with legal standing to bring the case.

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The right person could file suit claiming the Justice Department made an arbitrary and capricious settlement decision or could potentially contend under the False Claims Act that Trump submitted false claims to DOJ and was paid.

But without standing, which requires a concrete and personal stake in a lawsuits outcome, the challenge would likely fail.

I havent come up with a great theory yet, Bhattacharyya said of whom that person might be. But Im still thinking about it.

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Malaysia rolled out the red carpet for President Donald Trumps arrival on Sunday local time. In turn, Trump celebrated his arrival in the Southeast Asian country by turning the red carpet into a dance floor in front of hundreds of onlookers.

Walking off Air Force One, Trump was greeted not just by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and numerous diplomats, but also by a large group of Malaysian dancers and drummers. As he approached the crowd, the president began dancing awkwardly, pumping his arms from side to side in what has become his signature move.

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President @realDonaldTrump dances at Malaysian arrival ceremony  pic.twitter.com/e7Zrw3L35Y  Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) October 26, 2025

Trump is in Malaysia to sign a peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, who have had a longstanding border dispute. The president will spend almost a week in Southeast Asia, attending the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) summit in Kuala Lumpur before heading to Japan and South Korea.

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Ahead of his arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Trump posted about his trip on Truth Social, sharing condolences for the Queen Mother Sirikit of Thailand, who died on Saturday at the age of 93.

Trump was greeted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim upon his arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday. / Andrew Harnik / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand. Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand, he wrote.

I will be seeing their wonderful Prime Minister when we land. In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival.

Truth Social

With fighting between Cambodia and Thailand the worst it had been in a decadeat least 38 people were killed and some 300,000 displacedTrump threatened to levy 36 percent tariffs on both countries, pausing trade negotiations until the fighting stopped.

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As a result, the countries agreed to a ceasefire, prompting Trump to dub himself the President of Peace and write in a Truth Social post, I am pleased to announce that, after the involvement of President Donald J. Trump, both Countries have reached a CEASEFIRE and PEACE. Congratulations to all! By ending this War, we have saved thousands of lives. I have instructed my Trade Team to restart negotiations on Trade.

Thai officials have avoided calling the deal a peace agreement, however, and the BBC notes that it only outlines initial steps to de-escalate the conflict, and is devoid of any formal declaration of peace.

Ahead of Trumps appearance at the ASEAN summit on Sunday, protestors demonstrated in Kuala Lumpur, bearing signs that read, Dump Trump and Make Common Sense Great Again.

Some Malaysians protested Trump's visit to their country. / Mukhriz Hazim/AFP via Getty Images

Many of the protestors held Palestinian flags and bore signs referencing Trumps relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One banner displayed by pro-Palestinian protestors read, Trump, you are not welcome in Malaysia.

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Unlike the U.S., Malaysia, a majority Muslim country, acknowledges Palestine as a sovereign state, and forbids Israeli passport holders from entering the country.

Despite support for Palestine being the official government position, more than 60 pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Trumps arrival in the city.

More than 60 pro-Palestine protestors were arrested in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Trump's visit. / Mukhriz Hazim/AFP via Getty Images

After leaving Malaysia, Trump will visit Japan, where he will meet newly-minted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and South Korea, where he is expected to attend the Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
President Trump on Saturday slapped Canada with a 10 percent tariff on top of its current rate after an advertisement lobbying against tariffs aired during the World Series.



The Canadian ad, which has angered the president, features different parts of speech former President Ronald Reagan gave in 1987 about free and fair trade when announcing his decision to impose tariffs on Japan. Critics have said the pulled sections of Reagans remarks are reordered in the ad, which was organized by the Ontario government and aired during the first game of the World Series Friday night between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.



Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didnt! Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD, the president wrote in a Saturday statement on Truth Social.



Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now. Thank you for your attention to this matter! he added.



Steel and aluminum products imported from Canada already face a 50 percent tariff. Other items face a 35 percent tariff, though goods that are covered under the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement are exempt.



The White House did not immediately respond to The Hills requests for comment regarding how the additional 10 percent tariff will be implemented.



Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday that after a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the ad will be pulled on Monday to allow trade talks to resume, but noted it would air during the first two World Series games this weekend.



When someone says lets impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like theyre doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while it works  but only for a short time, Reagan says in the advertisements opening lines.

That over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer, Reagan says next in the ad. But in his actual speech, Reagan makes this statement before the first lines used in the advertisement.



Ford has repeatedly lobbied against tariffs on Canada and threatened to cut off electricity exports to the U.S. earlier this year in an effort to combat the Trump administrations heightened rates.



Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together, Ford wrote on X Friday morning. He linked to a YouTube video of Reagans complete speech in his post.

God bless Canada and God bless the United States, he continued.



Still, Trump suggested the ad featuring Reagan was being used to influence the Supreme Courts ruling on the presidents sweeping use of tariffs.



The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canadas hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their rescue on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States, Trump wrote in the Truth Social post.



Now the United States is able to defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!), he added.



The president has signaled his intent to attend the Supreme Courts oral arguments regarding tariffs, citing the large impact the high courts ruling is likely to have on his foreign policy measures.





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President Donald Trumps extra 10% duty on Canada added fuel to the debate over his legal authority on trade, just as the Supreme Court is about to consider a challenge to his global tariffs.

In a Truth Social post on Saturday, he blasted the Ontario provincial government for not immediately taking down a TV ad that features remarks from former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.

Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now, Trump wrote.

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He didnt cite a specific law for the extra levy, and the White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

But because he is adding it to his existing Canada tariffs, the 10% presumably invokes the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

Trump also claimed the TV ad was meant to influence the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on Nov. 5 in a case disputing his ability to invoke IEEPA to justify tariffs.

Peter Harrell, a visiting scholar at Georgetowns Institute of International Economic Law, pointed out that IEEPA explicitly prohibits its use against information.

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Potential tariffs over a policy TV ad are potentially *even more* illegal than the other tariffs, given that the statute Trump is using, IEEPA, specifically provides that it cannot be used to regulate directly or indirectly any information or informational materials,' he posted on X.

The administration has used IEEPA to impose his so-called reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world as well as separate tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China over the fentanyl trade.

Canada currently faces a 35% base tariff rate, but it doesnt apply to goods that comply with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement that Trump negotiated in his first term.

Trumps lack of specifics on his new 10% Canada tariff raised key questions for Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.

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Is the new 10% tariff on imports from Canada related to the fentanyl emergency or the reciprocal trade emergency or are hurt feelings also now a national emergency? she asked on X.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Oct. 25 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Saturday said he will add a 10% tariff to Canadian goods after the airing of a controversial ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan during the World Series.

As the Toronto Blue Jays were on their way to winning the opening game by an 11-4 score over the Los Angeles Dodgers, an anti-tariffs ad featuring edited comments made by Reagan regarding his tariffs on Japanese goods.

The ad spurred Trump to follow through on an earlier threat to increase the tariff on Canadian goods exported to the United States.

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"Canada was caught red-handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagan's speech on tariffs," Trump said Saturday in a Truth Social post.

"The sole purpose of this fraud was Canada's hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their 'rescue' on tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States," the president said.

"Ronald Reagan loved tariffs for the purpose of national security and the economy, but Canada said he didn't," Trump added.

The president said Canada was supposed to immediately cease airing the ad and remove it, but "they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a fraud."

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"Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts and hostile act, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now," Trump added.

Reagan made the comments during an April 25, 1987, radio address to defend his tariff policy, but the Ontario government used and edited them without permission from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.

The Ontario ad runs for a minute and edits the former president's comments, which Trump and others have called "misleading."

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the ad's intent is to "initiate a conversation" with U.S. officials and to reach "U.S. audiences at the highest levels," CBS News reported.

The U.S. imposes a 10% tariff on Canadian energy, energy resources and potash and 35% for all other products that are not exempted by the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, according to the ReedSmith Trump 2.0 Tariff Tracker.
Colorados efforts to reintroduce gray wolves face a significant challenge after the Trump administration instructed the state to cease importing them from Canada, potentially hindering further releases this winter.

The state began releasing wolves west of the Continental Divide in 2023, after Colorado voters narrowly approved wolf reintroduction in 2020.

About 30 wolves now roam the mountainous regions of the state, with a long-term management plan aiming for 200 or more.

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However, the programme has proven unpopular in rural areas, where some wolves have attacked livestock. Now, following two winters of releases during President Joe Biden's administration, wolf opponents appear to have found support from federal officials under President Donald Trump.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik told Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis that Colorado wolves must come from Northern Rockies states, according to a recent letter posted by the Fence Post agricultural news publication.

Most of those states  including the Yellowstone region states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where wolves from Canada were reintroduced in the 1990s  have said they dont want to be part of Colorados reintroduction.

Wildlife officials released five wolves onto public land in Grand County, Colorado in 2023 (Colorado Natural Resources via AP)

That could leave Colorado in a bind this winter. The state plans to relocate 10 to 15 wolves under an agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Luke Perkins said in a statement Friday.

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The agreement was signed before the state got the October 10 letter from Nesvik, according to Perkins. He said the state "continues to evaluate all options to support this years gray wolf releases" after getting recent guidance from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Though some of Colorado's reintroduced wolves have come from Oregon, wolves released most recently have come from British Columbia.

The issue now is whether the federal agency required that wolves must only come from northern U.S. Rocky Mountain states when it designated Colorado's experimental population of reintroduced wolves.

A federal notice announcing the designation in 2023 referred to the northern Rockies region as merely the preferred and not the required source of wolves.

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Defenders of Wildlife attorney Lisa Saltzburg said in a statement that the Fish and Wildlife Service was twisting language by saying wolves can't come from Canada or Alaska.

People in Colorado should be proud of their states leadership in conservation and coexistence, and the wolf reintroduction program illustrates those values, Saltzburg said.

The Colorado governor's office and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are in touch with the Interior Department about the letter and evaluating all options to allow wolf releases this year, Gov. Jared Polis spokesperson Shelby Wieman said by email.

Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Garrett Peterson, whose voicemail said he wouldn't be available until after the government shutdown ends, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  East Timors prime minister told leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that it was a dream realized for his nation to be admitted to the bloc and an opportunity as it seeks to boost its struggling economy.

Today, history is made, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao told the other leaders as the flag of East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, was added to the other 10 on the stage at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

It was ASEAN's first expansion since the 1990s and was more than a decade in the making.

For the people of Timor Leste this is not only a dream realized, but a powerful affirmation of our journey  one marked by resilience, determination and hope, he said.

The ceremony marked the opening of ASEAN's annual summit, followed by two days of high-level engagements with key partners including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived Sunday in his first trip to Asia since returning to the White House, and was expected to sign a trade deal with Malaysia later in the day. Trump was also to take part in the signing of an agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, expanding a ceasefire that halted their border conflict earlier this year.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japans newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are among more than a dozen other leaders expected to be on hand.

ASEAN membership brings East Timor, with a GDP of around $2 billion, better access to an economic community of nations with some 680 million people and a $3.8 trillion economy.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country holds the bloc's rotating chairmanship, said East Timor's accession completes the ASEAN family, the affirming of our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.

He said ASEAN's goal was to pursue growth that is both resilient and fair, and to safeguard the welfare of generations to come.

The integration of the regions youngest and poorest nation  with just 1.4 million people  demonstrates ASEAN's inclusivity and adaptability, especially at a time of geopolitical flux, said Angeline Tan, an analyst with Malaysias Institute of Strategic & International Studies:

"As protectionism is on the rise, the expansion of ASEAN demonstrates its commitment to regionalism, openness and equal participation, she said.
US President Donald Trump will lean on the power of in-person diplomacy on the first Asia trip of his second term as he meets with old rivals, new friends and, potentially, adversaries, while looking to cut deals that could have sweeping economic and national security implications.

But Trumps love of tariffs  just like his unpredictable approach to relationships abroad  has generated uncertainty among once-solid US allies in the region, setting up a major test of whether the Art of the Deal author can deliver.

Trump arrived in Malaysia late Saturday (Sunday morning local time) for a six-day, three-country tour after having reimagined the role of the US in the world  a role hes trying to defend against the rising influence of China, in particular, around the globe.

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The America First president touts what he says are Trump-brokered ends to eight wars, including a fragile ceasefire for the Israel-Hamas conflict, and uses his tariff policy as leverage. And hes said that the conflict whose resolution has been most elusive  Russias war in Ukraine  will be on the agenda during the highest-stakes meeting of the trip, with Xi Jinping, the leader of China, with which the US is embroiled in a simmering trade war.

A worker cleans an installation with the logo of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. - Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images

In Kuala Lumpur, Trump will sign a peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, the president said Saturday. The Southeast Asian neighbors agreed to a ceasefire in July to end escalating violence on their disputed border, after Trump warned their respective leaders he would not make trade deals with them if the deadly conflict continued.

I am on my way to Malaysia, where I will sign the great Peace Deal, which I proudly brokered between Cambodia and Thailand, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump will later join key leaders at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, who will seek to deepen partnerships with the US. He will meet with Japans new, conservative prime minister in Tokyo. Trade and security are on the agenda as he meets with the South Korean president.

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But all eyes are on the expected meeting with Xi in South Korea, which has already been colored by questions of whether it will even happen. The prospect of a potential meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un  with whom he shared an infamous 2019 handshake in the Korean Peninsulas demilitarized zone  also looms over the trip.

Trumps engagements with his counterparts will be closely watched for any progress toward repairing economic ties, expanding trade and making good on investment promises  and whether he can tap into the influence of regional leaders to help expand security cooperation.

All of these leaders and countries (are) going to have been subject to US reciprocal tariffs, pressure to spend more on defense  a bit of bullying by the United States, said Victor Cha, president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, or CSIS.

But in spite of this, the reception, I think, will be positive. Everybody still wants to cut a deal with the US president, Cha noted, pointing to those nations desires for tariff relief.

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And, as with any presidential trip abroad, the stagecraft will be meticulously managed as each of Trumps hosts tries to flatter the American president with pomp and circumstance.

A critical Xi meeting

Trump and Xi met face-to-face five times during the American presidents first term, including a Mar-a-Lago welcome for Xi and a Trump trip to Beijing.

But the circumstances of their most recent in-person meeting, in June 2019 on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan, underscore the complicated relationship that persists six years later, after the Covid-19 pandemic and the administration of President Joe Biden.

At the time, the US and China were seeking a trade deal amid major tariff escalations by both countries. Though Trump and Xi described that June meeting positively, both countries continued to lash out with further tariff threats and had on-and-off negotiations.

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Trump has long heralded Xis leadership and touted a warm relationship with his counterpart, whom hes described both as a friend and extremely hard to make a deal with.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping shake hands in Beijing on November 9, 2017. - Damir Sagolj/Reuters

And Beijing is seeking some predictability from Trump, who notoriously conducts a capricious brand of diplomacy.

This time, the lead-up to their expected meeting has had plenty of twists and turns, with trade tensions reigniting recently after Beijing announced plans to restrict exports of rare earth minerals. Trump then threatened to impose tariffs starting at 130% on Chinese exports by November 1, up from the current 30% minimum rate. Trump also said hes prepared to impose export controls on what he referred to as any and all critical software to China. Beijing has signaled it would retaliate against all these actions. China has also paused purchases of American soybeans, causing a strain on US farmers.

Earlier this month, Trump threatened to call off the meeting, writing on Truth Social: I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so.

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But an optimistic Trump on Wednesday indicated hes heading into talks in dealmaking mode.

I think well make a deal. I think were going to make a deal on  the rare earth is the least of it.  I think were going to make a deal on soybeans and the farmers. I think were going to make a deal on maybe even nuclear, he told reporters in the Oval Office.

Top US and Chinese officials trade talks in Malaysia this weekend will set the stage for the presidents talks with Xi. But speaking to Fox Business before the trip, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to rule out further escalatory measures if a pause or relief on Beijings rare earths regime cant be negotiated.

Ambassador Nicholas Burns, who served in the top US diplomatic post in Beijing during the Biden administration, predicted that Trump and Xi could reach a nontraditional deal during their talks. He cast such a negotiation as a series of commitments without binding language, pointing to potential areas of agreement on TikTok, fentanyl and soybean exports.

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My best sense is that were not going to see a finished trade deal next week. Too little time, Burns said in a conversation previewing the trip with the Atlantic Council. The best we can expect, he said, is the two leaders agreeing on certain principles that their aides can follow up on.

This photo shows an aerial view of shipping containers stacked at a port in Nanjing, in eastern China's Jiangsu province, on July 6, 2025. - AFP/Getty Images

And Dr. Philip Luck, director of the CSIS economics program, tempered expectations for some of the more intractable disagreements between Washington and Beijing, suggesting that Trump and Xi will reach agreements on deescalations, rather than solving the underlying systemic issues.

But Trump is also hoping to lean on his meeting with Xi to massage another key relationship recently on the rocks.

I think he can have a big influence on Putin.  Look, hes a respected man. Hes a very strong leader of a very big country, Trump said in previewing talks about how to end the war in Ukraine.

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China has deep economic ties to Russia, and the countries leaders have shown solidarity in recent months, which raises a key test for Trump and the American influence hes trying to project around the world.

A new Japanese prime minister

Trump will also have the opportunity to meet with staunch conservative Sanae Takaichi, who became Japans first female prime minister earlier this month.

Like the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump developed a close relationship during his first term, she supports revising Japans pacifist constitution and has visited a controversial war shrine that includes the names of those convicted of war crimes during World War II  both issues that spark anger in neighboring China and South Korea. She also opposes same-sex marriage and a growing movement to allow Japanese married couples to use separate surnames.

Trump praised her as a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength in a Truth Social post after her election. But the leaders interactions  and whether they can cultivate the same warm ties Trump enjoyed with Abe  will be closely watched.

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on October 21. - Eugene Hoshiko/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

But for Trump, its not just friendship that matters  its also economic deals. Hes likely to highlight Japans commitment to invest $550 billion in the US, with Takaichis government working to finalize an initial package of purchases, according to Dr. Kristi Govella, Japan chair at CSIS.

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Trump, who made multiple trips to Japan during his first term, is also expected to be greeted by the countrys emperor, visit with US troops, meet Japanese business leaders and, according to Govella, visit with Abes widow, who spent time with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last year.

Sleepless in South Korea

Trump will also meet a new leader in South Korea, where trade and security are high priorities for talks with President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office in June after a tumultuous political moment for his country as his predecessor declared martial law.

Since then, South Korea and the US have unveiled a new trade deal, which called for 15% tariffs on goods from the country and a massive $350 billion investment in the US. The trade agreement has not gone into effect, and Trumps tariffs have placed significant strain on the South Korean economy.

US President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the Oval Office at the White House on August 25. - Brian Snyder/Reuters

The US-South Korean relationship also faced a major test in September when nearly 500 people, mostly South Korean nationals, were arrested and detained during an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant in the US state of Georgia, sparking outrage back home. Lee openly expressed concern about the future of South Korean investment in the US, saying that confusion over the visa situation for South Koreans would lead local companies to question whether they should go at all.

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But Lee has sounded optimistic ahead of his meeting with the US president.

I believe that is taking some time. And I also believe in the rationality of the United States. And so I believe that we will be able to reach a rational agreement, he told CNNs Will Ripley.

I believe that in the end, we will be able to reach a rational result that is acceptable. Because we are an alliance  and we both have common sense and rationality, he added.

Regional tensions are also at the forefront this week, with Lee eying Trumps peacemaker abilities. The presidents trip, which coincides with the APEC economic summit, comes just days after South Koreas northern neighbor offered its latest provocation, test-firing ballistic missiles  North Koreas first military show of force since Lee took office.

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I also believe that President Trump wants to achieve world peace. Thats why I have asked him to take on the role of peacemaker, Lee told CNN, saying hed welcome the possibility of a Trump-Kim meeting.

Prospects of a Kim Jong Un meeting

Trump administration officials have privately discussed setting up a meeting between the US president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during this trip, though many are skeptical it will ultimately happen, sources familiar with the matter told CNN earlier this month.

Trump has publicly and privately expressed a desire to meet his North Korean counterpart, and officials have left the door open to a meeting during the trip, even if there hasnt been any of the communications between Washington and Pyongyang that Trump at times had during his first term.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stand at the demarcation line in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas on June 30, 2019. - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

They have a lot of nuclear weapons, but not a lot of telephone service. So Im open to it. I had a great relationship with him, and he probably knows Im coming, right? But if you want to put out the word, Im open to it, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked whether hed see Kim.

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In June 2019, Trump became the first sitting US president to step into North Korea, a brief but historic moment that came together quickly after the president tweeted an invitation. The leaders met for nearly an hour at the demilitarized zone  but the meeting did not yield substantial progress, and North Korea has subsequently bolstered its nuclear weapons program.

Regional leaders

Trump is expected to meet with other key counterparts in Kuala Lumpur, including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and leaders from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries where the US is seeking to build influence.

But leaders in each nation have grappled with instability during the US presidents second term  as well as impacts from the administrations cuts to foreign aid.

CNNs Elisabeth Buchwald, Jessie Yeung, Hanako Montgomery, Will Ripley, Alayna Treene, Kylie Atwood and John Liu contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump needling the press is nothing new. But on Sunday at a summit in Malaysia, he had help from another world leader.

Speaking with journalists ahead of a private meeting at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Trump and Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva teamed up to poke fun at the assembled press. Lula kicked things off by trying to bring the questioning to a close after nine minutes.

I would like to suggest that the press would continue the interview after the meeting, Lula said, via a translator.

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Thats a good idea, I like that, Trump said, smiling.

From there, the two leaders went on to troll the reporters covering them.

We dont have much time, Lula said. And well waste time, or lose time, talking with the journalists.

Theyre not great questions today, I must say, Trump added. Theyre sort of boring questions.

The remark drew a laugh from Lula  who then waved away the press, as if swatting a fly.

The session had not been particularly contentious prior to that abrupt ending. But Trump did get testy with reporters questioning him about his defense of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Trump, in July, denounced the criminal charges against Bolsonaro  who was convicted in September in connection with plot to overturn Brazils 2022 election results. The U.S. president has called the case a WITCH HUNT.

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Ive always liked him, Trump said. I feel very badly about what happened to him. Ive always thought he was a straight-shooter. You know, hes gone through a lot.

Is it on the agenda today? A reporter asked.

Thats none of your business, Trump shot back.

Lula, for his part, rejected Trumps demand that the case be dropped.

Watch above.

The post Trump and Brazils President Team Up to Troll the Press at Summit Meeting: Theyre Not Great Questions Today first appeared on Mediaite.
President Trump on Saturday said the lack of progress toward peace between Russia and Ukraine amid their more than three-year war is very disappointing.

The president has attempted to chart a course for peace since the start of his second administration after making a pledge to end the war in a day on the campaign trail. Trump had previously planned to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming weeks, but called it off, saying he didnt want it to be a waste of time.

Im not going to be wasting my time. Ive always had a very great relationship with Vladimir Putin but this has been very disappointing. I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Malaysia on Saturday.

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We have Azerbaijan, Armenia  that was very tough. In fact, Putin told me on the phone he said, Boy, that was amazing because everybody tried to get that done and they couldnt. I got it done, he added.

Trump and his allies had advocated for him to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his intervention in international conflict. However, the implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza orchestrated by the U.S. is facing uncertainty as Hamas refuses to disarm.

Hopes of ending the conflict in Ukraine potentially took a hit after Trump imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies earlier this week.

The USA is our adversary, and their talkative peacemaker has now fully taken the path of war against Russia, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chair of the Security Council of Russia, wrote in a Telegram post.

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Of course, people will say that he could not do otherwise, that he was pressured in Congress, etc. This does not change the main point: the decisions made are an act of war against Russia. And now Trump has fully aligned himself with a mad Europe, he added.

Trump has rebuffed criticism from the Kremlin for imposing sanctions and said Russias hatred for Ukraine has posed a significant block to progress.

I could say almost any one of the deals that Ive already done I thought would have been more difficult than Russia and Ukraine but it didnt work out that way. Theres a lot of hatred between the two, Trump said on Saturday.

He later added that he would encourage Chinese President Xi Jinping to continue to pull back on Russian oil purchases in an effort to influence the end of the war in Eastern Europe.

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You probably saw today, China is cutting back substantially on the purchase of Russian oil and India is cutting back completely. And weve done sanctions, Trump told reporters.

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The Age of Trump is like a novel with an infinite number of chapters and sequels. There have been wild successes, countless setbacks and dramatic moments that have propelled the action forward. The American people are now in the part of the story where the government itself has become President Donald Trumps weapon  a tool to punish his so-called enemies. In this book, Trump is the narrator, the writer, the protagonist, the hero. And the plot, however shocking, follows a familiar script.

The presidents shifting cast of antagonists is large. Right now they include former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James and former national security adviser John Bolton  all of whom are facing indictments on various allegations. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and other prominent Democrats and critics, will likely follow by being accused of imaginary crimes, simply for attempting to hold the president to account.

There is also a longer list of de facto enemies that includes entire groups of people, institutions, organizations and even ideas that he brands as the poison in the blood of the nation he has vowed to purge. At the top are undocumented immigrants that Trump and his allies claim are destroying the American republic[and] the American people and our social cohesion.

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These individuals are not well-known. They are everyday people who have fallen on the wrong side of the friends and enemies distinction that animates Trumpism and its theater of cruelty. Almost daily, in Democratic-led cities and parts of the country like Chicago, Trumps mass deportation campaign produces harrowing scenes.

At Chicago OHare International Airport, Border Patrol agents swarmed rideshare lots in search of illegal aliens and arrested 11 people. Food vendors are hiding. Restaurants are losing money and in danger of closing because their staff are afraid to go to work. Landscapers and other laborers are also being targeted.

No place is safe. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are also violating schools, churches, courthouses and other sanctuary zones in search of people who are not violent criminals or some great threat to society. They are working-class people who are providing an essential service to their neighbors and the larger community.

In Chicago, at least 1,000 people have been arrested or otherwise de facto disappeared in what the administration has dubbed Operation Midway Blitz.

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The constitutional crisis that the Democrats, the news media, pundits and other public voices keep sounding the alarm about is not something in the future. It is here and now.

We are in a fight for America. And make no mistake, there is no guarantee that we will win, warned Craig Futterman, a law professor at the University of Chicago. Absent a rebellion or inability to execute the law with regular forces, the President may not deploy the military against American citizens. But that is exactly what President Trump has done in cities like Los Angeles and Chicago.

Our current moment is testing who we are as a nation, Futterman explained. The Rule of Law, our fundamental rights, our fundamental freedoms are under assault: freedom of speech, press, and assembly; the meaning of equal protection under the law; our right not to be harassed,arrested, or beaten because of who we are, how we look, what we believe, or what we say.

These events are taking place in the shadow of Trumps threats (and apparent plans) to invoke the Insurrection Act, declare martial law, issue executive orders and directives such as NSPM-7  which is intended to silence dissent by usurping the First Amendment  and use the military and other forces to invade and occupy Chicago, Los Angeles, Portland and other Democratic-led cities and blue parts of the country.

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In an interview last week with POLITICO, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker warned that Trumps threats of using the military against Chicago are a prelude to suspending the 2026 midterms and ending American democracy.

Im not afraid for me, he said. Im afraid for the people of Illinois and the people of the United States with the attitude of this president I think its not very far away from him offering and providing the military to protect the polling places across America, but particularly in blue states and blue cities, with the idea that they could confiscate the ballot boxes if they think there is fraud in the election.

Want more sharp takes on politics? Sign up for our free newsletter, Standing Room Only, written by Amanda Marcotte, now also a weekly show on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

Pritzkers warning has already proved prescient. On Friday evening, the Trump administration announced plans for the Justice Department to monitor polling sites in the Democratic-led states of California and New Jersey in the run-up to the Nov. 4 election. Requests for monitoring reportedly came from state GOP officials. The president, as the New York Times reported, has also named election deniers to key positions in charge of elections, including Heather Honey, who worked with Trump attorney Cleta Mitchell to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Honey now serves as the Department of Homeland Securitys deputy assistant secretary for Election Integrity.

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Trump has also threatened to have Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson put in jail for not cooperating with his mass deportation offensive in the city.

The presidents threats, according to Paul Gowder, a constitutional law specialist and professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, reveal both his strength and his weakness.

The legal standards for his use of troops rely on the premise that there is so much unrest that it is impossible to enforce the laws with normal personnel (or that theres an outright rebellion, which is just laughable), he said. But theres zero evidence that this is the case. The legal criteria for the use of troops simply do not apply, because he has ample federal civilian resources to enforce federal law, as hes demonstrating every single day.

Gowder, who is also an immigration expert, said Trumps mass deportation campaign and echoed Americas history of White on Black chattel slavery: Theres a striking parallel here to the situation that transpired in the North after the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, with the pouring of more and more resources into enforcing laws that the population opposes. There is widespread passive and peaceful resistance to ICE kidnappings in this city, for example, by private citizens who are carrying whistles to signal that they see ICE agents so that their targets can hide, and of course, the ICEBlock app and the like.

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For the average person, life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and mundane. But for those marked as enemies, their quotidian existence is one of anxiety, fear and terror. They live under the weight of a question: Am I next?

But those who believe they will be untouched by the regime  including its supporters, as well as apolitical people and those who are just trying to keep their heads down  are deluding themselves.

Trouble, to paraphrase Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, will find them too. It will be carrying its own stool, sit down in their home and refuse to leave.

Resistance in the face of such force is not futile. Futterman said he has found hope and strength in how everyday people are using their constitutional rights to push back against the Trump administrations authoritarian power grab.

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As terrifying as it is, he said, Im also proud to be living in Chicago in this time, where people have stood tall and proclaimed, Not in our city. The federal incursion into Chicago does not represent the America that so many people have fought and died for. America is alive. I lack the language to describe the courage I have witnessed in the people of Chicago. Every day, I see ordinary people coming together and putting their bodies on the line to say, I love America. This is not who we are.

The post Trumps deportation raids ensnare Chicagos everyday workers appeared first on Salon.com.
A new book claims that President Donald Trump called Vice President Mike Pence a "wimp" during their final phone call just hours before the Capitol riot occurred.

The interaction was documented by Pence in his personal notes, which are being published for the first time in an upcoming book by ABC News' Jonathan Karl titled Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America.

The note was reportedly going to be used by Special Counsel Jack Smith against Trump if the president's Capitol riot case ever went to trial.

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Trump allegedly wanted Pence to block then-incoming President Joe Bidens certification as the winner of the 2020 election. When Pence refused, he reportedly told him that he would "go down as a wimp."

According to the book, Trump and his loyalists were pushing Pence to block Biden's victory in the days leading up to the Capitol riot, but Pence says he always refused to go along with their plans.

President Donald Trump allegedly called former Vice President Mike Pence a wimp during a phone call just hours before the Capitol riot. Trump was reportedly angry that Pence would not go along with his alleged plan to steal the 2020 election (AFP via Getty Images)

In his memoir, So Help Me God, Pence recalled receiving a call from Trump at around 11 am on January 6, when the outgoing president made a final plea for Pence to get on board with the plan to block Biden.

Pence reportedly reminded Trump that they'd both taken oaths to support and defend the Constitution.

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"It doesn't take courage to break the law. It takes courage to uphold the law," Pence allegedly told Trump.

Pence reportedly again refused to help Trump and said he would certify the election results.

"If you do that, I made a big mistake 5 years ago," Trump reportedly told Pence during their final call.

The handwritten note also reportedly contains a sketch of a small angry face next to a comment, allegedly from Trump, telling Pence that he listens "to the wrong people."

Witnesses to the call on Trump's end of the phone testified to the House Select Committee on January 6 that the conversation became heated.

In his memoir, So Help Me God, Pence recalled receiving a call from Trump at around 11 am on January 6, when the outgoing president made a final plea for Pence to get on board with the plan to block Biden (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, said she heard her father use a "different tone" from the one he'd previously used with Pence.

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Smith also reportedly obtained draft notes from Trump's speech on the Ellipse on the day of the Capitol riot, which show it was changed at the last minute to focus more on Pence.

Karl argues that Smith's evidence would have been among the most damning against Trump, but the Supreme Court's July 2024 ruling on presidential immunity ultimately undercut his ability to use it.

Smith resigned in January and argued in his report to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland that, had Trump not been re-elected, he would have had enough evidence to convict Trump.

"The Department's view that the Constitution prohibits the continued indictment and prosecution of a President is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government's proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Office stands fully behind," Smith wrote to conclude the report. "Indeed, but for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial."
The United States announced finalized trade deals Sunday with two Southeast Asian nations  Cambodia and Malaysia  that contain provisions aimed against China, and further progress with two others in the region, Thailand and Vietnam.

The news came as President Donald Trump was in Malaysia for a regional leaders summit, and just days before Trump is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The fast-growing Southeast Asia region is a crucial trading partner for both China and the United States and is caught in the middle of trade tensions between the worlds two largest economies  as evidenced by some terms of the new pacts.

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"The United States is for you, committed to a free and open and thriving Indo-Pacific," Trump said during a signing ceremony, adding that the purpose of his trip is a "mission of friendship and goodwill" and to deepen economic and security ties with the region.

"We're delighted to forge richer partnerships on energy, technology, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and other industries," Trump added.

The two final deals and two framework agreements announced Sunday cover about 68 percent of approximately $475 billion in U.S. two-way trade with the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Trump threatened high tariffs on the four countries, along with others around the world, to prod them into making policy reforms to open their markets to more U.S. goods and services. In exchange for those concessions, he reduced the tariffs he threatened to impose but still will be levying duties of either 19 percent or 20 percent on the four countries.

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These landmark deals demonstrate that America can maintain tariffs to shrink the goods trade deficit while opening new markets for American farmers, ranchers, workers, and manufacturers, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement.

Trump announced in July the U.S. had reached a deal with Vietnam, the biggest U.S. trading partner in Southeast Asia, but questions quickly emerged about the agreement after the two sides failed to release a joint statement spelling out details of the pact.

The U.S.-Vietnam framework announced Sunday provides some of those details but also notes the two sides will continue to work in the coming weeks to finalize the pact.

The documents released Sunday by Greers office seem to reflect Vietnams concerns about alienating China in order to please the United States.

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According to the fact sheet, the two sides committed to strengthening cooperation towards our shared goals to enhance supply chain resilience, including addressing duty evasion and cooperating on export controls.

That vague language, most likely aimed at China, seems softer than the finalized text of the agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia.

Those new pacts, with differing details, more explicitly obligate Malaysia and Cambodia to cooperate with the United States against targeted third countries in areas like investment screening, export controls and tariff evasion.

The U.S.-Thailand framework also contains a paragraph that indicates its final terms could be similar to the U.S. pacts with Malaysia and Cambodia.

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The United States and Thailand will strengthen economic and national security cooperation to enhance supply chain resilience and innovation through complementary actions to address unfair trade practices of third parties, and cooperate on export controls, investment security, and combatting duty evasion, the U.S.-Thailand joint statement said.

Back in July, Trump hailed preliminary agreements with two other Southeast Asian nations  Indonesia and the Philippines. No additional progress on those agreements was announced Sunday. The U.S. and Indonesia have already released a joint statement outlining the key details of their framework, but not the U.S. and the Philippines.
Sri Lanka Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka responds to EU

Sri Lanka's Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka tells UK, France, to submit their own past military conduct to international inquiry

Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka responding to statements by the EU, UK and France supporting High Commissioner Navi Pillays call for an international inquiry into alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Sri Lanka, made the following remarks at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva during the General Debate today:

Mr. President,

Sri Lanka noted with some degree of amusement that the EU, the United Kingdom, Ireland and France were all cheering on the notion of an International Inquiry into allegations of human rights violations conducted by all sides, as they put it, to the Sri Lankan conflict.

So heres the deal. Sri Lanka will be prepared, I think, to regard this a little more charitably if we start from the human rights situations that precede the Sri Lankan conflict.

Let France institute an impartial independent inquiry into the millions of deaths in so called French Indo-China, and then in Algeria, including those who were submitted to electro-shock during the battle of Algiers! Let it also have an independent inquiry into the disappearance of Mehdi Ben Barka from the streets of Paris, and possible complicity of all sorts of personalities in that disappearance.

Let Great Britain and Ireland have an international inquiry into the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972 in Londonderry, where there was no fog of war unlike in the closing stages of the Sri Lankan conflict, but dead civilians were strewn on the streets of Londonderry. After two commissions of inquiry, the only result has been the promotion of every single soldier who was there on that day, and the commanding officer being given some sort of honor by her Majesty the Queen!

Now, if these countries set an example to Sri Lanka and submit their own conduct to so-called impartial or independent international inquiries of the sort that they have commended us, Sri Lanka would be ready to regard their suggestion with somewhat less contempt than it does at the moment.

Thank you.
Officials confirm lack of free beach access partially responsible for decline in tourism

Tulum, Q.R.  Governor Mara Lezama says a lack of free beach access has been acknowledged as a factor in the decline in tourism. With that, she also said that there has been significant progress in the comprehensive plan to rescue Tulum.

She made the comments after attending the second work meeting Wednesday with the Federal Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodriguez.

It was a great meeting in addition to the ones weve been having for months with Mundo Maya who have shown great openness and willingness. The truth is that theres good news, not just for Tulum, but also for what weve been doing with the Federal Ministry of Tourism, she said.

We have a comprehensive plan that we have been working on for weeks with Mundo Maya, she said without elaborating. She said to date, they have held four meetings with Mundo Maya, the company that manages the Jaguar Park.

She reported that they are making great progress concering the lack of beach access, which was one of the acknowleged issues that has influenced the decline in tourism.

Thats precisely what Wednesdays meeting was about. We have been very clear: access to beaches must be free for Mexicans and in that regard, were making significant progress, she reiterated. I note that while there is certainly progress in this area, we must move forward together, starting with beach access and infrastructure, in the order that is fundamental, she added.

Lezama acknowledged that the lack of free beach access for tourists has generated legitimate concerns and complaints. She noted that many vacation rental properties and hotels are not on the beach, leaving visitors to access the sand on their own.

However, that lack of free access has created problems. What happened? Digital platforms, hotels without beachesthe demand is very valid, she said.

She also touched on the topic of the Tulum archaeological site, which she said, recorded an increase in visitors during the first half of the year, but a decline starting in the summer.

In light of this, she said the challenge is not only to guarantee access, but also to make comprehensive progress in infrastructure, planning and regulations to address the gaps accumulated over decades and consolidate a sustainable and equitable development model for the destination.

Governor Lezama said that the details surrounding the results of their meetings will be announced later by the federal government. She said the plan will be officially presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who announced in her morning press conference the detailed report on Tulum will be within the next week.
US President Donald Trumps trip to Asia this week will demonstrate his appetite for dealmaking and personal diplomacy, analysts said.

Trump on Sunday presided over a peace ceremony between Cambodia and Thailand, following a brief conflict in July that he took credit for ending; he also signed trade deals with several Southeast Asian nations.

A meeting with Japans new conservative prime minister on Tuesday will test the countries alliance as Trump presses for Tokyo to hike military spending, ahead of talks with Chinas Xi Jinping on Thursday.

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Trump said he also wants to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un; such a summit could bolster Pyongyangs global legitimacy, even as it refuses to discuss denuclearization, experts told The Wall Street Journal.
A Republican senator has escalated his opposition to the Trump administrations war on alleged narcotics traffickers in the Caribbean Sea, which it is pursuing without congressional authorization.

Sen. Rand Paul was on Fox News Sunday, where he described the military campaign against vessels in the region as extrajudicial killings, a term which implies that he believes the entire effort to be illegal absent a mandate from Congress. He also described them as wrong.

"I would call them extrajudicial killings. This is akin to what China does, what Iran does with drug dealers, the senator claimed. They summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public. So it's wrong."

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Paul went on to point out that the Trump administration was, without constitutionally required approval from the Legislative Branch, changing the terms of engagement for narco-traffickers. What was previously a matter of law enforcement  where deadly strikes on vessels without warning would be completely prohibited  the White House was now treating the situation as a military matter, where the senator noted that people are often killed without due process of a trial and sentencing.

The drug war, or the-- crime war, has been typically something we do through law enforcement. And so far they have alleged that these people are drug dealers, [but] no one has said their name, no one said what evidence [they have], no one said whether theyre armed, said Paul.

Rand Paul spoke out against the Trump administration's 'extrajudicial' strikes (X - Fox News Sunday)

The U.S. military announced its latest public strike in the continuing campaign early Friday, bringing the total acknowledged death toll to 43. Two survivors were repatriated to their respective home countries instead of being brought to the U.S. for trial after their capture by military forces. In his interview, the senator exclaimed that the Trump administrations strategy didnt make sense.

Apart from Paul, only one other Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski, has come out against the strikes being carried out without congressional approval. The president, at a meeting of his advisers on Thursday, told reporters: I dont think were necessarily going to ask for a declaration of war. I think were just gonna kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. Were going to kill them. Theyre going to be, like, dead.

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While I commend the administrations concerted efforts to address the devastation of drug trafficking on communities across the country, I do not believe the information I have received justifies this interpretation of the Presidents Article II powers, Murkowski said this past week.

I take very seriously my Article I responsibility when it comes to Congresss power to declare war. I dont think that full information on the legal and factual justification for armed attacks on suspected drug traffickers is too much to ask, the senator continued.

Democrats are increasingly vocalizing their own resistance, though they lack the numbers to use legislative means to block the White House. The party also remains deadlocked with the administration and their Republican counterparts over a government shutdown, which is now in its 25th day.

Its very simple, Sen. Ruben Gallego said Sunday on Meet the Press on NBC. If this president feels that theyre doing something illegally, then he should be using the Coast Guard. If theres an act of war, then you use our military, and then you come and talk to us first. But this is murder.

Lisa Murkowski is the only Republican remaining in line with Paul in opposition to the administrations unapproved strikes on alleged drug traffickers (Getty Images)

Paul is the Senates strongest libertarian voice and was a top opponent of former President Barack Obamas drone campaign. He led a Senate filibuster against an Obama nominee in 2013, demanding a promise from the administration that it would not authorize deadly force against an American on U.S. soil without due process. During the Obama administration, four American citizens were killed in targeted drone strikes overseas during the War on Terror, with just one being an intended target of the strikes.

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At the time, Paul had many supposed allies in the Senate GOP caucus, like Ted Cruz, who did not accept a vow from Attorney General Eric Holder to use law enforcement means instead of military strikes when the former is deemed capable of handling a terrorist threat.

Now, that same justification is being used by the Trump administration to extend a military campaign in the Americas, as it has reclassified drug cartels as terrorist groups and sought to instigate regime change in Venezuela, which it alleges is controlled by a cartel. And as Paul pointed out, the identities of the 43 people killed in U.S. strikes over the past several weeks have not been released to Congress or the public, making it unclear if any Americans were among the targets.

Republicans in the House and Senate, with few exceptions, are in lockstep with the president.

You continue to ship substances up here that are killing Americans, we're going to deal with it as a national security threat, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in September.
"Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly," US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday night.

Hamas must do more to return the remains of hostages still in the Gaza Strip, US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Saturday night.

"Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly," he wrote.

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If they do not, then "the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action," he warned.

"Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, Both sides would be treated fairly, that only applies if they comply with their obligations," he added.

"Lets see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely," he affirmed.

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump meets with members of the media aboard Air Force One this week. (credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

Trump: 'Very strong peace in Middle East'

"We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING," he stated.

The Israeli government approved Cairos request to allow the entry of Egyptian equipment and personnel to assist as part of the efforts to locate and retrieve remains of slain hostages, an Israeli security official told The Jerusalem Post on Saturday evening.

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The team and equipment have entered the Gaza Strip. Israel was preparing for the possibility that Hamas would release the remains of two more hostages soon, Army Radio and N12 News reported earlier, each citing an Israeli source.

On Friday, there were indications that Hamas was also preparing to return remains; however, the terror group did not.

Trump said that Qatar would send peacekeeping troops to Gaza if needed while sitting next to the prime minister and emir of Qatar during a Saturday meeting.

This should be an enduring peace, Trump told reporters when asked about the situation in Gaza. He added that efforts to stabilize Gaza were advancing, and he praised the Gulf nation as a great ally and key player in regional stability.

He added that "what we've done is incredible - peace in the Middle East."

Amichai Stein and Reuters contributed to this report.
A former advisor to President Donald Trump hypothesized that there may be a surprise meeting between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Trump begins his Asian tour.

Well, itsalways expect the unexpected with Donald Trump, right? And so theres not a meeting scheduled, KT McFarland, a former deputy national security advisor for Trump, told Newsmax Saturday.

But President Trump had had an outreach meeting with the North Korean president during his first term, McFarland, a former Fox News host, added.

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And it was very successful because, as a result of that meeting, the North Koreans stopped testing nuclear weapons. They stopped testing missiles.

McFarland continued: So he was able to really buy the good faith of the North Koreans as a result of that meeting.

There may be a surprise meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a former Trump advisor says. The last time the two leaders met was during Trumps first term as president in 2019 (Getty Images)

Maybe President Trump is going to do that again, she added.

The 79-year-old president arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and oversaw a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said would save millions of lives.

The five-day tour of Asia, which includes stops in Japan and South Korea, will culminate in a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to de-escalate the ongoing trade war.

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The only meeting more consequential could be between Trump and the North Korean leader.

Before the trip, Trump seemed to indicate that he was ready to sit down with Kim, telling reporters on Air Force One, I would if you want to put out the word. Im open to it.

I had a great relationship with him, Trump added.

McFarland previously worked as a Fox News host before serving as an advisor to Trump during his first term as president (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

If the meeting were to take place, it would mark the first time the two world leaders have met since 2019, when they met at the Korean border village of Panmunjom. The two leaders met three times during Trumps first term as president.

While there has been no official confirmation of a meeting between Trump and Kim, many have speculated that one would take place after South Korea's unification minister, Chung Dong Young, told lawmakers this month that it was possible they could meet in the Demilitarized Zone.

The new liberal South Korean government has repeatedly urged Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with Kim.
US President Donald Trump made an unplanned stop in Qatar on his way to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, meeting with the countrys Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani aboard Air Force One.

The brief encounter, held during a refuelling stop at Al Udeid Air Base, drew regional and international attention as leaders discussed ongoing peace efforts in Gaza.

Trump and Qatari leaders focused on the recent Israel-Hamas hostage deal and broader efforts to maintain stability in Gaza, where Qatar has acted as a mediator in coordination with international partners.

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Sheikh Tamim welcomed the US president warmly, saying that, because he was in Qatar, he wanted to greet him personally.

"As soon as I found out that he's coming to refuel, I said I wouldnt allow him to take off without saying hello. So thank you very much, Mr President, and it is always good to see you".

Trump praised the emir, calling him "one of the great rulers of the world, not just the Middle East," and thanked both leaders for their role in regional peace. "What we've done is incredible. Peace to the Middle East. And they were a very big factor in it. You have a safe Middle East right now, and you're going to keep it that way for a long time. For a very long time," he said.

The emir noted it was the first time he had joined a visiting world leader aboard a plane for a refuelling stop, responding simply, "Never, first time".

US President Donald Trump, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. - Doha, Qatar, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Trump also highlighted the historic nature of the recent agreements, declaring, "You're going to have peace in the Middle East. This is real peace. It's never happened before."

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"Three thousand years it's never happened. And great respect when he came to the airport, came onto the plane. That's never happened either. And he's a highly respected man".

After leaving Qatar and speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump reflected more broadly on the peace efforts.

"We talked about peace. We have peace in the Middle East. That's what we have. Great peace in the Middle East. He thinks it's enduring. He's never seen anything like it. And very happy that I got involved. And he helped and we had a lot of help," the US president stated.

"We have 59 countries. We have a lot of countries that are signed on. It's just, this should be an enduring peace".

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The discussions also highlighted the ongoing diplomatic engagement between the US and Qatar. Officials said the talks underscored Qatars continued role as a mediator in the Middle East and the international cooperation required to support the ceasefire and the recent hostage arrangements.

The stop in Doha comes as Trump embarks on his first Asian tour of the term, focused on trade, investment and diplomacy.
President Trump on Sunday attended a ceremony to formalize a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia to put to rest a border dispute, giving the president a platform to bolster his image as a global peacemaker.

On behalf of the U.S., Im proud to help settle this conflict and forge a future for the region, Trump said at the ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was attending meetings for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

Trump was joined by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for the event, which formalized an agreement the U.S. president helped broker earlier this year. Malaysia also played a central role in mediating the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia.

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The agreement covers issues that include withdrawing heavy weapons from the border of the two countries and new guidelines to address accusations of encroachment at the boundary. The agreement also calls for Thailand to release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers.

Trump has bragged about settling the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as one of several clashes he takes credit for ending, though other regional mediators have often been involved. Trump has pointed to his role in helping to end strife between India and Pakistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Israel and Iran and others.

We did something that a lot of people said couldnt be done, Trump said Sunday, calling it a momentous day for South East Asia.

The Cambodian prime minister said he would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, something the country had said it would do in August.

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The peace signing ceremony kicked off what is expected to be a packed week in Asia for Trump that will largely focus on trade talks and economic deals.

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Riviera Maya hotel lobby under maintenance collapses in mid-work

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Playa del Carmen firemen attended to the report of a roof collapse Saturday at a Riviera Maya hotel. Firemen and Civil Protection were at the scene of the collapse Saturday afternoon at Barcelo Maya Riviera.

Shortly after construction workers left for the day, part of the roof they were working on fell to the ground.

The collapsed section is reported to be a part of the hotels lobby that was undergoing maintenance. Officials did not say what that maintenance was.

According to available information, the part that collapsed was a 15 by 40 meter section of the hotel. The collapse happened around 5:00 p.m., a few hours after the construction workers had left for the weekend.

No injuries were reported.

Authorities arrived to survey the scene of the collapse and assess the high-risk areas to be closed off. Inspectors have not said what caused the collapse.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Asia, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

If you dont support yourself, who will?

That appeared to be President Donald Trumps motto on Sunday night, with the commander-in-chief posting a picture of himself to Truth Social that included an Instagram-like caption that sang his praises for working like a dog for no money in order to save a Country that doesnt appreciate his sacrifice!

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The picture was of Trump walking, looking a bit tired and glum, on the White House lawn. He is clutching a red Make America Great Again hat in one hand and has a red tie that is undone around his neck.

Its exact caption reads: I want to thank Donald Trump for working like a dog for no money to save a Country that doesnt appreciate his sacrifice! Thank you Mr President!

Trump added the following line atop the image: Thank you. Big progress for America being made!

It is unclear who originally posted the picture or where Trump got it from.

The pat-on-the-back comes amid another busy week for the president.

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Trump increased the tariff on Canada by another 10% on Saturday, after he was upset about a TV ad the Government of Ontario ran, where ex-President Ronald Reagan said tariffs hurt every American worker and consumer. The president said it was a fraudulent ad and that Canada was caught, red handed editing the initial clip of Reagan, which was taken from a 1987 speech.

He has also been busy talking about the new $300 million ballroom that is replacing the East Wing of the White House, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday said Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have the framework for a trade deal in place. Trump is expected to meet with Xi at a summit in South Korea later this week.

You can check out the image Trump reposted of himself above, courtesy of his Truth Social account.

The post Trump Posts Picture Thanking Himself for Saving Country That Doesnt Appreciate Him first appeared on Mediaite.
Following border disputes last year, Thailand and Cambodia have signed a ceasefire agreement presided by US president Donald Trump, who has called the event 'historic.'

Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners and Cambodia will begin withdrawing heavy artillery as part of the first phase of the deal. Regional observers will monitor the situation to ensure fighting doesn't restart.

We did something that a lot of people said couldnt be done," Trump said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a historic day, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement creates the building blocks for a lasting peace.

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The ceremony was Trump's first event after arriving at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, hosted in Kuala Lumpur. The trip, which will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is an opportunity for Trump to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker at a time when his tariffs have scrambled the international economy and he's feuding with Democrats over a government shutdown back home.

Trump touched down in the Malaysian capital shortly before 0200 GMT, where he performed his trademark campaign trail dance with local performers and waved an American flag in one hand and a Malaysian flag in the other.

The president signed economic agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, some of them aimed at increasing trade involving critical minerals. The US wants to rely less on China, which has limited exports of key components in technology manufacturing.

Its very important that we cooperate as willing partners with each other to ensure that we can have smooth supply chains, secure supply chains, for the quality of life, for our people and security, said US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Trump reengages with a key region of the world

The president attended this summit only once during his first term, and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed unfamiliar with ASEAN during his confirmation hearing in January.

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But this year's event was a chance for Trump to reengage with a collection of nations that has a combined $3.8 trillion economy and 680 million people.

The United States is with you 100%, and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come," Trump said. He described his counterparts as spectacular leaders and said, everything you touch turns to gold.

The summit also allowed Trump to play global peacemaker with Thailand and Cambodia, which have competing territorial claims that result in periodic violence along their border. Some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries took place over five days in July, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands of people, some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries.

Trump threatened, at the time, to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped in a display of economic leverage credited with spurring negotiations. A shaky truce has persisted since then.

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The fact that Trump was holding the tariff card was actually very, very significant, said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penhs Future Forum think tank. Thats probably the main reason, if not the only reason, but definitely the main reason why the two sides agreed immediately to the ceasefire.

Now, he said, theres a ceremony for Trump to be in front of cameras so he can be seen as the champion that brings an end to wars and conflicts, giving him more ammunition for his bid for Nobel Peace Prize.

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Trump has explicitly campaigned for the honour, continuously adding to a list of conflicts that he either helped resolve or claims to have ended.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during opening remarks at the summit, saying, "it reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage.

Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura described the deal on Saturday as a joint declaration that will show Thailand and Cambodia are committed to renewing their relations.

Its not an end in itself, Nikorndej said. Work has just begun.

Tariffs are in focus on Trump's trip

Trump is expected to sit down with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva while he's in Kuala Lumpur, but not Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The U.S. leader is angry with Canada because of a television ad protesting his tariffs, and on his way to the summit, announced on social media he would hike tariffs on Canada because of it.

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Another trade war is front and centre on Trump's trip  this one, with China. Trump told reporters travelling with him on Air Force One that he was optimistic his meeting with Xi, expected to take place in South Korea, could yield progress on a range of issues. Fentanyl trafficking and soybean sales are among Trump's priorities.

I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal, Trump said. I want our farmers to be taken care of. And he wants things also.

It remains to be seen whether Trumps dealmaking addresses longstanding issues or puts them off for another day.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Sunday that Washington and Beijing could step back from their confrontation instead of pushing forward with higher tariffs by America and export restrictions on rare earth elements by China.

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When asked if the two countries could extend the trade truce from earlier this year, Bessent said: I would say yes." However, he emphasized that the final decision would be up to Trump.

Trump has expressed confidence about the prospect of finalizing trade agreements with Japan and South Korea, two longstanding allies and trading partners, during the trip.

We have deals with a lot of people and theyre very good deals," he told reporters travelling with him on Air Force One.

One leader who was absent from the summit in Kuala Lumpur is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although he was close with Trump during his first term, the relationship has been more tense lately. Trump caused irritation by boasting that he settled a recent conflict between India and Pakistan, and he has increased tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil.
President Trump on Sunday signed a flurry of trade agreements and deals outlining cooperation on critical minerals with key Asian partners as he kicked off his trip to Asia.

Trump arrived in Malaysia, where he is attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and oversaw a peace agreement signing between Cambodia and Thailand. Following that signing, Trump inked trade agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia.

As part of the agreements, the U.S. would leave in place a 19 percent tariff on imports from all three countries. Cambodia said it would drop tariff barriers on all U.S. goods, while a memorandum of understanding with Thailand said the country would eliminate tariff barriers on 99 percent of American products.

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The agreements call for all three countries to work toward eliminating non-tariff barriers.

These landmark deals demonstrate that America can maintain tariffs to shrink the goods trade deficit while opening new markets for American farmers, ranchers, workers, and manufacturers, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. I thank my counterparts from Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam for their collaboration and commitment in achieving a more balanced trade relationship with the United States.

In addition to the trade deals, the U.S. signed agreements with all three countries outlining cooperation on the processing and exports of critical minerals, which are used in electronics and day-to-day products. Access to critical minerals has re-entered the spotlight after China earlier this month said it was tightening control on exports of the materials.

Malaysia agreed not to impose quotas on exports of critical minerals to the U.S. as part of their agreement.

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Trade deals are expected to be a major component of Trumps week-long trip to Asia. The president spoke Sunday while in Malaysia with the president of Brazil about tariffs and trade. He is expected to discuss the issue with the prime minister of Japan and with leaders from South Korea.

And trade will be at the center of a meeting later in the week between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made it clear how excited his boss is about saving TikTok.

During an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Bessent, 63, told Margaret Brennan that Donald Trump is finalizing a deal with President Xi Jinping to keep the Chinese-owned social media platform operating in the United States.

And he did so using an eyebrow-raising choice of words.

Margaret, we reached a final deal on TikTok, Bessent began.

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We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump reached a

TikTok has long been at the center of national security concerns. In April 2024, Congress passed a bipartisan bill to ban the app in the U.S. unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sold it to an American company.

In December, then president-elect Trump asked the Supreme Court to delay the enforcement of the ban until one day before his second inauguration, temporarily taking the app offline for U.S. users on January 18. The following day, Trump signed an executive order granting TikTok a 90-day reprieve.

Trump is scheduled to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, the White House confirmed last week. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

Trump is scheduled to meet Xi on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea, the White House confirmed last week. The high-stakes trade talks come as both leaders attempt to avoid further escalation in the ongoing trade war between the worlds two largest economies.

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Trump has also vowed to confront Xi over Beijings refusal to buy American soybeans, which has put the squeeze on farmers in MAGA heartland.

China has historically been a top buyer of U.S. soybeans. But Trumps tariffs led the country to place a retaliatory tariff on the U.S, with Beijing now increasingly turning to South America for its produce.

Bessent also broached this topic on CBS Sunday, telling Brennan an overarching deal is coming.

Margaret, Im not going to give you the details here, but I can tell you that the soybean farmers are going to be extremely happy with this deal for this year and for the coming years, he said.
President Trump is testing pressure points within the GOP with a series of particularly bold moves that have shown just where some Republicans are willing to draw a line on certain issues.

Farm state Republicans have expressed concern about Trumps idea to import beef from Argentina as U.S. cattle ranchers face economic headwinds.

Meanwhile, New York Republicans pushed back on the decision to pardon disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.), who was serving time in prison on fraud charges. And others in the presidents party have expressed unease with Trumps talk of a massive financial settlement with his own Justice Department stemming from past investigations into his conduct.

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Trump and Republicans have largely been united on their messaging around the government shutdown, arguing any negotiations with Democrats will only happen after the government is reopened. The presidents approval rating has actually ticked up slightly during the shutdown as it nears one month.

But at the same time, Trump is also putting Republicans in uncomfortable positions, including through his sidelining of a deferential GOP majority in Congress to implement much of his agenda

This is not the Republican Party, this is the Trump Party, said Matt Terrill, a GOP strategist and managing partner at Firehouse Strategies.

Youre seeing a few Republicans out there weigh in and have views. Youre going to see that. Thats not uncommon, but nothing has changed here, he added. Nothing has changed the fact that this is Trumps party.

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The biggest break between Trump and typically supportive GOP lawmakers came this week when the president told reporters aboard Air Force One he was looking to import beef from Argentina.

The idea prompted pushback from typically quiet or supportive lawmakers, who argued it would hurt American cattle ranchers and do little to drive down prices.

This isnt the way to do it, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said of Trumps idea. Its created a lot of uncertainty in that market. So Im hoping that the White House has gotten the message.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) posted on social media that she had expressed her deep concerns to the administration about importing beef from Argentina.

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Bottom line: if the goal is addressing beef prices at the grocery store, this isnt the way, Fischer said. Right now, government intervention in the beef market will hurt our cattle ranchers.

Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) also publicly pushed back on Trumps proposal. And the National Cattlemens Beef Association warned the government was undercutting them.

Trump and the White House appeared unmoved. Trump posted on social media calling on cattle ranchers to lower their prices while defending his implementation of tariffs. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt argued increasing the beef supply would help drive prices down, a sign Trump was not backing off the idea of importing from Argentina.

While the beef imports marked a major policy disagreement, some Republicans have also pushed back on Trumps personal and personnel decisions in recent days.

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Some GOP senators were uneasy about Trump reportedly demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) pay him $230 million in compensation in connection to investigations into his conduct during previous administrations. Trump himself confirmed he was seeking money but said he did not know the exact figure.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is retiring at the end of his term, said Wednesday that the political optics of Trump receiving a windfall payment from the DOJ raise concerns, particularly during the shutdown, which has forced federal workers to go without pay.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called the arrangement very irregular.

While GOP senators have mostly been deferential to Trump on his nominees, confirming controversial Cabinet picks such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., enough Republicans took issue with racist comments made by Paul Ingrassia that he was forced to withdraw his nomination this week to be the head of the Office of Special Counsel.

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In the House, Trumps decision to pardon Santos, the former New York Republican congressman who was convicted on fraud charges, struck a nerve with some New York Republicans who are likely to face tough reelection bids in the midterms in swing districts.

George Santos is a convicted con artist. That will forever be his legacy, and I disagree with the commutation, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) said in a statement.

George Santos didnt merely lie  he stole millions, defrauded an election, and his crimes (for which he pled guilty) warrant more than a three-month sentence, Rep. Nick LaLota posted on the social platform X. He should devote the rest of his life to demonstrating remorse and making restitution to those he wronged.

Republican strategists and Trump allies argued the breaking points are a reflection of both where lawmakers feel they need to draw the line with the president, and how best to do so.

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If you have a problem with Trump, before you run out on TV and bad-mouth Trump, you go behind closed doors and address your concerns, said one source close to the White House. At that point, you can go on there, so long as it relates specifically to the crowd that you need to get reelected.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wants everyone to know he isnt just another Washington, D.C., bean counter.

Talking about Chinas decision to halt its purchase of American soybeans amid the nations ongoing trade war, the secretary had a curious way of describing his personal stake in the agricultural industry.

Politics: UFC Fighter Who Vowed To Take A Bullet For Trump Has Revelation

Martha, in case you dont know it, Im actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too, he said on ABCs This Week on Sunday, also adding that President Donald Trump is on the brink of a deal with Beijing that will make farmers happy.

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As the largest importer of American soybeans, China typically purchases an estimated $13 billion of the crop each year. That number has dropped to nearly zero amid global trade tensions.

Bessent on American farmers being hurt by tariffs: "Martha, in case you don't know it, I'm actually a soybean farmer, so I have felt this pain too." pic.twitter.com/D0WPgw9YQ0  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 26, 2025

Bessent, who is worth an estimated $500 million, owns $25 million worth of corn and soybean farmland in North Dakota, so while the trade dispute is certainly impacting his bottom line, its not like hes getting his hands dirty.

Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping next Thursday in South Korea during the last leg of an envoy to Asia.

During a separate interview on NBC on Sunday, Bessent told anchor Kristen Welker that the leaders have the framework for a deal to get trade between the worlds two largest economies back on track.

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Donald Trump is reportedly charging ahead with his administrations campaign of indiscriminate bombings in the Caribbean Sea by leveraging a two-part hack to the system of checks and balances on his power as president.

The irreversible gravity of killing, coupled with the lack of a substantive legal justification, is bringing into sharper view a structural weakness of law as a check on the American presidency, according to a new report from the New York Times.

Beginning in early September, the White House has initiated a rabid military campaign in waters off the southern coast of the United States. Its stated goal: combating international drug traffickers with targeted attacks against vessels allegedly operated by Latin American cartels, such as Venezuelas Tren de Aragua.

Trump has spoken and tweeted with abandon about his ongoing military campaign in the Caribbean Sea. / @realDonaldTrump/TruthSocial

To date, the MAGA administration has carried out at least 10 airstrikes on what they claim are drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in 43 deaths. These bombardments have been accompanied by escalating rhetoric against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who Trump recently accused of being involved in narcotrafficking.

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In its report, the NYT argues Trump has weaponized two tactics in order to outwardly legitimize his attacks. The first was laid bare in a February executive order, in which the MAGA leader proclaimed the President and the Attorney Generals opinions on questions of law are controlling on all employees in the conduct of their official duties. This, the newspaper contends, effectively amounted to telling White House lawyers they were in no position to question the legal rationale behind Trumps actions.

The second tactic pertains to the president having perceivably decided that the factual and legal scenarios are already in play for him to legitimately exercise powers ordinarily reserved for times of war. Trump doing this against targets who are only suspected, rather than convicted, of involvement in international drug trafficking operations.

The president has also publicly admitted greenlighting covert CIA operations in Venezuela. / JUAN BARRETO / Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images

The two tactics combined create a gigantic loophole, as the NYT puts it. Mr. Trump is able to dictate his own factual and legal realities, and executive branch lawyers who want to keep their jobs must treat them as settled.

By asserting that he can have the military kill people suspected of drug trafficking as if they are enemy soldiers on a battlefield, Mr Trump is blurring a line between enforcing the law and waging a war, the newspaper adds.

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Previous administrations have proven themselves at pains to develop robust legal justifications for aggressive policies slammed by critics as potential violations of domestic and international law. At the Trump White House, officials routinely cite only U.S. deaths from drug overdoses and the fact the president has determined the country is at war with drug cartels, according to NYT sources familiar with recent closed-door congressional briefings.

Trump himself has also spoken and posted with abandon about his ongoing campaign in the Caribbean, boasting of how it is violent and it is very its amazing, the weaponry and even of greenlighting covert CIA ops in Venezuela.

Nixon tried to keep his criminality secret, and the Bush administration tried to keep the torture secret, and that secrecy acknowledged the norm that these things were wrong, Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law School professor who formerly served as a DOJ lawyer under George W. Bush, said. Trump, as he often does when he is breaking law or norms, is acting publicly and without shame or unease. This is a very successful way to destroy the efficacy of law and norms.

The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment on this story. A spokesperson told the NYT that Trump is merely fulfilling his campaign promise of consequences for cartels whose operations have resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans, and asserted that his unprecedented action would only continue.

All of these decisive strikes have been against designated narcoterrorists, as affirmed by U.S. intelligence, bringing deadly poison to our shores, and the president will continue to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice, the spokesperson added.
Sparking transformer leaves section of Isla Mujeres without electricity

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  A short circuit on a CFE power pole on the island left a section without electricity Saturday night. Personnel from the Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) were made aware of the sparking transformer that required repair to restore power.

The burned out transformer also caused a road closure while CFE made the necessary repairs. The transformer began to spark Saturday evening due to a short circuit, Isla Mujeres City Hall said.

The incident caused Avenida Prolongacion Rueda Medina to be closed and several neighborhoods to be in the dark while work was underway.

Notice of complete road closure! We inform you that due to work being carried out by the CFE to repair a transformer that short-circuited, Avenida Prolongacion Rueda Medina (from Ultracarga to the Secondary School) will be closed for the next few hours in both lanes. Therefore, we ask that you take precautions and use the Perimetral Oriente highway.

The CFE is already working to restore electricity service to the affected neighborhoods. We will remain vigilant and our emergency services will be active and available to the community, City Hall reported.

According to Ayuntamiento de Isla Mujeres, power was fully restored late Saturday night.

Residents of the island, we inform you that Avenida Prolongacion Rueda Medina is now open in both lanes. Likewise, the CFE informs us that electricity service has been 100% restored, Ayuntamiento de Isla Mujeres reported.

The cause for the power outage was a short circuit in an island transformer. Residents in the effected neighborhoods were without electricity for several hours until the CFE made the necessary repairs.
For most of President Donald Trump's second term, Republicans have bent to his will. But in two Midwestern states, Trump's plan to maintain control of the U.S. House in next years election by having Republicans redraw congressional districts has hit a roadblock.

Despite weeks of campaigning by the White House, Republicans in Indiana and Kansas say their party doesn't have enough votes to pass new, more GOP-friendly maps. It's made the two states outliers in the rush to redistrict  places where Republican-majority legislatures are unwilling or unable to heed Trump's call and help preserve the partys control on Capitol Hill.

Lawmakers in the two states still may be persuaded, and the White House push, which has included an Oval Office meeting for Indiana lawmakers and two trips to Indianapolis by Vice President JD Vance, is expected to continue. But for now, it's a rare setback for the president and his efforts to maintain a compliant GOP-held Congress after the 2026 midterms.

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Typically, states redraw the boundaries of their congressional districts every 10 years, based on census data. But because midterm elections typically tend to favor the party not in power, Trump is pressuring Republicans to devise new maps that favor the GOP.

Democrats only need to gain three seats to flip House control, and the fight has become a bruising back-and-forth.

With new maps of their own, multiple Democratic states are moving to counter any gains made by Republicans. The latest, Virginia, is expected to take up the issue in a special session starting Monday.

Hoosier state hesitates

Indiana, whose House delegation has seven Republicans and two Democrats, was one of the first states on which the Trump administration focused its redistricting efforts this summer.

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But a spokesperson for state Senate Leader Rodric Brays office said Thursday that the chamber lacks the votes to redistrict. With only 10 Democrats in the 50-member Senate, that means more than a dozen of the 40 Republicans oppose the idea.

Bray's office did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

The holdouts may come from a few schools of thought. New political lines, if poorly executed, could make solidly Republican districts more competitive. Others believe it is simply wrong to stack the deck.

We are being asked to create a new culture in which it would be normal for a political party to select new voters, not once a decade  but any time it fears the consequences of an approaching election, state Sen. Spencer Deery, a Republican, said in a statement in August.

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Deerys office did not respond to a request for an interview and said the statement stands.

A common argument in favor of new maps is that Democratic-run states such as Massachusetts have no Republican representatives while Illinois has used redistricting for partisan advantage  a process known as gerrymandering.

For decades, Democrat states have gerrymandered in the dark of the night, Republican state Sen. Chris Garten said on social media. We can no longer sit idly by as our country is stolen from us.

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who would vote to break a tie in the state Senate if needed, recently called on lawmakers to forge ahead with redistricting and criticized then for not being sufficiently conservative.

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For years, it has been said accurately that the Indiana Senate is where conservative ideas from the House go to die, Beckwith said in a social media post.

Indiana is staunchly conservative, but its Republicans tend to foster a deliberate temperance.

Hoosiers, its very tough to to predict us, other than to say were very cautious," former GOP state lawmaker Mike Murphy said. Were not into trends.

The squeamishness reflects a certain independent streak held by voters in both states and a willingness by some to push back.

Writing in The Washington Post last week, former Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, urged Indiana lawmakers to resist the push to redistrict. "Someone has to lead in climbing out of the mudhole, he said.

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Hoosiers, like most Americans, place a high value on fairness and react badly to its naked violation, he wrote.

In Kansas, Republicans also struggle to find votes

In Kansas, Republican legislative leaders are trying to bypass the Democratic governor and force a special session for only the second time in the states 164-year history. Gov. Laura Kelly opposes mid-decade redistricting and has suggested it could be unconstitutional.

The Kansas Constitution allows GOP lawmakers to force a special session with a petition signed by two-thirds of both chambers  also the supermajorities needed to override Kelly's expected veto of a new map. Republicans hold four more seats than the two-thirds majority in both the state Senate and House. In either, a defection of five Republicans would sink the effort.

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Weeks after state Senate President Ty Masterson announced the push for a special session, GOP leaders were struggling to get the last few signatures needed.

Among the holdouts is Rep. Mark Schreiber, who represents a district southwest of Topeka,. He told The Associated Press that "did not sign a petition to call a special session, and I have no plans to sign one. Schreiber said he believes redistricting should be used only to reflect shifts in population after the once-every-10-year census.

Redistricting by either party in midcycle should not be done, he said.

Republicans would likely target U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the Democrat representing the mostly Kansas City area 3rd Congressional District, which includes Johnson County, the states most populous. The suburban county accounts for more than 85% of the vote and has trended to the left since 2016.

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Kansas has a sizable number of moderate Republicans, and 29% of the state's 2 million voters are registered as politically unaffiliated. Both groups are prominent in Johnson County.

Republican legislators previously tried to hurt Davids chances of reelection when redrawing the district, but she won in 2022 and 2024 by more than 10 percentage points.

They tried it once and couldnt get it done, said Jack Shearer, an 82-year-old registered Republican from suburban Kansas City.

But a mid-decade redistricting has support among some Republicans in the county. State Sen. Doug Shane, whose district includes part of the county, said he believes his constituents would be amenable to splitting it.

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Splitting counties is not unprecedented and occurs in a number of congressional districts around the country, he said in an email.

__

Volmert reported from Lansing, Mich., and Hanna from Topeka, Kan. Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth in Lenexa, Kan., contributed to this report.
Three Turkish nationals were charged in Nazareth with plotting to smuggle pistols from Iran into Israel through Jordan, including one accused of aiding terror.

Israels State Attorneys Office filed an indictment on Sunday against three Turkish citizens accused of attempting to smuggle firearms into Israel from Iran.

The indictment, filed in the Nazareth District Court, outlines a multi-year scheme by Rahman Gokair, Yunus Ozal, and Oktay Asci involving illegal entry, weapons smuggling, and coordination with foreign arms dealers.

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Asci and Gokair were arrested after infiltrating Israel near Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan from Jordan in September. Asci was also charged with providing means for terrorist purposes. Ozal was already in Israel at the time.

According to the indictment, In September 2025, the defendants Rahman (Gokair) and Oktay (Asci) agreed with others to infiltrate Israel through Jordan. They flew from Turkey to Saudi Arabia, and from there to Jordan, and agreed to smuggle three pistols. Following a dispute, the pistols were not imported. Ultimately, they entered Israel without the weapons.

Asci had spent nearly two and a half years in Israel without a work visa, entering in early 2023 and being deported in July 2025. Before his deportation, he proposed that Gokair join a gun smuggling network working with an Iranian arms dealer.

Weapons uncovered in the West Bank as part of a smuggling operation from Iran into the West Bank, November 27, 2024. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Smuggling using workers crossing the border

The plan was to transport the guns to Jordan and smuggle them into Israel using workers crossing the border. Gokair was supposed to receive the guns and transfer them to other parties, and collect the money from the transactions. For his role in the smuggling network, Gokair was promised a payment of $1 million.

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While in Israel, Asci collected a package containing a firearm near his Bat Yam apartment, buried it in sand, later hid it at home, and eventually handed it to an unidentified individual. After his deportation, he continued directing smuggling operations remotely, instructing Ozal to meet a contact in Tel Aviv to complete a weapons deal. Ozal reportedly appeared twice at the central station with money in hand, but the expected delivery never arrived.

Despite the failed transaction, Ozal retained NIS 5,000 ($1,500) from the funds he had brought.
Of the 12, two of them were moderately wounded, and the other ten were lightly wounded.

Twelve IDF soldiers were injured in an operational traffic accident in the Gaza border area, the military said on Sunday.

Of the 12, two of them were moderately injured, and the other ten were lightly hurt.

The incident is under investigation; however, initial findings indicate that three Hummer jeeps collided.

"We didn't see because of the dust clouds," soldiers involved told Walla.

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In September, a Hummer jeep overturned in northern Gaza, injuring ten soldiers, two of whom were evacuated to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem's Ein Kerem by helicopter, and eight in ambulances.

IDF tanks in the Gaza Strip. October 11, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

Possibility of losing control of vehicle due to excessive speed is being investigated

"The possibility of losing control of the vehicle due to excessive speed is being investigated. Currently, there is no control or enforcement over what happens within Palestinian territory," a military source on the Gaza border said.

"Once enforcement begins and sanctions are imposed on the battalions, everyone will be more cautious. No one wants fatalities or injuries. The accident that occurred this morning ended by luck, with no fatalities," the source added.

This is a developing story.
At least four people have been killed in Cameroons largest city, Douala, as police and opposition protesters clashed ahead of the announcement of presidential election results, according to the regional governor.

The clashes on Sunday came after hundreds of supporters of opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma  who claims to have defeated President Paul Biya in recent elections  defied a protest ban and gathered in the streets of Douala.

The protesters barricaded roads, burned tyres and threw rocks and other projectiles at police, according to the Reuters news agency.

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The police responded with tear gas and water cannon.

Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, the governor of the region that includes Douala, told the AFP news agency that the protesters went on to attack police stations in the second and sixth districts of the city.

Several members of the security forces were wounded, and four people unfortunately lost their lives, he said.

Tchiromas campaign also confirmed the deaths.

The protests came after partial results from the October 12 election, reported by local media, showed that Biya, who is 92 years old, was on course to win an eighth term in office.

But Tchiroma claimed he won 54.8 percent of the votes against Biyas 31.3 percent, and called on Cameroonians on Wednesday to protest if the Constitutional Council announces falsified and distorted results.

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Cameroons government has rejected the oppositions accusations of irregularities and urged people to wait for the official election results to be announced by the Constitutional Council on Monday.

Protests have since flared in several cities, including the capital, Yaounde, Tchiromas hometown, Garoua, as well as Maroua, Meiganga, Bafang, Bertoua, Kousseri, Yagoua, Kaele and Bafoussam.

Protesters burn barricades in Garoua during a demonstration by supporters of the political opposition on October 21, 2025, ahead of the release of the results of the presidential vote [AFP]

Youth frustration and anger

Speaking from Douala, journalist Blaise Eyong told Al Jazeera that the countrys youth, who make up the majority of the population, were particularly furious at the alleged vote rigging by Biyas camp.

You can really see the frustration and anger when you talk to young people, added Eyong, who noted that there are high rates of youth unemployment in Cameroon.

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Amid reports of government blackouts, Eyong confirmed that the internet had been disrupted across the country in recent days. But that has not stopped young people from coming together, he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Tchiromas campaign manager said that authorities had detained about 30 politicians and activists who had supported his candidacy, heightening tensions.

Among those he said were detained were Anicet Ekane, the leader of the MANIDEM party, and Djeukam Tchameni, a prominent figure in the Union for Change movement.

Cameroonian Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said on Saturday that arrests had been made in connection with what he described as an insurrectional movement, though he did not say who  or how many  had been detained.

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Biya is the worlds oldest serving ruler, and has been in power in Cameroon since 1982. Another seven-year term could keep him in power until he is nearly 100.

Tchiroma, a former minister and one-time Biya ally, has said that he won and that he will not accept any other result.




NEED TO KNOW

Two men pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the shooting death of Camay De Silva, 18, in 2024

De Silva was visiting Delaware State University as a prospective student

She was struck by gunfire stemming from an altercation she was not involved in

Two men pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the death of an 18-year-old prospective student who had been visiting the campus of Delaware State University.

Camay Mitchell De Silva was staying with a friend on the school's campus in Dover in April 2024 when she was fatally shot, CBS News reported at the time.

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Dover police said authorities had responded to a report of an altercation at the same time gunshots were heard. When police arrived, however, there was no sign of any fight or crime scene.

But shortly after, a second call came in reporting that a woman had been found on the ground, the police department said. Authorities then discovered De Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

Related: A Prospective Student Was Visiting a College Campus. She Was Killed by Gunfire as Innocent Bystander

De Silva was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Just over a week later, two men, Destry Jones, 20, and Damien Hinson, 18, were arrested in connection with the incident. Dover police alleged at the time that the pair had been involved in the altercation and fired the shots that killed De Silva. Neither were students at Delaware State.

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De Silva, police noted, was an innocent bystander who was not involved in the quarrel and was not believed to have been the target.

In Sept. 2025, Jones and Hinson both pleaded guilty to several charges, the Delaware Department of Justice said.

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.

Hinson, now 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy and a gun charge and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the department said.

Jones, now 22, pleaded guilty to manslaughter, conspiracy and two weapons offenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

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Camay Mitchell De Silva was, by all accounts, a bright, promising, and beloved young woman, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a statement. It is disgraceful that she was taken from those who loved her  all because two reckless individuals thought they had the right to resort to lethal violence over a petty dispute."

Read the original article on People
MIDWEST CITY, Okla. (KFOR)  Right around 7 p.m. Saturday, Midwest City Police responded to a shooting at the Shelton Apartments located at 7022 E Reno.

Police posted on Facebook that there were two victims and both were transported to the hospital.

Officers are talking to witnesses around the area.

There is no information on a suspect yet.

Midwest City Police Department urges anyone with information to call 911 or (405)739-1277 and ask for an investigator on scene. They also ask the public to stay away from the area as they continue to look into the incident.

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This is a breaking news incident, we have a crew on scene and will update if more developments come in.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Two suspects have been arrested a week after the brazen theft of jewellery from the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, prosecutors confirmed on Sunday.

The arrests were made on Saturday evening. One of the men was about to leave the country. Both have been remanded in custody on charges of gang theft and criminal conspiracy, prosecutors said.

One of the suspects was stopped at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport as he tried to board a flight to Algeria, media reports said.

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Another suspect was reportedly arrested in the Seine-Saint-Denis region.

When contacted by dpa, the public prosecutor's office expressed regret over the premature disclosure of information by third parties, which it said had hampered the investigation.

Writing on X, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez extended his "warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly" on the case.

The Louvre was evacuated and shut down a week ago after four masked thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery, home to France's remaining crown jewels.

They broke into two display cases and made off with eight pieces of jewellery once owned by French queens and empresses, with an estimated value of 88 million ($102 million).

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There has been no word from officials since the arrests about the whereabouts of the jewels.

On Friday, prosecutors said investigators had recovered more than 150 DNA samples, fingerprints and other clues at the scene of the heist.

The theft reignited debate over security at the Louvre, the world's most visited museum, which houses Leonardo da Vinci's iconic Mona Lisa.

The museum reopened to the public on Wednesday, except for the Apollo Gallery.
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  Police are searching for two male suspects connected to a Saturday shooting in Lancaster County.



Lancaster Township police say two male suspects allegedly fired eight rounds into a second-story apartment on Michelle Drive within the village of Lancaster Green apartment complex at around 2 p.m. on October 25.

Police say three rounds entered the building and hit the ceiling, while the other five hit the roof.

Lancaster township police say the male suspects were on foot, one wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and the other wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a mask.

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Police say no one was injured in the shooting.

Police say the suspects fled into a wooded area toward Manor Shopping Center and a search was initiated. The suspects remain at large, but police say they are investigating and there is no danger to the general public.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Two victims were pulled from a structure fire in Jackson County early Sunday morning.

Summit/Jackson Firefighters report in a Facebook post that two Jackson Fire Department trucks were dispatched to a fire in Napoleon Township. Two victims were pulled from the building.

(Michigan Fire Alerts) (Michigan Fire Alerts) (Michigan Fire Alerts) (Michigan Fire Alerts)

In a video shared with 6 News by Michigan Fire Alerts, the home can be seen fully engulfed in flames.

6 News has reached out to the Jackson Fire Department and the Napoleon Township Fire Department for additional information and has yet to receive a response.

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6 News partner MLive reports that officials from Napoleon Township expect to release more information on Monday.

The Jackson Fire Department, along with the Summit Township Fire Department and the Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, responded to another structure fire on Sunday at approximately 12:40 a.m. in the 100 Block of West Addison Street in Jackson, according to Summit/Jackson Firefighters.

(Michigan Fire Alerts)

First responders arrived to find heavy smoke and quickly put out the fire.

Both fires are currently under investigation.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
PHILIPPI, W. Va. (WBOY)  The Tygarts Valley Conservation District held a class on how to put up electric fences at Southern States in Philippi on Saturday, where ranchers and hobbyists could come and learn about the components of electric fences, including the charger, wire and grounding.

Attendees swapped tips and tricks with each other, such as how to test an electric fence with a blade of grass by putting your knee on the ground and holding a blade of grass to the wire, in which you should feel a tingle, though instructor Gene Hovatter recommended against this method and prefers buying a tester.

Coalition forms to restore Show Building theater in Mannington

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Another tip that Hovatter gave was the recommendation not to electrify barbed wire, because it could get snared into peoples clothes and continually electrocute them. Furthermore, he pointed out that electric fences actually cost less than a full physical fence, because it is a psychological barrier.

No one likes to get shocked, Hovatter said\. And animals are the same way. So you dont need as much wire and post and materials as you would like you would a normal fence with just a physical barrier.

The Tygarts Valley Conservation District also announced during the class that farmers who were impacted by last summer drought are eligible for aid from the drought exigency program. You can find information for how to apply here and applications for the program close on Monday.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBOY.com.
Food recalls, which often warn consumers of the risk of foodborne illness when eating accidentally contaminated products, can be scary. A 2019 recall of Tyson chicken products, however, was a little different than the standard warnings about salmonella and other pathogens that cause illness. The recall warned consumers that their Tyson ready-to-eat chicken products potentially contained pieces of metal, which could cause injury.

While products sold under the Tyson brand were affected, many store brands were also a part of the recall, including Walmart's Great Value and Aldi's Kirkwood. Generic chicken strip brands at Meijer, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, and Publix were also affected. The recall was massive and ended up including more than 11.8 million pounds of chicken products distributed throughout the United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Bermuda, and Hong Kong. Contaminated products were sold to retailers, wholesalers, and restaurants (Tyson is a major supplier for KFC, for example), but were also served as a part of institutional meals  such as school lunches  in some states. Six customers complained of finding metal pieces in their precooked chicken products, three of whom said they sustained injuries due to the foreign materials in their food.

Read more: The Best And Worst Rotisserie Chickens You Can Find At The Grocery Store

How metal got into Tyson's chicken, and what Tyson has done to correct the problem

Tyson chicken products in the grocery store - The Image Party/Shutterstock

Some food recalls, such as those that warn consumers of bacterial contamination, are more understandable than others. It appears that the metal came from pieces of machinery used during the manufacturing process. Tyson voluntarily expanded the recall in an effort to reduce the risk of harm to its consumers, and said that it was taking additional steps to ensure the safety of its chicken products.

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In a statement from the company, Barbara Masters, DVM, vice president of food policy, food, and agriculture for Tyson, stated, "We have discontinued use of the specific equipment believed to be associated with the metal fragments, and we will be installing metal-detecting X-ray machinery to replace the plant's existing metal-detection system." Masters also said Tyson would begin using a third-party video auditing system to ensure that metal didn't make its way into food products.

On ongoing saga: Metal appears in Tyson chicken again in 2023

Tyson frozen chicken products in a grocery store - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Poor quality and taste isn't the only reason to keep the brand's chicken nuggets out of your grocery cart. While Tyson claimed that it took steps to stop the issue from happening again, it looks like the poultry giant may need to continue to examine its manufacturing practices. In 2023, Tyson recalled about 30,000 pounds of the brand's chicken nuggets due to a similar issue. Once again, people who purchased Tyson products reported metal fragments in their food.

The news of Tyson's second recall for metal fragments in food was met with public outrage. Social media users expressed frustration and detailed other negative experiences with Tyson products. Others questioned the company's quality control practices, with some citing the multiple recalls as the reason why they no longer purchase Tyson products. While the company has yet to top the list of the biggest food recalls in United States history, it's well on its way if it continues on its current path. No matter how hard a company works to keep food safe, however, recalls happen from time to time with processed foods. Check the FDA's website for the most up-to-date information so you can keep your pantry, fridge, and family safe.

Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also add us as a preferred search source on Google.

Read the original article on Chowhound.
Oct. 26 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could "consummate" the TikTok deal announced last month this week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

"We reached a final deal on TikTok. We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea," Bessent said in an interview Sunday morning on "Face the Nation."

Trump had signed an executive order in late September to complete a deal estimated at $14 billion that would create a U.S. entity to control TikTok, with American investors owning 80% of the company and its parent company ByteDance maintaining less than 20%.

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It would satisfy an April 2024 law passed by Congress in the Biden administration requiring ByteDance to divest from the company or the platform would be banned for some 170 million U.S. users.

The president said at the time that the deal was approved by Xi in a phone conversation.

Bessent did not provide new details of the deal in the interview Sunday.

"My remit was to get the Chinese to agree to approve the transaction, and I believe we successfully accomplished that over the past two days," Bessent said.

The White House said at the time the executive order was signed that the federal government would not play a role in selecting members for TikTok's board. And when asked if the platform would begin to favor "MAGA" content, Trump responded it will be fair.

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"If I could make it 100% MAGA I would but it's not going to work out that way unfortunately," Trump said. "Everyone is going to be treated fairly. Every group, every philosophy will be treated fairly."

A number of academic studies have shown that TikTok already "tends to lean toward right-wing content, with right-wing praise being a significant predictor of user engagement."
Greece is a popular destination for U.S. tourists, and according to the State Department, it's generally safe.

However, on October 23, the U.S. government updated its travel advisory for Greece. "There were no changes to the advisory level or risk indicators. Advisory summary was updated," the statement says.

Although Greece still enjoys a level 1 advisory (the safest, meaning exercise normal precautions), the U.S. government does share some concerns that travelers might want to take note of when traveling to the country.

The U.S. Government Warns Travelers That Petty Crime Can Be 'Common' in Greece

According to the travel advisory for Greece:

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"Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings."

"Large-scale demonstrations related to the local political situation may occur with little notice. Demonstrations may disrupt transportation and other essential services."

The caution relating to demonstrations is fairly new. On October 17, the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Greece shared that the government was "monitoring planned protests in the vicinity of downtown Chania, Souda Bay, and Mouzouras on October 17-18, 2025. Large crowds and traffic congestion are expected, along with a precautionary security presence. U.S. government personnel have been advised to avoid the area where protests may take place."

Panoramic aerial view from a drone of the city of Kavala and the old town of Kavala Panagia, in Eastern Macedonia, Aegean Sea. In the pictures are visible the Roman aqueduct with the arches, Byzantine barrier, the fort and fortification of the Acropolis of Kavala, residential area, the marina and the port. Kavala is also a travel and tourist destination famous for the sea and the beaches around, the restaurants, the nearby mountains, antiquities, summer festivals, air show and islands nearby. The city is located across Thasos island on a hill. Kavala, Greece on July 2022 (Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto/Getty Images

The U.S. Embassy "recommends U.S. citizens avoid areas around demonstrations, protests, and marches whenever possible. Even peaceful demonstrations have the potential to turn violent without any warning," that post says.

The Embassy suggested these actions:

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"Avoid the areas of the demonstrations."

"Exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests."

"Monitor local media for updates."

"Keep a low profile."

"Carry identification and cooperate with police."

The State Department noted that tourist visas are not needed for short trips to Greece.

"Not required for stays less than 90 days; visa required for all official and diplomatic passport holders," the page for Greece says.

On October 9, the U.S. government advised travelers, "The European Union (EU) recently launched the Entry/Exit System (EES) system, which is being rolled out incrementally and will apply to most foreign visitors traveling to Greece. Effective October 12, 2025, most U.S. citizens visiting Greece for short stays should expect to have their biodata, including fingerprints and facial images, digitally collected at the border (upon arrival and departure)."

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They added, "EES will be deployed gradually over a period of 6 months."

The U.S. government also issued a security alert for Greece on October 6. "Due to the anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks in Israel and out of an abundance of caution, U.S. citizens are advised to remain vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and practice good personal security measures," it read. "Mission Greece will continue to review the security situation and provide additional information as needed."

On October 24, the State Department also updated its travel advisory for Mali. U.S. travelers are advised not to visit that country.

The State Department has a page for travel advisories that breaks them down by country, giving the level of security concerns.

Related:

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Oct 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
In the weeks after the shocking murders of four University of Idaho students in November 2022, a Texas TikTok psychic accused a respected history professor of orchestrating the killings to cover up an affair with one of the victims. Her claims  which she said were based on her spiritual research through Tarot readings  were preposterous and provably false, but Ashley Guillard amassed 100,000 followers and garnered up to 2.5 million likes on her posts anyway. And she was not alone: countless other online sleuths who shared unfounded speculation, doxxed innocent people and even disparaged the victims families saw their social media posts go viral.

Kyle Green / AP

Dylan Mortensen gets a hug after speaking at Bryan Kohbergers sentencing hearing on July 23, 2025.

Related: "Put This On A T-Shirt"  People Are Praising This Anti-ICE Protestor's 3-Word Response To Getting Tear-Gassed At The LA Protests

The professor, Rebecca Scofield, sued Guillard for defamation, alleging that her TikToks tarnished her reputation, linked her name to murder in internet searches and subjected her to ridicule and threats from Guillards online commenters  causing her to fear for her and her familys safety. In an interview with The Argonaut , Guillard claims she was only seeking to help the investigation and that she did not intentionally publish false information about Scofield.

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A federal judge ruled in Scofields favor last summer, calling her TikToks primarily self-serving, motivated by online viral attention, and made with an extremely harmful state of mind given the nature of the statements about [Scofield]. A jury trial to determine punitive damages is set for February 2026 .

This is an exceptionally rare case, however. True crime content creators and those who post on social media are not held to the same standards as journalists, who are ethically bound by the principles of truthful, accurate and unbiased reporting.

Veteran 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty said she is troubled by the rising popularity of some social media sleuths who have no journalism experience or apparent ethics.

There is nothing to keep a so-called sleuth from making false assertions and ruining lives, she told me in a recent email interview.

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After the Idaho student murders, the victims two surviving roommates were vilified by armchair detectives who accused them of killing their friends  even though police said in multiple press releases that the women had been cleared of suspicion. The online vitriol only intensified after court documents released following Bryan Kohbergers arrest revealed that survivor Dylan Mortensen had come face-to-face with the killer and didnt immediately notify authorities .

Indiana State Police

Abby Williams, 13, and Libby German, 14, were found dead near an abandoned railroad bridge where they were last seen hiking.

Related: People Have Little Sympathy For This Trump Supporter Who Said They'd "Gladly" Pay More For Groceries...Until They Got The Bill

Family members of 13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German say their lives were almost destroyed when the girls were kidnapped and killed in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017.

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When you rip a whole piece out of your life, youll never be the same, Abbys mother, Anna Williams, said at a CrimeCon 2025 panel last month in Denver, where she was joined onstage by Libbys relatives.

The family members shared memories of the girls, opened up about their grief and discussed their reaction to Richard Allens conviction and 130-year prison sentence last year for their murders.

Libby and Abby's families also talked about the shocking online harassment they have endured for years by amateur sleuths obsessed with solving the case themselves  even at the expense of retraumatizing the victims families and interfering with law enforcement investigations.

The girls' murders went unsolved for more than five years  even though investigators publicly shared grainy video captured by Libby of their suspected killer. The whole time, the girls family members worked tirelessly to draw attention to the case in the hopes of eventually finding justice.

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Libbys grandfather, Mike Patty, knew he would be subjected to strangers hiding behind a keyboard saying nasty things, but felt the family had no choice.

We knew there was risk involved in putting my family out there, he told the CrimeCon audience. I dont really care about the criticism [and] the ridicule  [but] it was pretty harsh coming at me in the beginning.

His wife, Becky Patty, said she is most upset by what she calls vicious online harassment of Libbys older sister, Kelsi, who dropped the girls off at the trail where they were abducted less than half an hour later, according to the prosecutors timeline.

There are some of them out there who are horrible to her, the accusations and stuff, Becky Patty said. It hurts me what they are saying about her. Say what you want about me, but leave my family alone.

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I will never understand how people can be so awful to people theyve never met, simply because we put ourselves out there in search of answers, Kelsi tweeted in February 2022, above a screenshot of a direct message she received.

Stop trying to spin your sisters murder into a f***ing career and go to the Police station right now and come clean, the person wrote in part.

Becky Patty noted that the repercussions go beyond cruel comments about her granddaughter, and, similar to what Scofield alleged in her defamation suit, internet comments can potentially also damage Kelsis reputation and livelihood.

[Prospective employers] look up your name, and if they see some of these things that people are saying, shes gotta live with what these people who have no consequences are able to do, and thats a problem, Becky Patty said

Michael Conroy / AP

Mike and Becky Patty speak with the media after authorities announced the arrest of Richard Allen for the 2017 murders of their granddaughter and her friend Abigail Williams, Oct. 31, 2022.

Related: Hillary Clinton Just Hit On One Of Donald Trump's Biggest Insecurities With Three Words

Prosecutor Nick McLeland, who had previously been barred by a gag order from discussing the Delphi case, noted that social media attacks on his office increased exponentially after Allen's defense team shared graphic details about the crime scene and made unsubstantiated allegations that a pagan cult had been responsible for the girls murders.

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Youre always gonna have a group that's against you in whatever argument you make, he told me in an interview, but after the defense filing, social media became a huge factor in our lives.

We didn't want it, we didn't ask for it, but it just happened, McLeland added.

Jerry Holeman, the lead investigator on the Delphi case, noted that online critics were not privy to all the facts and evidence  and never will be.

The public's not going to ever know everything, he told me. We wish we could be that transparent, but we just can't. There's certain things that just can't be out there in public, but it doesn't mean we're corrupt and hiding anything. We're protecting the integrity of the victims at this point  referring to the judges decision to permanently seal the crime scene and autopsy photos  and before that, we were protecting the integrity of the investigation.

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Before the trial, McLeland said he vehemently argued against allowing cameras in the courtroom because he was worried that it might turn into a circus, and the judge agreed. She refused all media requests for it to be livestreamed or recorded via video, audio or still photography. In hindsight, McLeland said he feels really torn about that decision.

With the misinformation that's out there, it sure would be nice to say, Hey, just go watch the tape. Go watch that direct examination, go watch that cross-examination, and you'll see the truth, he said.

Meanwhile, a vocal contingent of Allen supporters continue to maintain that he is innocent and rehash debates about alternate perpetrators.

Holeman insisted that investigators dont have the time or resources to address their allegations.

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It's not our job to go back and disprove all the false conspiracy theories, he told me.

In a motion filed earlier this month , attorneys for Allen, who is appealing his conviction, indicated that they plan to address the courts refusal to allow them to present third-party evidence that the girls were killed in a ritual sacrifice. Given the high-profile cases complexity, the appeal process could take years .

In the meantime, interest and speculation about the evidence and investigation are unlikely to wane.

Even after attending CrimeCon year after year, I cant get over the shock of seeing the numbers of people who are fascinated, even obsessed, with some murder cases, Moriarty said. But, she noted, as interesting as the facts of any case may be, we can never forget that the lives of real people are impacted by the way we report and analyze cases.

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Beck Patty said that everyones entitled to their opinion, [but] theres a right way and a wrong way to go about that."

People need to be nicer, she added.

Related: 5 Absolutely Horrifying Ways Republicans Are Explaining Why They're Fine With People Losing Healthcare

Don't forget to subscribe to our true crime newsletter, Suspicious Circumstances, to get true crime deep dives delivered straight to your inbox every week. Sign up here .

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More than 100 students, faculty and staff from the University of Houston-Downtown are expected to make a short walk from campus together to cast early voting ballots Monday in an effort to get out the vote.

The walk is scheduled to begin at the university South Deck at 1:30 p.m. and end at the nearby Harris County Attorney Conference Center, at 1019 Congress. The polls will remain open for early voting until 7 p.m. Friday, and Election Day is the following Tuesday Nov. 4.

WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT: Texas Voter Guide 2025

The event, dubbed "Walk2Vote," is meant to encourage young people to vote, sending them to the nearest early voting center in Harris County.

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"Your freedom to vote is a responsibility," a release promoting the event states.

UHD's Undergraduate Student Government Association organized the event. A celebration before the walk will kick off at noon with free food and information, student organizers said.

This article originally published at UHD students will gather to cast early voting ballots together at 'Walk2Vote' event.
The Ukraine Action Summit met in Washington on Oct. 26, calling for U.S. lawmakers to continue support for Kyiv using decisive legal instruments.

"We bring people together to learn... to educate themselves and to use their voices to speak to their elected officials to support Ukraine," Marianna Tretiak, Chair of the American Coalition for Ukraine (ACU) Board, told the Kyiv Independent.

The summit is focused on four key advocacy issues meant to aid Kyiv amid Russia's war against Ukraine.

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"The first is the passage of bills that have to do with asset seizure, making Russia... pay with the seized funds," Tretiak said. "The second priority we have is to... pass the sanctions bill, the Sanctioned Russia Act, which we were also advocating for at the last summit."

Since the last summit, at least another 25-30 co-sponsors have backed the Sanctioned Russia Act as a means to push Russia toward peace talks.

"(T)he third policy pillar that we have for the summit is the return of Ukraine's children. There are a few bills that have to do with this issue," Tretiak said.

Ukraine regularly tries to return abducted Ukrainian children. On Sept. 17, Kyiv returned 16 children from Russian-occupied territories, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak announced.

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Meanwhile, high-ranking Russian officers are overseeing military training programs for Ukrainian children from occupied territories and running a system of youth militarization, an investigation by the Kyiv Independent has found.

The ACU's fourth policy pillar this year is security guarantees for Ukraine as Kyiv and its allies push for a ceasefire.

"(T)here's no legislation, but it's really important... And that's security guarantees for Ukraine, and really speaking about Ukraine as an asset, as an ally, and as a country that you want to be a partner with, because they'll help you improve your defense," Tretiak said.

Ukraine and its allies have been developing potential security guarantees in recent months as Kyiv and its allies work to secure a potential ceasefire or peace deal.

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The Kremlin has repeatedly issued maximalist demands to Ukraine and has refused to engage in leader-level talks, repeatedly refusing to engage in meaningful diplomacy or a halt to hostilities.

Read also: More than Tomahawks: what Ukraines soldiers say they actually need

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The latest dispatch from the front line by The Independents world affairs editor, Sam Kiley, is a graphic illustration of how much the conflict in Ukraine has transformed modern warfare  and how this could work to the advantage of Kyiv, and the West more generally.

Not so long ago, soon after Vladimir Putin launched his special military operation, the latest stage in Russias attempt to expunge Ukraine from the map, Volodymyr Zelensky was leading delegations to Western capitals pleading for the traditional weapons of war  modern battle tanks, armoured personnel carriers, artillery, advanced fighter jets and so on.

All of these remain important, and there is still an obvious and urgent need to enhance Ukraines missile defence systems. However, first Kyiv and now Russia have developed drone and robot technologies to such a pitch that older rules have had to be rewritten. Relatively cheap kamikaze drones can knock out even heavily fortified troop positions miles behind the front line, while supply lines and armoured columns can be eliminated with ease by FPV (first-person view) operators far from the danger zone.

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For a time, jamming systems threatened to make radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles obsolete, until the advent of ultra-thin fibre optic cables, which can run for miles and take instructions without fear of interference. These can only be stopped by infantry on the ground shooting them down: a near-impossible task.

The drones have a terrifying effect on soldiers, as do the new generation of ground drones  small, remotely guided tracked vehicles that can advance undetected on dugouts and shelters. It was even reported in recent weeks that a joint air and ground drone attack resulted in the surrender and capture of two Russian soldiers, escorted to their Ukrainian captors by the machines.

This new technology is already transforming warfare in the way that the aeroplane and the tank did in the First World War, and the early rockets and radar did in the Second. The strategic point is that, if Ukraine continues to gain the technological edge on the Russians in this field of unmanned combat, it could counter the Russians undisputed advance in sheer manpower.

This overwhelming use of an often badly equipped and poorly trained but massive Russian army would, in the end, exhaust any enemy, even if it had superior weaponry  the meat grinder doctrine of war. The other longstanding orthodoxy was that the vast size of Russia allowed it to keep munitions factories and bomber bases far away from the enemy, thus helping it defeat Napoleon and Hitler. Drones and long-range missiles tip the balance of power decisively, and give the Ukrainians much hope that they can sustain the war for at least two or three more years  a timescale that the prime minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, has suggested is in the mind of President Zelensky.

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Yet, as Mr Tusk has also stressed in recent speeches and interviews, the West appears not to have properly understood either the reality of the Russian threat or the possibility that the Russians, forced by the Ukrainians to up their game, will develop drone and similar weaponry that will match what Nato has to offer. Mr Tusk declares himself shocked at the level of public complacency about the UKs safety, and he is right to be alarmed. Nato itself is threatened, still, by the rise of American isolationism  it is not confined to the Maga movement  and the disruptive activities of the Kremlin-friendly Hungarian leader, Viktor Orban.

It is not entirely clear, in other words, that the UK and other European powers fully comprehend that what is happening in Ukraine is also our war  or that the Western military establishment is fully prepared for the new ways of fighting a war with Russia that may be inevitable. Even months of incursions by Russian planes into Nato airspace, proven cyber attacks, espionage, and social media manipulation to foment division dont seem to have triggered much public alarm.

Today, because they have no choice, the Ukrainians are applying artificial intelligence to make their unmanned planes able to select targets autonomously, another technological breakthrough. Would that Natos complacent leaders and governments had even a fraction of their resourcefulness and determination.
Ukrainian forces liberated two villages in eastern Donetsk Oblast about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of embattled Pokrovsk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Oct. 26.

The General Staff said that Ukrainian troops operating in the area cleared Kucheriv Yar and Sukhetske of Russian troops over the past 10 days. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim.

The General Staff's report comes nearly three months after Russian forces made a sudden 10-kilometer (6-mile) push in just days toward the key highway connecting Kramatorsk and Dobropillia in early August. Since the rapid Russian advance in the area, Ukrainian forces have taken back nine villages, and nine more have been cleared of Russian sabotage groups, the General Staff said in its Facebook post.

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Ukrainian open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState also shows the villages of Kucheriv Yar and Sukhetske as controlled by Ukrainian forces. The villages are about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Dobropillia, a town that Russian forces have heavily struck since the August breach.

Across the front, Russian forces continue to launch offensives on multiple sectors despite the Ukrainian claims that its troops have effectively stalled Moscow's momentum.

Russian troops have already entered the long-embattled Pokrovsk, semi-encircling what used to be a key Ukrainian logistics hub, and are trying to further close in on the city to force a Ukrainian withdrawal.

The General Staff acknowledged on Oct. 26 that Russia has accumulated about 200 servicemen in Pokrovsk, infiltrating small infantry groups, reporting shooting and drone battles in the city.

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The 7th Corps of Ukraines Air Assault Forces acknowledged the Russian penetration to the railway on Oct. 20.

Read also: Analysis: Pokrovsk on the brink as Russian troops, drones infiltrate deeper into Ukraines fortress city

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Key developments on Oct. 26-25:

Three killed, 32 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack on residential buildings

'I'm not going to be wasting my time'  Trump rules out Putin meeting without Ukraine peace progress

'More to come,' HUR says, as sabotage fires spread across Russia

Ukraine retakes 2 villages in Donetsk Oblast near Dobropillia, military says

Russia says it tested nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile

Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv overnight Oct. 26, killing at least three people and injuring at least 32, including seven children, in strikes on residential buildings, local authorities said.

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Multiple explosions were heard in Kyiv starting around 2:35 a.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Of the 101 Shahed, Gerbera, and other types of drones Russa launched at Ukraine overnight, 90 were downed by the Ukrainian air defense, the Air Force reported.

Two children who were injured in the attacks had been hospitalized, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.

The overnight drone attack comes just one night after another Russian missile strike killed two people and injured 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 26 that Russia had launched more than 50 missiles, nearly 1,200 strike drones, and more than 1,360 guided bombs against Ukraine this week.

"This week, these are attacks on residential buildings, on our people, on children, on civilian infrastructure," Zelensky said in a video address posted on Facebook.

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"These are the most important targets for the Russians."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitscko reported that a nine-story residential building was struck in the Desnianskyi district of the city, damaging the 2nd and 3rd floors of the building.

Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said that a 16-story residential facility was struck in the Desnianskyi district, leading to a fire. Windows were reportedly shattered between the 1st and 9th floors of the building.

The drone debris from the attack also fell on a 16-floor apartment building in Obolonskyi district, leaving minor damage, according to the Kyiv City Military Administration.

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Videos posted on social media appear to show a large fire at one of the buildings damaged.

Russia has repeatedly attack Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, with drones since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022. In recent month, Russia's military has intensified its attacks on energy infrastructure, forcing Ukraine to introduce blackouts.

Read also: Pure terror  2 killed, 12 injured in Russian ballistic missile attack on Kyiv

'I'm not going to be wasting my time'  Trump rules out Putin meeting without Ukraine peace progress

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 25 that he does not plan to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin unless he sees a clear path to a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

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"We're going to have to know that we're going to make a deal. I'm not going to be wasting my time," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing."

Trump said he had expected peace in Ukraine to be easier to achieve than other diplomatic breakthroughs. "I thought this would have gone long before peace in the Middle East if you look at India and Pakistan, I could say almost any one of the deals that I've already done, I thought would have been more difficult than Russia and Ukraine. But it didn't work out that way. There's a lot of hatred between the two  between Zelensky and Putin. There's tremendous hatred."

Two days earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a TrumpPutin summit remains "not completely off the table."

"The President has also long expressed his frustration with Vladimir Putin and, frankly, both sides of this war. He's always said in order to negotiate a good peace deal, both sides need to be interested in a good peace deal," Leavitt said on Oct. 23. She added that Trump has seen "not enough interest and enough action" from Russia to move toward peace.

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Leavitts comments came a day after Washington imposed its first sanctions on Moscow since Trump took office. On Oct. 22, the U.S. sanctioned Russias two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as their subsidiaries.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures aim to pressure the Kremlin into accepting a ceasefire. "Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire," he said.

Read also: Russia is preparing Ukrainian children from occupied territories to fight in its war

'More to come,' HUR says, as sabotage fires spread across Russia

Russia faces an increase in the arson and "spontaneous combustion" of electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and other infrastructure helping Moscow wage its war against Ukraine over the past week, a source at Ukraines military intelligence (HUR) said on Oct. 26.

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The HUR source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and communication towers burned in multiple cities across Russia, including Moscow.

The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify HUR's allegations. Moscow has not commented publicly this week on the alleged incidents of arson and sudden fires.

HURs claim comes as Russian regional and national media, controlled by the Kremlin, have reported several incidents in October involving civilians, including minors, being detained for burning railway relay cabinets and a telecom cabinet. Some Russian regional media have also reported electrical panel fires, but made no mention of a relation between the incidents and the war in Ukraine.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there have been local sabotage movements in Russia and the occupied territories, including a campaign of railway sabotage, but their impact is difficult to measure.

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Read also: Culture is not neutral: The troubling presence of Russias Eksmo in Frankfurt

Ukraine retakes 2 villages in Donetsk Oblast near Dobropillia, military says

Ukrainian forces liberated two villages in eastern Donetsk Oblast about 30 kilometers (19 miles) north of embattled Pokrovsk, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said on Oct. 26.

The General Staff said that Ukrainian troops operating in the area cleared Kucheriv Yar and Sukhetske of Russian troops over the past 10 days. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the claim.

The General Staff's report comes nearly three months after Russian forces made a sudden 10-kilometer (6-mile) push in just days toward the key highway connecting Kramatorsk and Dobropillia in early August. Since the rapid Russian advance in the area, Ukrainian forces have taken back nine villages, and nine more have been cleared of Russian sabotage groups, the General Staff said in its Facebook post.

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Ukrainian open-source battlefield monitoring group DeepState also shows the villages of Kucheriv Yar and Sukhetske as controlled by Ukrainian forces. The villages are about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Dobropillia, a town that Russian forces have heavily struck since the August breach.

Across the front, Russian forces continue to launch offensives on multiple sectors despite the Ukrainian claims that its troops have effectively stalled Moscow's momentum.

Russian troops have already entered the long-embattled Pokrovsk, semi-encircling what used to be a key Ukrainian logistics hub, and are trying to further close in on the city to force a Ukrainian withdrawal.

The General Staff acknowledged on Oct. 26 that Russia has accumulated about 200 servicemen in Pokrovsk, infiltrating small infantry groups, reporting shooting and drone battles in the city.

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The 7th Corps of Ukraines Air Assault Forces acknowledged the Russian penetration to the railway on Oct. 20.

Read also: Analysis: Pokrovsk on the brink as Russian troops, drones infiltrate deeper into Ukraines fortress city

Russia says it tested nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile

Russia has tested its newly developed nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed Burevestnik cruise missile, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov said in a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 26.

"I have a report from the industrial bodies, and in general, I am familiar with the estimates provided by the Defense Ministry. It's a unique product that no one else in the world possesses," Putin claimed, according to Russian state media.

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Russia was ready to test the low-flying nuclear missile ahead of Putin's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska on Aug. 15, Reuters previously reported. Satellite imagery revealed extensive activity at the Pankovo test site on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.

"We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000-kilometer (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit," Gerasimov said, adding that the test launch lasted for 15 hours.

Western analysts remain skeptical of the cruise missile. Eight experts interviewed by Reuters pointed to the missiles troubled development history and inherent design flaws. They questioned whether its deployment would significantly alter the nuclear balance between the West and other adversaries.

Analysts say the Burevestnik missile has become more important to the Kremlin since the White House announced in January plans to develop the Golden Dome U.S. missile defense shield.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

Read also: AI drones in Ukraine  this is where were at

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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported that Russians have amassed around 200 troops in the city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.

Source: General Staff

Quote: "Regarding the situation on the approaches to Pokrovsk and within the city itself. The enemy, by using inter-positional space and infiltrating small infantry groups, has accumulated about 200 soldiers in the city.

Firefights are ongoing in the city, and UAV units are actively operating. Combat clashes are characterised by high dynamism and intensity."

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Details: The General Staff stressed that the Russians are increasing the use of armoured vehicles in assault operations.

The military added that strengthening defensive resilience, coordinating troop actions, effective fire on the Russians and countering their UAVs and artillery remain priorities for the Ukrainian forces.

Background:

On 24 October, Ukrainska Pravda reported that at least 250 Russian troops are in Pokrovsk  they are engaging in firefights and killing Ukrainian soldiers, particularly drone operators, at their positions. Logistics into the city are fully controlled by Russian drones, forcing Ukrainian soldiers to walk 10-15 km to reach their positions.

After that, Hryhorii Shapoval, spokesperson for the Operational Command East, told media that street fighting continues in Pokrovsk but "the situation is controlled and expected, not critical". Troops walk to positions "to be less visible to the enemy".

Shapoval emphasised that no positions near Pokrovsk are cut off: "No one is isolated. Defence forces maintain formation."

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Sixteen people have been injured in Russia's western Belgorod region after Ukrainian drone attacks, authorities said on Sunday.

Ukrainian troops targeted the village of Maslova Pristan, injuring 10 civilians, including two minors, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on his Telegram channel.

Two private residential buildings were heavily damaged by the explosives, he said. Later on Sunday, Gladkov reported six more victims in another location.

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In the regional capital Belgorod, three people were injured, including a member of the military. In the village of Dorogoshch in the region bordering Ukraine, three more people were injured, including a 14-year-old.

Since the start of the more than three-and-a-half-year war, Russia has also attacked civilian areas in Ukraine.

However, residents in Russia, especially in the border regions, are increasingly feeling the consequences of the war due to Ukrainian counter-attacks.

The number of victims and the extent of the damage in Russia, however, are not comparable to the destruction caused by the Russian military in Ukraine.
Editor's Note: This is a developing story.

A large-scale overnight drone attack on Oct. 27 targeted multiple regions of western Russia, including the Moscow metropolitan area, according to Russian officials.

In Moscow oblast, residents reported explosions in several districts, including the capital itself. Photos published by eyewitnesses and geolocated by the Russian Telegram channel Astra show smoke rising in the Kommunarka area, part of Moscows Novomoskovsky Administrative Okrug. The images suggest the smoke originated from a forested area near a local road.

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The Russian Defense Ministry later said that a total of 193 drones were intercepted overnight, including 40 over Moscow Oblast. The ministry said that 34 of those drones were bound for the capital.

In Kursk region, a fire broke out near a power substation in the city of Rylsk after what local authorities claimed was a Ukrainian drone strike.

"As a result of the UAV attack, outbuildings caught fire near a house located close to the substation. Fire brigades extinguished the blaze," said Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein.

Dozens of drones targeted the city of Moscow, according to Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

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Sobyanin began reporting attacks on the Russian capital on the evening of Oct. 26 and posted updated throughout the night. Russian forces reportedly shot down 34 Ukrainian drones flying toward Moscow during the attack, he said.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.

Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports temporarily suspended operations in response to the drone threat.

Explosions have been reported in multiple parts of the city and the surrounding region, including the Kommunarka district, according to Russian Telegram channels. No casualties have been reported. Emergency services have been dispatched to all crash sites, Sobyanin said.

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A fire broke out at on oil depot in Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, on the evening of Oct. 26, the Russian Telegram news channel Astra reported, citing eyewitness footage. The local administration did not disclose the cause of the fire and said the blaze had already been extinguished.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the reported strikes.

Kyiv regularly uses long-range drones to target military and industrial targets in Russia, including oil refineries, weapons factories, and ammunition depots. Ukraine allegedly targeted Moscow with 34 drones in a previous overnight strike on Sept. 22.

Russia regularly launches large-scale missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Over the past two nights, mass attacks against Kyiv have killed five people and left dozens injured.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 26 that Russia has attacked Ukraine with nearly 1,200 strike drones and 50 missiles  primarily ballistic missiles  in the past week alone.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 3 killed, 32 injured in Kyiv amid Russian drone attack on residential buildings

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The anonymous donor who gifted $130 million to fund American troop salaries is a reclusive heir to one of the wealthiest banking families in U.S. history.

Timothy Mellon, a descendant of the Gilded Age industrialist Andrew Mellon, was identified by The New York Times as the mystery man who made a rare multi-million-dollar gift to the Pentagon.

Mellon donated millions to groups that supported Trumps 2024 campaign, including a one-time gift of $50 million to a PAC backing Trumpone of the most significant single donations of the election cycle. He also donated to groups supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. before the Kennedy scion pulled out of the presidential race.

Timothy Mellon in 1981. Few photographs of the billionaire exist in the public domain. / Uncredited / AP

Trump, 79, has described Mellon as a great American citizen. His Pentagon gift was used to pay American troops amid the government shutdowndespite being far too small to cover the entire military payroll.

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There were concerns among Democrats that the mystery donorand others who may follow suit, as the shutdowns end does not appear imminentmay have been part of a foreign government. Mellon, 83, was born in Virginia and studied at Yale, but much of his personal life is private.

Mellons grandfather was the longtime Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, who served from 1921 to 1932 under presidents Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. Andrew was the son of Thomas Mellon, who founded Mellon Bank, which made his family filthy rich for generations.

The Pentagon donors grandfather, Andrew Mellon, stands between presidents Calvin Coolidge (left) and Herbert Hoover (right) in 1924. / Keystone / Getty Images

The donors dad, Paul Mellon, was a breeder of thoroughbred racehorses who benefited from the familys banking riches. By 1957, when Fortune published its first list of the wealthiest Americans, it estimated that Paul Mellon, his sister, and his two cousins were among the eight wealthiest people in the United States.

Timothy Mellons cousin, Matthew Mellon, was an early crypto investor who struggled with drug addiction. He died in Mexico in 2018, aged 54, just as he was about to check himself into rehab in Mexico. He was divorced from Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon, who once wrote that she was snorting her way through alpine ranges of cocaine during her marriage to the Mellon heir.

Jimmy Choo founder Tamara Mellon and Matthew Mellon in 2003. The two were married from 2000 to 2005. / Ian West - PA Images / PA Images via Getty Images

Hes a great gentleman, Trump said of Timothy Mellon, who appears to be more clean-cut than his younger cousin. Hes a great patriot. Hes obviously a very substantial man, and he contributed $130 million toward the military in order to make up any difference. So he wanted to see the military get paid.

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The president insisted Friday that Mellon did not want to be identified, but he did say that the donation came from a friend. Pentagon officials have declined to confirm Mellon was behind the gift, but said it was accepted by its general gift acceptance authority.

Trump expressed shock that someone would give so generously without wanting credit.

In the world of politics, you want your name mentioned, Trump said. He doesnt.

President Donald Trump has been criticized for focusing on his new White House ballroomand demolishing the East Wing of the White Houseinstead of pushing for the government to be reopened. / Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The donation, while significant, is a drop in the bucket for funding the U.S. military, which has 1.3 million service members. If every one were to receive an equal portion of the gift, it would come to about $100 each.

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Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, a member of the Senate Appropriations panel, said American troops should not be funded by anything other than public funds.

Using anonymous donations to fund our military raises troubling questions of whether our own troops are at risk of literally being bought and paid for by foreign powers, the lawmaker from Connecticut said.

Republicans and Democrats have each jostled to pin the government shutdownthe result of a Senate budget impasseon the other party.

While both sides have played politics, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stepped in to make sure that the 35,000+ American troops in his country do not work without pay.

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The federal government will initiate an unscheduled expenditure to ensure that October salaries are paid on time, a German government spokesperson said.

President Donald Trump has ordered Pete Hegseth to find funds within the Pentagon to keep troops paid. / JIM WATSON / JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

Stateside, Trump has ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use any means necessary to get troops paid. Other federal workers, like TSA agents and air traffic controllers, continue to work without a paycheckand some have even resorted to gig jobs, like Uber, to get by.

I am using my authority, as Commander in Chief, to direct our Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to use all available funds to get our Troops PAID on October 15th, Trump posted to Truth Social earlier this month. We have identified funds to do this, and Secretary Hegseth will use them to PAY OUR TROOPS.
Oct. 26GRAND FORKS  An effort to commercialize rare earth element research at the University of North Dakota is being worked on alongside a new partnership between the UND College of Engineering and Mines Research Institute and a company in Bulgaria.

Daniel Laudal, executive director of the institute, said the institute aims to pursue funding the Department of Energy recently announced it would be giving out for things within the rare earth elements space, in particular to create commercial demonstrations of critical materials and rare earth element extraction for industrial practices.

"We think we're in a good position to be competitive and we're hopeful we'll be able to bring in quite a bit of federal funding to build the first project here in the state," he said. "We're very hopeful that, within the next year or so, we're going to be in a position to move forward with our first project."

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From pursuing national support to finding collaboration overseas, UND also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Bulgarian Energy Holding, a state-owned energy holding company in Bulgaria. The memorandum has established a collaborative research initiative between the two entities to focus on exploring rare earth elements, especially in Bulgaria's Martisa Basin.

Rare earth elements, Laudal explained, are used in electronics like cellphones, computers and microchips. Without the elements, items like those would not work with the same function, he said. There is a widespread application of rare earth elements, including eclectic motors, wind turbines and others. The institute also collects gallium and germanium for items like LEDs, lasers, microchip systems and solar panels.

According to a UND Today article, the partnership will allow UND and BEH to put together their respective technology, resources and people to do things like explore the potential of processing lignite (which carries rare earth elements) from the Maritsa Basin in Bulgaria for extraction, conduct advanced laboratory testing, perform "techno-economic" studies and establish a Center for Critical Raw Materials Research and Knowledge in Bulgaria to support European supply chains.

Laudal has been working nearly 10 years on rare earth elements research, he said, starting with his Ph.D. research that was some of the institute's earliest work on the subject in 2016 and 2017. He's excited about the idea of reaching outside North Dakota to different types of research around the world "at a personal level, because I've been so invested in this for quite a long time now," he said.

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To start off the partnership, BEH and UND are in the early stages of formalizing what the first phase of work might be, where funding is coming from and who UND is engaging with on Bulgaria's side, including academic institutes and industry partners. Laudal said the team is working out what the first step of work activities are going to be. Early work will probably be remote conversations and shipping small samples back and forth to start. Looking to the future, things could progress to real infrastructure and, long-term, possibly commercial projects in Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov made a comment about the memorandum, quoted by the government press office in the UND Today article. He said, "Bulgaria and the United States are not only partners in strategic dialogue, but also allies who value the achievements and choices of our civilization."

"Through the development of the research capacity of the University of North Dakota, we can expand the possibilities contained in the Bulgarian subsoil," he said. "Without the scientific potential and know-how that you possess, it will be very difficult to achieve what we expect in the Maritsa Basin and in other places, for the benefit and prosperity of our nations."

There is a rapidly growing need for critical minerals in the U.S. and its allies, said Scott Snyder, vice president for Research and Economic Development at UND, in the UND Today story.

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"As we work to commercialize this innovative technology in North Dakota, our MOU with Bulgaria represents another step in using the results of UND research in supporting economic development here at home and around the world."

In the story Dean Ryan Adams of the College of Engineering and Mines agreed, saying the agreement "gives us an opportunity to expand on our work in critical minerals and help one of our NATO allies."
Oct. 25GRAND FORKS  A symposium encouraging the best practices for cyber security has reached its fifth year, and more than 300 people are expected to be in the audience this week.

It is a "one of a kind" event, said Prakash Ranganathan, an associate professor and the director for cyber security research at the University of North Dakota College of Engineering and Mines. Alongside the College of Engineering and Mines and the Center for Cyber Security Research, it is also being jointly held by IEEE, a technical professional organization.

"UND is the only institution that has an IEEE annual event for cyber security," he said.

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The Cyber Awareness and Research Symposium, taking place Monday, Oct. 27 to Thursday, Oct. 30, at the UND Memorial Union will feature authors of peer-reviewed papers, a cyber security competition for university and high school teams, workshops, a career fair and talks by guest speakers.

The choice to hold the symposium in October is because it's Cyber Security Month, Ranganathan said. It is a student-oriented event not only to promote cyber security practices, but also to recruit students to programs such as cyber security, cyber security engineering and artificial intelligence.

"I'm doing this to help promote UND at the national level and to make sure that we are doing whatever we can to have the community aware of whatever they need to know about cyber security," he said.

AI has been a rising topic at UND. At the State of the University address, President Andrew Armacost said one of the goals for this year is for UND to become the AI university for North Dakota and thus become a national example of how AI can be adopted. He said it will involve public-private partnerships, working with people across campus and preparing students to go into the world as AI progresses.

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Though the symposium is focused on the connection between AI and cyber security, Armacost said there is an "extraordinary interest in the humanities and the liberal arts about understanding AI."

"How does it transform the expectations of what students in those disciplines should be able to do? How does it impact their career prospects by having that understanding? And, most importantly, how do you take  this is probably the key point  how do you pick the mindset of a humanist or a philosopher or somebody in the liberal arts and actually influence the direction of AI based on that understanding of humanity," Armacost said. "I do think that universities like ours will be a guiding force in the long term direction of this new AI industry."

The research environment for cyber security is growing, Raganathan said, and UND has received a grant for cyber security efforts to protect substations in partnership with Minnkota Power. He expressed his gratitude for all of the sponsors that make the event possible, including those within the community and other departments at UND.

"Without the support of UND's community, we can't do this," he said.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV)  Two men have been arrested and charged after reportedly trafficking cocaine in Beaufort County.

The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office (BCSO), in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), has arrested Xavier Alexander Rosa-Cabrera, 41, and Rey-Agustin Zamora-Perez, 38.

Officials said Zamora-Perez is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.

Their arrest came after a months-long investigation where undercover agents made contact with the two individuals, which ended in an undercover purchase of cocaine. Following the arrest, BCSO executed search warrants at Rosa-Cabrera and Zamora-Perezs residence in Hilton Head Island.

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Approximately four kilograms of cocaine and $25,000 in cash were seized from the residence. The suspects have been charged with sale and distribution of cocaine and trafficking of cocaine.

(Left to right) Xavier Alexander Rosa-Cabrera, 41, and Rey-Agustin Zamora-Perez, 38.

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Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy machinery are crippling Gaza Citys efforts to clear debris and rebuild critical infrastructure, the citys mayor says, as tens of thousands of tonnes of unexploded Israeli bombs threaten lives across the Gaza Strip.

In a Sunday news conference, Mayor Yahya al-Sarraj said Gaza City requires at least 250 heavy vehicles and 1,000 tonnes of cement to maintain water networks and construct wells.

Al Jazeeras Hind Khoudary, reporting from az-Zawayda in Gaza, said only six trucks had entered the territory.

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At least 9,000 Palestinians remain buried under the rubble. But the new equipment is being prioritised for recovering the remains of Israeli captives, rather than assisting Palestinians in locating their loved ones still trapped beneath rubble.

Palestinians say they know there wont be any developments in the ceasefire until the bodies of all the Israeli captives are returned, Khoudary said.

Footage circulating on social media showed Red Cross vehicles arriving after meetings with Hamass armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, to guide them to the location of an Israeli captive in southern Rafah.

An Israeli government spokesperson said that to search for captives remains, the Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been permitted beyond the ceasefires yellow line, which allows Israel to retain control over 58 percent of the besieged enclave.

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Al Jazeeras Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, said Israel spent two weeks insisting that Hamas knew the locations of all the captives bodies.

Two weeks into that, Israel has now allowed Egyptian teams and heavy machinery to enter the Gaza Strip to assist in the mammoth task of removing debris, of trying to get to the tunnels or underneath the homes or structures that the captives were held in and killed in, she said.

Odeh added that Hamas had been unable to access a tunnel for two weeks due to the damage caused by Israeli bombing. That change of policy is coming without explanation from Israel, she said, noting that the Red Cross and Hamas have also been allowed to help locate potential burial sites under the rubble.





Netanyahu: We control Gaza

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to reassert political authority at home, saying that Israel controls which foreign forces may operate in Gaza.

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We control our own security, and we have made clear to international forces that Israel will decide which forces are unacceptable to us  and that is how we act and will continue to act, he said. This is, of course, accepted by the United States, as its most senior representatives expressed in recent days.

Odeh explained that Netanyahus statements are intended to reassure the far-right base in Israel, which thinks hes no longer calling the shots.

Those currently overseeing the ceasefire do not appear to be Israeli soldiers or army leadership, she explained, with Washington requesting that Israel notify it ahead of time of any attack that Israel might be planning to conduct inside Gaza.

Odeh noted that Israels insistence on controlling which foreign actors operate in Gaza  combined with the limited access for reconstruction  underscores a broader strategy to maintain political support at home.





Unexploded bombs a threat

Reconstruction in Gaza faces further obstacles from unexploded ordnance. Nicholas Torbet, Middle East director at HALO Trust in the United Kingdom, said Gaza is essentially one giant city where every part has been struck by explosives.

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Some munitions are designed to linger, but what were concerned about in Gaza is ordnance that is expected to explode upon impact but hasnt, he told Al Jazeera.

Torbet said clearing explosives is slowing the reconstruction process. His teams plan to work directly within communities to safely remove bombs rather than marking off large areas indefinitely. The best way to dispose of a bomb is to use a small amount of explosives to blow it up, he explained.

Torbet added that the necessary equipment is relatively simple and can be transported in small vehicles or by hand, and progress is beginning to take place.

The scale of explosives dropped by Israel has left Gaza littered with deadly remnants.

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Mahmoud Basal, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Civil Defence, told Al Jazeera that Israel dropped at least 200,000 tonnes of explosives on the territory, with roughly 70,000 tonnes failing to detonate.

Yahya Shorbasi, who was injured by an unexploded ordnance along with his six-year-old twin sister Nabila, lies on a bed at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Saturday, October 25, 2025 [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP]

Children have been particularly affected, often mistaking bombs for toys. Al Jazeeras Ibrahim al-Khalili reported the case of seven-year-old Yahya Shorbasi and his sister Nabila, who were playing outside when they found what appeared to be a toy.

They found a regular childrens toy  just an ordinary one. The girl was holding it. Then the boy took it and started tapping it with a coin. Suddenly, we heard the sound of an explosion. It went off in their hands, their mother Latifa Shorbasi told Al Jazeera.

Yahyas right arm had to be amputated, while Nabila remains in intensive care.

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Dr Harriet, an emergency doctor at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, described the situation as a public health catastrophe waiting to unfold. She said children are being injured by items that look harmless  toys, cans, or debris  but are actually live explosives.

United Nations Mine Action Service head Luke David Irving said 328 people have already been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance since October 2023.

Tens of thousands of tonnes of bombs, including landmines, mortar rounds, and large bombs capable of flattening concrete buildings, remain buried across Gaza. Basal said clearing the explosives could take years and require millions of dollars.

For Palestinians, the situation is a race against time. Al Jazeeras Khoudary said civilians are pressing for faster progress: They want reconstruction, they want freedom of movement, and they want to see and feel that the ceasefire is going to make it.




On October 24, Ambassador Wang Qing attended the the Flag Raising & Wreath Laying Ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations hosted by the Sierra Leonean government. H.E. President Julius Maada Bio and his spouse, UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone Ms. SeraphineWakana, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ms. Francess Piagie Alghali, and over 500 representatives from various sectors including cabinet ministers, parliamentarians, military generals and diplomatic missions were present.





On behalf of foreign diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Wang laid wreaths to the Sierra Leonean personnel who sacrificed their lives while participating in UN peacekeeping and other operations. He said that as a founding member of the United Nations, China has always actively participated in global affairs. China is willing to work with all countries, including Sierra Leone, to uphold the lofty ideals of the United Nations, promote the spirit of multilateralism, actively implement the four Global Initiatives, jointly contribute to world peace and development, and continuously move towards the goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind.




MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The fight to raise teacher pay is ongoing in Union County. One parent says she and other parents have been advocating for the last three-and a-half years to put more money in teachers pockets.

Its great that they advocate and say that theyre number one in the state, but theres still a massive divide saying that when you are rising every year in your standards and in your placing in the state, its important that you advocate and pay your teachers, said Jen Sanders, a parent and teachers union advocate.

Sick-Out in Union County: Teachers skip school over bonus dispute

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On Wednesday, 700 teachers in Union County Public Schools called out sick in response to a bonus allocation that fell short of promises. The school board originally requested $14.6 million to fund the $2,000 supplemental increase  about $100 more a month.

For me, $1,000 isnt enough. $2,000 Is not enough. It should be a minimum, Sanders said. It should be a minimum of $5,000. I would say, as a stipend to go on top of the increase that we already have.

On Friday, Union County Board of Educations chair sent a letter to the countys Board of Commissioners saying it was disappointed in how the commission publicly misrepresented the board of educations oversight and management of the FY 2026 local budget.

The letter ended with a request to include the $14.6 million funding request in the next county commissioners meeting agenda for consideration.

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The county commission board chair responded to the letter saying it agreed to a $1,000 increase in June and a $2,000 increase would raise taxes.

But it did not respond directly to the request to add the funding request to the next meeting agenda.

How about take some initiative and do a tax increase and do it based on the homes? Im not asking a straight across Im going to charge you $150 a year in taxes,, no, go across what your home values are, Sanders explained. We have very poverty-stricken areas all throughout Union County and a property and tax would be really hard for those families. Its equivalent of taxing the rich, right? Nobody wants to do it, but it has to happen. For me, if you had a county that was willing to stand up for public education, since UCPS is their number one employer in the whole county, then asking for a small tax increase to help fund the teachers.

But commissioners say the $2,000 supplement increase would move the teacher supplement from No. 37 to 18th in the state.

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By paying taxes that cover UCPS, then it helps the city, which is our county commissioners, it helps them budget and it helps us be able to resell our houses, and it also helps us keep our children local because when you build a stronger community, they want to stay and wont go, Sanders said.

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China and the United States have moved closer to resolving their tariff dispute, according to a senior Chinese official and US media.

Both sides have reached a preliminary agreement, said Li Chenggang, vice minister of commerce, following talks with the US delegation.

The accord must still undergo internal approval processes on both sides, Li added, although he provided no further details.

The Wall Street Journal quoted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as saying that a "successful framework" had been established ahead of the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on Thursday.

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It remains unclear whether the two leaders will announce a formal resolution of the trade dispute. Time is short, as the additional tariffs announced by Trump are set to take effect on November 1.

Over the weekend, China and the US held the fifth round of trade talks in Malaysia aimed at resolving the months-long conflict.

Discussions focused on issues including China's export controls on rare earths and US tariffs on Chinese imports.
By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -As Republican and Democratic lawmakers trade blame for the U.S. government shutdown, some have begun to worry that the impasse is ceding their authority over federal spending to an increasingly assertive President Donald Trump.

The White House during the shutdown has frozen billions of dollars in funds meant for Democratic-led jurisdictions, sought to lay off thousands of federal workers and shifted money around to guarantee that military personnel and gun-carrying law enforcement officers will not see their pay disrupted.

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Nonpartisan observers said that further marginalizes Congress at a time when Trump is already pushing the boundaries of presidential power in other areas, like military action and international trade.

"That's like an existential threat for congressional power," said Molly Reynolds, a government expert at the nonpartisan Brookings Institution think tank. "How do you negotiate a longer-term spending deal, something that goes more than just a couple of weeks, when you don't believe the executive branch is going to implement whatever choices it is that you put into that law?"

The U.S. Constitution assigns the power of the purse to Congress and not the president. Trump's fellow Republicans narrowly control both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The shutdown began on October 1, the first day of the 2026 federal fiscal year, because congressional Republicans and Democrats had failed to agree on legislation to fund government services.

Democrats have said they will not vote to resume federal funding unless Congress also addresses subsidies for 24 million Americans due to expire at the end of the calendar year. Republicans have said Congress first must pass a temporary spending bill that would allow the government to reopen.

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A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 50% of Americans blame Republicans, while 43% blame Democrats.

Though Democrats have framed the fight over healthcare costs, some have said they are reluctant to pass a spending bill without assurances that Trump will not simply ignore it.

"We can't do an appropriations deal and have the president then just start firing more people and cutting programs," Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told Reuters.

Republicans often have remained silent this year as Trump has unilaterally raised tariffs, taken military action and shifted spending, actions that typically would be the domain of Congress. Some Republicans said they understand the concerns raised by the Democrats.

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"If I were the Democrats, I'd be requiring a lot of public commitment or statutory language to be sure that it is a hard commitment," Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told reporters.

Democrats have focused much of their invective on White House budget director Russell Vought, chief architect of the White House funding strategy. Trump appeared to relish their consternation last week, celebrating the budget director's actions and likening him to "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader.

Democrats also have said Trump is overstepping his authority by making sure pay is not disrupted during the shutdown for military troops and immigration and law enforcement officials, while letting other federal workers go unpaid.

"We want a bill that provides for fair payment to all of them, not just Trump's personal favorites," Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told Reuters.

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With Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson keeping his chamber out of session and Senate Democrats unwilling to support a temporary spending bill, Republicans are concerned that the shutdown is preventing Congress from passing the detailed spending bills that fund government agencies for the current fiscal year.

"It's damaging to Congress in general. We're not doing our job, and we need to start doing it," Republican Representative Mike Simpson of Montana told Reuters. "We are running out of time."

Simpson called the unilateral White House action to withhold spending unconstitutional.

Other Republicans have said they could support legislation that would simply extend funding for a longer period and give the White House authority to determine which programs get funded.

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"We trust the president and Russ Vought to do good work if the Democrats aren't going to let us get appropriations bills done," Representative Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus, told reporters.

(Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Will Dunham)
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (AP)  A U.S. warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago 's capital Sunday as the Trump administration boosts military pressure on neighboring Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro.

The arrival of the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, in the capital of the Caribbean nation is in addition to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which is moving closer to Venezuela. Maduro criticized the movement of the carrier as an attempt by the U.S government to fabricate "a new eternal war against his country.

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Maduro, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organized crime gang Tren de Aragua.

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Government officials from the twin-island nation and the U.S. said the massive warship will remain in Trinidad until Thursday so both countries can carry out training exercises.

A senior military official in Trinidad and Tobago told The Associated Press that the move was only recently scheduled. The official spoke under condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has been a vocal supporter of the U.S. military presence and the deadly strikes on suspected drug boats in waters off Venezuela.

U.S. Embassy Charge dAffaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz said in a statement that the exercises seek to "address shared threats like transnational crime and build resilience through training, humanitarian missions, and security efforts.

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On Sunday, Venezuela said the dangerous conduct of military exercises in the waters of a neighboring country constitute a serious threat to the Caribbean region and a hostile provocation toward the South American nation, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The visit by the warship comes one week after the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago warned Americans to stay away from U.S. government facilities there. Local authorities said a reported threat against Americans prompted the warning.

Many people in Trinidad and Tobago criticize the warship's docking in town.

At a recent demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy, David Abdulah, the leader of the Movement for Social Justice political party, said Trinidad and Tobago should not have allowed the warship into its waters.

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This is a warship in Trinidad, which will be anchored here for several days just miles off Venezuela when theres a threat of war, he said. Thats an abomination.

Caricom, a regional trade bloc made up of 15 Caribbean countries, has called for dialogue. Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the group, but Persad-Bissessar has said the region is not a zone of peace, citing the number of murders and other violent crimes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making headlines for something thats not typically in its lane: finger-pointing.

Over the weekend, the agency posted a sharply worded message on its official website blaming Democrats for the looming suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or food stamps  a cutoff that could affect nearly 42 million Americans  as the government shutdown drags on.

Its considered rare for a federal agency to issue such an overtly political statement, especially in the middle of a shutdown. Traditionally, agencies provide factual updates on program funding rather than assigning political blame.

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The message is already raising legal and ethical questions under the Hatch Act, a little-known law designed to keep taxpayer resources from being used for political purposes. Heres a closer look.

What did the USDA say?

On Saturday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture posted a new message on its website blaming Democrats for the looming suspension of food stamp benefits. The agency said the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will stop issuing benefits starting Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry, the unsigned message posted on the USDAs official website reads.

A banner on the USDA website says SNAP benefits will not go out on November 1.



Bottom line, the well has run dry.



An agency memo yesterday said the USDA will not use contingency funds for Nov. benefits: https://t.co/7cYH2HCEqm pic.twitter.com/8h9zFKSiy8  Leah Douglas (@leahjdouglas) October 26, 2025

The message goes on to accuse Democrats (without evidence) of prioritizing healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures over reopening the government  a strikingly political statement for a federal agency website.

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Democratic leaders havent yet responded to the USDAs statement. But theyve pushed back on similar rhetoric in recent days: Earlier this month, a group of Democratic senators blasted Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem for requesting a 30-second video blaming Democrats for the shutdown be played in U.S. airports  as TSA agents and air traffic controllers work without pay.

Whats at stake?

The fight over food assistance is shaping up to be one of the most immediate and painful consequences of the shutdown.

On Friday, the USDA said in a memo that it would withhold 5 to 6 billion dollars in SNAP contingency funding if the shutdown continues into November. It claims that using the funding for a foreseeable event like a shutdown  rather than emergencies such as natural disasters  would violate the law. This contradicts an earlier shutdown plan, which has since been deleted, which read, Congressional intent is evident that SNAPs operation should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown.

SNAP is the nations largest federal nutrition assistance program. If benefits are halted on Nov. 1, millions of households could face immediate gaps in access to food, and states may be forced to scramble for emergency resources  and the USDA recently said it would not reimburse states for tapping into their own funding for food aid.

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Prominent Democrats are slamming the USDAs refusal to release the funds. It is a disgusting dereliction of duty that the Trump administration would knowingly rip food out of the mouths of 42 million children, seniors, and veterans, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. Sen. Amy Klobuchar also weighed in, calling the decision unacceptable.

Choosing not to feed Americans in need is unacceptable.



The Administration knows it can use emergency funds for SNAP paymentsit even deleted the memo posted on its website saying it could.



They are choosing to inflict pain on families.https://t.co/U8JhKCb4XT  Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) October 25, 2025

What is the Hatch Act?

The Hatch Act of 1939  named after its sponsor, Democratic Sen. Carl Hatch of New Mexico  is a little-known law that draws a clear line between government work and politics. It bars most federal employees  and some state and local workers whose jobs are funded with federal money  from using their official positions to influence an election. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel notes on its website that except for the President and Vice President, all federal civilian executive branch employees are covered by the Hatch Act, including employees of the U.S. Postal Service.

That means they cant campaign, fundraise, or push political agendas while on the clock or in a government building. But theyre not completely shut out of the political process. They can still vote, share their personal opinions, and donate to candidates  just not in their official capacity. (For the record, some employees, like those at the Central Intelligence Agency or National Security Agency, face stricter limits and cant take an active role in campaigns or political management.)

If someone breaks the rules, the independent U.S. Office of Special Counsel steps in to investigate. And the consequences can range from a slap on the wrist, like a formal reprimand, to more serious penalties like a fine of up to $1,000 or even losing their job.

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While the Hatch Act of 1939 carries real penalties, enforcement often depends on whos involved. For senior political appointees like White House-commissioned officers and Senate-confirmed presidential appointees, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel can only recommend discipline to the president, which often means violations go unpunished.

Has it been violated before?

If the USDAs message is found to violate the Hatch Act of 1939, it wouldnt be the first. Over the years, the law has been broken repeatedly, even by some of Washingtons most prominent figures, both Republican and Democrat.

In 2019, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel concluded that then-White House counselor Kellyanne Conway had violated the law multiple times by using her official position (including on her social media account and in TV interviews) to disparage Democratic presidential candidates such as Joe Biden, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren. The OSC even recommended that she be removed from federal service, but Trump declined to act.

Shes far from the only one. In 2021, the OSC found that Conway and 12 other senior Trump administration officials  including senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  violated the Hatch Act in the run-up to the 2020 presidential election by taking part in political events on White House grounds during the 2020 Republican National Convention. But because they were political appointees, the OSC could only recommend discipline to the president and Trump took no action, meaning none of them faced penalties.

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On the other side of the aisle, Kathleen Sebelius, Health and Human Services secretary under Barack Obama, was found to have violated the Hatch Act in 2012 after making extemporaneous partisan remarks during a speech in her official capacity. The Obama administration responded by reclassifying the event as political and reimbursing the government for its costs, and Sebelius faced no formal disciplinary action.

And in 2016, then-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro was cited for praising Hillary Clintons campaign during an official interview. Like Sebelius, Castro received no penalty beyond a public rebuke, since the U.S. Office of Special Counsel can only recommend discipline for cabinet officials.

Whats next?

Its unclear whether the USDA statement will trigger a formal investigation. But if the shutdown stretches beyond Nov. 1, millions of SNAP recipients could lose benefits almost immediately, turning up the heat on lawmakers to strike a deal.

The post USDA Blames Democrats as SNAP Cutoff Looms: The Well Has Run Dry appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
The U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) website has placed an advisory blaming Senate Democrats for the impending absence of food assistance benefits on its website.

Starting Nov. 1, it is likely that more than 40 million low-income beneficiaries will not receive aid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The USDA, which runs the program, is threatening to withhold between $5 billion and $6 billion in SNAP contingency funding if the government shutdown lasts until next month.

Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01, the advisory says. It adds that Senate Democrats are approaching an inflection point, as the government shutdown continues into its 26th day.

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[Senate Democrats] can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance, the advisory says.

The shutdown has continued amid Senate Democrats attempts to permanently extend subsidies offered under the Affordable Care Act. If the credits expire at the end of this year, premium payments for millions are set to increase, with the effects already being felt in some states.

Numerous states have warned residents that funding for November SNAP benefits is set to run out. The federal government shares the cost of administering the program with states, while states operate their own programs.

SNAP funding is allocated to states monthly, with roughly $8 billion due next month. In a memo, first reported by Axios, the USDA argued the contingency funds can only be used to respond to unforeseen events, such as natural disasters.

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On Friday, hours after the USDA threatened to withhold funding, congressional Democrats slammed the administration.

It is a disgusting dereliction of duty that the Trump administration would knowingly rip food out of the mouths of 42 million children, seniors and veterans, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.

Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa) introduced a bill on Friday to fund the SNAP program during the shutdown. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced a similar bill in the Senate on Tuesday.

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How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

I started seeing a guy whos been an acquaintance for a long time. I lightly knew one of his exes, and have seen and trust how he acts around women. Hes a lot bigger than average. Not in the Guinness book of World Records, but definitely unusual. He told me early in dating that in college, he injured his girlfriend having sex the first time. They had to go to the ER. It sounded awful, and Im so glad shes OKit was the story of two kids who didnt know what they were doing, not a story of abuse. He told me if I didnt want to see him anymore after hearing that, he would understand.

Were still dating, and hes fun and smart and caring and interesting. But the sex 

Its hot, but theres never penetration. Lots of fingering, toys, mutual oral. But hes convinced that unless we spend months with fingering and toys and stretching and practice, hes going to hurt me. Hes hot and generous in bed, and I would get it if this were a kink thing, but it feels like hes scared of his own body. How do I talk to him about this without smashing his boundaries? Im seriously considering asking him to go to therapy about his dick.

Its Not a Weapon

Dear Its Not a Weapon,

I agree with you (with a caveat). I think he should take up therapy for his relationship with dick if the trauma of hurting his ex has stayed with him and affected his sex life. Maybe through therapy, he could come to the understanding that hes not going to literally bust every vagina he enters. But this is merely one possibility. Another is that he might effectively be a side at this pointthat is, someone who doesnt particularly enjoy or engage in penetration. This is a term relatively common among queer guys and it generally describes those who are into oral and/or manual but not anal. Im not sure how widespread it is among straight(ish) people, but this could be an identification thing for him. In that case, knowing what apparently set him on the journey to that kind of orientation/positioning doesnt make the destination any less real.

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You should at least entertain the notion that there may be nothing to fix herelots of fingering, toys, and mutual oral are likely things he enjoys otherwise he wouldnt be so hot, generous, and thorough. And that might be it for him. This wouldnt be so much a kink as just how he is.

I would talk to him by saying something along the lines of, PIV is important to medo you think that were working up to that? The idea is to take the temperature on what expectations are reasonable and make sure he isnt just putting off intercourse until the eleventieth of Mayvember. Is this spending months with fingering and toys and stretching and practice an actual process of his, or is it just his way of delaying what actually isnt inevitable at all? I would ask him about past relationships and what amount of time/practice he needs in order to feel comfortable. If after these conversations, youre convinced that this guy does actually want inside your vagina one day, you can work with him on how best to make him comfortable enough to get there. Perhaps you propose riding him, that way he can be passive and you can show him how much you can and want to take. A scenario in which you explicitly have that kind of agency may relax him a bit. If he is firm that this is indeed a process and it will involve time, decide if you can ride this out. Good, big dick may very well be worth waiting for.

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Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit

Dear How to Do It,

In the past when my wife gave me a blow job, she would swallow. About a year ago she said she no longer wanted to do that. I dont really care what she does. The issue is that almost immediately after I finish, she springs away and runs to the bathroom to spit out the cum. Then jumps back to bed. This kind of kills the mood. Any advice for another disposal method for her?

Doing and Release

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Dear Doing and Release,

I think she should have the ultimate say in what she does with the cum that she so considerately has extracted from you. Im having a hard time buying your mood killer point. Unless youre going multiple rounds, back-to-back, your orgasm is perhaps the greatest mood killer as the refractory period kicks in and makes you less interested in sex for a period, anyway. If running to the bathroom for whatever reason is her preferred method of disposal, accept it. Its better to get a blow job that involves spitting than it is to get no blow job at all, right?

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If she isnt particularly married to this way of voiding your cum, figure out what would be less disappointing to you and request it. Maybe youd like it if she spit it back out on you/over your dick. Maybe she spits it in your mouth. Maybe its as simple as having an empty cup or washcloth near the bed for her to transfer it to. You can certainly ask for all this. Its best if you explain why and I think you are going to have to be more specific than, It kind of kills the mood. Do you find it somehow unkind or indicative of rejection? Do you need that cuddle time? Figure out exactly whats bothering you and youll have an easier time pleading your case.

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Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace

The columnists behind our advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!

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Dear How to Do it,

I am a 32-year-old gay man who is not out to my extremely conservative family. For the last eight months I have been seeing Parker, who I am starting to envision building a life with. The trouble is that I have no idea about how (or if) I should broach this with my family. Aside from my sister, Im pretty sure they would all disown me. Parker thinks we should be up front with them and let the chips fall where they may. We live in a major metro and have strong ties to the local LGBTQ+ community in addition to his family, who have been wonderful. Should I go with his suggestion?

Itching to Be Out

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Dear Itching to Be Out,

Coming out is an individual process, and its imperative that you move at your own pace. You only get one life and its accompanying narrative; you should retain as much control of it as possible. I understand Parkers point (of course I do, Im out myself), but he should not be applying pressure or coercion here. If you notice his guidance crosses the line from support to something a bit more domineering, thats a red flag. Give him grace and allow for tonal imperfection, but make sure he is respecting you and your process along the way.

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You also havent been seeing Parker for very long, so declaring your love (if youre even using that word at this point) to your family may be a bit premature. I know that when you know, you know, and Id be a hypocrite if I told you its too early to mention this partner to your family, but its certainly early enough that you arent obligated to mention him. Starting to envision building a life with is different than building a life with is different than maintaining a life with. While it seems inevitable that you will want to tell your family about how you live and love, you do not have to do it now. Ripping the Band-aid off and getting it over with might be the most efficient move but its certainly not the only one.

Keep in mind that your family may reject you, but maybe not. Sometimes knowing a person whos queer is all it takes to change hearts and minds. The uncertainty is daunting, and one thing that coming out will do is quash that. Even the worst-case scenario may bring a sense of relief.

Rich
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Trade talks between the United States and China were moving towards a point where President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping can have a productive meeting this week, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. Asked by a reporter if rare earths were discussed at the talks, which started on Saturday, Greer said a broad range of topics were discussed, including extending the truce on trade measures. "I think that we're getting to a spot where the leaders will have a very productive meeting," he said. Trump and Xi are expected to meet on Thursday in South Korea, at the end of the U.S. President's five-day trip to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. Trump landed in the Malaysian capital on Sunday morning, shortly before Greer spoke, to attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and witness the signing of a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Writing by John Mair; Editing by Tom Hogue)
NEED TO KNOW

Delmar Barney is accused of trying to set his ex-wife Katey's home on fire on three occasions

Barney was arrested after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail into her window as her children slept inside

He is charged with attempted murder and aggravated arson

A Utah man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to burn his ex-wife's house down on multiple occasions.

Delmar Barney was arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder and three counts of aggravated arson, according to reports from KSL, Fox 13 and Gephardt Daily.

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KSL reported, citing police, that it all began with a fire on Sept. 11, discovered outside the home of Barney's ex-wife in Richfield, Utah.

Katey Barney, Delmar's ex-wife, told Fox 13, that she wasn't home at the time of the first fire, but that her kids were.

So I called my babysitter who was with my kids," Katey told the station. "I said, 'Can you just go look outside and see if anythings on fire?'

The first fire went out on its own, she reportedly said. Afterward, Katey told the outlet she installed security cameras.

Days later, KSL reported that another fire started outside the home, about which Katey also spoke to Fox 13.

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I got woken up to a big loud bang and heard some scuffling," she told Fox 13. "I could smell gas and then smoke, seen the fire and then called 911.

Police told Fox 13 that on a third occasion, the suspect seemed to notice the camera and left without starting a fire. But, according to the outlets, the suspect would return.

Citing police, KSL, ABC 4 and Fox 13 reported that on Sept. 22, Delmar Barney allegedly came back a fourth time and threw a Molotov cocktail into Katey's bedroom while her children were sleeping.

Its a miracle shes okay," Richfield police Chief Trent Lloyd told Fox 13. "Were lucky that no one was hurt."

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ABC 4, citing court documents, said that she recognized the suspect's walk, which was caught on camera, as her ex-husband's, leading to his arrest.

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.

Jail records indicate that Delmar Barney was taken into custody in Sevier County.

Katey had already had a protective order against Delmar, KSL reported.

"I know arson cases are really hard to solve sometimes, but Im glad that they were able to get enough to make an arrest," she told ABC 4. "And I can rest solidly easier knowing that its not going to happen anymore."



Read the original article on People
Theres a surprising new star in Utahs agricultural industry, and it might be sitting in a vase somewhere in your home.

The cut flower business is booming, accounting for about $1.3 million in state tax revenue in 2021, while Utah has gained an average of 30 new flower farms every year since 2018, as the number of farms jumped from 15 to 199 in seven years, according to a new report led by Utah State University researchers.

Its blossoming because many flowers cant be shipped into the state because theyre prone to damage, and many of the ones that can are now rising in cost because of tariffs, said Brian Steed, executive director of USUs Janet Quinny Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University. Meanwhile, it shows that agriculture can remain profitable on smaller landscapes.

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You see a huge growth in this industry here in the state. ... The cut flower industry growing in greenhouses actually provides more revenue stream than strawberries or peppers, which I never would have thought, he said, as he summarized new findings included in the institutes report for the governor and Utah Legislature last week.

The annual report outlines more than just flowers, though.

It highlights other recent trends and research across the environmental spectrum in the state, and it also describes some of the largest needs on the horizon, such as breaking down the states anticipated energy needs. It puts the spotlight on upcoming issues, as well, like pointing out that there are still more than 100 high-hazard dams in the state that need costly rehabilitation to avoid the disaster of them failing.

The point, Steed said, is to provide state lawmakers with as much data as possible to help them make policy decisions on the smallest to largest environmental topics.

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What were trying to do is to unite the best information with those who need it the most, he said. That way, we can inform policy because its our mantra that good policy cannot happen without good data.

Whats also in this years report?

Energy demand

Theres a large new section on energy needs, coinciding with the launch of Utahs Operation Gigawatt and the big push to explore nuclear energy that came out of the 2025 legislative session. Nuclear energy, while still controversial, offers a carbon-free option to account for rapid population growth and many new data centers.

But turning to nuclear still requires water availability because it and some other new generation energy depend on secure and predictable water supplies, the USU report points out. Water is a completely different issue that Utah  and the West  has struggled with, especially during the two-decade-long megadrought.

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Utah is uniquely positioned for geothermal, solar and wind energy projects, too, which can help create a healthy generation mix to meet the high energy needs.

Water and growth

Water will likely continue to be a major issue beyond energy as the state grows and drought impacts the West. Most of the states water goes toward agriculture, and the report found that many local farmers and ranchers are eager to help conserve water but are often challenged by economic and development pressures.

Thats on top of the pressures caused by real estate seeking land for new development in the fast-growing region. The report puts the state in another tricky balance between the states constant needs for food and housing.

I think sometimes were putting growth ahead of the stability of everybody else who lives here, one farmer told researchers.

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The report suggests policies that make it easier for farmers to better save water while earning a fair return on their labors may help preserve water and the industry.

Wildlife overpasses

Over 4,300 unique visits among 34 different species were calculated on a wildlife overpass that the Utah Department of Transportation installed over Parleys Canyon between May 2020 and September 2024. About 98% of the deer and moose that attempted to use it, which accounted for the majority of these visits during that time, were able to make it across I-80 safely.

A bull moose crosses the wildlife overpass in Parleys Canyon. Researchers found that most moose and deer are able to use the bridge successfully since it was installed in 2018, reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions on I-80. | Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

That translates into safety and savings. The report estimates that $15 million in taxpayer savings will be generated over its lifetime because of the reduction in motor vehicle collisions along the freeway.

Its been quite successful, and I think its something that we can look for in other areas of the state, Steed said.

Air quality

The state has made substantial progress in reducing ozone-forming emissions over the Wasatch Front over the past two decades, but ozone levels remain stagnant or have increased because of other forces. These may include natural sources or emissions from elsewhere building up over the region, the report points out.

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A study launched last year seeks to better identify this trend, which may lead to new policy measures to combat the issue. In general, particulate matter hasnt increased despite the states growth, which is good, but ongoing challenges remain.

One of those is wildfire smoke. Researchers say that increasing wildfires create more complex air quality challenges than localized wintertime inversions. Thats because chemical composition varies within smoke, and it can worsen air quality for areas many miles away.

It shows why good policy is needed to address forest health, so wildfires are limited, Steed said.
South Africa's state-owned utility Eskom is moving forward with plans to expand nuclear generation, marking a major step toward the country's long-term clean energy goals.

IOL reported that the announcement followed government approval from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment.

The agency cleared the way for Eskom to add up to 4,000 megawatts of new nuclear capacity to its Duynefontein Nuclear Plant  roughly the output of four large reactors.

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The expansion will align with the government's forthcoming Integrated Resource Plan, which will determine South Africa's future energy mix and outline how nuclear power fits alongside renewables and coal phaseouts.

While the plan represents progress toward energy diversification, it has also drawn criticism.

The Koeberg Alert Alliance argues that the 2007 Environmental Impact Assessment used to approve the expansion is outdated.

"It is of note that the EIA consultants found that Duynefontein was not the best site for a new plant, due to seismic risks and population density in the area," said Peter Becker, a group spokesperson.

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Becker urged the government to reassess the site in light of population growth and cleaner alternatives. Still, some experts view nuclear power as an essential bridge in the transition away from coal.

Des Muller, managing director of NuEnergy Developments, said the sites "are both licensed for 4,000MW" and could later accommodate Small Modular Reactors  compact systems that don't require ocean cooling.

"SMRs are also ideal to repurpose our retired coal power stations and keep those communities sustained and contributing to our economy," Muller commented.

However, critics continue to highlight nuclear's high costs, safety risks, and waste management challenges, urging stronger investment in renewables.

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The debate reflects a crossroads in the clean energy transition, one that's testing how countries can meet rising electricity demands while cutting the carbon pollution that is contributing to our planet's overheating.

Still, as South Africa faces rolling blackouts and aging infrastructure, nuclear power could help provide steady, low-carbon electricity to balance intermittent solar and wind sources.

Advocates argue that expanding nuclear capacity can improve energy security and reduce dependence on dirty energy sources like oil and gas.

"These regions will also experience economic prosperity during the build and the 60 years of operation and maintenance, as well as from the energy security they will enjoy," Muller remarked.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.






Vice President Vance criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdanis remarks on Islamophobia in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks, Vance said Saturday on the social platform X, responding to a video of Mamdanis comments shared by a user on the social platform.

Mamdani, during an address on Islamophobia on Saturday, referenced his late aunt, whom he said stopped taking the city subway after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks because she felt unsafe while wearing her hijab.

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The Hill has reached out to Mamdanis campaign and the vice presidents office for further comment.

Mamdanis remarks came after independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo laughed at radio host Sid Rosenbergs suggestion last week that the Democratic nominee would be cheering if an incident similar to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks happened today.

God forbid, another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat? Cuomo said on WABCs Sid & Friends in the Morning.

I could, hed be cheering, Rosenberg replied.

Ha ha. Thats another problem, Cuomo responded.

Mamdani called the exchange disgusting on X, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), who is backing the 33-year-old State Assembly member, said on the same platform that fear-mongering, hate speech and Islamophobia are beneath New York.

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According to a report from the Department of Justice a decade after the attacks, the FBI reported a 1,600 percent increase in Islamophobic hate crime incidents in 2001, nearly reaching 500. Through 2010, between 100 and 200 anti-Muslim hate crimes occurred annually, according to the FBI data.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Police in Vancouver are asking the publics help in finding the suspect in a random assault on a jogger which happened Sunday morning.

At around 7:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of an assault of a woman jogging in the 1100 block of Southeast 99th Avenue.

E. coli case confirmed in Oregon came from Washington cheese, OHA says

Just minutes before, officials said the woman told police that a man riding a bike had approached her from behind, grabbed her genital area, then pushed her to the ground where she hit her head.

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After a struggle on the ground, police said the woman was able to fight off the man, who rode away on his bike.

No serious physical injuries were reported.

Authorities say footage from a nearby video camera captured the suspect, described as a white man in his late teens or early twenties, 57, wearing black jeans and a grey hoodie, and riding a bike.

Given the random nature of the attack, community members in that area should use extra caution and consider walking or running with another person, police said.

Anyone with information on the suspects identity is encouraged to contact Vancouver Police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro has said the United States government is fabricating a war against him as Washington sent the worlds biggest warship towards the South American country.

It signals a major escalation of the USs military presence in the region amid speculation of an attempt to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

Maduro said in a national broadcast on Friday night that US President Donald Trumps administration is fabricating a new eternal war as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, which can host up to 90 aeroplanes and attack helicopters, moves closer to Venezuela.

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Trump has accused him, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organised crime gang Tren de Aragua.

They are fabricating an extravagant narrative, a vulgar, criminal and totally fake one, Maduro added. Venezuela is a country that does not produce cocaine leaves.





Tren de Aragua, which traces its roots to a Venezuelan prison, is not known for having a big role in global drug trafficking but for its involvement in contract killings, extortion and people smuggling.

Maduro was widely accused of stealing last years election in Venezuela, and countries, including the US, have called for him to go.

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Tensions are mounting in the region, with Trump saying he has authorised CIA operations in Venezuela and that he is considering ground attacks against alleged drug cartels in the Caribbean country.

Since September 2, US forces have bombed 10 boats, with eight of the attacks occurring in the Caribbean, for their role in allegedly trafficking drugs into the US. At least 43 people have died in the attacks.

United Nations officials and scholars of international law have said that the strikes are in clear violation of US and international law and amount to extrajudicial executions.





Venezuelas Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Saturday the country is conducting military exercises to protect its coast against any potential covert operations.

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We are conducting an exercise that began 72 hours ago, a coastal defence exercise  to protect ourselves not only from large-scale military threats but also to protect ourselves from drug trafficking, terrorist threats and covert operations that aim to destabilise the country internally, Padrino said.

Venezuelan state television showed images of military personnel deployed in nine coastal states and a member of Maduros civilian militia carrying a Russian Igla-S shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile.

CIA is present not only in Venezuela but everywhere in the world, Padrino said. They may deploy countless CIA-affiliated units in covert operations from any part of the nation, but any attempt will fail.

Since August, Washington has deployed a fleet of eight US Navy ships, 10 F-35 warplanes and a nuclear-powered submarine for anti-drug operations, but Caracas maintains these manoeuvres mask a plan to overthrow the Venezuelan government.

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Maduro said on Saturday he had started legal proceedings to revoke the citizenship and cancel the passport of opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, whom he accuses of egging on an invasion.

Lopez, a well-known Venezuelan opposition figure who has been exiled in Spain since 2020, has publicly expressed his support for the deployment of US ships in the Caribbean and attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels.

The opposition leader reacted on his X account, dismissing the move because according to the Constitution, no Venezuelan born in Venezuela can have their nationality revoked. He once more expressed support for a US military deployment and military actions in the country.

Lopez spent more than three years in a military prison after participating in antigovernment protests in 2014. He was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison on charges of instigation and conspiracy to commit a crime.

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He was later granted house arrest and, after being released by a group of military personnel during a political crisis in Venezuela, left the country in 2020.

In the meantime, the US has also put Colombias leadership in its crosshairs.

The US Department of the Treasury slapped sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and the South American countrys interior minister, Armando Benedetti.

Fridays decision marked a significant escalation in the ongoing feud between the left-wing Petro and his US counterpart, the right-wing Trump.

In a statement, the US Treasury accused Petro of failing to rein in Colombias cocaine industry and of shielding criminal groups from accountability.

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The Treasury cited Petros Total Peace plan, an initiative designed to bring an end to Colombias six-decade-long internal conflict through negotiations with armed rebels and criminal organisations.

Petro, a prolific social media user, quickly shot back that the Treasurys decision was the culmination of longstanding Republican threats, including from US Senator Bernie Moreno, a critic of his presidency.
On the night of 25-26 October, Russia attacked Kyiv for the second time in twenty-four hours, killing three people and injuring 32. A drone strike caused a fire in an apartment building in the Desnianskyi district.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)

Details: Suspilne Kyiv reports that the attack hit the first floor of a building where Yelyzaveta lives. She said that her balcony on the fourth floor burned. The fire spread from the third to the sixth floors.

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Yelyzaveta said that immediately after the explosion, glass shattered and smoke filled her apartment. She, her husband, child and dog could not leave on their own and had to wait for rescue workers while breathing through wet towels.

"The smoke was very strong, everything shattered. It was very scary. Everything burned completely on the first, second and third floors. We barely got out," Yelyzaveta said.

Nearby resident Illia told journalists that he was awake during the strike.

"I heard the sounds of a Shahed drone, then a powerful blast. My car was parked where the fire engine is now. I told my wife to check on the car. She said it was damaged," Illia said.

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He described seeing heavy smoke rise in the first minutes after the strike and emergency workers evacuating a child who had been injured. In total, 13 people were rescued from the upper floors.

"The screams were very loud. Such a fire, such an explosion. Maybe something caught fire or there was a gas blast," Illia added.

In the same district, a 16-storey residential building was damaged by a drone strike where windows were shattered from the ground to the eights floors. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported partial damage to the facade and floor structures between the fifth and seventh floors.

The blast wave also damaged neighbouring buildings.

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"The neighbours' wall was blown out. The wave probably destroyed our walls too. Everything is in ruins. We heard a strong explosion. I was lying down, so the wave must have passed over me. My husband and I are safe, as is everyone in the building," said Liubov, a resident of the damaged residential building.

She added that emergency workers found UAV fragments in a neighbouring apartment, and its owner was taken to hospital.

Another resident told NV that he and his father survived a direct hit by a Shahed drone in their apartment, which caused walls, ceilings and floors to collapse.

"I was hit by a falling wall. My father had many cuts; an ambulance took him, but he's receiving help. It could have been much worse," he said.

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Journalist Andrii Tsapliienko reported that a mother and daughter died in Kyiv after suffocating from smoke while hiding in the bathroom during the Russian attack.

Background: Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 101 drones on the night of 25-26 October. Ukraine's Air Force reported that 90 of these drones had been shot down or jammed.

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WASHINGTON. (WEHT)  86 Tri-State veterans traveled to Washington DC today with Honor Flight of Southern Indiana.

They were able to visit the memorials dedicated to them and share their stories and experiences with other veterans. Eyewitness News Ann Powell was on that trip.

The schedule was packed. From the World War II memorial, to the Arlington, to Vietnam, veterans took time to reflect.

For some, certain experiences stood out more than others. Tom Isbill is a navy veteran and is one the veterans who got to help lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

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Well its a big honor that I didnt expect to get. Its something that Ill never forget, Isbill said. Its hard to explain how it feels, Makes you just feel good. It was a big deal.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
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In her review last year of the chic new Indian restaurant Bungalow in Manhattan, interim New York Times food critic Priya Krishna hopefully asked, Are we done with the butter-chicken era of Indian restaurants? It is the opening sentence, the seam from which the rest of the review drapes. Bungalow earned three stars for what it is (beautiful, playful, technically dazzling) but also for what it isnt, which is a restaurant that serves butter chicken. The lack of butter chicken means it is by South Asians, for South Asians. Butter chicken is the symbol, the synecdoche, of everything wrong with Indian food.

It has seemed lately that to be a successful Indian restaurant is to reject the dish, a spiced stew of chicken and tomato and cream that until very recently had been ubiquitous on most Indian restaurant menus. When restaurants like Passerine and Dhamaka opened in New York, or Shor Bazaar in L.A., they emphasized more specific, regional cuisines that were less common in the U.S., and reviewers were quick to note that meant no butter chicken. In an Instagram video, Navi New Indian in Germany invites diners to taste real India, which to them means No butter chicken. No glowing sauces. In a partnership with an A.I. company, Canadian comedian Pushpek Sidhu half jokes, half rants about white people refusing to eat anything but butter chicken, saying almost nobody in India eats it, and begging people to learn more about Indian food (the result being that A.I. can help make an app that will help them find other food. Sure.).

But in the midst of the rejection, there are also those who think butter chicken can be redeemed. Chicagos Roop, which serves an eight-course Indian tasting menu and more experimental dishes like sweet potato chaat with spinach tempura, has butter chicken on the menu, and offers an extra side of its sauce. Ila, also in Chicago, has butter chicken empanadas. Adda, run by the same team behind Dhamaka, has a Butter Chicken experience, a customizable, riotously fun tableside presentation where guests can choose from three infused butters to serve as the base of the sauce. And INDN, a new Manhattan cocktail bar, offers a butter chicken cocktail, made with mezcal and spiced with fenugreek and garam masala.

These offerings, however, are pitched as the real butter chicken. Or a more experimental version. Or just not what you get in a takeout curry shop, the thing Indian restaurateurs seem to still have to define themselves against. Butter chickens widespread popularity has made it, as Indian YouTuber Shuchir Suri puts it, a culinary diplomata role many South Asians didnt ask it to have. This has bred resentment and reaction; no matter what these chefs do, the specter of butter chicken is always hovering. What would it take to banish it? Or should that even be the goal?

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It should be noted that Sidhu is wrong about who eats butter chicken. The dish is incredibly popular in India, specifically around Delhi, where it was invented (though its exact origins are currently being disputed in the Delhi High Court). This is because butter chicken is really good. Its rich and comforting and its dominant flavors can be found in just about every cuisine around the world. But its true that, in many Western preparations, any Indian flairs like fenugreek or garam masala are typically muted under all that cream. In an interview with NPR, Indian food writer Pushpesh Pant says this adds up to the lowest common denominator for a non-Indian palate.

Mostly, when restaurants distance themselves from butter chicken, its because they want to do something else, whether thats highlight the specifics of different culinary traditions in South Asia, or just try something less familiar. Im not against butter chicken. I just want to do much more than that, says chef Chetan Shetty of Passerine, which serves dishes like scallion uttapam with comte cheese, and classic Lucknow beef nihari. These are dishes that, until recently, just have not been found on the majority of Indian menus in the U.S., which tended to focus on northern Indian and Punjabi curries. Slowly, new restaurants have educated the non-Indian public about the breadth of Indian cuisine.

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Shetty also notes that at around $40 an entree, or $140 for the restaurants tasting menu, your standard curry-house butter chicken just doesnt make sense on the menu. Why would you come so far and take so much effort to eat butter chicken at the end of the day? he says.

Butter chicken can be home-delivered, and it will be as good as it was in the restaurant.

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But even the most confident chefs tend to qualify the existenceor even the future possibilityof butter chicken in their kitchens. Shetty emphasizes that he likes good butter chicken, and that eventually he will put his take on his menu, though it wont look like what you find at the takeout place. And on its website, Adda has a whole FAQ about its Butter Chicken Experience. Butter chicken has become somewhat of a punchline, stripped of its nuance and reduced to an afterthought, they write, calling it popular but misunderstood. By using ingredients like heritage chicken, house-churned butter, and organic tomatoes, were reclaiming it, says Adda, returning depth, elegance, and spice to a dish that deserves a place at the table.

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Who does butter chicken need to be reclaimed from, such that it can be good or real? The unspoken enemy is white people, non-Indians, anyone who equates butter chicken and garlic naan with the entirety of Indian cuisine. But for Nakul Mahendro of Badmaash in L.A., Indians rejecting butter chicken because of its popularity is like an Italian being upset at marinara sauce.

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Mahendro and his brother, Arjun, opened Badmaash 12 years ago, at a time when, he admits, a lot of the butter chicken he found in the city was made with sugar and ketchup. They were one of the first places to start positioning Indian food toward a younger, cooler generation of the diaspora, with a mashup of fusion offerings like Chicken Tikka Poutine and fried chicken with paprika masala, and classics like saag paneer and butter chicken, made consciously but not pretentiously. They also make butter chicken samosas, and sell their butter chicken sauce by the jar. We want to make Indian food a once-a-week cuisine. You have Taco Tuesday, you have Samosa Sundays.

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For Mahendro, butter chickens culinary diplomacy is a good thing. After all, if its popular with Indians and non-Indians alike, whats the problem? Why shy away from something so beloved? You are a chef, you have your own voice, he says. But I think the best chefs, the best restaurateurs, really understand that their gift and their product is not for them. Its for the world.

This is the tension inherent in any restaurant: art vs. service. How do you balance executing your singular creative vision and making the people happy? How do you make what you want and also something people want to eat (and pay for)? One is not inherently better than the other, just as Philip Glass is not inherently better than Sabrina Carpenter. But you balked at Sabrina Carpenter, didnt you? One of those people you probably considered more deserving of respect, more real, even if youre not sitting down to Koyaanisqatsi every night. Perhaps butter chicken is the pop music of Indian food, then, derided precisely because its so enjoyed.

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Mahendro asked what I thought of butter chicken. I admitted I loved it with embarrassment, that I often shied away from ordering it or making it not because I didnt like it, but because as an Indian American, I wanted to seem more advanced than that. It just felt so basic. But how is it basic? he asked, before giving me a pep talk about the beauty of being an ambassador to our heritage, and of using butter chicken as a gateway to other parts of the culture. Its not something to be ashamed about. Its something to be proud about.

I sat with that message, wondering if my, or any, identity must exist in reaction to something. If there always had to be a them to the us, a butter chicken to deride in favor of something more true. In this new wave of restaurants, butter chicken exists as something to determinedly reject or defiantly reclaim. But I hope were getting closer to a time when butter chicken neednt be a gateway, or albatross, or something to explain anymore. Maybe it can just be.
ESTHERVILLE, Iowa (KCAU)  Tonight at the Esthervilles VFW post 33-88 held a special ceremony honoring members of the Estherville community that make a difference.

A full house was in attendance as about 100-people were honored tonight, including Gold Star families.

There was also a special focus on women who served, including Iowa native Carol Whitmore, who is the first female VFW National Commander-in-Chief.

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Whitmore was un-able to attend the ceremony; however, she did send a video message. Each person honored received either a plaque, medallion or roses.

It gets the community together and uh, it honors people that do so much for the community that are over-looked all the time, said Post Commander Mike Dalen said.

This was the tenth year of the ceremony.

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A proposal to post the Ten Commandments in Kern County Superintendent of Schools' campuses will be considered Nov. 13 when the Board of Education meets.

The proposal was introduced at this months meeting by Board Chairwoman Mary Little, who explained the Ten Commandments would be displayed with five historically significant documents  the Declaration of Independence, the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the national anthem and the Mayflower Compact.

The Ten Commandments do have religious significance and I do understand everybodys concerns, said Little, referring to the objections by parents and civil liberties groups that displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools violates constitutionally mandated separation of church and state.

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Our court of law is based on the Ten Commandments, Little contended, insisting separation of church and state does not exist.

Rejecting the state religions and religious persecution that existed in Europe, Americas founding fathers enshrined in the U.S. Constitution religious freedoms.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution demands: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof  .

The California Constitution similarly protects religious freedoms and bars government agencies, including public school districts, from enforcing religious mandates. U.S. Supreme Court and state courts rulings have upheld the concepts.

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If the county school board votes to mandate displaying the Ten Commandments in Kern Countys six community schools, it will be the first school district in California to do so.

Some board members view that as a bonus.

I do think its kind of cool that we make history, board member Lori Eskew said at this months board meeting.

Little assured board members the move is supported by the Liberty Counsel, a conservative, evangelical law firm based in Florida, that she said will provide free legal representation if the Ten Commandments display is challenged.

Its more important than ever that young children are aware of the foundation of our government, our republican form of government, especially before they go to college, where people are just spewing anti-government, anti-hate rhetoric, Liberty Counsel attorney Mariah Gondeiro told board members.

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Federal court rulings now block recent efforts by state legislatures in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas to require Ten Commandment displays and Bible distribution in public schools.

Sadly, the history that Eskew calls cool will be that a school board elected to prioritize the education of local children instead prioritized members own religious and political beliefs.

And no matter how much free legal services Liberty Counsel pledges to provide the Board of Education, the resulting protracted litigation will be costly. It also will embroil students and school district administrators in distracting controversy.

Ten Commandment versions can be found in various religions  Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc. Even within Christianity, versions differ between denominations. That begs the question: Just what version do proponents plan to post in Kern County schools?

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When you read the commandments below, which were published in a Catholic Church catechism, ask yourself: Do you know and obey them? Are they open to interpretation? Who do you want to interpret them for your children  you, your religious leaders, or a public school teacher?

1. I am the LORD your God; you shall not have strange gods before me. (Does everyone worship the same God? What about those who worship no God?)

2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. (Is that swearing, or something more?)

3. Remember to keep holy the LORDs Day. (What day might that be? Saturday, Sunday? And what is holy?)

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4. Honor your father and mother.

5. You shall not kill. (Pope Leo XIV noted recently that kill applies to the death penalty.)

6. You shall not commit adultery.

7. You shall not steal.

8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Thats lying.)

9. You shall not covet your neighbors wife. (Unlike stealing, covet is desiring to have something.)

10. You shall not covet your neighbors goods.

Will posting the Ten Commandments in Kern County public schools under the Board of Education's purview create more moral children, or simply impose a state religion?
Leaked messages from politicians and aides across parties reveal racist, antisemitic, and violent rhetoric, sparking outrage and resignations nationwide.

Three separate controversies involving leaked text messages from private online group chats have rocked US political circles this month, revealing racist, antisemitic and violent statements from figures across the ideological spectrum.

The messages - sent privately but now public - include racial slurs, praise for Nazis, and threats of political violence, raising questions about why those involved felt comfortable expressing such views despite the risk of exposure and censure.

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The online posts have also deepened concern among civil society groups and political language experts that violent rhetoric and racist hate speech are becoming normalized in America, particularly after decades of hard-fought civil rights victories that sought to dismantle such ideologies.

People have long expressed violent or racist views in private settings but experts say the leaks of the text messages are noteworthy because they surfaced the unfiltered - and to many shocking - views of political figures.

A Politico report on October 14 revealed that a group of about a dozen Young Republican leaders had been sending racist and antisemitic messages to each other on Telegram between January and mid-August, referring to Black people as monkeys and with one declaring "I love Hitler."

Paul J. Ingrassia (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

On October 3, leaked texts published by National Review revealed that Jay Jones, the Democratic candidate to be Virginia's top law enforcement official, sent a private text in 2022 saying a state Republican should be shot dead and that he would urinate on the graves of political opponents.

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And this week, US President Donald Trump's nominee to lead a federal watchdog agency, Paul Ingrassia, withdrew from consideration after he lost support among key Republican lawmakers following reports that he had described himself as having a "Nazi streak" in a private text message exchange.

Experts in online culture and political discourse, including a professor from the City University of New York and Alex Turvy, a sociologist who writes for publications including "Social Media and Society," say the persistence of inflammatory group chats reflects a false sense of privacy and safety, despite the fact that the messages form a permanent record and can be leaked.

At the same time, members in group chats sometimes falsely assume they can trust their fellow participants when allegiances, ambitions and motivations can shift over time, especially in politics, said Turvy.

"There is an illusion of intimacy," Turvy said. "It feels like it's private speech. But you're betting that all of the members in the group chat are going to protect you forever."

Provocative language

The experts said an increasingly powerful social media presence among more extreme elements of both parties, and a phenomenon - especially among younger people - to push rhetorical boundaries, have exacerbated private hate speech.

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Reece Peck, an associate professor of media culture at the City University of New York, said Trump's own rhetoric and attacks on progressive causes have led many conservatives to believe that language that would have been deemed unacceptable before Trump first took office in 2017 is now permissible.

While campaigning last year Trump accused people in the US illegally of "poisoning the blood of the country." As president he has called some of them "criminals," and described illegal border crossings as an "invasion," while his White House has posted memes online that critics say have coarsened political rhetoric.

"They feel Trump has seized popular culture and the Democrats are out of touch. The throughline is antiwoke," Peck said. "If you can be edgy - say something inappropriate - you establish group membership. That dynamic is central to Trumpism."

Turvy said this is known as "Edgelord culture," an online phenomenon where people deliberately post shocking or taboo content to stay relevant within the chat group.

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The Black Conservative Federation, a grassroots group that sought to court Black voters for Trump's second term, called on Republican leaders to denounce the Young Republican group chat texts "without hesitation or excuse."

Hakeem Jefferson, an assistant professor of political science at Stanford University, also said Trump has helped "give some cover" to some of the speech contained in the texts.

"This is how the president of the United States speaks and I do think it has opened a space for these people to mimic his behavior," Jefferson said.

Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, said, "President Trump is right to call out heinous criminal aliens who have invaded our country and have murdered innocent Americans."

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Jackson cited the case of a man in the US illegally who allegedly killed three people while driving a truck this week under the influence of drugs in California.

She said White House memes were successfully communicating Trump's agenda against people in the country illegally who are committing crimes against Americans.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on the content of the Young Republican group chat and the alleged private text messages by Ingrassia.

Trump has criticized Jones for his text messages, saying that he shouldn't be allowed to run for office.

"You would think he's totally discredited - anybody would be put in prison for what he said," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on October 19.

Firings and resignations

The text scandals brought widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, although Vice President JD Vance - while calling the Young Republican texts "truly disturbing" - also accused critics of "pearl clutching" and referred to the chat participants as "kids." Most were in their 20s and 30s.

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Vance instead drew attention on X to the texts by Jones.

Jones in his 2022 text said former Virginia Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert should get "two bullets to the head," and mused about his children dying in their mother's arms.

Jones' campaign referred Reuters to a statement he issued on October 3 in which he said he was "embarrassed, ashamed, and sorry" about his texts and had sought to apologize to Gilbert and his family.

A Washington Post-Schar School poll of Virginia voters released on Thursday showed that support for Jones has tumbled since the texts were made public, and a race he had led in public opinion polls is now a tie.

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Many of the Young Republicans involved in their group chat have since lost their jobs as political aides or lost their positions as Young Republican leaders. One, a state senator from Vermont, has resigned.

Republican group disbanded

Across 2,900 pages of chats, Black people were referred to as "the watermelon people," one member talked about raping enemies, and there was talk of sending people to the gas chamber.

Several members of the group were from the New York State Young Republicans, which was disbanded by the state's Republican executive committee last week. At least two members from the group, which also included members from states including Kansas, Arizona and Vermont, have apologized.

Hayden Padgett, chairman of the Young Republican National Federation, referred Reuters to a statement the group released on X on October 3, in which its board of directors called on all involved to resign.

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"Such behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents," the statement said.

Ingrassia, a former right-wing podcaster, was Trump's nominee to head the Office of Special Counsel, which investigates claims of retaliation against government whistleblowers.

His nomination imploded after Politico reported on Monday that Ingrassia told Republican operatives and social media influencers in a text chat last year that "I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time." He also said the January holiday celebrating Black civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. "should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs."

A lawyer for Ingrassia, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said in a statement to Reuters that the messages could have been manipulated. He added that if they were authentic, they "clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor."
GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR)  The Golden Fire Department handed out hundreds of free smoke detectors Saturday alongside volunteers from the American Red Cross and Xcel Energy as part of a community safety effort aimed at helping residents prepare for disasters.

The Red Cross said working smoke detectors can cut the risk of dying in a house fire by 50%. The agency said many homes still have outdated smoke detectors, or none at all.

Keystone Resort opens for 2025-2026 winter season

It could be that a home needs one smoke alarm or it could need five, said Andrea Miller, regional CEO of the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. We want to make sure people are fully safe and aware of what they need in the home based on its size and layout.

Twenty-four volunteers from the Red Cross, Xcel Energy, and the Golden Fire Department went door-to-door across three neighborhoods. They tested smoke alarms, offered free replacements when needed and helped families create escape plans in case of fire.

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Xcel Energy volunteers also talked with residents about preparing for potential safety power shutoffs, which could occur during wildfires.

What are things that our customers need to think about if they were to experience a power safe to shut off and have power off for any time between one day to five days, said Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Xcel Energys regional vice president for state affairs and community relations. Thinking about what you need to do to prepare for that is very, very important to Xcel and also to our customers and our families.

The Red Cross aimed to visit about 600 homes during Saturdays event. Nationwide, the agency estimates that in the 11 years since the program began, the installation of new smoke detectors has saved about 2,000 lives.

Golden Fire Marshal Brett Ballentine said the event also gives firefighters a chance to perform additional home safety checks.

We also take this as an opportunity to look around the home and notice, you know, do you have a fuel-fired appliance, a gas appliance inside your home? Do you need carbon monoxide alarms? Ballentine said. Let us come back and provide those for you at a later time. It gives us the ability to talk about, you know, two ways out of your home, which is so critical to know.

Fire officials remind residents to replace smoke detector batteries twice a year and replace the entire device every 10 years.

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Residents who would like their smoke detectors checked or replaced can contact their local fire department or visit the Red Cross website for more information.

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THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  Dutch voters in Wednesday's general election were spoiled for choice.

The country's electoral commission has registered no fewer than 27 parties and 1,166 candidates vying for the 150 seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives.

That means a big ballot paper because it bears the names of all the parties and the candidates on each partys list. Voters wrangle big ballots and use small red pencils to mark them before folding them up and squeezing them through a slot in the ballot box. When polling booths close, vote counters have to unfold the sheets all over again to tally the results.

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It would be ideal if the ballots could be made smaller, Marcel Roelofsen told The Associated Press just after he cast his vote in The Hague.

On Wednesday, a polling station worker in The Hague used an L-shaped metal tool inserted through a slot to tamp down the papers in one of the locked ballot boxes, which look like modified plastic garbage containers that stand in the front gardens of most Dutch homes. Unlike garbage containers, the ballot boxes have a slot in the lid and a lock that is only to be opened once voting has finished and the ballots need to be counted.

The unwieldy sheet has become such an issue this year that five municipalities are experimenting with streamlined smaller ballot papers. They include a list of parties and numbers, while candidate names and their numbers are on a separate poster in voting booths.

It was actually quite big when I opened it, so I had to look carefully to make sure I didn't do anything wrong, Layla Balounsi said after she voted.

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The size of the ballot paper is a potent symbol for the fragmentation of Dutch politics in an age of increasingly deep divisions in society, but it's not a new phenomenon.

There have long been many parties in Dutch politics, but in the past, a few big names took the lions share of votes, making coalition forming easier. In 1986, for example, 27 parties were on the ballot and nine won at least one seat, but three parties, the Christian Democrats, Labor Party and center-right Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, dominated with 54, 52 and 27 seats, respectively.

This year's vote looks close, according to polls, with the far-right Party for Freedom led by anti-Islam lawmaker Geert Wilders on course to win for the second successive election, but center-left and center-right parties are also in contention.

All a party needs to do to get on the ballot is pay a deposit of 11,250 euros ($13,077) and collect 580 declarations of support.

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Not everyone thinks the hefty ballots are a problem.

I think it is so good that we have so many parties, Arthur Swanevelt said. He was voting in The Hague for one of two pro-animal rights parties.

To determine who gets seats, the electoral commission adds up all the valid votes and divides them by 150 seats. For example, in 2023, there were 10,432,726 valid votes, meaning that any party that garnered 69,551 or more got a seat. That was good news for the populist JA21, which got 71,345 votes and one seat, but less so for BVNL /Groep Van Haga that polled 52,913 votes and came away empty-handed.

The large number of options translates into a plethora of parties in parliament. When the last four-party coalition government collapsed earlier this year, there were 15 parties in the House of Representatives.

That, in turn, makes forming a coalition increasingly difficult. Talks to cobble together a government that can command a majority can take months.




"Good food fast" is en route to one of Central Texas' burgeoning communities as the restaurant connoisseur of all things smothered hashbrowns and waffles comes to town.

Waffle House unveiled plans more than a year ago for its inaugural location in the bustling East Austin suburb of Manor, expanding the chain restaurant's Central Texas footprint. A Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) project filing from June 2024 earmarked a nearly 2,000-square-foot restaurant underway at 13000 FM 973, right next door to the newly opened H-E-B, a first for the burgeoning city.

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Under preliminary TDLR details, construction began in summer 2025 and has a tentative completion date on Friday, October 31, with a budgeted construction amount around $300,000. MySA captured images of the restaurant location's progress on Tuesday, October 21, which highlighted extensive completion on the exterior of the building, complete with the famed "WH" logo.

Construction progress on the upcoming Waffle House location in Manor, Texas. (Cristela Jones/MySA)





MySA reached out to Waffle House representatives for a status update on the new location's tentative opening date. We'll update this story if we receive a response.

It's not the only Waffle House restaurant to grace the Central Texas region. Austin is currently home to three locations along Ben White Boulevard, East Highway 290 and Dessau Road, while neighboring suburban communities Kyle and Round Rock also offer enthusiasts a front row seat to all things eggs and hashbrowns. In total, Texas features approximately 132 Waffle House restaurants, based on August 2025 data from ScrapeHero.

Find it: 13000 FM 973, Manor, TX 78653

This article originally published at Waffle House inches closer to opening in bustling Texas suburb.
Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk are set to speak at Ole Miss soon. Turning Point USA is bringing a revised version of the speaking tour that Charlie Kirk was on before his death to Mississippi and other stops across the U.S.

Charlie Kirk was killed by a single bullet Sept. 10 while speaking to students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. It was the first of a planned 15-event American Comeback Tour.

Later in October, a revised version of the speaking tour will continue on the same date as previously planned, but the time has been changed.

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It's not too late to sign up for tickets online.

Here's what we know about where and when, who will speak and how you can go.

When will the Turning Point tour be at Ole Miss?

The event will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29 in The Pavilion. The doors will open at 3 p.m.

What is the This is the Turning Point Tour?

Turning Point USA has rebranded The American Comeback Tour in light of Charlie Kirk's death. It's now called This is the Turning Point.

"Each stop is a chance to honor Charlies mission and keep the fight alive. We know he wouldnt want us to surrender or be coerced into silence. Free speech is only free if we use our voices," the event website reads.

They urge people to help them "fight to save America and honor the legacy of Charlie Kirk!"

How do I get free tickets to This is the Turning Point?

Tickets are free for students. General attendee tickets are also listed for free, but they're based on a waitlist, according to the site.

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One mobile number can be registered at the event website: http://bit.ly/48JVa3M

Vice President JD Vance and Erika Kirk to speak at Ole Miss

Vance and Erika Kirk are now listed as speakers for the Ole Miss stop.

SPEAKER DROP!



 Ole Miss  10/29

ft. Erika Kirk & Vice President JD Vance



 Auburn  11/05

ft. Benny Johnson, Eric Trump, Lara Trump & Senator Tommy Tuberville



RSVP now at https://t.co/Ut6vMjzTzd (link in bio) pic.twitter.com/Nnx2ewCLxD  TPUSA Students (@tpusastudents) October 15, 2025

Who was Charlie Kirk?

Charlie Kirk, 31, was a conservative political activist and author. He was married to Erika Kirk and was the father of two children.

He co-founded Turning Point USA, an organization that pushed for high school and college students to advance GOP political and social causes including abortion, civil rights, gender issues, gay marriage and gun rights.

He became a well-known national political figure and is at least partially credited with helping Trump draw the youth vote. Charlie Kirk was known for going to college campuses and offering to debate students at his "Prove Me Wrong" table.

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On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the nation held a day of remembrance for on what would have been his 32nd birthday. The resolution passed by the U.S. Senate called him a "champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith."

President Donald Trump also awarded him the Medal of Freedom posthumously. He presented it to Erika Kirk at the White House Tuesday evening.

What we know: Move to rename Mississippi street after Charlie Kirk fails.

What is Turning Point USA?

Turning Point USA was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery, who died of COVID-19 in 2020.

The nonprofit organization advocates for conservative politics. According to Turning Point's website, there are chapters on more than 3,500 high school, college and university campuses.

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The organization announced its board had unanimously elected Erika Kirk as its new CEO and chair of the board on Sept. 18.

Who are other speakers for the tour?

Speakers who will appear or have already been at various events on the national tour are well-known conservative activists, media personalities and entertainers. According to the event site, the list includes:

Tucker Carlson

Megyn Kelly

Glenn Beck

Michael Knowles

U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)

Vivek Ramaswamy

Frank Turek

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-Virginia)

Gov. Spencer J. Cox (R-Utah)

Gov. Jeff Landry (R-Louisiana)

Gov. Greg Gianforte (R-Montana)

Rob Schneider

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona)

Alex Clark

Jason Chaffetz

Allie Beth Stuckey

Savannah Chrisley

Contributing: Cheryl McCloud

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Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: JD Vance, Erika Kirk to speak at Ole Miss. How to get free tickets
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The Washington Post Editorial Board praised President Donald Trumps aggressive approach to building his White House ballroom, even if his methods have been inelegant.

In classic Trump fashion, the president is pursuing a reasonable idea in the most jarring manner possible, the Board wrote on Saturday evening, referring to the visuals of the East Wing being demolished into rubble.

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But had Trump submitted his plans ahead of time for a traditional review process instead of taking matters into his own hands, the project never would have gotten off the ground, the Board claimed. Instead, The blueprints would have faced death by a thousand papercuts.

The article, titled simply In Defense of the White House Ballroom, continued:

Though the fundraising for the ballroom creates problematic conflicts of interest, two examples validate Trumps aggressive approach. After a fence jumper got inside the White House in 2014, it was obvious that better perimeter fencing needed to be installed. But doing so involved five public meetings of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) over two years, as members took pains to ensure the fencing complied with environmental rules. Construction didnt begin until July 2019. Or consider the modest Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial near the National Air and Space Museum. Congress authorized its creation in 1999. Architect Frank Gehry was selected in 2009. The NCPC rejected Gehrys initial design proposal in 2014 before approving a revised plan the next year. The Commission of Fine Arts gave its approval in 2017. The memorial wasnt opened until late 2020. By contrast, Eisenhower planned and executed D-Day in about six months.

Privately, many alumni of the Biden and Obama White Houses acknowledge the long-overdue need for an event space like what Trump is creating, they wrote. The alternative for state dinners has always been tents and porta-potties erected on the South Lawn, and the Board claimed, the next Democratic president will be happy to have the upgrade.

Saturdays WaPo post also stands out, considering paper owner Jeff Bezos made his billions as the founder of Amazon, which is listed as a donor on the $300 million project.

Read The Washington Post opinion piece here.

The post WaPo Editorial Board Praises Trumps Aggressive Approach To Building His New Ballroom first appeared on Mediaite.
(The Center Square)  As the Trump administration continues to target suspected narco terrorists in the Caribbean, one of the top U.S. Navy bases in the region, which was closed two decades ago, could potentially play a pivotal role.

President Donald Trump hosted a roundtable Thursday afternoon at the White House with a focus on crime crackdown and targeting suspected narco terrorists.

The Center Square asked Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth if the administration has plans to expand operations, including homeporting ships at Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico, a base that was closed in 2004 as part of a base realignment and closure (BRAC).

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Roosevelt Roads, located on the eastern coast of the island, is equipped with a large scale airfield and deep-water port facilities, according to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. It is located less than 600 miles from Venezuela.

In response to a possible expansion by the U.S. Navy in the Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rico, in addressing potential adversarial threats in Latin America, Hegseth told The Center Square Thursday that the Department of War is keeping its eyes on adversaries in the region; however, he didnt indicate if there are plans to expand U.S. Naval operations in Puerto Rico.

We're familiar with the location that you're referring to, and we will make sure that we're properly placed in order to deal with the contingency we're dealing with there, and also any ways in which other countries would attempt to be involved also, so we can walk and chew gum. We're definitely keeping our eyes on near peer adversaries at the same time, said Hegseth. But we think sending a message on these cartels, these narco terrorists, is an important, important inside our hemisphere, which for far too long other presidents, as the president pointed out, they've ignored our own backyard and allowed other countries to increase their influence here, which only threatens the American people. We're changing that.

The president responded to The Center Squares question with receptiveness to expansion, though he didnt indicate if an expansion would include returning Roosevelt Roads as a full operational base.

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Trump touted record military recruitment while saying the U.S. is ripe for military expansion.

This is a good time to expand if we want to do it and I think we should, I think we should and probably will, said the president.

Trump has repeatedly called for the U.S. to increase its shipbuilding efforts, raising concerns as China continues to expand its military, especially its naval fleet.

In recent years, Venezuela, under the dictatorship of socialist Nicolas Maduro, has aligned the country with American adversaries, such as Russia, China and Iran.

In 2022, Venezuela hosted military drills with countries including Russia, China and Iran.

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The Center for Strategic and International Studies warns that Latin America is ripe for U.S. adversarial influences.

While Western observers have focused their attention on joint connivances of Russia and Iran in Eastern Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East, where Russo-Iranian military-security operations directly affect U.S. and European interests, the Western Hemisphere is not isolated from the two countries quests for global influence. In fact, in many ways it is an essential piece of the puzzle. First, both Iran and Russia perceive Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as a fertile ground for exploiting popular resentment vis-a-vis the United States and the collective West, which they  rather successfully  harness to advance their view of a multipolar world, according to CSIS.

The group cites sanctions from the West, which are growing in large part due to Russias ongoing offensive in Ukraine.

Second, LAC partners could prove instrumental in offsetting the impacts of Western sanctions against Moscow and Tehran by mitigating their diplomatic and economic isolation. Finally, certain LAC countries could also serve as less scrutinized partners for further developing Russo-Iranian warfare capabilities or cooperation, sheltering mercenaries or militias  such as Hezbollah  and acting as vectors for horizontal escalation of conflicts in which Russia and Iran are currently involved, the group added.

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The comments by Trump and Hegseth came hours before a Friday announcement by Hegseth that the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and its escorts will shift from the Mediterranean to the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility to support the administrations counter-drug operations, according to a Pentagon spokesman.

The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs, Sean Parnell, U.S. assistant to the secretary for public affairs, posted on X.

The move comes as the Pentagon announced its 10th strike on suspected narco terrorists in both the Caribbean and Pacific, with boats and submersibles originating out of Venezuela and Colombia.




WATERBURY - One day after breaking ground on a $35.2 million train station upgrade, the city got more development news.

The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority approved the city's downtown zoning plan that establishes a development district, making Waterbury the state's first large city to work with the agency on project funding and technical assistance.

A memorandum of understanding will now be signed by the MRDA and Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr., according to MRDA Executive Director David Kooris.

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"Waterbury is now the first large city to have an established development district (through MRDA)," Kooris said.

New Haven, Bridgeport, and Danbury have also opted into the program and are working on their memorandums of understanding that will establish their development districts, he said.

The designation allows Waterbury developers to apply for funding on downtown projects. According to Pernerewski, among the priorities are 22 acres of former factory space on Freight Street, now eyed as a transit-oriented development, and the vacant Sovereign Bank building on West Main Street.

Once the memorandum of understanding is signed, projects within the district are eligible to apply for funding.

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The Connecticut Municipal Redevelopment Authority is a quasi-public agency that the state legislature and Gov. Ned Lamont created in 2019 to provide funding and technical assistance to support municipal efforts to spur transit-oriented development, particularly focusing on the growth of new housing.

Two years ago, the legislature and the governor approved a $60 million bond authorization for the MRDA. The State Bond Commission approved an initial $1 million last August to support the authority's operational launch.

Naugatuck and Derby have also joined the MRDA and embarked on transit-oriented projects near their train stations. Naugatuck broke ground on a new $33 miillion train station in July, followed by Waterbury's $35.2 million renovation groundbreaking Oct. 15.

The transit-oriented development is critical in Waterbury's plans to provide more housing and mixed-use development near train stations and walkable corridors in the state's downtown areas. City officials have adopted a redevelopment strategy for the Freight Street corridor that envisions the development of mixed-rate housing, commercial and industrial space, and bicycle and pedestrian paths.

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"Freight Street is the type of opportunity that MRDA is designed to support - it is immediately adjacent to the train station, contiguous to downtown, it could accommodate a significant amount of development, and requires substantial infrastructure to create a new neighborhood out of formerly industrial land," Kooris said.

The Freight Street corridor is adjacent to the downtown district, the Waterbury train station and branch line of the Metro-North Railroad, Route 8 and Interstate 84, and the Naugatuck River Greenway trail.

Pernerewski and the Board of Aldermen began the process to join the MRDA program last February, when the agency scrutinized zoning regulations in the proposed district. The Board of Aldermen held a public hearing that yielded positive support in March, and voted to submit its request.

The city is in the midst of dozens of redevelopment and streetscape projects aimed at improving downtown, including the former Waterbury Republican-American building on Meadow Street, now eyed for private mixed-use development.

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"That is going to open up some opportunities," Pernerewski said about the MRDA.

Pernerewski said the city is making progress on cleaning up Freight Street properties, including the former Anaconda American Brass Co. complex.

"There is still some work left to be done there," he said.

The razing of the third and final building of the former Anaconda factory complex was finished last year, and Pernerewski said most of remaining work involves identifying remaining spots of contamination and planning their cleanup.

The city used $7.3 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and $10 million in state bonding to finance land purchases, demolition work and and environmental remediation for the Freight Street Corridor Redevelopment Project.

This article originally published at Waterbury's industrial past to make way for transit-oriented development, thanks to new partnership.
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Melinda Turner, a manufacturing worker and a High Point, North Carolina mom, drops her daughter off at daycare at 5 a.m. each day. Her daughter joins a handful of other children at the in-home daycare, one of the few in the area that opens that early, whose parents have jobs in fields like manufacturing and healthcare.

Were the ones who work the weird hours, Turner told Business Insider.

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There are upwards of 6 million parents who work outside of the more traditional 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. shifts, according to 2018 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Like Turner, they all need childcare at odd hours, and many are forced to find creative solutions.

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Some parents lean on family members, like grandparents, for help with childcare. Rochelle Cooper, a pastry chef who works more than 40 hours a week, many of them late at night, told BI that her family asked her in-laws to move in to help with childcare and household management. While the solution has worked for their family thus far, it hasn't come without drawbacks.

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"Its not perfect, she said. "Anyone who has in-laws will tell you that they dont always agree. And so the consequences are I have less control over and say in how my child is parented, if you will, throughout the day.

But for many, leaning on family this way isn't an option. As of 2019, there were 4.6 million children under the age of six whose parents worked outside of traditional hours, according to a study by the Administration for Children and Families.

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Stanford graduate students, Sarah Alexander and Olivia Rosenthal, founded Patch Caregiving, a company that facilitates on-site childcare for short-notice employees, to help parents who don't have that familial support.

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As they were building their company, Alexander and Rosenthal interviewed employees who worked at UPS and in healthcare facilities and found that one of the most difficult parts of balancing careers and parenthood was finding last-minute care.

So Patch worked with UPS to convert old break rooms and unused conference rooms into childcare rooms. This allowed parents to drop off and pick up their kids on-site, saving them the hassle of finding a last-minute babysitter or an early-morning daycare spot.

Employee retention increased from 69% to 96% over the three-month period the company used Patch, according to a study by Boston Consulting Group and working moms advocacy group Moms First.

See Also: Missed Tesla? EnergyX Is Tackling the Next $200 Billion Opportunity  Lithium

Our emergency childcare program gives working parents in our operations a reliable back-up childcare option. In turn, the program helps us to prevent absences and ensures our business continues to run on time, UPS Global Head of Talent, Learning & HR Danelle McCusker Rees told BI.

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Moms First CEO Reshma Saujani says the kind of flexible, accessible childcare companies like Patch provide isn't a luxury but "how you keep your workforce afloat.

Child care isnt a perk. Its not a nice to have incentive like gym membership reimbursement, she told BI. Its an investment in your people and, honestly, in your businesss bottom line.

Read Next: Wall Street's $12B Real Estate Manager Is Opening Its Doors to Individual Investors  Without the Crowdfunding Middlemen

Image: Shutterstock

This article 'We Work the Weird Hours' Moms and Shift Workers Struggle to Find Affordable Childcare as Companies Like UPS Test New On-Site Daycare Solutions originally appeared on Benzinga.com
About the event

What: Route 66 Pecan & Music Festival.

When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Where: The Nut House on Route 66, 26677 S. State Highway 66 in Verdigris.

Event highlights

1. The Nut House, a snack and gift shop between Verdigris and Catoosa, first put on its pecan and music festival in 2008 but held it last in 2019. Manager Morgan Williams said the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 festival, and the event has been on ice since then due to illness and staffing troubles. Williams said the festival has come back because Auto Definitions, a truck accessory store, moved into the Nut House's commercial property this year and is helping to mobilize volunteers.

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2. Williams said the festival is expanding to two days this year with the help of Auto Definitions and other local sponsors, like JT Services and East to West. Eight country, rock and Christian artists  including Claremore pastor Jake Tankersley, who competed last year on "The Voice"  will play almost continuously from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

3. Admission is free, Williams said, and parking is $10 per vehicle on-site. She said most of the kids' and adults' events cost nothing, including potato sack races and pony races, but others like bungee jumping require a $1 ticket. She said a portion of the event proceeds would benefit Wild Heart Ranch, an animal rehabilitation facility near Foyil.

4. Williams said people can get something to eat from food trucks and shop at a variety of vendor tables. They can also try to catch a glimpse of Sasquatch roaming around the festival, Williams said.

Why attend?

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Williams said it's significant to the Nut House to reintroduce the Pecan & Music Festival this year so people are familiar with it before next year's Route 66 centennial. She said the shop hopes to make next year's event bigger to draw in Mother Road travelers.

"Everybody here is local," Williams said. "The vendors are local, the bands are from Oklahoma. A lot of people aren't aware of all the stuff we offer. ... You don't know how many people come by here, 'Oh, I've driven by 100 times, and I've never stopped.' Well, we're open seven days a week. There's a lot that I think all of these people have to offer as a community."
Special Counsel Jack Smith has asked to appear publicly before the House and Senate Judiciary committees, after House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan demanded his closed-door testimony. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland joins The Weekend: Primetime to discuss Smith's request and why "everybody should be demanding that he be given the right to testify publicly in front of the whole Congress and the whole world."




WEST HARTFORD - In July, when the West Hartford Republican Town Committee announced its slate of candidates for the upcoming Town Council election, the list of six included two candidates who might have been unexpected to some.

Jason Wang, formerly an independent, and John Lyons, formerly a Democrat and member of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee, were among the candidates that the town's Republican Party said it would be running in the Democratic stronghold.

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The reason it was unexpected? Both candidates had sought the Democratic nomination just weeks prior to that announcement - confirmed by Wang, Lyons and the West Hartford Democrats.

Wang and Lyons, in interviews with CT Insider, both explained their reasoning for making the switch to the Republican Party in 2025.

For Lyons, he said he's long tried to get nominated by the Democrats in West Hartford.

"I threw my hat in the ring several times to get the nomination and was unsuccessful," Lyons said. "It got to the point where I asked people if the town is better served by me running for council irrespective of party and the answer I got was 'yes.'"

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Wang said he also approached the West Hartford Democrats looking to run, but never participated in the formal election process. Because he was a registered independent at the time, he was ineligible.

"I was an independent. I wasn't really a Democrat," said Wang, despite that the Republican's candidate announcement in July described him as a former Democrat. "I didn't care about national politics. I just care about town things. I have gradually come around to much more conservative lines of thinking. I have gradually started to sour on some of the Democratic talking points."

When asked for comment, the chairman of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee, Peter Andrews, issued statements about both candidates.

"Mr. Lyons was asked directly on that questionnaire whether he would primary or run as a member of another political party if he did not receive our endorsement," Andrews wrote. "His single-word answer was unequivocal: no. A few weeks later, he went back on his word and joined the MAGA Republican slate for Town Council. Voters can draw their own conclusions about what this means in terms of his trustworthiness and integrity as a candidate and potential elected official."

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Lyons said he did commit to not running with another party, but only if the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee voted on its candidates individually, which he said they didn't do.

On Wang, Andrews dismissed him as being a Democrat in the first place.

"He was hardly a true Democrat," Andrews wrote. "In fact, he turned out to be a political opportunist seeking any way into elected office, just like John Lyons."

'Not a fake Republican'

Both Wang and Lyons said they never seriously considered running as independent candidates or on a third party, both citing the lack of success others have had in the past, with Lyons referencing A Connecticut Party - a center party comprised of former Republicans that failed to win any Town Council seats in 2021 and 2023.

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Wang, who is running on a campaign of improving road safety, creating more affordable housing and ownership opportunities and is against "identity politics" and DEI initiatives, said he feels comfortable attaching himself to the Republican Party right now.

"I want to make the town better regardless of what letter is behind my name," Wang said. "I don't want to fruitlessly run for office as an independent or wait for my turn with the Democrats that might never come. I don't feel ideologically conflicted running as a Republican. I feel comfortable calling myself a Republican. I'm not a fake Republican."

Lyons, who is running on a campaign of creating more deeply affordable housing, limiting tax increases, and creating a better partnership with the Board of Education, said he wants to pull the town's Republican Party more toward the center.

"What we've seen time and time again, if people run third party or write-in, they don't get elected," Lyons said. "I don't do something to lose. If I lose as a Republican, I understand why and I feel good about it. I stuck to my values and I couldn't pull the Republican vote. But there was a feeling that maybe moving towards the center would be a good thing. Clearly, I'm not moving to the right."

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But Democrats in town might dispute that about the party. The West Hartford Republicans YouTube page features short campaign videos from each of its candidates - Wang, Lyons, Alberto Cortes, Dr. Gayle Harris, Kyle Zelazny, and Ben Lewis - which touch on topics focused on by the Trump administration, including three videos that campaign against DEI initiatives and four videos - including one titled "Say 'No' to boys in girls sports!" - about trans women participating in women's sports. West Hartford Democrats have created campaign ads linking the entire party to Trump's White House.

'This is not the way'

Mayor Shari Cantor spoke with CT Insider about the crossroads of national and local politics, which she said can be directly felt in West Hartford.

"There's no question that national decisions impact what happens locally," Cantor said.

Cantor mentioned a $4 million grant the town was set to receive from the federal government to improve road safety that she doesn't think the town will be receiving.

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"We don't think we're going to get it. It was approved ... but I don't think we're going to get it," Cantor said. "That's going to limit some of the activity we're going to do - otherwise it will rely on taxpayer funding. We're still prioritizing things. It might take a little bit longer to get it done."

Cantor said public education dollars and research dollars that have both been eliminated are also hurting the community.

"A lot of research dollars have not been funded and we have people that live here from the Jackson Laboratory, UConn Health, and higher education universities," Cantor said. "It does affect our residents when research grant dollars dry up, but more importantly it affects the health of our community."

West Hartford Democrats announced their endorsed candidates for the Town Council and Board of Education. (Courtesy of the West Hartford Democratic Town Committee)





Cantor also said she's worried about vaccine accessibility, cuts to benefits like SNAP, and Affordable Care Act rates going up.

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"All of those impact residents in our community," Cantor said.

The mayor also talked about threats to the town's immigrants.

"We have a very diverse community," Cantor said. "We have a lot of immigrants in our community - many documented, but there are undocumented residents too and they are part of our community. There's a lot of fear and a lack of comfort - whether people are not as free to go to work or school."

In August, ICE raided a car wash in neighboring Newington - not far past the West Hartford town line - and arrested seven people.

"I do truly believe this is the wrong way," Cantor said. "Of course we do need to have immigration controls and have safety. But this is not the way. Breaking up families is not the way to do it."

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Cantor said she and her fellow Town Council candidates, which includes Tiffani McGinnis, Deb Polun, Barry Walters, Deputy Mayor Ben Wenograd, and Lisa Lazarus, are focusing on affordability, housing variety and public safety, which includes the town's Vision Zero pledge.

"We're continuing to work with developers on developments that are right for our community," Cantor said. "We know drivers drive too fast. We see it all the time. We're working with all the tools we have and making sure we're moving forward. We need to keep doing what makes all our road users safer."

'This lumbering government machine'

When asked, Wang candidly talks about the issues that brought him to the Republicans. He says the Democrats in town are a "lumbering government machine" working too slowly to fix road safety issues, criticizing decisions made in the redesign of West Hartford Center, saying it was a "shyness to act boldly."

But he also says the Democratic Party can "demonize men" and that he's "against identity politics."

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"Blaming men for our problems ... blaming white men for our problems  really turned me off," Wang said. "I became somewhat disillusioned with our current leadership."

Wang also explains what he means when he says he's against identity politics.

"If I say I'm against identity politics ... they don't want to be judged by the color of their skin," Wang said. "They want to be judged for who they are and what they've done. I understand - people are sensitive. It's a difficult time. There does need to be some pushback against some of those things, particularly with respect to identity politics."

Wang said he doesn't want to bring national political discourse to West Hartford and he doesn't "get" his opponents "trying to attach the significance of me running with an R on my name."

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But West Hartford Democrats, citing the Republican Party's social media posts, continue to link the town's GOP to Trump.

"People can vote for me for me," Wang said. "I don't run the social media accounts. People know me. I can't speak for the social media. I think that's unfortunate. Shouting at us online doesn't really bring down the temperature. It's worth getting to know each other better. Being conservative is not like this evil thing."

Cantor, though, touts the progress Democrats have made in West Hartford, citing a growth in housing options, many of which include affordable housing.

"This is an experienced group," said Cantor, who was first elected to West Hartford's Town Council in 2004 and who has been mayor since 2016. "It has steady, proven leadership. We've worked as a team very well. We have accomplished a lot."

This article originally published at West Hartford Republican candidates, who had sought Democratic nomination, explain switching parties.
WATERFORD, Conn. (WPRI)  A Westerly man was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday night on a Connecticut highway, according to police.

Officers in Waterford responded to the area of Smith Cove around 11:20 p.m. for reports of a crash.

According to police, a Harley Davidson motorcycle had been traveling south on Route 32 before hitting the guardrail just before Richards Grove Road.

The driver, identified as 55-year-old Thomas Peabody, was thrown off the bike into a wooded area near the road. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police determined no other vehicles were involved. The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has additional information is asked to contact Waterford Police at at 860-442-9451, or submit an anonymous tip at 860-437-8080.

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California is a cultural and economic powerhouse for a number of different reasons  Hollywood and Silicon Valley, just to name two  but one of the biggest reasons involves the state's agricultural prowess. From the iconic vineyards of Napa Valley to California's countless dairy farms and creameries (one of which is responsible for Kirkland's vanilla ice cream), it's almost more remarkable when the Golden State doesn't lead the nation in some food-related category. For instance: the state that makes the most beer lies in the West, but it isn't California (and it's certainly not Utah, which drinks the least alcohol of any state)  it's Colorado.

Many of you might associate Colorado with a certain other recreational substance, but the Centennial State is assuredly no slouch when it comes to beer. It's the home of Coors, after all, and the state has a long and proud tradition of brewing that dates back to the Gold Rush. It helps that, unlike in other states, breweries in Colorado are allowed to sell their beer directly to consumers instead of using supermarkets and liquor stores as middlemen. Colorado produced 14.2 million barrels of beer in 2024, well above California's 10.2 million. The next biggest beer-producing states are Ohio, Texas, and Virginia, with California rounding out the top five.

Read more: These Are The 14 Strongest Beers In The World

What the heck happened to Wisconsin?

A building-side advertisement for Miller. - Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock

Some of you may notice a certain state absent from the top five beer producing states of America. Historically speaking, Wisconsin has long been the beer capital of America. It's home to the Miller Brewing Company, which is now owned by Molson Coors, as well as onetime brewing titan Schlitz (now owned by Pabst). And the good people of the Badger State clearly still relish drinking the stuff, ranking among the top five beer consumers. And yet, Wisconsin ranks just seventh in beer production, selling 7.7 million barrels in 2024. Sure, it's doing much better than West Virginia, which produced a mere 11 thousand barrels of beer in 2023, but it's still a curious result. What happened?

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Well, part of it has to do with general trends. People just don't drink as much beer as they used to, with some preferring more sophisticated cocktails (although Wisconsin, with its Old Fashioned, is no slouch in that regard) and others preferring drinks with a bit of THC in them. Add to that a major contraction following the craft beer boom and the economic fallout of Donald Trump's tariffs (resulting in Canada recommending a boycott of American goods, including beer), and you see the problem. These problems aren't exclusive to Wisconsin, but historically speaking, Wisconsin had the furthest to fall. Still, their loss is Colorado's gain, right?

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Read the original article on The Takeout.
In its 225-year history, the White House has seen a lot. If these walls could talk, they'd have plenty to say, as an entire arm, the East Wing, has been torn off to make room for President Trump's ballroom.

Satellite images show the White House before (left) and after demolition of the East Wing. / Credit: Planet Labs PBC/AP

Change has always been a part of the White House's story. First lady Jacqueline Kennedy said as much during her famed televised tour of the mansion in 1962: "The house will always grow, and should," she said.

In 1792, George Washington chose Irish-born James Hoban's simple yet elegant design, in a competition that also included an entry by Thomas Jefferson.

This drawing by architect James Hoban won the competition to design the presidential residence in 1792. / Credit: AP Photo

Our second president, John Adams, became the first chief executive to live there. In the mantel of the State Dining Room, Adams' words are inscribed: "I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof."

/ Credit: CBS News

But only 14 years later, the British set fire to the White House during the War of 1812.

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In 2014, then-curator William Allman showed "Sunday Morning" the remaining burn marks  "scorching that would have happened when flames were drawn out through open windows and doors, and licked up around the tops of the stone," he said.

In 2014 Mo Rocca examined burn marks from the War of 1812 that remain at the White House, with then-curator William Allman. / Credit: CBS News

It was reconstructed in just three years.

In 1889, first lady Caroline Harrison complained that 'the rats have nearly taken the building." She also proposed a major expansion. But her grandiose vision never got past the drawing board.

East and West Wings were added in 1902. Seven years later, the rotund William Howard Taft added the Oval Office.

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By 1948, the White House was in danger of collapsing. It would've been cheaper to level the place and rebuild it. But President Harry Truman decided that preserving the exterior walls was crucial to the country's sense of continuity. Instead, the interior was entirely gutted. Truman also added a balcony, an alteration which provoked an outcry.

In October 2025 the East Wing was demolished, despite President Trump saying construction of his planned ballroom would not interfere with the current building. / Credit: CBS News

The latest alteration by President Trump is much more significant. The East Wing has been demolished, with critics saying that in doing so Mr. Trump has broken a promise that the new construction would not interfere with the current building, and the planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom is nearly double the size of the main house. The president himself has estimated it will cost $300 million, to be paid for, he says, by private donations.

The White House isn't a private home. Nor is it just some government building. It's the "people's house." No surprise any major change will have people asking a lot of questions.



For more info:

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White House Historical AssociationMaryland Center for History and Culture



Story produced by Jay Kernis. Editor: Steven Tyler.



See also:

When the British burned the White House ("Sunday Morning")Fallout grows after crews demolish White House East WingHere are the White House East Wing offices Trump is demolishingWhere is debris from the White House East Wing demolition being taken?House Democrats request details on White House ballroom from President Trump

June Lockhart, beloved for "Lassie," "Lost in Space," dies at 100

Gavin Newsom on opposing Donald Trump: "He's a wrecking ball"

Tarantulas: Why you shouldn't be afraid
More than two years after the mpox outbreak in the U.S. was declared over, a new crop of cases in California has infectious disease experts on edge.

The mpox outbreak that spread through men who have sex with men was declared over at the start of 2023, though low-level transmission has persisted since then.

A collection of three unrelated mpox cases recently detected in California is raising concerns, as they were caused by a more infectious, more dangerous strain of the virus called clade I mpox.

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The strain that affected the U.S. during the 2022 outbreak was from clade II, which has a relatively low mortality rate. Of the more than 32,000 cases that were recorded during the public health emergency for the 2022 U.S. outbreak, 58 deaths were confirmed, marking a mortality rate of 0.2 percent.

While both strains are present in Central Africa, clade I mpox is more likely to cause severe illness and historically has a higher mortality rate and higher transmissibility.

All three of the cases in California required hospitalization. According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), these cases indicate that, like the outbreak in 2022, the virus is spreading through the communities of men who have sex with men.

Joseph Cherabie, a member of the HIV Medicine Association board of directors and assistant professor of infectious diseases at Washington University St. Louis, said it was only a matter of time before clade I mpox was detected in the U.S.

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He noted that clade I mpox was previously detected in California in the past, but that case was associated with an individual who had recently traveled to Africa. These individuals, as far as officials know, have not traveled recently.

That makes us a little bit uncomfortable as epidemiologists and as public health folks, because that means that theres community spread of clade I that we are not necessarily detecting and dont have the full capability of detecting, Cherabie said.

Mpox is primarily spread through close, skin-to-skin contact with an infected individual through the characteristically painful rashes that develop during infections. Given that a vector of transmission hasnt been identified yet, Cherabie said theres definitely more cases that havent been detected yet.

The Hill has reached out to the CDPH for more information regarding the mpox infections.

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Despite early concerns, public health officials including the CDPH maintain that the risk to the general public remains low.

Seth Blumberg, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, told The Hill that one hopeful indication is that the mortality rate so far doesnt appear to be high, with no deaths yet reported in association with the infections.

Blumberg noted that animal-to-human transmission of clade I mpox is common in Central Africa. Despite the former name of monkeypox, small rodents and other mammals are the usual carriers in Africa. If zoonotic infections are occurring in California, Blumberg said it would make containing the virus harder.

With lessons learned from the previous outbreak, Cherabie said casual contact is unlikely to be how the virus spreads.

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If we learned anything from the 2022 outbreak, casual contact, and, you know, transmission through things like clothing, shared clothing, or sitting on the same seat in a subway or anything like that  that did not occur, Cherabie said. You need very close, intimate contact with these lesions. So that is why the predominant means of transmission previously was through sexual contact.

When mpox outbreaks began cropping up in nonendemic countries around the world in 2022, public health officials had to contend with the fact that there were no vaccines or treatments specifically indicated for mpox.

But medicines for smallpox, which mpox is related to, were quickly deployed. These include the Jynneos smallpox vaccine and the antiviral medication tecovirimat or Tpoxx.

These drugs are expected to be effective against clade I mpox, like they are against clade II mpox. Two doses of Jynneos are required for full protection. Tpoxx can be administered intravenously or orally.

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Another concern among infectious disease experts is the lack of public health support that can be expected from the federal government should these cases turn out to be a precursor to a more serious situation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been hit with successive waves of layoffs this year under the Trump administration. That chaos, coupled with the current government shutdown, means the federal government may not be a reliable public health partner at this time.

Our ability to monitor and test for clade-specific testing, and our ability to communicate with one another, with up-to-date, real-time data has been massively, massively eviscerated by the public health cutbacks from the government, said Cherabie, noting the staffers in charge of the CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report were recently terminated before being rehired.

We are not allowed contact with our CDC colleagues right now. We werent allowed a lot of contact before, but were not allowed contact during the shutdown as well, he added.

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He stressed, however, that Californias own public health system is robust.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Only one person, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, has ever served more than two terms as president of the United States. This is for two reasons.

First, prior to Roosevelts election to a third term in 1940 there was a longstanding American tradition that presidents not serve more than two terms.

This tradition was established by the decisions of early presidents such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison not to seek a third term. This tradition was later adopted by other presidents.

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Second, after Roosevelt died in office in 1945 during his fourth term, Congress and the people of the United States decided to turn the long-standing tradition that presidents should not serve more than two terms into a part of constitutional law.

This was done through the passage and ratification of the 22nd Amendment, which became part of the U.S. Constitution in 1951.

Only after the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, who died in 1945 in his fourth term and whose casket is seen here, did the U.S. codify the two-term limit on presidents. AP photo

Intent is clear

The key provision of the 22nd Amendment reads as follows: No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

The intent is clear. No one is supposed to serve more than two full terms as president.

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The only way someone can serve more than two terms is if they served less than two years in a previous term in which they werent elected president.

Heres an example: If a vice president becomes president during the final year of a term because the president died, that vice president could still run for two terms. But that exception is still meant to bar anyone from serving more than a total of 10 years as president.

It is worth understanding why the two-term tradition was considered so important that it was turned into constitutional law the first time it was violated.

Starting the tradition

Commentators often cite George Washingtons decision not to seek a third term as president as establishing the two-term tradition. Political scientist and term limit scholar Michael Korzi gives a lot more credit to the nations third president, Thomas Jefferson.

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Jefferson was outspoken in favor of the two-term tradition. As Korzi notes, this was, in part, because Jefferson saw little distinction between a long-serving executive in an elective position and a hereditary monarch. In other words, a president without term limits is too much like a king.

John Trumbulls portrait of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, who believed that a president who was willing to break the two-term tradition was too ambitious. John Trumbull/GraphicaArtis, Getty Images

Jefferson saw a president who was willing to break the two-term tradition as power hungry, and he hoped that the American people would not elect such a president. This led him to write in his autobiography in 1821 that should a President consent to be a candidate for a 3d. election, I trust he would be rejected on this demonstration of ambitious views.

Jefferson also worried that without term limits, presidents would stay in office too long into their old age and after they had lost their ability to govern effectively. This led him to write that without term limits, there was a danger that the indulgence and attachments of the people will keep a man in the chair after he becomes a dotard.

Subsequently, presidents tended to abide by the two-term tradition. And in the few cases where presidents decided to seek a third term, their own parties would not give them the nomination.

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That remained true until Roosevelt ran for, and won, both a third and a fourth term as president during World War II.

The 22nd Amendment

Roosevelts violation of the two-term tradition prompted Congress and the states to turn the tradition into a formal matter of constitutional law.

A major concern motivating the amendment was the same one that motivated Jefferson: to prevent a president from becoming a king. Multiple members of Congress identified the same concern during congressional sessions in the 1940s.

Sen. Chapman Revercomb from West Virginia stated that power given to a president without term limits would be a definite step in the direction of autocracy, regardless of the name given the office, whether it be president, king, dictator, emperor, or whatever title the office may carry.

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Similarly, Rep. Edward McCowen from Ohio said that the 22nd Amendment would be a great step toward preventing a dictatorship or some totalitarian form of government from arising.

And Rep. John Jennings Jr. from Tennessee stated that only by adoption of the 22nd Amendment can the people be assured that we shall never have a dictator in this land.

Congress passed the 22nd Amendment on March 21, 1947. It took less than four years for the necessary three-fourths of the states to ratify the amendment, which became law on Feb. 27, 1951.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly talked about getting a third term as president. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Tyrants and term limit violations

In the 1980s, political scientist Juan Linz identified that presidential systems are less stable than other forms of democracy, such as parliamentary systems. The difference seems to be that presidential systems concentrate more power in the hands of a single person, the president. This makes it easier to remove the checks and balances that democracies depend on.

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As scholars have noted, violation of presidential term limits and other methods of increasing executive power are a common form of democratic backsliding  state-led debilitation or elimination of the political institutions that sustain a democracy.

Law professor Mila Versteeg and her colleagues have shown that in recent years presidents around the globe have used various tactics to try to violate presidential term limits. These tactics include trying to amend their countrys constitution, trying to get the courts to reinterpret the constitution, finding a replacement leader who the former president can control once out of office and attempting to delay elections.

They note that most of the time when a presidents attempt to violate term limits fails it is because the attempt encountered widespread popular resistance. They conclude that this finding implies that broad resistance movements may be the best means to prevent violation of presidential term limits.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Mark Satta, Wayne State University

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Mark Satta does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Wichita Heights High School is hosting its 12th annual Astronomy Night Tuesday.

The event features telescope viewing from the Kansas Astronomical Observers, a special space ice cream demonstration from the Kansas Cosmosphere Steam Outreach program, and more other scientific experiments!

Elephant enclosure at Sedgwick County Zoo gets a makeover

The event is free to the public from 7- 9 p.m., at Heights High School. The school expects 200 to 300 people to be in attendance.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here.

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Oct. 26Dropping temperatures and falling leaves mean one thing for many Montanans: hunting season is here.

This year, camo-clad hunters won't be the only ones stalking Montana's wild deer. An unseen villain is actively prowling the backwoods and rolling prairies, laying a quiet but persistent siege to many of the Treasure State's most prized game animals.

Chronic wasting disease is a 100% fatal neurological disorder that afflicts ungulates, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose.

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Once established, the disease is nearly impossible to eradicate. Infected animals can survive for years, spreading the misfolded proteins that cause the disease through direct contact with other ungulates and through bodily fluids like blood, saliva and urine. Even without a host, the proteins have been known to persist in the environment for decades, making it especially difficult to curtail the spread.

Since it was first detected in Montana's wild herds in 2017, chronic wasting disease has spread to 30% of the state's 138 hunting districts.

New research by the United States Geological Survey suggests that many Montanans may already be on the frontlines of fighting the disease. A study published earlier this year found that hunting is one of the most effective ways to dampen the effects of the disease on western deer herds.

Wynne Moss, the lead biologist on the study, said wildlife managers have drawn casual connections between hunting and the spread of chronic wasting disease for years. In 2019, wildlife officials increased hunting tags in districts near Libby after an outbreak of chronic wasting disease devastated local white-tailed deer herds. A similar strategy has been proposed to address recent detections of chronic wasting disease near the Flathead County landfill.

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But the study Moss led is one of the first times that scientists have been able to put numbers to that hunch. Researchers analyzed data collected from 10 different mule deer herds in Wyoming over the course of 20 years to show trends in both harvest rates and disease prevalence. The results suggested that harvesting 40% of adult bucks in that period effectively smothered chronic wasting disease to minimal levels. When hunting pressure decreased so only 20% of adult bucks were harvested, disease rates increased more than sixfold.

"There's been a lot of discussion of, is [hunting] working? Are we making a dent? Is it worth all the trouble?" said Moss. "I think the main takeaway is, it does work. It is slowing down chronic wasting disease."

That doesn't mean hunting is a silver bullet, she added. There is no evidence that hunting can be used to fully eliminate chronic wasting disease where it has become established. That's partially because hunting is most effective as a long-term management tool. While hunting reduced disease prevalence in some herds in as little as three years, Moss emphasized that it typically takes decades to see the full impact that altered hunting regulations have on a population.

There are also lots of unknowns that Moss said could benefit from further research. Hunting may not be as effective of a management tool in some areas due to differences in hunting cultures, habitats and species. Many wildlife agencies are juggling multiple management and recreation goals at once, some of which may make changes to hunting regulations unfeasible or ineffective.

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"Our goal is really to be able to show [wildlife managers] some emerging evidence on it's effectiveness," said Moss. "We want to be able to give these agencies the science to back up their decisions."

In Montana, there are plenty of ways that hunters can aid wildlife managers in the fight against chronic wasting disease. Bevin McCormick, the wildlife health program biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, suggested all hunters develop a sanitation plan before heading into the field.

Maintaining a tidy kill site and containing meat before transfer can help reduce opportunities for contamination. Montana law requires hunters to leave all carcass parts, including the brain, eyes, spleen, lymph nodes and spinal cord material to be left at the kill site or disposed of in a Class II landfill.

The only exception is for samples provided to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials. Biologists at check stations and regional offices accept samples from the lymph nodes, muscle and brains of harvested deer, elk or moose as part of the state's efforts to monitor the spread of chronic wasting disease.

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In the 2024-25 hunting season, the state tested 9,504 samples. Of those, 128 mule deer, 222 white-tailed deer and six elk tested positive for chronic wasting disease, including animals from seven hunting districts with no prior detections.

Along with testing the samples for disease, scientists can collect genetic material from muscle and tissue, which McCormick said is being used to build a repository of information specific to Montana's ungulate herds. Eventually, she said that database could help develop "Montana-specific solutions" to chronic wasting disease.

"It's super important that we get samples every single year from the places we're targeting because we really want to understand this disease," said McCormick. "There's a lot about chronic wasting disease that's unknown because it's still pretty new."

Sampling is voluntary in all areas of the state except for the state-designated chronic wasting disease management zone around Libby. A second mandatory sampling zone will likely be established around Kalispell, pending a vote by the state Fish and Wildlife Commission. McCormick said that, while samples from all corners of the state are welcome, state biologists are focusing their efforts on so-called priority sampling areas with historically low or declining sampling rates, including hunting districts 200-298, 403, 406, 600-670 and 700-705.

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Instructions on how to extract samples in the field are available on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website. Officials can assist with sampling at regional offices and check stations.

Hunters may submit samples free of charge. Testing typically takes between two and four weeks. Hunters can either elect to receive the results via email or view the results through an online portal.

While no cases of human transmission have been reported, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend not consuming meat that tests "suspect" or "positive" for chronic wasting disease. Hunters that receive an affirmative test may apply for a replacement license for the current or subsequent hunting season through their local Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office.

Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 758-4433 or [email protected].
NEED TO KNOW

A Long Island woman who was stolen at birth was recently reunited with her biological mother

Kaitlin Saar, 41, was born in Chile but was taken from her mother under the corrupt Pinochet regime

Her birth mother, Maria Paulina Gonzalez, never forgot about her daughter, and ultimately found her through the help of a nonprofit called Connecting Roots

A woman who was stolen from her birth family as a baby met her biological mother in an emotional reunion.

Kaitlin Saar, 41, was born in Chile and adopted by a family in Long Island, N.Y. Her adoptive parents were told that her birth parents placed her for adoption because they wanted her to have a better life.

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What her adoptive parents did not know was that Kaitlin was actually taken from her birth parents as part of a larger scheme under corrupt Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet aimed at reducing extreme poverty within the country. Thousands of Chilean mothers were affected by the secret policy, and many were told that their babies had died at birth.

However, Kaitlins birth mother, Maria Paulina Gonzalez ("Paulina"), never forgot her daughter. She eventually discovered Kaitlins Chilean birth certificate with the help of a human rights attorney. She then used social media to reach out and make contact, per ABC 7.

Tyler Graf Maria Paulina Gonzalez hugs birth daughter Kaitlin Saar Maria Paulina Gonzalez hugs birth daughter Kaitlin Saar

Paulina additionally received assistance from a non-profit called Connecting Roots, which helps reunite Chilean children who were illegally adopted with their biological families. Kaitlin and Paulina took a DNA test with the help of the org, which confirmed they were a mother-daughter match. They then finally met on Oct. 8, in Smithtown, N.Y., where Kaitlin now resides.

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.

Footage of the reunion shared by Fox 5 shows the women in an emotional embrace. Paulina was also able to meet Kaitlins two children  her grandchildren.

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In an exclusive statement to PEOPLE, Kaitlin said that she had learned about the stolen children of Chile while visiting the country as a tourist as an adult, but said she was afraid to search for her birth mother because she was afraid to know the truth.

Did she not want me? Did she want me? Did she regret giving me up for adoption? Was she even alive? I did not want to be upset by the information, so I didn't look for it, she said.

But Kaitlin said she was ultimately thrilled to hear from her birth mother.

I am so happy [Paulina] was able to find me and connect. This is one thing I really never thought would ever happen in my life. Ever. I'm thrilled to start this next chapter in my life [...], she told PEOPLE.

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Kaitlin, who is an art teacher and says she had the best life with her adoptive family  also firmly stated that she holds no resentment towards her adoptive parents for the circumstances by which she came into their lives. She noted that they, too, were victims of the situation.

It was not their fault, and they [gave] me what we thought my bio mom wanted: a better life and opportunities. Without [my adoptive parents], I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today.

Tyler Graf, the president and CEO of Connecting Roots, stressed the urgency of helping connect families who were separated under the corrupt Pinochet regime.

At the end of the day, we are running out of time, because these biological mothers are getting older and passing away, he explained.

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He added, It is important for adoptee and biological mothers to come forward. We understand it is hard. We understand that there may be apprehension of being judged, but we want to make it very clear that there are three victims here: the biological mother that had her child stolen, the adoptee, and lastly, the adopted families who adopted children on the pretense that they were trying to give them a better life, [but] were tricked into accepting children that were stolen, and now live with the pain of empathy for the biological mothers.

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(NewsNation)  A woman accused of stalking the family of missing Madelaine McCann repeatedly claimed she was Madeleine and told a charity that she believed she was two other missing girls, according to recent BBC reporting.

Madeleine was just three years old when she disappeared while on vacation with her British family in Portugal in 2007. It remains one of the most famous unsolved missing persons cases in the world.

Julia Wandelt, 24, is on trial with her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, at Leicester Crown Court in Leicester, UK, roughly 100 miles north of London, facing stalking charges against Madeleines parents, Kate and Gerry McCann.

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Photos of Melodee Buzzard look like her: Aunt

The pair is accused of stalking the McCann family from June 2022 through February 2025, the month they were arrested. They both deny the charges.

What is Wandelt accused of?

According to the BBC, the prosecution told jurors that Wandelt claimed to be Madeleine and pursued that myth by stalking the missing girls parents by sending emails, making phone calls, leaving messages and showing up at their home.

One voicemail Wandelt left on Kate McCanns phone said: I know you probably think that Madeleine is dead, but she is not.

World War II veteran laid to rest 81 years after going missing in Pacific

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DNA samples were taken following Wandelts arrest, which conclusively proved she is not Madeleine.

It was also revealed in court that Wandelt had previously reached out to a charity to let them know that she believed she was two other missing girls.

What is Spraggs involvement?

Prosecutors say Spraggs developed an online relationship with Wandelt, supported her claims and joined her in confronting the family directly.

Before showing up at the McCann house, Spraggs left a message on Kate McCanns phone saying, I really, really want you to take her (Wandelt) seriously if you really want to find your daughter.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
NEED TO KNOW

A Florida mom is charged with threatening to discharge a destructive device after she allegedly told a cafeteria worker that she would blow up her childs school in Rockledge

Police claimed that Brandie Covington, 40, was irate because her daughter's boyfriend had his school supplied lunch taken away from him, due to lack of funds in his account

Covington, who police said has denied making threats to the school, was arrested and later released on bond

A Florida woman was arrested and charged after allegedly making threats to her daughter's high school over an incident involving school lunch.

According to a court document filed in Brevard County, 40-year-old Brandie Covington is charged with threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device after she allegedly threatened to [burn] the school down during a heated exchange with school employees.

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Per an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, police were called to Rockledge High School  about 50 miles outside Orlando  on Tuesday, Oct. 21, after a cafeteria worker reported she had received a threatening call.

The caller, identified as Covington, was irate because her daughter's boyfriend had his school supplied lunch taken away from him, due to lack of funds in his account," the police report explained.

Google Maps Rockledge High School in Florida Rockledge High School in Florida

Police said Covington began to "yell and cuss" as the cafeteria worker was explaining the process of dealing with students without money in their account.

The employee then told police that Covington said she would be going to the school district's office, and then she would be over there to blow that f------ school up before hanging up.

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A school resource officer then reported the phone call to police, who arrested Covington at her home later that day.

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Police, who spoke with the mom at her house, wrote that she acknowledged she was pissed when she made both calls ... as she called last week and was told an employee of the school would call her back, but never did.

Covington denied making threats to the school, police added.

In Florida, threatening to discharge a destructive device is a second-degree felony and could carry a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison and as much as $10,000 in fines.

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Covington was later released from the Brevard County Jail Complex on Thursday, Oct. 23, on a $75,000 bond, per Florida Today. She is set to appear in court on Nov. 18.



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PERU  The death of a woman who was found dead in Chazy Oct. 21 has been ruled a homicide, State Police said.

Police said on Oct. 22, an autopsy was performed at Glens Falls Hospital by Forensic Pathologist Dr. Michael Sikirica on Chloe S. Henry, 25, of Mooers, who was reported missing at approximately 2:57 p.m. on Oct. 19 and found dead on Oct. 21 in the area of Ridge Road in the town of Chazy.

Sikirica determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds to the head and back and ruled the manner of death as a homicide, police said.

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Police said she was last seen with her husband, Keith A. Henry, 33, of Plattsburgh.

An investigation indicated that Keith Henry shot and killed Chloe Henry while inside his vehicle near Bear Swamp Road and Ausable Point in the town of Peru, a police press release said.

Keith Henry was arraigned in Peru Town Court and remanded to Clinton County Jail without bail earlier this week.

The investigation is being conducted by the New York State Police, Clinton County District Attorneys Office, the Plattsburgh Police Department, Clinton County Sheriffs Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Press briefing on the current situation in Sri Lanka

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva, in collaboration with the Geneva Press Club - Club suisse de la presse , organised a press conference on the topic Current Situation in Sri Lanka, today (24 April 2009) at la pastorale, Geneva.

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary to the Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Management and Secretary General, Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process, and Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva were the two main speakers at this press meeting attended by foreign and Sri Lankan journalists.

During the meeting, the two speakers explained the background to the on-going war in Sri Lanka and evoked some of the major incidents occurred during the past 3 decades. Dr. Jayatilleka and Prof. Wijesinha also responded to a number of questions raised by the journalists on the present situation in the north, and especially on the civilians: both those who are still held by the Tigers and those who have managed to escape and come to the government controlled area seeking the refuge of the armed forces.
A woman died after being rescued from an island off Cape Cod this week after fleeing a boat that caught fire with her husband and son and spending two nights in a barn for shelter.

Cynthia Sullivan, 72, died Thursday afternoon, according to a social media post by her son and a GoFundMe created to support the family.

My mom passed last night. She went in peace, reads the post by Chris Sullivan. His brother managed to get his mother and father under extremely chaotic circumstances during the boat fire, according to the post.

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Members of the Coast Guard rescued three family members from Naushon Island off the Massachusetts coast on Wednesday after receiving a mayday call.

Volunteers from the Naushon Trust, which owns the island, provided first aid to the family and a Coast Guard helicopter brought them to a hospital for further treatment.

Cynthia Sullivan died about 30 hours after being rescued, having suffered severe hypothermia and smoke inhalation, her son told The Boston Globe.

Patrick Sullivan, the rescued father, is awake and breathing on his own, according to the GoFundMe.

The son, Tyler Sullivan, is awake and talking after being rescued as well.

What happened?

The family set out in their boat, a 30-foot ship called Third Wave, departed from Eel Pond in Falmouth on Friday night, and they planned to stay between Cape Cod and Marthas Vineyard through the weekend and return on Tuesday.

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On Tuesday evening, a concerned family member reported the vessel overdue after it did not return.

Coast Guard members, the Falmouth Police Department, the Falmouth Harbormaster and volunteers from Naushon Trust searched throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning for the vessel.

Calls to the crew were sent straight to voicemail and cellphone pings did not provide an accurate location, officials said.

The vessels crew awoke to a fire on Monday night, and the family abandoned the ship and swam to the nearby island. They found a barn for shelter.

While walking along the beach, the son found the vessels marine radio, which washed ashore, officials said.

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Chris Sullivan told the Globe that his family has gone to Tarpaulin Cove on Naushon Island several times each summer, and the most recent trip was their fourth time this year.

They normally go out there, just hang in the cove, then they anchor in the cove and they come back, Chris Sullivan told the outlet.

MassLive reached out to Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galiboiss office for comment.

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A woman is hospitalized after an early morning shooting on Sunday, Atlanta police said.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Just before 2 a.m., Atlanta officers went to Grady Memorial Hospital after receiving a report about a person with a gunshot wound arriving there by private vehicle.

When officers arrived, they found a 36-year-old woman who had sustained an apparent gunshot wound, authorities said.

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Investigators believe the victim may have been shot during a road rage incident near Pulliam Street SW and Interstate 75 and 85 southbound.

As of now, the identity of the victim has not been disclosed, and details about the shooter or any suspects have not been provided.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Palestinian Rasha Abu Sbeaka narrowly survived two years of Israels genocidal war on Gaza, making it through four bombings and twice having to be pulled from rubble after an attack.

But tragically, even after the ceasefire, the war and its aftermath may yet kill her.

Abu Sbeaka developed stage 3 breast cancer during the conflict, and Israels destruction of Gazas medical sector, combined with its ongoing closure of crossings out of the enclave that could allow her to receive treatment abroad, means she is unable to access the care she urgently needs to survive.

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Her situation has left her often feeling that she is going to die, Abu Sbeaka said. I used to hug and kiss my children every day because I thought I was on my deathbed.

Along with fellow Palestinian Mervat Sarhan, who was recently released after months in an Israeli prison where she said she endured beatings and electric shocks, Abu Sbeaka shared her story with Al Jazeera to describe the struggles Palestinians face in overcoming the damage inflicted by Israels war on Gaza even in the wake of the ceasefire.

I want the world to know our story, she said.

Palestinian cancer patient Rasha Abu Sbeaka says she is desperate to be evacuated from Gaza for treatment [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Everything at a standstill

Speaking to Al Jazeera in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Abu Sbeaka said her health had been badly affected by the war.

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She believes her cancer was caused by emissions released during the constant bombing and rocket fire.

I often struggle to breathe, she said.

She said the war had left Gazas health system in ruins, meaning she has been unable to access the care she urgently requires.

There is no medical treatment and no alternative treatments because of the war and the closed crossings, she said. Everything here is at a standstill.

On top of the damage to her physical health, she said her predicament had taken a major toll on her mental wellbeing as she struggled to find a path to secure treatment and overcome the disease.

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My psychological health has been completely destroyed. I wasnt like this before. I used to be a person who loved life, she said.

Small numbers of patients in critical condition have been evacuated for medical treatment under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO). But the numbers being evacuated  including 41 on Thursday  are just a tiny fraction of the 15,000 patients requiring evacuation, including 3,800 children, the WHO said.

Israel continues to keep the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt closed despite the ceasefire stipulating that it would open for the movement of people. The WHO has called for all of Gazas border crossings to be opened for both the entry of aid and for medical evacuations, saying the evacuations would take a decade or so if they continue at the current rate.

Abu Sbeaka said she and her fellow cancer patients in Gaza were determined to beat the disease, provided that they hurry up and open the crossings, so we can travel abroad and get the treatment we need to recover quickly.

Rasha Abu Sbeaka reviews her pathology report [Screengrab/Al Jazeera]

Husband killed in front of children

In Khan Younis, Sarhan is fighting her own battle as she struggles to rebuild her shattered life after nearly five months in Israeli detention.

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During her time in Israeli custody, she said she endured beatings, electric shocks and threats to kill her children during interrogations.

The ordeal for Sarhan, who was one of two Palestinian women released in the latest exchange under the ceasefire with Israel, began early one morning in May when Israeli special forces disguised as women stormed into the bedroom she shared with her husband.

They ransacked the house and kept asking questions like Where are you hiding them? Where are the captives? Sarhan told Al Jazeera.

She said they denied any knowledge about the captives before the Israeli soldiers killed her husband in front of their terrified children.

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Then they started grabbing my children one after the other. They kept smashing the furniture. They handcuffed me and took me with them.

She said the Israeli forces took her along with her 13-year-old son, leaving the younger children behind with their dead father lying on the floor.

Beatings, electric shocks

Sarhan said she was then subjected to a military interrogation during which she was beaten and shocked as Israeli officers questioned her about her husbands contacts.

She was told her son would be released, but she was sent to Ashkelon prison in Israel and held for a month in a dark solitary cell not fit for humans.

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During this time, she was subjected to daily interrogations.

They even threatened to kill my children, to imprison me for life and told me I would not see my children again, she said.

Sarhan is now focused on rebuilding her life without her husband after her release along with other Palestinian prisoners.

Many of the released Palestinians showed signs of torture and abuse. Among those whose bodies were returned, some appeared to have been blindfolded and executed by Israeli forces. Rights groups said there have been reports of torture in Israeli prisons for years.
If you want something done slowly, expensively and possibly very well, you go to the British.

While Britain created the immortal Spitfire, Lancaster and Mosquito it also created a wealth of sometimes dangerous, disgraceful and diabolical designs. These are just ten plucked from a shortlist of thirty. In defining worst- weve looked for one, or a combination, of the following: design flaws, conceptual mistakes, being extremely dangerous, being unpleasant to fly, or obsolete at the point of service entry (and the type must have entered service).

10: Blackburn Beverley

Blackburn Beverley

A mere year separates the service entry of the Beverley (1955) and Americas Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1956), yet sixty years later one of these is still the best tactical transport  serving with many air forces around the world - and the other only exists in the form of a single lonely museum piece standing in the cold in a village near Hull in England. Theres a reason for this.

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The Beverley had four Bristol Centaurus engines capable of generating a total of 11,400 horsepower pulling a fully loaded Beverley weighing 135,000 lb (61,235kg); the C-130A had a maximum weight of 124,200 lb (56,336kg) and had 15,000 of turboprop horsepower to move it. The Centaurus also powered the abysmal Firebrand, hopeless Buckingham and the technically brilliant (but conceptually wrong-headed) Brabazon, and, for the sake of fairness, the brilliant Sea Fury.

10: Blackburn Beverley

Blackburn Beverley

Of note, the Beverley was fitted with perhaps the most dangerous toilet in aviation. This was fitted in the rear of the aircraft next to the paratroop hatch. One unlucky serviceman fell twenty feet when exiting the toilet, falling through the then open paratroop hatch on the tailboom floor.

Lockheed threw vast resources at getting the Hercules right (so much so that senior Lockheed engineer Kelly Johnson thought the project would sink the whole company), whereas Blackburn used warmed-up World War II technology and a dawdling development time to produce an aircraft that was at best an over-specialised oddity.

9: Supermarine Scimitar

Supermarine Scimitar

Take an aircraft so dangerous that is statistically more likely than not to crash over a twelve-year period and arm it with a nuclear bomb. Prior to this, ensure one example crashes and kills its first Commanding Officer, in front of the press.

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There you have the Scimitar. Extremely maintenance heavy, an inferior fighter to the De Havilland Sea Vixen and a worse bomber than the Blackburn Buccaneer; the Scimitar was certainly not Joe Smiths finest moment  that had been his stellar work on the rather more famous Spitfire.

9: Supermarine Scimitar

Supermarine Scimitar

The Supermarine Scimitar was the last Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm aircraft designed with an obsolete requirement to be able to make an unaccelerated carrier take-off, and as a result had to have a thicker and larger wing than would otherwise be required.

Only once did a Scimitar ever such make an unassisted take-off, with a very light fuel load and no stores, and then just to prove that it could be done. But yet the Scimitar was cursed to spend its entire life carrying this heavy overly thick wing.

8: Panavia Tornado F2

Panavia Tornado F2

The Tornado interceptor was a British development of an international aircraft. In the 1970s, the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) pushed heavily for an interceptor variant of the Tornado (a ground-attack aircraft). BAC promised a low-cost, low-risk, high-performance fighter interceptor, this was not to be the reality.

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Essentially, they took a heavy airframe optimised for low-level flight, with engines also optimised for low-level flight and a radar optimised for attacking ground targets from low-level flight, and attempted to turn it into an interceptor intended to attack bombers at medium and high altitudes.

8: Panavia Tornado F2

Panavia Tornado F2

To add to the fun, it was decided to develop an extremely ambitious new radar, despite Britain not having created an advanced fighter radar since the Lightnings AI.23 in the 1950s. Despite its F for Fighter designation, and the euphemistic interim description, the F2 ended up without a functioning radar, as the new sensor suffered terrible teething problems.

Issues with the aircrafts centre of gravity, caused by the absent radar, were solved with a chunk of concrete ballast satirically dubbed the Blue Circle radar after a cement brand. Despite the Tornados terrible high-altitude performance and poor agility, huge amounts of money and time led to the F3, which eventually matured into a capable weapon system.

7: Gloster Javelin

Gloster Javelin

It takes a special kind of genius to make an aircraft with one of the highest thrust-to-weight ratios of its generation incapable of flying faster than the speed of sound, but thats what Gloster did; it even had a triangular delta wing the shape of choice for supersonic flight.

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The Javelin fighter entered service in 1956, the same year as the dreadful Convair F-102, but even the disappointing American fighter would have smashed the Javelin in a drag race. Bizarrely, the use of afterburner - the combustion of fuel in the exhaust of the engine for additional thrust - below 12,000 feet (3657 m) actually slowed the aircraft down; it visibly burned fuel but reduced the core thrust; the engine core was competing with the afterburner for the fuel-flow available.

7: Gloster Javelin

Gloster Javelin

Add to this lamentable low-level turn-rates, nightmarishly bad access to internal parts for maintenance crews and frequent post-start fires and you have a turkey on your hands. After a mere twelve years in service, the RAF dropped it. Unsurprisingly, no export orders were received for the Tripe Triangle.

We spoke to former Javelin pilot Peter Day, who noted that the aircraft was an excellent drinks cooler: A complete box of Tiger beer would fit into each gun magazine and be perfectly cooled after flight.

6: Blackburn Firebrand

Blackburn Firebrand

The story of the Firebrand torpedo fighter is a rotten one. The specification for the type was issued in 1939, but it wasnt until the closing weeks of the Second World War that it began to enter service. Despite a luxuriously long development, it was an utter pig in the air, with stability issues in all axes and a tendency to lethal stalls.

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There was a litany of restrictions to try to reduce the risks, including the banning of external tanks, but it still remained ineffective and dangerous to fly. Worse still, instead of trying to rectify the problems, the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) started a witch-hunt of those pilots who dared to speak the truth about the abysmal machine.

6: Blackburn Firebrand

Blackburn Firebrand

Only two Firebrand squadrons formed, of which the flying complement was heavily, if not entirely, made up of qualified flying instructors, suggesting only the most experienced pilots could be trusted with this unforgiving bird.

Despite many reports damning the Blackburn Firebrand, there are some, notably naval aviation historian Matthew Willis who believe that the type was unfairly maligned. His interesting case in support of the controversial type can be read here.

5: De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen

De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen

The Royal Navys Sea Vixen fighters were death traps, frankly. A total of 145 Sea Vixens were built, of these 38% were lost over the types twelve-year operational life. More than half of the incidents were fatal. The Sea Vixen entered service in 1959 (despite a first flight eight years earlier), two years later than the US Navys Vought F-8 Crusader.

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The F-8 was more than twice as fast as the Sea Vixen, despite having 3,000Ibs less thrust. The development of the Sea Vixen had been glacial. The specification was issued in 1947, initially for an aircraft to serve both the FAA and the RAF. The DH.110 prototype first flew in 1951, and one crashed at the Farnborough the following year.

5: De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen

De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen

This slowed down the project, which was then put on hold as the company and the Royal Navy focused on the alternative DH.116 Super Venom. Once the project became prioritised again, it was substantially redesigned to make it fully useful for naval use.

Then when the Royal Navy gave a firm commitment, it requested a radar with a bigger scanner and several other time-consuming modifications. All of which meant it arrived way too late. Its peer, the US F-8 remained in frontline service until 2000, its other contemporary, the F-4, remains in service today; the Sea Vixen retired in 1972. 51 Royal Navy aircrew were killed flying the Sea Vixen.

4: Blackburn Roc

Blackburn Roc

The Blackburn Roc was a fairly innocuous flying machine. However, as an example of the wrong concept applied to the wrong airframe to produce a useless combat aircraft, it is hard to beat. Turret fighters had their gun armament mounted in a heavy steerable turret, an arrangement that was popular in Britain just before the war.

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Though useful for defensive means on a bomber, a fighter is dependent on the speed and agilty, qualities massively hampered by the weight and drag of a turret and its attendant gunner. The turret fighter concept was most memorably realised in the Boulton Paul Defiant, an extremely well designed machine, considering its type.

4: Blackburn Roc

Blackburn Roc

The Blackburn Roc, by contrast, was lumbered with a massively over-engineered airframe (a legacy of being derived from a dive-bomber, the Blackburn Skua), had a less powerful engine and was over 100 mph (161km/h) slower than the Boulton Paul Defiant.

How an aircraft that could not attain 200 mph (322 km/h) was expected to survive, let alone fight, in 1940 is one of the enduring mysteries of the early war period. Its also a wonder that its only confirmed kill was a German Junkers Ju 88, one of the worlds fastest bombers.

3: Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick

Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick

Despite possessing a decidedly cuddly design the Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick was a killer, difficult to handle in the air or on the water and a miserable combat aircraft. Recommended to be scrapped in 1939, the Lerwicks were pressed into service due to the lack of any alternative and of 21 built, 11 were lost, 10 in accidents and one simply vanished without trace.

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Its main problems were the old chestnuts of lack of power coupled with an inexplicable lack of stability. The Lerwick could not be flown hands-off, a serious flaw for a long-range patrol aircraft nor could it maintain height on one engine. It was prone to snaking on landing and take off, and possessed a vicious stall.

3: Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick

Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick

Added to these structural concerns, including the terrifying fact that the floats regularly broke off, and a woefully unreliable hydraulic system and it is amazing that the diminishing number of Lerwicks managed to remain in use until the end of 1942.

During its squadron service, from June 1939 to November 1942, thirty airmen and one civilian technician lost their lives in Lerwick accidents in return for 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs dropped on one submarine with no measurable result. The obscure story of the dreadful Lerwick demonstrates how hard-won the successes were that were yet to come.

2: Blackburn Botha

Blackburn Botha

Another terrible Blackburn design, the Botha was damned from a chronic lack of power. Its poor performance meant it was never to enter service in its primary role as a torpedo bomber. Had that been all it would have been nothing worse than an obscure mediocrity.

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But Blackburn had made it extremely difficult to actually see out of the aircraft except dead ahead, and impossible to see out to the side or rear due to the engine placement. This poor view out was an appalling flaw for an aircraft now intended for reconnaissance and the Botha was supplanted by the Avro Anson, which it had been supposed to replace.

2: Blackburn Botha

Blackburn Botha

Despite only entering service in 1939, and despite the war effort requiring every decent or even semi-decent, warplane available, it was sensibly withdrawn from frontline service in 1941. It was passed to both training units and the target tug role (pulling a banner for other better aircraft to practice their gunnery skills upon).

The Bothas vicious handling traits, including poor lateral stability and deadly one-engine-out handling characteristics conspired with its underpowered nature to produce a large number of accidents. In 1943, the type was declared obsolete, yet somehow it soldiered on until 1944. A slightly terrifying total of 580 were built.

1: Blackburn TB (Twin Blackburn)

Blackburn TB (Twin Blackburn)

The TB was a bad aircraft that couldnt perform the one task it was designed for and thus set a precedent for many Blackburns to come. The Twin Blackburn nevertheless saw service for a year or so before it was finally put out of its misery and all nine examples were scrapped.

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Intended to destroy Zeppelin airships, the floatplane TB was supposed to climb above Zeppelin height and drop explosive Ranken darts onto them. Unfortunately, the poor, underpowered Twin Blackburn was unable to drag itself to airship-operating altitude, even after its deadly cargo of explosive darts had been cut by two thirds.

1: Blackburn TB (Twin Blackburn)

Blackburn TB (Twin Blackburn)

Furthermore, the structure, which consisted of nothing more complicated than a couple of B.E.2 fuselages lashed together with a new set of wings and a vast amount of hope triumphing over experience, was not very rigid and the action of warping the wings flexed the poor TB so much it could end up turning in the opposite direction.

The observer sat in one fuselage, the pilot in the other, and communication was impossible except through waving to each other. As if that werent enough, the wooden floats were mounted directly below the rotary engines. Rotaries drip out a lot of oil, and as a result the TBs floats would often catch fire.

Joe Coles is the author of The Hush-Kit Book of Warplanes Vol 1 (and is working on volume 2 and 3)

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NEW YORK (PIX11)  Communities in New York and around the world are uniting to support Jamaica as Hurricane Melissa, a potentially record-breaking storm, draws closer.

Local organizations, along with the Jamaican consulate, are taking action to keep families safe during what could become the strongest hurricane to hit the island in over 35 years.

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People across the region are stepping up, offering help to loved ones and preparing for whatever Hurricane Melissa brings next.

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The slow-moving Hurricane Melissa is currently a Category Four storm and expected to hit Jamaica between Monday evening and Tuesday morning, possibly lingering with catastrophic flooding and damaging winds.

Chris Benjamin, Community Relations Officer at the Consulate General of Jamaica in New York, shares, Im anxious like everyone is because I have family on the island as well. He says the consulate is actively reaching out, urging Jamaican families in flood-prone areas to move to shelters or higher ground immediately: Let their relatives know that they need to move now. Because once the flooding starts, it is too late.

Forecasters have issued a hurricane warning for Jamaica, with reports that Melissa could strengthen even further as it threatens the island with catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, making it the most powerful storm on record to strike Jamaica.

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Montego Bays Sangster International Airport is now closed as of noon Sunday for safety as the hurricane approaches. The consulate is collaborating with community groups in New York and working closely with Jamaican officials.

We are communicating with the teams in Jamaica so that we also get the first, the information first and to share with our community here, Benjamin explains. Organizations like the American Red Cross are ready to assist with recovery, and groups such as the Jah Jah Foundation are supporting storm recovery by helping individuals with mental health needs following the hurricane.

Dr. Trevor Dixon, CEO and founder, notes, We are looking for all of the ailments after the hurricane leaves. A lot of people come to the hospital with anxiety for the first 24 to 48 hours. And after that, infections for drinking contaminated water.

Donations can be dropped off at designated locations before and after the storm to aid those in need:

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The Original Dumpling Shop 3435 Baychester Ave, Bronx, NY 10469

Trans Caribe Express Shippers Inc 163 Tremont Ave, East Orange, NJ 07018



As communities prepare for Hurricane Melissa, Benjamin reminds everyone of the power of hope and faith, They say prayer works and so youre just asking everybody, you know, as theyre, you know, going to church or otherwise, you know, say a word of prayer for the island or the people on the island.

On Sunday, the consulate and the Jah Jah Foundation are awaiting guidance on further donations once the hurricane passes. The consulate is ready to assist with inquiries and will soon activate a toll-free number for community support.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  The Youngstown Police Department has canceled a missing adult alert in Mahoning County.

Police were searching for a 79-year-old man who was last seen around 1:30 p.m. Saturday. They shared an update on social media Saturday that he was found and is safe.

The department thanked the community for their help in sharing the information to help them locate the man.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)  Youngstown State University celebrated homecoming in style Saturday afternoon.

The parade started just before noon and saw the marching band, Greek Life and other groups showing off their Penguin pride.

It stepped off at the corner of Federal Street and Wick Avenue and headed up Fifth Avenue toward Stambaugh Stadium.

The Penguins had a big win on homecoming.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that fierce fighting is ongoing in Pokrovsk and nearby areas, with Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups operating there and logistics proving difficult, but it is essential to continue inflicting maximum losses on Russian forces.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address

Quote: "In recent days there has been good news from our Ukrainian paratroopers. Thank you to our 82nd Bukovyna Brigade on the Pokrovsk front, in the Myrnohrad hromada. Every such result on the Pokrovsk front is hard-won, but extremely important. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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It is there, against Pokrovsk, that the Russians have concentrated their main assault group  a significant number of occupying troops. Of course this makes the situation difficult in Pokrovsk and all the neighbouring areas. Fierce fighting is taking place everywhere, and on the approaches to the city. There are sabotage groups in the city, and logistics are difficult. But we must continue to destroy the occupiers and continue to inflict as many losses on Russian forces as possible."

Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that Russia's offensive plans for the past 10 months have once again collapsed due to the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers.

"All the deadlines that Putin gave them, the Russian army has failed to meet  and not for the first time," he said.

Zelenskyy also noted that "a lot has been achieved as part of the Dobropillia operation" and that these areas have contributed to a significant increase in Ukraine's POW exchange pool.

Background:

Two days ago, Ukrainska Pravda reported that there were at least 250 Russian troops in Pokrovsk, engaging in firefights and killing Ukrainian soldiers at their positions, particularly drone operators. Logistics into the city are fully controlled by drones, and Ukrainian troops have to walk 10-15 km to reach their positions. Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are at risk of encirclement.

The next day, Colonel Hryhorii Shapoval, spokesperson for Operational Strategic Group Skhid (East), told journalists that street fighting is ongoing in Pokrovsk, but the situation is "under control and expected, not critical". He said the reason soldiers walk to their positions is "to be less visible to the enemy". Shapoval also emphasised that no positions near Pokrovsk were cut off: "No one is cut off. The defence forces are holding the line."

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, later stressed that commanders must not distort or conceal the real frontline situation in their reports.

On 26 October, Ukraine's General Staff reported that the Russians have amassed around 200 troops in Pokrovsk.

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The Russians have launched nearly 1,200 attack drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine this week.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Details: Zelenskyy reported that apartment buildings were damaged in several districts of Kyiv on the night of 25-26 October.

Quote: "Every Russian strike is an attempt to inflict as much damage as possible on ordinary life. This week, they've been striking residential buildings, our people, children and civilian infrastructure.

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These are the main targets for the Russians. Thousands of strikes with various types of weapons: in just one week, Russia has used nearly 1,200 attack drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of different types against Ukraine."

Details: The president added that Ukraine is simultaneously defending itself "on the battlefield, in the sky and through diplomacy".

Background: Three people were killed and 29 injured, including seven children, as Kyiv came under Russian attack on the night of 25-26 October.

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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has revealed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in their most recent conversation that Ukraine is prepared to continue resisting the Russian invasion for several more years.

Source: Tusk in an interview with The Sunday Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to Tusk, Ukraine is concerned about the long-term impact of the war on its population and economy if it lasts beyond a few years.

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Quote: "I have no doubts Ukraine will survive as an independent state. Now the main question is how many victims we will see. President Zelenskyy told me [on Thursday] that he hopes that the war will not last ten years, but that Ukraine is ready to fight for another two, three years."

More details: Tusk added that the full-scale invasion launched by Russia is also damaging its own economy, but internal destabilisation would only make Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin more aggressive.

Quote from Tusk: "The Russians are in really deep trouble [economically]. Does it mean we can say we are winning? Not at all. They have one big advantage against the West, and Europe especially: they are ready to fight "

Background:

Earlier, Tusk stated that no one should pressure President Zelenskyy to make territorial concessions in the war with Russia.

He has also repeatedly emphasised the importance of European solidarity with Ukraine.

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New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani (D) slammed President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers nationwide on Saturday, saying their only agenda is cruelty and punishment towards Muslims like him and other minorities.

The 33-year-old Democratic Socialist blasted the president and Republicans during an appearance on MSNBCs The Weekend: Primetime.

Co-host Ayman Mohyeldin asked Mamdani for his reaction to Republicans who have criticized him recently, including Vice President JD Vance, who mocked Mamdani for saying his aunt stopped taking the subway because of anti-Muslim bigotry following the Sept. 11 attacks.

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This is all the Republican party has to offer  cheap jokes about Islamophobia so as to not have to recognize what people are living through, Mamdani said. Attempts to pit peoples humanity against each other.

Other GOP critics include two Republican lawmakers who are pushing for the feds to review Mamdanis naturalization and possibly denaturalize and deport him. Mamdani said this is nothing new for Republicans.

In a moment where Americans across the country are deeply fearful of whether they can afford the basic dignities of life, be it health care, be it groceries, be it their rent, the focus of the Republican Party is to try and denaturalize the Muslim guy that won the New York City Democratic Primary with the most votes in our citys history? Mamdani said a moment later.

He continued: It just speaks to the fact that for the Republican Party, the only agenda they really have on offer is that of cruelty and punishment.

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The betting favorite to be NYCs next mayor also said, a moment earlier, that he is concerned about his personal safety, but I try not to think about it.

He said the issue of racism and bigotry is not only a problem for Republicans, though.

Mamdani also blasted Democrats, and in particular, his opponent, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), after Cuomo said God Forbid another 9/11 happen on Mamdanis watch. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat? Cuomo asked on a radio show this week.

I think Islamophobia is something that is endemic to politics across this country, Mamdani said. And we have seen it normalize. We have seen it accepted. And it has come to a point where to speak up about it is seen as if you are making it into an issue, whereas in fact you are naming that which already exists. And so much of this is driven from an unwillingness to recognize that Muslims belong here in the city.

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Mamdanis critics have also ripped him for posing for pictures with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who said America deserved the 9/11 attacks. Mamdani, during a debate with Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa earlier this month, said Pikers comments were reprehensible.

He added on Saturday that so-called leaders like Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams (D) have been able to traffic so openly in this kind of bigotry and it showcases how little they think of the Muslims they represent.

Watch above, via MSNBC.

The post Zohran Mamdani Slams Trumps Republican Party: Only Agenda Is Cruelty and Punishment Towards Muslims and Minorities first appeared on Mediaite.
For just the second time in the 41-year history of the Breeders Crown, a pair of horses hit the finish line in a dead-heat for win. Miki And Minnie and The Last Martini, after finishing one-two in last years Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, matched strides crossing the beam in a 1:49.2 mile to tie for the victory in the $822,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Last Martini, off at 68-1, pushed from post four and secured a pocket seat with Chantilly (James MacDonald) launching for the lead from post 10 heading to a :27 first quarter. Miki And Minnie, the 1-5 favourite, landed in midfield for driver Dexter Dunn and floated off the pylons through the first turn before advancing up the rim. She brushed towards Chantilly up the backside but stalled once in front passing a :56.2 half and eventually cleared control moving for the final turn.

Miki And Minnie motored through the final turn as Unreasonable, who tracked the favourites cover at the request of Marcus Miller, pressed the leader with Chantilly in the pocket and The Last Martini and driver Doug McNair shuffled to third at the inside. Unreasonable gave way after three-quarters in 1:23.1 while Miki And Minnie straightened and quickened for the finish. The Last Martini shook off the pylons and thrusted forward to narrow on Miki And Minnies advantage in the final eighth. Miki And Minnie reached for the line while The Last Martini surged in the closing strides, and the two crossed the finish inseparable by photograph. Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners) emerged from off the speed to take third, beaten three-quarter lengths, and Rodeo Drive Deo (David Miller) rallied from the back for fourth.

I thought we're guaranteed second there late, and she just lunged right at the wire, said McNair. I wasn't sure. Dexter thought I got her...I said earlier, I'd take a dead heat if we get one, and we got one.

I knew it was tight, said Chris Ryder, winning trainer of Miki And Minnie, and it's a long stretch when you're in front, and I could see the Martini filly coming. As a trainer, it's a little nerve-racking. I had an idea there may have been a dead heat. I was hoping for a dead heat. So we're just thrilled here.

The dead-heat for win between Miki And Minnie and The Last Martini came five years after the first dead-heat for win in the history of the Breeders Crown occurred when favourite Perfect Sting and 21-1 shot Summa Cum Laude hit the finish together in the Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace at Harrahs Hoosier Park.

To be honest, I don't generally get very emotional watching the race. And that one I did, said Jared Bako, trainer of The Last Martini, of winning his first Breeders Crown. It's a dream, like people dream of doing this, and I'm just fortunate enough that I've had the ability to train a horse like this.

I thought she'd be very good, Bako also said. She drew a good spot, and we prepared her well in Lexington. Dougie's [McNair] done a good job managing her, along with Jason [Bartlett]. Dougie set her up great for this in Lexington, and just worked out.

Miki And Minnie added a second Breeders Crown trophy to her resume and became the 57th horse, as well as the 27th pacer, in the history of the series to win two titles. She won the 2024 Two-Year-Old Filly Pace at The Meadowlands with a powerful first-over bid to beat The Last Martini by 1-3/4 lengths in a 1:50.2 mile.

Sometimes she's just awful lazy and doesn't want to go, and then when she decides to go like when she did clear, she grabbed the bit and was away again, Chris Ryder said after the race. So, you know, it's a little frustrating, but she picked it up, and it's just great to have back to back to back Breeders Crowns in her two- and three-year-old year.

Chris Ryder added a third victory in this event, winning in 2010 with Put On A Show and in 2013 with I Luv The Nitelife. Dexter Dunn, winning driver of Miki And Minnie, registered back-to-back victories in the Three-Year-Old Filly Pace after taking last years renewal with My Girl EJ for trainer Ron Burke. Doug McNair won for the first time in this event and collected his third Breeders Crown trophy. He won his first in 2017 in the Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace with Stay Hungry and piloted Grace Hill to a stakes-record-equaling 1:48.4 win in the 2022 Mare Pace.

A homebred for Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo and Lawrence Minowitz, Miki And Minnie won her 12th race from 14 starts this season and her 18th race from 25 starts in her career, earning $2,490,270. The filly by Always B Miki-Thats The Ticket paid $2.10 to win.

The Last Martini, a filly by Huntsville-Martinique bred by Crawford Farms LLC, won her sixth race from 14 starts this season and her 10th race from 24 starts in her career, earning $1,506,872 for owner Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein, Ont. She paid $26 to win.

For the other recaps from Saturday's Breeders Crown finals, click here. To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Breeders Crown)
A high-rise fire in Mumbai's Kandivali West saw the MFB rescue 8 members of the Kothari family, including three children. Three adults are in ICU for smoke inhalation.
As per the Home Minister, 170 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Thursday, while 27 had laid down arms in the same state a day earlier. Another 61 cadres surrendered in Maharashtra on Wednesday.
The government is preparing to release the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana in early November 2025, offering Rs 2,000 to eligible farmers under its income support scheme. Beneficiaries must complete e-KYC, update land and bank details, and ensure their Aadhaar is linked to receive payments on time. The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) will credit funds directly into farmers bank accounts. Farmers can check their payment status on pmkisan.gov.in using their Aadhaar or bank number. Those who miss verification deadlines may face payment delays in this round.
Russia faces a deepening population crisis as birth rates decline and the population ages rapidly. President Vladimir Putin has warned this poses a threat to the nations future. Despite government incentives for larger families, birth rates continue to fall.
Thailand-Cambodia Tensions: Earlier, a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia was signed in the presence of US President Donald Trump, who played a significant role in brokering the deal. Now, Thailand has reportedly launched airstrikes along its border with Cambodia.
Warrawee Michelle, with trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt at the controls, put on a record-setting performance in the $548,000 Breeders Crown Open Mares Trot on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The curtain-raising event on the second night of Breeders Crown action delivered an outstanding opening act.

It was Date Night Hanover (Dexter Dunn) and M Ms Dream (Yannick Gingras) who scrapped it out for the lead in the early strides with the former eventually seizing command into the first turn, as Elista Hanover (David Miller), second choice at 7-2, trotted on after not finding a seat along the pylons. Warrawee Michelle, tops on the tote board at 4-5, settled into fifth.

Date Night Hanover called the shots through an opening quarter in :26.2, but Miller had Elista Hanover on the march and on top after a half in :54.3, as Warrawee Michelle, still in the same position, waited for her cue from Svanstedt.

Seconds before the field rounded the turn for home, Elista Hanover was forced to contend with Date Night Hanover, who was guided to the outside and was nearly on even terms with the leader through three-quarters in 1:22.3, while Warrawee Michelle, still fifth, had plenty of work do.

The first bit of drama unfolded when Date Night Hanover broke stride in early stretch, opening the door for Elista Hanover to get the jump on her pursuers.

Under urging from Miller, Elista Hanover dug in gamely as Warrawee Michelle, now in high gear, was steadily gaining on her rival with the wire looming.

At the finish, Warrawee Michelle, who arrived at the race off a nose loss in her Allerage tilt on Oct. 5, eked out a head nod over a game Elista Hanover. Nelsonbriteagle No (James MacDonald) was third, followed by Emoji Hanover (Bob McClure).

The final time of 1:50.2 was the fastest mile ever trotted in Breeders Crown history.

It was far back in the last turn, but she came home really good, said Svanstedt. It was so tight, so I couldn't see any horses between, but I'm happy that we won.

She's a very good horse, and good horses are special.

It was the latest top-shelf accomplishment from Warrawee Michelle, whose notable victories include the 2024 Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot. She became just the 11th filly in harness racing history to achieve the Crown-Oaks double.

In August, Warrawee Michelle won the Sebastian K Invitational (Grade 3) for older trotters in 1:50, stamping herself as the fastest four-year-old trotter ever on a five-eighths-mile track, while delivering Svanstedt his third consecutive victory in the event named after one of his former stars.

For her career, the daughter of Walner-Sound Check is 10-6-4 from 29 starts with $1,873,508 in earnings. She is owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc., and Young Guns. She was bred by Warrawee Farm of Rockwood, Ont.

It's always fun when you're with your friends, when you're with your partners, and when you win, especially when you win a race like this where it looked like the horse was out of the race, said David Stolz, of Young Guns. He (Svanstedt) drove the horse beautifully tonight, and it's a thrill here. I love the people here. It's just nice. It's a wonderful place, a great venue.

She paid $3.60 for tonights Breeders Crown win.

For the other recaps from Saturday's Breeders Crown finals, click here. To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Breeders Crown)
Series Quebecoises champion Paradise Moni returned to Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, Oct. 26 and stole the show in this week's $5,500 Preferred Handicap Trot for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire.

Paradise Moni left from post three and beat a pair to his outside off the gate. He carved out fractions of :29.3, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 while the favoured mare, Rose Run Why Not, advanced into the pocket position for Pascal Berube. Rose Run Why Not moved back out heading into the homestretch to take her shot but Paradise Moni held off the 2-5 bettors' choice to win by a quarter of a length in 1:59 flat. Sophomore stakes star Mass Speed and Denis St. Pierre rounded out the top three.

Paradise Moni, who had been competing stateside at Saratoga Raceway since completing a sweep of the Series Quebecoises at 3R in early July, is perfect in five provincial starts this season. Overall, the four-year-old gelding has won 11 of his 27 races this year and now boasts 16 career wins with earnings totalling $116,568.

The son of International Moni out of Jessies Song is owned by Ecuries Maguire Inc. of Sainte-Marie, Que., and Jean-Francois Maguire of Carlisle, Ont.

Paradise Moni paid $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice on the toteboard.

While Berube settled for second in the afternoon's feature, he did deliver five winning drives on the 11-race card. Berube's winners were Windsun Hudson ($14.20) for trainer Eric Milot, Century Larisa ($11.50) for Marc-Andre Simoneau, Shemaksmefelunreal ($4.80) for Andre Champagne, Dialmeup ($2.10) for Yves Tessier and American Zestar ($4.10) for David Pilon.

A career winner of more than 3,500 races, the Portneuf, Que. reinsman is looking to wrap up his sixth consecutive driving title at 3R when action resumes next Sunday afternoon.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.

(Standardbred Canada)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Passwords are the keys to our digital livesthink how many times you log in to websites and other systems. But just like physical keys, they can be lost, duplicated and stolen.

Many alternatives have been proposed in recent years, including passkeys. These offer a significant improvement in terms of user friendliness and potential for widespread use.

But what exactly are theyand how do they differ from passwords?

Passwords are vulnerable

In simple terms, a password is a secret word or phrase that you use to prove who you are to computer systems and/or online. If you have an account on a website or subscribe to a service provider you likely have many.

Passwords themselves are fine; it is the way we implement and use them that makes them vulnerable. For example, weak password habits are everywhere. A CyberNews report from earlier this year identified 94% of 19 billion leaked passwords were re-used. It also identified several similarities in passwords, including strings of numbers such as "123456," people's names, cities, popular brands and swear words.

And when a breach occurs, stolen passwords can spread quickly. This leads to accounts being taken over, identity theft and/or phishing attacks. In one experiment, hackers were trying to use leaked credentials within an hour.

Passwords are also vulnerable to phishing, which is when scammers trick you into typing your password (or other information) into a fake account login page. Phishing emails continue to grow in number and consequence with one report indicating more than 3 billion phishing emails sent per day globally.

A good password is unique (that is, never re-used) and complex (imagine a sequence of letters, numbers and symbols such as "e8bh!kXVhccACAP$48yb"). It can also be a unique combination of multiple words to create a phrase or memorable sequence.

This could be difficult to remember, although creating a story that uses the contents of the password might help. For example, say your password was "CrocApplePurseBike." You could remember it by thinking of the Crocodile that packed its Apple into a Purse before riding a Bike.

What are passkeys and how do they work?

Passkeys first started to emerge roughly four years ago. They use a mathematical process called public-key cryptography to create a unique set of information that is split into two partsor keys.

One key is public and can be shared with websites; the other is a private key that is stored securely on your device. To sign into an account, the website sends a random challenge (such as a number) and your device uses the private key to "approve" the login request. This approval is usually called "signing" the request and applies a mathematical process to the challenge.

Your device won't just do this automatically; you will typically be required to approve the request. For many mobile devices this will require your face or fingerprint to be used to authorize the response to be sent.

Finally, the website checks the signature via the public key it already has. If it confirms the challenge, you are in.

Stronger by design

Passkeys are stronger than passwords by design. It doesn't matter if the public key is stolen, because it cannot be used on its own. Your private keys are safely protected by your device's security, with most using face or finger-based biometrics to unlock (it is best to avoid relying on a PIN).

Each passkey is also unique for every service you use; even if the key for a site could be stolen, it cannot be used elsewhere.

Another plus is that passkeys are resistant to phishing. From a user perspective, there isn't a password to send in response to a phishing email. A request to log in on a site has to come from the registered device combined with the approval of the user.

Passkeys are also more convenient than passwords. You don't have to look for the password you used when you registeredthe passkeys are already linked to your device and are only a finger/face verification away.

There are, however, some issues with passkeys. For one, while many browsers, operating systems and websites are embracing passkeys, this isn't universal. And some early implementations suffered with compatibility between devices (such as between Microsoft and Apple devices).

As users move to newer devices and manufacturers improve integration, these issues should disappear.

A clear winner

From a security point of view, passkeys are the clear winner. They offer stronger protection, can resist phishing and are easier to use. But until passkeys are everywhere, passwords will still play a supporting role.

Implementing passkeys on a website requires effort from the company concerned. With a vast number of sites requiring users to create accounts, the process of migrating them all to passkeys is going to take decades. Many will never adopt the practice unless other factors force their hand.

For now, it's crucial that we continue to focus on password hygiene by using strong, unique passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication wherever possible. If you do nothing else after reading this article, at least change any re-used passwords.

More information: Paul Haskell-Dowland et al, What's the difference between passwords and passkeys? It's not just the protection they provide, (2025). DOI: 10.64628/aa.7mjgtmnk5

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Vietnam-US issue joint statement on Reciprocal Trade Agreement Framework

By Thai Ha Sun, October 26, 2025 | 9:28 pm GMT+7

Vietnam and the United States on October 26 issued a joint statement on the Framework for a Balanced and Fair Reciprocal Trade Agreement after many months of negotiations.

The joint statement was issued on the occasion of President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attending the ASEAN Summit held from October 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade stated in a release on Sunday.

It shows the results of bilateral reciprocal trade negotiations so far in an effort to build economic and trade relations on a balanced, stable and sustainable basis, in line with the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in September 2023, according to the release.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the occasion of the 13th ASEAN-US Summit on October 26, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Vietnam News Agency.

The statement covers key elements of a forthcoming balanced and fair reciprocal trade agreement, under which both sides agreed to work constructively to address mutual concerns over non-tariff barriers, align commitments on digital trade, services, and investment, and discuss issues related to intellectual property, sustainable development, and cooperation to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Specifically, Vietnam will expand market preferences for most U.S. industrial and agricultural goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. will maintain a 20% reciprocal tax rate for goods originating from Vietnam and consider applying a 0% tax rate to some products.

The United States will identify products in the list set out in Annex III of Executive Order No. 14356 dated September 5, 2025  Potential Tariff Adjustments for Likely-Oriented Partners  to enjoy a 0% reciprocal tariff rate.

The two sides committed to coordinate in handling non-tariff barriers affecting bilateral trade in related areas. For example, Vietnam will handle a number of barriers such as accepting vehicles manufactured according to US emission standards, medical equipment, simplifying procedures for approving pharmaceuticals and agricultural products; and fully implementing international obligations on intellectual property.

The two countries also committed to handling and preventing barriers to U.S. agricultural products in the Vietnamese market. This includes a mechanism to monitor and accept certificates agreed upon by both sides and issued by U.S. regulatory agencies.

The two sides recorded many important trade agreements such as Vietnam Airlines ordering 50 Boeing aircraft worth more than $8 billion, and businesses from both countries signing 20 memorandums of understanding on the purchase and sale of U.S. agricultural products with a total value of about $2.9 billion.

In the coming months, the two countries will continue discussions toward completing the agreement, based on the principles of openness, equality, mutual respect for independence and political systems, mutual benefit, and consideration of each others development levels.

Since late April 2025, Vietnam and the U.S. have held multiple rounds of reciprocal trade negotiations at both the technical and ministerial levels.

Several in-person and virtual sessions have been held between Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

In the early hours of August 1, 2025 (Vietnam time), the White House announced a Presidential Executive Order signed by Donald Trump, adjusting reciprocal tariff rates for 69 countries and territories listed in Annex I. Under the revision, the U.S. reduced the reciprocal tariff rate on Vietnam from 46% to 20%.

At a press meeting on October 8, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said the tariff negotiations between Vietnam and the U.S. were progressing quite positively, with both sides making efforts to conclude the talks soon.

He added that the two sides expect to wrap up negotiations before November.

According to Vietnam Customs, total bilateral trade reached approximately $126.4 billion as of end-September 2025.
Russia has strengthened the individual, while not weakening the state: Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka

Speaking at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday, 10th June, during the consideration of Russias Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report, Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka made the following statement:

Sri Lanka welcomes the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation and applauds his remarks here today. We also applaud the role played by the distinguished Ambassador of Russia, His Excellency Valery Loshchinin, in the Human Rights Council, in its institution/building package, in the UPR process and the Durban Review conference.

Mr. President, Sri Lanka recognizes fully well that this discussion on Human Rights - these institutions - none of this would have been possible, if not for the sacrifices made by Russia and the Russian People.

Mr. President, the overwhelming burden of the fight against Nazi fascism fell to Russia. The greatest sacrifices in human terms were those made by the Russian people and the Russian armed forces. If not for the role played by Russia in breaking the backbone of fascism, the rest of the world would have found that our discussion, our discourse and our institutions promoting Human Rights would have been postponed by many decades and a dark age would have fallen on the world.

So we recognize this sterling contribution of Russia. We also recognize the difficulties the Russia has faced: centuries of the Czarism, decades of totalitarianism, two World Wars, a civil war that was forced on Russia and a period of economic collapse in the nineties from which Russia has proudly emerged. We note that the struggle for Human Rights takes place against this historic background. And from the responses of Russia contained in the UPR report and its responses today, Sri Lanka applauds the fact that Russia has found a way of safeguarding Human rights, strengthening the individual, strengthening society, while not weakening either the state or the nation.

Thank you.
Vietnams Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Natural Resources & Environment, and Home Affairs have new heads

By Minh Hue Sun, October 26, 2025 | 11:22 am GMT+7

Le Hoai Trung was appointed on Saturday as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tran Duc Thang as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Do Thanh Binh as Minister of Home Affairs.

Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other Party and State leaders present flowers to congratulate the newly-appointed officials. Photo courtesy of the National Assembly.

Their appointments came after the National Assembly (NA), Vietnam's legislature, passed a resolution approving the Prime Ministers proposal to appoint several ministers for the 2021-2026 term. All 427 delegates present, accounting for 90.08% of NA members, voted in favor.

Le Hoai Trung, newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal.

Le Hoai Trung, born in 1961 in the central city of Hue, is a member of the Party Central Committee for the 12th and 13th tenures, Secretary of the 13th Party Central Committee (since October 2023), and a member of the 15th National Assembly.

He has spent many years working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding various positions such as deputy director of the department of international organizations, deputy head of Vietnams Permanent Mission to the United Nations, and acting director and then director of the department of international organizations.

In December 2010, he was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In March 2021, he became head of the Party Central Committees Commission for External Relations. On February 3, 2025, he was appointed Chief of the Party Central Committees Office.

Tran Duc Thang, newly-appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo courtesy of the ministry.

Tran Duc Thang, born in 1973, hails from Vinh Phuc province (now part of Phu Tho province). He holds a doctorate degree and is a member of the 13th Party Central Committee.

He used to be deputy director general and later director general of the public asset management department under the Ministry of Finance. In October 2018, he was elected a member of the 12th Party Central Committees Inspection Commission. In 2020, he became deputy head of the Inspection Commission.

On October 27, 2022, the Politburo appointed him as Secretary of the Hai Duong provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

In July 2025, he was appointed Standing Deputy Inspector General of the Government Inspectorate, and from July 17, 2025, he has become Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.

Do Thanh Binh, newly-appointed Minister of Home Affairs. Photo courtesy of Nguoi lao dong (Laborer) newspaper.

Meanwhile, Do Thanh Binh, born in 1967 in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, holds a masters degree in economics and a bachelors degree in political economy. He is a member of the 13th Party Central Committee and a member of the 15th National Assembly.

He held various positions in the southern province of Kien Giang (now part of An Giang province), including head of the provincial Party Committees Organization Board, Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee, and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee.

In January 2025, the Politburo assigned him as Secretary of the Can Tho city Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

In September 2025, Binh became deputy head of the Party Central Committees Organization Commission and Standing Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.
26/10/2025





After a summer of largely successful recruitment for Everton, a question mark still remains at centre-forward, which has been a problem position since the departure of Romelu Lukaku in 2017.

The Toffees have signed 17 strikers over the past 10 years at a combined cost of almost 160M... with decidedly mixed results.

Since Lukaku's sale in the summer of 2017, the Blues have scored 357 Premier League goals - the fewest of any ever-present club.

Despite having signed 17 strikers in that time, Everton are yet to find a reliable long-term option - and selection problems persist to this day.

So far this season, Everton's two strikers have scored one goal between them in 16 Premier League appearances.

Lukaku joined Everton in 2013, initially on loan from Chelsea, before the move was made permanent for a then club record 28M fee the following summer.

The Belgium international excelled on Merseyside, overtaking Duncan Ferguson as the club's record Premier League scorer with 68 goals in 141 games at an average of one every 175 minutes. Lukaku set a benchmark that no Everton forward has come close to emulating since.

The nature of their signings - including 19-year-old Tyler Dibling and 22-year-old Barry - highlights the ongoing need to box clever in the transfer market, bringing in developing talent that could be later sold for a profit if required.

Top strikers cost money - nearly half of the 2.6bn spent this summer by Premier League clubs went on forwards - and Everton have been operating at the bottom of the food chain in recent windows.

If Everton are to target a first trophy since 1995, or first European qualification since 2017, they surely need to score more often - meaning they could bolster their attacking ranks in January.

Read the full article at BBC Sport

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REALISTIC TARGETS: T&T Stock Exchange CEO Eva Mitchell rings the bell to mark the start of the TTSEs Capital Markets and Investor Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain on Friday. Looking on, from left, are Planning Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh, Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo and TTSE chairman Ian Narine.
This story is meant particularly for the people who know exactly what happened that afternoon 20 years ago, and why.

Those with information are encouraged to make the call that may unravel the mystery of May 14, 2003.
UN human rights chief to visit North and East

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay will make field visits to North and East during her stay in the island, her office in Geneva said in a statement.

Confirming Pillay's official visit to Sri Lanka from 25 to 31 August 2013, at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Government, the statement said the human rights chief will call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Ms. Pillay is also scheduled to meet other government ministers and officials.

She will hold talks with senior judicial figures, members of the National Human Rights Commission and the committee monitoring the National Plan of Action on the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt Reconciliation Commission, her spokesperson Rupert Colville said.

Ms. Pillay will also meet representatives of civil society and undertake field visits to the north and east of the country.

At the end of her visit, on Saturday 31 August, the High Commissioner is due to hold a news conference in Colombo.

Text of the Full Statement
SABOTAGE: Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, centre, Senator Dr Amery Browne, left, and Member of Parliament for Port of Spain North/St Anns West Stuart Young speak to the media at the news conference yesterday at the Office of the Opposition Leader, Port of Spain. Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY
Sri Lankas education policy strengthens understanding between different ethnic groups

Sri Lanka has highlighted the importance of education as an essential tool in combating racism and racial discrimination. Intervening during an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the on-going 23rd Session of the Human Rights Council, Assistant Director/Foreign Affairs Mr. Madhuka Wickramarachchi, observed that Sri Lankas education system which is founded on the principles of non-discrimination and equal rights for education have contributed positively in strengthening the understanding between different ethnic groups in Sri Lanka.

While noting that Sri Lanka introduced free education for all children from primary to university (tertiary) education in 1945, he underlined that it is compulsory by law for a child to get a school education in Sri Lanka and a duty is cast on all parents of a child of not less than five years and not more than 14 years, to enable such child to receive an education. Furthermore, in terms of Article 27 (2) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, the state is pledged to the complete eradication of illiteracy and assurance to all persons of the right to universal and equal access to education at all levels.

Read Full Statement:
St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church has won a $150,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservations Fund for Sacred Spaces program.

The church plans to use the grant for preservation work on the buildings exterior and structure, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced in a news release.

This funding will support essential repairs to the sanctuarys primary facade, which is arguably the most prominent example of work by the renowned Tucson architect, Josias Joesler, St. Philips said in an Oct. 21 Facebook post.

The church at 4440 N. Campbell Ave. was built in 1936  holding its first service on Christmas Eve that year  in the style of Spanish Colonial architecture, also called Neo-Mission, similar to the Franciscan mission churches built in California more than 400 years ago, St. Philips says on its website. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Architect Joesler, born in 1895 in Zurich, Switzerland, moved to Tucson in 1927 and lived and worked here, often designing in Spanish Colonial Revival and Pueblo Revival styles, until his death in 1956.

The grant is part of $8.7 million in assistance awarded in this funding cycle to 30 historic and architecturally significant faith communities across the country, the trust said.

This is the second grant the program has awarded to an Arizona congregation since it launched in 2016, following a 2018 grant to San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, the news release said.
US President Donald Trump has said he will solve the Afghanistan-Pakistan crisis very quickly, as peace talks between the warring neighbours entered a second day.

The two countries are embroiled in a bitter security row, with each side saying they were responding to aggression from the other during clashes earlier this month.

It was the deadliest fighting between them in several years, marking a low point in relations while also causing alarm in a region where armed groups like al-Qaida are trying to resurface.

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Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of turning a blind eye to militants who cross the border for attacks  a charge the countrys Taliban rulers reject.

The second round of talks between them began in Istanbul on Saturday, focusing on transforming a fragile ceasefire, achieved earlier this month in Doha, into a durable framework for peace and border security.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Mr Trump said: I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But Ill get that solved very quickly.

President Donald Trump made the comments while at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia (Vincent Thian/pool/AP)

He made the comments while attending the signing of the ThailandCambodia peace agreement, adding that the leaders of Pakistan are great people.

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Days of fighting killed dozens of people and injured hundreds in Afghanistan, although Pakistan denied attacking civilians and said it was targeting militants and their hideouts.

On Sunday, Taliban-controlled media RTA reported that after 15 hours of continuous discussions, the Afghan side had submitted a draft focusing on Pakistan not violating Afghanistans territory and airspace and not allowing any anti-Afghan group or opposition to use Pakistani territory against our country.

There was also an expression of readiness to establish a four-way channel to monitor the ceasefire agreement and exchange information on violations, RTA reported.

The Pakistanis submitted a second draft to the Afghans on Saturday evening, according to RTA.

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Nobody from the Pakistani government was immediately available for comment. But Mr Trumps remarks are likely to energise the countrys political and military leadership, which wants closer ties with the White House.

Pakistan has also praised Mr Trump for his role in defusing a crisis earlier this year with India.
At the meeting, PM Chinh conveyed the invitation from Party General Secretary To Lam and other high-ranking Vietnamese leaders to President Trump to visit Vietnam. The latter gladly accepted the invitation, expressing his keen interest and intention to arrange the trip in the near future.



On the basis of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development, the Vietnamese Government leader proposed the US side facilitate a visit to the country by General Secretary Lam. In response, President Trump asked Vietnam to provide prompt notification to the US, and expressed his hope that PM Chinh would visit the US at a mutually convenient time.



Both leaders agreed to promote the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development, making it more intensive, substantive, and effective. They also touched upon the early signing of a reciprocal trade agreement between the two countries on the basis of fairness and equality, and the promotion of US investment in Vietnam.



Responding positively to PM Chinhs proposals, President Trump took note of Vietnams request for recognition as a market economy and for removal from the US strategic export control list categories D1 and D3. He instructed senior US officials, including the Secretary of the Treasury and the US Trade Representative, who were attending the Summit, to respond promptly to Vietnam on these matters.



PM Chinh noted Vietnams appreciation for President Trumps role in promoting the peaceful resolution of recent global conflict hotspots.



On the same day, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a bilateral meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to discuss the implementation roadmap for the Joint Statement on a US-Vietnam framework for an agreement on reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade.



Dien also met with US Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Helberg to exchange views on bilateral trade relations and explore potential cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, and supply chain partnerships, as well as the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on collaboration in these fields./.VNA
Sri Lanka call for Restraint

Sri Lanka is deeply concerned and disturbed at the recent serious escalation of violence in Gaza and deeply regrets the loss of lives and the great suffering experienced by the people of Palestine.

Sri Lanka strongly believes the use of force and militaristic threats should be halted and that there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of the conflict through peace talks.

We call upon both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to display restraint and avoid civilian casualties. It is hoped that the parties would continue to demonstrate leadership and political courage and keep open the door to peace.

MEA Statement in PDF.
Tran Quang Minh is pursuing a full scholarship master's program at Fudan University.

Minh, 25, is pursuing a full scholarship master's program at Fudan University (China), a top 30 global school per QS 2026 rankings. Nearly three months ago, the Thai Nguyen native became the top graduate of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) with a 3.91/4 GPA.

At the graduation ceremony, before friends and teachers, Minh shared his journey leaving China to return to Vietnam and the "invisible pressures" in deciding to retake the university entrance exam in Vietnam.

Pausing to find "my own path"

After high school, Tran Quang Minh, a former student at Thai Nguyen High School for the Gifted, received a full scholarship to study International Law at Chongqing University (China). The Thai Nguyen youth yearned to step into the world and study in the international environment. But after two years, Minh realized it wasn't his desired path.

While in China, I started tutoring Chinese and Vietnamese online. Ive always loved languages, and the more I had to study to teach, the more curious I became about the structure and differences between the two. Thats when I realized I was more passionate about linguistics than law, he recalled.

In 2020, Minh returned to Vietnam for the Lunar New Year holiday and got stuck due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. At the same time, his mother was diagnosed with bone cancer. The unexpected pause gave Minh time to reflect deeply on his life, family, and future.

"I weighed it heavily. The scholarship was an opportunity; earning it took effort. But the more I studied, the less it fit," Minh shared.

At that time, the family respected his decision. The biggest pressure, according to Minh, came from himself.

What haunted me the most was the fear of falling behind, especially seeing friends already employed or pursuing their masters or PhDs, while I was still drifting.

Fortunately, a friend, who was a PhD student in Linguistics in the US encouraged him to explore the field. Thus, Minh learned about Linguistics, an academic field rarely introduced in high school.

Linguistics helps explain language phenomena Ive always been curious about, like why some people mix up l and n sounds, or why Vietnam has three dialect zones. I also got to explore syntax, etymology, and especially phonetics, which really fascinated me, he said.

His multilingual environment in Chongqing only deepened his interest. After six months of soul searching, Minh decided to give up his scholarship and restart in Vietnam.

A journey of "going slow to go far"

In 2021, Minh took the high school graduation exam, scoring over 27.5 in D78 exam group (Literature, English, Social Sciences), becoming the top entrant in Linguistics at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Taking "slower" steps than peers, Minh "occasionally felt pressure but soon felt balanced, as everyone has their own pace."

His goal was earning study encouragement scholarships each semester to self-fund tuition. "Previously, I neglected disliked subjects; now, even uninteresting ones, I study properly. I know some things must be done well to not affect others," Minh said.

In class, Minh learned and discussed with lecturers. "Frequent knowledge exchanges deepened my perspectives. I grasped essence over rote learning, no cramming needed."

This helped Minh research language principles. He's particularly passionate about Vietnamese phonetics and dialects/subdialects, fields with much unexplored potential. Thus, Minh planned a course for a masters degree in linguistics in China.

Applying abroad the second time, Minh was accepted by Fudan and Peking Universities, China's top two programs in Linguistics. For their nods, Minh credits his application's "authenticity."

Ultimately, Minh chose Fudan. Returning to China, he says he's "much more mature."

"Graduate studies are tougher; some Vietnam areas are underexplored so I will double the effort to catch up," he said.

Minh has no regrets suspending his studies abroad. "Two years in China gave me life skills, language capital, and clarity that Law wasn't for me. Without that, I might not have found the right path," Minh said.

Most importantly, Minh learned not to compare himself with anyone as each has their own road and pace. Focus on what you do, and do your best.

Currently, Minh is studying for his master's at Fudan. The Thai Nguyen youth hopes to pursue teaching and language research after graduation.

Thanh Hung
HCM CITY  Turning technology from policy vision into economic impact will require Viet Nam to build stronger connections between government, business and research institutions, experts said on Sunday at the Open Innovation Day (OID) 2025 in HCM City.

The two-day event, themed Technological Breakthroughs  Promoting Green and Digital Transformation, has drawn policymakers, global investors, startups and major corporations to discuss how open innovation can power Viet Nams sustainable growth ambitions.

The discussions on the second day of the event focused on how to transform the countrys innovation ecosystem from fragmented initiatives into an integrated, results-driven network supporting the transition to a green economy.

Pham Hong Quat, director of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development (NATEC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, said the countrys next growth phase would depend on turning local resources into innovation capital.

Viet Nams most valuable assets are its young people, creativity and resilience, he said. We must connect these assets with science, technology and industry to build a truly sustainable innovation ecosystem.

The ministry would continue to work closely with provinces and businesses to expand pilot programmes that connect technology startups with industrial partners and investors, he added.

Trust as foundation of innovation

Bui Trung Hieu, deputy director of the Open Innovation and Technopreneur Institute (OITI), said Viet Nams innovation journey must begin with trust  in government direction, business capabilities, and local talent.

Technology and capital are important, but what drives innovation is trust, he said. Trust that policies will be consistent, that businesses can take risks, and that researchers can create real-world impact.

OID would serve as a bridge linking government and the private sector to jointly tackle challenges in clean energy, digital transformation and sustainable manufacturing, he noted.

Since its establishment, OID has connected more than 140 CEOs and founders, 30 major corporations and 200 startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) platform under OID has launched several flagship programmes, including the Carbon Factor for Net Zero Future 2023, Industrial AI Challenge 2024, and Next Wave for Startups 2025, which have attracted hundreds of proposals addressing issues from carbon reduction to AI applications in agriculture and energy.

Innovation must move beyond ideas to implementation, he said. Were creating mechanisms that allow startups to pilot, test and scale their technologies with real corporate partners.

Balancing digital and green goals

Experts from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) warned that while technologies such as AI and cloud computing could help accelerate climate resilience, they also posed new sustainability challenges.

AI and data centres are energy-intensive and require careful management to ensure they contribute to, rather than undermine, green goals, said Juhern Kim, GGGIs country representative in Viet Nam.

GGGI has helped mobilise more than US$300 million for green projects in Viet Nam and aims to channel billions more into renewable energy, smart manufacturing and green finance initiatives.

We should prioritise potential winners  companies that can deliver both economic and climate impact, Kim said.

OID 2025 features eight high-level panel discussions across two days, covering science and technology policy, AI ecosystems, blockchain, data governance, cloud computing, renewable energy, advanced materials and cross-border e-commerce.

Insights from the discussions will be incorporated into policy recommendations at the HCM City Economic Forum (HEF) 2025, to be held from November 24-30 under the theme Artificial Intelligence for Growth.

OID 2025 is initiated by NATEC under the Ministry of Science and Technology and co-organised by OITI, the Technology Incubation Center (TIC), and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), with support from SoiHub, Saigontel, Qualcomm, Business Finland and WorkFlow.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed off the Prime Minister's decision to approve the content of the Vietnamese and Singaporean Governments' memorandum of understanding (MoU) on rice trade cooperation.

The Prime Minister has authorised the Minister of Industry and Trade to represent the Government of Viet Nam in signing the MoU with a duly authorised representative of Singapore. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with carrying out the authorisation procedures in accordance with regulations.

The decision takes effect from the date of signing, October 25, 2025.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, Singapores rice import remains stable. However, Vietnamese rice continues to face strong competition from similar products originating from India, Thailand and Japan. The Singapore Governments proposal to sign a bilateral rice trade agreement with Viet Nam is expected to help stabilise Viet Nams rice export to the city-state in the time ahead.  VNA/VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday attended a high-level dialogue at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, calling for stronger cooperation to promote digital transformation, innovation and sustainable growth across the region.

Held from October 2526 under the theme Unifying Markets for Shared Prosperity, ABIS 2025 brought together more than 1,500 delegates, including ASEAN leaders, top executives and global economists, to discuss private-sector initiatives that could enhance policy reform and strengthen ASEANs position in the global economy.

Responding to questions about Viet Nams growth priorities, Prime Minister Chinh said that despite global headwinds, the country would continue renewing traditional growth drivers  investment, exports and consumption  while fostering new ones such as the green economy, digital economy, circular economy and creative industries.

He emphasised that the countrys approach would be to ensure rapid but sustainable and inclusive growth, adding that Viet Nam sought to balance self-reliance with deep, effective international integration.

On innovation and digital transformation, the Prime Minister said it was not merely a choice but an objective necessity and a top strategic priority. He noted that digital transformation would connect economies, businesses and people and would be central to ASEANs development.

Viet Nam prioritises artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology, e-commerce, logistics and digital public services in healthcare, education, culture and tourism, according to the PM.

To ensure inclusiveness, Viet Nam has launched the national movement Digital Literacy for All (Binh dan hoc vu so), initiated by Party General Secretary To Lam, to help all citizens access digital learning, participate in the transformation process and benefit from its outcomes.

Addressing questions on ASEANs role in maintaining open supply chains, Prime Minister Chinh said that in the face of global headwinds, governments must stay calm, objective and flexible, remaining steadfast in key principles but creative in solutions.

"ASEANs strength lies in unity in diversity, resilience and a people-centred development vision." The bloc, he said, should continue to consolidate its central role in the global structure, harmonise institutions and turn regulatory quality into a competitive advantage.

We are one ASEAN community, one family. When each nation grows stronger, the whole bloc becomes stronger and when ASEAN thrives, every member benefits from its collective strength, he said.

The Prime Minister said that when global supply chains falter, ASEAN must strengthen internal links, support one another, enhance resilience and further open their economies to offset external shocks.

He also urged ASEAN to strengthen comprehensive infrastructure, including both physical and digital networks as well as cultural, social and governance systems. He highlighted the importance of developing high-quality human resources to adapt to transformation, making the most of ASEANs young and dynamic population.

"Internal resources such as human capital, natural endowments and cultural traditions form the foundation for long-term growth, while external resources such as investment, technology and management offer the breakthroughs needed for progress," he said.

Concluding the dialogue, Prime Minister Chinh reaffirmed Viet Nams commitment to contribute to ASEANs agenda on institutional reform, infrastructure development, human resource training and good governance, particularly in areas like digital and green transformation, circular and creative economies and scientific innovation.

The session moderator praised the Prime Ministers comprehensive and forward-looking remarks as highly relevant and valuable for ASEANs economic agenda, while Chinh invited delegates to visit Viet Nam to share vision, action and prosperity together.  VNS
HA NOI  The first day of Viet Nam's Golden Autumn Fair 2025 saw record-breaking crowds as thousands of visitors poured into the Viet Nam National Exhibition Centre in ong Anh Commune, marking a lively start for the countrys newest and largest trade and cultural event.

Officially inaugurated the night before by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the fair opened its doors to the public on the morning of October 26. Within hours, exhibition halls and outdoor spaces were packed with shoppers and families eager to experience the vibrant displays and activities.

"This weekend, after hearing so much about the Golden Autumn Fair on the news, I decided to bring my children to explore and shop," Nguyen Thi Thuy from Me Linh Commune, Ha Noi, told congthuong.vn.

"I always prefer green, safe and healthy products for my family."

Similarly, Nguyen Xuan Huy from Hoai uc Commune said he was impressed by the fair's modern and professional organisation.

"It's great that the Government has created a platform where people can see quality products and learn about production models from provinces across the country," he said.

"In his opening speech, the PM mentioned the four seasonal fairs: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, to boost domestic consumption. I think it is truly meaningful."

Businesses welcome new opportunities

For participating businesses, the fair provides a valuable platform to connect with consumers and expand market reach.

Le Ngoc Anh, director of Le Gia Food and Trading Service Co., Ltd. from Thanh Hoa Province, said his company brought its five-star OCOP-certified fish sauce and other seafood specialities to the fair.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase our traditional products and share the story behind them," he said.

"We also hope to establish new export partnerships through trade promotion sessions organised by the Ministry of Industry and Trade."

Nguyen Thi Hanh, director of SH Trading Co., Ltd., noted the strong turnout and professional organisation.

"We hope our Hue-made ao dai and local handicrafts will reach more customers through events like this," she said.

From the cooperative sector, Le Thinh, director of Thuy Thuat Tea Cooperative in Thai Nguyen Province, said the fair helped cooperatives connect with consumers and learn from one another.

"This event not only promotes our tea brand but also allows us to exchange experiences in branding and sustainable production," he said.

Beyond shopping, visitors are immersing themselves in a rich mix of cultural and culinary experiences.

The fair features regional delicacies, art performances and exhibitions from 34 provinces and cities, celebrating Viet Nam's creative and cultural diversity.

With the theme "Connecting People with Production and Business", the fair is both a national and international-scale event that honours Vietnamese intelligence and craftsmanship while promoting domestic consumption and investment.

According to the organisers, the Golden Autumn Fair 2025 is expected to welcome up to 500,000 visitors per day, making it one of the most ambitious trade and cultural events ever held in Viet Nam.

More than a trade showcase, the fair also serves as a platform for businesses to strengthen international integration, exchange expertise and adopt new technologies in digital transformation, green growth and circular economy development.

As the first of its kind, the Golden Autumn Fair 2025 has already set a strong precedent, not only as a marketplace but as a symbol of innovation, connection and pride in Vietnamese products.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and the US on Sunday issued a joint statement outlining a framework for an agreement on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade.

The statement was released on the occasion of US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attending the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The agreement on reciprocal, fair and balanced trade will build upon the longstanding economic relationship between the two countries, including the US-Viet Nam Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in 2000, which entered into force in 2001.

According to the joint statement, Viet Nam will provide preferential market access for substantially all US industrial and agricultural exports to Viet Nam.

The US will maintain at 20 per cent the reciprocal tariffs, as outlined in Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as amended, on originating goods of Viet Nam, and will also identify products from the list set out in Annex III to Executive Order 14346 of September 5, 2025, Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners, to receive a zero per cent reciprocal tariff rate.

The US and Viet Nam will work constructively to address both countries interests in non-tariff barriers affecting bilateral trade in priority areas.

Viet Nam has agreed to address many such barriers, including accepting vehicles built to US motor vehicle safety and emissions standards, addressing import licences for US medical devices, streamlining regulatory requirements and approvals for US pharmaceutical products, fully implementing Viet Nams obligations under certain international intellectual property treaties to which it is a party, and addressing US concerns with conformity assessment procedures.

The US and Viet Nam have also committed to address and prevent barriers to US agricultural products in the Vietnamese market, including with regard to US regulatory oversight and acceptance of currently agreed certificates issued by US regulatory authorities.

Under the agreement, Vietnam Airlines has agreed to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing, worth more than US$8 billion.

Vietnamese companies have signed 20 memorandums of understanding with US companies to purchase US agricultural commodities, with a total estimated value of over US$2.9 billion.

In the coming weeks, the US and Viet Nam will work to finalise the agreement, prepare it for signature and undertake domestic formalities in advance of it entering into force.  VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday attended the third Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders Meeting as part of his activities at the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The meeting brought together 11 member countries under the AZEC framework, including Australia, Japan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Launched in 2023, the AZEC initiative is a multilateral cooperation mechanism designed to help Asian countries address three key challenges: ensuring economic growth, energy security and decarbonising entire economies based on the principle of 'One goal, multiple pathways.'

Within this framework, AZEC members reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing diverse and practical pathways toward net-zero emissions, taking into account each countrys specific circumstances, existing goals or policies and development challenges, including geographical, economic, technological, institutional, social and equity factors.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivered opening remarks at the session. Delegation heads also acknowledged and welcomed the outcomes of the third AZEC Ministerial Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on October 17.

At the conclusion of the summit, the leaders adopted the Joint Statement of the 3rd AZEC Leaders Meeting, welcoming progress made since the second AZEC Leaders Meeting and emphasising the urgent need to accelerate actions during this critical decade in line with the 'Action Plan for the Coming Decade' endorsed at the second meeting and consistent with the policies of AZEC partner countries. VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  A special plane carrying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Kuala Lumpur early Sunday morning to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings from October 2528, 2025, at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Malaysian Minister of Education Fadhlina Sidek, Malaysian Ambassador to Viet Nam Dato Tan Yang Thai, the Director-General of the Protocol Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Malaysian Prime Ministers Office, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia inh Ngoc Linh, embassy staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Malaysia welcomed the Prime Minister and the Vietnamese delegation at the airport.

During his three-day stay in Kuala Lumpur, PM Chinh is scheduled to attend and deliver remarks at sessions of the 47th ASEAN Summit; take part in the ASEAN Awards Ceremony and the signing ceremony of the Declaration on Timor-Lestes Admission to ASEAN. He will also join ASEAN summits with the United States, China, India, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations.

He will co-chair the 13th MekongJapan Summit, and attend several other high-level events, such as the 3rd Asian Zero Emission Community Leaders Meeting, the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, the 28th ASEAN+3 Summit, the 19th East Asia Summit (EAS), and the 5th RCEP Summit.

On the sidelines of the meetings, PM Chinh is scheduled to hold bilateral engagements with leaders of other countries and international organisations, along with several important activities.

At the 47th ASEAN Summit, the Vietnamese leader and other ASEAN leaders will review the blocs cooperation achievements in 2025 under the theme Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, and discuss future directions for building the ASEAN Community, especially on the basis of building a roadmap and prioritising the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and strategic plans on the political-security, economic, socio-cultural pillars and connectivity.

The leaders will work to strengthen ASEAN-led mechanisms, enhance the blocs external relations, reinforce ASEANs central role and discuss international and regional of shared concerns. A highlight of the summit will be the signing of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste as the 11th member of ASEAN. St

At the ASEAN summits with partners, leaders will review and chart the course for advancing cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, particularly in trade, investment, market diversification, supply chain resilience, science and technology, innovation, climate change response, public health, and disaster management, while exchanging views on regional and global developments.

Through these meetings, Viet Nam will continue to demonstrate its active participation and responsible contributions to the success of the meetings, maintain the unity and consensus within the bloc, promote common issues, especially maintaining regional peace and stability, diversify relations and markets, enhance regional connectivity, while standing ready to support and advance initiatives of countries and partners which are in line with the interests of Viet Nam and ASEAN, as well as peace, security, and development in the region and the world.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Protecting human rights and citizens rights in cyberspace is a vital foundation for building a safe, inclusive and people-centred digital future, Vietnamese Minister of Justice Nguyen Hai Ninh told a high-level discussion held on Saturday in Ha Noi.

The event, themed Protecting Citizens in the Digital Transformation Era, took place as part of the signing ceremony and high-level conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (the Hanoi Convention) in Ha Noi.

The discussion drew broad participation from government leaders, international organisations and legal experts.

Minister Ninh highlighted that the adoption of the Hanoi Convention marked a historic milestone in international efforts to combat cybercrime, coming 25 years after the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (the Palermo Convention) was adopted in 2000.

The journey from Palermo to Ha Noi was not only symbolic but also demonstrated the international communitys sustained commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation, harmonising legal frameworks and building flexible mechanisms to address complex cross-border legal challenges in the 21st century, he said.

According to the minister, humanity is now living in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with breakthrough technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain and the Internet of Things. Data has become a strategic resource that drives global development, connectivity and creativity. However, alongside these achievements, cybercrime has been rising rapidly, becoming more sophisticated and transnational, threatening not only economies but also national security and fundamental human rights.

In this context, the signing of the Hanoi Convention holds special importance as a platform for nations to reaffirm their shared commitment to fighting cybercrime and protecting people in the digital environment. Viet Nam believes that the core value of digital transformation must be grounded in the protection of human and citizens rights in cyberspace.

To achieve this, Ninh proposed several key measures, such as improving legal frameworks to safeguard human rights online based on international conventions; ensuring harmony between national and international laws; linking human rights protection with national interests; and promoting shared responsibility among governments, organisations, businesses and individuals in ensuring cybersecurity and digital safety.

Sharing Turkeys experience, Turkish Minister of Justice Ylmaz Tunc said his country adopted the Internet Law in 2001 and had since introduced numerous legal documents to protect citizens from harmful and false information online. Turkey had also developed a digital justice platform connecting judicial agencies, allowing citizens to file petitions and follow cases online. The system now served over 25 million users and enabled virtual hearings via videoconference, improving transparency and access to justice.

He affirmed Turkeys readiness to share its experience in digital justice and online safety with other nations.

Australia's Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology Jessica Hunter said Australia focused on three priorities in protecting its citizens in the digital era: raising public awareness of online safety, providing toolkits and guidelines for identifying and responding to violations, and ensuring complaint and redress mechanisms so that citizens can report infringements of their rights online. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has a very important role to play in advancing global efforts against cybercrime, stated British Ambassador to Viet Nam Iain Frew on the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention), which took place in the capital city on Saturday.

Talking to the press, the ambassador expressed his delight to witness many nations gathering in Ha Noi for the signing of the convention, describing this as a historic moment  one where countries recognise the importance of working together to tackle the growing challenges of cybercrime.

Stressing the need for all countries to act together, Frew said that the UK was working with Viet Nam and partners around the world to tackle cybercrime.

In order to do that, he went on, it would be necessary to recognise the impact, firstly, that this has on ordinary people  from online scams to the terrible cases of online child images or sexual exploitation. "We really need to work together to tackle these" as they are affecting people's lives.

"What we're doing to try and combat that together through this convention and through our cooperation between countries is to share information, to collaborate, and to work with a wide range of stakeholders," the diplomat emphasised. "It's excellent to see brought here together in Hanoi not just governments from around the world, but also the private sector, civil society, and others who are going to work together. That's the only way we're actually going to achieve real progress."

Regarding cooperation between the UK and Viet Nam in this field, Frew said that the two sides had worked very closely together, with cooperation between their law enforcement agencies very important.

The UKs National Crime Agency (NCA) has a presence in Hanoi and works closely to tackle cybercrime, share information and intelligence, and build a greater global and multilateral collaboration to tackle these problems, according to the ambassador.

"We have made some very good starts, and we have some potential to build on that strong foundation," he added.

The ambassador highlighted that as the online and cyberspace continued to develop with new technologies, this had become increasingly complex.

"Viet Nam does have a very important role to play in that.

I think the Vietnamese Government has started on some really important efforts to address this, he stated.

Pointing out Viet Nam's huge potential, Frew said that the countrys tech sector was growing very quickly, the same as its financial services sector. But I think as these areas develop, we need to ensure that people's data are protected, that we are addressing the challenges of these cybercrime and online technologies in the future.

He said that the UK and Vietnam were working really closely in the project of building an international financial centre (IFC), and the UK had been proud to support over the past couple of years the development of ideas about how Viet Nam would develop its IFC in HCM City and a Nang.

That project must have at its core a secure set of protocols and platforms around how the IFC would develop, he continued, noting that the two sides were going to work very closely together as that project develops in Viet Nam.

The ambassador underlined the importance of sharing experience and information so that the countries could evolve and develop responses to these challenges in a coordinated way internationally. VNA/VNS
Developing Nations Require Greater Focus in International System- Prof. G.L.Peiris addressing UNGA

Sri Lanka believes that in the settlement of international disputes, action must be based on the fundamental principle of sovereign equality of states, a principle firmly enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, stated Professor G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs in his address yesterday to the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly. He regretted that the noticeable recent tendency to selectively and arbitrarily intervene in the internal affairs of States flies in the face of this principle, and dilutes the confidence so carefully nurtured in the UN system.

Dealing with the challenge of the global financial crisis, Minister Peiris emphasized that it is of the greatest importance to ensure that any strategies employed to achieve recovery, do not impose unjustifiable burdens on developing countries, as they strive to achieve better living conditions for their people. He stressed that a recovery without uplifting the developing countries simultaneously will be unsustainable. In this context, he regretted that it is paradoxical that it is the same countries where the financial crisis originated, which now seek to provide policy prescriptions to others. While observing that the voices of developing countries are an important element to this end, he stressed that there cannot be a one size fits all approach, and therefore the views of all and the experiences of the successful, especially the newly emerging economies, must be taken into account.

Read More...
KUALA LUMPUR  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined leaders of other ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste at the opening ceremony of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The events form the second series of summits hosted by Malaysia as ASEAN Chair in 2025 under the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability.

The opening ceremony also saw the presence of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the European Council Antonio Costa, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and other regional and international organisations.

In his opening remarks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warmly welcomed ASEAN leaders, partners, and friends from across the continents to the 47th ASEAN Summit.

He affirmed that ASEAN remained resilient, grounded in the strong belief that respect and justice will always unite its member states, even amid the challenges of 2025, a year of volatility that tested the resilience of regional economies and their will and trust in cooperation, dialogue, and understanding.

He also highlighted that the peace agreement inked between Cambodia and Thailand showcased the power of trust and the courage to choose reconciliation and peace.

Congratulating Timor-Leste on officially becoming ASEANs 11th member, the Malaysian PM stated that this marked a historic milestone in the blocs development, demonstrating ASEANs commitment to supporting Timor-Lestes development and enhancement of its strategic autonomy.

The host leader stressed that ASEAN must continue strengthening cooperation for the shared goal of regional peace and prosperity, further deepening economic cooperation, expanding trade links, improving competitiveness, effectively implementing economic cooperation agreements, and initiatives that support connectivity and green growth, such as the ASEAN Power Grid, the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, the electric vehicle ecosystem, and enhanced digital economic partnership.

He urged ASEAN to be ready to forge new partnerships while further deepening existing ones to respond to rising protectionism and shifts in global supply chains.

At the opening ceremony, ASEAN leaders signed an official declaration admitting Timor-Leste as the 11th member of the association.

Timor-Leste PM Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, in his speech, affirmed that joining ASEAN marked a historic milestone, realising the countrys long-cherished aspiration for integration after a persistent and determined journey.

He thanked ASEAN member states and partners for their support during Timor-Lestes preparation process, stressing that the country views ASEAN as a strategic choice for the future. He reaffirmed his countrys commitment to fully abide by the ASEAN Charter and obligations, promote unity and cooperation, and actively contribute to the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 for a peaceful, prosperous, and people-centred region.

On this occasion, the organising committee presented the 2025 ASEAN Award to the Union Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC) for its contributions in promoting volunteerism, enhancing youth roles, and strengthening unity among young people in ASEAN member states. VNA/VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had separate meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Brazilian President Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

Meeting with Cambodian PM Hun Manet, PM Chinh congratulated Cambodia on its great and comprehensive achievements in recent times, and welcomed new progress in peacefully resolving the Cambodia - Thailand situation, including the signing of the Peace Agreement on the occasion of this summit.

He emphasised that the Peace Agreement would create the basis for the two countries to stabilise the border area, and soon resume comprehensive cooperation and connectivity, thereby strengthening trust, moving towards long-term peace and bringing practical benefits to the people of Cambodia and Thailand as well as the whole region.

Discussing bilateral relations, the two leaders agreed to continue reinforcing political trust, promoting existing cooperation mechanisms under the motto of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability, striving to create breakthroughs in economic cooperation, contributing to raising bilateral trade turnover to US$20 billion soon.

The two sides also agreed to promote local connectivity in a practical and effective manner, promote transport and logistics infrastructure connectivity between the two countries, especially HCM City  Moc Bai  Bavet  Phnom Penh expressway project, develop border gates and border trade infrastructure; continue to negotiate and resolve remaining problems on border demarcation and marker planting in the spirit of solidarity and friendship under the motto of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, long-term sustainability.

PM Chinh also requested the Cambodian side to continue to pay attention and create conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to operate stably and expand investment in Cambodia.

Regarding the international and regional situation, the two PMs discussed and shared their views on issues of mutual concern. PM Chinh thanked the Cambodian side for sending a Deputy PM to attend the Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention), contributing to the overall success of the event.

At his meeting with Canadian PM Carney, PM Chinh welcomed Canada's foreign policy of increasing engagement with the region through the Indo-Pacific Strategy, thereby creating favourable conditions for the two countries to promote substantive cooperation in the coming time.

The Vietnamese leader hoped that Canada would step up cooperation with and support Viet Nam in areas where Canada has strengths and Viet Nam has needs such as aviation, energy, training of civil nuclear engineering experts and especially providing more scholarships for Vietnamese students to contribute to further deepening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

He also proposed the Canadian Government create more favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Canada to live stably, develop and contribute further to the good relationship between the two countries.

The two leaders agreed on the need to continue to enhance and deepen the bilateral relationship through high-level external activities, thus further increasing political trust.

They also discussed a number of measures to make economic, trade and investment cooperation an important pillar of the Viet Nam - Canada relationship, on the basis of effectively exploiting the complementarities between the two economies and taking advantage of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), opening the market, facilitating investment and connecting supply chains in a sustainable and mutually beneficial manner.

Sharing his personal sentiments since visiting Viet Nam in 1991, PM Carney expressed his impression of Viet Nam's socio-economic development achievements and growing international position. He affirmed that Canada considered Viet Nam an important partner in the Indo-Pacific region, a bridge and trade gateway to the region.

Agreeing with the specific proposals that PM Chinh made on promoting cooperation between the two countries, the Canadian leader said he expected to further promote cooperation with Viet Nam in the fields of energy, mining, and aviation technology.

The two sides agreed to coordinate more closely at regional and global multilateral forums, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations, and make positive contributions to strengthening multilateralism and international law. The Canadian side expressed its desire to work with Viet Nam to promote the completion of negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement, and affirmed to continue active cooperation in 2026 when Viet Nam assumes the role of Chairman of the CPTPP Council.

On this occasion, PM Chinh respectfully invited PM Carney to visit Viet Nam soon to discuss specific measures to elevate the good cooperative relationship between the two countries to a new level. The Canadian leader happily accepted the invitation.

Talking with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, PM Chinh expressed his delight at the strong development of Viet Nam-Brazil relations since the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.

PM Chinh thanked President Lula da Silva for his attention and special sentiments for Viet Nam.

The two leaders affirmed that they would continue to promote the effective and substantive implementation of the high-level agreements that have been reached. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to further facilitate investment and trade, open markets for each other's agricultural products, and promote the early launch and completion of negotiations on the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). The two leaders also agreed to strengthen agricultural cooperation based on the common strengths of the two countries, especially cooperation in coffee production and export.

President Lula da Silva affirmed that he attached special importance to relations with Viet Nam, expressing his desire and determination to further deepen the Viet Nam - Brazil Strategic Partnership, especially in the economic and trade fields, aiming to increase bilateral trade turnover to $15 billion by 2030, commensurate with the potential of the two countries. In that spirit, the President said that Brazil was speeding up internal procedures to soon have an official document recognising Viet Nam's market economy status.

PM Chinh thanked President Lula da Silva for his attention and special sentiments for Viet Nam, and thanked Brazil for its support and sending a representative to attend the Signing Ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Ha Noi.

Congratulating Brazil on its success in assuming the BRICS 2025 Chairmanship, he highly appreciated Brazils growing international position, expressed support for Brazils leading role in the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South cooperation as well as Brazils becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council when the Council is reformed and expanded.

Sharing experiences in overcoming challenges in a volatile global context, the two leaders agreed to continue to consult and coordinate closely to enhance the role and voice of developing countries, actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and inclusive and sustainable development in the two regions as well as globally. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Continuing a series of activities within the framework of the Signing Ceremony and High-Level Conference of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention), General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security, held a series of bilateral meetings with foreign guests in the capital city on Sunday.

During his meeting with Mozambican Minister of Interior Paulo Chachine, the two sides agreed to deepen the ties between the two countries and ministries by effectively implementing signed cooperation documents, enhancing information exchange, experience sharing, and coordination in investigation and criminal pursuit, particularly transnational crimes, drug trafficking, terrorism, human trafficking, and high-tech crime.

They also agreed to expand cooperation in cybersecurity, making full use of the Hanoi Conventions mechanisms for electronic evidence exchange, international investigative support, and technical assistance. They pledged to strengthen consultation and mutual support at international forums, especially within the United Nations and International Criminal Police Organisation, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

Chachine expressed confidence that, on the basis of bilateral traditional friendship and recent positive outcomes, cooperation between the two ministries would continue to advance in a substantive and effective manner, especially in combating transnational and cyber crimes.

At his meeting with Azerbaijani Chief of the State Security Service Ali Naghiyev, the Vietnamese minister affirmed that Viet Nam highly valued its cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of security, particularly after the two countries elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership and following agreements reached between the two ministries during Quangs visit to Baku in May this year.

To further strengthen ties, the two sides agreed to promote the effective implementation of existing cooperation agreements, increase all-level delegation exchanges, and enhance information sharing and coordination among relevant agencies in combating transnational, terrorist, drug-related, high-tech and human trafficking crimes, as well as in preventing illegal migration.

They also agreed to step up training cooperation to improve the professional capacity of law enforcement officers and to support each others positions and policies at regional and international forums.

Immediately following their meeting, the two officials signed a cooperation agreement on security between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the State Security Service of Azerbaijan.

At his meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian Affairs Vahid Jalalzadeh, Quang proposed that the Iranian side continue advising its Government to enhance cooperation with Viet Nam in preventing and combating transnational and cybercrime, and to promote collaboration in security industry development, technology transfer, and production of security equipment to support national security and social order protection.

Vahid Jalalzadeh expressed his belief that the Hanoi Convention would open a new framework for cooperation grounded in respect for international law, equal dialogue, sustainable development, and humanitarian value. He affirmed Irans readiness to work alongside Viet Nam and other international partners to translate todays commitments into specific and effective actions in the future.

At a meeting with South African Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Tryphosa Kubayi, Quang expressed his delight that over the three decades since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1993, bilateral ties had been continuously strengthened and expanded across various fields, including politics, economy, society, defence and security, education, and law. Viet Nam always treasured the friendship and precious support South Africa had extended to the Southeast Asian country throughout its journey of integration and development.

Quang noted that in the field of law enforcement, the two countries had maintained effective cooperation through multiple channels, particularly via the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and other international forums. The two sides had coordinated in handling cases related to environmental crimes and the illegal trade and transport of endangered wildlife, an area with great potential for further cooperation.

Besides, the two sides were actively discussing in order to early sign key legal documents such as an extradition treaty, an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, a cooperation agreement on crime prevention, and a memorandum of understanding on combating wildlife trafficking, he said.

They agreed to accelerate the completion and signing of these legal instruments to establish a framework for judicial and law enforcement cooperation. The two countries will strengthen information exchange and experience sharing in investigation, hunting wanted persons, and extradition, particularly concerning transnational, cyber, terrorist, drugs, and human trafficking crimes.

They also agreed to expand training and personnel exchange between law enforcement agencies to enhance capacity in tackling high-tech crimes. They pledged to coordinate and support each other at international forums, especially in implementing the Hanoi Convention, contributing to strengthening the role and voice of developing countries in global cybersecurity.

For her part, T. Kubayi said the meeting and the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention marked an important milestone, opening a new chapter in cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the South African Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, not only in cybersecurity but also in broader areas for peace, stability, and prosperity of both nations, as well as for Asia and Africa.

Receiving Rita Mikbel, President and CEO of Ericsson Group for Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Quang stressed that Mikbel's visit to attend the signing ceremony of the Hanoi Convention followed up on his successful trip to Sweden in September. It also demonstrated Ericssons strong interest in supporting Viet Nams progress in science, technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and new-generation telecommunications.

The minister reaffirmed that, with a strategic vision towards a secure and sustainably developing digital Viet Nam, the Ministry of Public Security would highly value partnerships with capable and reputable international technology firms.

He recognised Ericsson as a global leader in innovation, particularly in AI and new-generation telecommunications, and praised its contributions to addressing non-traditional security challenges, from cybercrime and high-tech terrorism to data security and social safety.

Quang also highly appreciated Mikbels insights on digital transformation and AI development, especially in strengthening the capacity of Viet Nams MobiFone Corporation.

Both sides agreed to advance collaboration in cybersecurity, jointly research AI-based security solutions for protecting 5G and 6G network infrastructure from cyber threats, and develop a secure digital data ecosystem and sovereign AI data centres in Viet Nam.

On this occasion, Quang proposed Ericsson share its experience and transfer technology for building and operating new-generation mobile networks. He emphasised that technology transfer, particularly in producing 5G and 6G equipment, would be a strategic step toward Viet Nams goal of technological self-reliance.

He also suggested Ericsson organise training programmes to develop a high-quality Vietnamese technical workforce and to establish joint research programmes on secure communication protocols, radio spectrum management for 5G/6G technology, and AI applications in network management. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  The United Nations Convention against Cybercrime (Hanoi Convention) represents a strategic and historic step that demonstrates the shared vision, responsibility and cooperation of the international community for a safe, trustworthy cyberspace, said Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang at the closing session of the signing ceremony and high-level conference in Ha Noi on Sunday.

With 72 signatories over the two-day conference, the treaty "establishes a solid legal foundation for international cooperation, reaffirming the value of multilateralism, equal dialogue and respect for national sovereignty to ensure that cyberspace truly serves peace, fairness and sustainable growth," said the Vietnamese minister.

Viet Nam firmly believes that the signing ceremony of the UN Convention against Cybercrime marks a historic milestone, ushering in a new era of global cooperation to safeguard peace, stability and sustainable development, he said.

Consistent with Viet Nams priority on cybersecurity and its foreign policy, he reiterated the countrys commitment.

"Viet Nam considers cybersecurity and the fight against cybercrime a prerequisite for protecting digital sovereignty, privacy, human rights and trust in the digital society," said the minister, stressing that the country commits to fully, seriously and responsibly fulfilling its obligations under the convention.

Viet Nam would also strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the conventions member states in preventing and combating cybercrime.

Quang noted that the strong participation of numerous countries, organisations and individuals at the event in Ha Noi reflected the unity, responsibility and political will of the global community in the fight against cybercrime.

The conventions adoption by consensus also highlighted the central role of the UN in promoting international cooperation to address global challenges, he said. It also reflected the trust and confidence that the UN and the international community placed in Viet Nams role, reputation, capacity and responsibility in ensuring cybersecurity for a safe, humane and sustainable cyberspace.

He called for intensifying cooperation for the effective implementation of the Hanoi Convention, guided by solidarity and strategic trust, shared responsibility and mutual support in experience, technology and resources, especially to assist developing countries.

Faouzia Mebarki, chairperson of the ad hoc committee for the convention, said that the event in Ha Noi concluded a four-year-long working process of the drafting committee.

We can all congratulate ourselves on the results achieved thanks to the political commitment of the member states and the mobilisation of all other stakeholders, she said at the closing session.

John Brandolino, Director for the Division for Treaty Affairs at the UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), noted that the past two days of the conference marked the culmination of a journey that began in 2019, when the UN General Assembly created the ad hoc committee to negotiate this new convention.

The message of the discussions throughout the event showed that the Hanoi Convention held the promise of a more secure and just future for all, both online and offline, said Brandolino, but he stressed that the signing ceremony was only the beginning of the journey to bring this treaty to life.

The document needs to be ratified by 40 signatories before it is expected to take effect in 2027. It remains open for signatures at the UN headquarters in New York until December 31, 2026.

I would like to sincerely thank our host, the Government of Viet Nam. We are so grateful to the host also of the city of Ha Noi, and of course, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their untiring efforts to make this opening for signature truly possible and truly unforgettable, said the UNODC director.

Reaffirming the UNODCs commitment to bring the Hanoi Convention into practice, Brandolino said the UN office would continue to promote ratification and implementation of the convention, promote multi-stakeholder cooperation, facilitate negotiations and protocols, and develop practical materials for effective implementation.  VNS
HA NOI  Following the closing session of the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, leaders of the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs released statistical outcomes of the ceremony and related events.

Speaking to members of the media in a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, Deputy Minister of Public Security Pham The Tung said the event welcomed more than 2,500 delegates from 110 national delegations, 150 international, regional and private organisations along with over 50 research institutions.

This figure exceeded our expectations, reflecting the broad and genuine interest of the international community and friends around the world in this event, which is the first of its kind held in Viet Nam, he said.

The event also received strong attention from domestic and international media, with more than 400 reporters from 189 news agencies.

The main signing ceremony in Ha Noi was broadcast live on the United Nations Web TV system, creating opportunities for access and outreach to member states and UN bodies through simultaneous interpretation in all six official UN languages.

This is the first time an event hosted by Viet Nam has been communicated in all official languages of the United Nations, the official said.

Out of the 72 signatories, 64 signed during the in-session ceremony in Ha Noi. Geographically, 19 are from the Asia-Pacific region, 21 from Africa, 19 from Europe plus the European Union, and 12 from Latin America, showing the Conventions global reach and balanced geographical representation.

The event is also one of the largest Convention openings in the past ten years, according to the United Nations.

During the sideline events and discussions, there were 71 speeches from national representatives, international organisations and technology corporations, offering varied and constructive perspectives for the upcoming implementation of the convention.

Several aspects of the convention were analysed, evaluated and discussed by leaders and experts in eight thematic workshops and roundtables organised by Viet Nam and partner organisations, as well as 37 side events hosted by international, regional and corporate entities.

The discussions were vibrant, constructive and cooperative, with a wealth of new information exchanged, the official said.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said the fact that the convention already had 72 signatories was an excellent result that would drive forward its early implementation.

In addition, many speakers emphasised the importance of international cooperation and coordination in implementing the convention, which would significantly enhance its effectiveness.

Given the nature of cybercrime, no single country can effectively address or handle it on its own. This is a global, borderless issue and therefore discussions, exchanges, consensus-building, solidarity and shared commitment among nations to jointly implement the convention are extremely important, he said.

The event also carries great significance for countries like Viet Nam, where technological infrastructure is still being developed, as delegates highlighted the need to strengthen capacity building for UN member states, especially developing countries, according to Vu.

I believe these outcomes will serve as a foundation for Viet Nam and other countries to strengthen effective international cooperation in combating cybercrime, while also promoting the transfer of technology and resources from developed to developing nations in the future, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung will attend the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, to be held in Saudi Arabia from October 27-30, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy PM Dung would also pay a working visit to the United Kingdom to promote cooperation in science-technology and innovation, the ministry said.

His trip will run from October 27 to November 1. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  As a neighbour of both Cambodia and Thailand and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Viet Nam is deeply interested in and welcomes the signing of the peace pact between Cambodia and Thailand on Sunday, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said.

Responding to reporters questions on Sunday regarding Viet Nams reaction to the signing of the peace document on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Malaysia, Hang stated that this was an important and positive step, reflecting the two countries commitment to peace, cooperation, and development, in line with the ASEAN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

"Viet Nam highly values the efforts of countries, including Malaysia - the 2025 ASEAN Chair, and its Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the US and President Donald Trump, and relevant sides in seeking a peaceful solution to the issue," she said.

"Viet Nam believes that the peace document will serve as a foundation for reinforcing trust and working towards a long-term peaceful settlement," Hang said, adding that Viet Nam would continue to actively engage in ASEANs collective efforts to support Cambodia and Thailand in the full and effective implementation of this document. VNA/VNS
HA NOI  General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, will make an official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from October 28 to 30.

The visit will be made at the invitation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. VNA/VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a brief meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the 13th ASEANUS Summit during his attendance at the 47th ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Viet Nam and the United States in a deeper, more substantive and effective manner.

Both sides expressed a shared commitment to soon conclude a Reciprocal Trade Agreement, ensuring fairness and equality while encouraging greater US investment in Viet Nam.

Following Prime Minister Chinhs proposal, President Trump gave a positive response and took note of Viet Nams request for recognition as a market economy, as well as for removal from the US strategic export control lists D1 and D3.

President Trump directed senior American officials present at the summit, including the Treasury Secretary and the US Trade Representative, to promptly provide feedback on these matters.

PM Chinh commended President Trumps role in promoting the peaceful settlement of global conflicts in recent times.

The brief ASEANUS sidelines meeting demonstrated mutual understanding, respect and a shared resolve to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

On this occasion, PM Chinh conveyed an invitation from Party General Secretary To Lam and other senior Vietnamese leaders for President Trump to visit Viet Nam.

President Trump warmly accepted, saying he looked forward to and would make time for a visit to Viet Nam in the near future.

PM Chinh also proposed that the United States arrange a visit to Washington by Party General Secretary To Lam under the framework of the two countries Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

President Trump welcomed the idea, asking that Viet Nam inform the US side at an appropriate time, and also expressed a desire for PM Chinh to visit the United States when convenient for both sides.

13th ASEANUS Summit

On Sunday afternoon, PM Chinh joined ASEAN leaders and US President Donald Trump at the 13th ASEANUS Summit, held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

In his address, Chinh congratulated President Trump on the United States recent achievements and praised his diplomatic efforts in promoting dialogue and peaceful conflict resolution worldwide.

He particularly acknowledged the Presidents cooperation with Malaysia, this years ASEAN Chair, and other ASEAN members in facilitating talks between Cambodia and Thailand, leading to the signing of a Joint Declaration of Peace between the two neighbours.

Recognising the US as one of ASEANs most comprehensive strategic partners, Chinh proposed four major orientations to deepen ASEAN-US cooperation more practically and effectively.

The orientations consist of enhancing economic, trade and investment connectivity towards a balanced, harmonious and sustainable relationship; promoting cooperation in digital transformation, innovation and energy security, including energy infrastructure connectivity and peaceful nuclear energy collaboration; strengthening cybersecurity and the fight against transnational crime, building on US initiatives against online fraud and Viet Nams initiative on improving the pursuit of wanted criminals; and maintaining peace, security and stability across the region.

Chinh reaffirmed that ASEAN and the US shared common interests and responsibilities in maintaining peace, stability, security and development in the region, including the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea).

He reiterated ASEANs principled position of resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

For his part, President Trump affirmed that Southeast Asia occupied a central place in the US Indo-Pacific policy, and that the United States remained a steadfast partner and friend to the region.

Washington, he said, would seek to deepen its partnership with ASEAN not only in economics, trade, energy, technology and AI but also in the pursuit of peace, stability and prosperity for all nations and future generations.

The President underscored that the US would be ready to work closely with and support ASEAN in addressing shared challenges, with full respect for ASEANs centrality and the legitimate interests of its member states.

At the close of the summit, ASEAN and US leaders adopted the 'Joint Vision Statement on a Stronger, Safer and More Prosperous ASEAN-US Partnership,' setting the strategic direction for the next phase of cooperation.

ASEAN leaders commended the United States for its active and constructive contributions to regional cooperation through ASEAN-led mechanisms, particularly in promoting dialogue and confidence-building for peace and stability.

They also highly appreciated President Trumps personal commitment and role in fostering regional dialogue, including his support for negotiations that helped ease tensions and achieve the Peace Declaration between Thailand and Cambodia in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The leaders noted that ASEAN-US relations continue to grow robustly, comprehensively and effectively across multiple sectors.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to effectively implementing existing initiatives and to deepening the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, focusing on high-quality trade and investment, finance, infrastructure connectivity, the digital economy, energy and cybersecurity resilience, all aimed at building a peaceful, secure, stable and prosperous region. VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined leaders of other ASEAN member states and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the 28th ASEANJapan Summit on Sunday afternoon.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Chinh called for enhanced economic connectivity towards a green, inclusive, and comprehensive transformation in the digital era, urging both sides to soon upgrade the ASEANJapan Free Trade Agreement. He highlighted the need to prioritise cooperation in digital and green economies, sustainable supply chains, and early completion of the ASEANJapan Air Services Agreement.

He also suggested stepping up cooperation in education, training, health care, science and technology, and environmental protection to narrow development gaps, especially in high-quality human resources training, digital and AI application, and preventive healthcare capacity.

The PM further proposed promoting vibrant cultural exchanges and requested Japan to enhance technology transfer and human resources training in nuclear power and safety for ASEAN countries.

Stressing the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, including the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly maritime ones, in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Vietnamese leader affirmed ASEANs readiness to play a constructive role in and facilitate dialogue among relevant parties, including through ASEAN-led mechanisms, to promote lasting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

ASEAN leaders emphasised Japan as one of the blocs oldest and most reliable partners. Bilateral cooperation has grown substantively and dynamically, becoming a model of a practical and mutually beneficial Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. To date, ASEAN and Japan have completed 108 out of 130 action lines under the Joint Vision Statement on friendship and partnership.

Japan is currently ASEANs fourth-largest trading partner and fifth-largest foreign investor, with two-way trade reaching US$236.6 billion and investment totalling $17.5 billion in 2024. Japans regional cooperation initiatives, such as Co-Creation, the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), and the Asian Energy Transition Initiative (AETI), have brought tangible benefits to people of both sides.

Looking ahead, ASEAN and Japan will prioritise cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, clean energy, education, health care, cybersecurity, climate change response, food security, and sustainable agriculture, leveraging the ASEANJapan Integration Fund (JAIF 3.0) to support project implementation.

ASEAN countries also expressed their wish to work with Japan to upgrade the ASEANJapan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) and effectively implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). They called on Japan to support ASEANs efforts to implement the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), realise the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), and push for the effective operations of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies. They also urged cooperation on the fifth phase of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan (20262030), as well as subregional collaboration and narrowing development gaps within ASEAN.

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding international law and a rules-based multilateral trading system, stressing the importance of dialogue, cooperation, and trust-building, along with peaceful dispute settlement based on international law, to sustain regional peace, security, and stability.

ASEAN and Japan adopted the Joint Statement on Further Promotion and Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

In her remarks, the Japanese Prime Minister affirmed that Japan was the first country to support and would continue to support ASEANs Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). She emphasised Japans commitment to aligning its major strategies and cooperation programmes with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, while working with the bloc to further advance the three key pillars of ASEANJapan cooperation: peace and stability, socio-economic creation for the future, and a heart-to-heart partnership for future generations.

PM Sanae Takaichi proposed further strengthening cooperation in specific areas such as maritime security, cybersecurity, combating transnational crime, developing a safe, secure, and reliable AI ecosystem, disaster prevention, and the promotion of education and training.

At the end of the summit, the ASEAN and Japan leaders adopted the Joint Statement on Further Promotion and Implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). VNA/VNS
World needs no policing by a few States  President at UNGA

The world needs no policing by a few States, particularly when the UN is mandated to ensure international security, through multilateral engagement, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.

Addressing the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Rajapaksa said it is disturbing to observe the growing trend in the international arena, of interference by some, in the internal matters of developing countries, in the guise of security, and as guardians of human rights.

He asked whether such movements have led to better stability in these countries, or produced different results, due to inappropriate external factors.

"In fact, the positive outcomes envisaged by those responsible have not come to pass, but indeed contributed to making those countries unstable," the President told the UN General Assembly.

He pointed out that the turmoil results from attempts to impose a type of democracy, upon countries with significantly different cultures, values and history and said the trend needs to be arrested, as it has now extended into areas, detrimental to the wellbeing of populations.

Full text of the Statement 
KUALA LUMPUR  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed three major orientations to further deepen the ASEANIndia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership while addressing the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sunday.

First, PM Chinh stressed the need to strengthen economic connectivity and make the most of comparative advantages for sustainable and inclusive development; promote the role of businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); restructure the ASEANIndia Business Council; boost investment in high technology, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors; and enhance MekongGanga subregional cooperation to narrow development gaps.

Second, he proposed expanding people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, healthcare, culture, and tourism; developing high-quality human resources; and increasing exchanges of scholars, students, and experts in areas such as smart agriculture, green technology, and food security.

Third, it would be essential to promote maritime cooperation and the development of a sustainable blue economy; strengthen collaboration in maritime transport, science, and industry; and continue supporting ASEANs stance on the East Sea, ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation, as well as peacefully settling disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

PM Chinh highly valued Indias role and contributions in promoting regional cooperation and amplifying the voice of developing countries in the global agenda. He affirmed Viet Nam's support for Indias continued implementation of its Act East policy and its efforts to strengthen comprehensive and substantive cooperation with ASEAN.

He emphasised that in the context of rapid and complex global developments, ASEAN and India - two strategic anchors linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with a combined population of over 2 billion and a total GDP of nearly US$8 trillion, should uphold their roles and sense of responsibility in promoting regional and interregional cooperation, fostering solidarity and multilateralism, and making practical contributions to peace and sustainable development.

The PM affirmed that Viet Nam would continue to work closely with other ASEAN member states and India to promote substantive collaboration and contribute to peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and beyond.

At the summit, both sides agreed to speed up the review process to upgrade the ASEANIndia Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) towards a more business-friendly, streamlined, and effective framework, thereby promoting trade, investment, and inclusive, sustainable growth.

The summit adopted the ASEANIndia Action Plan for 20262030 as a roadmap for cooperation over the next five years, with priorities focusing on key areas such as the digital economy, innovation, clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, healthcare, education, food security, and narrowing development gaps.

ASEAN countries welcomed Indias new cooperation proposals and initiatives, including the ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future and a $5 million contribution to support tourism cooperation under the ASEANIndia Year of Tourism 2025, thus helping foster people-to-people exchanges and cultural connectivity.

The leaders also agreed to designate ASEANIndia Maritime Cooperation as the theme for bilateral collaboration in 2026, aiming to expand cooperation in maritime security, marine science, blue economy, and maritime connectivity, and to organise the second ASEANIndia Maritime Exercise next year.

ASEAN member states proposed India enhance regional connectivity, including the completion and operationalisation of the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway, with a view to extending the route to Laos, Cambodia, and Viet Nam.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed India's support for ASEANs priorities on inclusivity and sustainability, including cooperation in digital transformation, food security, sustainable supply chains, and the green economy.

India would strengthen collaboration with the bloc in education, tourism, science and technology, healthcare, green energy, and cybersecurity, while promoting people-to-people exchanges and the preservation of shared cultural heritage, he added.

Concluding the summit, the leaders adopted a Joint Statement on Sustainable Tourism, reaffirming their commitment to promoting substantive, inclusive, and sustainable cooperation between ASEAN and India in the new phase. VNA/VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung met with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on October 26 afternoon when he accompanied Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to attend the 47th ASEAN Summit and related summits.

Trung expressed his pleasure at meeting Balakrishnan for the first time in his new position and affirmed Viet Nams desire to further advance the Viet Nam - Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in general and the sound cooperation between the two foreign ministries in particular.

Both ministers welcomed the significant progress in bilateral relations, with the recent upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, describing it as an important milestone that opens new opportunities to deepen and elevate cooperation between the two nations. They highly valued the completion of the Action Programme to Implement the Viet Nam - Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is expected to be signed on this occasion in the presence of the two Prime Ministers. The programme will outline orientations for developing more comprehensive bilateral relations for the next five years.

Expressing satisfaction with the robust growth of economic cooperation, the ministers agreed to continue promoting high-level and all-level delegation exchanges, effectively implement existing bilateral mechanisms, and explore new ones, including through the Party channel. They also emphasised the importance of close coordination between relevant ministries and sectors to actively follow up on the outcomes of recent high-level visits, especially the Green-Digital Economic Partnership and the Economic Connectivity Agreement.

Both sides also agreed to upgrade the network of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) towards greener and smarter models, while continuing close collaboration in other key areas such as high-quality human resources training and smart city development. They also affirmed mutual support at multilateral forums.

The two ministers consented to promote areas of mutually beneficial cooperation and to continue supporting and coordinating their countries positions on issues of shared concern at regional and international forums. The two nations will work closely to uphold ASEANs common stance on the East Sea issue, ensure the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and strive for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, Trung thanked Singapore for its emergency assistance in various forms, including essential supplies, to help residents in Viet Nam's northern provinces overcome the aftermath of recent storms and floods.VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Party General Secretary To Lam on Sunday encouraged Vietnamese and foreign scholars studying Viet Nam to focus their research on the countrys most pressing challenges.

He made the remarks while meeting participants of the 7th International Conference on Vietnamese Studies in Ha Noi, themed 'Viet Nam: Sustainable Development in the New Era.'

Lam said the strong presence of Vietnamese and international scholars at the conference reflected an important fact: Viet Nam is no longer merely a subject of study but has become an intellectual partner for scholars of Viet Nam studies.

The theme of this years conference raises questions that are truly vital at this moment: How can we develop our country rapidly while maintaining political and social stability? How can we achieve economic growth without sacrificing social equity? How can we modernise without harming the ecological environment or the cultural and moral values of the Vietnamese people? How can we integrate without losing our identity in the global political, economic and cultural landscape, enabling the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to stand shoulder to shoulder with the worlds major powers? he said.

"Rapid and sustainable development forms a unified whole. Growth only has meaning when every citizen can share its fruits in a fair, safe and humane manner, when peoples real quality of life is improved, when no one is left behind and when the future of the next generation is not sacrificed for the immediate interests of the present."

Lam noted that "scholars are not only studying 'who Viet Nam was in the past,' but also contributing to answering the question 'who Viet Nam will be in the future'". He said this work would carry both academic value and strategic significance.

He expressed his hope that the community of Vietnamese studies scholars would continue to accompany Viet Nam not only with affection, but with scientific knowledge, evidence-based policy analysis and concrete, practical and actionable recommendations.

He wished for research on Viet Nam to increasingly connect with urgent issues including population ageing, the development of primary healthcare and comprehensive social security, ensuring energy security amid emission reduction commitments, safeguarding digital sovereignty and cultural identity in the digital space and exploring ways for artificial intelligence and automation to serve human development rather than replace humans.  VNS
Deep in the fertile lands of U Minh Ha, the Trem River and Muoi Ngot community-based eco-tourism sites have become attractive destinations for visitors seeking authentic green experiences and a closer connection to nature.

In the southernmost reaches of Viet Nam, U Minh Ha in Ca Mau Province is known for its vast cajeput forests, interlaced waterways and unique wetland ecosystem. This region, long shaped by both land and water, has nurtured generations of people who depend on the forest for their livelihood and who, in return, have developed a deep respect for its balance and beauty.

Amid this landscape, the Trem River eco-tourism area stands out as a serene haven that preserves the full breadth of the cajeput forest. Located about 50km from the centre of Ca Mau City, the 110-hectare site has been carefully zoned for both conservation and sustainable tourism.

It not only offers opportunities for relaxation but also educates visitors about environmental protection and biodiversity.

The site is among the pioneers in the provinces efforts to restore and protect wildlife. Many rare species listed in Viet Nams Red Data Book are safeguarded here.

Eco harmony

The areas diverse ecosystem features hundreds of species of plants and animals, reflecting the richness of the U Minh Ha forest, one of the most important natural habitats in the Mekong Delta.

Entering the forest, visitors are greeted by the pure scent of cajeput and the soothing chorus of nature  the songs of birds, the croaks of frogs and the whisper of leaves swaying in the breeze. This tranquil environment offers a retreat from the noise of urban life and a reminder of the delicate connection between humans and nature.

A morning journey along the Trem River begins with a peaceful boat ride through narrow canals where early sunlight dances on the waters surface. Flocks of birds fly overhead, their reflections mirrored in the quiet river.

Local guides, many of whom are residents of nearby communes, lead visitors along small forest paths, explaining the uses of native plants, the importance of honey trees, and the way cajeput forests protect soil from erosion and regulate the water balance in the wetlands.

During the flood season, the scenery changes dramatically. Water levels rise, turning the forest into a watery labyrinth of submerged tree trunks and glistening canals. Fish swim close to the surface, and migratory birds return in large numbers, making every visit to the Trem a new discovery shaped by natures rhythm.

Community spirit

Meanwhile, the Muoi Ngot eco-tourism site, developed since the end of 2015, has also become a symbol of green and community-based tourism in Ca Mau. Known for its pristine and mysterious charm, Muoi Ngot offers a model of tourism that relies on both natural resources and the active participation of local residents.

Located in a Bac Commune, just over an hours drive from Ca Mau City, Muoi Ngot welcomes visitors with its rustic charm and simple lifestyle. From here, travellers can take small boats gliding along canals lined with cajeput trees, listening to the sounds of nature and admiring the peaceful landscape of U Minh Has countryside.

We grow forests, raise fish, harvest honey and develop community-based tourism. Visitors not only come to see the scenery but also to experience gac keo ong  the traditional way of collecting honey from wild bees, which is a cultural heritage of U Minh Ha residents, said Pham Duy Khanh, the founder of the Muoi Ngot tourism model.

According to Khanh, the combination of forest protection and eco-tourism has brought practical benefits to local people.

These activities help residents increase their incomes and strengthen their attachment to the forest. Profits from fishing, honey harvesting and other forest-based livelihoods are shared fairly, helping the community live sustainably while protecting the environment, he said.

At Muoi Ngot, visitors can immerse themselves in local life, joining villagers in setting traps, catching fish, harvesting honey, or picking wild vegetables and fruits. They can also enjoy the joy of outdoor cooking  grilling freshly caught fish or preparing rustic dishes from local ingredients.

Meals here are simple but memorable. Specialities such as grilled snakehead fish, stewed eels with noni leaves, young bee salad and field rat fried with lemongrass and chilli reflect the distinct flavours of the U Minh wetlands. These dishes, cooked with care and served in the shade of cajeput trees, leave lasting impressions on visitors.

Life with the forest

Beyond the Trem River and Muoi Ngot, other eco-tourism sites such as the Lang Rung Eco Village also contribute to promoting green tourism and community development in U Minh Ha. Together, they form a network of destinations that celebrate the ecological diversity and cultural identity of this unique region.

Visitors often say that what makes these places special is not only their natural beauty but also the warmth of the people who live there  those who, day by day, protect the forest while sharing its stories with others. Their love for the land and the forest has turned tourism into both a livelihood and a mission of conservation.

With its ecological richness, cultural authenticity and peaceful rhythm of life, the Trem River  Muoi Ngot area has affirmed its position as an ideal destination for visitors exploring the Mekong Delta. It is a place where humans and nature coexist in harmony, where each tree and each waterway carries the breath of life and the pride of the southernmost province of Viet Nam. VNS
From bustling festivals to historic milestones, freelance Japanese photojournalist Murayama Yasufumi has seen Viet Nam through every possible lens. Since first arriving in 1998, he has returned around 60 times, travelling to nearly every province and city to cover the nations major events and celebrations.

He shared with Viet Nam News his emotions and vivid memories of journeys that have shaped more than two decades of work in the country.

Inner Sanctum: Can you recall your long course of news coverage in Viet Nam?

I was born on November 3, 1968. I currently live in Kyoto, Japan. I am a freelance photojournalist and not attached to any specific newspaper or magazine. I usually provide articles and photos to media outlets after returning to Japan.

I also regularly hold photo exhibitions and deliver lectures at universities, city halls and other venues, to help audiences better understand about life and development in Viet Nam.

My first visit to Viet Nam was in September 1998 when I joined a tour led by Ishikawa Bunyo, a Japanese photojournalist who covered the Viet Nam War.

Since then, I have visited Viet Nam about 60 times over the past 27 years.

Major events include the 40th and 50th commemorations of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, the 50th anniversary of the My Lai Massacre, the second USNorth Korea Summit, the 70th anniversary of the Battle of ien Bien Phu, the state funeral of Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution.

Inner Sanctum: Any impressive memories during your journeys in Viet Nam?

What made the biggest impression on me was when my interviewees became emotional as they recounted painful stories from their past. I was also often struck by the beauty of the landscapes while taking photographs.

Now, the number of cities and provinces has been reduced to 34. This means I have visited about 80 per cent of these localities. The provinces I have not yet visited are Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Son La, Phu Tho, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, and Thanh Hoa.

My favourite place in particular is Phu Yen, which was recently incorporated into ak Lak Province. The people are kind and the scenery is beautiful.

There have been countless incidents during my reporting trips. Once, while covering floods, my rental car slid off the roadside and got stuck in the mud, leaving me stranded for most of the morning.

On another occasion, I had planned to photograph the morning market by the coast. I had asked the rental car driver I met the previous day to pick me up at my hotel at 4am, but he did not arrive until around 6am, so I missed the market entirely.

At one point, my entire camera bag was stolen, so I bought a disposable camera locally and continued shooting. Before smartphones had Google Maps, I once asked hotel staff how far my destination was. They said about 200 metres, so I started walking  but couldnt find it. When I asked again at a roadside cafe, I was told the same thing and ended up walking about 2 kilometres in the scorching sun.

I also once jumped from a high place into a patch of grass and sprained my ankle on a big rock. I went to the hospital straight away and the next day I continued filming while using crutches. Another time when I was about to board a boat with the camera hanging from my neck, the boat suddenly left the dock and I fell into the Mekong River, rendering the camera unusable.

Inner Sanctum: How has Viet Nam changed since your first time?

I feel that Viet Nam has changed a lot since I first visited. One particularly significant change is its economic development. In Japan, I feel that the heart-to-heart connections between people have weakened as the economy has developed, but in Viet Nam, even as the economy has developed, the heart-to-heart connections between people seem to have remained the same as they were in the past. I think this is a major difference between Japan and Viet Nam.

The food is also popular with Japanese people and I love Vietnamese food myself.

What I remember most about Viet Nam is the kindness of the people. Whenever I was in trouble, someone was always ready to help me. For example, when I was injured while reporting, a neighbour brought me ice, compresses, bandages and other items without my asking, and supported me with first aid. I was extremely grateful for that help.

As for the My Lai Massacre, it occurred before I was born. Since I first began visiting Son My Village in 2008, 40 years after the incident, I have been reporting there regularly.

Inner Sanctum: Do you have any plans for your next trips to Viet Nam?

I have heard that there will not be any major events in Viet Nam for the time being, but I would like to visit all of Viet Nams cities and provinces while regularly taking photographs of landscapes and peoples lives.

I believe it is my destiny to continue going to Viet Nam and I recognise that it is special. VNS
ORYZ Saigon is where food transcends the boundaries between cuisines and cultures. The restaurant is recognised in the 2024 and 2025 MICHELIN Guide.

At ORYZ, head chef Chris Fongs enthusiasm for Eastern Asian cuisine is inspired by his childhood in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

He has nearly two decades of fine dining experience, hospitality consultancy experience, and multiple kitchen stints in star-studded kitchens in Singapore.

Hong Kong Tomato and Egg is Chriss modern version of the beloved Chinese classic: stir-fried tomato and egg. The dish reimagines the warmth and comfort in the form of a refreshing salad, staying true to ORYZs philosophy of transforming a hot dish into something unexpected. With different textures of tomato and egg and a distinctly Asian interpretation of hollandaise, this is a dish that feels both familiar and surprising.

Ingredients

For the tomato oil

Tomato paste 100g

Basil stalk 10g

Neutral oil 200g

Salt 2g

For the tomato hollandaise

Sun-dried tomato 50g

Butter 175g

Egg yolk 120g

Tomato paste (from tomato oil) 20g

Water 50g

Sugar 5g

Salt 4g

Tomato oil 20g

Vinegar 6g

For the tomato confit

Tomato 1g

Oil 15 % of tomato weight

For the tomato and ginger juice

Anna tomato 100g

Ginger 5g

Xanthan gum 0.2 %

For the egg floss

Egg 2

Egg yolk 1

Salt to taste

Vinegar 3g

Instruction

For the tomato oil

- Put everything into a container, cover with foil

- Bake at 75 C or 167 F for 120 minutes

For the tomato hollandaise

- Place all ingredients except vinegar into a vacuum bag

- Sous vide at 68 C or 154 F for 3035 minutes

- Remove from the bag, add vinegar, and blend until smooth

- Transfer the mixture into a siphon and charge with one cartridge

For the tomato confit

- Vacuum tomato with oil (15% of tomato weight)

- Sous vide at 60 C for 60 minutes.

For the tomato and ginger juice

- Blend tomato with ginger and leave to drain overnight in a cheesecloth

- Blend clarified liquid with 0.2% xanthan gum

For the egg floss

- Blend all the ingredients together, then strain the mixture

- Deep-fry while pouring the mixture in slowly

Serving

- Arrange all the elements on a plate and decorate according to your own liking. VNS
by Nguyen My Ha

In Viet Nam today, we don't say we love our country, but we say, "If the afterlife exists, I'd still want to be Vietnamese, living in Viet Nam".

If you have read about the waves of the Vietnamese boat people leaving everything behind to risk their lives in the 1980s in search of new horizon in the West; Vietnamese risking their lives hiding inside in container trucks to cross the English Channel; or walking for days through the forest to reach Eastern Europe, getting lost in the vast lands of Siberia, you'd think the above-mentioned words were not true.

Yes, a large number of Vietnamese people did leave their poor country to build a new life abroad. And many low-skilled workers go abroad on government contracts for better pay.

The majority, however, chose to stay working hard to lift the country out of poverty, supported by remittances sent home from people working overseas and from their own sweat and tears.

While there's a wave of young, enthusiastic and hopeful people who want to try their best studying or working overseas, and slowly settle down elsewhere, the flow back mostly comes from the elderly, who often find themselves coming back to live in Viet Nam.

Those with financial means may find living here less expensive, and the food more reasonable, fresh and delicious. But they still have to work hard to pay for mortgages or cars, or children's education.

So, what is so compelling about living in Viet Nam that many people talk about? The answer is the people.

Every year, typhoon season brings a dozen tropical storms to the country. While the coastal provinces suffer infrastructure losses, the mountainous communities are also devastated by floods and landslides which destroy their homes.

Witnessing the hardship, and the solidarity between people in distant provinces sending relief to trapped people, spontaneous initiatives truly send positive and mutual good vibes not only across the country, but also beyond its borders.

A growing number of young people around the world learn Vietnamese and want to come to Viet Nam to live, thanks to their encounters with Vietnamese they met and learned from overseas. This could be a Vietnamese godmother taking care of an American child who grew up wanting to come to live in Viet Nam, or an Australian teenager working for Vietnamese grocery owners who started to learn Vietnamese and master it to a point that he built a YouTube channel on the topic. They may be born in different parts of the world, but they share a destination: Viet Nam.

But once settled here in the country, they often won't use their Vietnamese for work, but instead develop courses teaching English online.

On the reverse trend, every year, tens of thousands of young Vietnamese head overseas to live their dream of studying or working abroad. Most go under company contracts.

Currently, top destinations for Vietnamese workers and students include the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea. Upon arriving in new nations, the Vietnamese must quickly adapt to new life in their host countries, learning new customs, language and food. They would also have to adhere to new laws and overcome other challenges relating to displacement.

The young students who go abroad to pursue higher education also have to overcome many cultural and educational challenges. Many have to work at least twice as hard as their fellow students. For better or worse, it may take a few years to adjust.

It's a life challenge when young people leave home to start life in a new environment, as they could be exposed to bad habits such as smoking, or risk their own safety under peer pressure. They have to learn to be firm and not succumb to unhealthy or even illegal temptations by others around them. Those who succeed in graduating and getting a job abroad deserve recognition for their perseverance and success.

While the number of Vietnamese going abroad increases each year, a smaller tream of international and diasporic Vietnamese choose to live their lives in Viet Nam. Many leave to study or work to accumulate a certain sum of money, then they decide to return when they retire.

Thuan Nguyen, a Vietnamese born in Laos, worked in France and only came back to Viet Nam after retirement at 62 years of age.

"I love my life in Viet Nam now. I eat Vietnamese food and wouldn't want to have French food anymore," he said. "All the fermented fish, shrimp sauces, and paste, I love them and can have them day in, day out." VNS
KUALA LUMPUR  Timor-Leste officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), becoming the blocs 11th member state at the 47th ASEAN Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sunday.

The milestone was marked by the historic signing ceremony of the Declaration on the Admission of Timor-Leste to ASEAN, witnessed by leaders of the ten other member countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the admission of Timor-Leste gives new meaning to the vision of an inclusive and united ASEAN.

This milestone "completes the ASEAN family, reaffirming the shared destiny and deep sense of regional solidarity," he said. Within this community, Timor-Lestes development and its strategic autonomy will find firm and lasting support, he added.

Timor-Leste gained independence in 2002, becoming the first sovereign nation of the 21st century. Since then, joining ASEAN has remained one of its top foreign policy priorities.

The country officially applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, after which feasibility studies were carried out to assess its readiness in areas such as political stability, economic capacity, and institutional preparedness.

In 2022, ASEAN granted Timor-Leste observer status, allowing it to participate in all ASEAN meetings, including the ASEAN Summit and related forums.

During Malaysias ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, efforts to facilitate Timor-Lestes full membership were further strengthened.  VNA/VNS
BANGKOK/KUALA LUMPUR  Feuding Southeast Asian neighbours Cambodia and Thailand have signed a joint declaration committing to peace at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Watched on by US President Donald Trump, the signing of the declaration by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul took place on the first day of the summit on Sunday.

Both sides had previously agreed on the removal of heavy weapons from their shared border, de-mining operations, efforts to deal with scam syndicates as well as to conduct a joint survey of the border.

The signing ceremony, also witnessed by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as ASEAN chair, had been brought forward by a few hours on the day to accommodate Thai Prime Minister Anutins truncated schedule in Kuala Lumpur following the death of Thailands Queen Mother Sirikit on Friday.

Said Trump before the signing: Now these gentlemen are about to sign what were calling the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords, good name. Both countries are agreeing to cease all hostilities and work to build good, neighbourly relationships, which have already started.

He added that 18 Cambodian prisoners of war would be released, with observers from ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, to be deployed to ensure that peace between Cambodia and Thailand prevails.

The three men sitting there should really be given credit, said Trump, referring to Anwar, Anutin and Hun Manet, having done just an incredible job for humanity.

Tensions over a disputed border area between Cambodia and Thailand erupted into military clashes earlier this year, resulting in the worst flare-up in the region in over a decade, claiming at least 43 lives and displacing more than 300,000 people from both sides of the border. An unconditional ceasefire was reached on July 28 after diplomatic intervention from Malaysia and following threats from Trump to block tariff negotiations unless fighting stopped.

At the ceremony, Hun Manet said the signing marked a historic and profound moment for the two countries that reaffirmed our shared conviction that peace is always possible when nations have the courage and wisdom to pursue it together, while expressing gratitude to Trump for his decisive and steadfast actions.

As we speak, I think our two commanders are discussing on the possibility of the start of withdrawal, partial withdrawal, of the first phase of heavy weapons, he said.

Anutin concurred that both sides had agreed to promptly remove heavy weapons from the border area to build confidence and trust and that Thailand would also begin the process of releasing the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers.

We have come a long way since agreeing to the cease fire here in Malaysia on 28th of July, the discussions since then have led to this important outcome, Anutin said. I believe we can achieve what seemed beyond reach a few months ago.

Anutin had cancelled most of his other commitments surrounding the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and was scheduled to depart shortly after the ceasefire signing ceremony on Sunday afternoon to attend a royal procession for Queen Sirikit in Bangkok.

There were questions over the substance and semantics of the joint declaration in the leadup to the signing, including whether it represents substantial progress beyond a reiteration of what had been previously agreed, and if it amounted to a peace accord.

Thailands foreign ministry said on Saturday that the joint declaration between the two countries did not amount to a peace deal but rather signalled a mutual intention toward normalising relations. It stressed that there remained numerous issues to work out including the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the clearance of landmines and dealing with cybercrime and scam centre operations. THE STRAITS TIMES/ANN
Northern election an opportunity to return to political plurality - Defence Secretary

The most crucial steps towards the restoration of normalcy in the North and East was the revival of the democratic process through the restoration of elections and the return of political plurality, Defence Secretary said yesterday.

Delivering the Keynote Address yesterday (03) as Guest of Honour at the third annual Defence Seminar 2013 organized by the Sri Lanka Army, Secretary Rajapaksa pointed out that the most essential task of the government in this regard is to ensure that all Sri Lankans have the same opportunities and unobstructed access to state services, and that they are empowered to seek better futures for themselves in a peaceful, stable and rapidly developing democracy.

The Defence Secretary said that the opposition parties including the main opposition UNP, Tamil party TNA and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, as well as ruling party SLFP are all freely contesting in the upcoming provincial council elections in the Northern Province later this month shows that political plurality is firmly established in this region.

Full text of the Statement
Black History Month: HMP Berwyn officer highlights value of diversity in Prison Service

A 32-year-old prison officer who works at HMP Berwyn has spoken about what the job means to her and why Black History Month (October) is so important.

Queen Ogba, who is based in Wrexham, worked as a lawyer and legal lecturer before joining HMP Berwyn in 2024. Now, as part of one of the UKs largest prisons, she plays a key role in cutting crime and supporting rehabilitation, while balancing the demands of work and family life as a mother of two.

Queen said she saw becoming a prison officer as a natural next step in her career.

When I saw the advert to be a prison officer, I thought  why not give it a try? Prisons are part of the justice system, so it felt like a natural step for me. I wanted to use my background in law and criminology to make a difference, she explained.

The job is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. No two days are ever the same, and I get real satisfaction from knowing Ive helped someone  whether thats talking them out of a challenging situation, encouraging them to change their behaviour, or simply listening when they need it.

Sometimes I feel like a mum to the prisoners inside work, having to give them advice and guidance.

As part of Black History Month, which runs throughout October, the Prison Service is encouraging people from all backgrounds to consider a career that makes a difference  with recruitment now open for officer and support roles at prisons across England and Wales, including HMP Berwyn.

Queen believes her background helps her connect with those in her care.

She said: Diversity in the Prison Service is vital. We deal with prisoners from all sorts of backgrounds  different languages, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Sometimes they feel more comfortable opening up to me because they believe Ill understand them better. That can make a huge difference in building trust and resolving situations.

A diverse workforce also means staff learn from one another. It makes our work environment more inclusive, interesting, and effective. I hope more people from all backgrounds will see my story and realise they could do this job too.

HMP Berwyn, based in Wrexham, employs hundreds of staff across custody, education, and rehabilitation roles. The Prison Service says new recruits are not required to have formal qualifications, only strong communication skills, empathy, and resilience.
Senedd debates calls to save essential stroke services

Politicians have debated calls to safeguard full stroke services at Bronglais Hospital after more than 17,000 signed one of the biggest petitions in the Senedds 26-year history.

Campaigners urged the Senedd and Welsh Government to intervene immediately to protect the stroke unit amid plans to downgrade the service to a treat-and-transfer model.

Under consultation proposals, stroke patients presenting at the Aberystwyth hospital could be transferred to the Prince Philip in Llanelli or Withybush in Haverfordwest.

Labours Carolyn Thomas, who chairs the Senedds petitions committee, said only a handful of petitions  including calls to scrap 20mph limits  have collected more signatures.

The petition, submitted by Bryony Davies from the Protect Bronglais Services campaign, warned patients face risky, long-distance transfers taking two hours if services are cut.

Overlooked

Leading the debate, Ms Thomas explained the Hywel Dda health board is expected to make a decision this autumn following a consultation between May and August.

She said Bronglais scored relatively well in a UK-wide assessment of stroke care services, with a B alongside Withybush whereas Prince Philip and Glangwili received a C.

The petitioners expressed concerns about the potential implications for end-of-life care, warning stroke patients could die far away from their families.

Ms Thomas told Senedd members: We noted the petitioners concerns that the role of family and friends in stroke rehabilitation is being overlooked, with distances and limited transport infrastructure making regular visits impractical.

Using online platforms for patient communication instead is criticised as unrealistic, given stroke-related impairments and poor digital connectivity.

Totally unacceptable

Her committee has also received other petitions on the future of hospital care, raising alarm over a crisis at Glangwili and the loss of weekend services at Cardigans minor injuries unit.

Hywel Dda health board has argued the Bronglais changes are necessary to make stroke services more sustainable, with centralisation improving staff recruitment and retention.

But the petitioners pointed out that no equality impact assessment was carried out, urging the health board to go back to the drawing board and run a truly consultative process.

Paul Davies, the Conservative Senedd member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, backed the campaign, telling colleagues the proposals will have a huge impact across west Wales.

Warning patients face a round trip of 200 miles or more, he said: Forcing us to travel further for essential and indeed vital services is totally unacceptable.

No sense whatsoever

Mr Davies pointed to a 2014 Welsh Government-commissioned study which recommended unnecessary journeys to access care should be eliminated in mid Wales. He also raised the Stroke Associations opposition to the proposals.

He said: To centralise these services away from Bronglais when the unit has been declared the best in the Hywel Dda health board area does not make any sense whatsoever.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymrus shadow health secretary, stressed every minute counts in treating stroke and rehab is just as important to give patients the best chance to recover.

Mr ap Gwynfor, whose father is a stroke patient at Glangwili, said: I have grave concerns about proposals for stroke services that I feel would lead to real harm.

He argued Bronglais hospital is best placed to serve as a regional centre of excellence, warning sustainability must not come at the cost of access or quality.

Life and death

Labours Joyce Watson, who represents Mid and West Wales, urged the health board to listen to the immense strength of feeling, describing the potential for patients to be isolated from their families as distressing to say the least.

Jane Dodds, the Welsh Liberal Democrats leader who also represents Mid and West Wales, warned stroke remains the fourth largest killer and a leading cause of long-term disability.

Every minute matters, she said. And for people in rural Wales, those minutes can mean the difference between life and death.

Health secretary Jeremy Miles told the Senedd: Our aim is to reduce the risk of stroke and, when it happens, to give patients the best possible chance to survive and recover.

Mr Miles was not convinced by the 17,883-name petition, pointing to an emerging clinical consensus that acute stroke care should be provided as a specialist service regionally.

Stressing it is a decision for the health board  not the Welsh Government  he said: The services in their current configuration are not providing the best outcomes for patients, despite the efforts of NHS staff, and they are not sustainable.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
World-class violinist to revive forgotten Welsh composer in Wrexham concert

A world-renowned violinist is returning to North Wales to help bring the music of an unjustly neglected Welsh composer back to life.

Madeleine Mitchell, who has performed in more than 50 countries, will take centre stage with Wrexham Symphony Orchestra at 2.30pm on Sunday, November 9, in a powerful Remembrance Concert at the William Aston Hall.

The London-based musician will join conductor Bedwyn Lloyd Phillips to celebrate the legacy of Grace Williams  widely regarded as Waless most significant female composer but whose music has been long overlooked.

Madeleine says she is thrilled to return to Wrexham  a city she visited as soloist in Mozart with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra.

Ive performed all over the world, but theres something truly special about coming back to Wales, she said. A lot has changed in Wrexham since my last visit, and I cant wait to see it again.

Madeleine has a passion for the work of Grace Williams who was born into a musical family in Barry, near Cardiff, where her father ran the local choir, and she often acted as the choirs accompanist.

After winning a scholarship to study at Cardiff University in 1923, she was accepted to study at the Royal College of Music in London three years later.

A gifted violinist and pianist, she studied under Ralph Vaughan Williams and was a close friend of Benjamin Britten.

At the time of her death in 1977 few of her pieces had been published or recorded.

Madeleine said: Having worked a lot with the BBC Radio 3 producer Gwyn L Williams, after he retired from the BBC I went to see him in his last post as Director of Ty Cerdd, partly to look at scores of music by Welsh composers for violin.

What caught my eye was a copy of the manuscript of the Grace Williams Violin Sonata.

I performed it at the first international conference of Womens Work in Music in Bangor, organised by Rhiannon Mathias. It was a great success and everybody thought I should record it.

With my London Chamber Ensemble I produced an album of Grace Williams Chamber Music for Naxos in association with the British Music Society which was a fantastic success, and rose to number two in the Classical Charts.

Im delighted to be bringing this concerto to North Wales.

Madeleine was later honoured to receive the Stuart Burrows Award from the Welsh Guild of Music in 2024 for her significant contribution to Welsh music.

Bedwyn, a conductor who is quickly gaining a reputation for fresh, energised, passionate, and enjoyable performances, first discovered the works of Grace Williams whilst studying at university.

He chose to pair her Suite for Nine Instruments with Stravinskys Octet after hearing Madeleines recording of this work.

Bedwyn, the Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Shropshire Chamber Orchestra, is a regular face at the William Aston Hall as a regular Guest Conductor of Wrexham Symphony Orchestra.

Bringing the music of Grace Williams to the people of Wales is an important mission for me, particularly in having Welsh orchestras own the music written by one of the finest composers of the 20th Century, who comes from this nation which is so full of music, said Bedwyn.

I am so excited to work with Madeleine and WSO to bring this concerto to the William Aston Hall.

Wrexham Symphony Orchestra is a leading nonprofessional community orchestra based in Wrexham with a core membership of around 6070 players.

Matthew Ellis, Chair, said it was an honour to work with a musician of Madelines standing.

It really shows how far WSO has come to be able to work with Madeleine and showcase our talented musicians, and we look forward to this exciting first concert in what promises to be our greatest season yet, added Matthew.

The concerts first half will be dedicated to the music of Grace Williams, spotlighting two of her resonant works: Fantasia on Welsh Nursery Tunes, which holds an important historic role in encouraging Welsh resilience during the darkest days of the Second World War, and her Violin Concerto. This is followed by Elgar Symphony No. 1.

Information on how to purchase tickets and the event can be found on the William Aston Hall website.

Pictured: Violinist Madeleine Mitchell. Picture by Rama Knight
One person has been taken to the hospital after being shot inside a doorway at a home in Carson City on October 25.

There was a total of three people in the home, besides the person who was shot.

According to deputies, the three people in the home were detained on scene after they surrendered themselves to officers.

The three people were later let go by officers with the investigation still ongoing.

Deputies also say the victim was treated when officers arrived and then transported by air to Renown Medical Center for a serious gunshot wound to the chest.

From the investigation, prior to the home shooting, two adult men were involved in a verbal altercation at a gas station on Highway 50 near the I-580 intersection.

One of the men later became the victim of the shooting. It is unclear how the other man is involved.

According to deputies, two separate crashes that are suspected to be associated with this incident are being investigated.

One crash was reported as a hit and run accident on Biltmore Street, and the second crash was reported near the Star Way address, just one block away from the first crash scene.

Deputies say the investigation is focused on the victim, who has no known connection to the home involved.

The victim's condition was described as being serious and required immediate surgery. No other injuries were reported from the scene.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Carson City Sheriffs Office at 775-887-2677.

This is a developing story.

(The Carson City Sheriff's Office contributed to this story.)
In Meeting with President Rajapaksa, UN HC for HR, Navi Pillay Acknowledges Post-War Progress

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Ms. Navanethem Pillay, when she called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees this afternoon, acknowledged the post-war progress that has been made in Sri Lanka.

This is a visit long overdue, but I felt that its much better that I come so that Ill be in a position to report on the very many achievements that have been made, Ms. Pillay said. Firstly, it was very very visible to me in the North how much you have invested in reconstruction.

Full text of the Statement
Image: PTI

INDIA blocs chief ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday claimed that the BJP is scared after the Opposition alliance named an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) leader as its deputy chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections.

Addressing reporters in Patna, Yadav said the BJPs hatred towards the EBC community has become evident after the coalition announced Vikashsheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahani as its deputy CM face.

The BJP is repeatedly questioning our decision to nominate Mukesh Sahani. Why is Amit Shah so frustrated by the nomination of an EBC leader as Bihars deputy CM candidate? the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader asked.

Taking a dig at the ruling party, Yadav said BJP leaders, who often label religious minorities as infiltrators, are now pretending to be concerned about their representation. The same BJP that abuses minorities and threatens to send them to Pakistan is suddenly asking why we didnt name a Muslim as deputy CM. We will soon address their concerns, he remarked.

Reiterating his commitment to inclusivity, Yadav said, This nation belongs to everyone. People of every caste and religion have contributed to building India.

He also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of neglecting Bihar, saying, PM Modi hasnt done even one per cent for Bihar compared to what he did for Gujarat. The people of Bihar are not foolsthey understand everything and are now demanding answers from the NDA government.
Trans rights pioneer Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (wearing a white blazer and red top) poses with members of TKO and ACLU of Alabama during an event closing out the Black Trans Futures fellowship. ACLU of Alabama

On what would have been Miss Major Griffin-Gracys birthday, a community of activists are celebrating the life of a transgender rights pioneer whose feisty and nurturing legacy shaped the Black trans liberation movement in Alabama.

A memorial is being held for Miss Major today at the Mosaic Templars Center in Little Rock, Ark. Miss Major passed away on Oct. 18., but not without accomplishing more than a half centurys worth of resistance work that stretches across coast-to-coast.

In June 1969, she spit in a police officers face during the historic Stonewall Riot in New York where transwomen of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, led a melee against law enforcement officials who were harassing LGBTQ+ people. In the 1980s, she founded a group of trans caretakers who nurtured the sick during the HIV/AIDS epidemic called Angels of Care. In San Francisco, she supported and empowered incarcerated trans people as the director of the Transgender Gender-Variant & Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP). After making Arkansas her final home in 2018, she forged an oasis of rest and relaxation for trans people called House of GG.

Miss Major architectured multiple systems of care despite enduring conversion therapy as a teen and police violence as an adult. She lived her life based off her powerful mantra, Im still f**king here!

This legacy set the foundation for the work of two Black trans led nonprofits that have fed, housed and cared for the transgender community in Alabama for over a decade: Transgender Advocates Knowledgeable Empowering (TAKE) in Birmingham, Ala., and The Knights and Orchids Society (TKO) in Selma. Both organizations have made history in a state thats been in the forefront of a wave of anti-trans laws and policies. Alabama was the first state to make it a felony for medical professionals to provide gender-affirming care to people under 19. On Tuesday, the Alabama Public Library Service debated a policy that would ban books containing transgender ideology from the youth sections.

In 2017, TAKE opened the states first resource center specifically for Black and brown transwomen. That same year, TKO became the first Black and trans led AIDS service organization and STD/STI clinic in Alabama. TAKE founder Daroneshia Duncan-Boyd said Miss Major taught her about the power of community building.

We have to stay together. We must continue to fight, Duncan-Boyd said. At the end of the day, we wont be erased because we still f**king here.

While Miss Major was fierce in the ways she pushed back against oppression, she nurtured other Black trans activists as if they were her own children. Duncan-Boyd was introduced to Miss Majors mothering spirit when they first met each other about nine years ago during Black Girls Rulez, an annual convention of Black trans leaders hosted by TGIJP.

That day, Miss Major felt called to give Duncan-Boyd a bracelet that just so happened to match her outfit. From that moment, the two activists started building a deep bond with each other. Duncan-Boyd was invited into Miss Majors room, where they chatted about each others organizing work. The conversation flowed like two close relatives chit chatting about old times. It didnt take long for Miss Major to start referring to Duncan-Boyd as her daughter.

Duncan-Boyd said it was an honor to take in the wisdom from someone whose activism goes back as far as Stonewall.

Once I heard that somebody was still alive from that era, I was like, OK, Im eager to meet this person, Duncan-Boyd said. She was cool. Laid back. Down to earth. Funny. I was just listening to her talk about the work and the things she had to offer the community. I was taking things from her that could possibly work for me.

That first meeting with Miss Major happened when Duncan-Boyd was about four years into building an organization that was making a big impact with little means. After starting TAKE as a support group in 2013, Duncan-Boyd was rippin and runnin across Birmingham caring for trans people in need with just sex work dollars and unemployment checks in her pocket.

And the needs were great. A 2011 analysis published by the National LGBTQ Task Force illustrates how racism, sexism and transphobia produce several disparities. Black trans people experience an unemployment rate of 26 percent, which is four times higher than the general population. Homelessness was the norm for 41 percent of Black trans respondents of the survey, and 34 percent of Black trans people reported household incomes less than $10,000.

Now TAKE is addressing the issues affecting trans livelihoods today as a multimillion dollar-nonprofit financed by grants and donations. The organizations services include job readiness training, legal help, wellness programs, a food bank and a boutique. Those who are unhoused can find comfort at TAKEs emergency shelter called Glorias Safe Haven. The nonprofits Monica Roberts Freedom School trains Black trans people to be advocates of change.

Miss Major was a close mentor to Duncan-Boyd as she transformed TAKE into what it is today.

She told me that my leadership reminded her so much of her leadership at a younger age, and she was so glad to meet a young Black trans woman thats so ambitious and from the South, Duncan-Boyd said.

When TKO Executive Director TC Caldwell first learned about Miss Major about six years ago, they felt called to read every article and watch every clip there was about the trans icon. Caldwell was mesmerized by the way Miss Major hopped in her Cadillac and hit the streets to provide aid to Black trans women.

That was her Batmobile, if you ask me because she would go around and check on her girls. It reminds me about Daroneshia, Caldwell said. In 2014 or 2015, people were trying to organize the Black Trans Women of Birmingham. But if you didnt know their Daroneshia, they wouldnt work with you.

Miss Major has visited Alabama multiple times to support the work of both TAKE and TKO. Duncan-Boyd invited her to a screening of the documentary MAJOR! That night, the trans activist did more than just answer questions. She helped them discover their own power.

Together, they learned about trans history and cracked jokes. The groups hospitality stirred up Miss Majors love of Southern food and Grapico. Miss Major would take cases of the soda home for her to indulge in when she got back to Arkansas.

With an epidemic of violence claiming the lives of Black trans women across the nation, Duncan-Boyd believes its important for TAKE members to meet the trans elders who played a role in history. One of those icons is Sharyn Grayson, a TAKE staff member who helped Miss Major build the services needed to make the world a safer, healthier place for Black trans women.

It just amazes me to see these ladies, still working at 50 plus years old, Duncan-Boyd said. That speaks to their level of dedication to the community.

When TKO executive director Caldwell first met Miss Major in February 2024, they were looking for a guest to close out their Black Trans Future Fellowship program. TKO and the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama had just spent five months sharpening the organizing and storytelling skills of Black and trans leaders as a way to combat anti-trans rhetoric and legislation. Miss Major seemed like the perfect candidate to speak to the fellows considering her pioneership in the Black trans liberation movement. She accepted the opportunity without hesitation.

Miss Major came to the event at Magic City Acceptance Center in Birmingham with a clear mission to empower and inspire the fellows through her fiery vernacular and nurturing spirit. Caldwell admired the way the trans icon engaged with people on a personal level. No one was turned away from a gesture of kindness from Mama Major. She also gave away free signed copies of Miss Major Speaks, a memoir Miss Major wrote alongside her longtime friend Toshio Meronek.

Everybody got some type of hug, some type of love or some type of encouragement, Caldwell said. She wasnt putting on no show. Im used to a lot of our people wanting the glory, wanting to be in front of the camera like, Look at this. Im a trans activist. And theres nothing wrong with that, but Miss Major doesnt come into spaces like Oh, Im a trans activist, even though she is. She comes in like, Im a mother. Im a caregiver. I care about yall. What do yall need?

Miss Major always addressed the needs of her community by keeping her ear to the ground.

During the 1990s, she listened to the unheard while leading a transgender drop-in clinic in San Francisco. When unhoused trans people expressed their uncomfortability about coming to the center, Miss Major addressed their concerns by hitting the streets and bringing clinical services to them.

Trans people are still in need of such resources today. A survey conducted by the nonpartisan Center for American Progress revealed multiple forms of discrimination towards transgender people seeking healthcare. Medical professionals were found intentionally misgendering and using the former name of trans clients, which is known as deadnaming.Thirty-seven percent of trans adults believed disclosing their gender identity would lead to inadequate care or a refusal of services.

TKOs team of care coordinators assists trans people who are navigating a hostile medical landscape in the rural South. Clients over the age of 19 are connected to the nonprofits network of gender-affirming physicians. Those seeking financial help for rent, food or utilities can find emergency funds through TKO, which also improves mental and physical wellbeing.

Caldwell said learning about Miss Major helped them understand the importance of providing services from a place of compassion. Sometimes activists can get so caught up in shepherding people to proper channels of care that they forget to pause.

Trans circles know, but I want the world to know that Miss Major not only changed the way we organize, but the way we love our people too, Caldwell said. She had a care first-approach to the work. We want people to jump through hoops to get resources. But people like Miss Major are like, Baby, let me make sure youre taken care of first. Well worry about this paperwork and sh*t later.

Black Trans Future fellow and TAKE member Sinseriti Banks is being guided by Miss Majors legacy. Banks has kept herself busy doing trans advocacy work for multiple LGBTQ-centered organizations, such as the Human Rights Campaign and Third Wave Fund. Shes currently four months into establishing her own program called the Pardon Me Project, which will help formerlyincarcerated trans women fight the prison industrial complex. According to a report from the Vera Institute of Justice, trans people experience disproportionate amounts of harm while imprisoned. Almost 90 percent of the 280 trans people surveyed were placed in solitary confinement, putting them at risk of permanent, psychological damage. More than half of them endured sexual assault during their prison sentence.

Miss Major also advocated for the needs and rights of Black transwomen who were being harassed by law enforcement in California. Banks was mesmerized by the way the trans trailblazer refused to water herself down in oppressive spaces. She said being around that energy taught her how to speak her truth, to tell her story free of shame and to find power in her authenticity.

She was the mother of the movement, Banks said. Miss Major was one of those people who, when she walked into a room, shes going to command it. No matter what type of verbiage she used she was respected.

Black Trans Future fellow Sinseriti Banks (third person to the right) poses with trans rights pioneer Miss Major. Sinseriti Banks

Along with using her boldness to advocate for change in an anti-trans world, Miss Major also lived a life that showed how resistance and restoration go hand-in-hand. Duncan-Boyd was encouraged by Miss Major to organize two retreats with other Southern Black trans women in Hot Springs, Ark., and Virginia Beach. Miss Major tagged along for the trips at a time when she was in the beginning stages of launching her own retreat space: House of GG.

She empowered me to get my rest because thats what the House of GG was about: making sure that we rest, Duncan-Boyd said. She also taught me about building a life and legacy that we want to leave behind. Were not going to be here forever. The legacy I want to leave will be, simply, just knowing I did my best while I was here

Caldwell believes joy and justice have to coexist in order for resistance to be sustainable because transphobia doesnt operate on a schedule. Activists still have to dodge the sting of discrimination coursing throughout their lives.

When other people clock out and go home from work, thats it. Thats the end. When trans people clock out and go home, I gotta go through the same barriers that Im helping my clients go through, Caldwell said. Whos gonna misgender me today? What bathroom can I go to today? Is my Lyft driver gonna misgender me or say something off the wall about trans athletes again?

Miss Major was very intentional when she created a sanctuary where trans people can just exist in their joy. The House of GG offers a relaxing atmosphere with whimsical touches. Luscious greenery surrounds the pool and hot tub. A brightly-colored pathway, painted to resemble the yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz, leads to a guesthouse and a large screened-in porch. Theres also a carousel modeled after a park ride Miss Major enjoyed during her childhood. House of GG makes space for trans visitors to purge themselves from the harms of the world.

Its a chance to get away, get yourself together and then go back and give em hell, Miss Major said in a 2023 report with the Arkansas Times. Its for Black trans people, male or female. On occasion, white people get to come out. But primarily its for Black people because we dont have a lot of places to go, especially ones that have a relaxing atmosphere. Its rush, rush, rush.

TKO prioritizes joy by hosting multiple events where trans people find restoration by being in community with one another. Pain transforms into poetry during the nonprofits open mic nights. Feelings of isolation are alleviated during TKOs multiple support groups for trans youth and adults.

When Black trans folks have each other, there is just something healing about the gathering, Caldwell said. Yes, were fighting for justice. Were fighting for these things. But please dont forget your joy. Please dont let these people have everything because they will take everything.

Miss Major may have passed, but her spirit is still alive. Banks named the trans leaders who have carried Miss Majors legacy with tenacity and care: the late Monica Roberts, award-winning writer and founder of TransGriot, ACLU of Philadelphias Naiymah Sanchez, TGIJPs current executive director Janetta Johnson, and of course Duncan-Boyd. Banks included herself in a family of freedom fighters who wont let the loud legacy of a trans ancestor go quiet.

Were gonna chant her name till we cant chant no more. No matter what the universe says, shes still alive, Banks said. Shes alive within every trans advocate that gets up every day and fight this fight, every trans person who stands before someone and commands their respect  not ask for it. Command it. Thats how I want people to understand about Miss Major. She command the room, and she didnt play no games, and shes still f**king here.
Fuel pumps are covered in plastic at a gas station ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) AP

By Mauricio Savarese and John Myers, Jr. The Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica  A strengthening Melissa grew in a Category 4 hurricane and could reach Category 5 status Sunday night, unleashing torrential rain and threatening to cause catastrophic flooding in the northern Caribbean, including Haiti and Jamaica, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The weather agency added Melissa is likely to reach the southern coast of Jamaica as a major hurricane late Monday or Tuesday morning, and urged people on the island to seek shelter immediately.

Conditions (in Jamaica) are going to go down rapidly today, Jamie Rhome, the centers deputy director, said on Sunday. Be ready to ride this out for several days.

Melissa was centered about 115 miles (185 kilometers) south-southwest of Kingston, Jamaica, and about 295 miles (470 kilometers) south-southwest of Guantanamo, Cuba, on Sunday morning. It had maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 kph) and was moving west at 5 mph (7 kph), the hurricane center said.

People buy groceries ahead of the forecast arrival of Hurricane Melissa in Kingston, Jamaica, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) AP

Melissa was expected to drop torrential rains of up to 30 inches (760 millimeters) on Jamaica and southern Hispaniola  Haiti and the Dominican Republic  according to the hurricane center. Some areas may see as much as 40 inches (1,010 millimeters) of rain.

It also warned that extensive damage to infrastructure, power and communication outages, and the isolation of communities in Jamaica were to be expected.

Melissa should be near or over Cuba by late Tuesday, where it could bring up to 12 inches (300 millimeters) of rain, before moving toward the Bahamas later Wednesday.

Airports closed and shelters activated

Jamaicas two main airports, the Norman Manley International Airport and the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, were closed by Sunday.

Local officials said they were considering enforcing an evacuation order as many residents of low-lying and flood prone areas did not heed advice to evacuate.

The question of the mandatory movement will soon be addressed, Desmond McKenzie, who is leading the Jamaican governments disaster response, said in a press conference. Melissa is forecast to reach Category 5 when it makes landfall along the south coast on Tuesday.

McKenzie also said all the more of 650 shelters in Jamaica are open. Officials said earlier that warehouses across the island were well-stocked and thousands of food packages pre-positioned for quick distribution if needed.

Evan Thompson, the principal director of the Meteorological Service of Jamaica, said the storm surge is expected mainly over the southern side of the island.

There is potential (for) flooding in every parish of our country, Thompson said. If youre in a flood prone, low-lying area, you need to take note. If youre near a river course or a gully, you need to take special note and find some alternative location that you can move to should you be threatened by the heavy rainfall.

Some foreign governments are also preparing for the hurricanes arrival in Jamaica.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda is housing visiting students at a hotel in Kingston. As of Sunday morning, 52 of them had checked in. Students from other islands were staying at the same hotel, though it remained unclear whether they were sponsored by their governments.

They have a better bounce back regimen here (at the hotel) in terms of standby power and water (in comparison with university dorms, said Jewel Moore, 19, a chemistry student at UWI Mona. She and her fellow students are enjoying snacks and games before the hurricane arrives.

The passing of the storm should be okay, he added. Its getting out that will be a problem.

The erratic and slow-moving storm has killed at least three people in Haiti and a fourth person in the Dominican Republic, where another person remains missing.

Communities cut off by rising waters

Haitian authorities said three people had died as a consequence of the hurricane and another five were injured due to a collapsed wall. There were also reports of rising river levels, flooding and a bridge destroyed due to breached riverbanks in Sainte-Suzanne, in the northeast.

Many residents are still reluctant to leave their homes, Haitian officials said.

The storm damaged nearly 200 homes in the Dominican Republic and knocked out water supply systems, affecting more than half a million customers. It also downed trees and traffic lights, unleashed a couple of small landslides and left more than two dozen communities isolated by floodwaters.

The Bahamas Department of Meteorology said Melissa could bring tropical storm or hurricane conditions to islands in the southeastern and central Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands by early next week.

Melissa is the 13th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted an above-normal season with 13 to 18 named storms.



Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

AP writer Anika Kentish contributed to this report from St. Johns Antigua.
By Tim Fernholz, Bloomberg

Once Elon Musk decided to build a reusable spacecraft to carry his dreams of Martian colonization, the engineers at SpaceX knew they would need a special engine for the worlds most powerful rocket.

Starship, as the vehicle came to be called, demanded whats known as a full-flow, staged combustion engine. Wringing every last ounce of power from rocket fuel demands a machine that can precisely control an explosion again and again - failing in that mission means picking pieces of it out of the ocean. The design is so complex that it had never been used: The Soviets built one and tested it on the ground in the 1960s, but never sent it into space.

Musk hired Jeff Thornburg, a veteran aerospace engineer, to lead engine development. Earlier in his career, Thornburg had worked on a US government project called the Integrated Powerhead Demonstrator, where NASA and US Air Force engineers worked with contractors to build and demonstrate the hardware for a full-flow, staged combustion rocket engine. In 2012, when SpaceX began building its own version of that engine, Thornburg and his engineers drove to a government warehouse in the California desert and brought back a truck filled with leftover experimental equipment from the project.

SpaceX still had plenty of work to do: Taking any technology demo and making it reliable enough for operations requires extensive testing and tuning. Raptor, as the company calls its engine, uses a different kind of fuel than the IPD project, which meant new designs and experiments. In 2019, SpaceX became the first organization in the world to fly this type of engine.

When Starship and its Super Heavy booster took flight on Oct. 13, it was a testament to SpaceXs expertise - but also to the American system of public-private innovation that is currently facing its biggest stress test in years.

Raptor wouldnt look the way it does without the IPD program, Thornburg says. Not only did IPD pave the way for a lot of things that are happening with Raptor and other engines, the same process happened to make SpaceX successful with Falcon 9 and Merlin.

Indeed, the Merlin engines that power SpaceXs Falcon 9 - the world-leading reusable launch vehicle that set the stage for so many of the companys successes - also began as a NASA project, called Fastrac. And SpaceXs groundbreaking ability to land its rocket vertically was inspired by a different NASA-USAF project, called Delta Clipper, that demonstrated a hovering vehicle in the 1990s. Building on those findings made it possible for SpaceXs Falcon 9 booster to fly again and again, cutting costs and allowing the company to launch its lucrative Starlink satellite network.

R&D Elbow Grease

As SpaceX technicians readied Starship for its most recent launch, news of another wave of layoffs at NASA began to trickle out. The Trump administration - which has proposed dramatic cuts to the worlds leading space agency - now plans to eliminate more roles, even after nearly 4,000 employees, more than a fifth of its workforce, departed or were laid off this year. With few space experts in the White House, the administrations vision for NASA prioritizes human missions to the Moon and Mars run by private contractors, while slashing funding for technology development, climate science and robotic exploration.

SpaceXs successes, and apparent edge over NASA in building rockets and spacecraft, have fueled debate over the role of government and the private sector in creating new technologies. The idea that private companies are better positioned for this work is part of Trumps case for making cuts at NASA, the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

The slashed budgets are accelerating an existing trend: NASA programs to develop mobile in-space robots, transfer fuels in space and build nuclear rocket engines have all been set aside as private space companies push ahead. But while outsourcing public tech to private-sector engineers (and their capital) has proven an effective way to solve hard engineering problems, the focus on spectacular final products can obscure the chain of investments behind them.Governments dont just provide funding and create demand for tech companies; they also supply research and development elbow grease. Akhil Rao, a former NASA economist who co-founded research and advisory firm Rational Futures, points out that government nondefense R&D at agencies like NASA, NIH and the Department of Energy is estimated to account for about a fifth of post-World War II business-sector productivity growth in the US. Policies that overlook those contributions may leave the founders of the next American tech startup without seed corn to plant.

Fred Block, a sociology professor at the University of California at Davis, argues that despite complaints about the dominance of neoliberalism, the US still has a hidden developmental state that leverages government power to lay the groundwork for commercial success. The same forces that drove the Department of Defense to lay the foundations for the internet now apply to tech such as mRNA vaccines and electric cars.

Teslas success did not spring from Elon Musks genius, Block tells me. It sprung from the fact that there had been 20 to 30 years of federal investment in developing electric vehicles.

SpaceX is a case study in that relationship. The company has depended on NASA and the Pentagon not only to fund the development of its technology and buy the finished products but also to supply know-how through programs like IPD, Fastrac and Delta Clipper.

The rub, of course, is that those programs were all canceled - victims of shifting priorities, cost-cutting and experimental accidents - like many promising (and not-so-promising) public tech programs. In a blue-ribbon report last year, former Lockheed Martin Corp. Chief Executive Officer Norm Augustine warned that NASA was not investing enough in fundamental technology and that its engineers could lose the know-how required to understand the hardware theyre buying from the private sector.

Thornburg and hundreds of government engineers like him went to work for companies such as SpaceX because it was their best chance to actually build something that goes to space. Now, American space plans may be swinging too far in that direction.

Im a little concerned because the governments kind of lost its way, says Thornburg, now the CEO of startup Portal Space Systems, which is developing highly maneuverable spacecraft. NASA and the Air Force try to get funding for things like this and meet a response on Capitol Hill, If SpaceX is going to do this, why do we need to fund you guys? Theres an education that needs to happen, an impetus on government-focused R&D.

Fundamental Science Advances

With Starship, SpaceX is trying to level up once more, making not just a rocket booster but a spacecraft that can return from space and easily fly again. To do that, it must be able withstand temperatures of 2,600F (1,427C) when plunging back into the Earths atmosphere. Thats no small challenge: The ceramic tiles used to insulate the vehicles metal frame from a blanket of superheated plasma are brittle and difficult to keep in place.

NASAs Space Shuttle faced the same problem and solved it with a time-consuming refurbishing process that included more than a million procedures. The agencys engineers ultimately grounded the vehicle in large part due to uncertainty around the delicate thermal protection systems, which failed during the Columbia tragedy in 2003, resulting in the death of seven astronauts.

Like the Space Shuttle, Starship is intended to be reusable - but SpaceX wants to turn it around for reuse even faster. NASA is paying the company nearly $3 billion to develop Starship as a lunar lander, for example, which would require more than a dozen in-orbit refuelings (a technique SpaceX has yet to demonstrate). The costs of that effort pencil out if Starships can be refurbished for their next flight quickly - SpaceX engineers say their goal is hours, not days. But if it takes weeks or longer, getting to the Moon could be more expensive than SpaceX and NASA expect.

Now, NASA is worried that Starship is years behind a planned 2027 Moon landing, which may mean China gets humans there before Americans return. Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy recently said he would open up the lander contract to other competitors, including Jeff Bezos Blue Origin. That news left Musk complaining about Sean Dummy on his social media site X.

Chris Combs, an associate professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who studies high-speed aerodynamics, says its unclear whether SpaceX has figured out the reentry problem well enough to reuse its spacecraft as quickly as the company expects - a research area we chronically underfund.

SpaceX isnt in the business of doing fundamental science advances, Combs says. Were getting to a point where they need to wonder if theres some material science to come out that isnt sitting there ready right now. And do you guys want to pivot and actually do the basic research? Or do you need to wait 20 years for somebody to come up with that answer?

SpaceX is confident it can solve the heat shield problem itself. This is an area where, you know, were inventing things, senior SpaceX engineer and former NASA executive Bill Gerstenmaier said during remarks at the Glenn Space Technology Symposium in September, describing a new crunchwrap technique for installing the tiles.

The latest flight test suggests the company is making progress: The vehicle didnt suffer as much obvious damage as in previous flights. But Gerstenmaier also said SpaceX is building a factory to produce 30,000 heat shield tiles each day, enough for an entire ship. An impressive manufacturing feat, it suggests the company might need to rebuild the Starships entire heat shield after each landing - hardly the stuff of rapid reusability.

Sharing Technology

The impact of US cuts on public tech development will depend on how much the private sector can fill the void. The idea that artificial intelligence models are a quick fix for this problem is overstated - a research paper widely cited to support that idea was retracted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - but the assumption itself misunderstands the voids nature. Whats at risk isnt just innovation but an appetite for open exchange.

John Scott, an emeritus professor at Dartmouth College who studies innovation policy, says the challenge will be replicating existing structures that bring public and private researchers together. The government can disseminate the results of its work to many organizations - something research suggests the private sector wont do. Small Business Innovation Research grants, for example, produce more patents than companies backed by private capital.

This kind of openly available technical information can be especially valuable for innovation and economic growth in domains with risky technologies that have high potential spillover benefits beyond their intended use, says Rao at Rational Futures.

Musk has said he wants to share SpaceXs intellectual property broadly, but if the company does solve the reentry heat problem, will it pass along its findings to competitors and customers for free? Combs, at least, is hoping that NASA or SpaceX will release more data from the flights to validate computer design models.

That kind of sharing is valuable because developing a new piece of technology can require multiple attempts or the right business model before it really takes off. Companies like Aerojet and Rocketdyne, which participated in the original IPD program, didnt make anything of that tech before SpaceX got their hands on it. Companies like Rotary Rocket and Orbital Sciences failed to commercialize Fastrac before it became the foundation of the Merlin engine.

Theres recognition at SpaceX that information sharing is important. In his speech, Gerstenmaier called on researchers to move more quickly and work on common problems faced by space companies. But his description of the governments role in technology development was telling. [At SpaceX,] I get what I call a minimum viable solution - I dont really understand why it works, but somehow it works, he said. Were going to use it, were going to monetize it, were going to make it work. You have the chance to help me understand why it works.

Historically, its not clear this is how innovation flows. The US is entering a real-life experiment with this model as NASA cuts funding for everything from small-business research grants to next-generation aircraft research. What that means for the next team of engineers who want to spin a government tech project into a venture-capital-backed unicorn will depend on many factors - including whether Congress rejects President Donald Trumps science austerity budget.

Space explorers will pressure-test this shift in approach. Scientists believe, for instance, that the real path to Mars will require nuclear power for spacecraft and surface exploration. Bhavya Lal, a former head of NASAs science programs who advocates for the idea, argued in a recent report that it will require a Manhattan Project-level effort that unites expertise at the DOE and NASA with private-sector reactor manufacturers.

NASA is taking a different approach: ordering a private effort to deliver reactors to the Moon with scant support from the government. Lal warns that without the correct structure and resources, the agency risks asking too much of the private sector. The US could once again spend hundreds of millions of dollars - public and private - and end up no further along than the last generation of overreaching programs that never flew.

The challenge, Lal says, is still mating government science with entrepreneurial zeal.

There is a high need for tech maturation in parallel with funding a flight program, she said of nuclear technology in space. But an open-ended tech maturation effort without either a deadline or a parallel flight program is just a jobs program.
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Todays guest columnist is Emily Lyons, RN.

Daniel walked to his garage in North Carolina.

He set up a video camera and started recording.

Looking at the camera, he said words to the effect of This is for the media and the FBI, applied a tourniquet, and used a radial arm saw to cut off his hand.

He drove himself to the hospital, leaving his severed hand behind.

This immediately brings up three questions.

What is my involvement? What does this have to do with Birmingham? Why would someone cut off their hand?

What is my involvement?

Ive had 60 operations over the years, mostly for shrapnel removal or various problems caused by a bombing. A piece of the plastic box that contained the bomb was removed from my sinus last year. A couple of the more recent ones have been due to my fight with cancer, which I am winning.

What does this have to do with Birmingham?

This story actually begins in Georgia.

Eric Robert Rudolph left a backpack containing the largest pipe bomb in US history at the Atlanta Olympics. The bomb used gunpowder and was on a timer.

Rudolph called 911 but was hung up on. He went to another phone and called again saying that there was a bomb in Centennial Park and that they had 30 minutes.

The bomb exploded 20 minutes later, killing a woman and injuring over 100 others. That woman was a wife and a mother.

Rudolph continued his bombings using timed devices. One was at a nightclub and one was at a womens clinic that performed abortions.

Someone thought a padlock was sufficient security to store 300 pounds of dynamite, so Rudolph was able to move from gunpowder to stolen high explosives. Rudolph was military trained. Our tax dollars funded his training on how to build explosives, recon targets, and to evade capture. Instead of defending against enemies foreign and domestic, he became a domestic terrorist.

Eric spent time in Birmingham surveilling the three clinics that provided pregnancy terminations. Of the three, the New Woman All Women clinic seemed the best target.

Eric progressed from gunpowder devices on timers to dynamite and remote control before selecting a Birmingham clinic as his next target.

The remote control had a range of up to a mile, so the first thought was that he could trigger it from far away. However, trees blocked his line of sight. So, he placed the bomb at the clinic and stood across the street.

Rudolph saw a Birmingham policeman and a nurse arrive at the clinic and find his package. The nurse was me, which answers the question of my involvement. He moved the lever on the controller which murdered the officer and severely injured me.

An amazing college student known only as EW1 (Eye Witness One,) followed Rudolph and got his tag number. And so began one of the most extensive manhunts in history. The government spent around $30 million in the search.

There was a $1 million reward for his arrest while he was on the FBIs top 10 most wanted. The hunt continued for five years. In one of the many twists and turns of this story, a rookie cop was doing a routine patrol and happened upon Rudolph while he was dumpster diving.

Why would someone cut off their hand?

Daniel was Erics brother. While Eric was playing hide and seek in the woods, Daniel became frustrated and so he decided to amputate his hand.

Why? Perhaps this was some form of protest against the media coverage and the intrusion of the FBI. He may have felt that his brother was innocent and being unfairly accused.

Daniel talked about the passage in the Bible Matthew 5:30 if thy hand offend thee, cut if off, though he never said what his hand did that was offensive.

Perhaps he was jealous of all the attention his brother received. If so, it didnt get him much. The press covered the story, but only briefly. The FBI released a statement that simply said that they had no interest in Erics brother.

If Daniel ever gave a logical reason, I do not know what it is. Even if he did, how much faith can you put into the words of someone who thinks that cutting their hand off sounds like a good idea?

First responders drove to Daniels house and retrieved it. Surgeons were able to reattach, and he regained at least some use.

** FILE ** Law enforcement and rescue personnel assist Emily Lyons after she was injured in a bomb blast outside a Birmingham, Ala., abortion clinic in this Jan. 29, 1998 file photo. Eric Robert Rudolph, the Olympic Park bombing suspect was arrested early Saturday, May 31, 2003 in Murphy, N.C. and charged with three other bombings at a gay nightclub in Atlanta and at an office building north of Atlanta in 1997, and at an abortion clinic in Birmingham in 1998. (/Birmingham Post Herald, Larry Kasperek) AP

What happened to Eric Rudolph?

As to Eric Rudolph, he had hundreds of pounds of dynamite buried in the Carolinas. Dynamite is a combination of nitro glycerin, EGDN (ethylene glycol dinitrate,) and a binding material to hold it all together. As it ages, the nitro and EGDN tend to separate which makes it more and more unstable.

Even if Rudolph did not build another bomb (which he did,) the unstable explosives left a major hazard that could have ended countless lives at any time. He traded the location of the dynamite for the removal of the death sentence and accepted a plea bargain.

Rudolph admitted to all the bombings, including the Olympics.

Our tax dollars continue to provide him with three hots and a cot on Bombers Row in the Colorado Supermax prison. And yes, our country has endured enough bombings to have a special prison area called Bombers Row.

As for me, I am not a bombing victim  I am a bombing survivor.

Trauma, tragedy, and hardship do not make a person special.

Life knocks everybody down.

What counts is how you stand back up.

Emily Lyons, RN, received her degree in nursing from UAB. She worked in labor and delivery, was an emergency room nurse, taught nursing, provided home health care services, and was director of nursing at the New Woman All Women clinic in Birmingham. She is the author of Lifes Been a Blast, available on Amazon in print and audiobook. Emilys website: https://emilylyons.com/

Al.com recently released American Shrapnel, an 8 series podcast telling the Eric Rudolph story.

David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).

Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown.com
View from the Top is an opinion column exploring all things Huntsville. It is coordinated by Doug Martinson. Todays guest columnist is Dexter Strong.

Like many millennial Huntsville natives, I grew up assuming I would eventually leave our city for a bigger, more exciting one. I did exactly that. But when work and family brought me back in 2018, I didnt just return to a Smart PlaceI came back to what has quietly become a cool place. So what, exactly, makes Huntsville cool?

Huntsville is no longer a hidden gem. Tech and federal services anchor our economy, with biotech and advanced manufacturing rising quickly behind them. Were routinely ranked among the best cities to live, raise a family, and find a highly educated peer group. These monikers are earned. In the Rocket City, its not uncommon to find yourself chatting with a literal rocket scientist at a bar. But theres another dimension that sets Huntsville apart from our near-peer cities.

Huntsville attracts people from around the globe who choose to make this place home, infusing our culture with unexpected diversity and depth. No other mid-sized city in our region can claim this level of global representation. Here, in the heart of the Deep South, one can have a genuinely cosmopolitan experience. Part of that is due to our institutional ecosystem.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Alabama A&M and Oakwood University draw bright students from across the African diaspora, enriching the citys cultural fabric. Every summer, hundreds attend our local Caribbean festival. You can literally dine the diasporaAfro-Caribbean, West African, and even Kenyan cuisine are now available at local restaurants and ethnic grocers.

Our industry and universities have also attracted a thriving Indian community. There are multiple Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and cultural events. I went to a locally organized Holi celebration this yearthe Hindu festival of colors marking spring, love, and the victory of good over eviland thought to myself: Im so glad Huntsville has become a place where you can have a global experience.

Im glad we have big-box grocery stores, but my instinct now is to visit Vietnamese-run markets when Im hunting for produce or seafood, or Middle Eastern shops when Im buying meat and spices. When I want a snack, my first thought is the Eastern European sandwich shop at Lowe Mill. Its remarkable that a mid-sized city in Alabama offers these cultural experiences. And if were smart, well leverage this.

Cultural tourism is big business, and cultural opportunity drives relocation decisions. People dont just go where the jobs arethey go where they believe they can live well. A citys cultural offering plays a major role in whether newcomers can imagine themselves belonging. Leveraging cultural heritage is a key ingredient in the playbook of some of Americas most prosperous cities.

Culture zonesthink Little Italy in New York, Little Havana in Miami, Chinatown in San Francisco, or Greektown in Chicagooften generate more retail and excise tax revenue than any other part of a municipality. City departments partner with local businesses and cultural leaders to map heritage sites, host events, attract visitors, and boost revenue. Culture drives profit. Huntsville is poised to become the cultural hub of the Southif we choose to tell that story.

Last year, my wife went out of town for a work trip, leaving me home and boredshes the fun one. I called a close friend, and she suggested we check out a live Ranchero music and dancing event. I had no idea that option even existed. I was the only Black guy in a sea of people sharing cultural pride in a space that was also deeply welcoming. I had a great timeand bragged to my wife that I learned to dance Ranchero.

When I think about what I like most about Huntsvillebeyond proximity to friends and familyit isnt just our economic growth or the educational profile of our residents. Its the community shaped by people from all over the globe. I get to relive some of my favorite travel experiences without ever leaving town. Everyone knows Huntsville as a Smart Place, but to my surprise and delight, its becoming a Cool Place precisely because we punch above our weight in cultural offerings.

Thats a story worth tellingand advertising.

Dexter Strong is a communications and consulting professional based out of Huntsville, Alabama. He was recently honored as one of Huntsville Business Journals Top 40 under 40 professionals. He enjoys spending time with his wife and son, traveling, flying his drone, and grilling for his friends.

Interested in writing a guest column? Or have a suggestion for a future topic for View from the Top? Email columnist Doug Martinson Jr. at dougii@martinsonandbeason.com.
If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.

The brand new romantic comedy A Royal Icing Christmas is set to premiere live on Great American Family Saturday, Oct. 25 at 8/7c.

Starring Ellise Roth and Callum Buckley, A Royal Icing Christmas follows Roths character, Princess Charlotte of Marovia, as she throws caution to the wind and decides to abandon her royal duties for a much-needed break.

How to watch A Royal Icing Christmas

Cord cutters looking for ways to watch the upcoming holiday films slated to release on GAF in the coming months can find the channel available for streaming through a plethora of services, including cost-saving platforms like Philo.

Philo is considered one of the most affordable traditional cable alternatives out there. At just $33 a month after a 7-day free trial, subscribers can enjoy over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more. Subscribers can also access HBO Max and discovery+ content with a Philo subscription.

Fubo is a popular live TV streaming service that appeals to cord cutters looking to enjoy a plethora of live TV channels and helpful features. Starting at $84.99 a month after its free trial, this popular streaming service offers users over 100 live TV channels through its base package and includes helpful features like unlimited DVR.

Streaming Platform Promotion Price Philo 7-day free trial $28/month for existing users, $33/month for new users Fubo Free trial $84.99/month after free trial DirecTV 5-day free trial $86.99/month after free trial Sling No active promotions $45.99/month

DirecTV is one of the leading streaming platforms taking the industry by storm. With plans starting at $86.99 after its 5-day free trial, DirecTV offers a plethora of live TV channels, tailor-made genre packs to slim down filler overload, and a load of other appealing features.

Sling is another great streaming platform replacing basic cable. By offering users a stellar selection of popular TV channels, Sling is a great alternative to the hassle of traditional cable. Sling is also introducing day, week and weekend passes which allow users to choose how long they can access the platform. Plans start at just $45.99 a month after the first month and the new passes start at $4.99.

More about A Royal Icing Christmas

Needing a break from the constant onslaught of royal duties, Princess Charlotte of Marovia manages to clear some time in her calendar to escape to a New England town for Christmas. While there, Charlotte comes across a secret baking contest which piques her interest, alongside an unexpected romance. While developing this surprising connection, Charlotte may find that love may be lifes true crowning achievement.
Major Trade Fair to coincide with CHOGM Colombo

The Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Geneva is pleased to announce that arrangements are underway to organize a major international trade exhibition on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which is scheduled to be held in Colombo from 1317 November 2013.

The exhibition will primarily focus on promoting latest technology / machinery that are useful for local industries and finding export markets for Sri Lankan products.

The Government of Sri Lanka is inviting international exhibitors to make use of this opportunity in fostering mutually beneficial contacts with the Sri Lankan business community.

You may please visit the following web link for further details.

http://srilankabusiness.com/exhibition/index.html

Information on the specific facilities that would be made available to international exhibitors and buyers on this occasion will be indicated in the near future.
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Adam Raine, a 16-year-old Californian boy, died by suicide after prolonged use of ChatGPT

Power without responsibility is the harlots prerogative, according to Rudyard Kipling, a quote that his cousin Stanley Baldwin would later use to describe the press barons. Today, it aptly sums up the behaviour of American technology giants, who wield global power but regard accountability as a nuisance.

This much is evident in the tragedy of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old Californian boy who died by suicide after prolonged use of ChatGPT, the well-known AI chatbot from OpenAI.

Jay Edelson, a lawyer for Adams family, told The Guardian: The most shocking part of the case was when Adam said: I want to leave a noose up so someone will find it and stop me and ChatGPT said: Dont do that, just talk to me. That is the thing were going to be showing the jury.

Its a shocking story.

As the lawsuit filed by the family explains, ChatGPT was functioning exactly as designed: to continually encourage and validate whatever Adam expressed, including his most harmful and self-destructive thoughts, in a way that felt deeply personal.

Taming a chatbot is not easy, but it is perfectly possible to prevent one from doing certain things.

They [OpenAI] know how to shut things down, says Edelson. If you ask for copyrighted material, they say no. If you ask for things that are politically unacceptable, they just say no to that. Its a hard stop and you cant get around it and thats fine. The idea theyre doing that in terms of political speech but were not going to do it when it comes to self-harm, is just crazy.

The family alleges that OpenAI deliberately removed guard rails which prevented discussion of suicide and self-harm. This was allegedly done in order to increase engagement with the bot from users.

When OpenAI relaxed the safety features, permitting discussion of self-harm, the volume and intensity of chats between ChatGPT and Adam Raine increased dramatically, the familys lawyers argue.

OpenAI has morphed from a non-profit research lab into a private company and is now the most valuable startup in the world, worth some $500bn even though it is not publicly traded. Now OpenAI is considered too big to fail. Much of the recent rise in stock markets is attributable to the AI hype.

The question of who is in charge should be asked. While critics of the Online Safety Act argue that it poses a threat to freedom of speech, it nevertheless represents a powerful tool for holding US technology companies to account. The AI barons and their political allies  who include Donald Trump  want it scrapped entirely, but we should think twice before we give up such a valuable tool.

This is the third time the human race has rushed to create artificial intelligence. This time, the scramble is leaving real casualties. We in Britain should not permit such technology to operate free of government oversight, and we should insist that those in charge of it are held responsible for their actions.
Matty Cashs first-half fizzer earned Aston Villa an excellent 1-0 win over Manchester City, whose Premier League title hopes took an early blow.

Cash fired home from the edge of the area in the 19th minute and that proved enough for a fourth league win in a row for Villa, who celebrated Unai Emerys third anniversary in charge in style.

It was a third successive home victory over Pep Guardiolas side, who fell six points behind leaders Arsenal and face the prospect of another hunt of Mikel Artetas side after Christmas.

City were stifled excellently by a perfect Villa gameplan and Erling Haaland was stopped from scoring for just the second time this season in all competitions, ending a 12-game spree.

Such a run of results against Guardiolas side would not have seemed possible before Emery arrived at Villa Park in October 2022, transforming their fortunes.

And after a slow start to the campaign, they again look like challenging at the top end of the Premier League.

Citys best period of the game came in the opening 10 minutes and they were close to an opener in the sixth minute when Tijjani Reijnders flashed an effort just over from the edge of the area.

But Villa began to take control and the decisive moment of the game arrived in the 19th minute as they went ahead from a set-piece.

They took a short corner to Emiliano Buendia and he crossed the ball to the edge of the area, where Cash collected it before unleashing a low shot across his body that curled into the bottom corner.

Aston Villas Matty Cash, centre, made the decisive breakthrough with this shot (Mike Egerton/PA)

City could have been level three minutes later as Haaland produced an uncharacteristic miss.

Bernardo Silva beat the offside trap and slipped in the Norwegian but his shot was too close to Emiliano Martinez.

That was as good as it got, though, as Villa pushed for a second.

John McGinn might have expected to score when he had time and space on the edge of the box but his shot deflected off John Stones and just wide.

From the resulting corner Ollie Watkins saw a free header blocked.

Erling Haaland, left, drew a rare blank (PA)

McGinn came close early in the second half when he met a corner with a sweet strike but it was blocked.

City upped the ante in search of the equaliser and were denied by some heroic defending on the hour as Ezri Konsa blocked Savinhos fierce shot and then Pau Torres was in position on the goalline to turn over the Brazilians second effort.

Jadon Sancho, on as an early sub for the injured Buendia, had a quiet game but could have doubled the lead in the 69th minute when he had two chances from a narrow angle but both were saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The on-loan Manchester United man was himself subbed soon after as the hosts continued to probe, with the excellent Watkins inches away from being able to get on the end of Ross Barkleys through-ball.

City threw everything forward in search of an equaliser and thought they had found one it in the 89th minute when Haaland slid in at the far post but Phil Foden was offside in the build-up.
As a six-year-old, the boy was thrown from an upper floor of Tate Modern while on holiday in London with his parents. Photograph: Justin Kase zsixz/Alamy

A boy who was thrown from the 10th floor of Tate Modern in London six years ago can now run and swim limited distances, his family has revealed.

The unnamed French boy, who his parents call their little knight, suffered life-changing injuries in the attack in August 2019. Jonty Bravery is serving a minimum 15-year jail term for his attempt to murder the boy.

As a six-year-old on holiday with his parents, the boy survived the 30-metre fall, but suffered severe injuries including bleeding on the brain and broken bones. It had been feared he would be reliant on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

But in a new upbeat progress report on his recovery, his family detailed how much the 12-year-old can now move unaided.

They said: Our little knight had long set himself the goal of being able to run, jump and swim again.

He cant do it like other children his age, of course, but we can no longer describe what he does in any other way than by saying its running, jumping and swimming.

Its different, only over a few metres or a very small height, but its an incredible achievement. We are happy that he has been able to reach this stage of progress before his next operation.

The procedure early next year will leave him immobilised for two months, the family said. Doctors have told him he should regain more movement after the treatment.

The surgeon is relying on all the progress he has made so far to reassure him of the future benefits and how much he will be able to do even better afterward, the family said.

They said their preteen sons memory is still limited but improving as he gains cognitive endurance. This summer he enjoyed a holiday in the mountains with other children who did not speak French. Our son was able to work on his English and play French teacher a little, his parents said.

They said a psychomotor therapist has worked with the boy to help him stop tensing up the left side of his body, which was causing him pain. They said the boy also needs 10 separate rehabilitation sessions each week.

The family said they are trying to find a new school for their son that will allow him to do all the subjects in the curriculum and still have time for these therapy sessions.

They added that this means that we will have to move again soon so that our son maintains his chances of progress.

A fundraising page created after the attack has so far raised more than 477,000.
Sami Hamdi has denied celebrating the Oct 7 massacre - Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images

A British commentator who allegedly praised the Oct 7 massacre has been detained by US authorities and faces deportation back to the UK.

Sami Hamdi, who describes himself as a journalist, was arrested by immigration agents at San Francisco airport on Sunday morning.

Ten days after Hamass attack on Israel on Oct 7 2023, during which some 1,200 civilians were killed, Mr Hamdi told a mosque in London to celebrate the victory.

We are pitying a people who brought a huge victory since 1948, he said. Dont pity them, they dont want your pity. Celebrate the victory.

He added: How many of you felt it in your hearts when you got the news that it happened? How many of you felt the euphoria? Allahu Akbari!

Mr Hamdi also claimed widespread accounts of sexual violence committed by Hamas, a proscribed terror organisation in Britain and the US, had been fabricated by Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, had to make a lie about rape, he said at the same event, according to the National Post.

Mr Hamdi spoke at the annual gala of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Sacramento branch in California on Saturday, and had been scheduled to deliver another speech in Florida on Sunday.

Two Canadian universities last year cancelled scheduled speeches by Mr Hamdi as he embarked on a tour of campuses, according to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

A spokesman for Concordia, which banned the commentator, said at the time his remarks celebrated violence and that allowing him to talk would result in a culture of intimidation.

Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesman with the department of homeland security (DHS), said on Sunday that Mr Hamdi had been detained ahead of his deportation.

This individuals visa was revoked and he is in ICE [immigration and customs enforcement] custody pending removal, she said.

Under president Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country. Its common sense.

Laura Loomer, the Right-wing activist with close ties to Donald Trump, said Mr Hamdi, after receiving a visa in 2018, had allegedly radicalised Muslims into becoming Hamas supporters at mosques throughout the US.

Ms Loomer claims that Mr Hamdi radicalised Muslims into becoming Hamas supporters at mosques throughout the US - Tom Williams/via Getty Images

She went on to ask what Shabana Mahmood, the British Home Secretary, would do once the commentator was deported.

Will she arrest him? Or will she allow this jihadi to roam the streets of the UK? Ms Loomer said.

CAIR claimed Mr Hamdi had been detained by US authorities at Ms Loomers instigation because he had criticised Israels war in Gaza.

Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticize the Israeli governments genocide is a blatant affront to free speech, it said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots.

The US state department has revoked thousands of visas of those it claims are supporters of terrorist groups such as Hamas.

Embassies have been directed to screen applicants and scour their social media profiles for hostile attitudes towards our citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.

Mr Hamdi has denied celebrating the Oct 7 massacre, claiming he was instead illustrating the international recognition that efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East must include Palestinian voices.

The October 7th events underscore the failure of any approach that seeks normalisation at the expense of the Palestinian people, he told the National Post last year.

US authorities said in a statement: Hamdi entered the United States on a visitor visa Oct 19, through John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

The state departments bureau of consular affairs revoked Hamdis visa Oct 24, 2025, effective immediately.

ICE detained Hamdi, as he was illegally in the country, and he will be placed in immigration proceedings.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: We are in contact with the family of a British man detained in the USA.
Two British men fell from a balcony at a holiday resort in Lanzarote, according to local reports (PA)

A British tourist has died and another has been critically injured after plunging 20 feet in a suspected balcony collapse in the Canary Islands.

A 56-year-old man was killed instantly after railings gave way at a hotel in the Lanzarote resort of Costa Teguise, according to local reports.

Another British man, 54, is understood to be in intensive care after the horror fall in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The Spanish civil guard is said to have opened an investigation into the maintenance of a railing at the holiday resort.

Officers arrived at the hotel, which has not been identified, at around 1.30am after receiving reports of the fatal fall.

Local police officers from Teguise, officers from the civil guard, and two ambulances were dispatched to the scene.

One holidaymaker died, while the other was taken to the intensive care unit of the Doctor Jose Molina Orosa hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Foreign Office officials are supporting the families of the two British men.

Costa Teguise, on the east coast of the Spanish island, is Lanzarotes third largest holiday resort. It is known for its sandy beaches which are popular for water sports.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office said: We are providing support to the family of a British man who has died and to the family of a British man who has been injured in Spain.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Over 350,000 curling irons have been recalled due to a burn hazard.

J & D Brush is recalling its Bio Ionic One-Inch-Long Barrel Curling Iron due to reports of the curling iron barrel detaching.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the issue has been reported by more than 250 consumers, including six who received minor burns.

The model to look out for is the LXT-CL-1.0 with a date code between 0722 and 1223.

The curling iron was sold on Amazon and Bioionic.com. In-store and online at Salon Centric, Ulta, Sephora, and Nordstrom and in salons and beauty supply stores across the U.S. from August 2022 through July 2024 for about $165.

J & D Brush has recalled its Bio Ionic One-Inch-Long Barrel Curling Iron (CPSC)

An additional 3,000 of the affected products were sold in Canada.

Consumers should stop using the recalled curling iron right away, unplug it, and contact Bio Ionic to register for a free replacement. They will be instructed to cut off the plug and return it to the company using a prepaid shipping label.

To contact Bio Ionic, call 877-853-9627 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or email longbarrelsupport@bbicompany.com. Consumers can also visit the Bio Ionic website and click "Product Recalls" at the bottom of the homepage for more information. The recall number for the curling irons is 26-046.

The news comes as a recall on more than 140,000 bottles of cholesterol medication has been upgraded to a higher risk level.

In September, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration Enforcement report announced that Ascend Laboratories was recalling bottles of its Atorvastatin Calcium Tablet due to failed dissolution specifications.

However, as of October 10, the recall was declared a Class II, which is a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote, per the FDA.

The recall affects tablets that were distributed nationwide, in 90-count, 500-count, and 1,000-count bottles. Bottles have Expiration Dates up to February 2027.
From 1966 until 1989 David Macfarlane was a lecturer at Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton Photograph: none

My father, David Macfarlane, who has died aged 92, was the consummate artist and educator, utterly committed to his own practice and to sharing his passion for the arts. From 1966 until 1989 he was a lecturer in fine art at Somerset College of Arts and Technology, in Taunton, where his teachings encompassed his interests in avant-garde film, poetry, classical and modern music and literature, interwoven with the history of art.

Davids work was intensely personal and reflected a keenly observed view of the world around him. The early 1960s, when he began his teaching career, was characterised by a radical break with tradition in the visual arts; David invited the conceptual artists Rose Finn-Kelcey, Ian Breakwell and John Hilliard to be visiting lecturers. These radical figures exerted a powerful influence on students such as Richard Deacon and Angela Bulloch.

David was born in Bristol, the son of Hector Macfarlane, a salesman, and Hilda (nee Fair), and had a sister, Ruth. He attended Bristol grammar school, and, having completed national service with the RAF, studied at the West of England College of Art, Bristol, and at the Slade School of Art, London (1959-61). On leaving he was included in New Contemporaries and secured his first teaching appointment at Derby College of Art.

During the 1970s and early 80s his work was included in various exhibitions, such as Three Figurative Artists (with Marianne Edwards and Maurice Sumray), at the Newlyn Gallery, Penzance, and he had a solo show at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, in 1975. His studio is filled with hundreds of artworks  sketchbooks, autonomous drawings and paintings of varying sizes.

These are a testament to his particular sensitivity to visual stimuli, whether burnt stubble in a steep field or his muse  his second wife, Issy, whom he married in 1999 after the death of his first wife, Bee (my mother). This romance stimulated an intense period of creativity through the 1990s and 2000s, inspired, in particular, by time spent in Caceres, Spain, musical concerts at St Georges in Bristol, and the landscape around his home in the West Country.

His formidable library includes printed matter from countless exhibitions attended from the late 1950s, as well as volumes on the painters, poets and composers that he studied assiduously. Inside his books he kept a multitude of newspaper cuttings that reflect the fluctuating fates and fortunes of artists over the past 60 years.

My father married Bee (Bridget) Perry, in 1956; she died in 1997. He is survived by Issy and his children, Kesty, Oliver and me, from his first marriage.
Frans Timmermans, Geert Wilders and Henri Bontenbal. Composite: Guardian Design/Shutterstock

Here is the lowdown on elections in the Netherlands, where voters look likely to swap the most rightwing government in the countrys recent history for a more moderate, commonsense coalition. The snap parliamentary ballot takes place on Wednesday.

What is the story and why does it matter?

The early legislative elections were triggered by the collapse in June of the 11-month-old government after the far-right firebrand Geert Wilders pulled his Freedom party (PVV) out of an already fractious and highly ineffectual ruling coalition.

The PVV had finished a shock first in the last election in late 2023 and after more than six months of talks formed a fragile four-party rightwing coalition with the populist Farmer-Citizen Movement (BBB), centrist New Social Contract (NSC) and liberal-conservative VVD.

Wilders partners, however, considered him too toxic for the job of prime minister, which went to a former intelligence chief, Dick Schoof. Wilders, an anti-immigration polemicist who has lived under police protection for two decades, resorted to sniping from the sidelines.

He pulled the plug on 3 June after the partners refused to adopt a radical 10-point anti-immigration plan that included enlisting the army to patrol the borders, turning back all asylum seekers, closing most refugee hostels and sending home all Syrian refugees.

While support for the PVV has dipped, polls suggest the far-right, anti-Islam party is again likely to win the most seats in parliament. However, the main Dutch political formations have all ruled out entering into a formal coalition with Wilders.

At least 16 parties are forecast to enter parliament but none to win more than about 20% of the vote. As ever, the next Dutch government, generally an influential player on the EU and world stage, will emerge only after coalition negotiations that could last months.

How does the system work and what is the political landscape?

There are 150 MPs in the Dutch parliament, meaning a government needs 76 seats to form a majority. No single party ever manages this, and the Netherlands has been governed by coalitions for more than a century.

Parliament is elected every four years  earlier if governments collapse  by proportional representation, based on an approved list of candidates in a single, nationwide constituency: any party that wins 0.67% of the vote is assured of a seat.

As in much of Europe, Dutch politics has been marked in recent decades by a sharp decline in support for the historical ruling parties from the centre-right and left, whose share of the vote has shrunk from more than 80% in the 1980s to just over 40% now.

In the Netherlands, the process has been paralleled by a spectacular proliferation of smaller parties: 27 are running this time, including a party for the over-50s, a party for youth, a party for animals, a party for a universal basic income, and a party for sport.

Who are the key players and what are the main issues?

In the lead, but forecast to lose up to 12 of the 37 seats it won in 2023, is Wilders PVV. It wants, among other things, a complete freeze on asylum, male Ukrainian refugees to be sent home, the army to fight street terrorists, and an end to woke indoctrination in schools.

GreenLeft/Labour (GL/PvdA), an electoral alliance between the environmentalist party and the 80-year-old Dutch Labour party that is expected to become a full-blown merger, is on track to win up to 26 seats, slightly more than in the last election, polling averages suggest.

Led by the experienced former European commissioner Frans Timmermans, it has made building more new homes its biggest priority, and has controversially included a net migration cap of between 40,000 and 60,000 people a year in its manifesto.

The liberal-progressive Democrats 66 (D66) is on course to more than double its seat tally, capturing up to 23, up from its current nine, under its straight-talking young leader, Rob Jetten, with a campaign centred on housing (it plans to build 10 new cities) and an individual basic benefit for claimants.

The Christian Democrats (CDA) dominated Dutch politics from the late 1970s to the early 90s, and again in the early 2000s, and after slumping to just five seats in the last election is now on track to win as many as 22.

Under Henri Bontenbal, its youthful rising star, who entered politics only four years ago, the party has bounced back with a campaign highlighting the dire Dutch housing crisis and a promise of normal, civilised politics.

The liberal-conservative VVD, the party of the former prime minister (now Nato chief) Mark Rutte, is forecast to slump to at most 18 seats from its current 24, with its leader, Dilan Yesilgoz, who is accused of taking the party too far to the right, blamed for its decline. It is promising business tax cuts and less welfare.

The populist, hardline conservative JA21 is a spin-off from another far-right party, the once popular, now scandal-hit Forum for Democracy (FvD), and appears to be profiting from an exodus of voters from the PVV, BBB and VVD. It could win up to 14 seats.

Besides the VVD and PVV, both the other partners in the ill-fated outgoing coalition, the BBB and NSC, are expected to lose out, with the NSC not even sure of representation in parliament.

The top issues so far have been immigration, with several protests  sometimes violent  against planned emergency reception centres for asylum seekers, the cost of living, and the perennial Dutch problem of housing (the country is short of 400,000 homes).

So what could the new government look like?

Given the highly fragmented state of Dutch politics, what coalitions are actually possible is just as important as who finishes first (or in this case, more likely, second, since no major party will govern with Wilders, who insists he wants to lead a minority government).

After the election, MPs first appoint an informateur, who seeks out possible alliances. Once a viable coalition has been found, a formateur, usually the head of the largest potential partner, begins negotiating the formal coalition agreement. It can take months.

Multiple options look plausible, most involving a mix of parties from the centre-left and moderate right. The most likely, according to the CoalitionChecker website, include CDA and GL/PvdA, plus D66 and one or more smaller parties potentially including JA21.
Harry Brooks astonishing lone salvo with the bat spared Englands blushes but New Zealand drew first blood in the three-match ODI series with a four-wicket win in Mount Maunganui.

Brook walked to the crease with England reeling on five for three and they slipped further into the mire on 33 for five, with their lowest ODI total of 86 against Australia in 2001 some way off.

The Yorkshireman ensured they avoided that ignominy with 11 sixes and nine fours in a jaw-dropping 135 off 101 balls, accounting for 60.54 per cent of his sides 223 all out  a record for England in ODIs.

Harry Brooks century was the highlight of Englands ODI defeat (Andrew Cornaga/AP)

New Zealand stumbled to 66 for four in reply, with Kane Williamson dismissed for a first-ever golden duck in ODIs, but Englands fielding let them down as they put down three catches, including off Daryl Mitchell, whose 78 not out helped the Kiwis get over the line with 13.2 overs to spare.

England fell to a ninth loss in 13 ODIs in 2025 but what was a competitive contest appeared remote after they started dreadfully, with only Brook and Jamie Overton reaching double figures.

While Brooks innings augurs well with less than four weeks until the start of the Ashes, his Test team-mates Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell were all undone in bowler-friendly conditions.

Matt Henry snaked the first ball through Smiths defences, while Zak Foulkes struck twice in the next over, squaring up Duckett, who edged low to Tom Latham, before Root threw his head back in despair after missing a drive and being bowled.

Foulkes produced another jaffa to castle Bethell and Jos Buttler and Sam Curran both nicked off as an England side that piled up 414 for five against South Africa last month lurched to 56 for six.

Jamie Smith is bowled by Matt Henry (Andrew Cornaga/AP)

Brook, though, was utterly unflustered at the other end, using his feet to negate the seam movement, while he took advantage of a strong gust blowing across the Bay Oval to lustily pull Foulkes for a couple of sixes.

A third six from a leading edge took Brook to an eighth fifty-plus score in 12 innings in New Zealand and he finally found a capable foil as Overton contributed 46 to a run-a-ball 87 partnership.

Brook was given a life on 63 after sweeping to Rachin Ravindra, who got both hands to the ball but was unable to cling on, and he cashed in once Jacob Duffy had accounted for Overton, Carse and Adil Rashid to catches in the ring.

With only Luke Wood for support, Brook reached an 82-ball hundred with the last of three successive sixes off Duffy and he continued on his merry way before holing out off opposite number Mitch Santner.

Nathan Smith, left, and Daryl Mitchell got New Zealand home (Andrew Cornaga/AP)

New Zealand found batting at the start just as tough as England had, with Carse bowling Will Young and then finding a hint of movement away from his next delivery to take the edge of the vaunted Williamson.

Carse then removed Tom Latham lbw but lone slip Root put down a low chance when Bracewell was on two and Wood dropped a routine waist-high opportunity when Mitchell reverse swept on 33, and both batters made sure the errors did not go unpunished as they got to valuable fifties.

Bracewell did not go on, run out for 51 after Overtons direct hit from mid-on, but Carse could not get to Santners pull in the deep and he crashed a couple of sixes before being caught at long-off aiming for a third six in four balls.

New Zealand still needed 18 but Mitchell made sure there was no nervy finale to get the hosts home.
Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was detained in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday morning. He had served 31 days of his 12-month sentence for sexual assault when he was released on Friday. Photograph: Sunday Times / News Licensing

A former asylum seeker and convicted sex offender who was released from prison in error is back in custody and faces deportation.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, an Ethiopian national, was jailed for 12 months in September for sexually assaulting a woman and a 14-year-old girl and was made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order.

Kebatu, 41, who was released wearing a prison-issue grey tracksuit and holding a plastic bag containing his possessions, made several train journeys across London after being freed on Friday, according to the Metropolitan police.

He took a train from Chelmsford to Stratford in east London on the day he was released and was later spotted in Dalston carrying a white bag with pictures of avocados on it. He was arrested in the Finsbury Park area of north London at about 8.30am on Sunday, the Met said.

Keir Starmer and the justice secretary, David Lammy, said Kebatu would be deported. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said he would be removed as quickly as possible.

Starmer said: We must make sure this doesnt happen again. We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong.

Lammy told broadcasters that Kebatu had to be questioned by police before he was deported. I can assure you that he will be deported as he was expected to be deported. I expect that to happen this week, he said.

The Met commander James Conway, who oversaw the operation to find Kebatu, said: This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan police, supported by Essex police and the British Transport Police.

Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and, following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service. I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.

Kebatus arrest in July on sexual assault charges led to violent protests outside the Bell hotel in Epping, where he was being housed.

Khadar Mohamed, 24, from Somalia, who was a resident of the Bell at the time and has since been granted asylum, said Kebatus arrest on Sunday was a relief and great news.

I hope this doesnt create any further problems for anyone, he said. I think he should be deported. There is no point in keeping him here, he will just make the rest of us look bad if he is kept in the country.

Jack Neill-Hall witnessed four officers leading Kebatu away as he was walking his dog in Finsbury Park. They were walking along very calmly, he said. Two female officers had their hands on him. His hands were handcuffed but he was walking with them, not struggling, not trying to get away. He was just looking down at the ground, looking pretty dejected. The other two officers appeared to be talking on the radio.

The health secretary, Wes Streeting, said it was a relief that Kebatu was back in custody. He told GB News: I am appalled that this man was released, he should never have been on our streets, we will get to the bottom of what went wrong and we will make sure there is accountability and transparency with the public.

The shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, told GB News: Its good that he has been finally caught but I remain shocked that this inept Labour government let him out in the first place. They should never have allowed his release and I think David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood have questions to answer, because they have presided over this system.

Just eight days after illegally crossing the Channel, [Kebatu] sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Essex, and we dont want people in this country who are going to attack women and girls in that way, so he should be immediately deported.

Zia Yusuf, the head of policy for Reform UK, said: I said yesterday on social media that Britains descent into a Monty Python sketch was almost complete. This is a man who eyewitnesses said was actively trying to go back into prison after being accidentally let go. Its absolutely shocking, and how any victim of sexual assault can look at this Labour government, and [the safeguarding minister] Jess Phillips in particular, and the whole state apparatus right now and have any degree of confidence is beyond me.

On the day Kebatu was freed from HMP Chelmsford in Essex, a delivery driver described seeing him return to the prison in a very confused state four or five times, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

The driver, named only as Sim, told Sky News that he saw Kebatu come out of the prison saying Where am I going? What am I doing? and hanging around for about an hour and a half as he tried to find out where he should be going.

He said Kebatu knew he should be deported but the prison staff were basically sending him away and saying to him: Go, youve been released, you go.

The driver said: He kept scratching his head and saying where do I go, where do I go?. The fourth or fifth time [he went into the reception] he was starting to get upset, he was getting stressed. Im not sticking up for the guy, but in my eyes he was trying to do the right thing. He knew he was getting deported but he didnt know where he was going or how he should get there.

Kebatu appears to have been seen later in Chelmsford town centre asking for assistance before getting on a train to London.

Essex police confirmed on Saturday that he caught a train at at 12.41pm on Friday. The Met said he was seen getting off the train in Stratford in east London at about 1.10pm.

As a result, the Met was handed responsibility for the investigation on Saturday morning, the force said.

Prison Service sources said Kebatus release was caused by human error. It is understood the prison officer who authorised the release has been removed from duties while an urgent investigation takes place.

One prison source described the incident as a disaster waiting to happen because of the high volume of releases being processed by inexperienced staff, and dozens of prisoners serving different tariffs being released at the same time.

The president of the Criminal Justice Workers Union (CJWU), Aaron Stowe, called Kebatus mistaken release a profound failure of duty. He said: The release of Hadush Kebatu is a betrayal of the victims, the community and the principles of justice. We demand a full investigation and immediate reforms to ensure this never happens again.

The CJWUs general secretary, Mike Rolfe, said: The justice system is stretched to breaking point, the publics confidence is collapsing and those tasked with enforcing the law are left to pick up the pieces of political cowardice.

The father of Kebatus teenage victim said he and his family felt massively let down by HMP Chelmsford, the police, the justice system and our Labour government.

In a statement read by his local councillor Shane Yerrell, he said: I had to find out from a reporter that my daughters attacker was accidentally released  then be sent images and videos of him walking around throughout the day before the police even alerted her mother.

Then later that day when I attended HMP Chelmsford to seek some answers I was greeted with hostility and complete disregard for anything I said or asked, totally disrespecting me and my family.

The incident had caused his daughter so much stress and anxiety, he said. She feared seeing him again in the high road and him recognising her. Im really worried for my daughters mental health and wellbeing because of this assault.

Kebatu was found guilty of five offences last month after attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl twice before sexually assaulting her, and sexually assaulting a woman and trying to kiss her.

He committed the offences days after arriving in the UK on a small boat and being placed at the Bell hotel. Protests outside the hotel, which far-right activists sought to exploit, led to assaults on police officers and 32 arrests.

At Kebatus trial, the district judge Christopher Williams said Kebatu posed a significant risk of reoffending, was manipulative and had acted ignorantly and repulsively towards the woman he had assaulted. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and had served 31 days when he was released.
Two weeks into the ceasefire, more than 20 Palestinians are still being killed on average each day, many of them close to the yellow line. Photograph: Amjad Tantesh/The Guardian

A supposedly temporary yellow line marking Gazas ceasefire is taking an increasingly physical form as the precarious truce shows signs of stalling, with potentially dramatic consequences for Palestines future.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops have started installing yellow concrete markers every 200 metres to delineate the area remaining under Israeli control during the first phase of the ceasefire.

The line cuts Gaza roughly in half. In the western part, Hamas is seeking to reassert its control in the vacuum left by the partial Israeli withdrawal, carrying out public executions of rival militia or gang members it claims are backed by Israel.

In the other half of Gaza, covering the eastern strip as well as the northern and southern borders, the IDF has been reinforcing scores of military outposts and firing at anyone approaching the line, whether it has been marked with yellow blocks or not.

In our area, the yellow lines arent clearly visible. We dont know where they start or end. I think theyre clearer in other places, but here, nothing is defined, Mohammad Khaled Abu al-Hussain, a 31-year-old father of five, said. His familys house is in al-Qarara, north of Khan Younis and just east of the yellow line, in the IDF-controlled zone.

As soon as we get close to our homes, bullets start flying from every direction, and sometimes small drones, the quadcopters, hover above us, watching every move, he said. Yesterday, I was with my friend when we suddenly came under heavy gunfire. We threw ourselves to the ground and stayed there until the shooting stopped. I couldnt reach my house.

It feels like the war hasnt really ended for me. Whats the point of a ceasefire if I still cant return home?

He added: It breaks my heart to see people on my way going back to their houses while I remain stuck between hope and fear. But what worries me most is the idea that this line might stay, that no decision will ever allow us to return.

Israel insisted on Sunday that it would maintain control of security in Gaza. The prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told ministers it would decide for itself where and when to strike its foes and which countries would be allowed to send troops to police the truce.

Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves by our own means and we will continue to determine our fate, he said. We do not seek anyones approval for this. We control our security.

The free-fire policy along the line  ordered by the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz  follows an attack on Sunday 19 October in the southern city of Rafah in which two Israeli soldiers were killed.

Related: Turkey likely to be excluded from Gaza stabilisation force after Israeli objection

Two weeks into the ceasefire, more than 20 Palestinians are still being killed on average each day, many of them close to the yellow line. Consequently, very few of the displaced are returning to the area under Israeli control.

The political hurdles remain immense to moving to a second phase of the ceasefire, which would involve Hamas being disarmed and replaced by an multinational stabilisation force, and an IDF withdrawal from the yellow line to positions closer to the Gaza border. The right wing of the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition is fiercely opposed to further withdrawal, and the internationalisation of control over Gaza.

In the impasse, the yellow line continues to take on a more permanent form, and is increasingly referred to in Israeli media as a new border.

Writing in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the military correspondent Yoav Zitun predicted the yellow line could evolve into a high and sophisticated barrier that will shrink the Gaza Strip, enlarge the western Negev and allow for Israeli settlements to be built there.

It looks like a de facto creeping annexation of Gaza, said Jeremy Konyndyk, president of the Refugees International advocacy group and a former US aid official.

Under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire, which came into effect on 10 October, the IDF withdrawal to the yellow line would leave it occupying 53% of the Gaza Strip, but a BBC satellite analysis of the new yellow markers suggested they had been placed several hundred metres beyond the proposed line, representing a further substantial land grab.

An IDF spokesperson said there was no official comment on the BBC report. An earlier IDF statement said only that work had started on marking the yellow line with a concrete barrier with a pole painted yellow, standing 3.5 meters high, intended to establish tactical clarity on the ground.

What is becoming clear is an ever-sharper partition of Gaza, with most of the surviving 2.1 million population crammed into half the territory, amid the ruins left by two years of Israeli bombardment.

The yellow line, as far as we have been told, lies about 1km past Salah al-Din Street, said Ayman Abu Mandeel, referring to the main thoroughfare running from south to north through the middle of the Gaza Strip.

Abu Mandeel is 58 years old, with nine children. The remains of his house are in eastern al-Qarara, but he has little hope of returning there any time soon. The Israeli army has set up cranes, watchtowers and tanks there. They monitor every movement and open fire on anyone who gets close.

We havent seen the yellow markings ourselves, because anyone who tries to reach those areas is immediately targeted, he said. The quadcopters dont hesitate to shoot at anyone who moves toward them, as if getting close to our own land has become a crime.

At the root of the continuing division and violence is the vagueness of the truce. The Trump peace plan was a list of 20 principles and aims, but with no sequence or sense of how one goal might follow another.

It is incredibly vague, said Rohan Talbot, the director of advocacy and communications for the charity group Medical Aid for Palestinians. Now we are in a moment when many different actors, obviously including the Israeli government, the Americans, the international community and humanitarian actors, are all vying to interpret and influence what comes next.

One of the guiding principles that we should appreciate from decades of grim experience is that anything temporary in occupied Palestinian territory very quickly becomes permanent.

Related: Palestine rights group seeks prosecution of UK citizens who fought for Israel

The status quo meanwhile leaves at least half of Gazas population unable to return home or even think about rebuilding. The hopes aroused by the ceasefire are fading fast.

Each time we try to get closer to home, we see new destruction, new bombardment, and new advances by military vehicles. The shelling from artillery, tanks, and drones hasnt stopped, as if the war never ended, said Salah Abu Salah, from Abasan al-Kabira in east Khan Younis, which is now on the wrong side of the yellow line.

I cant help but fear that the army now intends to establish new borders that we will never be allowed to cross again.
Keir Starmer is being urged to stand up to the left of his party as a battle rages within the government over whether to impose a mansion tax in next months Budget  which some fear could have a severe impact on the housing market.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is understood to be seriously considering the proposal for her 26 November statement as she attempts to not only fill a 40bn black hole in her finances but also find more than 10bn of headroom to deal with future shocks.

She and the prime minister are being warned that, with the flight of millionaires from the UK already hitting the economy, a mansion tax would have disastrous effects.

Ministers want Sir Keir to step in, with one source saying: It is patriotism versus prejudice. What is good for the country versus a hatred of success and wealth.

Reeves and Starmer are being urged not to agree to a proposed mansion tax (AFP/Getty)

Previously, The Independent revealed that cabinet ministers were already unhappy about the anti-aspiration taxes of VAT on independent school fees and abolishing non-dom status.

The impact on London in particular has been stark and there are genuine fears among senior cabinet ministers that there could be a major flight of capital from the UK.

But a row is now raging over a new tax to punish the high-paid and wealthy with a so-called mansion tax.

The proposal, which came from now Treasury minister Torsten Bells Resolution Foundation, would mean owners of properties worth at least 2m facing an annual charge of 1 per cent of the amount by which it exceeds that value.

It follows revelations that Ms Reeves is also being pushed to change the 45p top rate of income tax for those earning more than 125,000 to raise more money and possibly drag more people into paying it.

The mansion house tax is backed by an increasingly left-leaning Labour parliamentary party, which skewered attempts to reduce the out-of-control welfare bill before the summer. But it is understood that a majority of cabinet heavy hitters, including the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and former chief treasury secretary Darren Jones, deputy prime minister David Lammy, communities secretary Steve Reed and home secretary Shabana Mahmood, are among those opposed to new taxes which hit aspiration.

Lucy Powells election as deputy leader has increased the pressure from the left of Labour (Sky)

However, with trade unions calling for wealth taxes, including a bank levy, and the Labour membership voting in left-wing deputy leader Lucy Powell, there are concerns that the prime minister no longer has the authority to stand up to the left.

The former Tory prime minister and chancellor Rishi Sunak has added to the pain with his first column for The Sunday Times, warning that tax increases do not produce economic growth.

He wrote: Raising taxes would be a disaster for the UK  and particularly if increases are concentrated on a narrow base as Reeves tries to remain technically compliant with manifesto commitments. Such tax rises would be particularly distortionary and damaging to growth.

Meanwhile, property experts are warning that the proposed mansion tax would hit the top end of the market and have a ripple-down devaluing effect, leaving many people in negative equity.

There are also concerns that it will disproportionately hurt people in London and the South East, where property is much more highly valued.

Simon Gammon, founder and managing partner of the mortgage broker Knight Frank Finance, warned: The government needs to get the property market moving again and stamp duty, talk of capital gains tax on main homes, and now a potential mansion tax would all slow down transactions even further.

Their attempt to get 1.5 million homes built requires people to want to buy, and developers will not want to build homes if theres no demand for them, and even though the mansion tax would apply at the very top end of the market we need all areas of the market to function to have a healthy property market.

He also warned that with a mansion tax, Ms Reeves would not see her money quickly from this, as this would involve a huge amount of valuations, causing significant delays and potential disputes. So its another negative impact on the property market with delayed revenue if there were some.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, which represents estate agents, said: By focusing efforts on higher value property, this will disproportionately impact people in London and the southeast of England, disincentivise people to improve or upgrade property, and not encourage older homeowners, who often have larger, more expensive properties, to right-size, freeing up much-needed homes for families and second steppers.

Reeves delivers her budget on 26 November (AFP via Getty)

With talk surrounding both changes in stamp duty and capital gains tax, ultimately, this can alter behaviour and relies on people wanting to sell their property. The concern is that if many people now choose to stay put, its unlikely that the Treasury will get the tax receipts that theyre anticipating.

Economists and tax experts have issued similar warnings.

Professor Stephen Millard, deputy director of macroeconomics at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, told The Independent: It acts as a disincentive to people to up-value or to upgrade their housing. When you want to move from a flat to a house, youre much more likely to hit the tax, and so its going to become more expensive, particularly if youre paying the tax every year.

This is basically London and the South Easts big problem where house prices are much higher than that.

Isaac Delestre, a senior researcher on tax at the Institute of Fiscal Studies, suggested that adding more council tax bands might be a better solution.

He said: The problem is that all the banding is based on the 1991 value of houses. So unless you revalue, which the government absolutely should, then its not going to be a very well-targeted tax. There are fewer properties in London, in the South East, in the top bands than there should be at up-to-date values. So it would be a pretty imperfect tool.

The tax policy expert Dan Neidle warned that much more fundamental reform of property tax was needed by introducing a land value tax and scrapping the council tax.

He has calculated that if the top band of council tax was worth 12 times the amount of band A at the bottom, instead of its current double band A, then an extra 3.6bn could be raised. However, this would go to councils, not the Treasury.

He also noted that the imposition of a 1 per cent property tax on those worth 2m or more would require somewhat regular valuations when no new valuations have taken place in 34 years.

In a policy paper, he said: My view is that there is a strong case for adding more multiplier-based council tax bands. Im less convinced that a percentage tax makes sense given the administrative/valuation issues and the horizontal equity problem.

The balance changes once were looking at wholesale reform: replacing all of council tax, business rates and stamp duty with land value tax. The boost that such a reform would give to growth and homebuilding, in my view, more than counters the downsides. But bolting on a miniature version of such a tax as a pure revenue-raiser looks less attractive.
A man dressed in a Nazi officer uniform was arrested in Athens, Georgia, after he allegedly got into a fight with a woman outside of a bar.

Kenneth Morgan, 33, was arrested on Friday and has been charged with aggravated assault and simple battery, according to WTOC.

In a video being spread on social media, a man is seen standing outside a bar in Athens, Georgia, dressed in a Nazi officer's uniform. A woman is yelling at him and appears to be pushing him away from the bar's entrance. Other passersby stop to stare and berate the man.

Get the f*** out, get the f*** out, you dont f***** wear that s***, the woman says in the video as she pushes the man away from the door.

Bryce Fowler, the general manager at Cutter's Pub, where the incident occurred, told the University of Georgia - Athens student newspaper The Red & Black that the man in the Nazi outfit was never allowed into the bar.

Kenneth Morgan, 33, left, wearing a Nazi uniform and yelling at a woman who is trying to keep him from entering Cutter's Pub in Athens, Georgia (x/jewyorkstofmind)

The bar's owner, Patrick Depaolo, told the New York Post that he was glad Morgan was arrested, but disappointed the incident escalated into violence.

He thought it was funny, nobody else thought it was funny. Im just glad everyones safe, I know that woman got hurt, but I think shes okay. That guy got arrested, which is good. I wish people didnt do things like that and Im sorry it escalated, he said.

At some point, the man becomes embroiled in a fight with a woman, though it's unclear in the video what led to the battle, other than the man's decision to wear Nazi garb. It appears as though the man in the footage smashes a glass pitcher into one woman's face. The video ends, and bystanders move to intervene.

The woman, identified as a UGA student, Grace Lang, told the Red & Black that she suffered a broken nose in the attack.

Lang told the paper that she was at the bar with a Jewish friend and saw Morgan yelling at a pair of women who were objecting to his outfit. She said she moved between him and the women and attempted to rip off his swastika armband.

Kenneth Morgan, 33, of Georgia, was arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault and simple battery after he allegedly hit a woman in the face when she confronted him for wearing a full Nazi officer's uniform (Athens-Clarke County Correctional Center)

She said that the fight over the armband kicked off the struggle that led to Morgan allegedly hitting her with a pitcher.

UGA confirmed in a statement to WTOC that the school's support staff have been in contact with Lang and other students who witnessed the incident.

The university also confirmed that Morgan is not a student and has no affiliation with the school.

"His actions, which were caught on videotape, are appalling, and we are grateful to Athens-Clarke County police officers for swiftly apprehending and arresting him, UGA said.

Morgan is currently being held on a $1,500 bond for simple battery. He is also facing an aggravated assault charge, which has no bond.
Matheus Cunha was overjoyed to finally get off the mark for Manchester United as the wait for his first goal was starting to play on the summer signings mind.

The 26-year-old joined the Old Trafford side in a 62.5million deal from Wolves, where he scored 17 times in all competitions last term and equalled the most goals by a Brazilian in a Premier League campaign with 15.

Cunha has impressed in his first few months at United but had to wait until his ninth appearance before finally opening his account with a beautiful guided effort from the edge of the box in Saturdays 4-2 win against Brighton.

Matheus Cunha scores his first Manchester United goal (Martin Rickett/PA)

Yeah, finally, the beaming Brazil international told Premier League Productions. Wow. I worked so hard for this. The win (for) start(ers), to come in and Im so happy.

But of course I want a little bit more contribution and then todays coming, (but) we win and then everythings fine.

Asked if not finding the net had played on his mind, the man of the match said: Of course.

We have little actions (but) when you play in the front, (you have) to score goals.

I have (to have) more contributions. But the last time I said this, if my participation is to help the team and then we start doing (well), Ill be happy also.

Matheus takes matters into his own hands  Our no.10 is off the mark for the Reds  pic.twitter.com/iyEcW0onW3  Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 25, 2025

But of course with this goal, everyone will be around me to push me.

The guys started to joke and then said, wow, you can score!. These things happen and everyone pushes me and I feel so happy to be here.

Cunha opened the scoring at home to Brighton, with compatriot Casemiro scoring a deflected effort before fellow summer signing Bryan Mbeumo slammed home.

Danny Welbecks free-kick and a late Charalampos Kostoulas header made for a nervy ending at Old Trafford, where Mbeumos second of the day sealed a third straight win for Ruben Amorims side.

Everyone has full confidence in Amorim, Cunha said. He is someone that pushes us forward.

Charalampos Kostoulas set up a tense finale at Old Trafford (Martin Rickett/PA)

He is always very stressed until we start to win, and then he improves every day. Of course, he deserves this, Man United deserve this.

This needs to be the normal for this club. I am so happy to be a part of this. Amazing day, I will remember this.

United continue their Premier League campaign with a trip to Sean Dyches Nottingham Forest next weekend, when Brighton will host Leeds having travelled to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler said: United pressed man to man so you have to do the small executions well and we werent at our highest level.

In the end it is about execution and our execution wasnt right, so we have to start in training taking every pass and every touch seriously. We have to improve.

The character was good, the personality and the belief was there. We never gave up but the main thing is we made easy mistakes.
Max Verstappen believes he will need cars ahead of him to retire to go up the order in Sundays Mexico City Grand Prix after only qualifying fifth on the grid.

In a surprise turn of form, Red Bulls Verstappen struggled for pace and will start on the third row, between the Mercedes drivers of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Lando Norris sealed a stunning pole position ahead of both Ferraris, while championship leader Oscar Piastri will start the spot directly behind Verstappen on the grid in seventh.

Verstappen, who has won three of the last four races, trails Piastri by 40 points as he looks to execute the most unfathomable of F1 world championship comebacks.

But asked on Saturday what the issues with Red Bulls RB21 car were, the Dutchman replied: If we would know, we would change it  unfortunately we dont know, weve tried so many things, but its not been good.

Its not the lack of trying, its just not finding it. We tried something again, we didnt get it quite right, it didnt allow me to push, I knew from Q1 from the first run that that wasnt going to be it.

Basically everything we tried didnt really work.

Max Verstappen will start the Mexico GP in fifth (Getty Images)

Verstappen also believes the racepace is lacking and astonishingly went on to state that, in his view, cars ahead of him will need to retire from Sundays grand prix to move up the order.

Theres no recovery drive when we have no pace, I need people to retire to finish ahead, he said.

Its not suddenly going to change tomorrow.

Verstappen is chasing a fifth consecutive title while both Norris and Piastri are battling for their first. Norris, in particular, now has a golden chance for a big points swing in his favour on Sunday.
Hadush Kebatu, an illegal immigrant who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl, was accidentally allowed out of custody

The shocking case of Hadush Kebatu is not just an individual failure. It is the inevitable result of a system that is out of control.

It is a disgrace that an illegal immigrant who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl was accidentally allowed out of custody. The public are right to be furious. Every hour he was on the loose, women and girls were at risk.

His flight was clearly preventable. And yet those who are responsible for this system continue to try to blame others. David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood must apologise for what happened.

Sadly, Kebatus case is not an isolated incident. It is part of a wider, systemic failure  one that has put the British people, especially women and girls, at risk. In recent months, we have seen a horrifying pattern of violent and sexual crimes committed by men who came here illegally, crossing the Channel by small boat and then being placed in asylum hotels.

An Egyptian illegal immigrant was recently convicted of raping a young woman in Hyde Park, and the man later turned out to have convictions for Islamist extremism in Egypt.

A Sudanese illegal immigrant was recently convicted of murdering a young woman who worked in his asylum hotel by stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver. And only days ago, a woman is alleged to have been raped on Brighton beach by two failed asylum seekers and another migrant living in nearby asylum hotels.

Deng Chol Majek (left), the Sudanese illegal immigrant was recently convicted of murdering a young woman who worked in his asylum hotel - Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire

Hundreds of illegal immigrants housed in taxpayer-funded asylum hotels have appeared in court charged with criminal offences. Their offences range from theft and robbery to grievous bodily harm and rape. Court records show over one in every 100 hotel-housed asylum seekers has been hauled before magistrates. In one shocking example, a migrant was arrested on suspicion of assault after bursting into a blind womans flat.

The inquiry now being set up into Kebatus release must go further. It must examine not only the individual failings in this case but also the wider pattern of crimes committed by Channel-crossing illegal immigrants. The public deserves to know how many more dangerous individuals have entered our country.

This is no longer just a border crisis. It is also a public safety crisis which is hitting women and girls hardest. Every day the Government delays action, more lives are put at risk.

The only way to stop this is to stop the illegal immigrants, who are 84 per cent male, from entering the country in the first place. The Labour government made a catastrophic mistake by cancelling the Rwanda removals deterrent before it even started. Their laughable claim to smash the gangs is now not mentioned as it has so clearly failed.

Sending 42 illegal immigrants to France over a time when 16,000 arrived is clearly no deterrent. Its no surprise the first nine months of 2025 have been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.

That is why the Conservative Party, under new leadership, will take decisive steps to fix this. We will take Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights, which has been used again and again to block deportations of foreign criminals and illegal migrants.

We will then implement a one-week deportation rule for anyone arriving illegally  back to the country of origin or to a safe third country.

No drawn-out appeals. No endless taxpayer-funded legal challenges. Swift removal, just as Australia did successfully in 2013, and as the United States has done this year under its new enforcement model.

This approach works. It deters illegal crossings and, as the Australia and US experience shows, it ends illegal entry within months.

Britain cannot afford more border weakness. Every woman who walks home alone at night, every girl walking home from school, and every citizen of this land deserves to know that the state is on their side, not on the side of those who break our laws and abuse our hospitality.

The British people deserve a government that will protect them. Only the Conservatives have the plan to do that. Its time to end the illegal crossings and make Britain safe.

Chris Philp is the Conservative MP for Croydon South and the shadow home secretary
An asylum seeker sex offender mistakenly released from prison has been arrested following a high-profile manhunt.

Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre.

The migrant, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, when he assaulted the girl, took a train from Chelmsford to Stratford, east London, the day he was released and was later spotted in Dalston carrying a white bag with pictures of avocados on it.

Police found and arrested him inside Finsbury Park at around 8.30am on Sunday after a member of the public spotted him at a nearby bus stop.

The father of Kebatus teenage victim said he hopes the sex offender will be deported immediately  which the Government said should happen this coming week.

In a statement read out by Epping Forest councillor Shane Yerrell, the father said the news of Kebatus release caused his daughter so much stress and anxiety.

Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl (Essex Police/PA)

He added: This man is a real danger to young women and children and for him to be wrongly released and walking the streets freely just four months after carrying out two sexual assaults, only five weeks after being sentenced, all because of a system failure on Friday is unbelievably irresponsible.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesnt happen again.

David Lammy told broadcasters that Kebatu needs to be questioned by police before he is deported, adding: I can assure you that he will be deported as he was expected to be deported. I expect that to happen this week.

The Justice Secretary said he recognises that it will have been an anxious time for Kebatus victims and their families, and that he will announce a full independent inquiry into what has happened in Parliament on Monday.

A witness who saw Kebatu being led out of Finsbury Park by female officers said the mistakenly-released prisoner was walking calmly and wasnt trying to get away.

A CCTV image of Hadush Kebatu in the Dalston area of London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Jack Neill-Hall told the PA news agency: I was there to walk my dog and as I entered the park I saw a group of five people  two uniformed officers, someone who looked more like they were a plain-clothes officer, and a fourth person who I dont know what their role was  and a man who looked awfully like the Epping asylum seeker guy whod been on all the newspapers over the weekend.

I knew that hed last been seen in the Hackney area and I thought oh, that looks awfully like that guy, hes not wearing the same clothes but it looks like him.

I didnt see him being arrested but I saw they were walking with the two female officers with their hands on him, two further officers who were talking into a radio walking down towards the exit.

I didnt see any police vehicles or sirens or cars or anything like that.

The 40-year-old, who lives in the Finsbury Park area, continued: He wasnt struggling, he was walking quite calmly, a bit dejectedly, he was staring down, he had his hood up, but it was a calm situation.

It was a leisurely stroll out of the park with him with his hands cuffed but he wasnt trying to get away.

Chelmsfords Liberal Democrat MP Marie Goldman called for a rapid national inquiry into the blunder that saw Kebatu walk free.

Its unacceptable that the safety of my constituents, and the people of London, was ever put at risk, she said.

The prison service had several chances to fix it and failed.

The Government has serious questions to answer and major work to do to make the system fit for purpose. It certainly isnt at the moment.

A rapid, national inquiry must happen to get to the bottom of this.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said he remains shocked that this inept Labour Government let him out in the first place.

The Conservative MP for Croydon South told GB News: They should never have allowed his release and I think David Lammy and Shabana Mahmood have questions to answer because they have presided over this system.

What should happen now to this man is that he should be immediately deported. He is quite clearly a risk to women and girls.

Zia Yusuf, head of policy for Reform UK, said he was relieved Kebatu was apprehended, telling Sky News: This is a man who eyewitnesses said was actively trying to go back into prison after being accidentally let go.

So, look, glad hes been apprehended but I mean its absolutely shocking and how any victim of sexual assault could look at this Labour Government and Jess Phillips in particular, and the whole state apparatus right now, and have any degree of confidence is beyond me.

A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation takes place.

Commander James Conway, of the Met Police, said: Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu.

He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the prison service.

It is understood Kebatu, who crossed the Channel in a small boat to enter the UK on June 29, left prison with an amount of personal money but was not given a discharge grant to cover subsistence costs.

Hadush Kebatu was arrested in the Finsbury Park area of London on Sunday morning (Lucy North/PA)

A delivery driver, named only as Sim, described to Sky News seeing Kebatu return to HMP Chelmsford in a very confused state four or five times, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

Kebatu was convicted of making inappropriate comments to a 14-year-old girl before he tried to kiss her on July 7  just eight days after he arrived in the country on a small boat.

His trial also heard that a day later, he sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The woman later called 999 after she spotted him being inappropriate to the same teenage girl who he sexually assaulted while she was wearing her school uniform.

The migrant was found guilty of five offences after a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates courts in September and his sentencing hearing heard it was his firm wish to be deported.

In court, Kebatu gave his date of birth through a translator as being in December 1986, making him 38 years old, although Essex Police have said their records state his date of birth is in December 1983, making him 41.

Kebatus crime led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.
The Epping hotel migrant who was mistakenly released from prison will be deported this week after he was recaptured on Sunday.

Hadush Kebatu, who was released in error from HMP Chelmsford, was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London, on Sunday morning following a major manhunt.

The asylum seeker, who sexually assaulted a woman and a 14-year-old girl, was supposed to have been sent to an immigration detention centre to be deported, but was mistakenly freed on Friday.

Essex Police said Kebatu, 41, boarded a London-bound train at Chelmsford at 12.41pm following the error. He was then spotted on CCTV inside a library in Dalston Square, east London, at 6pm that evening as the Metropolitan Police took over the hunt.

On Sunday morning, Kebatu was seen at a bus stop by a member of the public, who called the police at 8.03am. He was arrested at 8.19am for being unlawfully at large.

On Monday, justice secretary David Lammy is expected to face questions in parliament while announcing an independent inquiry into what happened. He told broadcasters on Sunday: This man should have been basically in line to be deported and should not have been released into the community  that should not have happened.

Footage from a video showing Hadish Kebatus arrest in the Finsbury Park area (Supplied)

Mr Lammy also said that the migrant needed to be questioned by police before he is deported, adding: I can assure you that he will be deported as he was expected to be deported. I expect that to happen this week.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: We must make sure this doesnt happen again. The government faces questions over the blunder.

In a statement on X/Twitter, he added: Hadush Kebatu has been arrested and will be deported. Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody. We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong.

Marie Goldman, the Lib Dem MP for Chelmsford, called for an urgent national inquiry into the incident, saying: Its unacceptable that the safety of my constituents, and the people of London, was ever put at risk.

Kebatu was arrested after he was spotted at a bus stop by a member of the public (PA)

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said he remained shocked that this inept Labour government let him out in the first place, and that Mr Lammy and Ms Mahmood had questions to answer.

A delivery driver described seeing Kebatu return to HMP Chelmsford in a very confused state four or five times, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation into the error takes place.

Kebatu had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping before he was jailed (PA)

In September, Kebatu was jailed for 12 months and made the subject of a five-year sexual harm prevention order for five offences, with a judge warning he posed a significant risk of reoffending. He was also added to the sex offender register for 10 years.

His crimes sparked major protests and counterprotests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, where he was staying, and eventually at hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.

A three-day trial at Chelmsford Magistrates Court heard that he told two teenagers he wanted to have a baby with each of them and attempted to kiss them. He then went on to put his hand on one of the girls thighs and stroke her hair during the incident on 7 July.

Kebatu, an Ethiopian national who had arrived in Britain on a small boat days earlier, was also found to have sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg, and telling her she was pretty.

CCTV showed Hadush Kebatu inside an east London library on Friday (Metropolitan Police)

Sentencing Kebatu last month, a judge told him his behaviour really highlights the poor regard you must have for women.

In court, Kebatu gave his date of birth through a translator as being in December 1986, making him 38 years old. However Essex Police have said their records show he was born in 1983, making him 41.

Commander James Conway, who oversaw the manhunt, said: This has been a diligent and fast-paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police. I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.
Terminal 2 at Dublin airport. Many people in Northern Ireland routinely fly out of Belfast but return via Dublin. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA

Parents in Northern Ireland have had their child support payments stopped as part of the UK governments crackdown on alleged benefit fraud simply because they flew into Dublin airport when returning to Northern Ireland from a holiday in England.

So far 346 families have had their benefits frozen, an investigation by NI online newspaper, the Detail, shared with the Guardian, has discovered.

The extraordinary mistake comes in the wake of a new anti-fraud system designed to track those who leave the country but do not come back after eight weeks, raising a red flag at HMRC for possible emigration.

The problem in Northern Ireland is many families routinely fly out of  and fly back to  Dublin airport, which is often cheaper and offers many more flights, leaving HMRC with the impression a passenger has not returned.

With no passport checks on the Irish border, the government has no data to show a passenger might have driven or taken a bus or train back to Northern Ireland.

Among those whose benefits were stopped were Mark Toal, an NHS nurse in Belfast, and his wife, Louise.

Along with their two children, aged 17 and 13, they travelled to and from England in 2022 via Dublin airport for a holiday. It cost 10 to get a bus to the Irish capital and flights were cheaper.

To his shock and surprise, on 10 October this year HMRC wrote to him to say his child benefit was stopped. Their decision appeared to be based on data that showed they had taken a flight from England to Dublin  a flight which was, in fact, their return journey.

We have information which shows that you left the UK on 15 August 2022 and travelled to Ireland. This was more than eight weeks ago, and we have no record of your return, the letter said.

Toal could not believe what he was reading. I was on the phone to them [HMRC] for 45 minutes trying to sort this out. I did lose my temper, I was very annoyed, it boiled my blood, he said.

After telling HMRC he had not left the country and lived in Northern Ireland, Toal expected some sympathy.

Instead he was faced with a barrage of 70 questions including a demand for boarding passes from three years ago, three months of bank statements, and letters from his childrens school and hospital records.

He was also asked if he was an adoptive or biological parent.

I pointed out to them that I have been paying tax to the UK government for the past 30 years, and I havent moved address in 23 years, and been working in the same job since 2016, said Toal.

Every time I travel from England, Scotland or Wales through Dublin airport will I be asked for all this again? Will I have to send them a letter saying please dont stop my child benefit?

Maria, who asked that her real name was not used, received a similar letter from HMRC on 9 October, after she took a short holiday in Italy in May, leaving the UK from Belfast but returning to Northern Ireland via Dublin.

When Maria protested, she too was hit with long list of demands to provide proof of being a Northern Ireland resident.

We tried to push back on having to provide all these documents, but they said this is not within our remit, you have to send the documentation because that department is very strict.

I felt exhausted to be honest. I felt like I was literally in a Kafkaesque process.

The HMRC move follows a government crackdown launched in August to save 350m on fraudulent benefit claims.

But Northern Irish MPs have accused HMRC of failing to factor in the difference with Great Britain and the fact there is an invisible border with the Republic with no passport checks, on account of the 1998 peace deal.

A basic understanding of the north would give them pause, said Daire Hughes, Sinn Fein MP for Newry and Armagh, who is representing 14 families whose benefits were frozen. That would obviously be outside of the gaze of the Home Office.

Hughes said the HMRC move had caused distress to families who have done nothing wrong. He called the new system not fit for purpose.

South Belfast MP Claire Hanna, leader of the SDLP party, called on HMRC to reveal where they got their data and why they were using it as a basis of suspicion of fraud.

She has used Dublin airport herself to return from Westminster when there were no flights to Belfast after late evening votes.

This is yet another policy that doesnt seem to have considered the realities of life on the island of Ireland, she said.

Many families will use Dublin airport for one or more parts of their journey, indeed it is closer than Belfast international for a lot of NI residents.

We need to have full transparency on what data HMRC are accessing so families do not face loss of this benefit or piles of unnecessary bureaucracy.

HMRC has apologised for its error but indicated it would continue to do checks. Were sorry that a small number of customers in Northern Ireland have mistakenly had their child benefit payments suspended, it said.

It added that it had reinstated payments and closed inquires to 134 individuals.

A further 46 families had payments reinstated while inquiries were pending, while 166 payments remained suspended with inquiries ongoing, it said.
Prince Andrews finances will be scrutinised by MPs - Max Mumby/Getty Images

The public spending watchdog is poised to help examine Prince Andrews finances amid mounting pressure for him to move out of Royal Lodge.

The National Audit Office (NAO) is expected to help MPs scrutinise the arrangements that allowed the Prince to live rent-free in his grace-and-favour home for more than two decades.

Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, has previously called for a review of the NAOs report on the deal from 2005, which found the Lodge could have generated hundreds of thousands of pounds if it had been let out.

The Prince is facing growing pressure to give up his 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park after it emerged he had paid only a peppercorn of rent at the property for more than 20 years.

Sir Keir Starmer backed demands for fresh scrutiny of the deal last week.

MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which interrogates government spending, will be putting questions to both the Treasury and the Crown Estate, which manages the Royal portfolio and pays its profits to the public purse, in the coming days. It has not committed to a full Parliamentary inquiry.

On Sunday, the NAO told The Telegraph it was poised to assist MPs.

Asked if it would consider reviewing its 2005 report into the Royal Lodge deal, the NAO said: The Comptroller & Auditor General is in discussion with the Public Accounts Committee on this matter and will provide support as required.

Prince Andrew has only paid a peppercorn of rent per year - "one peppercorn" in rent per year

Sources added that the PACs work was still at the fact-finding stage and it was not clear what support would be required from the NAO.

In its 2005 report, the NAO reviewed the lease arrangements at Royal Lodge, noting that it could have achieved a minimum rent of 260,000 a year  equivalent to almost half a million pounds in todays money  but it was decided on security grounds only a member of the Royal family could live there.

The report confirmed that an independent evaluation had concluded that the financial terms of the Princes lease agreement were appropriate.

On Sunday, it emerged that Prince Williams family intended to move to Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom property little more than a mile from Prince Andrews current home, before Bonfire Night.

After Prime Ministers Questions last week, Ms Badenochs spokesman said there was a case for a review of the report from 2005.

It is understood that the NAO reviews the situation at Royal Lodge as part of its annual audit of the Crown Estate. However, this is just to ensure funds are properly accounted for and does not amount to a reassessment of value for money.

Prince Andrew moved into the property, the former home of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, following her death in 2002.

He signed a 75-year lease in 2003 after paying an initial down payment of 1m and a promise  which he kept  to spend 7.5m on renovations. The Lodge, which includes extensive grounds and eight cottages, is worth at least 30m.

One peppercorn in rent per year

A copy of the leasehold agreement shows that the Prince has paid one peppercorn in rent per year, if demanded, for more than 20 years.

The revelation has raised concerns that the public could have been deprived of potential income from the Princes property, given that profits from the Crown Estate are handed to the Treasury.

The Royal Lodge agreement also says that the Crown Estate would need to pay Prince Andrew about 558,000 to cut the lease short and move out this year.

Last week, No 10 refused to say whether any taxpayer funds could be used to cover the cost of the early exit.

The Lib Dems have now demanded clarity from the Government on the issue, insisting people deserve to know how their money is being spent.

The party is considering using its next Opposition Day debate in Parliament to force a discussion on officially removing the Princes Duke of York title.

Lisa Smart, the Lib Dem cabinet office spokesman, told The Telegraph: By disgracing his office, Prince Andrew has relinquished any rights to special treatment at the expense of the taxpayer. The Government needs to provide clarity. Taxpayers deserve to know.

The first thing we need is proper transparency and accountability - thats why the Liberal Democrats have already called for the Crown Estate and Prince Andrew to give evidence under oath in Parliament before a select committee.
Vladimir Putin is threatening an overwhelming response to deep strikes on Russia just days after his military tested a nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile which reportedly flew 8,700 miles.

Britain is pushing allies to deliver more long-range weapons for Ukraine to counter Putins war launched in February 2022.

Ukraine is targeting oil sites deep inside Russia with drones to hit Putins war machine.

It is also using British supplied Storm Shadow missiles, as well as those from other allies, to attack Russian military targets.

US president Donald Trump, whose moves to end the Ukraine war have been snubbed by Putin, has floated supplying Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles, though, has not followed through on this plan.

A British submarine fires a Tomahawk missile (PA)

The Kremlin said on Sunday that Russian armed forces will respond forcefully in the event of strikes deep inside Russia.

Like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin said, the response will be overwhelming, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

On Sunday, the Russian president said that Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile.

Moscow claims it can evade any defence system, and is threatening to move towards deploying the weapon.

A video released by the Kremlin showed Putin, dressed in camouflage fatigues, receiving a report from Gen. Valery Gerasimov, Russia's chief of general staff, who told the Russian leader that the Burevestnik covered 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) in a key test on Tuesday.

Putin said: It is a unique ware which nobody else in the world has.

The 9M730 Burevestnik, whose name translates as storm petrel, is a ground-launched, low-flying cruise missile that is not only capable of carrying a nuclear warhead but is also nuclear-powered.

Gen Gerasimov said the missile was in the air for about 15 hours during the test.

He said it travelled on nuclear power, could defeat any missile defence and has an unlimited range.

Its nuclear propulsion is designed to enable it to fly much further, for longer, than traditional turbojet or turbofan engines that are limited by how much fuel they can carry.

This would allow it to loiter for an extended period before hitting a target.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative, a US-based non-profit security organisation, said it could stay aloft potentially for days.

In operation, the Burevestnik would carry a nuclear warhead (or warheads), circle the globe at low altitude, avoid missile defenses, and dodge terrain; and drop the warhead(s) at a difficult-to-predict location (or locations), it said in a 2019 report.

NATO refers to the missile as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall.

Some Western experts have questioned its strategic value, saying it wont add capabilities that Moscow does not already have, and may disgorge radiation along its flight path.

Moscow which has been targeted by Ukrainian drone attacks (PA Archive)

They also argue that Burevestniks subsonic speed would make it detectable, and it would become more vulnerable the longer it stayed in flight.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies, quoting a specialist Russian military journal in 2021, said the Burevestnik would have a notional range of up to 20,000 km (12,400 miles), so could be based anywhere in Russia and strike targets in the United States or Europe.

The same Russian journal said the notional altitude of the missile was just 50 to 100 metres (164 to 328 feet), much lower than a conventionally powered cruise missile, which would make it harder for air-defence radar to detect.

A 2020 report by the United States Air Forces National Air and Space Intelligence Center said that if Russia successfully brought the Burevestnik into service, it would give Moscow a unique weapon with intercontinental-range capability.

Experts assess that it would be sent aloft by a small solid-fuel rocket to drive air into an engine containing a miniature nuclear reactor. Superheated and possibly radioactive air would be blasted out, providing forward thrust.

But the Burevestnik has a poor test record with numerous past failures, according to Western experts.

In 2019 at least five Russian nuclear specialists were killed in an explosion and release of radiation during an experiment in the White Sea, and US intelligence sources said they suspected it was part of a test of the Burevestnik.

Meanwhile, Russian anti-aircraft units downed a second Ukrainian drone headed for Moscow on Sunday, said the capitals mayor, Sergei Sobyanin.

The first drone was downed earlier on Sunday.

Sobyanin said specialist teams were examining fragments of the drones where they had hit the ground
Rachel Reeves is leading a UK delegation to Saudi Arabia as she searches for economic growth with less than a month to go before a potentially difficult Budget.

The Chancellor will use the visit to Riyadh to try to make progress on a trade deal with the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).

Ms Reeves, the first chancellor to visit the Gulf in six years, will attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) and meet senior Saudi royals, US administration figures and global business chiefs.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will push the case for foreign investment in the UK (Peter Byrne/PA)

A series of announcements on investment between the UK and Saudi Arabia are expected over the coming days.

The Chancellor said: Our number one priority is growth, so I am taking Britains offer of stability, regulatory agility and world-class expertise directly to one of the worlds most important trade and investment hubs, making that case in our national interest.

After our landmark deals with the US, EU and India, were determined to build on that momentum by going further and faster on partnerships that create good jobs, boost business and bring investment into communities across the UK  from the North East to the Oxford-Cambridge corridor.

A key priority will be accelerating progress on a trade deal with the GCC which the Treasury hopes could add 1.6 billion to the UK economy and contribute an additional 600 million to UK workers annual wages in the long term.

She is expected to set out an ambition to work constructively towards this on both sides in her conversations with Gulf counterparts, while acknowledging areas of divergence and cultural differences, according to officials.

Ms Reeves will speak at the Fortune Global Forum on Monday and FII  nicknamed Davos in the Desert  on Tuesday to persuade business leaders that the UK is a stable investment destination.

With the prospect of being forced to use tax hikes or spending cuts in the Budget to meet her commitment to balancing day-to-day spending with tax receipts rather than extra borrowing, Ms Reeves will stress her ironclad commitment to the fiscal rules.
Rachel Reeves. The TUC has said the government should not make deals with countries that abuse human rights and workers rights. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Rachel Reeves will lead a delegation of senior business leaders to Saudi Arabia on Monday as she hopes to deepen the UKs relationship with a state that has been widely criticised for human rights abuses.

She is the first UK chancellor to visit the Gulf in six years and is expected to meet senior Saudi royals, US administration representatives and global business figures.

The visit comes as the UK continues its efforts to secure a trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which also includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The government hopes a deal with the GCC could add 1.6bn to the UK economy each year and contribute a further 600m to UK workers annual wages in the long term.

Reeves said: Our number one priority is growth, so I am taking Britains offer  of stability, regulatory agility and world-class expertise  directly to one of the worlds most important trade and investment hubs, making that case in our national interest.

She added that after deals were struck with the US, the EU and India, the government was determined to go further and faster on partnerships that create good jobs, boost business and bring investment into communities across the UK.

However, such a deal is likely to come under fresh fire from campaigners who have previously said the UK should not secure an agreement without legal commitments on areas such as human rights improvements.

The Trades Union Congress is among those who have urged caution over the deal and raised concerns with ministers. It has said: Our view on trade deals is consistent: the government should not agree deals with countries that abuse human rights and workers rights, and violate international law.

Reeves is expected to finalise a series of investments between the UK and Saudi Arabia this week, as the government prepares for its second budget on 26 November. Pressure is rising on the chancellor to announce further tax rises to plug a gap in public finances that could be as high as 30bn.

She will speak at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia on Monday, and at the Future Investment Initiative, nicknamed Davos in the Desert, on Tuesday, to try to convince global business leaders that the UK is a good destination for investment at a time of global uncertainty.

The chancellor will be joined by the minister for investment, Jason Stockwood, as well as prominent British business leaders, including CS Venkatakrishnan, the chief executive of Barclays; Sir Jonathan Symonds, chair of GSK; Georges Elhedery, chief executive of HSBC, and Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange.

Trade with the Gulf is worth about 59bn a year, according to government estimates, as the UKs seventh-largest export market. The deal with the GCC is expected to increase trade by about 16%. Sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have been some of the biggest foreign investors in the UK, with the Saudi Public Investment Fund buying a 15% stake in Heathrow airport last year.

Last year Keir Starmer visited Saudi Arabia, saying the trip was needed to fulfil his number one mission of growing the UK economy.

When Boris Johnson met the Saudi crown prince in 2022, Starmer accused him of going cap in hand from dictator to dictator. A spokesperson for Starmer defended his trip at the time, saying it was about driving growth and building a network of partners across the world who will invest in the UK.

Reeves is expected to acknowledge areas of divergence and cultural differences, according to officials.

Stockwood said: By deepening our economic ties with the region, alongside our ongoing trade talks with the GCC, we will open new doors for British exporters, attract high-value investment, and fuel growth in the UK.
Credit: Sky News

Rachel Reeves has no coherent plan for the UKs tax system, a former Bank of England governor has said.

Lord King, who led the Bank through the 2008 financial crisis, said the Chancellor should delay tax rises for a year rather than looking for answers on the back of a fag packet.

He hit out at the Treasurys reliance on forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), claiming an obsession with one number ahead of each fiscal event forces ministers to act without thinking it through.

The warning from the crossbench peer follows reports that the Chancellor is looking to introduce a new mansion tax in next months Budget.

He also warned Ms Reeves against a raid on savings as she prepares to slash the tax-free cash Isa allowance.

Asked if he could discern a plan from the Chancellor, Lord King told the Sunday With Trevor Phillips show on Sky News: No, I cant, and thats what worries me.

He added: What I would advise her to do is to set up a group of people who, in 12 months, look deeply at all aspects of the tax treatment, not just on property, but all kinds of other sorts of savings and wealth, to come up with a coherent view as to what it should look like.

And that doesnt seem to happen. What happens is, the OBR produces just before the Budget a number, one number, and then they look round for, you know what idea is almost written on the back of a fag packet about how you can raise an extra few billion here or few billion there.

That is not a coherent tax strategy, and you could do a great deal by thinking it through first.

Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out an income tax rise in next months Budget - Leon Neal/Getty

Under the reported mansion tax proposals, owners of properties worth 2m and above could face a charge of 1 per cent of the amount by which the property exceeds that value.

Meanwhile, owners of a 3m property will face a bill of 10,000 every year, according to The Mail on Sunday.

People who own homes worth tens of millions and second home owners would also pay higher rates.

The OBR currently provides forecasts twice a year alongside the Budget and another small fiscal event, such as the Spring Statement delivered in March.

It is criticised for having too much influence over Government policy, with ministers forced to adapt their plans to avoid breaching the Chancellors fiscal rules.

Lord King warned it was madness to base public spending plans on one number from the OBR ahead of a fiscal event.

The OBR comes up with one number which tells you by how much you have to raise taxes or cut spending, he said.

The only way to describe that is madness. This is based on an assessment of whether the ratio of our national debt to national income is going to be falling four years from now.

Well, we have no idea. The idea that, Oh, if only you do, you know, 8.3bn this year, thats it, is nonsense... You cant determine public spending sensibly by having a change every six months when the OBR reports, saying you better cut spending or raise taxes by this one number.

No quick fixes for UK economy

The former Bank of England chief also warned that it would take years for Ms Reeves to make any tangible improvements to Britains economic performance.

He said: I think the one piece of advice I would give is she should start the Budget with a very clear and honest statement about the state of the nation, state of the economy. Dont blame people for whats happened in the past, it may get cheers on the floor of the House of the Commons, but what people want to hear is what is the actual state of the nation.

And then not to pretend that there is one set of measures you can announce and within a few weeks or months, it all comes right. It doesnt. It takes a long time. Any measure to improve the economic performance of this country would take years before it really comes through.

The Telegraph reported last week that Ms Reeves is set to slash the tax-free cash Isa allowance at next months Budget.

The Treasury will roughly halve the 20,000 amount that can be shielded from tax in an attempt to encourage savers to invest in stocks and shares.

In his interview with Phillips, Lord King urged the Chancellor not to tax or discriminate against household savings.

Asked if she should leave the Isas alone, he said: Well, there are technical issues about whether you want to give the same tax incentives to just cash investments or equity investments. Leave that to one side. The principle has to be to encourage savings.
Kair Starmer

After rejecting ham and eggs, voters are unlikely to be persuaded by double ham and eggs. Too often that is exactly what they are offered.

I am not done, Kamala Harris told the BBC this weekend when asked if she might run again for President. Keir Starmer claimed he would double down on his agenda after crashing to defeat in Caerphilly. Neither is a recipe for success.

The Democrats have vacated the field of play since Donald Trump swept them aside in the last battle for the White House. Harris called him a tyrant and repeated her allegation that democracy was under threat. Starmer rails against Nigel Farage, claiming him to be a racist. Voters do not like being told that the people they support are wrong-uns.

For Labour, there are now two tribes. One might be described as the flinty centre  led by Rachel Reeves, Shabana Mahmood, Wes Streeting and Pat McFadden. When Starmer was bundled into a reshuffle after the resignation of Angela Rayner, they appeared to be in the ascendancy. Sensible Labour MPs heaved a sigh of relief that the party had not succumbed to the warm hopey changey spendy bath in which Labour often drowns.

Their relief was premature. The soft-Left  which broadly backs more state and more tax  is on the march. They have a new champion in Lucy Powell who won the battle to become deputy leader of the Labour Party on Saturday (on a miserable 17 percent turnout of Labour Party members). She talks about listening, fairness and Labour values, all well-understood code for a shift Left.

Many Labour MPs, who backed the U-turns on winter fuel benefit cuts for pensioners and welfare reforms, are pleased. They all want to be in the Coca-Cola advert, one exasperated longtime party analyst tells me. Tough decisions are for others, efficiency is a dirty word and Margaret Thatcher (whom Powell brought up regularly during her campaign) is still a useful bogey woman. The deputy leader may have studied chemistry at Oxford, but there the comparisons with the Iron Lady end.

Which way will Starmer bend? It is a difficult question to answer seeing as he has tried on many different political suits  some bought for him by sponsors  since he first became an MP in 2015. The PM has been a Corbynista, a backer of a second Brexit referendum, a centrist dad and a Blairite. All have been discarded when they no longer work for the MP for Holborn and St Pancras.

Many smart Labour people and polling experts I have spoken to this week believe that the next iteration will be a lurch Left. It is the only card he has, otherwise he is doomed, says one. It is worth explaining why.

Firstly, Labour MPs are largely unserious about being in power, a disease that has hobbled the party since the departure of Tony Blair. They refer to what they hear on the doorsteps in reverential tones (the voters they talk to are always surprisingly Left wing) rather than the complicated business of running the country to the best of their ability for everyone  whether they are Labour supporters or Tommy Robinson.

Secondly, Starmer is not a politician and has no guiding philosophy to drive the government. Hence the lack of vision or coherence and a propensity for shopping trolley behaviour. If things are going badly, lets try something else rather than stick to the course. The PM is constantly for turning.

Thirdly, in the multi-party system that the UK is increasingly becoming, it is not about who wins the next election in seats but who makes it across the line as the largest party. A quarter of the vote  if it is concentrated in the right areas  might be enough. Then form a coalition with your wing of the world.

Private polling shared with senior figures on the Left  including, I am told, Blair himself  has put a bounce in the Lefts step. Uniting your side is now more important than anything the opposition is up to. Motivating your base is more important than having sensible policies. In a world where trust is declining, getting voters to bother walking to the election booth is half the battle. For that you need slogans and simplicity.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru won because it was the unite your side party, a flag it can usefully wave at next years elections for the Welsh Senedd. The nationalists in Scotland may well play the same role in next years parliamentary elections north of the border. Labour fears that the Greens and the Liberal Democrats will pick away at much of the partys carcass in England. Zack Polanski, the charismatic leader of the new red Greens, bangs a drum that many in Labour secretly admire.

What the people of Wales want, as across the rest of the country, is change, wrote Neal Lawson of the Left wing campaign group, Compass, an increasingly influential voice. They want taxes on wealth, public ownership of essential utilities like water, power to be put in their hands, an end to austerity.

Mainstream, a new think tank closely aligned with Andy Burnham, the restless mayor of Manchester, urged the party to return to its democratic socialist foundations and redistribute power and wealth. One of Powells campaign sponsors was the Socialist Educational Association which demands the end of privatisation in the school system. Powell backs paying more benefits to parents by abandoning the two child limit.

The soft Left always finds being righteous easier than being right. Who is talking of business and enterprise, of free market and profit, of hard work and reward, of the aspiration to earn a little more at the end of the year than you did at the beginning, of optimism? Peter Mandelson famously said he was intensely relaxed about people being filthy rich as long as they paid their taxes. His lack of judgement in his personal relationships may have been visible from space, but his political instincts were faultless.

Improving the NHS, improving schools and paying for our defence only comes if businesses are confident, wealth is created and the economy grows. We are a nation that borrows billions of pounds every month because we already spend well beyond our means. Spending even more will bring chaos.

Starmer may well lurch Left to save his own skin. As with every other iteration of the chameleon PM, it may work temporarily for the resident of Number 10. It will not work for the country.
(Daniel Kreher/imageBROKER/Shutterstock)

Less touristy than the Algarve, Porto has long been a cultural hub, and a highlight of the countrys coastline. And its fast becoming one of Europes top food and drink destinations.

Compared to other European cities, Porto offers high-quality dining at a fraction of the price. Though small - just 41 km compared to Lisbons 100 km - you can easily spend four days wandering its hilly streets, soaking up the views, enjoying rooftop bars, and indulging in its vibrant cuisine. It boasts Michelin-starred restaurants, theres a new guard of visionary young chefs, and a thriving mix of fine dining and casual tabernas.

Plus the Douro Valley is a stones throw away, offering a perfect day out with stunning vistas and wine and port tours. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its beauty emanates through its many neighbourhoods.

Heres how to spend a long weekend in Porto taking in the best of its foodie scene.

Day one: Taste Portos most famous export

(Cockburns Lodge)

No visit to Porto is complete without learning about the creation of Port. Its a lesser known fact that it is never aged on the Porto-side of the city. The River Douro spans the length of the city and splits two destinations, Porto and Gaia. Its the Gaia side where youll find over a dozen Port Houses  ideal for tastings and learning more about this sweet, distilled wine. Porto is also often overlooked for its fantastic wines, and these can be tasted at most houses too.

Perhaps one of the most significant Port families is the Symington family, and they own both Cockburns and Grahams  these are two of the more popular varieties of Port internationally. A walk through its vast cellars provides the most educational experience. You may even catch sight of the five Coopers at Cockburns, who fix the barrels that Tawny Port is aged in as part of a tradition spanning decades. A drink at Grahams stunning hillside restaurant Vinum is also unmissable.

For dinner, stop at Gran Cruz House , a beautiful boutique seven-room stay with excellent dining. Restaurante Casario offers an authentic local dining experience focusing on Portuguese gastronomy and Port and Douro wines. The menu is seafood-led and elegant in format, focused on the most seasonal ingredients  the scallops with saffron and lemon rice, topped with avruga caviar are lavish, but a must-try.

Getting there

Book flights to Porto with Opodo

Use code OP30STANDARD on your first flight booking as a Prime member at Opodo UK for 30 off when spending a minimum of 200

All dinners in Porto should be finished with a Port too. Portugal and the UK have a strong alliance as they were known for supplying wine to the UK for many decades. Port became popular because its higher alcohol level could withstand long sea voyages to Great Britain. A happy accident.

Day two: Soak in river views and visit the food markets

(Quinta do Noval)

Start one of your days with a free walking tour like Revolutours, a great way to see the citys highlights and get tips from locals. Dont miss the Francesinha  Portos indulgent twist on a French sandwich, layered with meats, cheese, a fried egg, and beer sauce which is best tried at Cafe Santiago. Its probably not a dish to eat every day as it is rather indulgent!

In the afternoon, you can take a seat by the beautiful Duoro Riverside  the views in Porto are unparalleled. I visited Quinta do Noval on the River  another wine house, but with a lovely riverside cafe bar. Here you can try port and wines from a boutique distiller for a special experience.

By night, evening foodie tours are the best way to try Portos famed dishes, such as the Pastel de Nata and the famed food market  Mercado do Bolhao, which is perhaps the most known for its bargain seafood and is a great spot to enjoy Portos most popular drink, Port Tonic  a blend of white Port, St Germain (in some cases) and tonic water.

Day three: Tasting menus and local favourites

(Pedro Lemos)

For a truly elevated lunch, visit Michelin-starred Pedro Lemos, the first chef in Porto to earn the accolade. Set in Portos coastal Foz district, the restaurant offers creative tasting menus, ethereal decor, and an impressive open kitchen. Its a second-to-none dining experience, pairing surprise courses with a thoughtful wine flight.

Interestingly, the Portuguese are among the worlds biggest cod consumers, with over 43 famed recipes despite the fish not being native. O Bacalhoeiro , set on the Vila Nova de Gaia riverfront, celebrates cod with creativity and respect for tradition. Id highly recommend the Joao Porto-style cod which was full of flavour and something you wouldnt easily find in London.

Day four: Meet the citys wine community

Matriarca Townhouse (Martin Morell)

Before you leave, be sure to have dinner at Matriarca, a mecca for food and drink lovers. With a restaurant, wine and cocktail bars, wine academy, cellar shop, and roof terrace, it showcases why Porto is fast becoming a top foodie destination.

Where to stay

(Hilton Porto Gaia)

While Porto offers many places to stay, I preferred the Gaia side for its great views and proximity to the port houses. Hilton Porto Gaia, set in a restored wine warehouse overlooking the Douro, blends industrial charm with modern elegance. Highlights include soaring ceilings, Portuguese artwork, an award-winning spa, and a cocktail bar inspired by port wine.

Its Cusco Bar which offers Peruvian inspired dishes and drinks offers an epic panoramic view of the riverside  the best spot to watch a sunset where regular live music is played. Likewise, The Ground Caffe offers a selection of national wines and beverages, as well as a variety of snacks and light dishes. There is an on-site spa which was the ideal spot to relax, which I can vouch is necessary given I found myself doing over 25,000 steps a day!

Book it: Nightly rates at Hilton Porto Gaia for two people start from 214
October 26, 2025: Russian leaders believe that Russia maintains the initiative in Ukraine and is poised for victory. Few NATO leaders fear that the United States, the West, and Ukraine have been defeated and will not prevail. Despite this, Russian officials continue to believe that Ukraine will eventually be conquered.

Russian President Vladimir Putin boasted that Russia is decisively winning in Ukraine, stating that Russia has the strategic initiative along the thousand kilometers long front line. Putin believes his forces are on the verge of victory and that the Ukrainians need to realize what is happening in the combat zone. Other Russian leaders insist that if Ukraine does not accept the Russian view of the situation and make peace on Russian terms, they would suffer much heavier losses. This attitude is based on the Russian belief that NATO nations will eventually tire of pouring all the military and economic aid into Ukraine. That is not happening and many Russian leaders and Russians in general prefer to believe that eventually Russia will have the edge in military power.

The reality is that the economic sanctions imposed on Russia after the invasion began in 2022 are having serious negative impacts on the Russian economy. At the same time the Ukrainian economy has been growing and the Ukrainians are manufacturing a growing proportion of the weapons and munitions they need to win the war. Western firms are investing in Ukrainian industry and see Ukraine as the eventual winner. A growing proportion of the western aid to Ukraine is in the form of investments in the Ukrainian economy.

Russian leaders tried to hide the economic losses from the Russian people, but that is no longer possible. The sanctions have created growing shortages of consumer as well as military goods in Russia. While Russia can obtain needed items from China and North Korea, these goods must be paid for. Russia has also run out of soldiers. Over a million men have died, been disabled or deserted. This has forced Russia to rely on mercenaries from North Korea, Cuba and any other country which allows them to recruit soldiers. Russia has to pay more and more to entice these foreigners to fight for them. That becomes more difficult as Russian forces suffer more losses and are unable to advance. Since the 2022 invasion, Russia has lost most of the Ukrainian territory it occupied since 2014 and captured in the first few months of the current war. Ukrainian counter attacks continue to push the Russians out and Ukraine now believes that they will be able to regain all the Russian occupied territory, including the Crimean Peni

If Ukraine can achieve this, Russian leaders will be hard pressed to justify why all these personnel and financial losses, as well as the crippling economic sanctions were necessary. Russia is not only losing the war they started, but they are also losing credibility with their own people. Russian leaders know that the only way they can get the sanctions lifted is to make peace and Ukraine is in a position to get what it wants from an impoverished and militarily weakened Russia.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who took Russia into this war with assurances that victory would be quick and cheap, has been disgraced. Putin still claims a Russian victory is possible, but is reluctant to negotiate with Ukraine to end hostilities. An official end to the war could mean an end to Putins role as Russias leader.
Wes Streeting has claimed Nigel Farages deafening silence over the racist remarks made by his fellow Reform MP Sarah Pochin says it all.

The health secretary went on a furious attack in the wake of Ms Pochin telling Talk TV that it drives me mad seeing adverts full of black and Asian people.

Ms Pochin has since apologised, but Mr Streeting said: Shes only sorry that shes been called out and she said the quiet bit out loud. He added: The only way we are going to defeat this racism is to call it out and confront it for what it is.

The Reform MP for Runcorn, who apologised the day before, appeared to double down on the row as she posted a retort back to Mr Streeting on X with a video of Scottish leader Anas Sarwar attached complaining that all the senior positions in Scotland were filled with white people.

Sarah Pochin complained about adverts full of black and Asian people (PA)

Dear Wes Streeting, Im sorry you feel that way. Perhaps you could remind us all how strongly you spoke up when this happened, she said.

Mr Streeting retorted: That apology of yours lasted long, didnt it?

Meanwhile, the Tories shadow home secretary Chris Philp refused to describe Ms Pochin as racist three times when pressed on the issue on the BBC. This follows controversial remarks made by his colleague Katie Lam, suggesting legal migrants should be deported.

He later told Times Radio that the comment by Pochin was racist.

Addressing the issue with Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC, Mr Streeting spoke of how on Friday, a day before the interview, he had been in one of his Ilford North constituency schools talking to teenage boys about their experience of racism in London, one of the most diverse cities on earth.

What they are describing, and what we have seen on our streets in weeks, recent weeks and months, is a return of 1970s, 1980s-style racism that I thought we had left in the history books.

Since the Labour conference in September, the partys leadership has been openly attacking Mr Farage and Reform. The strategy is still not working in the polls, with Reform holding a 10-point lead over Labour in the most recent Techne UK poll for The Independent.

But Mr Streeting warned: I think what [Ms Pochin] said was a disgrace. I think it was racist, and the deafening silence from her party leader [Farage] says it all. Reform is a party who think that our flag only belongs to some of us... who look like me, not all of us who have built this country, built its success.

With Remembrance Day approaching, Mr Streeting evoked memories of the Second World War, noting: People who bled and died for our democracy and our freedom werent just my grandfather and my great-grandfather who looked like me and worship the same God as me. It was people from right across what was then the empire, now the Commonwealth, people who are Muslim, people who are Sikh, people who are Hindu, people who look differently than you and I do.

And we should remember that, defend it and fight for what this country stands for: decent, respectful and inclusive democracy, the most successful multi-faith democracy in the world. We stand for that; Reform dont, and that's why.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy later described Ms Pochins remarks as mean, nasty and racist calling Farage to sack her.

He said: Her statements were mean, were nasty and were racist. Our country is so much better than this. Unbelievably nasty statements. All of us are neighbours in this country. All of us, recognise the contribution of the Windrush generation, black Britons particularly in so many areas of our life. These were terribly racist remarks.

Nigel Farage should sack her effectively and certainly say something and apologise for what she has said. I'm disgusted by what she said, not just on behalf of myself or my family or the people of London, but on behalf of our country. We are so much better than this.

The Independent has asked Reform for comment.

Health secretary Wes Streeting described the comments by Pochin as racist (PA)

However, Arron Banks, a close ally of Mr Farage who stood as a Reform mayoral candidate in Bristol, has claimed Ms Pochin should not have apologised.

Copying in Ms Pochins apology, Mr Banks posted on X/Twitter: I cant see there is anything to apologise for.

Speaking to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Zia Yusuf, a member of the Reform leadership, defended Ms Pochin.

He said: She didnt say those words and she has apologised, saying it was a poorly phrased thing to say, but youve got to put that into context. The caller, a gentleman called Stuart, called in and I think he was right to be upset about the massive under-representation of some groups in television advertising and significant over-representation of others, and we have to be able to talk about these things.

Even in apologising, Ms Pochin sought to justify her remarks.

She said: The point I was making is that many British TV adverts have gone DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] mad and are now unrepresentative of British society as a whole. This is not an attack on any group but an observation about balance and fairness in how our country is portrayed on screen.

Speaking earlier to Sir Trevor Phillips on Sky News, Mr Streeting also criticised resident doctors and members of the British Medical Association, who are about to go back on strike over demands for a 29 per cent pay rise.

He accused the BMA of having some brass neck in criticising the pace of the government in bringing down waiting lists in the NHS.

Mr Streeting warned that resident doctors were hurting patients and NHS recovery as well as costing the health service 250m with their planned strike.

He said: Never the BMA talking about waiting lists. They do everything. They're doing everything they can to hamper our progress with unnecessary and unreasonable strike action.
Liverpools title defence appears to be in jeopardy after a fourth Premier League defeat of the season, 3-2 at Brentford, left them in sixth place.

Sunderland maintained their remarkable start to the season following promotion as Chemsdine Talbis stoppage-time winner stunned Chelsea 2-1 and Manchester United made it three straight league wins by beating bogey team Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford.

England Womens first match since their Euro 2025 triumph ended in defeat to 10-player Brazil at the Etihad Stadium.

Liverpools title defence takes another hit after Brentford loss

Brentfords players celebrate after Igor Thiago scores their sides third goal from the penalty spot against Liverpool (John Walton/PA)

Liverpools Premier League title defence already appears in tatters after a damaging 3-2 defeat at Brentford.

Goals from Dango Ouattara, Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago inflicted a fourth straight loss on Arne Slots increasingly rattled Reds.

Milos Kerkez pulled one back and Mohamed Salah ended his recent goal drought, but the champions are still in the doldrums with summer signings Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike quiet again.

Liverpool are now down in sixth place, behind Bournemouth, Manchester United and Sunderland among others, and could find themselves seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal by the end of the weekend.

Chemsdine Talbis late strike stuns Chelsea

Sunderlands Chemsdine Talbi, left, celebrates after scoring his sides winner at Stamford Bridge (John Walton/PA)

Chemsdine Talbi struck a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Sunderland stunned Chelsea with a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge to climb up to second in the Premier League.

The 20-year-old Morocco international strode unmarked into the box to sweep home after Brian Brobbey had held the ball up all on his own against two defenders, sparking delirious scenes amongst away supporters in the Shed End.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris has now led his team to the best start made by a newly-promoted team for 17 years, after a fifth win in nine games continued their astonishing acclimatisation to the top flight.

Ruben Amorim: It would not be Man Utd without suffering

Ruben Amorims side sealed their third successive Premier League win (Martin Rickett/PA)

Ruben Amorim joked it would not be Manchester United without suffering a little bit after his side survived a late scare on their way to sealing an important 4-2 victory against bogey team Brighton.

The Red Devils had lost six of their previous seven Premier League meetings with the Seagulls, who ended up empty-handed despite a late push having fallen behind to Matheus Cunhas first United goal, a deflected Casemiro effort and Bryan Mbeumos second-half drive.

Danny Welbecks free-kick and a stoppage-time header from Charalampos Kostoulas made for a nervy conclusion, only for Mbeumos second to secure a deserved third straight win.

Amorim said: It was really important (to win again), also the performance. We suffer a little bit in the end, but it would not be Manchester United without suffering a little bit!

But I think we deserved the win against a very, very good team, a team that is really hard to press really high but we did well.

Sarina Wiegman says lessons will be learnt after Brazil defeat

Sarina Wiegmans England lost to Brazil in their first match since their Euro 2025 triumph (Nick Potts/PA)

Sarina Wiegman felt lessons would be learnt after England suffered defeat in their first match since their Euro 2025 triumph.

Playing their first match since their latest tournament triumph in the summer, Wiegmans side paid the price for a poor start as they were undone by early strikes from Bia Zaneratto and Dudinha.

The sending-off of Brazil captain Angelina after just 21 minutes gave England a way back in but Georgia Stanways second-half penalty was all they had to show for a spirited response.

Wiegman said: Of course you hope for another result but I think this was a very good game to start with again after the Euros against a very good opponent.

A South American opponent was really what we wanted because thats different, more emotional, more extrovert. Its good for us to have that in front of us. They played very direct.

Whats on today?

Arsenal will bid to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League with victory over London rivals Crystal Palace, while Manchester City play at Aston Villa in two of five top-flight fixtures.

In Scotland, Hearts take on Celtic in a Scottish Premiership top-of-the-table clash at Tynecastle and new Rangers boss Danny Rohl is aiming to make a winning start in his first domestic game in charge against Kilmarnock.
(Action Images via Reuters)

Tottenham returned to winning ways with a statement 3-0 win over Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

In driving rain, Micky van de Ven scored two first-half headers from corners to put Spurs in control.

They came under pressure after the break as Everton pushed for a way back into it, but Pape Matar Sarr came off the bench to seal victory and send Spurs up to third in the Premier League.

Heres how Standard Sport rated the Spurs players...

Guglielmo Vicario 8

Stunning save to keep out Betos overhead kick. Not entirely convincing from corners but stepped up when he needed to, picking up from where he left off in Monaco.

Pedro Porro 8

Came to the rescue early on with superb block to deny Jack Grealish. Perfect corner delivery for Van de Vens second. One poor challenge on Grealish early on but otherwise impressive.

Kevin Danso 8

Not as eye-catching as his centre-back partner but did his job brilliantly. Everton chucked plenty of crosses into the box and he was rock solid in the air.

Micky van de Ven 9

Magnificent captains performance as he led by example. Defended sensationally, some great line-breaking passes and dominated in the Everton box with two headed goals.

Djed Spence 6

Somewhat shaky display against Iliman Ndiaye, who had the beating of him. Got better as the match went on but one of his tougher afternoons.

Joao Palhinha 7

Easy to not notice him and yet nobody made more tackles for Spurs than his four. Not quite as energetic after a busy week but so often in the right place to get his foot in.

Rodrigo Bentancur 8

A firm statement after recent criticism. Nice run in the first half into box and then fired a brilliant half-volley just wide. Great desire at back post to assist Van de Vens opener and was everywhere in midfield.

Mohammed Kudus 8

More central role but still Spurs biggest threat. Ability to hold onto the ball and relieve pressure is crucial and his set-piece delivery was on the money again.

Xavi Simons 5

More needed from him in the decisive moments. Tracked back well to help Spence but fluffed his lines more than once in attack. Still waiting for lift-off moment in a Spurs shirt.

Brennan Johnson 6

One dangerous drive inside when he showed better conviction but otherwise quiet on the right wing. Not enough to grab the starting shirt for upcoming matches.

Randal Kolo Muani 7

Promising first start for Spurs. Led the line confidently and some lovely touches to play Simons in more than once. Tired after the break but team look better with him starting.

Substitutes:

Lucas Bergvall (Simons 61) 6

Added some legs to midfield as Everton pushed in the second half. Little chance to get involved on the ball.

Richarlison (Kolo Muani 61) 6

Should have put the match to bed when clean through but blasted straight at Pickford. Made up with it somewhat with assist for Sarr.

Pape Matar Sarr (Kudus 77) 8

Wonderful cameo. So energetic in getting Spurs up the pitch and put match to bed with confident headed finish.

Mathys Tel (Johnson 90+3) N/A
Colorados efforts to reintroduce gray wolves face a significant challenge after the Trump administration instructed the state to cease importing them from Canada, potentially hindering further releases this winter.

The state began releasing wolves west of the Continental Divide in 2023, after Colorado voters narrowly approved wolf reintroduction in 2020.

About 30 wolves now roam the mountainous regions of the state, with a long-term management plan aiming for 200 or more.

However, the programme has proven unpopular in rural areas, where some wolves have attacked livestock. Now, following two winters of releases during President Joe Biden's administration, wolf opponents appear to have found support from federal officials under President Donald Trump.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik told Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis that Colorado wolves must come from Northern Rockies states, according to a recent letter posted by the Fence Post agricultural news publication.

Most of those states  including the Yellowstone region states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where wolves from Canada were reintroduced in the 1990s  have said they dont want to be part of Colorados reintroduction.

Wildlife officials released five wolves onto public land in Grand County, Colorado in 2023 (Colorado Natural Resources via AP)

That could leave Colorado in a bind this winter. The state plans to relocate 10 to 15 wolves under an agreement with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Luke Perkins said in a statement Friday.

The agreement was signed before the state got the October 10 letter from Nesvik, according to Perkins. He said the state "continues to evaluate all options to support this years gray wolf releases" after getting recent guidance from the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Though some of Colorado's reintroduced wolves have come from Oregon, wolves released most recently have come from British Columbia.

The issue now is whether the federal agency required that wolves must only come from northern U.S. Rocky Mountain states when it designated Colorado's experimental population of reintroduced wolves.

A federal notice announcing the designation in 2023 referred to the northern Rockies region as merely the preferred and not the required source of wolves.

Defenders of Wildlife attorney Lisa Saltzburg said in a statement that the Fish and Wildlife Service was twisting language by saying wolves can't come from Canada or Alaska.

People in Colorado should be proud of their states leadership in conservation and coexistence, and the wolf reintroduction program illustrates those values, Saltzburg said.

The Colorado governor's office and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are in touch with the Interior Department about the letter and evaluating all options to allow wolf releases this year, Gov. Jared Polis spokesperson Shelby Wieman said by email.

Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Garrett Peterson, whose voicemail said he wouldn't be available until after the government shutdown ends, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.
Donald Trump has hailed a historic ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand after both nations signed an expansion of the peace deal to end their border conflict.

The US president, who was in Malaysia on Sunday, had used the threat of higher tariffs against both countries to force them to agree to end a century-old dispute that has killed dozens and displaced hundreds of thousands.

President Trump announced that both sides had agreed to cease all hostilities and that the peace deal would save millions of lives.

At least 18 Cambodian prisoners of war would be released following the ceasefire extension. The agreement mandates both sides to begin removing heavy weapons from the border.

The deal was signed shortly after Mr Trump landed in Malaysia, his first stop on a five-day tour of Asia. He watched as Cambodian prime minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Anutin Charnvirakul, signed the agreement at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

We did something that a lot of people said couldnt be done, Mr Trump said. Mr Manet called it a historic day, and Mr Charnvirakul said the agreement created the building blocks for a lasting peace.

Because of Americas strong commitment to stability and peace in this region and every region where we can do it, my administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating, said Mr Charnvirakul, describing the agreement as a peace treaty. We just did the deal and reported the deal. Everybody was sort of amazed that we got it done so quickly, he said, noting that the United Nations was not involved.

Before the signing of the deal, Mr Manet thanked Mr Trump for his decisive lead and tireless efforts in July to end the conflict. No matter how difficult and complex a dispute may be, they must be resolved by peaceful means, he said.

Trump and Charnvirakul after the ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia (AFP via Getty)

The two nations committed to establishing an Asean observer team, military de-escalation and removal of heavy weapons from the border area. They also agreed to coordinate the removal of landmines, which were the trigger for the fighting after a Thai soldier on border patrol was maimed.

Thailand has accused Cambodia, one of the worlds most landmine-scarred countries, of laying new ordnance, which it denies.

In July the two neighbours fought the worst border clashes in a decade, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40 people and displaced hundreds of thousands. Both sides traded artillery fire and airstrikes along contested stretches of their 817km border. They have competing territorial claims, and violence periodically flares along the border.

The violence began at a flashpoint near the ancient Ta Moan Thom temple in Thailands Surin province, and quickly spread to other disputed areas. Cambodian officials accused Thailand of launching airstrikes and dropping bombs on roads inside its territory.

HISTORIC PEACE BETWEEN THAILAND & CAMBODIA.



President Trump and Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim hosted the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Cambodia for the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accordsa historic peace declaration. pic.twitter.com/BZRJ2b2KLY  The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 26, 2025

A truce, brokered by the Malaysian prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, was reached on 28 July after Mr Trump said he had spoken to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia.

Mr Trump had threatened to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped. A shaky truce has persisted since.

Earlier this month, Cambodia accused Thailand of broadcasting high-pitched ghost sounds along the disputed border after the countrys human rights commission urged the UN to investigate what it described as psychological warfare.

This declaration reflects our will to resolve differences peacefully in full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr Charnvirakul said on Sunday.

Mr Trump also signed separate economic deals with Cambodia and Thailand. A White House official said he would also sign a critical minerals agreement with Malaysia.

The presidents trip will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and could conclude with a meeting with the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping.
A former advisor to President Donald Trump hypothesized that there may be a surprise meeting between the president and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as Trump begins his Asian tour.

Well, itsalways expect the unexpected with Donald Trump, right? And so theres not a meeting scheduled, KT McFarland, a former deputy national security advisor for Trump, told Newsmax Saturday.

But President Trump had had an outreach meeting with the North Korean president during his first term, McFarland, a former Fox News host, added.

And it was very successful because, as a result of that meeting, the North Koreans stopped testing nuclear weapons. They stopped testing missiles.

McFarland continued: So he was able to really buy the good faith of the North Koreans as a result of that meeting.

There may be a surprise meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a former Trump advisor says. The last time the two leaders met was during Trumps first term as president in 2019 (Getty Images)

Maybe President Trump is going to do that again, she added.

The 79-year-old president arrived in Malaysia on Sunday to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and oversaw a historic peace deal between Cambodia and Thailand, which he said would save millions of lives.

The five-day tour of Asia, which includes stops in Japan and South Korea, will culminate in a highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to de-escalate the ongoing trade war.

The only meeting more consequential could be between Trump and the North Korean leader.

Before the trip, Trump seemed to indicate that he was ready to sit down with Kim, telling reporters on Air Force One, I would if you want to put out the word. Im open to it.

I had a great relationship with him, Trump added.

McFarland previously worked as a Fox News host before serving as an advisor to Trump during his first term as president (Middle East Images/AFP via Getty)

If the meeting were to take place, it would mark the first time the two world leaders have met since 2019, when they met at the Korean border village of Panmunjom. The two leaders met three times during Trumps first term as president.

While there has been no official confirmation of a meeting between Trump and Kim, many have speculated that one would take place after South Korea's unification minister, Chung Dong Young, told lawmakers this month that it was possible they could meet in the Demilitarized Zone.

The new liberal South Korean government has repeatedly urged Trump to take the lead in reopening dialogue with Kim.
Donald Trump at the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal between Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian PM Hun Manet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Donald Trump has overseen the signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia on the first day of an Asia tour where he will seal new trade agreements and hold a crucial meeting with Xi Jinping.

The US president arrived in Malaysia on Sunday before the Asean summit in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. At a ceasefire ceremony in front of a sign that read Delivering Peace, the Thai prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, and his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Manet, signed an expanded ceasefire deal related to a deadly five-day conflict in July.

Trump helped broker the end of the two nations worst border conflict in recent history, telling the leaders they risked putting their respective trade talks with the US on hold if they didnt end hostilities.

The United States will have robust commerce and cooperation, transactions, lots of them, with both nations, as long as they live in peace, Trump said on Sunday.

Related: Trump in Asia: five key questions as US president prepares for diplomatic tour

Trump has touted himself as a global peacemaker during his second term and his decision to weigh in behind the Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahims mediation efforts prompted Manet to nominate him for the Nobel prize, lauding his extraordinary statesmanship. On Sunday, Trump told reporters he also intended to solve the current Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict very quickly.

In the new deal signed by Thailand and Cambodia, both sides agree to remove heavy weapons from the border area, cooperate on removing landmines, and for Thailand to release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers. The two sides blame each other for the short conflict, in which at least 48 people were killed and about 300,000 displaced.

Manet said: This declaration, if fully implemented, will provide the building blocks for a lasting peace, but more importantly, it will begin the process of mending our ties.

Anutin said: This declaration reflects our will to resolve differences peacefully in full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Trump had a busy run of trade negotiations on Sunday. After a meeting with the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Trump said: we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries. The US and Vietnam also agreed to a framework for a trade agreement that the White House said would limit reciprocal tariffs to between zero and 20%.

He also signed a trade agreement with Malaysia that would ensure no restrictions on US access to critical minerals, in return for a formalised 19% tariff on Malaysian goods. Trump had earlier said he also expected a similar deal with Thailand.

Trump said he was confident of hammering out a deal with the Chinese president before an expected meeting on Thursday, as top trade officials from both sides met for a second day in Kuala Lumpur and agreed on a framework for a trade agreement.

Earlier this month China announced a shock ban on global exports of rare earth minerals that could have dual use for foreign military or some semiconductor sectors. China controls the vast majority of mining and production of the critical minerals, and the announcement sparked panic in global markets. The US in particular is racing to diversify its supply chains, signing a recent deal with Australia to help it kickstart its own domestic industry.

Trumps arrival at the annual Asean summit is the first stop on an Asian tour that also includes Japan and South Korea, where he is expected to meet Xi. The US and China are in the midst of a trade war which has seen damaging moves and countermoves including escalating tariffs and a Chinese pause on US soya bean purchases.

The meeting with Xi is expected to cover much more than trade, with the US leader saying he expects to bring up the Hong Kong dissident Jimmy Lai  who is in jail and awaiting a verdict on national security charges related to his involvement in the pro-democracy movement  and the issue of Taiwan.

The Chinese Communist party is preparing to annex Taiwan as a province, claiming it is currently run by separatists. Taiwans government is democratically elected. The governing party, opposition, and the vast majority of Taiwans population reject the prospect of CCP rule.

The US is Taiwans most important supporter in its resistance to a Chinese takeover, despite Washington not formally recognising it as a country and instead having diplomatic ties with Beijing.

Trumps inconsistent and occasionally dismissive language over Taiwan has raised some concerns among observers and officials about his stance on continuing US support, most of which takes the form of weapons sales and supply, obliged under US law.

On Saturday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, dismissed these concerns.

If what people are worried about is were going to get some trade deal or were going to get favourable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan  no one is contemplating that, Rubio said.

Rubios remarks followed recent comments by Trump that Xi doesnt want to do that, referring to invasion. However, he has since walked that back, saying: I hope they wont, well have to see.

With Reuters and the Associated Press
A number of people have been arrested over the theft of jewels from the Louvre, the Paris prosecutor has said.

The priceless crown jewels were taken from the museum last Sunday, when four thieves wielding power tools broke into the building in broad daylight. The heist is reported to have occurred at 9.30am local time and lasted several minutes.

Two suspects, from Seine-Saint-Denis, a department of the northern Paris metropolis, were arrested on Saturday evening, according to Le Parisien.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests. Her office said one of those arrested had been about to leave the country from Charles de Gaulle airport. A source close to the investigation told BFMTV he was heading for Algeria. Another person was arrested in Seine-Saint-Denis, according to French media.

The stolen jewels (Interpol)

A group of four thieves entered the Galerie dApollon, which holds the remains of the French crown jewels, and made away with nine pieces of jewellery, using a scooter to escape.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez described the incident as a major robbery involving jewels that have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless.

The culture ministry confirmed the stolen items included a tiara, necklace and a single earring from a set that had belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense; an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from the Empress Marie Louise set; a brooch known as the reliquary brooch; and a tiara and large corsage bow brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III.

According to the museums website, the tiara from the set belonging to the two queens is composed of five articulated elements, each topped with a large sapphire. In total [there are] 24 sapphires, 10 of which [are] very small, and 1,083 diamonds.

The ladder thieves used to gain access to the Louvre gallery (AP)

The Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense sapphire set belonged to King Louis Philippes wife, while the Empress Marie Louise emerald set was a gift to Napoleons second wife.

The Empress Eugenie tiara, corsage brooch, and reliquary brooch were made in the 1850s. The brooch alone contains 2,438 diamonds.

The culture minister, Rachida Dati, said the robbery lasted less than four minutes. She said footage of the operation revealed that the thieves dont target people, they enter calmly in four minutes, smash display cases, take their loot and leave.

No violence, very professional, she was quoted as saying by TF1.

The Louvre, which draws tens of thousands of visitors daily, was closed last Sunday for exceptional reasons.
Ramzan darts about his garage workshop with gleeful enthusiasm, showing off a small blue mortar bomb from Holland or Poland, a whopping thin-tailed, bulging-headed shell from America, Ukrainian bespoke high-explosive packed grenades and even an anti-tank mine  all for dropping on the heads of Russians.

A former infantry soldier, he has been at war for three years and says he misses the thrill of fighting up close, but, as the armourer for a four-man drone team flying an unmanned bomber in the National Guards Typhoon drone unit: This is the best way to kill Russians.

In a war of constant frontline improvisation, workshops like Ramzans garage  where he makes his own detonators and devises new types of incendiary bombs  have taken on the value of billion-pound industrial-military research centres in Nato countries.

Drone war was pioneered by self-funded Ukrainian soldiers adapting civilian toys to mortal effect. Kyiv now has the capacity to produce drones by the million, but on the front lines the model remains a killer startup.

Ramzans crew, Team Grey, is led by an older former infantry officer, whom we are not naming, who has been at war for 10 years and has family living under Russian occupation in the Donbas. He is waiting in a bunker not far away but within range of the enemy in Kamyanske, south of Zaporizhzhia.

Russias army has tried to punch through Ukrainian lines here over the last three weeks. It has used armoured attacks but been stalled by Ukrainian drones and infantry  and is taking and losing ground at a staggering and bloody cost.

Ramzans pick-up is loaded with charged briefcase-sized drone batteries and boxes of bombs as he sets off to join his crew. The last few miles are driven along potholed roads and dirt tracks at eye-screwing speed in darkness illuminated only by sidelights. Ramzan would rather die in a road accident than a Russian drone strike and this is the hunting ground of the first-person view (FPV) Kremlin drone pilots.

Working under red torchlight, the team unload the car, which is tucked under camouflaged netting, and head into a strip of woodland. Ukrainian artillery fire sporadic shells south  they ignore the outgoing blast, and mutter annoyance. Artillery attracts Russian drones.

Ramzan makes his own detonators and devises new types of incendiary bombs in a garage south of Zaporizhzhia (The Independent)

Noisy neighbours, someone says in the pause that follows.

In near silence, a tarpaulin is torn off the Typhoon and its checked for the nights operations. They have five missions with targets assigned by Ukraines intelligence system. They also have to react to live reports of Russian troop movements.

Ramzan tucks some bombs under a bush, ready to arm the quadcopter, a 6ftsq box of carbon fibre Meccano struts with a wig of aerials.

It is flown remotely from an eight-foot-square bunker dug into the earth by hand and roofed with dirt and tree trunks. Half the space is taken up with a computer showing a live feed from the Typhoon that Avi, the pilot, will use to fly.

Another computer shows a multiscreen feed from drones flying over the battlefield. Chillingly, some of these are Russian hunter-killer FPVs seeking targets  like the Grey crews bunker.

Ramzan and his assistant carry the Typhoon into a field, quickly attach two bombs to clips under its belly and arm the devices in the red glow of their head torches. As soon as they are back in the bunker, Avi takes off.

After a few minutes, the Typhoons navigation goes haywire and the compass packs up. It has been jammed by Ukraines own equipment and it lurches about as Avi struggles to control it with imperceptible tweaks on the controls he pinches between thumb and forefinger.

The bombs are loaded onto a drone which is hidden under tarpaulin in the scrubland (The Independent)

Ill have to get it back to us, he mutters.

The Typhoons whine is soon audible above the bunker. Its carrying a penetrator bomb and 4kg of high explosive designed to kill Russians in a hole much like this one.

Theres silence as Avi brings it back onto the field  blades of grass flap in the monochrome video feed of its down-draught  the bombs are not safe until Ramzan crawls out to untwist his detonators and re-attach their safety pins.

Theres a sigh in the bunker and when a few minutes later theres the unmistakable biscuit crunch of an incoming artillery shell exploding nearby, it goes unremarked.

Soon the craft is airborne again, now armed with three bombs and with orders to hit another suspected Russian bunker in Kamyanske.

Avi takes the drone over the village. The black and white video feed intensifies the vision of horror below. Like almost all of the 1,300km frontline in Ukraine, the war is being fought in rubble. Tiny groups of infantry try to hide in the blasted mess of masonry and shattered timber below.

Avi, the drones pilot, is responsible for releasing the bombs (The Independent)

A black hole is the target. Previous reconnaissance suggests that two men are hiding in a bunker under a tangle of roof struts here. Avi drops three bombs. Each blooms on the screen as it explodes.

Ramzan is happy, he says  his detonators worked. Avi, an engineer by trade, is untroubled by the idea that he may have killed some human beings.

Theyve come here to kill and take our land. Ill kill as many as I can, he says while having a quick stretch between sorties, which then drag on for an hour or more.

The Russians have interceptor drones in the area and have also launched a series of air strikes nearby. We can see them a couple of miles away on the ground-level monitor in the trees outside. We can feel the thumps of the explosions through the earth.

In military doctrine, we should have a soldier every ten metres of the front line, but we cannot do that, so we have drones, says Team Greys leader. Russias mass attacks have been blocked and stopped by Ukraines fast adoption of the unmanned craft in this war that has upended decades of military thinking to Kyivs advantage.

The Soviet-era assumption that Russia could send more men to fight and die than the other side and prevail through sheer numbers has been destroyed, along with the Kremlins armoured columns.

The drone operators rely on video feed to make sure their targets are accurate (The Independent)

No soldier on either side wants to go to war in an armoured personnel carrier now. Enemy drones turn them into blazing ovens for a few hundred dollars a hit.

Grey team are ordered to react to newly spotted Russian infantry in the village. Two men are seen moving above ground. In the past, skilled infiltrators have used thermal blankets and stealth to sneak up on Ukrainian drone crews and slaughter them at night.

The Typhoon is soon whining high out of earshot at about 60kmph. All eyes in the bunker are on the video feeds. There are blobs of black showing vegetation amid the rubble of the town.

Typhoon, stop! the Ukrainian controller says over the messaging system. He can see Avis feed and knows better where the men are hiding.

They may be special forces reconnaissance  Russian Spetsnaz elite soldiers. They may be stormtroopers gathering for an assault. They may be conscripts whove lost their nerve and want to escape the holes where theyve been forced to live.

No matter. Avi drops one, then two bombs, which flare briefly in black and white. The controller adjusts his aim and two more bombs are dropped. Its impossible to see what, if anything, has been hit.

Avi controls the drone remotely from an underground bunker, dug out by hand (The Independent)

Avi is frustrated. He rewinds recordings of the hits in slow motion for about an hour, seeking, frame by frame, any evidence that he has taken some lives. Hes soft spoken, tired. He doesnt keep count, although his predecessor in the bunker had scratched his human score card onto the silver insulation paper on the walls.

He need not have worried. Avi did kill. Ukrainian reconnaissance footage later shows, in colour video, three torn and mangled bodies lying in the shade of the villages trees.

As dawn approaches, the nights work is over and Ramzan races back to his workshop to charge batteries and make more bombs.

As he tears along an empty road at breakneck speed, the radio plays Sades Smooth Operator.

He smiles.
Epping migrant sex offender Hadush Kebatu will be deported this week, Justice Secretary David Lammy has said.

The Ethiopian national was mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being transferred to an immigration detention centre, prompting a major manhunt.

Speaking to reporters outside Wood Green police station on Sunday, Mr Lammy said: "I can assure you that he will be deported as he was expected to be deported. I expect that to happen this week."

Mr Lammy thanked the various police forces involved, as well as members of the public, for helping to find Kebatu.

When asked why Kebatu will not be deported on Sunday evening, Mr Lammy said police had to question Kebatu on his movements since Friday.

Mr Lammy said he would be making a statement in Parliament on Monday and will address the terms of reference for a full independent inquiry when he speaks to the Commons.

"We need to get to the bottom of how this happened and why it happened, and, of course, on behalf of the public, I want to be reassured that it won't continue to happen and that the systems that we put in place, the checks and balances, are there to reassure the public, he added.

Mr Lammy acknowledged that it will have been an "anxious time" for Kebatu's victims and their families, and for "many" women, adding: "I'm glad that we have brought that to an end."

Hadush Kebatus teenage victim was said to be stressed and anxious about his mistaken release (PA Media)

Kebatu was found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Epping and jailed for 12 months on September 23. During the trial, the court heard that it was Kebatus firm wish to be deported.

He was supposed to be transferred to an immigration detention centre, but due to a prison blunder, was released on Friday morning, leading to the manhunt.

Kebatu was seen in Dalston, east London on Friday evening, before a tip-off from a member of the public led to his arrest in Finsbury park on Sunday morning.

The mistaken release of Kebatu has been condemned by politicians and council leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who described the mistake as totally unacceptable.

The father of Kebatus 14-year-old victim said the mistake had caused her "so much stress and anxiety" and condemned the error as "unbelievably irresponsible".

In a statement read out by Shane Yerrell, Independent councillor for Epping Forest District Council, the father said: "I am completely broken that the man who sexually assaulted my 14-year-old daughter just four months ago was accidentally released from prison onto the streets again.

David Lammy thanked the various police forces involved, as well as members of the public, for helping to find Kebatu (PA Wire)

"The trauma and torment my daughter has suffered since this assault has really hurt myself and my family.

"She was slowly starting to get some of her confidence back and has recently started seeing her closest friends and been back in school.

"Friday's news has caused her so much stress and anxiety. She feared seeing him again in the high road and him recognising her. I'm really worried for my daughter's mental health and wellbeing because of this assault.

"This man is a real danger to young women and children and for him to be wrongly released and walking the streets freely just four months after carrying out two sexual assaults, only five weeks after being sentenced, all because of a system failure on Friday is unbelievably irresponsible."

The teenagers father went on to say that he feels massively let down by the authorities, including the police, the justice system and the Government. He also claims he was greeted with hostility when he sought answers from HMP Chelmsford.

They have all failed, not just us as a family, but they have failed everyone in the country, he said.

Screengrab taken from body-worn video issued by the Crown Prosecution Service showing the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu (PA Wire)

"I had to find out from a reporter that my daughter's attacker was accidentally released in the day, then be sent images and videos of him walking around throughout the day before the police even alerted her mother.

Then later that day when I attended HMP Chelmsford to seek some answers I was greeted with hostility and complete disregard for anything I said or asked, totally disrespecting me and my family."

He continued: "I really hope that nobody else's child has to experience what my daughter has. I really feared that this could happen again while Hadush Kebatu was freely walking around the streets of Chelmsford and London over the weekend.

"I hope he will be deported immediately.

"If anything had happened to another child or female then that would have been on the heads of HMP Chelmsford, as well as the police and the justice system and our Labour Government."

Footage captured the dramatic moment Hadush Kebatu was led into a police van after being tracked down by officers in north London  two days after he was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford.

Kebatu was arrested on Seven Sisters Road, near Finsbury Park, at around 8.30am on Sunday following a tip-off from a member of the public.

Commander James Conway, who oversaw the operation, said: This has been a diligent and fast paced investigation led by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, supported by Essex Police and the British Transport Police.

Information from the public led officers to Finsbury Park and following a search, they located Mr Kebatu. He was detained by police, but will be returned to the custody of the Prison Service.

I am extremely grateful to the public for their support following our appeal, which assisted in locating Mr Kebatu.
The pavement pictured during construction in July last year (Google Streetview)

Residents in a plush north London borough have blasted their local council over a dangerous sloping pavement that has remained unfixed for a year.

People in West Hampstead have repeatedly complained about the angled pathway on West End Lane near the station, claiming it causes trips and forces pedestrians into the road.

The pavement was laid by a developer without permission, yet Camden Council has still not corrected the issue 12 months later, The Telegraph reports.

Locals even held a mock birthday party to mark the blunders first anniversary and draw attention to the lack of action. The council insists it is moving forward to fix the fault.

Actress Jacey Salles, who starred in ITVs Cold Feet, branded the paving a bad joke and accused the Labour-run council of constantly passing the buck after a year of complaints.

She said: Its especially dangerous for the elderly, those with mobility aids and buggies. The incline is steep and forces pedestrians onto the road as the regular pavement is already narrow.

Rush hours are particular hazardous as the volume of people travelling to the three West Hampstead train stations is huge. We need a safe, flat pavement to walk along, especially with icy conditions on their way.

Lib Dem councillor Janet Grauberg added: While the council and BT are arguing, residents are suffering.

Campaign group Save West Hampstead has also criticised the design, saying it defies logic. A pensioner with hip and knee replacements described tripping over the uneven ground, calling it very, very dangerous.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: The work to the pavement was carried out by the developer without permission.

With agreement from local groups, the planter was placed on the footway to better mark out the sloping pavement for pedestrians while we work to rectify the issue.

We are moving forward with plans to upgrade the footway and apologise for the inconvenience caused.
A protester outside Trump Tower in New York on 25 October. A constitution is not a guarantee of sane government. At least 75% of what Donald Trump is doing is unconstitutional. Photograph: Gina M Randazzo/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

George Monbiot is right that having a written constitution would be better than not having one if the far right takes power (We must act now: without a written constitution, Reform UK will have carte blanche to toxify our nation, 23 October). But, as he points out, its not a guarantee of sane government. At least 75% of what Donald Trump is doing is unconstitutional, but its permitted by a compliant Congress and a rubber-stamp supreme court that is suddenly discovering presidential powers in the constitution that its framers never intended. The true problem is that a large proportion of the US electorate is content to let this happen.

Marina Hyde noted the same trend here  too many people are so dischuffed (some with good cause, some not) that they are willing to press the F you button and smash the system. In 1795, as the first US government was getting under way, the writer Samuel Miller commented that political prosperity resides, not in the words and letters of the constitution; but in the temper, the habits, and the practices of the people. With or without a constitution, there needs to be peaceful civic resistance to a future extremist regime until more people are persuaded that a humane and tolerant government is worth having.

Peter Loschi

Oldham, Greater Manchester

 George Monbiot advocates a written constitution to defend against the threat of Reform UK. Do we really believe that it will win 40%-plus of votes and a majority of seats in a general election? I know it may be dangerous to dismiss it as a protest vote, but I cant believe that.

I was reading an entry from Alan Bennetts Writing Home recently, where he opined that if Labour fought an election on the state of the NHS alone it would surely win hands down. Still true. Yet it is desperate to engage Reform on its home ground. I cant believe people think that migration and cutting public services are the countrys biggest priorities.

Ray Flood

Dundee

 George Monbiot calls for a written British constitution to be created through a citizens constitutional convention, with participatory events all over the country. But such events are likely to be dominated by people like him  educated, activist-minded liberals  whose values would then shape the constitution. Views that clash with theirs would be excluded by a process controlled by similar voices. In wanting to make his own values permanent, Monbiot shows an instinct not unlike Nigel Farages  both seek to enshrine their worldviews as the national default.

Nathon Raine

Bradford

 George Monbiot says we urgently need constitutional change  there is an immediate opportunity for citizens to contribute to this agenda. The public bill committee reviewing the English devolution and community empowerment bill is welcoming submissions right now. In the evidence I submitted, published on the parliamentary website, I point out how the rise of far-right extremist groups gives renewed urgency to the importance of providing constitutional protection for all elected local authorities in England.

It is a simple step for such a clause to be added to the bill. I explain how countries that outperform the UK on economic, social and environmental indicators, for example, Sweden, already enjoy such protections.

Robin Hambleton

Emeritus professor, University of the West of England

 Have an opinion on anything youve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Saulo Jennings had planned to present guests with a pirarucu, a large river fish that has become a symbol of environmental recovery in the Amazon

A Brazilian chef has refused to plan the Earthshot Prize banquet after being asked to curate a disrespectful vegan menu.

Saulo Jennings was invited to cater the annual environmental award, which was founded by Prince William in 2020.

The awards, which the Prince will present, are this year being hosted in Rio de Janeiro on Nov 5.

Mr Jennings had hoped to create canapes for the 700 guests using sustainable ingredients from the Amazon rainforest, for which he is acclaimed.

But organisers told him the entire menu must be vegan, which he branded as a lack of respect.

Its like asking Iron Maiden to play jazz

He had planned to present guests with a pirarucu, a large river fish that has become a symbol of environmental recovery in the Amazon in the face of deforestation, he told the New York Times.

Its like asking Iron Maiden to play jazz, Jennings told the newspaper. It was a lack of respect for our culinary traditions and for the Amazon itself.

The Earthshot Prize honours innovation in environmental protection and 15 finalists will compete for the opportunity to win 1m each in five categories.

The event will be held at Rios futuristic Museum of Tomorrow, and meat-free food is typically offered at the awards because of its climate-friendly message.

The event will be held at Rios futuristic Museum of Tomorrow - Fabio Teixeira/Anadolu

However, Prince William has had no involvement in the menu or the request for it to be vegan, it is understood.

Mr Jennings later agreed to a full vegan menu, including local produce such as cassava root, jambu leaf and Brazil nut, but the price quoted was above the budget allocated for the event, sources close to the discussions said.

The museum has instead opted for another supplier, while Mr Jennings will have the opportunity to cater for Prince William at the Cop30 summit in Belem, Brazil, later next month.

I have nothing against vegans or British people, Mr Jennings said. But I dont want to abandon my culinary mission. My work has always been about balance, about honouring what the forest and rivers give us.

He has previously cooked for the coronation ceremony of King Charles at the British embassy in Brazil, where he made fish and chips, but with pirarucu.

Mr Jenningss Sao Paulo restaurant, Casa do Saulo, serves a number of fish dishes, including fried yellowtail, tambaqui and shrimp.

The menu available on the restaurants social media did not offer any meat-free main dishes.

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The chef is part of community-led efforts proving that sustainability and tradition can coexist with the pirarucu fish population, which had once been endangered due to overfishing but is recovering as a result of conservation programmes.

We eat whatever the forests give us, whatever the rivers give us. Some days its fish, other days its nuts and acai. Thats what real sustainability looks like, he added.

Maybe it just wasnt meant to be. I still believe in what I do  teaching people that respecting the environment doesnt mean rejecting it.

Of the menu he will provide when he caters for world leaders at the request of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, next month, he says: With all due respect, there will be fish.

The Prince of Wales will travel to the South American country for the Earthshot awards in Rio next month and will stay on to join world leaders at Cop30 global climate change summit in Belem in the Amazon.

When the Earthshot finalists for 2025 were announced a few weeks ago, Prince William said the urgent optimism at the heart of his environmental project felt unstoppable.

He founded the prize to recognise and scale up ideas to help repair the planet, with the five winning finalists each awarded 1m to further develop their ideas.

Pop singer Kylie Minogue and Canadian singer Shawn Mendes are some of the global stars who will perform at the awards ceremony in Brazil on Nov 5.

The show will be hosted by Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Huck and among the award presenters will be sports stars Marcos Evangelista de Morais, better known as Cafu, Sebastian Vettel, a four-time Formula One world champion, and Txai Surui, a leading voice for Brazils indigenous communities and the environment.
Credit: YouTube/Jimmy Carr

Jimmy Carr has applauded Graham Linehans bravery after he was arrested for anti-trans social media comments.

In footage from one of Carrs gigs in the US, the TV host and stand-up comic praises the 57-year-old Irish writer, while performing in Minnesota.

Linehan, the co-creator of Father Ted, the 1990s TV sitcom, was arrested by five police officers when he landed at Heathrow Airport from Arizona last month, on suspicion of inciting violence.

He has since been informed by the Crown Prosecution Service that he will not face further action, after a careful review of his posts on X.

As part his Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny tour, the 53-year-old asked members of the audience to submit written questions.

Jimmy Car supported Graham Linehan during a stand-up show in the US

One said: Welcome to Minnesota, Jimmy. Do you have any good jokes that would get you arrested at Heathrow?

Another member of the audience shouted: Wheres Graham Linehan?

Carr responded: Graham Linehan. I f------ love Graham. Because whether you agree with Graham or JK Rowling or not, you have to admit the thing thats in short supply in our society is bravery...

He lost his family, he lost his career, he lost everything. And then he was getting f------ arrested at the airport. F------ madness.

Youve got the First Amendment. F------ cherish it.

His comments were received with cheers and applause, and Linehan later took to social media to express his gratitude.

In a post on X, Linehan said: Delighted that Jimmy Carr has shown support.

He added: I couldnt expect him to defend me earlier because the same people who came after me were constantly trying to cancel him.

They nearly succeeded a number of times so I certainly didnt want his career on my conscience.

Linehan said Carr had visited him while Linehan was being cancelled and trying to save my marriage and career.

Later, Linehan posted that the late Sean Lock, the late comic, once told him that an unnamed Irish comedian took offence at every other joke on 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, which Carr hosts.

He wrote: Also, Sean Lock once confided with me that a certain Irish comedienne/actress was an absolute pain in the arse on 8/10 Cats because she was a woke NPC [non-player character] and took offence at every other joke. Ill leave you to guess who it was.

Linehan currently lives in the US and has suggested he no longer wants to return to Britain after his arrest because its not safe.

After the CPS dropped his case, Linehan said that, with the aid of the Free Speech Union, he would sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and a breach of his free speech rights.

The organisation said it had hired a top-flight team of lawyers to sue the Met for wrongful arrest, among other things. The police need to be taught a lesson that they cannot allow themselves to be continually manipulated by woke activists.
David Lammy, the Justice Secretary, has ordered governors to have new checks for the release of prisoners in place on Monday - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

David Lammy faced a backlash from prison governors on Sunday night after ordering them to carry out extra checks on every inmate they release.

The Justice Secretary told prisons the checks must be in place on Monday to avoid a repeat of the blunder when Hadush Kebatu, an asylum seeker jailed for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Epping, was mistakenly released from prison.

Kebatu was freed on Friday when he was due to be deported to Ethiopia. After a two-day manhunt, he was rearrested on Sunday.

Mr Lammy issued all prison chiefs with a new three-page mandatory list of as many as 30 checks that governors will have to oversee before any prisoner can be released.

These include identifying high-profile prisoners, about whom governors will consult a new special support unit in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) before they are freed or deported.

Prisons must also check all warrants, including for deportation, are in order; ensure staff who oversee releases are trained to the right grade; and conduct checks with other agencies

However, governors warned it would add to the workloads of already-overstretched staff and questioned whether it would solve a problem that has yet to be identified by any investigation. The new checks could take as long as 45 minutes per prisoner, one source said.

After a two-day manhunt, Kebatu was rearrested in Finsbury Park, London, on Sunday

One senior governor said: I understand the Government is very eager to prevent this from happening again, but theres an investigation which has only just been commissioned.

Until thats under way, the prison service wont know what went wrong or whether the proposed checks are what are needed to prevent it happening again.

Another governor suggested it could be a knee-jerk reaction to show the public that ministers were acting, while a third complained that it had been introduced without any consultation.

Mr Lammy will on Monday announce the details of a full independent inquiry to get to the bottom of how and why Kebatu was released. The blunder  described as human error  is said by prison sources to have occurred late in the process. A prison officer has been suspended pending the investigation.

Kebatu was treated as if he was a prisoner being automatically released on licence rather than a foreign offender due to be transferred to a detention centre for removal. He tried four or five times to return to the prison before being directed by staff to the railway station, an eyewitness told Sky News.

Mr Lammy pledged that Kebatu would be deported this week, as was originally planned, but said he could not be put on a flight on Sunday night to Ethiopia as he had to be questioned by police before being removed. He said he recognised that it would have been an anxious time for Kebatus victims.

Convicted child sex offender Hadush Kebatu was mistakenly release from prison on Friday and re-arrested on Sunday

Mr Lammy added: This was totally unacceptable. I will be making a statement in Parliament tomorrow.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, stated: We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesnt happen again.

The father of the schoolgirl sexually assaulted by Kebatu in Epping in July said his family felt massively let down and infuriated by the migrants accidental release from prison

In a statement read by Shane Yerrell, an Epping Forest councillor, on Sunday, the father said Kebatus release from HMP Chelmsford on Friday because of a system failure was unbelievably irresponsible.

Myself and my family feel massively let down and infuriated by HMP Chelmsford, the police, the justice system and our Labour Government. They have all failed, he said.

Charlie Taylor, the chief inspector of prisons, blamed the problem on multiple changes in the way prisoners were released partly due to the introduction of different early release schemes. Its become more complicated over the years, he said. The number of releases in error has more than doubled from 115 to 262 per year.

Were seeing far more mistakes

He said this was compounded by inexperienced staff. What were finding very often is fairly inexperienced staff are doing what is a fairly complex task often under huge pressure of time because the churn in these prisons is so high, and therefore were seeing far more mistakes being made, Mr Taylor said.

Mr Lammy tried to pin the blame for the 128 per cent rise in the number of prisoners being released in error on the Conservatives.

He said: You will know that we inherited a system that was collapsing, in which the previous government was releasing people early without any scrutiny at all, in which officers were cut and there are a lot of junior officers in the prison system.

All of that needs a close look at to ensure the public are safe  and certainly that foreign nationals that commit offences and should not be in the country are absolutely deported back to where they are from.

In an article for The Telegraph, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, called for the inquiry into the prisoners release to be extended to examine not only the individual failings in this case but also the wider pattern of crimes committed by Channel-crossing illegal migrants.
A stock image

Crime costs Britain 33bn a year in treatment for victims, damaged or lost property, and preventative measures, analysis by the Tories has found.

The party has used official crime data to update a Home Office model which attempts to estimate its economic and social cost.

Crimes of violence in which a victim is injured account for the biggest annual bill, at 10bn, followed by 6.7bn for violence where no-one is injured.

The Tories say this represents a rise of 300m in the last year alone for violence  and the party claims the cost of all crime has jumped by 445m in the past year, taking it to a total of 33bn.

That is equivalent to 478 for every adult and child in the UK, assuming a population of nearly 70 million. This represents a rise of 1.3 per cent on the cost in the previous year.

The Tories are using the analysis to promote their crime policies, with a pledge to hire an extra 10,000 police officers, backed by 650m funding, over three years.

They would also launch a campaign of intense hotspot police patrolling in 2,000 areas with the highest rates of violent crime and robbery in an attempt to prevent some 35,000 offences.

They would rewrite police rules to make it easier for officers to stop and search suspected criminals by lowering the threshold for using the tactic and expanding the use of powers to stop without any suspicion. They estimate this would triple the number of stops and searches from 535,000 in 2024 to over 1.5 million.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Its never comfortable to put a price on crime, but these figures expose the scale of Labours failure. They measure not just money lost but lives damaged by a Labour Government that has let law and order fall apart.

Keir Starmer does not have the backbone to stand up and take the difficult decisions Britain needs. Now hes paralysed, too frightened to face down the soft-Left activists who think criminals are victims and victims are statistics.

The real crime is what Labour have done to our country. A country left less safe, less secure, and less certain that justice still means something. The Conservatives will restore that certainty  putting control back in the hands of the law, not the lawless.

An estimate of the financial cost of crime was first conducted by the Home Office in 2018 based on three factors: anticipation of crime such as the cost of burglar alarms, consequences such as stolen or damaged property, and response including costs to the police and the criminal justice system.

Homicide accounted individually for the highest unit cost of 3.2m per killing but with the number of homicides proportionately lower than other crimes, the net changes in rates have little effect on the overall cost. Figures last week showed homicides at a record low of 518 offences in England and Wales.

Rape accounted for the second highest cost at 39,360 per individual, followed by violence with injury at 14,050, robbery at 11,320 and theft of a vehicle at 10,290.

Crime trends over the past seven years have been mixed, with fraud pushing overall crime rates up while offences such as burglary, violence with injury and gun crime are down. Shoplifting and sexual offences have risen to record highs in the past year.

Using Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the Tories calculated that the cost of fraud had reached 2.3bn and the cost of rape and other sexual offences had risen to nearly 5.2bn  an increase in over 500m in the last year alone. The cost of robbery stood at more than 1.2bn.

The Tories claimed that, based on their analysis, the cost of crime fell by 16bn from nearly 49bn in 2018 to its current rate of 33bn.
Dr Christian Buckland claims he was sent a rest in peace sign as part of an intimidation campaign

Pressure from trans activists led to the ousting of the leader of one of Britains biggest therapy groups, he has claimed.

Dr Christian Buckland, the former chairman of the UK Council of Psychotherapy (UKCP), had raised concerns that treatment for gender-questioning children was unsafe.

He claims to have been sent death threats by independent activists including a hand-written rest in peace sign as part of an intimidation campaign.

Dr Buckland said he was trying to protect gender-questioning children from policies that would encourage them to be trans and go on to receive life-altering drugs and surgery.

He is one of four former leaders from Britains biggest therapy institutions blowing the whistle on the professions failure to protect children with gender identity issues.

The row ignited when Dr Buckland, 47, withdrew the UKCPs support for a ban on conversion therapy  the practice of attempting to persuade trans or gay people that they are not trans or gay. This came after children with gender dysphoria were included in the proposed restrictions.

The UKCP was one of around 30 organisations including the NHS that had signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the issue, which had initially focused on adults.

Your time will come

As a result of the withdrawal, Dr Buckland said he faced a backlash, which quickly became personal and culminated with him receiving a sign with the letters RIP delivered to his house, as well as a series of abusive phone calls, messages and emails.

One email sent to the UKCP included the phrases: Your time will come and transphobic Nazi c***.

Dr Buckland said that the UKCP office and I received vile and threatening communications for trying to ensure childrens safety was prioritised.

He also said he felt abused by people both inside and outside of the UKCP and was then prevented from speaking about serious governance concerns or the abuse and death threats received.

Martin Pollecoff, who was the UKCP chairman for six years, told the Telegraph he had only discovered he was a signatory on a revised memorandum including children two years after he had left the organisation, despite never having agreed to it.

He said Dr Buckland had shared with him draft minutes from the one board meeting in six years he did not chair, which was where the UKCP agreed to the new memorandum wording and adopted the new position.

He says he has since told the UKCP chief executive to tear it up because its fraudulent.

Ive spoken to the current chair and shes like, were investigating [how it had happened], but thats it, he said, adding that he had not agreed with changes to the memorandum because it went against the clinical advice he was given by child experts at the time.

The concerns raised by Dr Buckland and Mr Pollecoff have been echoed across the profession, with former leaders at Britains other two biggest membership bodies for therapists also telling The Telegraph about the risk of significant harm that the profession now poses to children, with members quitting the organisations in protest.

Martin Pollecoff said he found his signature on a revised version of the memorandum despite not approving it

The crux of the split is around how children who are confused about their gender or believe it does not match their sex should be treated.

A ban on conversion therapy in the way the group now advocates could legally prohibit explorative therapy which looks into the source of gender issues in children.

Exploration of gender is essential

But this affirmative approach contradicts recommendations from the Cass Review into care for under-18s with gender dysphoria, which said exploration of these issues is essential. This is because these children often have other conditions such as autism or other mental health conditions that should be addressed.

The review, led by paediatrician Baroness Hilary Cass, warned against the affirming approach the controversial Tavistock clinic used as it sent children on an irreversible path to drugs and surgery.

Prof Nigel MacLennan, the former president-elect of the British Psychological Society, said the groups memorandum was encouraging 100 per cent of children [with gender dysphoria] to go down the medical gender reassignment route.

If an adult has the capacity to consent to having a worse physical outcome for no mental health gain, that is their choice, he said. But long ago, societies all across the globe decided that children do not have such capacity, in every human activity.

The risk to children is of irreparable harm, he added. It is like telling a paranoid person: Yes, they are out to get you.

Prof MacLennan was forced to stand down before taking up the position of president because of bullying allegations, which he claims was in response to whistleblowing.

He said he had become extremely concerned about the lack of effective management and governance and a highly toxic environment at BPS, which included issues relating to gender.

His case was initially dismissed by an employment tribunal because he  like other charity trustees  held a voluntary role and had no legal protection.

But he later won an appeal for his case to be heard again.

Prof MacLennan said others had not spoken out because trustees are vulnerable to life-ruining retaliation at the hands of the wrongdoers, and those wrongdoers have complete legal impunity.

Meanwhile, Natalie Bailey, who was chair of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) for six years until August, said since leaving that many members have contacted me about the gender issue and how it is placing children at risk of serious harm.

She was ousted in August, alongside her deputy, after an internal audit found expenses claims exceeded what is permitted.

Ms Bailey claims she was targeted for whistleblowing about concerns she had uncovered, but was instead treated as the source of the difficulty.

When I raised concerns about procedural failures, exclusion from decision-making, and the handling of audit and legal processes, my contributions were dismissed and I was cut out of key conversations, she said.

The BACP supports the memorandum on conversion therapy and also agreed to a policy that pushed for affirmative care in children and ignored the findings of the Cass Review, she said, in what she called a clear example of governance failure.

Ms Bailey said this was introduced without balanced debate, with a major position effectively decided before it ever reached the board.

Trustees were expected to endorse it rather than scrutinise it, she said. When the board asked for balance, clarity, and investment in research consistent with the Cass Review, we were told this was not within our remit.

She added: In my view, BACP has not meaningfully engaged with the Cass Reviews recommendations, partly because key information was not shared with the board at the time, despite best efforts to raise these concerns.

The three groups are responsible for accrediting and setting the standards for more than 120,000 therapists in Britain.

Those working in the NHS are required to be accredited, while patients using private therapy are encouraged to use the professional bodies directories to find qualified and accredited therapists who follow their guidance.

More than 5,500 children are waiting to be seen by the NHSs children gender hubs, of which six will be open by next year, replacing the Tavistock clinic, with waiting times currently upwards of two years on average.

Private gender clinics, including those offering therapy as well as methods to access drugs, fill the void in the meantime.

Putting childrens needs before ideology

Dr Buckland said the therapy bodies policies reflect the ideological viewpoints of certain activists within these organisations rather than practitioners.

I fear that it is currently almost impossible for parents to know if their child will see a psychotherapist, psychologist or counsellor who will put their childs individual needs first over personal and ideological beliefs, he said.

The therapist also hit out at bullying tactics he claims are used to silence people, such as those who have raised safeguarding concerns regarding gender ideology are often instantly labelled as transphobic.

He said others then either resign or remain silent, which has meant that many senior positions are then freed up, only to be taken by people who, in my opinion, are activists first and psychological practitioners second.

The whole experience of trying to fulfil my legal duties as chair of a psychological professional body and to protect children from harm was deeply traumatic, he said. I can understand why people choose to not speak out on specific topics as the impact of bullying can be overwhelming and unbearable, however when it comes to child safety I believe there is no excuse for remaining silent.

As former trustees of the not-for-profit bodies, all were unpaid volunteers and so have historically had no legal protection for raising concerns despite being legally obliged to hold the organisations to account.

A UKCP spokesman said one of the reasons it withdrew from the memorandum included the complexities around how it applied to work with children.

Our position is clear: conversion practices are harmful and must never be used, regardless of a clients age, he said, adding that they were developing new gender-related guidance.

The spokesman said they had since reviewed their decision-making processes, and that they took reports of harassment or threats extremely seriously, provide support to anyone affected and would always encourage anyone affected to contact the police.

A BPS spokesman said it firmly opposes conversion therapy.

It is unethical and potentially harmful. We promote evidence-based and ethical practices that respect human diversity.

He added that Dr MacLennans expulsion was a result of several allegations of bullying which came to light during his time as BPS president-elect, but that with a tribunal outcome pending it was inappropriate to comment further.

A BACP spokesman said: All our work is underpinned by the vital need to ensure the provision of safe and ethical therapy, that protects the public from harm, and our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

We stand by the MoU on conversion therapy. Were fundamentally opposed to any misuse of therapy to try to change a persons sexual orientation or gender identity. Conversion practises are harmful and unethical.

We acknowledge there are differences of opinion on the best approach to working with children and young people who are experiencing gender incongruence or exploring their gender in some way.

Natalie Bailey was removed as chair and as a member of our board after an independent forensic audit revealed instances of remuneration and expenses claims exceeding what was permitted, undermining expectations of ethical, accountable, and responsible leadership. We followed due process and took legal and governance guidance throughout.

Ms Bailey disputes BACPs statement and says her remuneration was formally approved by the board and tied to legitimate organisational work.
Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel

In all their iterations, pot pies unite rich, savory fillings with a golden-brown top. This collection of recipes offers a classic take chicken pot pie as well as many riffs on the iconic dish. (Pot pie muffins? Why not?) Best of all, there are quick pot pie recipes ready for weeknights as well as more ambitious projects ideal for a cozy day at home. Find French Poulet en Croute as well as Japanese curry, plus cornbread and shepherd's versions of pot pie. Get comfy and get cooking.

01 of 18

Vegetable Pot Pie

Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle

This deeply savory vegetarian pot pie from food writer and cookbook author Sonja Overhiser layers lentils, mushrooms, potatoes, and carrots in a rich, miso-enhanced sauce. A sheet of buttery puff pastry replaces traditional pie crust for extra flakiness and crunch, baking up golden over the creamy filling. Fragrant with sage, fennel, and smoked paprika, the dish balances hearty texture with bright herbal notes.

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02 of 18

Weeknight Chicken Pot Pie

Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer /Prop Styling by Thom Driver

This recipe was inspired by Londons celebrated restaurant St. John, where developer Justin Chapple says "pies reign supreme." This is the weeknight version: transforming rotisserie chicken, leeks, and briny capers into a rich, flavorful filling bound with silky bone broth for extra depth. The puff pastry topping  baked separately for guaranteed flakiness  crowns the creamy mixture just before serving.

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03 of 18

Chicken Pot Pie with Mushrooms and Brie

Food & Wine / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel

Baked and served in a cast-iron skillet, this pie hides a gooey layer of Brie between the saucy chicken-mushroom filling and crust, insulating the pastry for maximum flake. Dijon, thyme, and a splash of dry sherry sharpen the gravy, while the skillet makes it possible to bake and serve.

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04 of 18

French Onion Chicken Pot Pie

Antonis Achilleos

This pot pie recipe merges two beloved comfort dishes into one deeply savory, aromatic meal. Roasted chicken thighs mingle with slowly caramelized onions, carrots, and herbs in a rich sherry- and beef stockbased sauce, evoking the essence of French onion soup. A layer of nutty Gruyere and buttery puff pastry caps the filling, which bakes into a golden, bubbling crust.

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05 of 18

Mushroom Pot Pie

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

This pot pie recipe layers deep, woodsy flavors from roasted fresh mushrooms and rehydrated porcini with a hint of allium-y sweetness from carrots, leeks, and celery. White wine, herbs, and a splash of cream finish the velvety, aromatic filling.

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06 of 18

Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Puff Pastry Croutons

Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Ina Garten, in her cookbook Modern Comfort Food, reimagines chicken pot pie as a rich soup crowned with airy puff-pastry squares (baked separately) that act as croutons. Tender roasted chicken, leeks, fennel, and carrots all simmer in a creamy, sherry-laced broth enriched with Parmesan rind and fresh tarragon.

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07 of 18

Chicken Pot Pie with Leeks and Thyme

Greg DuPree

Sweet leeks, carrots, and rotisserie chicken simmer together in a silky, thyme-scented sauce enriched with cream and a touch of Dijon mustard for subtle tang. Instead of a traditional double crust, squares of buttery puff pastry are arranged patchwork-style across the top, which bake into a beautifully golden and flaky lid. Best of all, it's ready in just over an hour.

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08 of 18

Japanese Curry Chicken Pot Pie

Food & Wine / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Sally McKay / Prop Styling by Abby Armstrong

A mild Japanese curry mix lends its signature warmth and velvety texture to a filling of tender chicken, carrots, and Yukon Gold potatoes, brightened with ginger and a touch of ketchup for subtle sweetness. The savory, spice-laced sauce bubbles beneath a crisp, golden puff pastry lid that soaks up just enough of the rich curry beneath.

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09 of 18

Poulet en Croute

Cedric Angeles

From Catherine Pascal of Cellier aux Moines in Givry, France, this pot pie simmers tender chunks of chicken breast in a creamy white wine and cognac sauce that's studded with smoky lardons and earthy mushrooms. Tres Francais, it's finished with a Cognac-fueled flambe, covered by pastry, and baked till golden brown.

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10 of 18

Classic Chicken Pot Pie

Scott Hocker

It's a classic for a reason, with a flaky, buttery crust and a rich, hearty filling of chicken, carrots, potatoes, and onions in a velvety sauce. The homemade double crust bakes to a crisp, golden finish; store-bought pastry will work well too.

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11 of 18

Braised Beef Pot Pie

Christopher Testani

2007 F&W Best New Chef Gavin Kaysen merges the flavors of a classic beef stew with the presentation of a pot pie. In this recipe, he braises flat iron steak with carrots, parsnip, rutabaga, mushrooms, herbs, red wine, and stock, then serves the hearty mix in bowls under rounds of baked puff pastry.

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12 of 18

Individual Chicken Pot Pies

Scott Hocker

These charming single-serve chicken pot pies deliver all the cozy appeal of the classic in perfectly portioned form. A cookie-cutter circle of buttery homemade crust tops each ramekin, which bakes into a golden, flaky lid. Inside, a rich filling of tender chicken, carrots, garlic, and shallot awaits.

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13 of 18

Puff Pastry Pot Pie

Scott Hocker

Frozen store-bought puff pastry is swapped for traditional pie crust, making for a big time-saver in the kitchen. And using a rotisserie bird means you won't have to cook the chicken before starting either. It bakes up in a souffle dish in 30 minutes and takes about an hour from start to finish.

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14 of 18

Beef-and-Vegetable Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits

David Malosh

Tender, golden cheddar biscuits cap a beef stewlike filling in this recipe from Grace Parisi. There's no rolling required here; the biscuit dough is dropped directly onto the baking dish.

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15 of 18

Slow Cooker Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie

Ian Knauer

Food writer and TV presenter Ian Knauer channels this regional, broth-based pot pie  no pastry  thick with noodles and tender chicken. The slow cooker coaxes rich flavor from simple pantry staples while preserving the styles rustic, soup-like character.

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16 of 18

Cornbread Chicken Pot Pie

Scott Hocker

This Southern spin on chicken pot pie replaces traditional pastry with a golden, tangy buttermilk cornbread crust. Beneath the crust, a hearty mix of chicken, carrots, onions, and potatoes is cooked in a savory broth.

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17 of 18

Chicken Pot Pie Cornbread Muffins

Scott Hocker

These savory cornbread muffins are filled with pot piestyle chicken and vegetables. The result is a delicious, portable, and high-protein snack.

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18 of 18

Shepherds Chicken Pot Pie

Scott Hocker

This hearty take on chicken pot pie nods to its culinary cousin, shepherds pie, by topping the creamy pot piestyle chicken base with a plush layer of mashed potato instead of pastry.

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Read the original article on Food & Wine
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas moved up two spots to No. 20 in the latest Associated Press rankings following a dramatic come-from-behind victory 45-38 over Mississippi State on Saturday.

The new AP Top 25 was released Sunday, with Texas as the lowest-ranked Southeastern Conference team. The Longhorns are one of eight 2-loss teams in the rankings.

Instant Analysis: All grit, no quit for Longhorns in furious comeback win

Oklahoma dropped five spots to No. 18 after losing to Ole Miss, and the Missouri Tigers fell four spots to No. 19 after losing to Vanderbilt, Texas opponent Nov. 1.

Texas A&M held at No. 3 after throttling Louisiana State 49-25 in Baton Rouge. The Aggies are the highest-ranked SEC team in the poll this week, followed by Alabama at No. 4 and Georgia at No. 5.

Steve Sarkisians agents say report of NFL coaching interest is wildly inaccurate

Ohio State and Indiana remained the top two teams. Oregon stayed at No. 6 after a 21-7 win over Wisconsin, and Ole Miss moved up one spot to No. 7 after beating the Sooners. Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt and a tie between Miami and BYU rounded out the top 10. At No. 9, its the highest ranking for Vanderbilt in 88 years.

Houston moved into the rankings at No. 22, marking the Cougars first appearance in the rankings since 2022. South Florida, LSU, Illinois and Arizona State all dropped out.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
KTLA5/YouTube Community members pay tribute to Jacqueline Medrano, who was shot and killed in a murder-suicide by her ex-boyfriend.

NEED TO KNOW

A mom of two was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in a murder-suicide that took place inside a barbecue restaurant in California

Police said 35-year-old Jonathan Wang walked into the restaurant at around 6:45 p.m. local time on Oct. 14 and shot Jacqueline Medrano, 45, before turning the gun on himself

Medrano had an active protective order against Wang following a domestic violence incident

A California community is mourning the loss of a mom of two after she was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend in a murder-suicide that took place inside a barbecue restaurant.

According to police in La Habra  located about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles  a man identified as 35-year-old Jonathan Wang walked into a Korean barbecue restaurant at around 6:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and shot Jacqueline Medrano, 45, before turning the gun on himself.

"Based on preliminary information, the incident appears to be a targeted attack of murdersuicide. Mr. Wang shot Ms. Medrano before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound," police said in a statement, adding that Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics pronounced them both dead at the scene.

"Investigators have no indications of any outstanding suspects, and there is no known threat to the public," police said.

According to police, several witnesses were inside the restaurant  Gui Gui 9292 Korean BBQ, located on Imperial Highway  at the time of the shooting, but no one else was injured.

Investigators said Medrano and Wang had previously been in a romantic relationship. Medrano, a urology nurse, had a criminal protective order against Wang in place since Sept. 16. The order prevented Wang from contacting Medrano, and was active at the time of the shooting.

KTLA and ABC 7 Los Angeles reported that Wang was arrested in Long Beach on July 15 after police received a report of domestic violence.

The Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office then filed a case against Wang, alleging he willfully caused injury to Medrano.

According to the victim's statement obtained by the outlets, Wang "punched Medrano one time in the mouth, grabbed her by the front of the neck, pushed her to the ground, then held her down by the back of her neck."

Wang was due back in court in November for a pre-trial conference, Long Beach City Prosecutor Douglas P. Haubert told the outlets. Wang was prohibited from owning, purchasing or possessing a firearm.

Google Maps Gui Gui 9292 Korean BBQ, where the shooting took place.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, Medrano's friends and family gathered in the nearby city of San Pedro for a vigil and displayed flowers, candles and photos of the devoted mom.

Community members who spoke to KTLA said that Wang was still stalking Medrano, but she continued to show up for work as a nurse at a Kaiser Permanente facility.

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It just proves how hard-working she was, Medranos coworker, Maria Barragan, told the outlet. All that she was going through, you would have never known.

Shes my hero, my role model forever in life, and no one can take that away, Magali Rodriguez, Medranos niece, added. Shes not a victim. Shes a hero.

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.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.



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Ask anyone: the Mount Rose Peak Trail is one of the very best Nevada hiking trails. Its 10.6 miles in length, and completing it takes a lot of time, effort, and energy, but youre sure to find all your efforts well worth it when you take in the incredible views along the way. Read on to learn more about this incredible, beautiful, and unforgettable trail near Incline Village, Nevada.

Are you looking for a challenging trail that youll never forget? If so, look no further. The Mount Rose Peak Trail is going to blow you away.

Its not easy, though!

First of all, its long. This trail is 10.6 miles in length if you hike the whole thing. Part of the trail is a loop, but part of it is out and back. If youre going to do it, though, you should do it all!

Second, it will take some time. People who have completed this trail from beginning to end report that it takes approximately six to seven hours to complete. Start out early in the day to make sure you get back with plenty of time before sunset.

Third, its rated hard or challenging on all hiking websites, and its easy to see why. Even when you are on the shore of spectacular Lake Tahoe, you are already 6,224 feet above sea level. If you are not already from a high-elevation city or state, even being lakeside will take some getting used to. And, the trailhead of the Mount Rose Peak Trail is at 8,921 feet. Add to that the elevation gain youll conquer on the trail itself and youll find yourself at 10,771 feet when you get to the top of Mount Rose.

Thats a lot of elevation gain! But, as youll soon see, its well worth it.

The views along the Mount Rose Peak Trail are amazing. Mount Rose is the third tallest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin, which means youll be above many surrounding mountains early on in your hike. As a result, youll enjoy views that will take your breath away all along your journey.

Also, on your way, youll reach the top of Tamarack Peak. Youll also cross Galena Creek and see Galena Falls. Youll be able to see the beautiful blue of Lake Tahoe in the distance from many points along the trail as well.

Youll need to be an experienced hiker to complete this trail. However, even though it is long and steep, most hikers who complete this trail describe it as worthwhile and pleasant. Some even say the difficulty is easy to overlook as there is beauty that surrounds you every step of the way.

Dont get us wrong-this trail wont be easy, but it will absolutely be worth it.

The Mount Rose Peak Trail is one of the best hiking trails in the Silver State. If you manage to complete this trail, you will not only be super proud of yourself, but you will also return home with memories and images that youll never forget. Have a great time out there! Happy trails to you!

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip using Only In Your State's itinerary planner.
One in a series detailing how Trump's immigration policies are transforming America.

HUNTSVILLE, AL  It was a Sunday like any other for the Brunty-Barojas family. Breakfast croissants for six kids. Keurig coffee brewing in the kitchen. Video games in the living room. Soccer in the backyard.

But while the kids ate and played, Chelsea Brunty-Barojas was frantically piling clothes and belongings to fill a 40-gallon container in the garage, preparing for the likelihood that her husband, Antonio Barojas Solano, the family's sole provider, could be detained by ICE within days and deported to Mexico.

She was struggling to comprehend it.

"He doesn't meet the criteria of what people are saying, like the ones that need to be deported in this mass deportation," she said. "He's not a criminal."

Family's 'normal' life on hold Chelsea Brunty-Barojas, right, and Antonio Barojas Solano, left, have a life and family in Huntsville, Alabama. He was brought to the country when he was 14 and, though they are married and pursuing his legal status, they fear ICE could detain and deport him under newly hardened policies.

But their application to legalize her husband's immigration status is unfolding against the backdrop of President Donald Trump's sweeping effort to deport millions of immigrants. And a chance encounter with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August landed Barojas Solano in detention for six weeks, upending his legal process and leaving them terrified that he could be detained again.

It didn't seem to matter that he had been brought to the United States by an uncle when he was 14, a year older then than his eldest son is now. Or that he had been abandoned here.

Barojas Solano, now 33, has worked ever since, in landscaping and construction. He and Brunty-Barojas, 37, married in 2022, had a child together  2-year-old Colette  and forged a blended family. They were in the process of submitting his paperwork for a green card when agents detained him.

An immigration judge released him on a $5,000 bond, but ICE appealed his release and then ordered him to show up for a check-in on Oct. 29 in Birmingham, two hours away.

Now each normal day together feels like a blessing laced with fear.

"We're trying to prepare, mentally before anything else," he said in Spanish. "I still have hope, faith, but if the worst is going to happen, we have to be strong."

Chelsea Brunty-Barojas kisses her husband Antonio Barojas Solano at home in Huntsville, Alabama, on Oct. 18, 2025. He was held in immigration detention for six weeks after a chance encounter with ICE. They fear he could be detained again and deported.

A chance encounter

On Aug. 6, Barojas Solano left the construction site in Huntsville where he and his team were hanging drywall. He needed to make a stop before heading home.

Two cousins had died in a car accident overnight, and he wanted to offer condolences and lend a hand to their families.

When he arrived, there were police outside the house. He assumed they were there to investigate the accident, he said. But ICE agents had come looking for a man with a criminal background at the same address. They arrested the man and then began asking every Hispanic man there for an ID, Barojas Solano said.

Antonio Barojas Solano, married to Chelsea Brunty-Barojas, has a life, a family and a drywall business in Huntsville, Alabama. He estimates he has helped build some 3,000 homes in the area over the years.

He told the agents he had an American wife and an attorney and was applying for legal status. A USA TODAY review of court records showed he had no prior interaction with law enforcement. They arrested him anyway.

He tried to call his wife before the agents took his phone away.

Brunty-Barojas saw the missed call. She tried him over and over, but he didn't pick up. Something was wrong, she thought. She checked his phone location and drove to it.

"My kids were in the car, like, 'Where's Daddy? What happened?'" she said, wiping tears. "I was calling my parents who were out of town. I was like, 'They took Antonio. I don't know where he is.'"

That chance encounter with ICE agents heaped complications onto Barojas Solano's application for legal status, which he can pursue as the husband of an American woman.Brunty-Barojas said they had spent months gathering evidence of their intertwined finances; that they had a child together; that he provided for his own three boys and her 15-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son.

The couple met in 2020, after connecting through mutual friends on Facebook, she said. They were both single parents at the time and found they shared the same family values.

Brunty-Barojas liked that he took his kids on weekends and paid child support. He was building his drywall construction career. He didn't smoke or drink. "Its hard to find a good guy once you have kids," she said. "He was kind and ambitious."

Barojas Solano credits fate and a higher power. "I thank God for putting her in my path," he said. "Besides being beautiful  her heart, her feelings  she is a good person, and she accepted my children."

Packing for the unknown

Brunty-Barojas packed haphazardly that Sunday morning for a worst-case scenario. She knew little about Mexico and couldn't imagine life in the pueblo where her husband was born. So far, she had gathered up some of the family's clothes, a vacuum cleaner, a space heater, a Keurig coffeemaker and 80 K-cups in case they didn't sell those there.

She packed as if she really didn't want to go but couldn't imagine surviving without him.

Chelsea Brunty-Barojas looks over items in their garage on Oct. 19, 2025. She packed haphazardly for the possibility that her husband could be deported to Mexico, a country he left in 2006 as a 14-year-old boy.

There were the doctor's appointments. Every three months, Brunty-Barojas has been undergoing surgery to remove colorectal tumors that, left unattended, could turn cancerous. Her eldest daughter, Camille, has a brain lesion that causes severe epilepsy and needs to stay close to her neurologist.

And the language barrier. Brunty-Barojas speaks Spanish with her husband, and Colette, the youngest, is learning. But Camille and 9-year-old James don't.

And the house. Who would pay the mortgage on their four-bedroom home with the grassy backyard and slender white columns out front?

Barojas Solano had sent money home to his parents over the years to build a two-bedroom concrete-block house in the mountains of Veracruz, on Mexico's east coast  mostly because he could afford it, not because he ever dreamed of moving his family there.

He hosed down the 40-gallon container and tipped it over to dry on the front porch. Colette played in the grass. Brunty-Barojas stood with one hand on her hip, surveying the bags of toys and clothes in the garage.

A proud Southerner, Brunty-Barojas has traced her family ancestry to before the American Revolution, and to family members who fought on both sides of the Civil War.

"I never thought after so many of my family members are patriots  that my government can come in here and take my husband because he came here when he was 14," she said. "It's ridiculous."

The effect of quiet policy changes

The Trump administration's mass deportation is playing out on several fronts, some more public than others.

There have been splashy workplace raids like the ones that occurred at a Georgia Hyundai plant and a California legal marijuana farm. Videos of street arrests in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York are all over TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook.

But behind the scenes, quiet policy changes are putting new pressures on the nation's already troubled immigration system.

Antonio Barojas Solano, with his daughter Colette, watch television at their home in Huntsville, Ala. Following a detainment by ICE earlier in the year, Antonio, who has been in the United States since the age of 14, has an ICE check-in on Oct. 29, 2025. The family prepares for the possibility that Antonio will be deported by immigration officials following his ICE check-in.

On Aug. 19, an immigration judge ordered Barojas Solano be released on bond, according to court documents.

When ICE attorneys appealed his bond, they did so in part because the agency is challenging immigration judges' jurisdiction over immigrants who entered the country illegally.

A pivotal legal challenge has set a new precedent. In a case known as the Matter of Yajure-Hurtado, the Trump administration argued immigration judges can't grant bond to undocumented immigrants, who the administration contends are subject to mandatory detention.

The Board of Immigration Appeals sided with the administration on Sept. 5.

In Barojas Solano's case, the judge recommended ICE use an "alternative to detention," such as an ankle monitor, at the agency's discretion. But the Trump administration has cut back on lower-cost detention alternatives, and Barojas Solano was released without one.

Antonio Barojas Solano holding a bracelet with his daughter's name made for him by another detainee while being held in an ICE detainment facility.

Brunty-Barojas' parents drove more than six hours each way, from Huntsville to Natchez, Mississippi, to pick him up from the nation's largest permanent ICE detention facility, Adams Detention Center.

He had lost weight and was sick with bronchitis. He wore a new blue bracelet on his wrist, a gift from a Nepalese detainee who, using threads from plastic bags in the cafeteria, wove it with a name: Colette.

'We just want mercy'

When her husband was detained, Brunty-Barojas shared a letter with the Huntsville City Council in hopes of finding support in her community. She got no response from her elected officials.

"Here in the South, hearing how people talk about immigrants, I knew it would affect my husband and my relationship," she said.

Colette pranced by, her curls dangling in a ponytail. She pointed to her toes to show off red polish.

Chelsea Brunty-Barojas and Antonio Barojas Solano talk inside their home in Huntsville, Ala.

"Painted nails!" she exclaimed.

"Who painted your nails?" her father asked her.

"Daddy did!" she said proudly.

"We just want mercy," Brunty-Barojas said, sitting in the living room beside her husband. "We're just asking to be together as a family and to be able to continue to fight our case and do it the right way, the legal way, without him having to be in jail and treated like a criminal."

Barojas Solano interlaced his fingers with hers.

"I don't know what will happen now," he said. "The truth is, we're in their hands. Maybe they'll give me a chance to stay. Maybe they won't."

Lauren Villagran covers immigration at USA TODAY can be reached at lvillagran@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amid deportations, family of eight waits for ICE to decide their fate
Gordon Ramsay smiling - Alex Bierens De Haan/Getty Images

Gordon Ramsay isn't known for his patience. The chef and restaurateur's pugnacious persona on shows like "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares" helped make him a household name. But Ramsay is known for his burgers, and, as he told Tasting Table, good burgers take time.

Ramsay broke into the burger scene in 2012 when he opened Gordon Ramsay Burger at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now, the chef says, the restaurant sells 3,000 burgers a day. That's a lot of mouths to feed, but Ramsay says you can't rush the process.

Pressing down on a burger will speed up the cooking time. That's why smash burgers have their quick, easy reputation  but the ultra-thin, ultra-crispy burgers are their own category. Pick one style of burger and commit  and if you opt for thicker patties, don't touch the meat. "Understand the difference between cooking a burger and cooking a smashed burger," Ramsay advised. "You don't need to press the hell out of the burger  let it cook so less is more, and don't move it around every two minutes. Leave it alone." Allowing the patties to cook without much interference encourages a delicious crust to develop, which helps lock in juices and contributes to deep flavor.

Read more: Fast Food Chains That Serve The Highest And Lowest Quality Burgers

More tips for making juicy burger patties

Steaming beef burger patty on grill pan - M O H/Shutterstock

The waiting game begins before the burgers even hit the grill. You might have heard that steaks should rest or temper: Bringing the meat up to room temperature helps it cook evenly. According to Gordon Ramsay, the same goes for the juiciest burgers you've ever tasted. "Be smart with the temperature of those ingredients," he told Tasting Table. "Never cook a burger straight from the fridge; let it rest before."

That doesn't mean you should leave ground beef out for hours during a mid-summer barbecue, though. According to the USDA, meat should only stay unrefrigerated for two hours maximum and just one hour if temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You might want to err on the safe side with ground beef, too, since the grinding process means it is more likely to contain bacteria when compared to a whole cut of steak. Still, 20 or 30 minutes at room temperature is much more likely to benefit your burger than do any harm.Pros like Gordon Ramsay know that different types of burgers require different methods. Ramsay shared his essential tips for making the perfect smash burger with The Takeout, and it's clear that they still require a bit of technique to keep them from going dry. Even though you press them flat, you still shouldn't move them around too much. If you get the timing wrong, they'll end up dry and flavorless, too. The lesson? If you want to make smash burgers, make smash burgers. If you want to make regular patties, make regular patties  and have enough patience to just let them be!

Static Media owns and operates both Tasting Table and The Takeout.

For more food and drink goodness, join The Takeout's newsletter and add us as a preferred search source. Get taste tests, food & drink news, deals from your favorite chains, recipes, cooking tips, and more!

Read the original article on The Takeout.
Police responded to a shooting at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania on Saturday night. - WPVI

At least one person was killed and six others were injured in a shooting at Pennsylvanias Lincoln University Saturday night, during the historically Black universitys homecoming weekend, according to officials.

The shooting is the latest in a disturbing trend of violence surrounding games and homecoming celebrations across the country this football season.

A total of seven people were hit with gunfire after shots rang out near the schools International Cultural Center, where homecoming crowds were celebrating after that afternoons football game, authorities said at a news conference early Sunday.

That festivity was interrupted and decimated by gunfire. It was a chaotic scene, and people fled in every direction, Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said.

Officials did not give details on the conditions of the six injured. Multiple gunshot victims were taken to hospitals in nearby Delaware, authorities told CNN earlier.

Several others were treated at the scene after being knocked to the ground and trampled as people ran for cover, de Barrena-Sarobe said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has been in constant contact with university officials since the shooting and offered the full support of his administration and the state police.

This weekend at Lincoln University should have been spent celebrating the legacy of our nations first degree-granting HBCU, not putting the pieces together after a mass shooting, he said in a post on X. Lori and I are praying for the six people injured, the families sick with worry, and the one soul who will not come home. May their memory be a blessing.

Officials have not yet determined a motive in the shooting, but de Barrena-Sarobe said it does not appear to be a case where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus.

One person who was carrying a gun has been detained, the district attorney said, according to the Associated Press.

So far one person has been jailed on charges of carrying a concealed firearm without a license, and authorities were investigating whether that weapon was used in the shooting, de Barrena-Sarobe said.

We dont have a lot of answers about exactly what happened, he said, noting it is possible there were multiple shooters.

Jujuan Jeffers, 25, of Wilmington, Delaware, was shot in the head and died just after midnight, the Associated Press reported, citing the district attorney.

Local, state and federal law enforcement are investigating, the district attorneys office said in a statement, asking anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact the FBI.

Lincoln University is located about 55 miles west of Philadelphia. The schools website says it is the nations first degree-granting Historically Black College and University.

This was to be a joyous occasion, the university Chief of Police Marc Partee said, expressing regret over what was supposed to be a celebration of the universitys legacy.

Homecoming  when individuals come back, and they give back to their alma mater, and they live the good memories of their time at Lincoln University  This was interrupted by gunfire that should not have occurred, the chief said.

Witnesses recalled seeing people run as loud music played in the background. Moments later, police and firefighters arrived and taped off a section of the campus.

It was chaos, one witness told CNN affiliate WPVI, saying she hadnt heard the shots over the music.

It was a great time until we heard a couple of shots go off, another witness told WPVI, describing how everyone in the huge crowd started running at once.

The campus is no longer under lockdown, though the site of the shooting remains an active crime scene, officials said during the news conference.

Counseling will be available Sunday morning for anyone who needs it, the university said on its Instagram page.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he has been briefed on the shooting and offered his administrations full support to the university and local law enforcement.

Join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community, Shapiro said.

Violent homecoming

Saturdays shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents at homecoming weekends and football games.

Five people were injured in a shooting near the campus of Howard University, another historically Black university, in Washington, DC, as the school began its homecoming activities Friday. Police said none of the victims were Howard students.

Two more people were killed and 12 others injured in Montgomery following Alabama States homecoming game and the Tuskegee-Morehouse historic rivalry game. Montgomery police announced that a juvenile is in custody and charged with capital murder.

At least three shootings across Mississippi this month, all apparently connected to high school football games, have left at least six people dead and others wounded.

There have been at least 353 mass shootings in the United States so far this year, leaving at least 300 people dead and 1,600 injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA).

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Belongings are removed from a foreclosed on home in Aurora, Colorado, April 7, 2010.

Everyone wants to live in a safe and habitable home, and if youre a renter that sometimes means leaning on your landlord to maintain the property. But what happens when they arent responsive?

Lets say you have two friends, Sarah and Zach, who have been in conflict with their landlord for several months, but things have come to a head and they are scared that theyll be forced out of their Texas home.

At first, they had trouble getting their landlord, Mark, to fix things in their unit, which is on the second floor of a house that Mark owns. He was unresponsive when they told him some of their power outlets werent working.

Next, their toilet sprang a leak, and Mark didnt respond to their messages or a written letter saying the toilet needed to be repaired. Afterward, there were signs of water damage on the main floor. Mark blamed Zach and Sarah and threatened to charge them for the repairs.

Now, Mark is saying that Sarah and Zach have to move out, and they have 72 hours to leave. Mark told the couple that they damaged the unit, and he has the right to evict them for violating the lease.

Sarah and Zach are scared and have no place to go. Theyre also worried about the fact that they paid rent for the month, and that their landlord has their security deposit, which he said he will not return.

What are a tenant's rights in this situation?

According to Texas law, a landlord must make an effort to repair a problem if it materially affects the physical health or safety of an ordinary tenant. The issues described above typically apply.

Before a landlord is required to make repairs, the tenant must provide notice. The tenant must also be current on rent, and the problem must have been the result of regular wear and tear, not caused by the tenant or a guest. The landlord must be given a reasonable amount of time to make repairs, generally a week. If the problem hasnt been fixed after such time, another notice should be sent in writing. If repairs still arent conducted after another period of reasonable time, a tenant may have the right to get the problem fixed and deduct the cost of the repair from their rent or even end the lease.

In Texas, a landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining in good faith about necessary repairs. This includes filing for eviction, except under circumstances such as the tenant is behind on rent or has intentionally damaged property. Luckily, Zach and Sarah seemed to have followed the law and documented their attempts to get their landlord to fix the leaking toilet.

If your landlord keeps part or all of your deposit, they are required to give you an itemized list of deductions and a description of the damages. Deterioration resulting from wear and tear does not count.

As for the threat of eviction, Sarah and Zachs landlord cant just kick them out when he feels like it. He has to have a valid reason, take the appropriate steps and win the right to legally evict them in court. The first step, by the way, is to provide written notice, which he didnt do. More details on the process can be found here.

Laws in other states

Laws about landlord responsibilities to a unit can vary from state to state, but many impose similar safeguards regarding safe habitability, privacy and transparency.

Similarly, state laws typically dictate how a tenancy can end, but oftentimes provide opportunity for resolution. If you find yourself in a situation where your landlord threatens eviction, it can pay to brush up on your local laws.

Its also important to carefully read your lease or rental agreement and be aware of any grounds for early termination in your lease. Knowing your rights and your landlords rights can be key. Some states have laws that are more favorable for landlords.

If you're experiencing issues with your landlord, look into tenants associations in your area that can help you. Having an emergency fund can also be useful in case you suddenly find yourself without a roof over your head. Knowing you have money in the bank put aside just in case offers peace of mind and leaves you less vulnerable to upsets such as problems with your landlord.

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
When Stephan Smerk called Fairfax County Police Detective Melissa Wallace on Sept. 7, 2023, she was shocked to hear what he had to say.

"He says, I'm at the police department to turn myself in," Wallace told "48 Hours" correspondent Anne-Marie Green, in "Closing the Cold Case of Robin Lawrence," now streaming on Paramount+. "And I said, turn yourself in for what?"

Smerk, a married 52-year-old father of two living in Niskayuna, New York, was calling to confess to the 30-year-old cold case murder of Robin Warr Lawrence.

"A million things start going through my mind," Wallace said. "The adrenaline was pumping so hard because the reality hit  of what this means and that we're getting ready to close this case."

Robin Lawrence with her daughter Nicole. / Credit: Warr Lawrence Family

Robin Warr Lawrence, an artist and mother, was brutally murdered in her home in Springfield, Virginia, in 1994. For two days, her daughter Nicole, just 2 years old at the time, roamed the house alone before her mother's body was discovered. And for three decades after that, detectives tried to figure out who could have done this to Robin.

"Who would do such a thing? Why?" said Mary Warr Cowans, Robin's sister. "I remember thinking at the funeral, Robin's killer could be in this room with us. We didn't know."

It took decades, but eventually the family would get their answers. DNA evidence  in the form of blood left on a washcloth  had been found at the crime scene back in 1994, and at the time it had turned up no matches when investigators ran it through CODIS  the FBI's national database. Years went by and new techniques were developed, including a process called genetic genealogy.

DNA evidence was recovered on a washcloth in Robin Lawrence's bathroom. / Credit: Fairfax County Police Department

In genetic genealogy, a suspect's DNA is used to find their relatives. Then investigators research those relatives' family trees until a potential person of interest is found  someone who would have been the right age and in the right place at the right time to commit the crime. Parabon NanoLabs, a DNA technology company that often works with law enforcement, did not have high hopes for solving Robin's case using this technique because the database matches were very distant.

"Parabon gave us a solvability rate of zero on the case," said Wallace.

Fairfax County Police Department volunteer Liz, who asked that her last name not be used, thought she'd take a crack at it anyway. The process proved difficult. "I was ready to give up a number of times," Liz told "48 Hours." "But I kept thinking, well, I'll just finish this or just do this one more thing."

After three years of doing just one more thing, Liz came up with a possible suspect. He'd lived in Virginia in 1994 and would have been around the right age to commit the murder. His name was Stephan Smerk.

"I wasn't very hopeful at the time," Wallace said. "I was just looking at this guy's background. I'm thinking, there is no way."

Smerk had a completely clean record, without so much as a speeding ticket. He worked as a computer programmer in suburban Niskayuna.

Though they had their doubts, Detectives Melissa Wallace and Jon Long took the trip up to Niskayuna to talk to Smerk. Their goal was to get his DNA, to see if he was related to the person who had left their DNA at the crime scene  or if he was that person.

"He comes to the door right away," Wallace said. "All we said is we are detectives from Fairfax County, Virginia, and we're looking into a cold case from the 90s."

Smerk, detectives say, had no reaction. "Stone-faced," said Long. Smerk gave his DNA willingly, and Wallace and Long went back to their hotel. Then Wallace got that call.

"I was freaking out," Wallace said. "I run down to [Long's] room, while I'm still on the phone, and I'm banging on his door, and he comes to the door, like, what is the problem? I'm like, we got to go to the police department."

When they met Smerk at the Niskayuna Police Department, officers had taken him into custody and he was ready to talk. Wallace and Long sat him down in an interrogation room, and without much prompting, Smerk confessed to the murder of Robin Warr Lawrence. He had gone to Robin's home that night in 1994, he told them, for no other reason than wanting to kill someone.

"I knew that I was going kill somebody," Smerk told the detectives. "I did not know who I was going to kill." At the time, Smerk was in the military and posted at a base nearby and was familiar with Robin Warr Lawrence's neighborhood because a friend had stayed there. He said he had no idea who lived in Robin's house.

"There could have been 50 people in that house. I don't know. They could have all had guns and shot me dead. I wasn't even thinking about that." All Smerk was thinking about, he told detectives, was killing. He said he had compulsions that he couldn't control.

"I honestly believe that if it wasn't for my wife and my kids, I probably would be a serial killer," Smerk said. "I am a serial killer who's only killed once."

During questioning, Stephan Smerk, who confessed to killing Robin Lawrence, told detectives,

"It's such a shocking statement," Wallace told "48 Hours." "It makes no sense. You know, if you're a serial killer, you don't kill once. But, on the other hand, he was very candid and open and honest throughout the rest of the interview. So, it could be true that he has only killed one person."

Is it possible for someone with the impulses of a serial killer to kill just once? Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O'Toole says it can happen.

"We have learned over the years with cases like BTK and the Golden State Killer and other cases where they do stop," she explained. "The compulsions don't go away  they tell us that they rechannel it. They put it into a different activity. So that activity can be something that is less than murder, but it could involve, for example, Peeping Tom behavior, autoerotic behavior  but you don't just cut those urges off. Something has to replace them."

Smerk had zero incidents on his record. O'Toole says it's possible he never committed another crime, but she doubts the ideas in his head went away. She said she'd like to know more about his ideation in order to determine whether he could be a threat in the future.

"That ideation that really led to the murder in the first place, that would be troubling to me until I knew a lot more about that. What triggered it? What are you doing with it now? Don't tell me it's never there. Don't tell me that it just went out the window after you committed that murder."

In his interview, Smerk expressed no remorse for what he had done. When asked if he had anything he'd like to tell Robin's family, he replied, "How do I say this? I know you're recording  I don't feel anything for the family. I feel bad that I did it because I knew someday my personal freedom would be affected."

Smerk pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2037, when he is 65. Robin's family said they are glad to have closure as long as Smerk spends the rest of his life behind bars, but the consequences of his actions will never leave them.

"It helped to know that a person was found and being held responsible," Warr Cowans said in her statement to the judge at Smerk's sentencing, "but it didn't help to know what he did to [Robin] and how she suffered  it doesn't help and it doesn't bring her back. She would have been in our lives for the past thirty years. But that was taken from us."

She told "48 Hours" that for a long time she lived in fear, not knowing who had committed this horrible crime.

"I actually felt afraid at home, in my bed," she said. "Thinking about someone just from out of the blue could show up from anywhere and kill you in your house ... That's just a scary thought that you're not safe anywhere."

"It's scary," echoed Long. "From a community perspective, that's like your worst nightmare. Like, that's the reason why you tell like your loved ones to make sure that your doors are locked at night. He is the boogeyman."

June Lockhart, beloved for "Lassie," "Lost in Space," dies at 100

Gavin Newsom on opposing Donald Trump: "He's a wrecking ball"

Tarantulas: Why you shouldn't be afraid
Chris Murphy

WASHINGTON  Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy indicated Sunday that the Democrats would likely be willing to end the government shutdown for about $20 billion, a figure far lower than previously requested.

Democratic leadership has publicly demanded a permanent extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, a reversal of the GOP-backed Medicaid reforms, and other concessions, which would cost an estimated $1.5 trillion over the next decade.

We could probably come up with something pretty quickly, Murphy (D-Conn.) told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. The president just announced $20 billion going to bail out the Argentinian economy.

Sen. Chris Murphy has been pushing Democratic leadership to adopt hardball tactics against Republicans. Getty Images for Concordia Annual Summit

For $20 billion, we could open the government back up. Thats enough money to relieve a lot of pressure, he continued. We can get this deal done in a day.

Murphy has joined with Senate Democrats in using the filibuster to block a clean GOP-backed stopgap measure that would open the government back up through Nov. 21.

Republicans only need five Senate Dem defections to get the 60 votes needed to break the filibuster and reopen the government, which has been partially shut down since Oct. 1.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has made clear that Democrats are adamant about having a permanent extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies, which are set to expire by the end of the year.

A full extension of the enhanced Obamacare Premium Tax Credits would cost $350 billion over the next decade, according to an estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

A one-year extension would cost taxpayers $23.4 billion, according to the CBO. The original Obamacare subsidies will remain intact regardless of whether Congress addresses the enhanced refundable tax credits.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has faced intense pressure from progressives to engage in a shutdown fight with Republicans. AP

If Democrats stand by their Medicaid demands as well as their Obamacare demands, the price tag would be $1.5 trillion over a decade, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.

The Connecticut senator didnt specify whether a hypothetical $20 billion deal would take place over a year or a decade.

Murphys discussion of the Argentina bailout refers to a $20 billion currency swap announced earlier this month.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has promised that the US will not lose money on the deal, which is intended to stem the Pesos plunge.

Republicans have long been open to extending the enhanced Obamacare subsidies  with reforms, but have insisted the debate take place separately from the government shutdown fight.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) offered this month to guarantee a vote on an extension of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies if Democrats agree to reopen the government first through the clean stopgap.

Senate Republicans have insisted on a clean stopgap measure to reopen the government. REUTERS

That doesnt help anybody in my state because all these Republicans are going to vote against it, Murphy shot back about Thunes offer.

Last week, Murphy joined most of his Democratic colleagues in torpedoing a GOP-backed measure to pay federal employees mandated to work during the shutdown.

Murphy had previously knocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for avoiding a government shutdown in March, without scoring concessions from Republicans.

The government shutdown is currently the second-longest in US history and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.

On Nov. 1, notices will start going out for enrollment in health insurance plans, which could mean Americans will start learning their healthcare premiums are going up.

Additionally, next month, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC), is set to run dry, making the shutdown even more painful.

House Democrats are expected to convene a meeting this week to discuss their strategy in the shutdown fight.
Taste of Gulf Breeze brought together over 50 of the best food and drink vendors in the Gulf Breeze area with a sold-out crowd estimated to be over 1,200 attendees.

If you couldnt score a ticket in time, you can still visit the vendors year-round. Here were some of the overwhelming crowd favorites, ranging from judges picks, to peoples choice, and where you can try them for yourself.

Downtown Pensacola dining: Tipsy Scoop brings 21+ alcohol-infused ice cream to downtown Pensacola next month

Salt Pensacola - Best Appetizer (Judges pick)

12 Via De Luna Drive

Escape to the Mediterranean coastline on a trip to Pensacola Beach through Salt, a hidden gem inside of Hilton Pensacola Beach, which opened in 2023. The restaurant features Gulf Coast cuisine, ranging from tapas style starters, to handhelds, flatbreads and signature plates. Try the Mediterranean dips sampler from Salt if you want to experience a taste of the Mediterranean, from the homemade dips, ranging from the crazy feta to the tzatziki with grilled pita.

The Thirsty Ranch - Best drink (judges pick and peoples choice)

Mobile

One of the Pensacola areas trendiest mobile bar carts, The Thirsty Ranch has been making a big splash with cocktails crafted specifically to pair with the event where they are served. To lean into the fall season Thirsty Ranch whipped up favorites including a caramel apple butter mule, with caramel apple butter, lime ginger beer and vodka, as well as a hot honey cranberry margarita with hot honey cranberry syrup infused cranberry juice, lime and agave tequila.

While The Thirsty Ranch mainly performs catering, it does host monthly Crafted Social events with tickets for that are open for public purchase, allowing the community to get a taste.

Piazza Pizza and Beach Bodega - Best snack (judges pick)

5 Via De Luna Drive

Gulf Breeze was given a taste of Italy with Piazza on Pensacola Beachs signature toasty paninis on homemade focaccia, showcasing Italian meats and cheeses. To try the Taste of Gulf Breeze feature, order the Italian panini loaded with salami, capicola, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, onions, tomatoes and Calabrian aioli. However, if youre look for a more composed plate, try a build-your-own pasta bowl.

Glory to Glory Ice Cream - Best dessert (judges pick and peoples choice)

Mobile

Glory to Glory took home the judges' pick and peoples choice awards for their elevated soft serve ice cream, including a variety of creative desserts, such as their award-winning Campfire Cone. The Campfire Cone comes with soft serve ice cream, milk and dark chocolate, graham cracker crumble, toasted marshmallow fluff served in a signature waffle cone or 12-ounce cup. Check Glory to Glory's Facebook page for their locations

Sauce Boss Burger Co. - Best appetizer (peoples choice)

319 N. Tarragona St.

Sauce Boss Burger Co. took the crown for best appetizer, with quartered burgers with special sauce and homemade pickles. Sauce Boss specializes in waygu burgers and chicken sandwiches served with house homemade signature sauces, as the restaurants name suggests. Owner Eli Cook founded the truck in 2021 and has taken home a variety of awards ever since for signature burgers and a special burger of the month. Visit Sauce Boss outside of the Handlebar at 319 N. Tarragona St., where you can get classics, such as The Boss with hand-torn lettuce, thin-sliced sweet onions, house-brined pickle chips and the famed Boss Sauce.

Beach House Social Bar & Grill - Best snack (peoples choice)

8375 Gulf Blvd.

Beach House Social, one of Navarres most picturesque dining destinations, took home the prize for best snack serving up executive chef Andrew Suthers new umami, seasoned with white truffle oil, porcini mushroom dust and Grana Padano cheese from Italy. In November, the umami popcorn will likely replace bread service, where a boat of the special popcorn will be presented to patrons at the door, according to Suthers.

Hungry for more? Stay updated on the latest restaurant news by subscribing to our free Pensacola Eats newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. Sign up for the newsletter at profile.pnj.com/newsletters/Pensacola-eats/.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Taste of Gulf Breeze restaurant winners names and locations
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows U.S. President Donald Trump dances during a welcoming ceremony at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, Image 2 shows Donald Trump is greeted by Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Kuala Lumpur International Airport

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia  President Trump danced with a troupe of native performers upon arrival in the Malaysian capital for the first leg of an Asian tour.

Looking fresh after a 23-hour flight from Washington, the 79-year-old swung his hips and pumped his fists to the beat of a drum near a red carpet on the airport tarmac outside Air Force One on Sunday morning local time.

An array of colorfully garbed dancers represented the countrys major ethnicities, including indigenous people from Borneo and groups of Malays, Chinese and Indians.

President Trump got into the groove as he landed in Malaysia. REUTERS

The president was accompanied by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who bobbed to the music alongside his guest.

Trump is blazing through Asia on a five-day mission to bolster Americas standing and trade deals in the region, including firming up relations with newly elected Japanese Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo and then meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, where he may also greet North Koreas Kim Jong Un along the Demilitarized Zone as a last-minute addition to the planned itinerary.

Air Force One was escorted into Malaysia by two F-18s  an honor guard that was given on prior trips by Mideast host nations.

The packed multi-nation tour began with an equally busy day of transit.

Trump gave a 14-minute press conference to reporters over the Atlantic before a refueling stop in Germany.

TRUMP DANCE  MALAYSIA EDITION! pic.twitter.com/HLyCVaCndh  Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 26, 2025

The president was greeted by local armed forces as he arrived in Kuala Lampur. AP

During a stop in Qatar, Trump hosted Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in the cabin of Air Force One  as TV screens played a UFC cage match.

The Qatar stop focused on shoring up Trumps Gaza peace plan, including finalizing an international peacekeeping force due to deploy to the war-torn Palestinian territory after Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire as part of Trumps 20-point framework to end the two-year war.

Youre going to have peace in the Middle East. This is real peace, the president said during the red-eye stopover. This has never happened before  3,000 years this has never happened.

Trump said a multinational group of countries set to deploy to Gaza was actually picking leaders right now.

The US doesnt have to get much involved. Theyre able to take care of it, he said. Very substantial nations. We have Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar. We have the three and then you have many behind them and even with them. Turkey is involved. Indonesia is involved. Jordan, Egypt. Its an amazing group.

Despite being passed over this month for the Nobel Peace Prize, conflict resolution remained high on the presidents agenda for the globe-circling trip.

The top-billed event in the Malaysian capital is a ceremonial peace-deal signing between Cambodia and Thailand, whose five-day border war in July was ended by Trumps mediation and his threats of higher US tariffs after at least 66 deaths.
By Xinghui Kok

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said he was confident of hashing out a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he is expected to meet next week, after top economic officials from both countries reached a preliminary consensus in trade talks that concluded on Sunday.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.

"I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday," Bessent told reporters.

Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he anticipated the agreement would defer China's expanded export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets and avoid a new 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods threatened by Trump.

He said Trump and Xi would discuss soybean and agricultural purchases from American farmers, more balanced trade and resolving the U.S. fentanyl crisis, which was the basis of 20% U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his first stop in a five-day Asia tour that is expected to culminate in a face-to-face with Xi in South Korea on October 30.

After the talks, he struck a positive tone, saying: "I think were going to have a deal with China".

China's Li said both sides had reached a "preliminary consensus" and will next go through their respective internal approval processes.

"The U.S. position has been tough," Li said. "We have experienced very intense consultations and engaged in constructive exchanges in exploring solutions and arrangements to address these concerns."

Both sides are looking to avert an escalation of their trade war after Trump threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade curbs starting on November 1, in retaliation for China's vastly expanded export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

Beijing and Washington rolled back most of their triple-digit tariffs on each other's goods under a trade truce, which is due to expire on November 10.

The U.S. and Chinese officials said they discussed trade expansion, an extension of the truce, fentanyl, U.S. port entrance fees, rare earths, TikTok and more.

Li described the discussions as "candid", while Bessent said they were "very substantial negotiations".

Bessent said the truce could be extended, pending the president's decision, marking a second extension since it was first signed in May.

While the White House has officially announced the highly anticipated Trump-Xi talks, Beijing has yet to confirm that the two leaders will meet.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, the U.S. president hinted at possible meetings with Xi in China and the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, meets Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, accompanied by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and other officials, on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 26, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein (Reuters / Reuters)

"Weve agreed to meet. Were going to meet them later in China, and we're going to meet in the U.S., in either Washington or at Mar-a-Lago, he said.

Among Trump's talking points with Xi are Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans, concerns around democratically-governed Taiwan which Beijing views as its own territory, and the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

The detention of the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has become the most high-profile example of China's crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Asian financial hub.

Trump also said that he would seek China's help in Washington's dealings with Russia, as Moscow's war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year.

Tensions between the world's two largest economies flared in the past few weeks as a delicate trade truce, reached after their first round of trade talks in Geneva in May and extended in August, failed to prevent the two sides from hitting each other with more sanctions, export curbs and threats of stronger retaliatory measures.

The latest round of talks is likely to centre around China's expanded controls of rare earths exports that have caused a global shortage.

That has prompted the Trump administration to consider a block on software-powered exports to China, from laptops to jet engines, according to a Reuters report.

A day before the talks commenced, the U.S. launched a new tariff investigation into China's "apparent failure" to comply with the "Phase One" trade deal signed in 2020.

The new unfair trade practices probe bolsters Trump's toolkit against China.

Any agreement from Sunday's talks is likely to be fragile as the worlds most important trade relationship, worth $660 billion a year, hangs in the balance.

In a statement on state media Xinhua, Chinese Vice Premier He said he hopes the U.S. and China will meet each other halfway.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Writing by Mei Mei Chu, Yukun Zhang and John Mair; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Full disclosure, I find caves equally fascinating and terrifying. Because of my innate curiosity, I will explore these dark crevices just to discover what unknown critters lie beneath. On the other hand, my overactive imagination creates stories of creepy, cave-dwelling cryptids that literally live rent-free in my head. Of course, it's easier to explore commercial caves like the ones at Carlsbad National Park, but untouched caves like the ones in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico require a little more bravery on my part.

If you're not afraid to discover the unknown, the unfamiliar, or the downright mysterious things found inside these underground worlds, then I've got the perfect adventure for you. Plan a trip to explore the hidden cave along the Cave of the Winds via Quemazon Trail in the Santa Fe National Forest. On this adventure, you'll pass open meadows with sweeping views, and there will be lots of rock scrambling on the way. You'll be rewarded with a mysterious underground attraction in New Mexico that will leave you with lasting memories.

Amateur spelunkers and outdoor adventurers, bring your headlight for this cave hike in New Mexico. You can find the Quemazon Trail just a short drive west of downtown Los Alamos, just off Trinity Drive. The small parking lot has room for several cars, but you shouldn't have issues finding a spot.

The two-mile out-and-back trek is wonderful no matter the time of year, but if you're visiting during the warmer months, be sure to wear comfy clothing and bring lots of water with you. Plus, don't forget to wear sturdy boots as you'll need to scramble and climb down rocky areas to the cave. This hike is great for older kids, but keep in mind there are some steep sections along the way.

From the parking lot, expect a steady descent up the mesa as you hike to the rim of Los Alamos Canyon. With an elevation gain of about 500 feet, hikers enjoy the switchbacks as well as the views from the trail. In the distance, you'll see the city of Los Alamos, and as you climb further, be on the lookout for Pajarito Mountain and Ski Area in the distance.

This trek is short, but it's incredibly scenic, so you'll want to carve out extra time to soak up the views. After about a mile of hiking, the trail levels out. Continue past the nature trail junction and look for the spur trail marked with rock cairns that leads to Cave of the Winds.

This is where the hike gets adventurous. The cave is located about 100 feet below the rim of the canyon, and it will take some rock scrambling to get to the entrance. The trek down is steep and rugged, so be sure to watch your footing as you make your way to the entrance. Once you find the opening, which is a horizontal slit in the rock face, turn on your headlight and climb inside.

This underground cavern in New Mexico is quite dark and doesn't have large passageways. So, if you're claustrophobic, I would skip entering. For the brave adventurers, there will be plenty of room to navigate inside. As with any undeveloped, wild cave, you might find flying and crawling critters here. Since this is a popular spot for locals, there will be some graffiti left behind from past hikers.

What I like about this cave is that you get to create your own adventure. Spend as much time as you desire exploring the different crevices as you wonder what mysterious features you can uncover. Homesteaders, sheep herders, and loggers once used this route to cross into Valle Grande, so who knows if they used this hidden cave as a shelter at some point.

After you've explored the mysterious cavern, follow the trail back to the entrance, or for more adventure, connect to the Quemazon Nature Trail or the Satch Cowan Trail. One thing is for sure: this underground attraction in New Mexico is packed with adventure, and if you ask me, it's one of the most underrated hikes in the Santa Fe National Forest.

What do you think about this cave adventure in New Mexico? Have you ever hiked the trail? What is your favorite mysterious destination in the state? Share it with us on our nomination page.

And when you're feeling adventurous, use Only In Your State's itinerary planner to create your own one-of-a-kind trip in New Mexico.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 26, 2025. Vincent Thian/Pool via REUTERS

By Xinghui Kok

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Top Chinese and U.S. economic officials agreed on the framework for a trade agreement on Sunday as U.S. President Donald Trump said he was confident of hashing out a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping when they meet in the coming days.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and top trade negotiator Li Chenggang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May.

"I think we have a very successful framework for the leaders to discuss on Thursday," Bessent told reporters.

Bessent told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he anticipated the agreement would defer China's expanded export controls on rare earth minerals and magnets and avoid a new 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods threatened by Trump.

He said Trump and Xi would discuss soybean and agricultural purchases from American farmers, more balanced trade and resolving the U.S. fentanyl crisis, which was the basis of 20% U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.

China's Li said both sides had reached a "preliminary consensus" and will next go through their respective internal approval processes.

"The U.S. position has been tough," Li said. "We have experienced very intense consultations and engaged in constructive exchanges in exploring solutions and arrangements to address these concerns."

Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, his first stop in a five-day Asia tour that is expected to culminate in a face-to-face with Xi in South Korea on October 30.

After the talks, he struck a positive tone, saying: "I think were going to have a deal with China".

TRADE TRUCE

Both sides are looking to avert an escalation of their trade war after Trump threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade curbs starting on November 1, in retaliation for China's expanded export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

Beijing and Washington rolled back most of their triple-digit tariffs on each other's goods under a trade truce, which is due to expire on November 10.

The U.S. and Chinese officials said they discussed trade expansion, an extension of the truce, fentanyl, U.S. port entrance fees, rare earths, TikTok and more.

Li described the discussions as "candid", while Bessent said they were "very substantial negotiations".

Bessent said the truce could be extended, pending the president's decision, marking a second extension since it was first signed in May.

TALKING POINTS

While the White House has officially announced the highly anticipated Trump-Xi talks, Beijing has yet to confirm that the two leaders will meet.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit, Trump hinted at possible meetings with Xi in China and the United States.

"Weve agreed to meet. Were going to meet them later in China, and we're going to meet in the U.S., in either Washington or at Mar-a-Lago, he said.

Among Trump's talking points with Xi are Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans, concerns around democratically-governed Taiwan which Beijing views as its own territory, and the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

The detention of the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has become the most high-profile example of China's crackdown on rights in Hong Kong.

Trump also said that he would seek China's help in Washington's dealings with Russia, as Moscow's war in Ukraine grinds on.

FRAGILE TRUCE

Tensions between the world's two largest economies flared in the past few weeks as a delicate trade truce, reached after a first round of trade talks in Geneva in May and extended in August, failed to prevent the two sides from hitting each other with more sanctions, export curbs and threats of stronger retaliatory measures.

The latest round of talks has likely centred around China's expanded controls of rare earths exports that have caused a global shortage.

That has prompted the Trump administration to consider a block on software-powered exports to China, from laptops to jet engines, according to a Reuters report.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Writing by Mei Mei Chu, Yukun Zhang and John Mair; Editing by Tom Hogue and Ros Russell)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer looks on, following a meeting between Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, on the day of U.S.-China talks on trade, economic and national security issues, in Madrid, Spain, September 15, 2025. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura/File Photo

By Xinghui Kok

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -The second day of trade talks between the U.S. and China was paving the way for a "productive meeting" between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, Washington's top trade envoy said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, raising hopes of a deal between the world's two largest economies.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for a fifth round of in-person discussions since May as both sides seek to de-escalate a trade war.

"I think that we're getting to a spot where the leaders will have a very productive meeting," Greer said as he stepped away from the talks to meet Trump. Also participating in the talks is China's top trade negotiator Li Chenggang.

Asked by a reporter if rare earths were discussed at the talks, which started on Saturday, Greer said a broad range of topics were discussed, including extending the truce on trade measures.

Both sides are looking to avert an escalation of their trade war after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and other trade curbs starting on November 1, in retaliation for China's vastly expanded export controls on rare earth magnets and minerals.

TALKING POINTS

Trump arrived in the Malaysian capital on Sunday morning for the summit, his first stop in a five-day Asia tour that is expected to culminate in a face-to-face with Xi in South Korea.

A positive outcome for the Kuala Lumpur talks would remove roadblocks for the high-stakes meeting to take place on Oct 30.

While the White House has officially announced the highly anticipated Trump-Xi talks, Beijing has yet to confirm that the two leaders will meet.

Among Trump's talking points with Xi are Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans, concerns around democratically-governed Taiwan which Beijing views as its own territory, and the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

The detention of the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has become the most high-profile example of China's crackdown on rights and freedoms in the Asian financial hub.

Trump also said that he would seek China's help in Washington's dealings with Russia, as Moscow's war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that the U.S will not walk away from Taiwan in return for trade benefits with China.

FRAGILE TRUCE

Tensions between the world's two largest economies flared in the past few weeks as a delicate trade truce - reached after their first round of trade talks in Geneva in May and extended in August - failed to prevent the two sides from hitting each other with more sanctions, export curbs and threats of stronger retaliatory measures.

The latest round of talks is likely to centre around China's expanded controls of rare earths exports that have caused a global shortage.

That has prompted the Trump administration to consider a block on "critical software" exports to China, from laptops to jet engines, according to a Reuters report.

A day before the talks commenced, the U.S launched a new tariff investigation into China's "apparent failure" to comply with the "Phase One" trade deal signed in 2020.

The new unfair trade practices probe bolsters Trump's toolkit against China.

Any agreement from Sunday's talks is likely to be fragile as the worlds most important trade relationship, worth $660 billion a year, hangs in the balance.

(Reporting by Xinghui Kok; Writing by Mei Mei Chu, Yukun Zhang and John Mair; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Key Points

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing has a estimated 70% market share among chip foundries.

ASML is the only company making the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines that foundries require.

10 stocks we like better than Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 

For investors, artificial intelligence (AI) is the gift that keeps giving. Despite worries about the economy -- high interest rates, a sluggish job market, tariffs, high prices, and a government shutdown -- the stock market keeps rolling along, powered by AI stocks that have no intention of slowing down.

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AI infrastructure spending is expected to hit $490 billion next year, and to jump as high as $2.9 trillion through 2029. With that level of spending, it's no wonder why investors are continuing to pile into AI stocks.

But who is going to be the biggest winner in all this spending, as tech companies are scrambling to get a piece of the pie? In my view, it's the two companies with the biggest competitive moats -- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) and ASML (NASDAQ: ASML).

Taiwan Semiconductor building with the TSMC logo.

Image source: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

There's a rush to make high-performing semiconductor chips. Among other uses, semiconductors power data centers that companies are using to manage AI-powered programs and large language models, plus developing new features. Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, Amazon, Apple, Qualcomm, Alphabet, and others are making these chips -- but they're all turning to Taiwan Semiconductor, or TSMC, to fabricate them.

"They are a world-class foundry and support customers of diverse needs. You can't overstate the magic that is TSMC," Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang gushed last month.

TSMC owns roughly 70% of the semiconductor foundry market, according to Statista. The company is in demand because it's one of the few that can make 3 nanometer (nm) chips, and it's working on mass producing 2nm chips this year. The smaller the transistor sizes, the more transistors TSMC can squeeze into a chip, making them exponentially more powerful. TSMC gets about 60% of its revenue from 3nm and 5nm chips.

Nvidia is the unquestioned leader in designing high-powered graphics processing units (GPUs) that are essential to top AI functions, but it will be under pressure in coming quarters as other top companies ramp up their own chipmaking efforts.

No matter who comes out on top in that fight, however, TSMC will be the fabricator of choice. That's why it's poised to be a big winner from the AI infrastructure boom.

ASML

Based in the Netherlands, ASML is the only company in the world making extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, which are used to make small, advanced circuits on semiconductor chips. They work better than deep ultraviolet (DUV) machines because they reflect light using mirrors, rather than refracting it with lenses. That allows ASML's EUV machines to print smaller and finer -- and gives chipmakers the ability to make more powerful chips.

The company has a massive growth window in front of it. Revenues for 2024 were 28.3 billion euros ($32.85 billion), with gross margins of 51.3%, and management says it expects to have annual revenue between 44 billion euros and 60 billion euros ($51.08 billion to $69.65 billion) by 2030 and gross margins between 56% and 60%. If it achieves those numbers, ASML will have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2% at the top end.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2025, ASML posted revenue of 7.5 billion euros ($8.71 billion). And despite the expected dramatic drop in China net sales in 2026 because of export restrictions imposed by the Dutch government, the company expects to see positive global sales growth next year.

The bottom line

TSM Chart

TSM data by YCharts

TSMC and ASML stocks are seemingly moving in tandem these days -- both are up 47% on the year, and both have a strong growth story.

AI companies are going to battle for the next several years to gain supremacy and market share as they seek to capitalize on the massive opportunity in artificial intelligence. But no matter which of these companies come out on top, they'll be turning TSMC to build the chips. And TSMC will need ASML's groundbreaking equipment to make that happen.

Both companies are perfectly situated to profit from the explosion in AI infrastructure spending, and that's why I see them as the true winners in the years to come.

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Scott Bessent during a lunch with Republican senators in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 21. (Allison RobbertBloomberg/Getty Images)

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled on Sunday that the U.S. and China will significantly de-escalate their trade war under a framework he negotiated.

In an interview on CBS News Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Bessent said an additional 100% tariff that President Donald Trump threatened earlier this month is effectively off the table, along with Chinas rare earth restrictions.

So I would expect that the threat of the 100% has gone away, as has the threat of the immediate imposition of the Chinese initiating a worldwide export control regime, he said.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet Thursday on the sidelines of a regional economic conference in South Korea, where they will determine the final details of a deal.

Bessent said Trumps 100% tariff threat, which would have boosted the overall rate above 150%, created significant leverage during the talks in Malaysia with Vice Premier He Lifeng over the weekend.

The two sides also discussed American agricultural exports to China, and Beijings role in helping curb the fentanyl trade.

Farmers have been warning of an economic crisis in rural America as crop prices fall and costs remain high, while China has held off on buying any U.S. soybeans this harvest season, despite traditionally being their top export market.

In a separate appearance on ABCs This Week, Bessent revealed that he is also a soybean farmer: So, I have felt this pain, too.

On CBS, Bessent declined to give specific details but said soybean farmers will be extremely happy with this deal for this year and for the coming years.

He added that a recent Chinese purchase of soybeans from Argentina had been planned before the U.S. extended a currency lifeline to Buenos Aires but was timed to take advantage of a drop in export duties.

Those soybeans were always going to be on the market. Its a global market. The three leading suppliers are Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S., Bessent said. And I believe that we have brought the market back into equilibrium, and I believe that the Chinese will be making substantial purchases again.

While he indicated China will ease its export controls on rare earths, Bessent suggested U.S. restrictions will remain.

When asked about limits on chip exports and curbs on Chinese investments in the U.S., he replied, There have been no changes in our export controls.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Vladimir Putins wartime economy has been resilient in the face of Western sanctions triggered by his invasion of Ukraine, but its hitting a wall and U.S. pressure on the energy sector could cause a recession, according to experts.

Massive defense spending has propped up growth, kept factories humming, and pushed unemployment lower, while Moscow has relied on allies like China for goods no longer available from the West.

But the country has exhausted its reserves of manufacturing capacity and manpower, Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and former Russian central bank advisor, wrote in Foreign Affairs on Monday.

To produce substantially more equipment or recruit and train far more soldiers, Moscow would have to shift to a more comprehensive war footing by directing all available resources toward military needs, as it did during World War II, or commandeering civilian production lines for military purposes.

Such a mobilization would require Moscow to order car plants, for example, to exclusively produce military vehicles. But the Russian government hasnt resorted to those measures because it doesnt want to create shortages of consumer goods and risk social unrest, she added.

Meanwhile, production bottlenecks, labor shortages, tighter government spending, and the lack of Western technology are increasingly causing strains in the economy, Prokopenko said.

GDP growth is slowing sharply, tracking at just 1.1% so far this year, down from 4.1% in 2024 and 3.6% in 2023. Thats partly because all the money Moscow spends for its war on Ukraine has few lasting benefits.

In effect, defense spending functions like a disposable-goods economy: factories operate at full capacity, workers earn wages, and demand for inputs surges, but the output is designed to vanish almost immediately, she explained.

Not only do weapons and equipment get obliterated on the battlefield, but payments for dead and injured soldiers will continue to weigh on the Kremlins budget even after the fighting ends.

Such spending contrasts with government outlays on infrastructure that help improve an economys long-term potential.

This cycle sustains employment and industrial activity in the short term but generates no lasting assetssuch as highways, power plants, or schoolsor productivity gains, leaving the economy busier yet poorer with each passing year of war, Prokopenko wrote.

Russian recession warnings

And U.S. sanctions announced Wednesday on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil could push the economy over the edge.

Thats as oil and gas revenue, which is the Kremlins main source of funds, has been falling amid low energy prices, forcing Russia to rein in its budget. The two companies account for about half of the countrys oil exports, and Rosneft alone contributes about 17% of Russia budget revenue.

While they can still find ways to sell their crude, it will require more work-arounds that add to costs while some customers may balk over fears of secondary sanctions.

As for Russia itself, the hit to energy revenues could tip the economy into recession, Capital Economics said in a note on Thursday.

Its possible a recession has already arrived. Last month, data from Russias central bank showed GDP shrank on a sequential basis in the first and second quarters, meeting the definition of a so-called technical recession.

Also last month, Sberbank CEO German Gref, one of Russias top banking chiefs, said the economy was in technical stagnation, And in June, Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov warned that Russia was on the brink of a recession.

To be sure, much depends on U.S. execution of its new sanctions, while markets weigh whether the measures are another example of President Donald Trumps negotiating strategy of escalating to de-escalate.

Indeed, Capital Economics said its hard to see Trump sticking with a policy that would raise U.S. gasoline prices.

But even if Russia suffers a recession, analysts see a low probability that it will be enough to bring Putin to the negotiating table and end his war on Ukraine.

Russias economic problems have not had much bearing on Putins war aims so far, and the Kremlin will want to resist being strong-armed into a deal by the US, Capital Economics said. But the economic costs for Putin for continuing the war are likely to ratchet up.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Faced with outrage over irregularities in unfinished flood control work, which culminated in the Trillion Peso March, the social arm of the Philippine Catholic Church has signed a memorandum with the government that provides for the direct involvement of parishes in monitoring construction sites. Beyond criticism, we hope to give moral guidance, Bishop Bagaforo says.

Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Caritas Philippines has joined a broad alliance to monitor government infrastructure projects and help curb corruption nationwide.

The local Church's social arm, according to CBCP News, the news agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, has entered into a working agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Mayors' Association for Good Governance, and several civil society groups to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public works.

The agreement, sealed with a memorandum, seeks to expand the government's ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control and infrastructure projects across the country, which sparked a wave of outrage in the Philippines that culminated in last month's massive Trillion Peso March.

The partnership will allow parishes and community groups to vet reports of non-existent or substandard projects and monitor the progress of DPWH projects in their respective areas.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said the Church will mobilise dioceses through social action centres to contribute to this monitoring effort.

Through these ministries, we will assist in monitoring ongoing projects, especially those that may be ghost or substandard, the prelate said during the signing event Friday.

He added that Caritas will organise groups of parish volunteers to visit the sites and track how the projects are being implemented.

Bishop Bagaforo also stressed that the Church's role is not only to report irregularities, but also to offer moral guidance to officials and project implementers.

Beyond criticism, we hope to give moral guidance to local officials and project implementers  especially those involved in anomalies  so they may be enlightened, he said.

The memorandum requires local monitoring teams to document their findings, submit verified reports, and ensure responsible use of shared data.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has committed to acting promptly on confirmed reports of irregularities and to maintaining transparency in accordance with applicable laws regarding accountability and corruption.

ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
25 October 2025 19:50 (UTC+04:00)

On October 26, the Rashid Behbutov State Song Theatre will host Autumn Legends 2025 Arts Competition, organized in partnership with the Azerbaijan Youth Union the Azerbaijan Dance Association, Azernews reports.

The large-scale competition, held during the autumn season, will bring together talented participants not only from Baku but also from various regions across the country. The project has been taking place for the eighth consecutive year and traditionally unites young artists with diverse talents.

Aziz Azizov, President of the Azerbaijan Dance Association and the founder of the project, emphasized that the competition aims to support talented youth and create opportunities for their creative growth:

"Each performance is not just a competition, but a chance to express oneself, believe in one's talent, and feel the power of the stage. Don't be afraid to be sincere and bold, because it is the emotions that make art come alive. Let this competition be a new step towards your dreams."

During the competition, participants will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in a variety of genres, including folklore, classical music, pop music, as well as in singing, theater, vocal, artistic reading, choreography, and fashion. Performances will be evaluated by a competent jury consisting of Honored and People's Artists of Azerbaijan.

Each contestant, starting from the age of four, will have the chance to demonstrate their talent, artistry, and stage presence. Winners will receive diplomas, trophies, and special prizes.

The competition will serve as a bright start to the autumn season, providing young artists with new emotions, inspiration, and motivation for future creative achievements.

Media partners of the event are Azernews.Az, Trend.Az, Day.Az and Milli.Az.
26 October 2025 10:28 (UTC+04:00)

From October 31 to November 2, Baku will host the "Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW" arts festival, an event that brings together art, culture, and ecology, Azernews reports citing Trend.

The project is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union, in partnership with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry. The author and initiator of the project is Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of the IDEA Public Union.

This immersive event will transform Baku into a living stage for contemporary creativity, dialogue, and discovery. Special attention will be devoted to the ecological situation in the oceans and seas, conveyed through the language of art. The festivals central theme  water  symbolizes life, renewal, and sustainable development. Water, as a symbol of resilience, renewal, and collective memory, has been chosen as the key element of Art Weekend, fostering a meaningful dialogue with the international art world.

One of the festival's highlights will take place at the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Centre, where the multidisciplinary project "The Pistachio Tree: Roots of Memory" will be presented.

Based on a story by the prominent Azerbaijani writer, People's Writer of Azerbaijan and State Prize laureate Maksud Ibrahimbayov (19352016), the production tells the story of a man and a tree  a symbol of resilience, memory, and hope. It is a tale about roots, time, and the human ability to preserve ones inner light. The monodrama will be performed by Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Shovgi Huseynov.

"The project unites three elements  art, tradition, and nature  creating a single artistic space where the past and future meet in the symbol of the pistachio tree  a tree that thrives where water is scarce and sustains life even in harsh conditions. By combining literature, tradition, and ecology, 'The Pistachio Tree: Roots of Memory' expresses the idea that 'By preserving the culture of the past, we are responsible for the nature of the future'," said Anna Ibrahimbayova, Director of the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Centre.

A "Pistachio Carpet" woven by masters from Azerkhalcha OJSC will serve as a visual embodiment of cultural roots and national traditions. Its patterns echo the themes of the story, intertwining literature, craftsmanship, and the living fabric of Azerbaijani culture.

In addition, a pistachio tree will be planted in front of the Maksud Ibrahimbayov Creativity Centre in Icherisheher  a living symbol of respect for nature and water. This gesture transforms an artistic concept into action, uniting humanity, art, and nature in a single breath.
26 October 2025 11:29 (UTC+04:00)

Baku will host the immersive arts festival "Fly to Baku. Art Weekend. Sense the Future NOW," bringing together art, culture, and ecological awareness from October 31 through November 2. The project is organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union, in partnership with the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, Azernews reports citing Trend.

The project' s author and initiator is Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder of IDEA Public Union. This immersive project will turn Baku into a vibrant stage of contemporary creativity, sparking dialogue and discovery, with a keen eye on ocean and sea ecology through the artful lens of expression. The heart and soul of the festival revolves around water, a true symbol of life, renewal, and sustainable development. This key element of Art Weekend is set to open the floodgates for meaningful dialogue with the international art world.

One of the events will be held at the Shirvanshahs' Palace in Baku's ancient Icherisheher area, featuring artist Vusala Agharaziyeva's exhibition "Dew. The Morning That Never Was." Curator: Nigar Rzayeva.

In Eastern philosophy, dew is a sign that the present comes naturally, without pressure. It appears and disappears and then reappears. It is often personified as divine breath. Just as a source does not reveal itself directly but makes its presence felt, so dew appears only to those who awaken early enough to notice it. Dew directly and metaphorically signifies awakening.

Inspired by this philosophy, the artist's exhibition explores dew as a trace of night, the transition between night and day, memory, and presence. Water here serves as a metaphor for the source, movement, and reflection.

"The title, ' Dew: The Morning That Never Was' , intentionally leaves a space of ambiguity, as the dew appears in that very pause before morning has fully arrived, when the world hasn't yet chosen what it will be like today. Although the project isn't directly dedicated to ecology, it has a profound connection to it as a state of attention and care. Here, art becomes a form of caring presence. Contact with the world occurs through the ability to see and sense what lies between: oneself and another, between sleep and reality, between being and disappearing," noted Agharaziyeva.

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a place that is itself a work of art, a trace of the past. The exhibition elements are integrated into the logic of the space and reveal meanings already present within its walls. Through installations, painting, video art, light, and sound, a space is created where the viewer can experience the moment of the birth of a new day that has not yet come...
26 October 2025 18:20 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

A meeting with prominent cultural and art figures has been held at the Presidential Library of Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

The event was attended by renowned photojournalist Reza Deghati, Azerbaijan's prominent composer, People's Artist, and Professor Siyavush Karimi, Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater and Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov, and Deputy Chair of the "Culture that Unites Us" Public Union, Riad Guliyev.

The Director of the Presidential Library, Professor Afet Abbasova, acquainted the guests with the library's activities, rich collections, and ongoing projects. She emphasized that the Presidential Library attaches special importance to cooperation in the fields of science, culture, and the arts, highlighting the promotion of new creative initiatives as one of its priority directions.

During the meeting, the possibilities for joint cooperation in the cultural sphere and the realization of new projects were discussed. Ideas were exchanged regarding mutual initiatives in the fields of photojournalism, music, and exhibition activities.

In a creative atmosphere, Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov and People's Artist, Professor Siyavush Karimi performed "Alagoz" (lyrics by Zeynal Jabbarsade), one of the favorite songs of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, as well as a new composition by Siyavush Karimi, "Sen Yanmda Ol" (lyrics by Shahnaz Hashimova).

At the end of the sincere dialogue, the Director of the Presidential Library thanked the guests and wished them success in their future creative endeavors.

Additionally, Professor Afet Abbasova, Director of the Presidential Library, and photojournalist Reza Deghati discussed the possibility of organizing exhibitions dedicated to the Khojaly genocide, featuring photographs taken by Deghati, in the run-up to the anniversary of the tragedy.

Through such meetings, the Presidential Library aims to contribute to the promotion of national cultural heritage, strengthen creative connections, and expand cooperation with cultural and scientific figures.
26 October 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has delivered a speech at an event celebrating the 80th anniversary of the United Nations (UN), Azernews reports.

In his address, Minister Bayramov highlighted the UN's crucial role as a cornerstone of multilateral diplomacy and extended his congratulations on the occasion of its 80th anniversary. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan'sactive and responsible membership in the UN, noting the countrys representation in key UN bodies, including its term on the Security Council from 20122013 and on the Economic and Social Council three times.

The Minister emphasized that Azerbaijan'sgrowing global influence is reinforced by its contributions to key UN initiatives. He pointed out Azerbaijan's leadership role during its chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement from 2019 to 2023, its hosting of the 2016 Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, and its upcoming hosting of COP29 in 2024.

Bayramov also mentioned that Azerbaijan will host two significant UN events in 2026  the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) and World Environment Day. He stressed that these events would highlight the connection between climate action and sustainable urban development, showcasing Azerbaijan's commitment to green energy and its leading role in global climate diplomacy.

The Minister reiterated Azerbaijan's full alignment with the UN's Global Agenda, emphasizing the countrys focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, driving digital innovation, advancing the rights of women and youth, and fostering humanitarian and intercultural dialogue. He also noted the successful completion of the AzerbaijanUN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 20212025, adding that the new agreement signed for 20262030 will usher in a new phase of partnership.

Bayramov also discussed the ongoing large-scale restoration efforts in Azerbaijans liberated territories, following the restoration of its territorial integrity, and the country's consistent work to promote stability and cooperation in the South Caucasus. He underscored the significance of the Joint Declaration signed in Washington on August 8 this year and other agreements, which mark an important milestone in the regional peace process.

In closing, Minister Bayramov called for a strengthened partnership with the UN, emphasizing the need to explore new areas of cooperation and intensify joint efforts toward building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world.

At the end of the event, Azerbaijan and the UN signed the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 20262030.
26 October 2025 18:00 (UTC+04:00)

Tourism in Azerbaijan's Garabagh region has seen significant growth and transformation since the country liberated its territories. The restoration of these lands has opened up new opportunities for tourism, capitalizing on the region's rich natural beauty, historical landmarks, and cultural heritage.

These areas, which include cities like Shusha, Aghdam, Khankandi, and regions such as Khojaly and Aghdara, have long been renowned for their scenic landscapes, ancient architectural monuments, and unique traditions.

The government has been actively supporting the tourism industry in these newly liberated lands by creating favorable conditions for investment in the sector.

Tourism in Garabagh was a key focus at the conference "Public-Private Partnership and Networking in the Tourism Industry" held in Khankandi city, where experts discussed the region's potential for growth and development.

Co-organized by the State Tourism Agency and the Garabagh Regional Tourism Department, the event was attended by representatives from the Office of the Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in Khankendi, Agdara, and Khojali districts, representatives of Garabagh University, as well as tourism industry representatives from Khankandi, Khojali, Agdara, Agdam, and Shusha.

In their remarks, the speakers highlighted that the rich nature, cultural, and historical monuments of Garabagh create great opportunities for the extensive development of tourism in the region.

The large-scale restoration and construction work carried out in the liberated areas has created conditions for the formation of new tourism routes. New public catering facilities, hotels, and restaurants have already opened in the region, which has positively impacted the attraction of tourists.

Currently, there are 37 accommodation facilities operating in the areas that are part of the Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur economic regions, 20 of which are in Khankandi city.

Due to the state's support for the tourism sector, the number of new facilities in this area is increasing day by day. In recent months, there has been a significant increase in the number of both local and foreign tourists visiting the region.

During the summer season alone, more than 500,000 tourists visited the liberated territories. To ensure the safe and comfortable travel of tourists to the region, all necessary conditions have been created. Citizens can obtain travel permits online through the "Our Way to Garabagh" and e-Polis portals.

In the second part of the event, a panel discussion with representatives of government agencies was organized, where detailed information was provided about the development of public-private partnerships in the tourism sector and state support in this regard. Participants' questions were also answered.

At the event, representatives of companies and organizations representing the region's tourism industry gave presentations on their areas of activity, ongoing initiatives, future plans, and proposals.
26 October 2025 14:00 (UTC+04:00)

Chairman of the Bar Association and a member of the Judicial-Legal Council Anar Baghirov has addressed the international conference marking the opening of the Baku Arbitration Center, Azernews reports.

In his speech, Anar Baghirov emphasized that the development of the modern economy and global trade often relies on the flexibility of the judicial system and the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

"The development of the modern economy and global trade often depends on the flexibility of the judicial system and the effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In this regard, arbitration serves as an important tool for regulating economic relations, protecting investors' rights, and ensuring transparency in the business environment," he said.

Baghirov stressed that the establishment of the Baku Arbitration Center holds historic significance for strengthening the institutional foundations of arbitration in Azerbaijan and ensuring justice, transparency, and efficiency in legal relations. He noted that this milestone signifies not just the establishment of a new legal institution, but also a clear demonstration of the progress of Azerbaijan's legal system in alignment with international standards.

"Global experience demonstrates that economically successful states, alongside improving their judicial systems, attach great importance to the development of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The advantage of arbitration lies in its capacity to enable parties to resolve disputes in a more flexible, confidential, and independent manner. This enhances investor confidence and contributes to strengthening the country's international legal reputation. It can be confidently stated that the Baku Arbitration Center will soon become one of the leading arbitration institutions not only in the Caucasus and Central Asia regions but also globally," he added.
26 October 2025 15:03 (UTC+04:00)

Ramil Hasan, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), has held a meeting with Devlet Bahceli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, in Ankara, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Ramil Hasan briefed Devlet Bahceli on the Assembly's activities, ongoing projects, and plans for future initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation between member parliaments.

Hasan also emphasized the importance of improving coordination among the Foreign Ministries, the Organization of Turkic States, and the parliaments of Turkic nations, pointing out that these efforts are progressing effectively under Kazakhstan's current chairmanship.

Devlet Bahceli expressed his full support for initiatives aimed at advancing TURKPA's work and highlighted the importance of these efforts.

The discussions focused on strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and further boosting TURKPA's role as a platform for fostering unity and solidarity within the Turkic world.

Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) is an international body founded in 2008 with the aim of enhancing inter-parliamentary collaboration among its member countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkiye.

Its objectives include promoting political dialogue through parliamentary diplomacy, aligning national legislation, and strengthening ties in political, economic, and cultural fields. The Secretariat of TURKPA is based in Baku, Azerbaijan.
26 October 2025 13:50 (UTC+04:00)

October 26 marked the 30th day of Azerbaijan's 44-day Patriotic War, a day etched in national memory for its sweeping victories and acts of valor.

In response to Armenia's large-scale provocations launched on September 27, 2020, the Azerbaijani Army, under the command of President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, initiated a counter-offensive that would ultimately end decades of occupation and restore territorial integrity.

On this day, President Ilham Aliyev addressed the nation to announce the liberation of several strategic villages and the city of Gubadli. The reclaimed territories included Birinji Alibayli, Ikini Alibayli, Raband, and Yenikand in Zangilan district; Govshudlu, Sofulu, Dag Mashanli, Kurdlar, Hovuslu, and Chelebiler in Jabrayil district; and Padar, Efendiler, Yusifbayli, Chaytumas, Khanlig, Sariyataq, Mollaburhan, along with Gubadli city in Gubadli district.

In recognition of their leadership and bravery, President Aliyev personally congratulated military unit commanders Yashar Hasanov and Zaur Guliyev, who played key roles in the liberation of Gubadli and surrounding villages. First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva also commemorated the occasion with a heartfelt post on her official Instagram page, celebrating the liberation of villages in Zangilan, Jabrayil, and Gubadli.

The day was not without continued aggression from Armenian forces. In a blatant violation of the newly established humanitarian ceasefire, Armenian units shelled Azerbaijani positions and civilian settlements across Tartar, Aghdam, Aghjabadi, Fuzuli, Gubadli, and Lachin. Shelling also came from Armenia's Berd, Chambarak, and Vardenis districts, targeting Tovuz, Gadabay, and Dashkasan. The enemy deployed various firearms, mortars, and artillery, including the "Smerch" multiple rocket launcher system, which struck Tartar city. Over 200 shells were fired at Azerbaijani settlements on October 26 alone.

Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry released video footage showcasing the newly liberated Padar and Khanlig villages, as well as Gubadli city.

The human toll of the conflict remained heavy. According to the Prosecutor General's Office, from September 27 to October 26 at noon, Armenian shelling had claimed the lives of 65 civilians and injured 297 others. A total of 2,243 homes, 90 apartment buildings, and 402 civilian facilities were rendered unusable.

Among the many acts of heroism, Junior Sergeant Rahib Hashimov distinguished himself by successfully completing a combat mission that resulted in the destruction of several enemy artillery units.

The thirtieth day of the war powerfully reflects Azerbaijan's steadfast determination, tactical strength, and the profound sacrifices made in the quest for justice and national sovereignty.
26 October 2025 14:28 (UTC+04:00)

On the occasion of the #NationalDay of the Republic of Austria, we express our best wishes & warm congratulations to the Government and People of #Austria . Happy National Day, Austria! @MFA_Austria pic.twitter.com/8NCGeT9s7e

In a message shared on the ministry's official X account, it conveyed heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the Austrian government and people.

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended its congratulations to Austria on the occasion of its National Day, Azernews reports.

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26 October 2025 12:28 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and the people of Austria on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Austria, Azernews reports.

The congratulatory letter states:

On the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Austria, I sincerely congratulate You and, through You, your entire people, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of Azerbaijan.

I believe that the development of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Austria will continue to serve the interests of our peoples.

On this momentous day, I extend my best wishes to You and wish the people of Austria lasting peace and prosperity.
26 October 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

Former US Vice-President Kamala Harris has told that she may run again for the White House, Azernews reports via BBC.

In her first UK interview, Harris said she would "possibly" be president one day and was confident there will be a woman in the White House in future.

Making her strongest suggestion to date that she will make another presidential bid in 2028 after losing to Donald Trump last year, Harris dismissed polls that put her as an outsider to become the Democrats' pick for the next election.

Speaking to Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Harris also turned her fire on her former rival, branding Trump a "tyrant", and said warnings she made about him on the campaign trail had been proved right.

As the Democratic party searches for answers about Republican Donald Trump's decisive victory one year ago, much of the blame has been directed at former President Joe Biden for not standing down sooner.

But there have also been questions raised about whether Harris could have run a better campaign and set out a clearer message on the number one issue, the economy.

In the BBC interview Harris entertained the prospect of another run at the White House, saying her grandnieces would, "in their lifetime, for sure", see a female president.

Asked if it would be her, she said, "possibly", confirming she is considering another run at the top job.

Harris said she had not yet made a decision, but underlined that she still sees herself as having a future in politics.

"I am not done," the former vice-president said. "I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it's in my bones."

Responding to odds that place her as an outsider to win a place on the Democratic ticket - even behind Hollywood actor Dwayne the Rock Johnson - she said she never listened to polls.

"If I listened to polls I would have not run for my first office, or my second office - and I certainly wouldn't be sitting here."
26 October 2025 23:00 (UTC+04:00)

Vietnam's National Assembly approved the appointments of former Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra and former Gia Lai Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung as Deputy Prime Ministers for the 20212026 term, Azernews reports citing VN Express.

The resolution passed in a closed session on October 25 following a proposal by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Of 430 lawmakers who took part in the vote (90.72% of all deputies), 429 approved; one did not vote.

Pham Thi Thanh Tra, 61, becomes the first woman to serve as Deputy Prime Minister in Vietnam. She began as a secondary school teacher and later held leadership roles in Yen Bai, including Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee and Provincial Party Secretary. She was approved as Minister of Home Affairs in April 2021 and served in that post until her new appointment.

Ho Quoc Dung, 59, holds a master's degree in law and is a member of the 13th Party Central Committee.

He previously served as Chairman of the Binh Dinh People's Committee and Provincial Party Secretary, and was designated by the Politburo as Gia Lai Provincial Party Secretary.

Vietnam now has nine Deputy Prime Ministers assisting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Nguyen Hoa Binh (Permanent Deputy Prime Minister), Tran Hong Ha, Le Thanh Long, Ho Duc Phoc, Bui Thanh Son, Nguyen Chi Dung, Mai Van Chinh, Pham Thi Thanh Tra, and Ho Quoc Dung.

The assembly also confirmed on Saturday the appointments of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung, , Minister of Agriculture Tran Duc Thang, and Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh.

The National Assembly began its final session of the year on October 20, which will last 40 days.

Photo Credit: Pham Thang
26 October 2025 22:40 (UTC+04:00)

In September, Swiss watch exports to the U.S. decreased by 55.6 percent, Azernews reports citing the Swiss Watchmakers Federation.

In August, exports had already declined by 23.9%. The reason for the drop is the 39% additional tariff imposed by Washington on Swiss watch imports starting from August.

Before the new tariffs took effect, Swiss watchmakers managed to build up large stocks in the U.S. market. In April, exports to the U.S. had surged by 149%.

In September, Swiss watch exports to the UK, China, Singapore, and South Korea saw noticeable increases, while exports to Germany, France, and Italy declined.

Overall, in September, Switzerland exported watches worth 2 billion Swiss francs (4.2 billion AZN), which represents a 3.1% increase compared to the previous month.
Two men have been arrested in the brazen daylight burglary of the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre museum in Paris, in which crown jewels of the Bonaparte dynasty worth 110 million euros were stolen. The burglary only lasted seven minutes as four burglars backed a ladder truck up to access a balcony and used saws to cut into display cases. They took eight heavily jeweled pieces, but dropped one, a crown made for Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. They left behind quite an array of DNA and fingerprints that police have been investigating.

The two men arrested had long criminal records, including for burglary and were residents of the mostly migrant populated suburb of Seine St. Denis. One was arrested at the airport trying to flee to Algeria. The other is from the African nation of Mali and there were indications he was trying to return there as well.

The Louvre's head of security is a "diversity" hire and there have been calls for her removal from that position. Incredibly, there were no security cameras in the Apollo Gallery.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15228281/Two-arrested-Louvre-heist-century-raid-Frances-76million-crown-jewels.html
A grandmother who created 1,000 Christmas shoebox gifts for children living in poverty is hoping her efforts can push a charitys total present haul over the three-million mark.

Team Hope has so far delivered 2.8 million shoebox gifts packed by Irish families for children in Africa and eastern Europe  and aims to cross the milestone to mark its 15th anniversary.

In the run-up to Halloween, Wexford woman Maureen OHanlon is putting the final touches to this years batch of 100 festive boxes.

In the last decade, she has put together 1,000 shoeboxes  and has some extra help this year in the form of her six-year-old grand-daughter Anna.

She lives just beside me and calls it Santas workshop because I start for the following year as soon as the shoebox gifts have been sent away, said Maureen from her home in Campile, outside New Ross.

Maureen OHanlon, pictured with grand-daughter Anna (Patrick Browne/Mediaconsult/PA)

The retired teacher tightly packs each box with items she gathers in the January sales and throughout the year, making sure each one has copy books, colouring pencils, pens and sweets.

Her local Lidl supermarket in New Ross supplies her with packets of sweets for each box every year.

Some neighbours and friends, as well as her son Michael and partner John Monahan, are also involved in the massive effort, which involves not only gathering and packing the items, but transporting the finished boxes to Team Hopes Wexford depot.

I think of the children all the time and I try to make sure that no child will be disappointed when they open their box, said Ms OHanlon, who began making shoeboxes with pupils during her time at Rathgarogue National School and, later, Scoil Mhuire, Horeswood.

The attic is chaotic. On one side I have all the shoeboxes  I have 65 already filled  and on the other I have plastic storage containers with all the items from flip flops to knitted hats and T-shirts.

Im very lucky. Ive lived a very privileged life and I have the time. Why not use it for something useful?

Team Hope chief executive officer Deborah Lowry is urging families, schools and communities to join the charitys bid to generate the three millionth shoebox this year.

She said: Often packed by children for children, they carry not only toys and treats, but also the invisible gifts of love and hope.

In a world which often highlights what is broken, the Christmas Shoebox Appeal stands as a powerful demonstration that it is also filled with kindness.
The search for an asylum seeker mistakenly released from prison has entered its third day as police revealed where he was last seen.

Ethiopian national Hadush Kebatu was jailed for 12 months in September for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and was wrongly freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning instead of being sent to an immigration detention centre.

The Metropolitan Police, which is leading the manhunt, said Kebatu was last seen in Hackney, east London, just before 8pm on Friday.

It issued CCTV of him in a library in the boroughs Dalston Square two hours earlier, at 6pm, carrying his belongings in a distinctive white bag with pictures of avocados on it and still wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit top and bottoms.

A CCTV image of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu walking through the Dalston area of London (Metropolitan Police/PA)

The migrant, who had been living at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, when he assaulted the girl, took a train from Chelmsford to Stratford, east London, arriving at 1.12pm on Friday and then had taken a number of journeys across London and had access to funds.

It is understood that Kebatu, who crossed the Channel in a small boat to enter the UK on June 29, left prison with an amount of personal money but was not given a discharge grant to cover subsistence costs.

A delivery driver described seeing Kebatu return to HMP Chelmsford in a very confused state four or five times, only to be turned away by prison staff and directed to the railway station.

The driver, named only as Sim, told Sky News that he saw Kebatu come out of the prison saying: Where am I going? What am I doing?

He said that Kebatu knew that he should be deported but the prison staff were basically sending him away and saying to him, Go, youve been released, you go.

The driver said: He kept scratching his head and saying, where do I go, where do I go?

The fourth or fifth time (he went into the reception) he was starting to get upset, he was getting stressed.

Im not sticking up for the guy, but in my eyes, he was trying to do the right thing.

Screengrab taken from body-worn video issued by the Crown Prosecution Service showing the arrest of Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu (CPS/PA)

He knew he was getting deported, but he didnt know where he was going or how he should get there.

Commander James Conway, of the Metropolitan Police, said in a direct appeal to Kebatu: We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way.

You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff; the best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us by either calling 999 or reporting yourself to a police station.

A prison officer has been taken off duties to discharge prisoners while an investigation takes place.

In the 12 months to March this year, 262 prisoners were released in error in England and Wales, according to the prison services annual digest  that was a 128% increase from 115 the previous year, with 233 involving prisons.

A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons, after an inspection in January and February 2024, said HMP Chelmsford faced considerable pressures because of national capacity issues while suffering staff shortfalls in reception and the pre-release team.

Kebatu, who arrived in the UK on a small boat eight days before the incidents in July, was convicted of making inappropriate comments to a 14-year-old girl before he tried to kiss her on July 7  just eight days after he arrived in the country on a small boat.

His trial also heard that a day later, he sexually assaulted a woman by trying to kiss her, putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The woman later called 999 after she spotted him being inappropriate to the same teenage girl who he sexually assaulted while she was wearing her school uniform.

The migrant was found guilty of five offences after a three-day trial at Chelmsford and Colchester magistrates courts in September.

The court heard at his sentencing hearing that it was his firm wish to be deported.

In court, Kebatu gave his date of birth through a translator as being in December 1986 making him 38 years old, although Essex Police have said their records state his date of birth is in December 1983 making him 41.

Kebatus crime led to protesters and counter-protesters taking to the streets in Epping, Essex, and eventually outside hotels housing asylum seekers across the country.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said nobody who arrives by small boat should be free to walk our streets.

Writing in the Mail On Sunday, he said all such arrivals should be detained from arrival until deportation.
The main wreckage of the aircraft was removed on Sunday (Vernon Yuen/AP)

The main wreckage of a cargo plane that veered off a Hong Kong runway and plunged into the sea has been recovered.

The Boeing 747, flown by Turkey-based ACT Airlines from Dubai, skidded after landing last Monday and collided with a patrol car, sending both vehicles into the water. Two workers in the car were killed, while the four crew members on the plane were unhurt.

A salvage vessel lifted the front part of the fuselage from the water on Sunday, adjusting its position in the air. Before the salvage operation, experts had conducted an underwater sonar survey, and the runway where the crashed occurred was temporarily closed.

The aircraft skidded upon landing last Monday, hit a patrol vehicle and both vehicles then plunged into the sea (Vernon Yuen/AP)

The aircrafts tail and other parts were lifted from the water on Friday, as well as the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder. The devices were sent to a laboratory for preliminary examination, a government statement said.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash. The aircraft was operated under lease by Emirates, a long-haul carrier based in Dubai.

Representatives from the US National Transportation Safety Board and Turkeys Transport Safety Investigation Centre, alongside experts from Boeing, are also part of the investigation. The citys air accident investigation authority said it would release a preliminary report within one month.

Steven Yiu, the airport authoritys executive director for airport operations, earlier said weather and runway conditions met standards during the crash, while mechanical and human factors were yet to be investigated.
Croke Park-bound star tells of tears after op

Jon Bon Jovi has admitted he did a lot of crying while recovering from vocal cord surgery.

The Bon Jovi frontman, whose band will perform at Croke Park in Dublin next August, wasnt sure if he would be able to belt out the hits again following his operation in 2022.
EXCLUSIVE | Loyalist jailed over Pitt Park show of strength has secret past as teenage Red Hand Commando killer

Alleged ex-East Belfast UVF boss once part of a gang which knifed a young Protestant father-of-two to death in 1981

Derek 'Banic' Lammey outside court during his case

John Toner and Ciaran Barnes Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 08:00

A loyalist recently jailed over a high-profile UVF show of strength was part of a gang which stabbed a Protestant civilian to death during a gun robbery.
New IRA considered carrying out attacks on Irish cops after cross-border sting

Terror gang discussed targeting Garda detectives following the arrest of prominent dissidents

Masked men as a New IRA parade passes the Bogside

Sunday Life Reporter Sun 26 Oct 2025 at 16:00

Desperate New IRA bosses discussed attacking gardai during a crisis meeting about its future.
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Aontu has dismissed six members of its youth wing after racist and antisemitic messages were uncovered in private WhatsApp groups.

Among those removed was Ogra Aontu leader John Bryan, whos also been dismissed from his job with party leader, Peadar Toibin.

The posts included racist slurs and conspiracy theories about Jewish people.

The story broke in the Sunday Independent today.

Mr Toibin, who said that he was only made aware of the group in the last week, told Newstalk that it is unacceptable.

"It is an attack on many people, but its also an attack on the policies and the constitution of our party," Mr Toibin said.

"We are a pluralist republican political party, and we have many valued members who are immigrants. Indeed, we stood many of these for the recent elections. We came under attack from the extremes for doing so, it didnt deter us because equality is a foundation stone of our organisation."
A number of people have been arrested over the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris, the citys prosecutor has said.

The arrests were made on Saturday evening, and included that of a man said to have been preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (Roissy) Airport.

French media BFM TV and Le Parisien newspaper earlier reported two suspects had been arrested and taken into custody. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not confirm the number of arrests or whether the jewels had been recovered.

A police official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the ongoing case, told The Associated Press that two men in their 30s, both known to police, were taken into custody.

He said one suspect was arrested as he attempted to board a plane bound for Algeria. The official added that one of the suspects was identified through DNA traces. Ms Beccuau said earlier this week that forensics experts were analysing 150 samples at the scene.



The items stolen included some of Frances crown jewels (Interpol/AP)

The suspects can be held in police custody up to 96 hours.

Thieves took less than eight minutes to steal jewels valued at 88 million euros (77 million) in a heist last Sunday at the worlds most visited museum  a crime that has shocked the world.

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French officials described how the intruders used a cherry picker to scale the Louvres facade, forced open a window, smashed display cases and fled last Sunday morning.

The museums director called the incident a terrible failure.

Ms Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests. She rued in her statement the premature leak of information, saying it could hinder the work of more than 100 investigators mobilised to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators.

The prosecutor added that further details will be release when the suspects custody period ends.

French interior minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.



Visitors at the Louvre one week after the robbery last Sunday (Thomas Padilla/AP)

The Louvre reopened earlier this week after one of the highest-profile museum thefts of the century stunned the world with its audacity and scale.

The thieves slipped in and out, making off with parts of Frances crown jewels  a cultural wound that some compared to the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019.

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The thieves made away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense.

They also took an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonapartes second wife, as well as a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugenies diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch  an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship  were also part of the loot.

One piece  Eugenies emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds  was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable.

News of the arrests was met with relief by Louvre visitors and passers-by on Sunday, but many said the recovery of the items stolen is more important.

One visitor, Diana Ramirez, said: I think the main thing now is whether they can recover the jewels. Thats what really matters.
A Russian drone attack on Ukraines capital has killed three people in their homes, authorities have said.

At least 29 people were injured, seven of them children, overnight into Sunday, in what was the second consecutive nighttime attack on Kyiv to claim civilian lives.

Ukraines interior minister, Ihor Klymenko, said a 19-year-old woman and her 46-year-old mother were among those killed.

Russian drones caused fires in two residential buildings in the capitals Desnianskyi district. Emergency crews evacuated civilians from a nine-storey building and a 16-storey complex, put out flames and cleared the rubble.



Officials said three people were killed in their homes during the latest strikes (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Olha Yevhenivha, 74, said there was so much smoke from the fire she could not leave her apartment.

Even until now our windows are totally black from the smoke, and it was impossible to go down, so thats why we put wet blankets on our doors and balcony, she said.

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Russia attacked Ukraine with 101 drones overnight into Sunday, according to Ukraines Air Force, of which 90 were shot down and neutralised by Ukrainian forces.

However, five strike drones hit four locations. Debris from shot-down drones fell on five locations, the statement added.

The attack came a day after a mass Russian missile and drone attack killed four people, including two in the capital, prompting fresh pleas from Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Western air defence systems.

Russias defence ministry said its forces struck energy facilities and rail infrastructure serving Ukraines war effort on Saturday, as well as other military targets such as troop deployment points and a drone factory.

It did not comment specifically on strikes on Kyiv, or on the civilian casualties reported by Ukraine.

In Russias Bryansk region near Ukraine, two civilians were taken to hospital following Ukrainian drone strikes, according to regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz.

At least 26 Ukrainian drones were downed over southwestern Russia on Sunday, according to the defence ministry in Moscow.

Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country had tested a new atomic-powered missile that can carry a nuclear warhead and confound existing defences, according to remarks released on Sunday.

The announcement, which followed years of tests, comes as part of nuclear messaging from the Kremlin, which has resisted Western pressure for a ceasefire in Ukraine and strongly warned the US and other Nato allies against sanctioning strikes deep inside Russia with longer-range Western weapons.

Earlier this week, Mr Putin directed drills of Russias strategic nuclear forces that featured practice missile launches. The exercise came as his planned summit on Ukraine with US President Donald Trump was put on hold, the latest twist in Trumps stop-and-go effort to resolve the war.

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks taped on Saturday that a date for the summit has not been agreed, and that Mr Trump was the one to postpone it after initially suggesting it could take place by the end of the month.

But Mr Peskov insisted that the summit had not been cancelled, and said recent US sanctions against Russias top oil companies were not a reason to abandon dialogue.

The presidents cant meet for the sake of meeting; they cant waste their time, and theyre open about it, he said in an interview with Russian state TV released on Sunday, describing peace talks as a complex process.
Thailand and Cambodia have signed an expanded ceasefire agreement during a ceremony attended by US President Donald Trump, whose threats of economic pressure prodded the two nations to halt skirmishes along their disputed border earlier this year.

Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners and Cambodia will begin withdrawing heavy artillery as part of the first phase of the deal. Regional observers will monitor the situation to ensure fighting does not restart.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a historic day, while his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement creates the building blocks for a lasting peace.

The ceremony was Mr Trumps first event after arriving at the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, hosted in Kuala Lumpur.



Donald Trump applauded as the deal was signed (Mohd Rasfan/pool/AP)

The trip, which will continue with visits to Japan and South Korea and a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, is an opportunity for Mr Trump to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker at a time when his tariffs have scrambled the international economy and as he feuds with Democrats over a government shutdown back home.

Commenting on the ceasefire deal, he said: We did something that a lot of people said couldnt be done.

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Touching down in the Malaysian capital earlier, he performed his trademark campaign trail dance with local performers and waved an American flag in one hand and a Malaysian flag in the other.

The president signed economic agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, some of them aimed at increasing trade involving critical minerals. The US wants to rely less on China, which has limited exports of key components in technology manufacturing.



Mr Trump joined a family photo with all leaders attending the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

Mr Trump attended the summit only once during his first term, but this years event is a chance for him to re-engage with a collection of nations that has a combined 3.8 trillion US dollars economy and 680 million people.

The United States is with you 100%, and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come, Mr Trump said.

He described his counterparts as spectacular leaders and said, everything you touch turns to gold.

The summit also allowed Mr Trump to play global peacemaker with Thailand and Cambodia, which have competing territorial claims that result in periodic violence along their border.

Some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries took place over five days in July, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands of people.

Mr Trump threatened at the time to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped in a display of economic leverage credited with spurring negotiations. A shaky truce has persisted since then.
A US warship docked in Trinidad and Tobagos capital on Sunday as the Trump administration boosts military pressure on neighbouring Venezuela and its President Nicolas Maduro.

The arrival of the USS Gravely, a guided missile destroyer, in the capital of the Caribbean nation adds to aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, which is moving closer to Venezuela.

Mr Maduro criticised the movement of the carrier as an attempt by the US government to fabricate a new eternal war against his country.

US President Donald Trump has accused Mr Maduro, without providing evidence, of being the leader of the organised crime gang Tren de Aragua.

This is a warship in Trinidad, which will be anchored here for several days just miles off Venezuela when theres a threat of war. Thats an abomination David Abdulah

Government officials from the twin-island nation and the US said the massive warship will remain in Trinidad until Thursday so both countries can carry out training exercises.

A senior military official in Trinidad and Tobago told The Associated Press that the move was only recently scheduled. The official spoke under condition of anonymity.

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Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, has been a vocal supporter of the US military presence and the deadly strikes on suspected drug boats in waters off Venezuela.

US Embassy charge daffaires Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz said in a statement that the exercises seek to address shared threats like transnational crime and build resilience through training, humanitarian missions, and security efforts.

On Sunday, Venezuela said the dangerous conduct of military exercises in the waters of a neighbouring country constitute a serious threat to the Caribbean region and a hostile provocation towards the South American nation, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

The visit comes one week after the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago warned Americans to stay away from US government facilities there. Local authorities said a reported threat against Americans prompted the warning.

Many people in Trinidad and Tobago criticise the warships docking.

At a recent demonstration outside the US Embassy, David Abdulah, the leader of the Movement for Social Justice political party, said Trinidad and Tobago should not have allowed the warship into its waters.

This is a warship in Trinidad, which will be anchored here for several days just miles off Venezuela when theres a threat of war, said Mr Abdulah.

Thats an abomination.

Caricom, a regional trade bloc made up of 15 Caribbean countries, has called for dialogue. Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the group, but Ms Persad-Bissessar has said the region is not a zone of peace, citing the number of murders and other violent crimes.
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CultureTheatreArts How a depressing Tin Man took Madeline to Romeo and Juliet Steve Dow October 27, 2025  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

When Madeline Li began studying acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney in 2021, she was already armed with some advice from her Chinese paternal grandmother. Go to the park with a notebook, her nainai said, and observe everyone. Write down their gestures. See how they talk to one another. Madeline Li, 24, is performing the lead role in Romeo & Juliet. Justin McManus Lis grandmother had also been an actor, studying at Beijings Central Academy of Drama. When I showed an interest in acting, she started giving me tips, Li says, sitting in a theatre dressing room in outer Melbourne, two years after her NIDA graduation.

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There was a system in China where you were guaranteed a pathway: she had performed as a student, but finishing her training, she went straight back into the academy as an acting teacher. Madeline Li as Juliet with Ryan Hodson as Romeo in Bell Shakespeares production. Brett Boardman Now 24, Li is midway through a three-month Australian tour of 26 venues as Juliet in Romeo & Juliet for Bell Shakespeare. Its a minimalist production directed by Peter Evans that emphasises intimate performances. The final venue will be the Sydney Opera House from November, where Li has never performed, although she has been on stage at the Old Fitz Theatre in Woolloomooloo as a co-founder of emerging production company Last Waltz Productions. As Juliet, she performed for the first time in Canberra in August, where the Bell tour began, to audience members knowingly mouthing famous lines  But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?  and onto towns across five states and even playing to some audience members unaware of how the tragedy ends.

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Merridy Eastman and Madeline Li in Bell Shakespeares Romeo & Juliet. Brett Boardman Li had only scant exposure herself to Shakespeare until last year. She was born in St Kilda to an Australian mother, Tracy, who had met Lis father, Ming, while studying Chinese literature and working in Beijing. When Li was seven, Tracy moved her and her brother, Justin, to Beijing. She attended an international school where she encountered no trace of the Bard, although at 12 she was cast in the schools Wizard of Oz. Apparently I was a very depressing Tin Man, she says. I remember being quite proud because I thought, He doesnt have a heart; of course he wouldnt feel. Li (second from right) with fellow NIDA graduates (from left) Jack Patten, JK Kazzi and Teodora Matovic in 2023. Wolter Peeters

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The road to Oz prompted her to begin drama classes, her parents excited that these would help her overcome her shyness. Working in theatre has helped me, she says, because you dont want to get in your own way, walking around with your tail between your legs. Moving back to Melbourne, at 15 she read Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth in class, mostly to pluck themes to write school essays, and saw Baz Luhrmanns Romeo + Juliet feature film. In 2024, Li finally got her crash course in Shakespeares greatest hits, when Peter Evans cast her in his Poetry of Violence at Sydneys Neilson Nutshell. Between his lecture on Coriolanus, Hamlet, Henry V, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet and more, a clutch of actors including Li performed excerpts, showcasing messages about ancient enmities and violence begetting more violence.

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She auditioned, then, to play Juliet in the national tour this year. Peter was talking to me about his vision, and how minimal he wanted to make it, to put the emphasis on the language and make it as intimate and vibrant as possible, she says. Related Article Stage shows This circus performer was once a vegetarian  then he came to Sydney That was exciting to me because I would want to see real people on stage, not Shakespearean archetypes, which is how youre taught learning from a book. Evans has suggested Romeo & Juliet becomes Juliets play, she becomes the lead. She becomes the one voice talking to the audience, and she takes over. I believe that Shakespeare got more and more interested in her. In Women of Will: Following the Feminine in Shakespeares Plays, British-born theatre director Tina Packer writes that by the time Shakespeare began Romeo & Juliet, circa 1594, he was writing as if he were a woman. Embodying them. Giving them full agency, with the result that he writes about Juliet with as much insight, nuance, detail as he writes about Romeo.

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Li says Juliet, who we learn in the first act is not yet 14, knows her mind as she declares her love, lust and excitement with lines such as My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep. Related Article Stage shows How William Bartons yidaki meets Stephen Pages vision in new dance work In her later soliloquy, Juliet traces her fears, bravery and determination, says Li. Shes a young woman whos vulnerable and very emotional but look at the language and you see the strength that underwrites all of that, that her romanticism is in partnership with her pragmatism and intelligence. Romeo & Juliet is at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House November 19 to December 7.
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MoneyPlanning & budgetingFinancial literacy Opinion Enough is enough  its time to get money smarts into schools Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Money contributor October 25, 2025  4:00am

October 25, 2025  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 View all comments

Enough is enough. In my life, two things are happening in parallel about which I am incredibly invested  and unhappy. Firstly (and for those who have been following along at home), my son is shortly finishing year 10 and, a couple of weeks ago, divulged something that shocked me: he has done just one exercise in his decade of schooling on money and its management. In maths in Year 8, he had to plan a party and make a profit. Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon and her children. Thats it. No talk of the dangers of debt. Nothing on the magic of compounding. Nada on the realities of taxation, the power of superannuation, the opportunities and threats inherent in the fintech for which he will become a target as soon as he, for the last time, leaves the school gate. So whats the second thing thats now making my blood boil? Any day New Zealand will release the draft curriculum for how money lessons will from January be explicitly embedded for all students from Years 1 to 10.

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It will be added as an essential element of Social Sciences with whats called corresponding learning outcomes. In other words, it will be taught and it will be tested. Now, its too late for my son and other Australian students finishing junior high school within weeks. But its not too late for our younger ones. In Australia, our financial education is not good enough. And our children deserve more. And this is why, this weekend, I launch a petition to get financial literacy properly added to the Australian curriculum. You can check out  and sign  the petition here. While politicians and educators across the ditch are recognising just how vital a skill this is to both the individual and economy, here we no longer even have an active financial literacy strategy.

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Since responsibility for the countrys money smarts was swept from ASIC to Treasury in 2022, the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board has been dormant. This board (and its wonderful members) previously made inroads getting financial literacy added to subjects as something of an optional extra to teach. Related Article Opinion

Financial literacy My son told me something shocking. Its why kids need more money smarts Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Money contributor How lacking are our kids  as a consequence  in money smarts? We dont even know. Australia  inexplicably  stopped participating that same year, in financial literacy component of the OECD Programme for International Student Assessments (PISA). We have been a no thank you in both 2022 and for the latest one, which began in August. This is after participating in the optional assessment for 15-year-olds (the mandatory ones are reading, maths and science) up to 2018. Last week I spoke in-depth with Neil Edmond, the creator of the MoneyTime financial literacy resource that aims to supplement the curriculum with this vital skill, in both Australia and New Zealand.

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Before New Zealands emphatic recognition of its importance, and imminent inclusion of financial literacy lessons in schools, he says our two curricula have been very similar. And in Australia, upon considerable investigation, Edmond could find virtually no explicit financial literacy aspects to the curriculum beyond a smattering in basic maths, though it is supposed to be there on the periphery across a range of subjects. I was expecting to see that financial education was embedded as a decent chunk of work in one of the core subjects, like Maths or Social Sciences or Humanities and Social Sciences, he says. But its not. Its very light touch. It is as bad or as light as what the curriculum currently is in New Zealand. But from next year, Edmonds expects that to be vastly different over there. The draft regulations released this month will include a solid section on financial education with required learning outcomes for Years 1 to 10, he says. Ive looked at the financial education curricula for countries all around the world and I genuinely believe that this change by the Ministry of Education in New Zealand will set New Zealand up as one of the top countries delivering financial education in the world.

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In Australia, our financial education is not good enough. And our children  like Kiwi children  deserve more. Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, available at www.nicolessmartmoney.com. Follow Nicole on Facebook, X and Instagram. Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.
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NationalNSWCourts A Sydney woman waged a court battle over a $3m estate. She faces a huge bill Michaela Whitbourn October 26, 2025  8:55am 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

Its a case that serves as a chilling warning to family members considering fighting for a larger share of an inheritance. A Sydney woman who received more than $450,000 of her late fathers $3 million estate launched NSW Supreme Court proceedings to increase her slice of the assets. The judge did not accept the woman had fallen on hard times. Aresna Villanueva But she lost and was ordered to pay the bulk of the executors legal costs of defending the case out of her existing share. In a decision this month, Justice Hayley Bennett said she accepted the will-maker had a moral duty to make some provision for his daughter, the youngest of his three children. But Bennett found that he had discharged that duty in his will.

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The woman had been estranged from her father for more than a decade. He died in 2023, aged 81, and left 50 per cent of his estate to his eldest daughter, who has significant medical challenges, and 15 per cent each to his other two daughters. He left the remaining 20 per cent to his friend, who was also his executor. NSW judges have signalled  the era of open slather family provision litigation at the estates expense is over. Sydney lawyer Mary-Ann de Mestre His youngest daughter applied to the court for a family provision order, which is a way for current or former dependants of a deceased, among others, to seek a larger slice of the inheritance pie if inadequate provision was made for them in a will. But the court will make such an order only on a needs basis. In this case, the judge did not accept the woman had fallen on hard times, although she noted her assets and income are modest, at best.

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Given the size of the estate and the competing calls upon it, the assets cannot be considered as available, the judge said. The court also does not consider that, if [the daughter] is not provided further provision for her retirement, she would be left destitute. The judge ordered the woman to pay about 70 per cent of the executors total legal costs, estimated at the start of the trial at more than $120,000. The remainder of the executors costs will be taken out of the estate. Mary-Ann de Mestre, principal of Sydney law firm M de Mestre Lawyers, is a lecturer in succession law at Macquarie University. She said that, in this case, the court noted the woman had few assets and relied on government support. Related Article Exclusive

Courts The missing signature on a will that cost a family $10,000

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That fact may influence cost orders  but it did not prevent the court from ordering the applicant to pay a portion of costs from her entitlement, de Mestre said. She said this was a significant decision on costs because it reinforces that the court will not automatically protect an unsuccessful applicant from cost orders simply because they are financially disadvantaged. It also demonstrates that costs can be split: part to be paid by the applicant out of their entitlement, and part by the estate. Historically, some applicants seeking family provision orders assumed costs would be paid from the estate, de Mestre said. However, recent cases in NSW, including this case, suggested courts are more willing to order unsuccessful plaintiffs to pay costs from their own share. In several decisions, NSW judges have signalled a cultural shift, noting that the era of open slather family provision litigation at the estates expense is over, de Mestre said.

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The court expects merit-based applications aligned with financial need and moral obligation, not speculative claims encouraged by the prospect of estate-funded costs. She said there had been a marked increase in the number of family provision applications filed in the NSW Supreme Court, from 655 in 2005 to 996 last year. Factors contributing to this trend include more blended and fractured families, greater awareness of family provision rights and economic pressures motivating claimants to pursue even modest estates, de Mestre said. With more claims being filed, there is heightened judicial awareness of the cumulative cost burden on estates. Courts have repeatedly expressed concern about litigation costs devouring the estate, especially in estates under $1 million. Related Article Courts The Sydney man, a surprise daughter and the $12 million estate

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She said the court would now encourage or direct the parties to attend mediation at an early stage to encourage resolution of cases before a trial and would refuse to make a family provision order in some cases where the likely benefit is overshadowed by costs. In addition, the court had the power to make an order capping the legal costs that could be recovered by a successful party from the estate or from the opposing side, or in some cases the costs that may be incurred. The purpose is to incentivise parties to keep legal expenditure proportionate to the size of the estate, de Mestre said. Get the days breaking news, entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy. Sign up to receive our Evening Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Palestinian Authority calls for Australian troops to help secure Gaza peace Matthew Knott October 26, 2025  6:50pm 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 Palestinian Authority has called for Australia to play a significant role in an international stabilisation force in Gaza, including sending peacekeeping troops to help establish law and order in the ravaged enclave. The Palestinian Authoritys deputy foreign minister, Omar Awadallah, said it was vital for the international community to move quickly to establish a United Nations-endorsed peacekeeping force to ensure the fragile ceasefire did not collapse and that Israeli troops withdraw from almost all of the Gaza Strip. Omar Awadallah, the Palestinian Authoritys deputy foreign minister, has urged Australia to participate in an international stabilisation force for Gaza. Anadolu via Getty Images US President Donald Trump would deserve a Nobel Peace Prize if he was able to secure a long-term peace in Gaza after two years of ferocious Israeli bombardments, he added. I think Australia can help in so many aspects, including by sending forces, by sending experts, by supporting the training of Palestinian security personnel, Awadallah told this masthead from the de facto Palestinian capital of Ramallah.

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We believe that we need to see principled countries like Australia [involved in a stabilisation force] because we dont want any kind of a trusteeship or new kind of occupation for the Palestinian territory. An Australian presence would help convince Palestinians that the stabilisation force is really coming to stabilise the situation, not to have another kind of occupation in Gaza, he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would consider ways Australia could contribute to an international stabilisation force in Gaza. The government said last week it would send an Australian Defence Force liaison officer to the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre in Israel to help contribute to efforts to stabilise the region. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was contacted for comment.

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The Palestinian Authority  which represents Palestine in international forums such as the UN and governs parts of the West Bank  is dominated by the secular-nationalist Fatah party. Fatah is a more moderate rival to the listed terror group Hamas, which took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 and launched the shock October 7 attacks on Israel that killed an estimated 1200 people. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Anthony Albanese. AP Speaking during a visit to Israel at the weekend, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a lot of countries had offered to be part of an international security force for Gaza and that it would come into effect as soon as it possibly can. The United Nations has previously deployed peacekeepers to try to maintain ceasefires between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, but not in the West Bank or Gaza since 1967, the year Israel took control of the territories.

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Asked about post-war governance in Gaza, Awadallah said: There is no role for Hamas. They accepted Trumps plan, and that makes clear they have nothing to do with governance and security in Gaza. Related Article Analysis

Israeli-Palestinian conflict The one-word post that shows how hard it will be to keep peace in Gaza He said the Palestinian Authority had committed to hold elections next year in what would be the first such poll in more than two decades. We want your support, we want your help, Awadallah said, requesting Australian assistance for the electoral process. However, he added that it was crucial for Palestinians living in East Jerusalem to be able to participate in the democratic process for the elections to be legitimate.

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Israel considers all of Jerusalem its undivided capital, complicating efforts to hold Palestinian elections in the holy city. The Albanese government has said that it will take practical steps to reflect its recognition of Palestinian statehood  such as the opening of an embassy in Ramallah  when the Palestinian Authority meets key milestones, such as the holding of elections. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also said that Australia plans to work with Indonesia on education reform in Palestine. Awadallah said Palestinian authorities were committed to developing a new, modern education system ... but that does not mean that we need to change our narrative, our story about the historic facts. Israel has accused the Palestinian Authoritys school curriculum of glorifying terrorism and encouraging the hatred of Israel. The European Parliament passed a resolution earlier this year accusing Palestinian Authority textbooks of promoting antisemitism and inciting violence.

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Israeli-Palestinian conflict Israels annexation of the West Bank has been occurring for decades Anas Iqtait Professor The incitement that we are facing here in Palestine is the Israeli occupation itself, Awadallah said. He said Australias decision to recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations last month was received with great importance in Palestine, and that it touched not only the minds but the hearts of the Palestinian people. He urged Australians to continue protesting for Palestinian self-determination and demanding government action even if the ceasefire in Gaza held. The war on Gaza may now be silent in a way or another, but the war on the Palestinian people did not finish yet, he said.

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The aggression on the Palestinian people did not finish yet. The occupation of the Palestinian territory did not end yet. We need to keep pushing until the end of the Israeli occupation. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldEuropeCrime Louvre heist was inside job, detectives believe Neil Johnston October 26, 2025  8:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 8 View all comments

Detectives investigating the 76 million ($155 million) heist at the Louvre have uncovered evidence of an inside job, The Telegraph, London understands. Sources close to the investigation claim that digital forensic evidence shows a member of security was in contact before the heist with individuals thought to be the perpetrators. The gang is believed to have been given sensitive internal information about the museums security system in advance of the raid. Thieves escape from the Louvre in Paris. A source said: There is digital forensic evidence that shows there was co-operation with one of the museums security guards and the thieves.

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Sensitive information was passed on about the museums security, which is how they were aware of the breach. The evidence is thought to include recordings and messages but the robbers are yet to be identified. Related Article Crime Dapper detective? AI hoax? Mystery man triggers speculation after Louvre heist France is still reeling following last Sundays theft from the worlds busiest museum. Thieves posed as maintenance workers and entered the buildings Apollo gallery on the River Seines Right Bank via a truck equipped with a 30-metre furniture elevator. The thieves slipped in and out in minutes, making off with eight pieces of Frances crown jewels, a loss some have compared to the burning of Notre Dame in 2019.

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The furniture elevator was attached to a truck stolen in Louvres, near Charles de Gaulle airport to the north-east of the French capital. Experts have warned that even if police caught the gang, it was already too late to save the jewels which could have been broken up. Dozens of DNA samples had been found at the gallery, including on helmets, gloves, angle grinders and a vest abandoned by the robbers. Getty Images More than 100 detectives are on the investigation, with the Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police leading the inquiry, along with the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property. Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre, this week told a French Senate Committee that no security cameras were monitoring the second-floor balcony where thieves gained access to the museum.

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Unfortunately, on the Apollo gallery side, the only camera installed faces west and therefore does not cover the balcony affected by the break-in, she said. The new details of the investigation emerged as the Louvre transferred some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France. Police officers examine a basket crane used by thieves. AP French radio RTL reported that the transfer of some precious items from the museums Apollo gallery, home to the French crown jewels, was carried out on Friday under secret police escort. The bank, which stores the countrys gold reserves in a massive vault 27 metres below ground, is less than a kilometre from the Louvre.

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Detectives have yet to make an arrest over the embarrassing heist but speaking to Ouest France, Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor whose office is leading the case, said that dozens of DNA samples had been found at the gallery, including on helmets, gloves, angle grinders and a vest abandoned by the robbers. More than 150 samples of DNA, papillary and other traces were taken, she said. The analyses require time limits, even if they are a priority for the labs. We are expecting feedback in the coming days, which may be able to provide us with leads, especially if the perpetrators were on file. Beccuau also confirmed that police had been able to use CCTV to follow the gangs movements on two Yamaha TMax scooters out of Paris towards other areas, adding that video surveillance from public and private cameras made it possible to follow their route in Paris and in neighbouring departments. She gave the strongest hint yet that the heist may have involved an inside job and confirmed police were investigating whether there was help from someone at the museum. Beccuau said: We obviously want to arrest the perpetrators as quickly as possible to recover the jewellery before their stones are possibly removed and the metals melted down.

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We are therefore exploring all theories. The possibility of complicity within the museum will be studied, as will all other possibilities. Related Article Crime Dapper detective? AI hoax? Mystery man triggers speculation after Louvre heist Beccuau said that media coverage had given her the small hope that the gang wont dare move too much with the jewels and that if police moved quickly, they could still recover them. I want to be optimistic. And thats the hope that the investigators also maintain, hence their absolute and intense mobilisation. The Louvre has said it would not be commenting on the investigation.

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CGI Group, an Israeli intelligence firm which previously helped solve a multimillion-dollar heist at the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany, has also been brought in to help. Zvika Nave, chief executive, said he would not comment about its operations or clients. However, as an exceptional case, we were approached by parties connected to the Louvre museum to assist in identifying those involved in the robbery, as well as in recovering the stolen treasures, he said. This request came in light of our experience and success in 2019 in solving the billion-euro Dresden museum heist in Germany. The Telegraph, London Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.

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WorldMiddle EastIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Opinion Israels annexation of the West Bank has been occurring for decades Anas Iqtait Professor October 26, 2025  1:00pm

October 26, 2025  1:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Last week Israels parliament, the Knesset, advanced first-reading bills to apply Israeli law in the occupied West Bank, prompting public pushback from Washington and a temporary pause ordered by the prime minister. The headlines suggest annexation has been checked. The record suggests otherwise. Annexation already operates in practice. In recent years, powers once held by the Israeli armys Civil Administration have been handed to civilian ministries, giving settler-aligned officials control over planning, land registration and infrastructure. Settlements receive state funding and legal protection, and West Bank land and tax systems are linked to Israeli administrative networks. These changes extend Israeli jurisdiction without any formal declaration. This process did not begin with the current government. Working with the settler movement for decades, successive Israeli administrations have advanced settlement through cumulative administrative and planning decisions. On the ground, Israeli measures have reconfigured the West Bank for comprehensive Israeli control with minimal Palestinian presence. Since 1967, the Israeli army has administered the West Bank through the Civil Administration, a unit of the Ministry of Defence that manages the affairs of settlers and Palestinians in the occupied territory. The current far-right government is shifting that authority, transferring functions step by step to civilian ministries and bodies aligned with the settlement movement. In 2023, under Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, it went so far as to create a Settlement Administration to oversee Palestinian land expropriation, issue mass demolition orders against Palestinian structures, fast-tracked settlement plans and advanced laws that expand settlement council budgets. The Settlement Administration now holds authority over roughly 60 per cent of land in the West Bank, including in Area C and, increasingly, Area B. Recent decisions include diverting municipal tax revenues to settlement councils and placing parts of the West Bank inside Israeli municipal budgeting and service systems. Some Palestinian villages have recently been reclassified as becoming Israeli and requiring residents to obtain permits to remain in their own homes.

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Another cornerstone on the path to formal annexation is the surge in settlement growth since this government took office. Settlement blocs receive record funding for expansion, with infrastructure linking them to Israeli cities. Road 60, the main highway running north to south through the West Bank, now largely serves settlement traffic, and Palestinian access is restricted. The government has moved to implement E1, which would split the West Bank. Israeli peace organisations report new outposts and settler roads each week. In May, the Israeli government approved 22 new settlements deep in the West Bank  the largest expansion since the Oslo peace process began 30 years ago. This follows a chain of decisions to establish settlements in the West Bank, bringing the number of new settlements approved since this government took office in 2023 to more than 50. Settlements are not a Netanyahu-era phenomenon, though. Since the start of the Oslo peace process in 1993, the settler population in the West Bank has risen from fewer than 100,000 to roughly 500,000 today; about one in five residents in the West Bank is now a settler. Including East Jerusalem, the total settler population is well above 700,000. At least 40 per cent of the West Bank is allocated to settlement activity. Unsurprisingly, this sharp rise has led to an increase in violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, reaching record levels since 1967. The past two years have been the deadliest of the occupation, with more than 1000 Palestinians killed, including 129 children, by Israeli soldiers or settlers. Thousands of settler attacks have been reported, causing casualties and widespread damage to homes, farms and vehicles. Since January 2024, 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the West Bank, including at least 1800 related to settler violence. Settler violence is organised and purposeful. It terrorises Palestinians, disrupts daily life and forces families from their land. It acts as an auxiliary enforcement arm of the settlement project, aimed at land seizure and dispossession. For years, Israeli authorities minimised or ignored crimes against Palestinians in the West Bank. Only 3 per cent of Israeli police investigations into settler attacks ended in a full or partial conviction. Under the current government, this impunity has hardened into open political backing for ideologically motivated attacks.

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Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announcing a major expansion of settlement building in the West Bank. AP Smotrich does not deny that what the government is doing is annexing the area and increasing settler numbers. Recently, he said that the governments settlement measures are intended to permanently bury the idea of a Palestinian state and that the Palestinian state is being erased from the table with [the governments] actions. This effective annexation in the West Bank is inseparable from Israels destructive campaign in Gaza. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, two leading Israeli human rights organisations, and an independent United Nations inquiry have concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since 2023. For Australia, which recognised a Palestinian state last month, the question is how recognition will engage this established architecture. Unless recognition is tied to policy instruments that address the structures sustaining annexation, it will remain symbolic. In the West Bank, Palestinians see settlements take land, roads cut through fields, and checkpoints choke movement, alongside violence from soldiers and settlers. This is annexation in practice. It needs no ceremony. On every practical test, it already operates. The question is how the world intends to respond.

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Dr Anas Iqtait is a senior lecturer at the Australian National University and the author of Funding and the Quest for Sovereignty in Palestine (Palgrave, 2023). The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
News / Health

by Stephen Jakes

Senator Angeline Kumbirai Tongogara has questioned the government's approach to reducing morbidity and mortality rates caused by both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.She raised the issue during a parliamentary question-and-answer session directed at Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora."What is the Government's policy on reducing morbidity and mortality rates due to communicable and non-communicable diseases? What strategies are in place to reduce the aforesaid?" she asked.In response, Mombeshora said the ministry has disease-specific strategies but noted the complexity of detailing each one."It would be best to put this on paper and go through disease by disease," he said. We have HIV programmes, TB programmes, malaria programmes, and non-communicable disease programmes including cancer, heart conditions, and arthritis. It's very broad."He emphasized that Zimbabwe is performing well on HIV, having met the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. The country runs outreach programmes offering voluntary testing and immediate treatment for those who test positive.On malaria, Mombeshora cited vector control efforts such as indoor residual spraying and the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, alongside treatment protocols.Regarding tuberculosis, he said mobile clinics are being deployed to hard-to-reach areas, offering instant X-rays and treatment on-site.For noncommunicable diseases, the ministry has launched screening campaigns for cervical and breast cancer, with prostate cancer screening for men set to begin soon."We've acquired cancer treatment machines currently being manufactured and initiated procurement for diagnostic equipment," he said. Our goal is a comprehensive programme that includes both diagnostics and treatment."Mombeshora reaffirmed the government's commitment to tackling both communicable and noncommunicable diseases through targeted outreach, improved access to care, and expanded diagnostic capacity.
James Cox

Irish peacekeepers would be "ideally suited" to take part in a Gaza stabilisation force due to their "credibility and reputation in the Middle East", according to a Fianna Fail MEP.

There are currently around 300 Defence Forces members serving in a peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, but the Unifil UN mission is due to end at the end of 2027.

In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, MEP Barry Andrews said Irish peacekeepers would be well-positioned to take part in any Gaza mission, subject to the peace deal holding.

"Where there is so much memory and knowledge about deployment in the Middle East, so many soldiers at different levels throughout the Defence Forces have worked in south Lebanon, and they could do a similar job in Gaza.

"Secondly, our credibility in the region because we were one of the first to recognise the state of Palestine, to support UNRWA, to put pressure on the Israel Trade Association Agreement, been outspoken all along, that gives us a lot of credibility with the population in Gaza.

"It's important that peacekeeping forces have local acceptance."

Given Ireland's solidarity with Gaza, and pledge to invest more funds in its rebuilding after peace, Mr Andrews said Irish peacekeepers would be a "logical next step".

"The Arab countries will have a crucial role to play with any stabilisation force, and we recognise that's where the primary source of the forces will come from. But I think the international presence besides the Arab countries, I think we are best suited to do that.

"Overall the spirit of the ceasefire is holding. There have been very serious breaches, impossible to justify, but I think there is an overall stability to this ceasefire for the moment.

"There is broad recognition that there is no alternative.

"We in Ireland must start thinking about what comes next and what we will do next, even if it's a little bit optimistic to imagine that we will get to the stage of the deployment of an international stabilisation force."

He pointed out that it would not have to come after the end of the Unifil mission in Lebanon, citing a deployment that took plac at the same time at the Golan Heights in Syria.

We have credibility internationally as peacekeepers for almost 60 years now.

"There's plenty of capacity in the Defence Forces and there has been an increase following the Commission on the Defence Forces review. I think this is really important.

"It's also motivational for members of the Defence Forces to have the opportunity to be deployed into places in the Middle East. When you are deployed there for six months it is a massive commitment but it is a good thing for our Defence Forces.

"We have credibility internationally as peacekeepers for almost 60 years now, it's part of our non-colonial history. There are a lot of reasons Irish peacekeepers are welcome almost anywhere in the world and I think the fact we've taken a very progressive position on Gaza, not just since Israel's assault but before that, I think that Ireland would be welcomed with open arms."

Triple lock

He said the triple lock would be an obstacle to this, as Irish peacekeeping missions are currently subject to veto from any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council: China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.

The Government has proposed legislation to remove the triple lock, but it has been fiercely opposed by opposition TDs, including president-elect Catherine Connolly.

Mr Andrews said: "One of the obstacles we can't forget is if there is no UN mandate to set up a peacekeeping force, if it is something driven by the US, UK and Arab states, we would not be able to deploy unless there is a reform of the triple lock.

"I think it's important to note we haven't had a deployment of peacekeeping forces through a UN mandate since 2013, and if for some reasons one of the permanent five decide to veto it, maybe because it's an American initiative, Ireland would not be able to participate or send more than 12 soldiers.

"It does underline how important it is for us to reform the triple lock in order to avoid being caught by the absolute interia of the UN Security Council at the moment.

"The triple lock was a device that was suitable for a UN Security Council that was operational, whose values were somewhat aligned with Irish values in our Constitution, but now the council has become completely ineffective because of the widespread use of veto not just by Russia and China but also by the United States.

"I think we need to return sovereign decision making on the deployment of troops overseas to our national parliament, I don't think that in any way underlines our policy of military non-alignment."

Barry Andrews said the Defence Forces' peacekeeping in the Middle East would be a positive for a role in a Gaza peacekeeping force.

He said there would be security considerations to any Gaza deployment, adding that he feels "we should be giving really serious consideration to it".

Mr Andrews also said Irish people, even those with no Defence Forces affiliation, should be proud of our peacekeepers.

"I was in the barracks in Rathmines when the 124th battalion were deployed to Lebanon on a bright spring afternoon and the families of those young men and women were present in huge numbers and the sense of pride that it generates in them, to see somebody representing their country and wearing the tricolour on their uniform, is really palpable, it's an extraordinary thing.

"They're doing it for peace and it also enhances Ireland's reputation internationally, it's something we should cherish and find ways to maintain that.

"It's important for the morale within the Defence Forces, public perception, and acceptance of investment in the Defence Forces.

"If they are doing things as important as stabilisation in Gaza, I think there would be greater support for additional investment in the Defence Forces."
By Cillian Sherlock, PA

A grandmother who created 1,000 Christmas shoebox gifts for children living in poverty is hoping her efforts can push a charitys total present haul over the three-million mark.

Team Hope has so far delivered 2.8 million shoebox gifts packed by Irish families for children in Africa and eastern Europe  and aims to cross the milestone to mark its 15th anniversary.

In the run-up to Halloween, Wexford woman Maureen OHanlon is putting the final touches to this years batch of 100 festive boxes.

In the last decade, she has put together 1,000 shoeboxes  and has some extra help this year in the form of her six-year-old grand-daughter Anna.

She lives just beside me and calls it Santas workshop because I start for the following year as soon as the shoebox gifts have been sent away, said Maureen from her home in Campile, outside New Ross.

Maureen OHanlon, pictured with grand-daughter Anna (Patrick Browne/Mediaconsult/PA)

The retired teacher tightly packs each box with items she gathers in the January sales and throughout the year, making sure each one has copy books, colouring pencils, pens and sweets.

Her local Lidl supermarket in New Ross supplies her with packets of sweets for each box every year.

Some neighbours and friends, as well as her son Michael and partner John Monahan, are also involved in the massive effort, which involves not only gathering and packing the items, but transporting the finished boxes to Team Hopes Wexford depot.

I think of the children all the time and I try to make sure that no child will be disappointed when they open their box, said Ms OHanlon, who began making shoeboxes with pupils during her time at Rathgarogue National School and, later, Scoil Mhuire, Horeswood.

The attic is chaotic. On one side I have all the shoeboxes  I have 65 already filled  and on the other I have plastic storage containers with all the items from flip flops to knitted hats and T-shirts.

Im very lucky. Ive lived a very privileged life and I have the time. Why not use it for something useful?

Team Hope chief executive officer Deborah Lowry is urging families, schools and communities to join the charitys bid to generate the three millionth shoebox this year.

She said: Often packed by children for children, they carry not only toys and treats, but also the invisible gifts of love and hope.

In a world which often highlights what is broken, the Christmas Shoebox Appeal stands as a powerful demonstration that it is also filled with kindness.
A local police gang expert testified Saturday that the 2016 murder of Bianca Horton was one chapter in a spiraling war between two local gangs.

The witness said there were numerous retaliatory murders at the time. "They were falling left and right."

The expert was expected to be the last witness for the state in the trial of Athens Park Bloods leader Andre "Hollywood" Grier. The state is seeking the death penalty.

The jury from Anderson County is expected to begin deliberations on Monday after hearing a week of proof. If the jury convicts of first-degree murder, it will be the jury's responsibility to decide where Grier is put to death or has life in prison.

The expert said in 2016 when Ms. Horton was abducted outside her home and shot six times that Chattanooga had 40-50 different gang subsets with at least over 1,000 members.

He said the Athens Park Bloods originated in the vicinity of Athens Park along 126th Street in Los Angeles in the late 1960s or early 1970s. He said the movement spread to Chattanooga, where new members had to undergo a beating by fellow gangsters for 126 seconds.

The witness said for those gang members who turned out to be "snitches" or "rats" the penalty was "usually death or a severe beating."

He said Grier had risen to the top position in the local Athens Park Bloods and had money through being a high-level drug dealer. He said he drove new rental cars and had several girlfriends.

The expert said Grier's close associates included Charles Shelton and Courtney High. Both were charged with the Bianca Horton murder as well. Shelton died of COVID while at the county jail, and High pleaded guilty and took a life sentence.

The Athens Park Bloods were feuding with another Blood group, the Bounty Hunters.

The witness said a young Cortez "Awax" Sims in 2015 went after Bounty Hunter Marcell "Baby Watts" Christopher, who was the boyfriend of Ms. Horton at the time. The expert said Bounty Hunters had just shot up the home of Chenika Ramsey, the mother of Sims.

He said, in response, Sims burst into the Horton unit at College Hill Courts, shooting and killing Talitha Bowman, who answered the door. He also shot Christopher, Ms. Horton and her young daughter, Zoe, who was left paralyzed.

Ms. Horton testified against Sims at a Juvenile Court transfer hearing and was slated to be a witness against him at his trial in Criminal Court. But she was killed on May 24, 2016.

The expert said Sims was very close to Grier, and he and his mother pressed Grier to find a way to get him out of jail. Sims eventually was convicted of murder and given a life sentence - despite the absence of Ms. Horton at his trial and the fact Christopher refused to take the stand.

The witness said Grier, Shelton and High emerged as early suspects in the Bianca Horton murder.

He said Grier was located at a girlfriend's duplex on Larchmont Avenue in Brainerd. He barricaded himself inside and only came out after tear gas was used.

The witness said a search of the residence turned up a 9mm handgun stuffed in a box spring and a second handgun - a small sub-machine type weapon loaded with 21 bullets found in a floor vent. The 9mm was also loaded.

Police found documents at the residence, including those tying Grier to a 2004 Chevrolet Impala and to a Ford Econoline van. The witness said an early 2000s model Impala was seen on video at the apartment complex where Ms. Horton lived around the same time that someone knocked out the security camera and cut the lock to the gate. This was shortly before the Horton abduction. He said it was believed that the van was used at the time of the abduction of Ms. Horton from the Stone Ridge Apartments on 37th Street.

The witness said bolt cutters were found at the Larchmont duplex.

There were several cell phones in the duplex, including flip phones that had been broken apartment and a smart phone that had the screen smashed. Police were still able to extract information from the phones, including a list of phone numbers of people Grier had been talking to on the phone.

The expert said he and others began listening to recorded jail phone calls that might provide information on the case. He said he analyzed over 1,000 calls and focused on more than 100 of interest.

The state settled on 13 jail phone calls that were played for the jury. The jurors were supplied with transcripts.

An FBI witness testified that phone numbers associated with the defendants in the Bianca Horton case could be traced to Quintus Loop in the Bonny Oaks area where she was working, to her Alton Park apartment, and on to Elder Street on the side of Missionary Ridge where she was murdered.

Another FBI expert said the fingerprints of Shelton were found on a Family Dollar bag filled with cleaning supplies that was left inside the Econoline van.
Home News The plight of Artsakh Christians and their dream to return home: 'Forgotten by everyone' Ethnic cleansing survivors feel left behind in Armenian peace deal

YEREVAN, Armenia  Born and raised in her ancient Christian homeland of Artsakh (known internationally as Nagorno-Karabakh), 34-year-old legal professional and human rights advocate Marina Simonyan has spent her entire life under the shadow of violence and conflict, living through three different wars.

Like many from the Republic of Artsakh, which was a predominantly Armenian autonomous region within the internationally recognized borders of Muslim-majority Azerbaijan, speaking about the horrors of what happened leading up to and during the September 2023 invasion by Azerbaijan that forced over 120,000 people to flee is not easy. But these are stories that she feels the world must hear, as her people struggle to start new lives as refugees in Armenia proper.

"I was born in the 1990s, and when my parents were telling me what happened during the '90s, I was skeptical. I was telling them, 'Well, we are living in the 21st century, and it is highly unlikely that something like that will happen again,'" Simonyan told reporters gathered for a September witness testimony event organized by the advocacy organizations Save Armenia and the Center for Truth and Justice, admitting that her assumption proved to be incorrect.

"As a member of the fact-finding team, I have seen and I witnessed situations that one could not imagine, even in their worst nightmare.  What we witnessed, what actually happened, it was just Azerbaijan going on the offensive against the peaceful civilians. It's not just a story, but it is a record, well noted by the Human Rights Defenders Office. They would go into the villages, torture people, rape women."

She cited the example of one family in which elderly civilians were dismembered by Azerbaijani soldiers who broke into their house. Ears, tongues and necks were cut and mutilated, she recalled, saying there were "multiple cases like this."

Although recollections like this are difficult to tell, Simonyan believes it's essential that the brutal realities of what her people were subject to not be forgotten by the international community, as the cultural erasure of one of the world's most ancient Christian homelands has received scant attention in the last two years, drowned out by other global crises.

Leaders with the Artsakh government-in-exile are also voicing their displeasure in the wake of the Aug. 8 peace agreement and memorandum of understanding between Armenia and Azerbaijan brokered by President Donald Trump at the White House, feeling the terms leave the people of Artsakh behind and solidify the injustices carried out against them under the leadership of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's regime.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have disputed control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region since the early 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. After a 44-day war with Azerbaijan in 2020, 70% of Artsakh territory came under Azerbaijan's control. Beginning in December 2022, Azerbaijan starved and deprived the other 30% of Artsakh through a 10-month military blockade before ultimately taking complete control of the territory in September 2023.

During the blockade, Simonyan said civilian populations were cut off from food, hot water, gasoline and electricity. Kids were forced to walk to school in the freezing temperatures. Residents resorted to mixing water with soil to make salt. There were significant problems for pregnant women during this time due to the lack of gasoline and food. She said pregnant mothers were forced to walk miles to get to the hospital, and many faced vitamin deficiencies, causing them to lose their babies.

The Human Rights Defenders Office took note of several people who starved to death during this period, while Azerbaijani forces shelled and bombed civilian populations, apologizing to Russian peacekeepers for killing civilians in front of them, she stated.

"Despite all those struggles, we thought we would be strong until the end," she said, adding that the Artsakh Armenians had no intention of leaving their homeland. "During the blockade, I was telling them nothing worse could happen. But we saw that it could be worse."

'We had to leave our homeland'

Azerbaijan's offensive began in the region's capital, Stepanakert, on Sept. 19, 2023, around 1 p.m., a time that children were in school and the communication service was down, Simonyan detailed. Parents frantically tried to call to see where their children were, and one child suffered a stroke, she added.

"From my office, I saw the smoke and fog and shooting. There was this promise that they would give us three months for us to collect our belongings. But it was a sudden offensive," Simonyan said. "Every day, we would visit the hospitals, morgues. Day by day, the number of injured and tortured would increase. I can never forget that there were so many bodies, that some bodies were left on the floor."

"Because people know what the modus operandi is of Azerbaijanis  they saw it during 2020  we had this understanding of what will happen to us if we remain." Between 2020 and 2023, she said there were also documented instances of the taking of captives, the imposition of the blockade and other serious human rights violations.

"We didn't have any other choice. We had to leave our homeland," she continued. "Artsakh has always been Armenia. It never was Azerbaijanis. We had to leave our history of thousands of years, everything we had, our churches, our graveyards, our history, our memory, everything. We had to leave Artsakh."

For the mass exodus from Artsakh, the Azerbaijanis allowed the residents access to fuel kept in a military warehouse in Berkadzor through Russian peacekeepers. However, a massive explosion at the warehouse on Sept. 25, 2023, killed around 230 people and injured many more, Simonyan said.

For residents fleeing the enclave, there was only one road connecting Artsakh with Armenia. While thousands made it safely across the border into Armenia, for many, it was a trap as Azerbaijani forces blocked the Hakari bridge. While in normal conditions it would take about two hours to travel from Stepanakert to Hakari, Simonyan said during this mass exodus, it took three days.

"To be frank, it was not a road to save ourselves but a road to uncertainty," she said. "You could expect anything from [the Azerbaijanis]. They told men to get out of their cars and to walk. There were cases when they kidnapped people. There were many cases of bullying, ridiculing; there were cases where they compelled them to put away their cross, and they would break the cross. I can share many such cases."

"This is how we left and how we got to Armenia. Two years have passed since then," she stated, adding that they have never adapted to the setting and are "suffering mentally because the Azerbaijanis are always sharing video content and footage from Artsakh."

Simonyan said the house she used to live in was on one of Artsakh's most historic streets. Since her departure, she said, footage shows how the Azerbaijanis have destroyed the entire street and are building a mosque in the place of her home. She said they are also sharing footage of how they are destroying Artsakh's ancient churches.

A long history of persecution

Armenia, once a vast kingdom, was the first country to declare itself a Christian nation in the year 301 A.D., and it has a long history of persecution. In fact, one of the key figures who planted the seeds for the birth of this Christian nation, St. Gregory the Illuminator, a fourth-century apostle of Christianity, was himself imprisoned for 13 years in a burial pit before leading King Tiridates III to faith.

During World War I, up to 1.2 million Armenians were killed in massacres, individual killings and systemic mistreatment at the hands of the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey). The Armenian Genocide displaced hundreds of thousands of Armenians across the globe. Trauma from this reality still looms large amid Armenia's current geopolitical situation, as the country has lost much territory over the decades, and there were strong fears that Azerbaijan could launch a full-scale invasion of Armenia.

For many Armenians, fears of an Azerbaijani invasion appear to have been somewhat quelled, as advocates who visited the country in previous years noticed a palpable change in the social atmosphere following news of the Aug. 8 peace agreement.

Although many details of the deal are not final and will be ironed out over the next several months or years, the deal would satisfy Azerbaijan's demand for a 20-mile transport corridor through southern Armenia connecting Azerbaijan and Turkey that would be managed by the United States, which could give Armenia some de facto security as long as the U.S. has an economic interest in the region. However, the deal doesn't include a right to return for Artsakh refugees nor the release of nearly two dozen Artsakh Armenians held captive in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku. Additionally, many Armenians don't trust Aliyev and Azerbaijan to uphold the agreement.

'Forgotten by everyone'

Two years later, residents of Artsakh are living as refugees within Armenia. Although the blockade and ensuing offensive drew international news headlines and allegations of genocide at the time, leaders of the Artsakh government-in-exile, now based in an embassy building in the Armenian capital, contend that the international support for their displaced people pales in comparison to other refugee crises. Additionally, they believe their cause and push for a right to return to Artsakh is no longer supported by an Armenian government administration eager for peace.

"First of all, because of the [lack of] support coming from the government and international actors, it seems that we are forgotten by everyone just in two years," Gegham Stepanyan, the human rights ombudsman of Artsakh, said during a meeting with representatives of U.S.-based Christian advocacy groups, media companies and policy groups organized by the nonprofit Save Armenia during a September delegation trip.

"I'm sorry to say that, but it is, it is true. I mean, yeah, we see that we are not receiving the same attention as refugees from the international community as in other contexts."

The displaced from Artsakh received refugee status in Armenia in the fall of 2023. Although they have Armenian passports, Stepanyan said the Armenian government declared that they are not Armenian citizens but refugees, creating a special status.

Although the Armenian government and international organizations have offered some socioeconomic assistance programs, the ombudsman says the refugees have not benefited from a "proper social integration level."

He compared the international response to the Russian invasion of neighboring Georgia in 2008, saying the U.S. government pledged to give $1 billion to help Georgians recover. But so far, he said, Armenia has received about $100 million total from the international community to support the Artsakh refugees.

"And this situation has an implication on a personal, on an individual level, for every refugee. Now I can say that there is more than 30 to 40 percent of poverty among refugees in Armenia, maybe more," he said.

Only 20,000 Artsakh refugees are registered as workers in Armenia, and there are no specific government programs to promote their employment, Stepanyan said. While some are individually seeking and finding jobs, they are employed in low-wage roles. The average salary among refugees is 60% of the average salary in Armenia because they mostly hold low-wage jobs, he stressed.

While there is a program to assist refugees with housing, Stepanyan said the program has provisions that "are not acceptable" for many displaced from Artsakh.

"For example, it requires gaining Armenian citizenship," he said. "And there is a concern among Artsakh people that gaining Armenian citizenship will damage our right to return. I think this is something at the social-psychological level, but international law still says that the right to return is always there. If you have property there, if it is your homeland, you are always eligible to go back. But people think that keeping this Armenian passport with the 070 code  the code of Artsakh  is the last connection. So people feel fear to give up this document."

In recent months, more people have been applying for Armenian citizenship. Still, Stepanyan added that the financial support the government provides refugees to acquire housing is low compared to the real estate market in Armenia. Very few people have applied and are beneficiaries of this housing program, he noted.
Home News Joe Rogan says he enjoys church, pushes back against scoffers: 'There's something to it'

Podcaster Joe Rogan said during a recent podcast that he enjoys going to church and pushed back against "self-professed intelligent people" who dismiss the Bible as myth.

During the Wednesday episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" with guest Konstantin Kisin, a Russian-British political commentator who said he "loves" going to church, Rogan said he feels the same and finds it encouraging when he is with Christians who are working to better understand the Bible.

Joe Rogan tells his guests he ENJOYS GOING TO CHURCH: "the place that I go to, they read and analyze passages in the bible," then talks more about his present view of Jesus and what it all means. pic.twitter.com/psi7nxMm5G  Protestia (@Protestia) October 24, 2025

"It's a bunch of people that are going to try to make their lives better, trying to be a better person," he said of church. "I mean, for me  at least the place that I go to  they read and analyze passages in the Bible. I'm really interested in what these people were trying to say, because I don't think it's nothing."

Rogan suggested "atheists and secular people" who dismiss the Bible as fiction are not as intelligent as they believe themselves to be.

"I hear that among self-professed intelligent people, like it's a fairy tale," he said. "I don't know that's true. I think I think there's more to it. I think it's history, but I think it's a confusing history. It's a confusing history because it was a long time ago, and it's people telling things in an oral tradition and writing things down in a language that you don't understand, in the context of a culture that you don't understand."

Explaining that he believes "there's something to it," Rogan went on to say that Christianity is "the most fascinating" of the world's religions because it centers on the person of Jesus Christ.

"Christianity in particular is the most fascinating to me, because there's this one person that everybody agrees existed, that somehow or another had the best plan for how human beings should interact with each other and behave," he said.

Rogan suggested that he is fascinated by the fact that Christ suffered and died, despite being "the best example" of how human beings should behave.

"[He] didn't even protest," he said. "Died on the cross, supposedly for our sins. It's a fascinating story. What does it represent, though? That's the real thing. What was that? What happened? Who was Jesus Christ, if it was a human being. What was that? That's wild."

When Kisin noted that the story of Jesus could be seen as a metaphor for "voluntary self-sacrifice" intended to inspire a better society, Rogan observed that the historical reality of Jesus as a human being is unavoidable.

"It's a historically documented human being, that's where it gets weird," he said. "Because there's a universal depiction of what this human being was like. That doesn't seem to vary that much between all the people that knew Him. That gets weird."

Rogan has increasingly mentioned Christianity on his podcast within the past year. In January, he hosted Christian apologist Wes Huff for an extensive conversation about faith, Jesus and the supernatural claims of the Bible.

In May, Huff revealed that Rogan had begun attending church regularly, and that the two have remained in contact since the spoke on the podcast.

"That has been a consistent thing," Huff said of Rogan's church attendance.

That same month, Rogan expressed skepticism about the Big Bang theory's explanation of the universe's origin, noting that he finds the idea of the Resurrection more plausible.

"It's funny, because people will be incredulous about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, but yet, they're convinced that the entire universe was smaller than a head of a pin and that for no reason that anyone has adequately explained to me, instantaneously became everything? OK," he said.

"I'm sticking with Jesus on that one," he later added. "Jesus makes more sense. People have come back to life."
Home News 3 Christians, including pastor, arrested in India for outreach to Hindus

Three Christians, including a pastor, were arrested in northern India under a controversial anti-conversion law for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity through "inducements."

The arrests in Uttar Pradesh came days after the country's top court criticized the state for misusing the law to harass members of the minority community.

Police in Bareilly district arrested Pastor Sumit Masey, Amit Masey, also known as Akshay Masey, and a woman identified only as Sarita following a complaint. A fourth accused, Satyapal, remains missing, reports Press Trust of India, citing police officials.

The arrests were made under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, commonly referred to as the anti-conversion law, which bans religious conversions by force, fraud or allurement.

The complaint was lodged by area residents Rishabh Thakur and Nirdosh Rathore, alleging that individuals affiliated with a Christian missionary had rented a house in the city's Super City locality, where they were allegedly pressuring Hindu women and children to convert by disguising their efforts as religious gatherings and prayer events, police told media.

The arrested individuals allegedly offered promises of improved living standards and healing to people from Dalit, formerly "untouchables," and economically disadvantaged backgrounds to convince them to adopt Christianity, police claimed, adding that several women and children had already been converted using this method.

The accused used emotional and psychological pressure before introducing prospective converts to Christian teachings and scriptures, police further claimed.

Three days before the arrests, the Supreme Court had thrown out criminal complaints filed against Christians accused of religious conversion under the same law, according to The Hindu.

The court identified procedural flaws, the absence of credible evidence, and recurring allegations repeated in several complaints. The judgment said the criminal cases amounted to harassment of individuals who appeared to be innocent. It pointed out that many of the complaints were lodged by unrelated third parties long after the events in question, with no direct proof of unlawful conversion or statements from anyone claiming coercion.

The court said allowing the prosecutions to continue would be a "travesty of justice."

The court also questioned the larger legal structure of the anti-conversion law. It raised concerns about the requirement to notify district authorities 60 days in advance and the legal mandate for a police inquiry before any conversion.

After the conversion, the law requires another declaration to the authorities and the public posting of personal details, including the home address and the location of the event. The court said these conditions interfere with individual privacy and autonomy.

Persecution of Christians in India is most severe in Uttar Pradesh, which is governed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Christians comprise about 5% of India's population. In Uttar Pradesh, Christians make up less than 1% of the population.

India ranks as the 11th-worst country in the world for Christian persecution, according to Open Doors World Watch List. The watchdog group notes that at least a dozen states have passed anti-conversion laws that threaten the religious freedom of Christians.
Home News Travel: Rediscovering San Francisco from an iconic hotel

SAN FRANCISCO  Im standing in the soaring lobby of the Hyatt Regency, where the colossal atrium and futuristic design function as a cathedral to modernity.

Designed by architect John C. Portman Jr., who died in 2017, the interior remains as striking as the day it opened in 1973. At the time, the idea of a hotel with a sky-high atrium was radical. Portmans concept, first executed at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta in 1967, found its ultimate refinement in San Francisco.

This was no ordinary hotel. While critics initially scoffed, the design forever changed how guests experience hotels. Imitations soon popped up everywhere, from major U.S. cities to resorts around the world.

From the Hyatt Regencys prime location at the foot of Market Street and along the Embarcadero, San Francisco unfurls like a map, inviting exploration. This is a place that demands you walk its streets and climb its hills.

I set out toward the Ferry Building. The 1898 landmark, crowned by its 245-foot clock tower, is a Beaux-Arts beauty turned gastronomic hub. Inside, artisanal vendors sell everything from cheese and pastries to farm-fresh produce. A bustling farmers market takes over the plaza every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with Saturday drawing the biggest crowds.

Not far away is another icon: the Transamerica Pyramid. Completed in 1972 and newly refreshed after a $1 billion renovation, the pyramid by William Pereira remains one of the worlds most recognizable silhouettes  an architectural exclamation point in steel and concrete.

Rather than attempt the cable car, where tourists were lined up for blocks, I walked up California Street to Nob Hill. The climb is steep, but the reward comes with the view: skyscrapers in one direction, the bay in the other, and houses clinging to impossibly angled streets. Visitors not wanting to walk can easily hail a Waymo ride. The self-driving cars are seemingly everywhere.

In Nob Hill and beyond, the citys architecture is not just about the skyline. Neighborhoods reveal a patchwork of styles. Stuccoed villas inspired by the Mediterranean sit beside stately Edwardian townhouses. Most famous of all are the colorful Victorian houses known as the Painted Ladies. They survived the 1906 earthquake and fire and today remain among the most photographed homes in America.

San Franciscos beauty is unlike any other city in the United States. Its setting certainly elevates the architecture. On mornings when the fog is slow to burn off, the skyline seems to float above the clouds, as if suspended between heaven and earth.

Eventually, I return to the Hyatt Regency and grab a chair in the vast atrium. Fifty-two years later, Portmans vision continues to define the guest experience. Glass elevators glide skyward, framed by concrete hallways that appear like cliffs carved by human imagination.

Yes, San Francisco faces challenges. But what some headlines portray simply doesnt match reality. I first wrote about this last year, when I pushed back on the so-called doom-loop narrative. On this return visit, I found a city that remains vibrant and perfectly safe for visitors.

San Francisco still inspires. It still surprises. And it still delivers unforgettable moments, often just by looking up.

If you go

You dont need to be a guest to experience Portmans atrium at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco, but staying the night certainly enhances the effect. The former revolving restaurant atop the hotel has been reimagined as a club lounge with expansive views. Guests with certain membership in Hyatts loyalty program or those booking club-level rooms can enjoy access.

Besides the Ferry Building and its farmers market (Saturday is the best day to go), other must visits include the Legion of Honor art museum; the Gothic revival Grace Cathedral (Episcopal) and modernist Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption (Roman Catholic); and Mission San Francisco de Asis (Roman Catholic) with its late 18th-century adobe chapel that is the citys oldest building.

Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post.
Home Opinion The Anglican Church's split: When the culture wins over Scripture

The Anglican Communion just split in two. And it happened because the Church of England decided that 1,400 years of biblical faithfulness matters less than a headline.

On October 3, 2025, the Church of England announced Sarah Mullally, the 63-year-old bishop of London, as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to hold the post in the churchs history.

The celebration was immediate. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised her appointment. The Archbishop of York called it delightful. Progressive Anglicans hailed it as long-overdue progress.

But the controversy was just as swift.

Within two weeks, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a coalition of conservative Anglican provinces representing millions across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, issued a blunt statement: They will no longer recognize the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Anglican Communion, they declared, would be reordered.

The office of Archbishop of Canterbury dates back to 597 AD. Over the nearly 1,400 years, 105 men held the post. The continuity of male leadership was rooted in the churchs understanding of Scripture, tradition, and apostolic order. That pattern is now broken.

This is not progress. This is capitulation. And the Church of England has just announced to the world that Scripture is negotiable when culture demands it.

Why this happened

The reasons for elevating this woman to the highest leadership position within the Church of England are multifaceted, but three forces converged to make it happen right now: cultural pressure, an institutional crisis, and theological compromise.

Culturally, the Church of England is drowning in progressivism. British society has fully embraced gender equity as an unquestionable good. To appoint another man would have been seen as regressive. The Church wanted to signal that it is modern and relevant.

Institutionally, the church is hemorrhaging members as secularism rises. And it is staggering from a sex-abuse scandal that forced Justin Welbys resignation in November 2024 after an investigation found he failed to act on serial abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps.

Did the church feel compelled to appoint a woman precisely because of this scandal? The conclusion is inescapable: Male leadership has failed, so lets try something different. Never mind that the problem was not maleness but sin and institutional rot. The solution was not biblical reformation but cultural accommodation.

Theologically, to justify the decision to erase role distinctions, supporters of the new female bishop point to Galatians 3:28, which says, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. However, Paul is speaking of salvation here, not office. Likewise, supporters claim that 1 Timothy and Titus are culturally conditioned, but Paul grounds his instruction in creation order, not culture.

The real issue is whether Scripture is allowed to speak at all, or whether culture gets the final word.

And heres the deeper problem: In 2023, Mullally called the approval of marriage for same-sex couples a moment of hope for the Church. Speaking at Canterbury Cathedral after her appointment, she pledged to be a shepherd who enables everyones ministry and vocation to flourish, whatever our tradition.

That language sounds warm to some, but it signals surrender. The church has chosen a leader who represents not just a shift on gender but a broader drift on sexuality, marriage, and biblical authority.

What Scripture actually says

Scripture has much to say about all of these issues, particularly for women. And while there are many important tasks that women can handle both within the family and the Church, the office of elder (or priest or bishop or overseer) is reserved for qualified men. Paul writes to Timothy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:1-2).

The language is unmistakably male. The qualifications assume male headship in the home and the Church.

Paul also writes, I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet (1 Timothy 2:12). This verse is not about worth or dignity, as men and women are equally made in the image of God, equally redeemed by Christ. Instead, it is about order, role, and Gods design for how His household should be governed.

Giftedness does not determine calling. God has designed the Church with a particular order that reflects the relationship between Christ and His Church. Just as Christ is the Head and the Church is His Bride, so the man is called to lead in the home and the Church in a way that mirrors that relationship (Ephesians 5:22-33). To overturn that order is not just to change a policy  it is to obscure the Gospel itself.

The Anglican tradition, like the broader Catholic tradition, has always understood this. The historic creeds and confessions affirm male-only ordination. To break from this is not to update the tradition. It is to abandon it.

And when you change one foundational pattern, you open the door to changing others. The Church of England first allowed women priests in 1994, then women bishops in 2014, and now a woman archbishop. Along the way, it began blessing same-sex unions and is now debating whether to formally recognize same-sex marriage. Once you decide that Scriptures teaching on gender roles is negotiable, you have no principled way to resist the next demand.

The global fracture and the pattern of decline

The Anglican Communion is a global fellowship of 85 million Christians in over 165 countries. But it is fracturing along theological lines.

GAFCON chairman Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda said it plainly, This appointment abandons global Anglicans, as the Church of England has chosen a leader who will further divide an already split Communion.

The conservative provinces, mostly in Africa and Asia, hold to the historic biblical position. They represent the majority of practicing Anglicans worldwide, and they are now taking steps to distance themselves from the Church of England.

GAFCON has announced the formation of the Global Anglican Communion, a new structure that will reject the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We have not left the Anglican Communion; we are the Anglican Communion, he stated. The reset of our beloved Communion is now uniquely in the hands of GAFCON, and we are ready to take the lead.
Emman Atienza, a 19-year-old social media personality known for her lifestyle content, has died by suicide at her Los Angeles home on Oct. 22, according to TMZ

Her parents, Filipino television host Kuya Kim Atienza and fitness guru Felicia Atienza, shared the news through an Instagram post.

Its with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our daughter and sister, Emman, the family wrote. She brought so much joy, laughter, and love into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her.

Atienza had built a significant online presence with 875,000 followers on TikTok and 225,000 on Instagram, the New York Post said. Beyond sharing lifestyle content, she used her platform to discuss mental health issues and speak out against conservative values in the Philippines.

Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasnt afraid to share her own journey with mental health, her familys statement continued. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone.

The young content creator had recently relocated to Los Angeles and had been documenting her new life with followers.

Her final TikTok video, posted shortly before her death, featured a montage of activities with friends, including hiking, rock climbing, and Halloween festivities, with the caption life lately does this go hard.

In November 2024, Atienza briefly stepped away from social media following backlash over a video showing her and friends playing a guess the bill game at a restaurant where the check totaled $2,268, the NY Post noted. The post sparked criticism in the Philippines, where the average monthly wage is approximately $794.

Her family has encouraged others to honor Atienzas memory by living with compassion, courage, and a little extra kindness in your everyday life.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.
With the way Ohio is moving on education, the Today in Ohio asks whether Margaret Atwood's book The Handmaids Tale might soon be a student guidebook. Penguin Random House

Ohio legislators have passed a bill along party lines that has the hosts of Today in Ohio podcast warning of a regression to 1950s social values and comparing the legislation to dystopian fiction.

Senate Bill 156, which passed the Ohio Senate 24-9 on Thursday, would require schools to teach students the so-called Success Sequence - a prescribed life path that proponents claim helps people avoid poverty.

This bill is based on whats called the Success Sequence theory. What this would do, it would require schools to teach that those who get a high school diploma, work full time jobs and marry before having children are less likely to be poverty stricken as adults, explained Lisa Garvin on the podcast.

The curriculum would target students in grades 6-12, with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce developing standards and a model curriculum, though schools could use their own versions that align with the requirements.

The response from podcast host Chris Quinn was scathing: It feels like were going to make the Handmaids Tale the guidebook in schools eventually. He added that the Legislature is committed to the traditional old fashioned 1950s view of what families should be and teaching it in schools.

Quinn expressed concern about the potential for shaming students whose lives dont fit the prescribed pattern: What if... The people in your life dont fit into that pattern. Are you going to be shamed because you dont fit the pattern or your parents didnt fit the pattern?

The podcast participants quickly questioned what message this curriculum sends about diverse family structures. Garvin noted, The traditional family is so insular and so narrow. I mean family means whatever you want it to mean. Gay people can adopt kids I never married and had kids, so am I not on the success sequence?

Leila Atassi raised specific concerns about how the curriculum might affect LGBTQ+ students. Republican Sen. Jerry Cirino of Lake County defended the bill, claiming were not telling people how to live their lives. Were just making suggestions, and pointed to the continued existence of poverty despite decades of government programs.

However, Democratic Sen. Kent Smith of Euclid countered that research shows the Success Sequence misrepresents values among low income people, arguing that people in poverty value education, work and marriage just as much as the middle class, but face systemic barriers that the bill ignores.

The bill now moves to the House. Listen to the discussion here.

Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine after delivering his 2024 State of the State speech to lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com) Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Ohio has its problems (Exhibit A  a madcap General Assembly), but Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and his appointees, such as Budget Director Kimberly Murnieks and her staff, have been outstanding managers of Ohios state budget, a national bond-rating agency reported earlier this month.

Fitch Ratings gave a new issue of $510 million in Ohio general obligation bonds a rating of AAA (highest credit quality). The cash that investors will pay for the bonds will be used to help fund higher-education and conservation projects.

Underpinning the Triple-A rating, Fitch reported, is [Ohios] high financial resilience and superior budget management, as evidenced by robust fiscal reserves and cash, and a proven ability to absorb economic cyclicality and repeated tax policy changes.

Compare that to congressional budget anarchy and the budget woes of such states as Illinois and New Jersey, which U.S. News & World Report, citing data from Moodys, another bond-rating service, ranks last among the 50 states in credit ratings. (Democrats control Illinois and New Jersey; DeWine and his fellow Republicans control Ohio.)

It helps that (reduced to essentials) Ohio is constitutionally required to have a balanced budget; is forbidden to have more than $750,000 in debt without a statewide vote of approval; and, as of June 30, Ohios Budget Stabilization (rainy day) Fund totaled $3.94 billion, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission reports.

True, the future is unknown. Thats especially so for states budgets, big chunks of which are dependent on the federal budget, when and if Congress passes one. And President Donald Trumps ludicrously named One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which became law July 4, and which every Ohio Republican in Congress supported, except U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, of Miami Countys Troy, has potentially enormous negative financial effects on every states budget, including Ohios, notably on federal funding for the federal-state Medicaid health care program.

As of September, one in every four Ohio residents was a Medicaid client. Any cutback in Medicaid eligibility, or in the federal share of federal-state Medicaid spending, could have crushing consequences for Ohio Medicaid patients and the physicians and hospitals who care for them. (Given the possibly catastrophic effects of Trumps bill on states budgets, DeWines constitutionally required retirement from the governorship in January 2027 may be lucky timing  for him.)

Still, the budget framework DeWine will leave his successor is well-crafted. It built on earlier work of budget professionals appointed by Lakewood Democrat Richard F. Celeste, governor from 1983 through 1990, and equally professional budget directors appointed by Republican Govs. George V. Voinovich; Bob Taft; and John R. Kasich; and Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

Unfortunately, the musical chairs of legislative term limits have slashed the Ohio General Assemblys budgeting experience. But so far  fingers crossed  successive governors budget directors have in effect been not only policy-crafters but also state-finance professors to an ever-churning legislature.

As indicated by the states sterling bond rating, Mike DeWine and his administration have been outstanding managers of Ohios checkbook, an incredible accomplishment, given federal budget turmoil.

Still, history demands saying  on the policy side  that DeWines budgets havent given Ohioans a fair system of public school funding, and sluice more and more public money to private, often religious, schools, though Ohios constitution forbids that

But the same is true of Ohios roll-over-and-play-dead Supreme Court, which in a 5-2 ruling in May 2003 in effect killed the DeRolph school-funding lawsuit that had ordered statewide fairness in state public school aid, regardless of a districts poverty. (Justices who opposed ending the DeRolph case in 2003 were the Democrats then on the court: Toledos Alice Robie Resnick and the late Francis E. Sweeney Sr., of Lakewood, author of the high courts original 1997 pro-school-funding majority opinion.)

Thomas Suddes

DeWine isnt alone in his failure to fashion fair school funding budgets that, agreed, our mulish legislature would ignore anyway. No governor since the DeRolph case was originally decided in 1997  from Voinovich onward  has done so either.

Thats a blot on DeWines legacy. Still, overall, on the budget-management side, Mike DeWine and his aides have maintained Ohios sterling credit rating and kept Ohio budgets balanced. Amid todays beside-the-point politics, thats a genuine public benefit to all Ohio taxpayers.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions, comments or corrections regarding this opinion article to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.
In a visit aimed at providing strategic direction and political impetus to the ongoing negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) for a potential Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is slated to visit Brussels, Belgium, on October 27 and 28 to hold high-level discussions with the EU's Executive Vice-President and Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic.India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry has described the proposed visit, coming at a crucial stage in the India-EU FTA negotiations, as timely, as both sides intensify efforts to conclude a comprehensive, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade agreement at the earliest.The visit aims to build on the momentum generated by the 14th round of negotiations held in Brussels from 6th to 10th October, with discussions expected to cover key areas of the proposed FTA, including market access, non-tariff measures, and regulatory cooperation.Both leaders are expected to review the progress achieved so far and identify areas requiring further convergence.This visit takes place against the backdrop of the India-EU partnership gaining renewed strategic depth following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year. The two leaders had underscored the importance of a future-ready trade relationship to advance prosperity, sustainability, and innovation on both sides.While India is looking to export more labour-intensive goods to the EU with increased market access, the EU aims to export more automobiles and liquor to India. Earlier, government sources indicated that the 27-member bloc's recent nod to India's fisheries exports will offset the loss of export avenues for the sector due to US tariffs, adding that the talks are proceeding well and on track to be concluded by year-end.Last month, Goyal had said that over 65% of chapters had been finalized in the FTA negotiations during the 13th round of talks in New Delhi.In June 2025, government sources told CNBC-TV18 that extra sessions were being held in the India-EU FTA negotiations, with the frequency of meetings having increased from quarterly to monthly.Earlier, CNBC-TV18 had reported that India and the EU were keeping options open for an early harvest deal, similar to the one India had signed with Australia. The early harvest deal is expected to cover issues such as tariff and non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights, government procurement, technical barriers to trade, and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. India and the EU are pursuing a two-stage approach to finalize an FTA, alongside a bilateral investment protection agreement and recognition of geographical indications (GIs) with the 27-member bloc.


I dont know if it was slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates people of Balochistan from people of Pakistan .

pic.twitter.com/dFNKOBKoEz

 Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) October 19, 2025

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is facing backlash in Pakistan after his recent comments on Balochistan triggered strong reactions in the neighbouring country. Reports online suggest that the actor has been added to the 4th Schedule of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), a list meant for individuals linked to terrorism.Being listed under the 4th Schedule could mean restrictions on movement, close monitoring, and potential legal action. The controversy followed after Salmans appearance at Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, where he shared the stage with fellow actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan to discuss the growing popularity of Indian cinema in the Middle East.Controversy started after a clip from Salmans Riyadh speech went viral, where the actor is talking about the success of Indian films in Saudi Arabia, he reportedly said, "Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here, it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan everyone is working here."News18 reported that Salmans mention of Balochistan and Pakistan separately angered officials in Islamabad, who viewed it as a challenge to Pakistans territorial integrity.Meanwhile, the actors remarks received support from some Baloch separatist leaders. Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent advocate for Baloch independence, thanked Salman for recognising Balochistan as distinct, calling it a symbolic act that raises global awareness of our identity.Balochistan is Pakistans largest province by area, covering 46% of the country, but it houses only 6% of the population. Despite its rich natural resources, nearly 70% of residents live below the poverty line, and the region has long faced political unrest, military crackdowns, and economic neglect.As of now, Salman Khan has not issued any official statement addressing the controversy.Nonetheless, the "notification" reportedly dated October 16, 2025, shared by a social media user has claimed that Salman was listed as an "Azad Balochistan Facilitator". However, there is no official confirmation from Pakistani authorities, and no credible news outlet has verified the claim.In a post on social media one user wrote:
US President Donald Trump reiterated his assertion that India is halting its purchases of Russian oil. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia, Trump said, ...China is cutting back very substantially on the purchase of Russian oil, and India is cutting back completely, and we've done sanctions...

This statement aligns with Trump's previous remarks in October, where he claimed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him that India would cease importing Russian oil.The US has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods , partly in response to India's continued Russian oil imports, which Washington argues fund Russia's war in Ukraine., though a complete halt remains unlikely amid ongoing uncertainty over trade negotiations with the US.

Jayant Dasgupta, former Indian Ambassador to the WTO, has said that major Indian refiners have long-term agreements with Russian suppliers, making an immediate shift challenging.

Harsh V Pant, Vice President at ORF, added that Indias political economy makes a full cessation of Russian oil improbable. India will have to hedge its bets accordingly. Those buying oil from Russia will also have to hedge their bets, he said, emphasising that diversification will be gradual and influenced by market dynamics and infrastructure constraints, while Russia is likely to remain a part of Indias energy mix.

Analysts estimate that Russian crude flows to India are likely to remain in the 1.61.8 million barrels per day range until at least November 21, with indirect imports possibly continuing thereafter.















When a reporter asked if he would discuss purchases of Russian oil with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump replied, I may be discussing it.

















On his Asia tour, Trump is also expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with discussions likely to focus on trade relations and the ongoing US-China trade war.Trump had earlier expressed hope for a "complete deal" with China, aiming to resolve outstanding trade issues.
US President Donald Trump has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan had resumed talks to address cross-border tensions, adding that he expected the issue to be resolved very quickly.Speaking aboard Air Force One ahead of his Asia tour, Trump said, I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up, but I will solve it very quickly. Pakistans Field Marshal and Prime Minister are great people. The comment came as Islamabad and Kabul held a second round of talks in Istanbul to establish a joint monitoring mechanism aimed at curbing cross-border militant activity.The Pakistan-Afghanistan discussions are being facilitated by Qatar and Turkiye.Trump, who has sought to project his administration as one focused on diplomacy and trade rather than conflict, also said, We are proud of the Gaza peace plan. We are also signing a trade deal with Cambodia and a critical minerals deal with Thailand. It is one of the eight wars my administration ended in eight months. Nothing like this has been done in history. Millions of people are alive today because of the peace deals. I prioritise trade over wars.The Pakistan meeting with Afghanistan follows the first round of discussions held in Doha earlier this month, which brought a temporary halt to deadly border clashes that had killed soldiers, militants and civilians on both sides. Peace was restored briefly on October 19 after the countries agreed to continue diplomatic engagement.According to, the Istanbul discussions focused on developing a joint monitoring and oversight mechanism to curb cross-border terrorist movement and address trade-related hurdles.reported that Pakistan shared a detailed counterterrorism roadmap with the Afghan Taliban delegation led by Mawlawi Rahmatullah Najeeb, Afghanistans deputy interior minister.Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, speaking to reporters in Sialkot, has said that Pakistan had kept all options open, including the possibility of an all-out war, if talks failed to address its security concerns. He noted that calm had prevailed along the border over the past few days and said 80% of points agreed upon in Doha were already being implemented.We are hopeful for a sustainable peace formula, Asif said, but lamented that those we hosted for four decades have supported terrorism on our soil.Tensions between the neighbours have worsened since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, with Pakistan accusing the regime of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants. The two countries have frequently clashed along the 2,611-km Durand Line, which Afghanistan refuses to officially recognise.Diplomatic observers say that failure to stabilise ties could weigh on regional connectivity and trade, including projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Central AsiaSouth Asia transit routes.
The United States and Thailand have agreed to a framework for reciprocal trade that will address tariff and non-tariff barriers across agricultural and industrial products, the White House announced on Sunday, October 26.Under the agreement, Thailand will remove tariff barriers on approximately 99% of goods, covering a wide range of US industrial and food exports.The framework was unveiled as part of President Donald Trumps Asia tour, which included participation in the 13th US-ASEAN Summit and a series of diplomatic and trade initiatives across Southeast Asia.The United States and Thailand have agreed to a framework that will substantially open Thailands market to US exports and ensure fair competition for US products, the White House statement said.The move is expected to significantly boost trade in industrial goods, agricultural products, and food commodities, while mitigating non-tariff barriers that have historically hindered US exporters.Trumps visit also marked the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords between Thailand and Cambodia, ending border tensions , and the finalisation of trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia.The United States simultaneously announced frameworks for trade negotiations with Vietnam and issued joint trade statements with Thailand and Vietnam.

The US-Thailand trade framework complements other agreements signed during the tour, including:



Malaysia: Elimination or reduction of tariffs on nearly all US exports, preferential market access for industrial and agricultural goods, and removal of discriminatory barriers on motor vehicles.



Cambodia: Complete elimination of tariffs on US goods, including industrial and agricultural products, with regulatory recognition to simplify export processes.



Vietnam: A framework for reciprocal trade ensuring preferential access for U.S. industrial and agricultural exports.



Trump reiterates India completely cutting back on Russian oil ahead of Asia tour
Conan OBrien has millions of fans all across the world, at least one of whom may have pushed Jay Leno down that Pennsylvania hill as payback for the Tonight Show fiasco. Weirdly, it turns out that, for a very brief moment, the Conan fanbase also included disgraced president Richard Milhous Nixon.

During a recent episode of the Conan OBrien Needs a Friend podcast, the host spoke with Tom Holland (not the Spider-Man guy) and Dominic Sandbrook from the podcast The Rest Is History. During their discussion of history, Nixons name came up, prompting OBrien to share a story from the early days of his Late Night run.

My show, here in the States, began in September of 1993, OBrien recalled. And a reporter asked me, Who would your favorite comedy guest be? And I said, Richard Nixon, because Richard Nixon was still alive.

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OBrien wasnt joking, he was legitimately interested in Nixons unwitting role in the history of modern comedy. He was the face of comedy for about a good 12 years in our comedy, the host explained. Comedians were obsessed with him. He was a very fun guy to have sport with, and he obsessed every comedy writer for a huge chunk of modern American history.

So I wanted to talk to Richard Nixon, he continued. And then he passed away. I started in September, I think he died in maybe March  it was actually April  and I thought, There goes my chance.

OBrien even shared his desire to interview Nixon while slowly dying during his famous Hot Ones appearance.

But the big shocker here is that OBriens interest in Nixon was something of a two-way street. Im going to brag here for a moment, he said to his podcast guests. One of Nixons biographers who knew him is a woman named Monica Crowley, who has written a lot about Nixon in (the book Nixon in Winter) late in his career. She told me that Nixon, at the very end of his life, was flipping around  he was interested in television. He liked to watch television. And I premiered, and he watched our first episode. And then she said that he liked it, and told her, I like it, its madcap. Its madcap!

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Now OBrien wants Monica Crowley to write that down so that its part of the official record.

Who knows, maybe one day well get a special edition of All the Presidents Men with a new epilogue all about Nixons post-Watergate late-night TV viewing habits.
Its no secret that Saturday Night Live cast member isnt exactly the highest paying job on TV. Last year, Pete Davidson made headlines for revealing that he only made like three grand an episode after being asked about the biggest indulgence he spent his first SNL paycheck on. I think I got dinner, he joked. Jason Sudeikis similarly said that he used his SNL money to splurge on rent.

And, as weve mentioned before, Taran Killam once divulged that SNLs one-time sketch comedy rival MADtv actually paid substantially more per episode than NBC.

The surprisingly paltry pay scale has seemingly been going on since at least the late 80s, back when Mike Myers joined the cast.

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At a recent Toronto event celebrating the release of Myers brother Paul Myers new book John Candy: A Life in Comedy, the Waynes World star told attendees about his early SNL money problems. When you work at Saturday Night Live, the first year you make no money, Myers explained, admitting that things got so bad that he had to borrow money off Lorne.

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Myers said that he waited outside Michaels office for 12 hours, which isnt that unusual, before finally getting the chance to ask his boss for a loan. I understand youre having money problems, Michaels said to Myers. Are you spending wildly? How much is your rent?

When the young comic told him, the producer responded, Could you find cheaper? Myers said that he couldnt, and would need around $10,000 since New York is expensive.

Okay, that should be fine, Michaels concluded.

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When Myers later went to cash his paycheck, the bank teller laughed when she saw the name. Michael Myers, youre not going to kill me are you? she exclaimed, in reference to the iconic Halloween slasher.

After looking at the check, She said, Is this a joke? Myers recalled. I said, No why? She goes, Its for zero cents. He took the money out of my paycheck!

Yeah, instead of loaning him the money, Michaels just gave him an advance on his first payment, then apparently cut him a check worth absolutely nothing.

Myers doesnt seem too upset about it, though. He also referred to Michaels as a fucking genius, and confessed that he got away with a lot of shit at SNL purely because Michaels liked him and looked out for him.
Last week, the Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the UK economy as being in a 'growth emergency'. He's right, of course: our economy is stagnant, with next to no growth and a soaring cost of living. The only thing growing is the national debt and its eye-watering interest.

By the way Kyle spoke, you'd be forgiven for thinking he was in opposition  not in Government and it wasn't Labour responsible for this mess.

But the truth is, we aren't growing because of choices Rachel Reeves and her colleagues have made. Their anti-business tax grabs and regulations are stifling the economy and driving wealth creators overseas.

And things are about to get much worse.

Take their infamous Employment Rights legislation  or as I call it, the 'Unemployment Bill'.

The brainchild of the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, it has businesses big and small united in fear.

By the Government's own admission, it will heap 5billion of costs on to struggling firms, making it more expensive to hire.

That's on top of the 800 per worker Rachel Reeves has levied on employers through her National Insurance hike and her raising the minimum wage  not to mention the suite of taxes she could smack businesses with in her Budget next month.

Andrew Griffith (pictured) labels Labour's Employment Rights legislation the 'Unemployment Bill'

The burden on small firms will prove too heavy  and that means job losses and firm closures.

Even larger companies, which might just be able to cope, will hold off hiring  and start firing  to cut costs. In fact, many already have. A survey of businesses worldwide by recruitment firm Manpower revealed last month that hiring plans in the UK fell by 17 per cent in the past year  a fall nearly double that of the next worse country.

It's staggering hypocrisy, then, to hear the Chancellor talk about how she wants to cut red tape and free businesses from unnecessary rules, when her own Government is doing the exact opposite.

If lightening the burden on business is the aim, she need look no further than the disastrous Employment Rights Bill.

Joblessness has been rising every month since Labour took office. Since last year's Budget, more than 250,000 people have found themselves out of work  a jobs crisis that is hitting young people disproportionately.

Britain's jobs market is already teetering but this Bill will kneecap it for good.

Why? Because it makes it easier for workers to down tools, causing the chaos we saw in London last month when the strike barons ground the Underground to a halt, again. Or we'll witness dangerously understaffed casualty departments, the likes of which are expected next month when resident doctors plan a mass walkout.

The Bill is nothing but a Strikers' Charter and a sop to Labour's union paymasters. And employers know it.

The Employment Rights legislation is the brainchild of the former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner (pictured)

A report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development revealed last week that more than half of firms said they felt industrial action would increase over the next year, and more than two thirds said unions still have the power to cause major problems for our economy.

So it's little surprise employers are desperate for the Bill's strike provisions to be watered down  chief among them is Labour's removal of the 50 per cent turnout required at ballots for industrial action to be valid.

It's not too late, however. This week, the Lords have an opportunity to inject some business sense into this jobs-destroying Bill.

Any responsible government would accept their advice  be it keeping the 50 per cent strike ballot threshold, or a cross-party amendment to stop union subscriptions automatically sloshing into so-called 'political funds' used to prop up Labour.

But the Government is too weak to stand up for ordinary people who want to get on, work hard and grow businesses.

Too weak to say no to the lawfare specialists who dictated the Bill and the wealthy trade unions it serves.

And too weak to do what is in the country's best interest and give our economy the tools to grow.

With very little business experience or acumen among their ranks, Labour would rather bury its head in the sand than listen to employers.

But they must heed their call: if you want growth and jobs, stand up to the union bully boys and change this dreadful Bill.
Keir Starmer's defeat in Labour's deputy leadership contest is a calamity for him. The only question now is whether his MPs move against him before or after next year's local elections.

Technically, this was a fight between former Leader of the House Lucy Powell and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

But, in truth, it was a referendum on Sir Keir's toxic premiership. The verdict from his party was damning.

Ms Phillipson ran on a ticket of continuity and support for the PM's project. She had to be virtually press-ganged into it.

Powell, in contrast, kept hammering the message that if Labour didn't change course, they were doomed. And the party's army of activists have spoken.

Ms Powell's victory will now create a domino effect: firstly, it will be the signal for the various candidates who could replace Sir Keir to expand their hitherto nascent campaigns.

Angela Rayner this week delivered a resignation speech in the Commons that was a thinly disguised leadership pitch.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has lined himself up for the weekend media round.

Labour's deputy leadership contest was a referendum on the toxic premiership of Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) - and the verdict from his party was damning

Andy Burnham, one of Ms Powell's closest allies, will feel vindicated by his decision to urge her to run.

Many viewed Ms Powell as a stalking horse for Mr Burnham, who has made no secret of his own leadership ambitions.

The victory also has a key practical effect. One of the major obstacles to a move against the PM is his perceived control over the Labour machine. That is of particular significance to Mr Burnham, who as Manchester mayor will have to find a way to secure a parliamentary seat.

And as deputy leader, Ms Powell can now exert her own internal party power to help him.

This result sends the signal that Sir Keir's grip on his party is crumbling. Now it is only a matter of when, not if, he is removed. That's good news for Labour and Britain.
Going gray could reflect the body's natural defense against skin cancer, according to a new study.

Researchers from The University of Tokyo studied the relationship between hair graying and melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that affects more than 200,000 Americans each year.

Both graying hair and melanoma involve melanocyte stem cells (McSCs), which produce pigment in hair and skin.

When melanocyte cells in hair follicles are depleted or stop functioning, pigment production slows and hair turns gray.

In the new study, scientists looked at how McSCs in the hair follicles of mice reacted to being exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.

Researchers observed that when McSCs became damaged, some of the cells died off, leading the hair to turn gray. This is driven by a process called the p53-p21 pathway.

This specific pathway is a tumor suppressant and is considered the 'guardian' of human genes because it protects against DNA damage from outside stressors.

From these findings, the investigators believe gray hair might reflect a mechanism in which the body removes damaged stem cells before they can turn cancerous.

Going gray could reflect someone's natural defense capabilities against cancer, according to a new study (Stock image)

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However, not all cells follow this process, and those that don't could turn malignant.

Dr David Sinclair, a professor in the department of genetics at Harvard Medical School who was not involved in the study, told the Daily Mail that the findings could help shape preventative treatments for melanoma and some other cancers.

'The University of Tokyo study's finding that hair graying may reflect the body's defense against cancer is fascinating,' he said.

'It suggests the loss of pigment could be a way of protecting against damaged cells turning cancerous.

'If we can learn how gray hair could protect against cancer, like the study suggests, we might unlock new ways to stop melanoma before it starts.'

While there is no 'normal' age at which a person's hair starts to go gray, some studies suggest that the overall average is in a person's early 40s.

However, it is not uncommon for people to see their first gray hairs in their 30s - and exposure to cancerous toxins isn't the only cause.

As people age, the melanocyte stem cells in hair follicles naturally begin to diminish, which reduces melanin production and causes hair to lose its color.

The most significant factors in hair graying are genetics and aging. But stress can still play a role.

Stress-related graying can occur as hair pigmentation is influenced by melanocyte stem cells, which are sensitive to stress hormones like cortisol.

When stress is high, these cells may stop functioning properly, leading to gray hair. But if the stress is removed early enough, and the cells are not permanently damaged, they may resume pigment production, restoring color.

A 2021 study from Columbia University and the University of Miami found that some people's hair regained its natural color after stress was reduced.

While some people see graying as a negative, the Tokyo study, published online in the journal Nature Cell Biology, suggests it could be a positive trait, and a sign of overall resilience against disease.

'These findings... reframe hair graying and melanoma not as unrelated events, but as divergent outcomes of stem cell stress responses,' Lead author Professor Emi Nishimura said in an accompanying press release.

Pictured: A graph showing cancer prevalence and projections in the US from 1975 to 2040 by age

And while many opt to cover their gray hairs with dyes, recent research has found a range of hair care products - including some colorings - contain the chemical formaldehyde, which may cause cancer.

Formaldehyde, used in hair products as a preservative, can escape as a gas over time through a process known as 'off-gassing' - especially when they come into contact with heat.

If these fumes are inhaled repeatedly, they can lead to anything from minor side effects like eye and respiratory irritation to major health issues like an increased risk of head and neck cancers. These risks are heightened if an area like a bathroom or bedroom is poorly ventilated.

Formaldehyde exposure has also been linked to melanoma.

Studies show it can increase the proliferation of melanoma cells in a lab setting, and there are documented cases of nasal cavity melanomas in workers with long-term formaldehyde exposure.

The Cleveland Clinic warns that melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, saying it grows quickly and has the ability to spread to any organ.

In 2025, it is estimated that about 212,200 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US, resulting in more than 8,000 deaths.

The best way to catch it early is through examining your skin monthly to look for new or changing moles, and getting regular professional skin exams from a dermatologist.
Warhead by Nicholas Wright (Macmillan 22, 400pp)

It is easy to imagine that the worlds democracies, in a war with authoritarian states, will inevitably win. But by 2021, US military planners had played out 18 war games involving Chinese and American forces in a battle for the island of Taiwan. In all of them the Americans lost. In his eye-opening, often alarming book, Nicholas Wright clarifies, unless the democracies adapt fast enough as the world changes, we will lose.

However much we deplore the existence of wars, they happen. We need to better understand why and how humans fight. Wright, a neuroscientist who has advised the Pentagon Joint Staff, argues that the best way to do this is through knowledge of the central weapon of war  the human brain. His book takes us on a journey through ten brain regions, each the focus of a chapter.

War is a part of the human condition

He examines the power of our most basic drives, governed by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. All these have a role to play in warfare. Thirst, for example. Wright delves into ancient history to look at a turning point in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta. Driven to desperation by thirst, Athenian soldiers waded into a river to drink, rendering themselves defenceless. The Spartans slaughtered them.

In the Second World War, the Germans adopted a Hunger Plan. Captured Russians were deliberately starved to death. Some of the prisoners pleaded to be shot rather than face the slower, more agonising death by starvation.

Why, Wright wonders, are humans prepared to fight at all? Why not run away? The amygdala is the area of the brain that is the seat of fear. Patients who have lost the amygdala are fearless. Wright cites the case of a woman from a violent part of Los Angeles who had been held at gun- and knife-point but was incapable of feeling the fear that might teach her to avoid dangerous situations.

Warhead is available now from the Mail Bookshop

Such people are rare but soldiers must somehow learn to suppress their fears and emotions to function. And, as Wright notes, emotional control can be put to good or bad ends. Most agree that it was good that Battle of Britain pilots could overcome their fear when flying. While members of the SS were praised for suppressing sympathies when killing Jews.

The higher-level regions of the brain such as the prefrontal cortex work to allow cleverer choices in tactics and strategy. Its all too easy for higher command to make bad decisions. Often these are the results of failure to consider all the available options. When the USA invaded Iraq in 2003, Saddams regime was swiftly swept aside but little thought had been given to what would replace it.

Creativity, the human brains greatest ability, is needed in warfare as in every other sphere of activity. It may be needed more than ever in the future. War in outer space is possible. And, Wright states, to fight effectively, it will become essential to manage human-AI relationships.

He estimates there is an approximately one in three chance that by the end of this century there will be a catastrophe on at least the scale of either world war. Warhead is a powerful argument for a greater understanding of the way the brain shapes the nature of war in the past, the present and the future he predicts.
How To Build A Haunted House by Caitlin Blackwell Baines (Profile 22, 320pp)

When she awoke in the dead of night in the unfamiliar bedroom, Caitlin Blackwell Baines had the strong sensation that someone  or something  was standing over her. She was overcome by an intense feeling of overwhelming dread; the certain knowledge that something awful was about to happen. And then she heard it, the unmistakable sound of a child crying. She screamed in terror at the top of her lungs: Help me!

Its not as though shed had no warning. The Myrtles, the 200-year-old former plantation house in Louisiana in which she was staying, bills itself as one of Americas Most Haunted Homes.

Paranormal activity: haunted house

Before going to bed, Blackwell Baines had videoed the room on her phone so that she could tell if anything moved while she was asleep. She took special care to include the unnerving set of antique Victorian dolls on the mantelpiece. She had even jokily invited the ghosts to make themselves known. To complain when one apparently did might be thought a little ungrateful.

Blackwell Baines was actually there researching this entertaining book. How To Build A Haunted House is a social, cultural and architectural history of haunted houses. The author, an art historian, is less interested in whether ghosts are real than in how they and their dwellings gained such a grip on our imaginations.

The Roman writer Pliny the Younger (AD61-113) recorded in a letter what is believed to be the first written account of a haunted house, so the idea is far from new and there are examples all over the world. As cultural icons, they loom the largest in the West, particularly the UK and the US, and these are the areas that Blackwell Baines focuses on. She considers a number of celebrated haunted houses, looking at how they embody the haunted house ideal.

Her subjects include Londons Hampton Court Palace, where a supposed ghost was captured on CCTV in 2003. The leaked footage went viral. To my mind, this particular phantom doesnt look that otherworldly but Im no expert.

Hampton Court is home to the Haunted Gallery, along which Henry VIIIs fifth wife Catherine Howard supposedly ran screaming months before her execution. A team of psychologists carried out a study of around 400 visitors that suggested there were locations in the gallery where participants consistently sensed something uncanny. However, the scientists also concluded that many of these experiences were caused by nothing more ghostly than a chilly updraught.

Another port of call is Norfolks Raynham Hall, where one of the most famous photographs of a ghost  the Brown Lady  was taken in 1936. Raynhams mistress at the time actively promoted the haunting, seeing it as a connection to a more glorious past.

After all, having a ghost meant having a history, writes Blackwell Baines. And now more than ever, having a ghost was invaluable to once great families desperately clinging to their ancestral homes. Perhaps its no surprise that, over the course of a century or so, the Brown Lady evolved from being a terrifying, eyeless figure to a benign, ethereal presence.

Borley Rectory is one of the most famous haunted houses in the British isles

Then theres Borley Rectory, in Essex, typically described as the most haunted house in England. (A high premium is placed on quantity rather than quality in the haunted world. Northumberlands Chillingham Castle is marketed as the most haunted castle in Britain.) Borley became infamous as the result of long, heavily publicised monitoring by paranormal investigator Harry Price in the 1930s. Its ghosts included a lovelorn nun  a fairly standard fixture in the ghost pantheon. Legend had it that the rectory had been built on top of the ruins of a medieval monastery. Haunted houses being built on top of some sort of sacred space is another common trope in the lore. As Blackwell Baines points out, the house in the hit movie Poltergeist was built on an old graveyard.

We pick up all sorts of fascinating titbits on this supernatural safari. For example, Mary Queen of Scots is one of the hardest working inhabitants of the afterlife, said to haunt ten old piles in Scotland and the north of England. Anne Boleyn is almost as industrious. She frequents six different properties. In America, another woman who died an unnatural death is an equally prolific haunter. Marilyn Monroe has been spotted at a favourite bar, coffee shop and restaurant, two former residences, two hotels, an amusement park and a cemetery.

Blackwell Baines is an engaging writer but she can be somewhat credulous. She takes a ghost tour of Chillingham Castle with a guide who used to be a police detective.

How to Build a Haunted House is available now from the Mail Bookshop

You could hardly ask for a more reliable witness and guide than a man who spent 30 years of his life exposing fraud and sniffing out criminals, she writes. Really? Shes clearly not read much about the police recently. This former copper also claims to have been in regular communication with a late chatelaine of the castle via the medium of divining rods so Im not convinced we can consider him a complete neutral.

In other instances, Blackwell Baines seems surprisingly incurious. In the chapter on Borley Rectory, she mentions in passing and without further explanation that The gruesome discovery of a human skull hidden in a cupboard did nothing to calm Mrs Smiths already jangled nerves. Mrs Smith found what hidden in a cupboard? Surely this extraordinary find requires at least another sentence or two.

There are also some errors, such as misspelt names and incorrect dates. Nevertheless, this is just the sort of book to read over Halloween, as the shadows lengthen and the candle flickers.

Blackwell Baines describes herself as a hopeful agnostic when it comes to ghosts. Her interest began when she was ten years old and on holiday with her parents in the American Deep South. Their hotel was a gleaming white antebellum mansion once serviced by slaves. She was shown to her shadowy attic room, complete with a four-poster bed and an antique rocking horse. She took one look and was so convinced that it was haunted that she couldnt be persuaded to cross the threshold. Fair enough  I wouldnt want to sleep in the same room as a creepy antique rocking horse either.

Her experience with the weeping child at the Myrtles  another location in the American South  is recounted in a postscript. Blackwell Bainess scream woke her husband, who reassured her that it was just a nightmare. Of course, other explanations are available
Hailey Avery was overjoyed as a clear blue line appeared on the pregnancy test.

Despite experiencing hormone issues since the age of 15 - including painful menstrual cycles and side effects from the contraceptive pill - she fell pregnant naturally at 22.

'I wanted a family but doctors told me I would struggle to fall pregnant. I've always wanted to be a mother, but my hormone issues were at the forefront of my mind,' Hailey, 29, from Utah told Daily Mail.

She and her husband Taylor, 34, were delighted she'd fallen pregnant so quickly.

But the happy moment was short-lived: she sadly lost the baby at ten weeks.

Hailey fell pregnant again months later, but had another miscarriage at six weeks.

At the time, Hailey was unaware she carried a rare chromosome disorder known as a Robertsonian Translocation - a condition that significantly increases the risk of miscarriage and infertility.

Fertility specialist Dr Alex Polyakov explains a Robertsonian Translocation is a 'specific type of chromosomal rearrangement that involves two of the acrocentric chromosomes' - chromosomes that have 'very short arms and long arms'.

Hailey Avery (right) and her husband Taylor (left) were excited to start a family but ran into fertility issues. Hailey had four miscarriages before having her first baby girl in 2023

Hailey had 'no idea' she had a little-known chromosome disorder called a Robertsonian Translocation which can increase the risk of miscarriage and infertility. She was only tested after her fourth miscarriage and diagnosed in 2021

Hailey was only tested for the disorder after her fourth miscarriage, receiving her diagnosis in 2021.

While the condition doesn't cause health problems for the carrier, it can 'significantly impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes, leading to a higher risk of miscarriage or chromosomally abnormal offspring'.

Robertsonian Translocation can affect both men and women, requires genetic testing for diagnosis, and currently has no cure.

The condition affects approximately one in every 1,000 people - meaning an estimated 25,000 Australians may carry the disorder.

Looking back, Hailey wishes she'd known about the condition sooner, as she likely would have pursued IVF earlier to avoid the complications she faced with natural pregnancies.

After her second miscarriage, Haileys doctors - though not fertility specialists - broke from standard protocol and offered her early support when she fell pregnant a third time.

'They told me, "We don't normally intervene until you've had three consecutive losses, but you've had two back-to-back so we'll help,"' she recalled.

Hailey was prescribed progesterone and baby aspirin to help sustain her pregnancy.

Sadly, her child only made it to 14 weeks.

In January 2020, she was thrilled to discover she was pregnant yet again, but this time there was also an underlying level of fear.

While a Robertsonian Translocation doesn't cause health problems for the carrier, it can 'significantly impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes, leading to a higher risk of miscarriage or chromosomally abnormal offspring'

'I just kept hoping and praying this baby would stay. I was scared and didn't want to lose another,' Hailey said.

'At 14 weeks, I had an ultrasound that showed a stack of fluid, which is a sign of a genetic abnormality. So my obstetrician sent me to high-risk specialists.'

There, she learned her baby girl had Turner Syndrome, a condition where only one X chromosome is present.

The baby was very unwell and passed away at 16 weeks in April 2020, which broke Hailey's heart.

Her doctors explained this loss was due to a random chromosome abnormality and encouraged her to try again with medical support when she was ready.

The repeated miscarriages affected Hailey in every way possible - emotionally, mentally, physically - and also impacted her relationship with Taylor.

She even told him: 'You can find someone who can have a baby - someone who can give you what I can't.'

But Taylor never wavered. The pain of repeated miscarriages could have driven them apart, but instead it brought them closer together.

'I knew this would either make us or break us and we talked about it,' Hailey said.

Hailey and Taylor then decided to take a break from trying for a baby to give them time to grieve. During this time, Hailey also started to see a therapist.

'Miscarriage is very easily dismissed and no one really talks about it. I didn't realise you really go through labour and have contractions - it's painful. With the third pregnancy, I was not okay,' she said.

In December 2020, Hailey thought her 'Christmas miracle' had arrived as she found out she was pregnant, but she suffered another miscarriage weeks later.

'At that point the doctor said, "Something is clearly going on - we need to send you to a fertility specialist,"' Hailey recounted.

In May 2021, Hailey and Taylor visited the specialist to have genetic testing.

Not long after, she was finally diagnosed with Robertsonian Translocation.

She had never heard of the condition before, nor did she know how it could impact her chances at motherhood.

'During the call, the doctor told me I had a 15 per cent chance of a successful pregnancy,' Hailey said.

'I just felt broken. It was so horrible. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.'

Now the couple's only option was to try IVF because pre-screening of the embryos would mean specialists could implant the healthiest one, giving Hailey a better chance of carrying to term.

They spent a year saving the $20,000 required for the treatment.

Deep down, Hailey knew this was their last chance.

The IVF process was challenging. Hailey said: 'Egg retrieval is terrible. I was doing three shots a day for two weeks, and then I did egg retrieval on July 24, 2022. We got 21 eggs, which is a good amount.

'From that, we had eight embryos that developed and we were able to test and freeze we had three healthy embryos. I couldn't believe it!'

Further testing revealed the only female embryo to be the strongest; it was subsequently implanted, and Hailey conceived.

On May 25, 2023, the couple welcomed their baby girl Poppy into the world.

On May 25, 2023, the couple welcomed their baby girl Poppy (pictured centre) into the world

'She really is our miracle baby. I feel so blessed. She's perfect and we could not be more in love. She is everything we dreamed of,' Hailey said.

Still, the trauma of past miscarriages has left Hailey 'terrified' of getting pregnant again.

'In April last year, I had an unexpected natural pregnancy and I was just so distraught because I knew what was going to happen. I assumed I would miscarry,' she said.

'I was trying to remove myself from it, you know but when there's a baby inside of you, you can't.'

Early screenings and genetic testing at 11 weeks showed that her baby - a boy - seemed healthy, giving her hope.

However, during the 15-week ultrasound, doctors found fluid sacs similar to those seen in her third pregnancy.

Further testing revealed her son had Robertsonian Translocation and severe heart issues.

Hailey carried him until 19 weeks before losing him, describing the experience as 'deeply difficult and traumatic'.

After that, she decided to have her fallopian tubes removed in October 2024.

'When my doctor told me that was an option, I was like, "Can we do it tomorrow? I can't do this again,"' she said. This means she can now only fall pregnant via IVF.

Two years on, little Poppy is happy, healthy and does not have any known issues. While there is a chance she could be a carrier of Robertsonian Translocation, it has not caused any problems so far.

The condition is only detectable later in life, and Hailey can only hope she hasn't passed it on to her daughter.

Looking back, Hailey wishes there was more research about Robertsonian Translocation, and women's health in general.

'It's really frustrating and I wish I knew about the disorder sooner. You can find out through a quick blood test, if you ask for it and can pay for it,' she said.

'Advocate for yourself, ask for all the testing and know that you're not alone.'
Sayf Najafi has taken bookings through his business as recently as last month

A rogue wedding photographer is accused of scamming dozens of newlyweds out of thousands of pounds - after promising to capture their big day, then vanishing without trace.

Sayf Najafi, 28, is said to have pocketed payments from around 40 devastated couples for wedding photos and videos that never materialised.

Victims say that in some cases he turned up and in others, he pleaded illness and sent a stand-in to take the pictures. Either way, he later cut off all contact and never delivered their pictures.

Despite owing thousands in court-ordered refunds and relocating to Dubai, the Daily Mail can reveal how Najafi has taken bookings through his CapturebySZ business as recently as last month - even as furious couples plead for their missing photos.

Adam Jed, 32, a tech consultant, and his architect wife Amar, 25, booked Najafi for their lavish wedding at the Hilton in Kensington, central London, in January this year.

They discovered CapturebySZ through Instagram and paid 1,600 for a four-hour photography package and pre-wedding shoot - 60 per cent upfront and the rest after the day.

Despite being promised all the images within two months, none have ever arrived.

Mr Jed said: 'We did our research when booking him - he appeared to have good reviews and sent us samples which we were impressed by.

'On the day of our wedding, he told us the original photographer was ill and sent a scruffy replacement who told us they thought they were going to a party, not a wedding.

'We were told we'd have everything within two months but we've not received a single thing.

'At first, we thought it was just a delay. But when we reached out to other couples, we realised dozens of people were in the same boat.

'We tried to contact him, asking him at least to send us the raw footage. But he responded saying it was against company policy.

'Then he just stopped responding and completely vanished.

After the event, Najafi stopped replying to messages. Mr Jed said he and his wife messaged daily for months with no response.

He added: 'For my wife, it's been devastating. Weddings are one of the biggest moments in your life - to not have photographs of the day is just heart-breaking.

'We moved abroad to Dubai straight after the wedding and we both desperately wanted those photos to share with our family in the UK.

Sayf's Instagram account boasts over three thousand followers and showcases a range of wedding photographs

'Sadly, I don't think there's a chance that we'll ever get our photos.

'Now, we just want to stop him doing this to anyone else.'

Three couples have taken Najafi to the small claims court, public records show.

He was ordered to pay 4,459 on October 1, 1,023 on July 1, and 3,940 on December 6 last year.

All of the judgments against him remain unpaid.

Hira Ghani, 28, and husband Ali, 34, are currently suing Najafi for more than 2,000.

They paid CapturebySZ 1,970 to cover the glitzy two-day affair in Croydon, south London in March.

However, Najafi, who brags of 'candid and unique' photography with a 'touch of cinematic flair', did not attend - instead sending third-party photographers in his place.

Ismael Benchamcham, 31, and wife Fahima, 29 (pictured), booked Najafi last month for their glamorous wedding

Ismael and wife Fahima paid the photographer around 1,000 to cover their ceremony in Southall, south-west London

Tech consultant Adam Jed (pictured), 32, and his architect wife Amar, 25, booked Najafi for their lavish wedding at the Hilton in Kensington, central London, in January this year - but are yet to receive any images

No photos have ever been delivered to the Ghanis, despite one freelance photographer confirming he had sent on the photographs to Najafi.

Mrs Ghani said: 'I had spoken to a few other photographers, but he was the only one who really listened to what I wanted.

'He was so convincing - a classic sweet talker - and I got caught up in it, thinking he genuinely understood the kind of photos I wanted.

'On the first day of the event, there was no photographer. I messaged him, and he said the photographers were on their way. When they arrived, they were dismissive, kept saying they wanted to leave, and clearly weren't prepared for a wedding.

'The second day was even worse. A substitute photographer turned up and said she was leaving at 6pm. She said she had no idea who Sayf Najafi was, just that she had been booked by a third party.

'By August, I still hadn't received anything, despite repeated messages. The last message I got from him read: 'Nothing is ready. We are working on projects'.

Mrs Ghani asked for photos taken by her 360 wedding guests to fill the void left by Najafi. Sadly, there were only a few, and many were blurry.

She added: 'We still want the professional photos. They were supposed to be memories of our wedding, and they're gone.

Sayf's website homepage reads, 'Eternal Memories', alongside a photograph of a couple on their special day

'He clearly has no sentimental value for the photos - he's just taken the money.

'It's awful. Just really scummy. Weddings are one of the most important days of your life, and for him to take advantage of people like this, it's heartbreaking.'

More than 40 couples, all of whom claim to have been fleeced by Najafi, have joined a group to share their ordeals and discuss next steps.

Among them is Imaan Ghauri, 29, who has waited 17 months for her wedding photos and videos.

She paid 975 for CapturebySZ to attend her marriage to husband Zeeshan, 31, at a stately home in Berkshire in June 2024.

On that occasion, Najafi attended in person where he demanded the remainder of the payment before proceedings began.

Mrs Ghauri, from West Drayton, west London said: 'We had such a bad experience with him. He was rude to us, rude to our guests, and I remember at the time thinking I was going to leave a bad review.

'But I didn't expect that I would never receive any photos or videos.

Three couples have taken Najafi to the small claims court following their weddings, public records show

Sayf was ordered to pay 4,459 on October 1, 1,023 on July 1, and 3,940 on December 6 last year

'For weeks, I called him every single day but he didn't pick up. I sent messages but he didn't respond.

'My husband began looking into him and we found that he had done the same to other people.

'In August this year - so more than a year later - I wrote a long message to him, saying he clearly doesn't have a conscience.

'He replied: 'I'll get back to you on this matter tomorrow' but then he never responded.

'It's the same thing he said to everyone else.

'I just don't understand why he won't send on the photos, even just the raw files. It doesn't make sense to me - has he deleted them?'

The Daily Mail understands Najafi fled his home in the Hall Green area of Birmingham in March for a new life in the United Arab Emirates.

Victims claim he had been working at a real estate broker in Dubai, while still touting for work as a wedding photographer.

28-year-old Hira Ghani (pictured), and her husband Ali, 34, are currently suing Najafi for more than 2,000

His social media accounts remain active, though comments have been restricted to prevent criticism.

Meanwhile, the business's website continues to boast: 'You're not just booking a photographer, but making friends for life.

'We will be with you throughout your special days to capture your events, and we will do our best we can for you to be by your side through it all.'

Despite being in Dubai, Najafi struck again as recently last month when hired for the glamorous wedding of Ismael Benchamcham, 31, and wife Fahima, 29.

They paid him around 1,000 to cover their ceremony in Southall, south-west London.

Mr Benchamcham, a graphic designer, said: 'We booked him in March, paid the deposit straight away, and didn't really think much about it after that. He seemed like a nice person over the phone.

'About a month before the wedding, my wife got a message from him saying the rest of the balance was due.

'We paid it - but the first payment had gone to his personal bank account. When my wife realised, she told him to send proper business details for the rest. He didn't like that, but eventually sent a company account.

'When we got to the venue, there was only one woman there with both a camera and a video camera. She was supposed to be doing both jobs, which is impossible. She even asked guests and venue staff to help her.

'We're Moroccan and Tanzanian, so it was a big, lively celebration and the photographer missed most of it. She disappeared halfway through the night.

'We've not had any photos or videos and had no reply, despite calling and messaging on repeat.

'At this point, I don't even know if the photos exist. Has he paid the photographer? Did the photographer send him the pictures? Were they ever edited? I have no idea. It's a complete mystery.'

Mr Benchamcham said the lack of photos was 'heartbreaking'.

He added: 'This was our once-in-a-lifetime day. We had relatives fly in from all over the world, people we may never see for a very long time.

'They were photos we wanted to look back on for the rest of our lives and show our grandchildren.'

The experiences of newlywed couples are also revealed in damning Trustpilot reviews.

'Absolute scammer,' wrote one. 'Over 40 people scammed and he's run to Dubai. We are filing cases in the UK and Dubai against this loser and sad human being.

'People just want their raw files and he's blanking everyone. We will bring him to justice.'

Another wrote in August: 'You only get one wedding day and the moments captured on that day are extremely special.

'Sayf completely took advantage of us to make a quick buck with no regard of how special and meaningful this day was to us. We are not the only ones.'

A third aggrieved couple added: 'On the wedding day, the photographers were not proactive or enthusiastic at all.

'Instead of capturing moments naturally, they often just sat around waiting to be told what to do. I found myself having to direct them to take pictures, which is the last thing you want on such an important day.

'Since the wedding, we have been waiting patiently for our photos, but almost a year later, we still have not received a single picture.'

Another post on the Scamdoc website added: 'I am utterly appalled by the lack of professionalism by these people.

'They ruined my daughter's special day by not giving us the videos and pictures to look back on.'

Ms Ghauri said her outstanding photos arrived on Thursday, after the Daily Mail contacted Najafi to inform him of our investigation.

She described them as 'okay' but 'not the greatest', and told how she was still awaiting her promised wedding videos.

Najafi did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

His ex-wife Zainab Mohamed, 28, said she was 'no longer associated with Sayf Najafi and have no involvement in any of his businesses'.

'My only role in the past was to offer some help,' she added.
A Melbourne man says he was made so uncomfortable by being hit on at the gym that he decided to switch locations altogether.

Fitness enthusiast 'Rizzo' was doing a workout at Derrimut 24:7 gym when he was approached by a woman who asked if she could share the equipment with him.

But according to Rizzo, what started as innocent small talk took a shocking turn when she made a jaw-dropping comment about his manhood that left him speechless.

'She's full of red flags. She's got her hair all done, she's got full makeup, like she's about to go to prom,' he said.

'She's wearing a push-up bra and a scrunch bum legging. It's like, it's the full look at me package. And I'm like, I don't know if I'm gonna fall for it, you know?' he said.

Rizzo, who describes himself as a 'high-value man,' says the interaction began when the unnamed woman said she had the same fitness routine planned as him.

'It's a commercial gym. I don't want to be rude, I don't want to be that guy who's like, "nah, I don't want to share", you know?' he said in a TikTok video.

'I do my set, I let her do her set, we're training, and then she starts saying things like, "oh, you've got a really nice tan, you've got a really nice body, how long have you been training for, are you a PT?", and I'm like, is this girl flirting with me or am I tripping?'

Fitness enthusiast 'Rizzo' was working out at a gym when he was approached by a woman

Rizzo explained the pair shared the gym equipment during their workout session

After the set, Rizzo said the woman asked for his social media details before they went their separate ways.

'She's like, "oh, you look very familiar. I feel like I've seen you somewhere". And I'm like, here we go.

'Anyway, she's like, "oh, do you mind giving me your Instagram?" I'm like, sure. I give her my Instagram.

'I've got to finish my workout. So I move on to another machine.

'I go do my training. I finish my training and I'm about to head off, leave the gym. I see her sitting on one of the gym tables.

'She makes eye contact and she's like, "oh hey, you're leaving".'

'I'm like, "oh yeah, I'm done with my session. I'm gonna go home", and she starts making chit chat,' he explained.

The woman later hit on Rizzo when he was leaving the gym

Rizzo claims he was 'lost for words' after the encounter

'She's a bit flirty and then she looks me up and down and she's like, "oh, I can't wait to choke on that thing".

'And I'm like, what? I'm baffled, you know? I'm lost for words. I don't know what to say.'

Rizzo said he made his excuses and left.

'I don't want to make it awkward. I just look at her and I'm like, "I'll catch you around",' he said.

'And I leave the gym and I'm still in disbelief. I'm like, did I just hear that? Did you just say I want to choke on that thing? What?'

Rizzo claims that as he walked to his vehicle, he bumped into one of his friends who laughed when he explained what had happened.

'He said it's because I'm wearing grey tracksuit pants and I'm like what? The gym is full of half naked women and you are telling me I'm the problem because I'm wearing grey tracksuit pants.

'What's wrong with people? What's wrong with this generation? You are all asking me why I am still single, this is why I'm still single because no one has morals anymore, everyone just wants to hook up with everyone.'

Rizzo was so uncomfortable by the interaction with the woman that he has changed gyms

According to Urban Dictionary, grey tracksuit pants are sometimes worn by men to workout in order to show off their manhood

According to the Urban Dictionary, grey tracksuit pants are worn by men in order to show off their manhood.

The following day, Rizzo posted another video revealing he had changed gyms so he wouldn't run into the woman again, and said he was sharing his story to educate others.

'I decided not to go back to the gym I got hit on,' he said.

'I do value my energy, I do value my peace and I don't go around sleeping with random people. I'm trying to do these videos so girls start preserving themselves, so guys start preserving themselves so we can build strong family units.'

After his video went viral, Rizzo claimed the woman in question reached out via his DMs.

'She initially messaged me saying she does not regret what she said,' he explained.

'But she also messaged me saying she would like to apologise, she did not mean any harm, and she did not think it was anything bad - she was just bantering.'

The management team at Derrimut 24:7 gym were also alerted to the video and contacted Rizzo to ask if he would like to take matters further.

'This is not the standard we wish to allow in our gyms and all of our members deserve to feel comfortable, respected and supported,' their message read.

'We were wondering if you would like to make a formal complaint and we can investigate into this matter?'

But Rizzo ultimately decided that he wanted to move on.

'As a guy, I don't feel threatened going to the gym or going to train with female members around so it's not a big deal for me.'
The 'Halloween Killer' continues to haunt a Wisconsin town more than 50 years after the gruesome slaying of a nine-year-old girl.

Lisa Ann French was out trick-or-treating by herself in Fond du Lac on Halloween night in 1973 when she rang the doorbell of her neighbor, Gerald Turner.

It was the last thing she would do.

French was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered. Her body was placed in a garbage bag and dumped in a field.

After the horrific murder, Halloween changed forever for Fond du Lac. The holiday is now celebrated only during daylight hours, and only on the Saturday before Halloween. This year, it is scheduled on October 25 from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm.

Local radio station KFIZ hosts an annual Halloween party on the air, giving out prizes starting at 5.30 pm to ensure kids are home before dark.

Tiffany Brault, president of the Fond du Lac city council and a mother of three young children, said it happened before she was born, but her mother lived through it.

'It's a story that has really just always haunted our community. 'I grew up here and I remember hearing about it often, usually around Halloween,' Brault told Daily Mail.

Nowadays, she said, their community doesnt often see major crimes like Frenchs murder, but her abduction and murder is still brought up today by residents who remember when it happened.'

'As part of the response to that tragedy, we have held trick-or-treat during daylight hours on the weekend before Halloween ever since.'

Fond du Lac Police Captain Melvin Heller told WISN in 2013 from his nursing home the impact of French's murder had on the community.

'It was terrible what he did to that little girl. It isn't the same here in Fond du Lac. Everybody who lives here always knows about Lisa French.'

Lisa Ann French, nine, was sexually assaulted and murdered on Halloween, 1973

Gerald Turner brutally murdered French and dumped her body in a farm field

Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County with a population of approximately 45,000 according to the 2024 census.

Nine months after the heinous crime, Turner, who was 25 at the time, confessed.

In February 1975, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 38 years and six months in prison.

But in 1992, after just 17 years behind bars, he was discharged for good behavior in a decision that shook the community.

In 2003, after violating his parole by having pornographic images on his computer, he was sent back to prison to serve another 15 years and six months, as per Treasure Coast Newspapers.

In 2018, after he completed his prison sentence, prosecutors convinced a judge that he was still dangerous and was sent to a supervised living facility.

French's mother, MaryAnn Gerhing, and sister made sure their family member's killer would not be released and started a petition to keep him locked up. The petition, created in 2017, garnered more than 35,000 signatures at the time.

In 2022, a judge rejected Turner's bid to be released. It was rejected again this past April. He is still fighting for his release.

The 75-year-old killer is currently at the San Ridge Treatment Center in Mauston, Wisconsin, as part of the Chapter 980 sexual predator statute, a Wisconsin law barring violent sex offenders from release if they are still deemed a danger to others.

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin has a population of 45,000 and is located in Fond du Lac county

At one time, Turner revealed in a chilling statement that was published in Wisconsin Interest about his feelings when he encountered Lisa Ann French.

'I could still see you standing in the doorway with that felt hat, beaming at having recognized me. Then I see the delight in your eyes turn to fear as I close the door behind you,' he said.

After the kill, he wiped down French's shoes and the zipper on her coat and put socks on his hands to avoid leaving fingerprints.

Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County located at the southern end of Lake Winnebago

French was dressed as a hobo and trick-or-treating by herself after her friend, who was supposed to accompany her, was grounded.

The streets were dark at 5.45 pm when French walked with a candy bag in her hand a half block to Turner's home.

Turner, a machinist, lived there with his girlfriend and their infant child. French knew Turner and his family.

On the night she was killed, Turner said during his confession that he had attempted to resuscitate the young girl but stopped once his girlfriend arrived home.

His girlfriend had been at a Halloween party that French had planned to attend.

Before French's murder, Turner had sexually molested a 15-year-old babysitter and was not accused of it until after her death.

Turn is led into court after his arrest in August 1974 for the heinous murder of Lisa Ann French

Lisa Ann French would be 61 years old. Yet one night enjoying an innocent childhood tradition changed her family and her town forever

French's body was found in a remote area called Taycheedah two days after the vicious slaying.

Heller told the news outlet that he remembers the farmer, who made the grisly discovery.

'Seen a plastic bag over the fence. So we went out there after he opened it up and saw what was in the bag. It was a little girl, a little nude girl,' Heller recalled.

French's mom told WBAY local news in 2022 that her daughter was 'wise beyond her years,' and a 'kind person'.

'When she was nine years old, she came home from school one day and she said theres a little girl in school who doesnt have nice clothes and she was wondering if she could go through some of the clothes she didnt wear and she should take them to school with her and she did,' Gehring said.

'She took a big bag of clothes to school for this little girl.

French would have been 61 years old.

'It still doesnt get easier because its just like yesterday because it gets brought up every year,' Gehring said.
A disgraced Florida art dealer indicted for allegedly selling fake Andy Warhol paintings is now trying his hand at peddling Labubu figurines while out on bond.

Leslie Roberts, 62, was charged with wire fraud and money laundering in April after police claimed he knowingly sold counterfeit works to collectors.

It was not the dealer's first run-in with the law. Nearly 40 years ago, Roberts was sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding a family member of millions of dollars while working as a stockbroker.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and admitted defrauding customers by selling forged paintings.

Among his bond conditions this time around, Roberts, who wears a toupee, agreed to have no involvement in the art industry when he was released in April.

He has since launched Labubu Headquarters, a gift shop in the Coconut Grove, Miami. It sits about 400 feet from his art gallery which was raided by the FBI earlier this year, according to the Miami New Times.

Among his collection is a range of the furry figurines starting at $35, and the store even boasts a large Labubu on sale for $1,000, the Art Newspaper reported.

However, considering Roberts's previous alleged endeavors, some observers have questioned the legitimacy of the toys in the store.

Disgraced art dealer Leslie Roberts, 62, started selling Labubus after being indicted for fraud

A customer purchases a furry figurine at Roberts's store in Miami, called Labubu Headquarters

If convicted, Roberts, who wears a toupee, faces up to 30 years in federal prison after police alleged he sold fake Warhol works

The collectible furry dolls, which are elf-like with exaggerated facial expressions, have become sought-after worldwide in the past year.

Since the figurines' popularity has grown, fake Labubus, known as 'Lafufus,' have been sold on the market.

Pop Mart, the official seller of Labubus, said Roberts's store was not affiliated with the company.

'We advise fans of Labubu and the Monsters to purchase only through Pop Mart's official sales channels and approved partner,' a spokesman told the Miami New Times.

The newspaper conducted an investigation into Roberts's new products, purchasing a Labubu from his store for $101, noting that Pop Mart sold the same item for $28.

A scan of a QR code said that the product was genuine. The stitching, teeth count and packaging checked out for the furry beige Soymilk Labubu.

But fans claimed that the coloring and facial construction of the figurine did not seem right in pictures.

Reddit users pointed to inconsistencies they said were a 'dead giveaway' that the figurine was fake, and a Labubu expert told the newspaper that the doll 'looks like s***.'

Labubu keychains on display for sale in Las Vegas. The craze has taken over America

Roberts was released on a $250,000 bail in April and instructed not to work within the art industry as part of his surety bond conditions

Labubu dolls in various outfits are displayed inside an official Pop Mart store

However, there has been no determination that the contents of Roberts's store are not legitimate.

A user on Instagram commented that one of Roberts's products looked like a 'Lafufu' but the Labubu Headquarters account responded, saying: 'We only work with 100 percent authentic Labubus, sourced directly from Pop Mart.

'We came across your profile and noticed that you also resell Labubus, and we truly respect your work. This is not about competition, there's room for everyone who loves collecting these little monsters. We're grateful for the amazing support we've received from our wonderful clients and friends, and we sincerely wish you the same success.'

The Labubu Headquarters Instagram account has posts dating back to August 10, with 54 followers as of Friday.

It posts about stock supplies and new products, as well as 'Labubu parties' and pictures of customers posing with the figurines at the store.

A pending civil suit filed in 2024, which led to Roberts's indictment, claimed he duped a family into buying fake Warhols.

At the time this was filed, Roberts, speaking to The New York Times, vehemently denied the lawsuit's version of events.

One of his lawyers, Jonathan Marc Davidoff, said in a statement that 'we intend to vigorously defend against the baseless and misleading allegations in the complaint.'

According to allegations in the indictment, Roberts falsely claimed to victims that he acquired artwork from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and provided fake invoices.

He was accused of forging stamps and identification numbers to make the paintings appear legitimate, according to court documents viewed by the Daily Mail.

On April 9, video showed FBI agents raiding the nearby Miami Fine Art Gallery, which is owned by Roberts, and taking away materials in cardboard boxes.

A civil suit filed in 2024, which led to his indictment, claimed that a family was duped by Roberts into buying fake Warhols, including this portrait of Queen Elizabeth

Miami Fine Art Gallery, owned by Roberts, was raided by the FBI last year

Carlos Miguel Rodriguez Melendez, 37, was also named in the partially redacted court documents for participation in the wire fraud conspiracy.

Melendez falsely represented that he was an employee of a New York auction company to fraudulently authenticate the artwork, according to the indictment. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in June.

The filing alleged that Roberts also laundered money and fraudulently made wire transfers from his Miami Fine Art Gallery bank account to his personal account.

Roberts allegedly made transactions of $150,000, $40,000 and $50,000, according to a release from the Southern Florida District Attorney.

On the day of his indictment, he filed for bankruptcy.

Both Roberts and Melendez were released on bond before their arraignment on April 21.

Roberts remains out on a $250,000 bond surety, co-signed by his ex-wife, Silvia Castro Roberts.

Roberts previously served prison time for defrauding a family member while working as a stockbroker in 1987 and mail fraud related to forged paintings in 2015

Melendez faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced.

Roberts, if convicted of both wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, is looking at up to 30 years behind bars.

Roberts's next appearance in court is set for January 14, 2026, according to online records.

In 1987, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding a family member of millions of dollars while working as a stockbroker.

In 2015, he pleaded guilty to mail fraud and told prosecutors that he had defrauded customers by selling forged paintings, the New York Times reported.

Roberts told the news outlet last August: 'I don't believe anything was a forgery - everything looked good to me. I don't know where the authority is they say it's fake.

'I try to be more cautious than ever because of my past.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Roberts's lawyer, Jason Wander, Melendez's lawyer, Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman, and Pop Mart for comment.
Jackie Kennedy was America's princess, the impossibly elegant and cultured First Lady of the White House who bewitched all who met her.

She held herself aloof from scandal while her charismatic, womanizing husband, John F Kennedy, pursued constant affairs, bedding the wives of his friends as well as Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Anita Ekberg.

But newly released letters reveal that Jackie took revenge and consolation in a long, intimate relationship with one of her husband's closest advisers  Robert McNamara, considered by many to be the architect of the Vietnam War.

These letters have remained secret until now, and they cast a revelatory light not just on the Kennedy administration, but on the marriage of the first couple.

As Secretary of Defense, McNamara was regarded by the public as a cold fish, a ruthless man obsessed with battlefield statistics, who treated American soldiers as components in the military machine.

His Washington nickname was 'the Brain'.

But Jackie saw a very different side to him. Authors Philip and William Taubman reveal, in their book McNamara At War: A New History, that this unlikely romantic liaison began in 1962 with a dance fad that was sweeping the country  the Twist.

At a White House party on February 9, the President provoked gossip by slipping out of the room for an hour or so.

Jackie Kennedy - America's princess - bewitched all who met her

JFK was renowned for his womanizing, but it now emerges Jackie had a long, intimate relationship of her own outside the marriage

Among the President's rumored affairs was a well-publicized one with Marilyn Monroe

Mary Meyer, the sister-in-law of a prominent political journalist, also vanished. The truth was obvious: they were having sex in the family rooms upstairs.

JFK's sexual appetites were an open secret: 'If I don't have a lay for three days,' he said, 'I get a headache.'

That night, however, Jackie rose above the rumors by dancing the Twist  considered shockingly provocative at the time - with McNamara, partying until 3am.

Society columnist Betty Beale reported breathlessly: 'Anyone who still had any misgivings about the current dance craze simply hasn't seen it done the way Mrs Kennedy, who looked lovely in a long white satin sheath, and Secretary McNamara performed it.

'It was rhythmic, fun and peppy.'

The coverage delighted Jackie, who created a cheeky Valentine's Day collage for her dance partner the following week.

Snipping out a magazine picture of a couple doing the Twist, she pasted photos of her face and McNamara's onto the bodies and added four pages of newspaper cuttings about their antics at the party.

'Bob McNamara proved to be the most agile of the Cabinet twisters,' reported the Washington Post.

The President couldn't work out why any woman would see sex appeal in McNamara

McNamara was regarded by the public as a cold fish, but Jackie saw something else in him (pictured: the defense secretary with his wife, Margaret)

The Twist was considered shockingly provocative at the time

She arranged for the collage to be delivered by hand, in an envelope with the White House crest.

A few days later, she passed on some snapshots of them, taken at the party, with a note joking that she would have to 'invoke executive privilege'  that is, to insist that the First Lady was above the law  if hardline Republicans ever saw the photos.

The flirtation quickly became more serious. Jackie, frustrated by the need to remain aloof from her husband's political battles, took a keen interest in McNamara's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, when America stood on the brink of all-out war with the Soviet Union.

On October 25, as the crisis reached its height, she sent him a handwritten note of sympathy, telling him she knew how tired he must be. It was difficult to find the right words, she said, to express how grateful she was that he was involved in searching for a solution.

'Please know that this is not said as Jacks wife - but just as a plain person.'

However, she added some gossip that could only have reached her as First Lady. No 'plain person' could have heard the story that Secretary of State Dean Rusk had been discovered one morning asleep beside the desk of a presidential aide, so comatose that one hand was lodged in a potted cactus plant.

JFK was aware of his wife's admiration for his Secretary of Defense, if somewhat nonplussed by her choice of confidante.

He told political correspondent Ben Bradlee that, as a man, he couldn't work out why any woman would see sex appeal in McNamara.

The authors speculate that Jackie was drawn to McNamara's strong spiritual and romantic streak

Snipping out a magazine picture of a couple doing the Twist, Jackie pasted photos of her face and McNamara's onto the bodies

She added four pages of newspaper cuttings about their antics at the party

The collage was then hand-delivered to McNamara, in an envelope with the White House crest

It certainly wasn't his prosaic past. McNamara was a former US Army Air Force captain who spent most of World War II in the Office of Statistical Control, before becoming a Ford Motor Company executive.

By the time he was headhunted for the Kennedy administration, he was Ford's president. Colleagues found him difficult to know, cold and unemotional. 'You could never really get to know Bob, or put your feet up with him,' said one.

But he had a romantic streak that very few saw. Remembering the Valentine's collage Jackie had sent in 1962, the following year he sent her a handmade card on February 14.

She seemed genuinely thrilled, responding with a card on White House paper, on which she drew a heart with an arrow through it.

His 'jolly' billet-doux was 'quite fantastic', she told him, and deserved to be an exhibit in some future Kennedy museum.

Then, teasing him, she said her husband's military aide Godfrey McHugh had also received an unsigned Valentine's card. Had McNamara sent that too?

When Kennedy flew to Berlin that spring and gave his celebrated 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech, Jackie and McNamara watched it together in the family quarters at the White House.

Jackie, who was heavily pregnant at the time of the speech, enthused about her husband's oratory which, she said, was much improved.

The next evening, she and McNamara went to dinner together at Salle du Bois, a discreet restaurant in Georgetown, Washington DC.

Their conversation must have been esoteric, because before returning to the White House Jackie sent him a note to thank him for the gift of a book about mysticism, Arthur Koestler's The Lotus And The Robot.

The book, battered and well-thumbed, appears to have been McNamara's own treasured copy.

Jackie told him she admired his 'humility' and looked forward to a long exchange of ideas on religious topics. It was this spiritual side that appealed to her most in their friendship.

McNamara's fondness for Jackie was earthier. One acid-tongued acquaintance noted that the Secretary of Defense became 'incandescent' whenever he danced with the First Lady.

Since 1940, McNamara had been married to Margaret, or Margy, whom hed courted in his teens, but they had drifted apart and she frequently visited friends alone.

Margy also didn't believe that her husbands friendship with the First Lady was entirely elevated and platonic. While he was dining at Salle du Bois, she tried repeatedly to phone him.

Friends said she became 'visibly bothered', until finally she tracked him down.

'Well, I reached him!' she announced bitterly.

JFK was aware of his wife's admiration for his Secretary of Defense, if somewhat nonplussed by her choice of confidante

McNamara helps Jackie out of her car in May, 1967, more than three years after JFK's assassination

McNamara's wife Margy (photographed together in 1974) wasn't convinced her husbands friendship with the First Lady was entirely platonic

A few weeks after that dinner, Jackie gave birth to a baby boy, Eric. He died a day later.

Philip and William Taubman speculate on what might have attracted Jackie to her unlikely suitor.

'Both McNamara and Jackie seemed to yearn for companionship outside their marriages, even intimacy, if more of the soul than the body,' they write.

'Unlike many of the men in the Kennedy administration and family, including the President, McNamara radiated respect for women and an interest in their lives and intellectual pursuits.

'He could be a sensitive companion with them, a sympathetic listener.

They add: 'For Jackie, an offstage friendship with McNamara may have offered an escape from the glare of the White House and the intensity of the Kennedy clan and its preoccupation with politics and competitive sports.

'Here was a confident, powerful, and reliable man, yet in her company a surprisingly vulnerable and empathetic figure who could be trusted to keep secrets and favored some of the same books and music that she did.

'He seemed to her to be compassionate about other peoples suffering; strong and decisive, brilliant but not a show-off, capable of sweetness and sorrow.'

However, their friendship reached a new level of intimacy on November 22, 1963, when John F Kennedy was assassinated by sniper fire as he drove with Jackie through Dallas.

Even before the autopsy was carried out, Jackie begged her brother-in-law Robert to send for McNamara. He flew out from Washington DC and was at her side throughout the examination of the body, before returning to the capital with the newly widowed First Lady.

'I got to the hospital at 7.45pm and she talked for the entire time until we left for the White House, arriving there at 4.25am,' he recalled.

'She was in that suit with the bloody skirt and blood all over her stockings.

'I felt I had to be calm for her and listen to her. I was concentrating entirely upon her, because she needed me and I felt, the hell with the others, let them take care of themselves.'

Deeply moved by her grief, and wishing to do something to console her, he offered to buy the Georgetown house where she and Kennedy had lived after their marriage, as a present.

He continued to give all the emotional support he could, earning the thanks of the wider Kennedy clan. Months later, Bobby Kennedy said to McNamara in a handwritten note: 'You have carried the burden so well for so long. And for this we are all grateful.'

For the next few years, their friendship settled into a pattern of regular, discreet assignations. They would meet in New York, dining at La Caravelle, while Margy was out of town.

During a visit to Vietnam, McNamara was presented with a stuffed tiger as a gift by Premier Nguygn Cao Kh. He gave it to Jackie's children, Caroline and John Jr  mindful that she had once suggested he could be a role model to her son.

By now, America was deeply embroiled in the Vietnam war. Many saw McNamara as one of the hawks who wanted to intensify the campaign against the Communist Viet Cong.

But Jackie believed he was a peacemaker at heart, though she sometimes accused him of doing too little.

One evening at her Manhattan apartment overlooking Central Park, after dinner, when they were discussing the Chilean poet and Nobel prize winner Gabriela Mistral, she turned on him.

'Whether her emotions were triggered by the poem or by something I said,' he told a friend, 'I do not know. She had grown very depressed by, and very critical of, the war.

Robert McNamara was at Jackie's side throughout the autopsy of the assassinated President, before returning to the capital with the newly widowed First Lady (McNamara is behind the white fence at the graveside)

After Jackie married Aristotle Onassis, McNamara continued to write to her, but her replies became brief and formal

'In any event, she became so tense that she could hardly speak.

'She suddenly exploded. She turned and began literally to beat on my chest, demanding that I "do something to stop the slaughter!"'

Philip and William Taubman never state outright that Jackie's relationship with her husband's trusted adviser was a sexual one.

And neither Jackie nor McNamara ever admitted to a physical affair with each other.

But it is very difficult to place any different interpretation on the facts. Though they clearly enjoyed an intellectual kinship, and shared a deep interest in spiritual questions, it seems impossible that, as a widow, Jackie would have invited this married man back to her apartment simply to continue their dinner conversation  not just once but many times.

Indeed, after she married Aristotle Onassis in 1968, their relationship waned. McNamara continued to write to her, but her replies became brief and formal.

Margy died in 1981 and McNamara eventually remarried, a few years before his death in 2009.

Jackie died in 1994. A year earlier, in a flash of the old passion she once felt for McNamara, she sent him a brief note.

It read: 'You will always be my shining knight.'

McNamara at War: A New History by Philip Taubman and William Taubman is published by AA Norton and Co
Labour could hit the average worker in the pocket to the tune of hundreds of pounds a year if Rachel Reeves goes ahead with a tax raid at the Budget next month.

The Chancellor is said to be considering ripping up the party's election pledge not to raise income tax paid by millions of Britons as she struggles to get a grip on public spending.

Increasing the basic rate by a penny is said to be the subject of a 'live debate' in the Treasury amid fears she cannot bring in enough cash by solely targeting the 'rich'.

But while it could bring in more than 8billion a year extra it could also take a hammer to Labour's already wavering support, with workers already fed up at the cost of living. turning to Reform and other parties.

Last week Keir Starmer was humiliated when Labour was beaten into third place in a Welsh Senedd by-election in Caerphilly.

Despite having held power in local and national elections in south Wales for a century the party's candidate finished miles behind the eventual winner, Plaid Cymru's Lindsay Whittle, and Reform.

And it may not stop there with the Chancellor also said to be looking at increasing the higher and additional rates of income tax paid by the better off.

Analysis by MailOnline shows that adding a penny to the basic rate of income tax without altering the thresholds would see someone aged 21 or over on the national minimum wage of 23,809 paying an extra 112 a year, based on a 37.5-hour working week.

Someone on a salary of 40,000 would pay out an extra 274.30.

Find out how increasing the various income tax rates by 1p could affect you using our calculator below.

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The Chancellor is said to be considering ripping up the party's election pledge not to raise income tax paid by millions of Britons as she struggles to get a grip on public spending.

The public finances are in a 'challenging state', Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged this morning.

The public finances are in a 'challenging state', Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged this morning.

He admitted there were issues with the economy and said households were also feeling the squeeze.

But he insisted there were 'green shoots' of economic recovery 'but we're not out of the woods yet'.

'There have been some encouraging signs in terms of interest rates and the UK projected to be the fastest-growing economy in the G7, those are all things that are cause for encouragement,' he told GB News.

'The Chancellor has got a challenging job. She's got lots of considerations to balance and she will set out her choices at the Budget and not before.'

Productivity downgrades, the slowing economy and spiking debt interest costs have left Ms Reeves facing bleak choices on November 26.

She has already been testing out a tactic of blaming Brexit as she tries to soften up Brits for more pain.

Analysts believe the gap in the public finances could be as big as 30billion. But some allies are urging Ms Reeves to go even further and give herself 'headroom', rather than risk having to come back for yet another tax raid.

The Chancellor already imposed the biggest tax-raising Budget on record last October at 41billion. Anything on that scale next month would mean she has announced more tax rises than Gordon Brown did during a decade in No11.

The Treasury is said to believe that hiking income tax could be the only way to ensure the Chancellor raises enough money to prevent her from returning for more tax grabs for the remainder of this parliament.

But if Ms Reeves does so, as she is reportedly considering, then it would break one of Labour's key manifesto pledges and risk a major political backlash.

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The Chancellor is eyeing up a series of tax raids as she seeks to fill a 30billion black hole in the public finances next month (pictured with Sir Keir Starmer last month)

'There is a very live debate going on right now among those planning the budget about how bold we want to be on the headroom,' an insider told The Guardian.

'No one wants it to be 10bn again but there is an argument we go much higher, which will mean we don't have to come back and do this again and might have space to cut taxes before the budget.

'If we go down that route, however, it makes it more likely that we have to raise income tax  that is the discussion that is going on at the moment.'

Ms Reeves has already been accused of breaking the manifesto by hiking employers' national insurance last year, although ministers argued that was not a direct levy on workers.

Her woes have been deepened by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) deciding to downgrade its estimates for Britain's economic productivity. That is expected to cost the Chancellor around 20billion a year by the end of the forecast horizon.

The reversal of the winter fuel cut, cuts to welfare payments and a likely move to end the two-child benefit cap will also pile further pressure on the Treasury.

Ministers have been using a careful formulation that the manifesto 'stands' when asked about the prospect of breaking it.

If she decides to breach the promises, the Chancellor could look to raise the higher or additional tax rates.

Those rates, which begin at around 50,000 and 125,000-a-year, would generate about 2billion and 230million, respectively.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, the day Hamas murdered 1,200 people in Israel, a man's voice was recorded on a mobile phone close to the scene of the attacks.

'If things go the way they should, Syria will take part, Lebanon will take part...and it's going to be a third world war...,' the voice said.

Shortly afterward, the same man was recorded saying: 'I swear by God, I'm inside. Turn your phones off, boys.'

Around the same time, his phone connected with a cell tower 1.9 miles east of Gaza and 0.4 miles from Kfar Aza, a kibbutz where 62 residents were killed and 19 taken hostage.

According to an FBI affidavit, the voice belonged to Mahmoud Amin Ya'qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, also known as 'Abu Ala.'

He was an operative for the Gaza-based National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the affidavit said.

This week, Al-Muhtadi appeared in court in the unlikely setting of Lafayette, Louisiana, where he had recently been working in a restaurant while posting pictures of himself on social media with a gun.

He pleaded not guilty to two charges - conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and visa fraud.

Mahmoud Amin Ya'qub Al-Muhtadi, 33, also known as 'Abu Ala' is accused of being involved in the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel that killed 1,200

Al-Muhtadi had been in the United States for over a year.

The story of how someone suspected of participating in the October 7 atrocity came to be in the country, complete with a driving license and social security number, has left Republicans asking how the Biden administration allowed it to happen.

According to the allegations in court documents, on October 7, 2023, Al-Muhtadi was alerted to the Hamas attack on social media by 6:34am, minutes after it began, and told others he intended to cross from Gaza into Israel.

He is alleged to have spent the next two hours coordinating a group of armed fighters to join him.

By 9.33am, according to the criminal complaint, his group had crossed into Israel.

By 10.01am he was in the vicinity of the cell tower near Kfar Aza.

The complaint laid out the horror of what happened that day at Kfar Aza, where the dead included four American citizens.

In one particularly horrific killing two children, aged six and nine, hid inside a wardrobe next to their mother's body for approximately twelve hours before being rescued.

A three-year old girl fled, covered in her father's blood, to a neighbor's house where she was then kidnapped.

Al-Muhtadi appeared in court in the unlikely setting of Lafayette, Louisiana, where he had recently been working in a restaurant while posting pictures of himself on social media

The complaint against Al-Muhtadi laid out the horror of what happened that day at Kfar Aza, where the dead included four American citizens

The FBI has since trawled Al-Muhtadi's social media and email and found that, before the attack, it contained pictures of him armed and wearing a red head band, along with images of a rocket propelled grenade launcher and numerous automatic rifles lying on a table, court records say.

Six recordings of telephone calls he is alleged to have made on October 7, 2023 were also unearthed and described in court records.

At 8.12am Al-Muhtadi allegedly asked another man on the phone to 'go pick up the thing, because I might continue east man.'

The other man responded: 'We are ready man. And if you want me to go east with you, I'm ready.'

Al-Muhtadi allegedly replied: 'Get ready. The borders are open I swear. They are passing by in the Hilux (a type of truck). Get ready. Keep your phone on, so, I can call you when I get there.'

In another call at 9.07am he allegedly asked someone 'Did you bring the rifles?' and said that his car was 'full.'

Three minuets later someone on the phone told him: 'We have vests.'

The suspect's phone connected with a cell tower 1.9 miles east of Gaza and 0.4 miles from Kfar Aza, a kibbutz where 62 residents were killed and 19 taken hostage

Attorney General Pam Bondi called Al-Muhtadi a 'monster' when she announced his arrest

At 9.33am Al-Muhtadi allegedly said: 'I swear by God, I'm inside. Turn your phones off, boys.'

He then advised someone to get a motorcycle and join him, according to court documents.

Fast forward to June 26, 2024 and an individual named 'Mahmoud Almuhtadi' submitted an online application to live in the United States.

He filled out a DS-260 form, an 'Immigrant Visa Application.'

It said he was born in Gaza in 1991 and lived there until March 2024, when he moved to Cairo, Egypt.

According to the form his wife helped him fill out the application.

It was unclear from the criminal complaint what route he was using for a visa, but the DS-260 is used for family sponsorship.

President Donald Trump has sought to reduce the number of people entering through family sponsorship, and to increase research of would-be immigrants' social media posts.

According to questions answered on his DS-260, Al-Muhtadi indicated he did not have any specialized training with firearms and that he had never been involved with a paramilitary unit or terrorism, court records say.

The complaint included photos of guns found in his possession in Louisiana

On August 6, 2024 he attended an appointment ay the U.S. Embassy in Cairo where his fingerprints and photograph were taken.

The DS-260 showed that he intended to live in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and work in 'car repairs or food services.'

He ultimately arrived in the U.S. on September 12, 2024 at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, according to the criminal complaint.

Public records indicate he went on to live at an apartment in a quiet residential street in Tulsa.

He obtained an Oklahoma state driver's license under the name 'Mahmoud A Y Almuhtadi.'

Six days after he entered the country someone sent him a message on social media, the FBI said.

The message said: 'Listen, I want to tell you something, no need to go to the resistance guys [National Resistance Brigades].... Because you are now under surveillance for everything.'

On February 20, 2025, Al-Muhtadi posted a selfie on social media in which he was holding a Glock 26 9-millimeter firearm, along with seven rounds and a magazine, according to court records.

In June FBI agents found him in Lafayette, Louisiana and carried out an undercover operation.

An undercover agent met in person with Al-Muhtadi six times between July and September, and spoke with him on the phone 11 times.

The investigation established that his voice matched the one on the phone calls from near the kibbutz, the complaint said.

'He appeared to be residing in Lafayette and working at a local restaurant,' it added.

Al-Muhtadi was arrested on October 16.

At his first court appearance the following day, in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol B. Whitehurst, he needed an interpreter.

He wore an orange jail jumpsuit and two U.S. Marshals brought him in with shackles on his hands and feet.

Al-Muhtadi has pleaded not guilty to two charges - conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization, and visa fraud

He was charged with conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization., an offense which carries a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

The second count was visa fraud, which has a possible sentence of up to 10 years.

He pleaded not guilty to both counts.

The court heard that classified documents would form part of the case.

Announcing the arrest earlier this week, Attorney General Pam Bondi said: 'After hiding out in the United States, this monster has been found and charged with participating in the atrocities of October 7, the single deadliest day for Jewish people since the Holocaust.'

At the Lafayette hearing Al-Muhtadi's lawyer, Aaron Adams, told the court: 'In the American criminal legal system all accused are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

'In calling Mahmoud Al-Muhtadi a "monster," Attorney General Pamela Bondi seems to have forgotten this fundamental principle.

'We must bear in mind that no evidence has yet been presented in a court of law supporting the government's allegations. We look forward to addressing those allegations in court.'

A photo in the FBI affidavit against Al-Muhtadi shows a line of automatic rifles lying on a table

Meanwhile, Republicans attacked the previous Biden administration over the case.

Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin said: 'He applied for a visa out of Egypt, came to Oklahoma in September 2024 under the Biden administration. They let him in.'

House Majority Leader and Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise added: 'It is disgusting that Democrats failed open border policies allowed this to happen.'
California residents have been urged to hunt a 'destructive' and 'aggressive' water animal invading the state.

New legislation will allow Californians to kill mute swans for five years, as authorities worry about the 'invasive' bird that has previously attacked children.

The measure was adopted to address the 'growing concerns' about the spread of the 'destructive' swans in California, the state's Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said.

Assembly Bill 764 was signed into law by California governor Gavin Newsom on October 6 and goes into effect on January 1, 2026.

The bill was introduced by Republican California assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, who called the legislation a 'proactive, science-driven solution' to dealing with the mute swans.

'By responsibly managing invasive mute swans, we're taking an important step to ensure future generations inherit a California just as rich in natural beauty as the one we enjoy today,' Gonzalez said to State Affairs.

There have been 12,350 mute swans spotted in California this year, per data published by the CDFW.

In 2024, about 6,900 mute swans were estimated to be in the state.

Californians will be allowed to hunt mute swans for five years starting on January 1, 2026

California governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law earlier this month

The giant birds are largely found in the Suisun and Napa marshes.

Mute swans weigh between 25-30 pounds and are about five feet tall with near-eight foot wingspans.

Despite its name, the mute swan is not actually completely silent; rather, the bird is quieter than other swans but can still grunt, hiss or snort.

The bird can be identified from other swans because of its orange bill, S-shaped neck and long tail feathers.

Californians sometimes keep mute swans as aesthetic 'pets' at their homes or across city parks.

Mute swans arrived in the US from western Europe in the late 1800s and have since become an 'invasive' species across California and other parts of the country, including Maryland or Michigan.

They are not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The giant birds are considered 'very territorial' and 'aggressive'

The bill was introduced by Republican California assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez

The birds are considered 'very territorial' and 'aggressive' towards native waterfowl and people, according to the CDFW.

There have been reports of mute swans 'critically' injuring children and pets.

'They might be a pretty, big, white bird, and they may be charismatic, but they can be pretty nasty,' Brad Bortner, retired chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's division of migratory bird management, said to CalMatters.

Mute swans are also destructive towards their ecosystem.

The massive animals require about eight pounds of food a day, meaning that they completely ravage their ecosystem and put other waterfowl and fish in danger.

Mute swans do not migrate, which makes getting rid of them tricky.

The legislation allowing for the birds to be hunted expires January 1, 2031.

According to California state law, English sparrows (left) and European starlings (right) can also be hunted

In August, the bill was called 'reckless' and 'inhumane' by the Friends of Animals advocacy group.

A statement said: 'It is a desperate attempt by a dying hunting industry to add another 'bird to the bag' and we won't stand by and let it happen!'

The group accused hunters of spreading misinformation about mute swans and hoping for what they called a 'state-sanctioned killing spree.'

The statement continued: 'Persecution persists thanks to ongoing smear campaigns that label mute swans as invasive even though they have been here since the late 19th Century.

'When wildlife agencies like the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, which treat hunters as clients, get away with saying that mute swans are invasive, all the misconduct toward these majestic birds is justified in the eyes of the abusers.

'It opens the door for mistreatment and lack of respect and continues to put them in harm's way.'

According to California state law, English sparrows and European starlings can also be hunted without needing a hunting license or depredation permit.
An iconic San Francisco art school is selling millions of dollars worth of real estate in hopes of accommodating the declining number of students on their sprawling campus.

Academy of Art University listed 10 of its properties on Tuesday, many of them said to be prominent buildings in the city's downtown.

The school is asking for a combined total of $130 million for more than 375,000 square feet, according to the Real Deal.

The university cited changing student needs and the growth of hybrid and fully remote education as the reason for the sell off.

'This strategic shift allows us to reallocate resources toward areas that most directly advance our mission: preparing students for meaningful careers in the arts and design fields,' a spokesperson for the school told the San Francisco Chronicle.

'While the University will continue to operate with a significant presence in San Francisco, these changes reflect our commitment to innovation, flexibility, and ensuring our students success  now and in the future.'

According to College Tuition Compare, enrollment at the school has been steadily decreasing for the past decade, despite their almost 100 percent acceptance rate.

The private, for profit art school was founded in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens.

Academy of Art University listed more than 375,000 square feet of property

Among the major sell off was the iconic San Francisco St. Brigid Catholic Church

It was originally a very small operation, using just one loft to teach its students, per SF Gate.

The founder's granddaughter Elisa Stephens is the current president of the university. She has been credited with making Art Academy University the real estate juggernaut it is today.

Despite its small beginnings, by the 2010s the school owned more than 40 buildings in the city used for campus locations and student housing.

Earlier this month, they began offloading properties. The school reached a deal to sell the Commodore Hotel which acted as student dormitories for $13 million, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Now, it is listing notable properties like the St. Brigid Catholic Church which has been a city landmark since it was built in 1902. The church was used as the school's auditorium.

The Concordia-Argonaut Club, a once noteworthy private social club in the city also went up for sale.

The school has roughly 4,200 undergraduate students enrolled with tuition rates sitting at $37,000 per year. Students can study various degree programs including fine art, animation, advertising, and game design.

However, US News & World Report listed an 8 percent four-year-graduation rate for students. The WASC Senior College and University Commission classified the Academy of Arts University as 'Accredited with Notice of Concern.'

The university faced a fraud lawsuit over recruitment practices which was settled in 2021. The suit alleged that the school used illegal recruitment tactics and cheated the government out of millions in financial aid.

Graduates have accused the university of being 'dishonest' with students about their future after graduation.

'I just feel they were dishonest, saying youve got this great future in front of you. But I feel we were ripped off. Bamboozled. Tricked,' a graduate with $431,607 worth of student loans told the SF Chronicle in 2020.

The school also listed a once historical private club called the Concordia-Argonaut Club

University President Elisa Stephens, the granddaughter of the founder, is credited with expanding the school's real estate holdings

Earlier this month, they sold the Commodore Hotel for $13 million

Academy of Art University has also been at odds with San Francisco for zoning and permit violations. A 2016 lawsuit accused the school of illegally converting dozens of buildings for its campus without proper approval, per SFist.

The battle ended in a $58 million settlement, the largest of its kind at that time.

In May, the school announced their plans to end its intercollegiate sprots programs, which was motivated by an uptick in online learning.

Despite offloading about a quarter of their real-estate, the school remains on of San Francisco's biggest landlords.

The Daily Mail reached out to the Academy of Art University for comment.
A Mayor in a town near Boston is facing backlash after deciding to build two statues of Catholic Saints which a lawsuit alleged uses $850,000 of taxpayer money.

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch's decision to place the statues on a new public safety building has divided the city less than ten miles outside of Boston.

Critics have called the plan wasteful, even alleging that it violates separation of church and state.

A group of locals filed a lawsuit against the mayor for his plans in May.

Last week a county judge issued a preliminary injunction to prevent Koch from installing the statues of Saint Michael and Saint Andrew.

However, Quincy's fire and police, who will be housed in the new building, have agreed with the long time Mayor, according to the Washington Post.

'These figures reach beyond any religious tradition and have long been embraced by first responders around the world as symbols of courage and protection,' said Koch.

In the legal filing, Judge William F. Sullivan disagreed, despite pressure to dismiss the suit, per WGBH.

'The placement of two statues seemingly befitting a house of worship, on the exterior facade of a public safety building, overshadowing public access points, indicates the primary effect is likely to convey a religious message,' he wrote.

Quincy, Massachusetts Mayor Thomas Koch is in hot water over plans to erect Catholic Saint Statues

Statues of Saint Florian (left) and Saint Michael (right) are set to be erected on a new government building

The city began designing the public safety building in 2017.

The 120,000 square foot space is expected to open this fall. It will be home to Quincy's fire, police, emergency operations and technology departments.

Plans for the space did not become public until February of this year, when Koch's proposition for the statues was revealed in The Patriot Ledger.

Just two weeks later, residents flooded a town meeting to express both their support and distaste for the idea, per the legal filing.

The sculpture will be 10-feet tall and cast in Bronze. They were made in Italy, per the lawsuit, by sculptor Sergey Eylanbekov who designed statues for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial.

Almost immediately after the plan for the statues was announced, members of the community started a petition against it.

'Though religious subjects are not illegal, they are inappropriate for a diverse city such as Quincy,' it read, now with more than 1,700 signatures

'The secrecy surrounding the project from its inception is antithetical to good governance. The cost of almost $1 million is a reckless misuse of our taxes.'

Residents of Quincy are divided over whether or not the mayor should be allowed to put in the statues

Religious leaders in Quincy's Interfaith Network also spoke out against the sculptures in April.

'As leaders of different religious traditions, we appreciate that saints play that role for many of our Roman Catholic neighbors,' wrote 19 faith leaders in a public letter to the mayor.

'However, our diverse city is composed of many people of faith and those who do not identify with any religious tradition. No single religious tradition should be elevated in a publicly funded facility.

'Erecting these statues sends a message that there are insiders and outsiders in this community. We are confident this is not the message our City or our first responders want to send.'

Mayor Koch defended his decision, 'these figures reach beyond any religious tradition,' he said

Police and fire unions attempted to join the lawsuit in support of Koch, but Sullivan denied their emergency motion.

'Florian and the firemans prayer provide us with emotional support to carry out our duty to protect lives and property while putting our own lives at risk,' said fire union leader Thomas Bowes in the filing.

Police union president Gregg Hartnett called Saint Michael, 'both the symbol and model of our profession' in the court document.

The city has 30 days from Sullivan's October 14 injection filing to file an appeal. From there each side will have the opportunity to respond before the judge makes his final ruling.

For now the statues will remain in Italy. It's unclear what will happen to them if the lawsuit is successful.

The Daily Mail reached out to Koch and Sullivan for comment.
A former Los Angeles police officer was indicted following a decade-long debate over whether he should face charges for shooting and killing an unarmed homeless man.

Clifford Proctor, 60, was on duty in 2015 when he fired two shots into Brendan Glenn's back while he was being arrested.

While the district attorney chose not to press charges all those years ago, the indictment was unsealed on Friday, per the LA Times.

Proctor was indicted for second-degree manslaughter. The grand jury also charged the ex-police officer with causing great bodily injury and the use of a deadly weapon.

In court last week, Proctor pled not-guilty to the charges. He was arrested earlier this month and will remain in custody with no bail.

Glenn and his dog had been kicked out of out of a Venice restaurant, on that night in May 2015. He and Proctor got into an argument and the officer told him to leave the area.

When Glenn continued to argue and insult Proctor, the officer and his partner moved to make an arrest.

Glenn was unarmed, but Proctor alleged that the 29-year-old reached for his partner's holster as they struggled to arrest him.

Es-LAPD officer Clifford Proctor (left) was indicted for the 2015 death of Brendan Glenn

Glenn (pictured) was shot while being detained outside of a bar in Venice

Proctor's partner later told investigators that he didn't know why Proctor had open-fired.

The Police Commission confirmed in a 2016 letter that 'at no time during the struggle cam Glenn's hand be observed on or near any portion' of the holster.

His death death sparked a series of protests in Los Angeles, with people speaking out against police brutality and erecting memorials in his honor.

Glenn's family sued over his death. They received a $4 million settlement from the city in 2016.

The police chief at the time recommended Proctor be charged with manslaughter.

However, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office claimed they couldn't prove Officer Proctor acted unlawfully that night.

Former district attorney Jackie Lacey ignored calls to have Proctor charged with manslaughter and officially declined to prosecute him in 2018.

Glenn was shot twice in the back in 2015 in Venice

Proctor alleged that the victim reached for his partner's gun holster

Lacey's successor, George Gascon, was elected in 2020 on a police accountability platform.

Gascon hired a special prosecutor to re-examine charges against LA County police officers involved in on-duty killings, Proctor included.

Although Gascon was ousted last November, a warrant issued for Proctor's arrest during his term led the disgraced cop to be detained by US Customs and Border Protection agents at Los Angeles International Airport on October 16.

LAPD addressed the arrest the following day.

'The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of the arrest of a former LAPD officer at Los Angeles International Airport on a felony murder warrant,' they wrote on X.

'We will continue to support the justice system as this case proceeds and will work collaboratively with our law enforcement partners throughout the process.'

Since his arrest, current district attorney, Nathan J. Hochman, announced in a statement obtained by the New York Times that his office would review the case and decide whether to continue with prosecuting Proctor.

Glenn became an emblem for the anti-police brutality movement

Glenn's death created outrage in LA with many protestors creating memorials and signs

'The Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office, under then-District Attorney Jackie Lacey, issued an 83-page report in March 2018 that concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove Proctor acted unlawfully when he used deadly force,' said the statement.

'As the indictment has now been unsealed, District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman will be reviewing the case and will make a determination at a later date whether to proceed with the prosecution.'

If Proctor is convicted he could face 15 years to life in prison.

He resigned from the force in 2017 and has been living abroad for the past several years.

The Daily Mail reached out to the LAPD and the District Attorney's office for comment.
A Virginia federal prosecutor who refused to press bank fraud charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James was fired for allegedly mishandling evidence from the case.

Assistant US Attorney Elizabeth Yusi was booted from the Eastern District of Virginia's Norfolk office earlier this month after allegedly sending documents with James' personally identifying information to her non-work email, CNN reported.

Sources close to the situation told the outlet that the supposedly botched handling of the case was at least a factor in her dismissal.

Yusi had opposed charging James with bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution in connection with a 2020 property purchase in Norfolk.

The ex-prosecutor, who had worked with the Department of Justice since 2010, reportedly penned an internal memo explaining why there was insufficient evidence against James.

She was fired alongside fellow assistant attorney Kristin Bird, who also opposed the Trump administration's pursuit of the criminal case against the Democrat AG, CBS reported.

Following Yusi's reluctance, Donald Trump-appointed interim US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan, filed the indictment against James herself.

Margaret Donovan, Yusi's lawyer, has denied any accusations that her client breached any confidential information.

New York Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty to bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution on Friday

James stands accused of lying to secure a better loan for a three-bedroom home she purchased in Norfolk, Virginia (pictured)

She said that Yusi 'has never used her personal email account for any portion of any investigation' and has 'no record of any such email.'

'Ms. Yusi is a well-respected prosecutor, a leader among her peers, and a consummate professional with nearly two decades of experience,' Donovan said.

While sharing investigative evidence is generally not against the law, it violates the DOJ's policy.

The criminal case against James had sparked internal controversy within the Virginia federal prosecutor's office.

Trump-loyalist Halligan had even expressed concerns that attorneys in her office were leaking private case information to the press.

Beyond the Virginia office, Democrats have slammed the indictment as politically charged because Trump told Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after James, former FBI director James Comey and Senator Adam Schiff.

On Friday, James pleaded not guilty to the two felony charges stemming from the case, in which Halligan and other federal prosecutors allege she misled a bank while purchasing the $109,600 Norfolk home to obtain a more favorable loan.

Outside the courthouse after entering her plea, James told supporters that her prosecution was 'weaponizing the DOJ for revenge' by the Trump administration.

Donald Trump had pushed for charges against James to be filed and has long battled the New York AG

The DOJ's case is being led by Eastern District of Virginia attorney Lindsey Halligan

'I will not be deterred. I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day and that's why I'm heading back to New York because there is work to be done.'

James has been accused of claiming her three-bedroom Virginia residence as a second residential home rather than an investment property.

In allegedly doing so, she was able to obtain better terms on her mortgage agreement. The indictment claims she saved nearly $19,000.

James' lawyers plan to have the case thrown out by arguing that the Justice Department improperly appointed Halligan, according to court filings.

But if she is found guilty on both counts, she faces up to 60 years in prison and a maximum fine of $2 million.

James has long been a political adversary of Trump after she successfully sued the president and his Trump Organization for fraud.

A New York judge ordered Trump to pay $500 million penalty in early 2024 before he won the election. A New York appeals court later overturned the fine.
A Massachusetts mother who swam for her life to a nearby island after her family's boat caught on fire with them aboard died Thursday, her son announced.

Cynthia Sullivan died from the injuries she suffered when she, her husband Pat and their son Tyler Sullivan swam to shore after their vessel erupted in flames off Cape Cod on Monday.

Her other son Chris shared the news on Facebook: 'To everyone who loves and cares for my family. I just wanted to provide an update. My mom passed last night.

'She went in peace. We played her some John Mellencamp as she passed, he was her absolute favorite, she adored him.'

Chris said his dad was awake and breathing on his own.

He credited his brother Tyler as a 'hero' for saving both of his parents 'under extremely chaotic circumstances.'

Calling his deceased mom 'the best grandmother,' Chris added: 'This hurts more than anything I could have ever imagine [sic].'

The Sullivans were forced to abandon their 30-foot vessel - named The Third Wave - Monday night when the boat caught fire as they slept.

Cynthia Sullivan, a mother who swam for her life alongside her family when their boat caught fire, passed away from her injuries on October 23

Sullivan and her husband Pat (right) were sleeping aboard their vessel, The Third Wave, when they were awakened by their dogs barking

The Sullivans were rescued by their son Tyler (left), whom their other son Chris (center) called a 'hero'

The East Falmouth family was 'awakened by their dogs barking and the sound of fireworks followed by smoke,' according to a GoFundMe shared by the family.

The blaze forced the Sullivans to jump into the water and make a hasty escape to Naushon Island, about four miles from Martha's Vineyard.

They took shelter in a barn until Tyler found that his family boat's radio had washed ashore Wednesday morning.

He used that to make a Mayday call, the US Coast Guard said, which took rescuers to Naushon Island.

'Mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday, mayday,' Tyler was heard saying in the call published by Fox News.

'Our ship went down at Tarpaulin Cove. Our ship burned while we were sleeping and we barely escaped.'

He continued: 'I'm in the farmhouse on Tarpaulin Cove. Right by the freakin'... the lighthouse. Yes, the vessel has sunk and we are on the farmhouse in the hill.'

Naushon Island is a seven-mile-long island off the tip of East Falmouth, Massachusetts, owned by the Forbes family.

The US Coast Guard rescued the Sullivans from Naushon Island on Wednesday

The US Coast Guard were notified about the family's location by Tyler, who found his vessel's radio washed ashore

Sullivan, pictured alongside her family's dog Rugzy, was remembered by her son Chris as 'the best grandmother' (Photo from 2013)

The vessel had been reported missing by a 'concerned family member,' the US Coast Guard added.

A search had taken place throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning after calls to the Sullivans went unanswered and cell phone pings failed to provide an accurate location.

A Coast Guard helicopter found the family Wednesday morning and airlifted them to Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

The Sullivan family said Cynthia had 'passed away from her injuries' on October 23.

Chris said: 'My mom fought as long and hard as she could. It was her time is all. I miss her more than words can describe.'

Pat was later transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital Burn Center, where he was now awake and breathing on his own, WPRI reported.

Tyler was still hospitalized and being treated for smoke inhalation and third-degree burns.

The Sullivans originally planned to stay between Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard during the weekend and return home Tuesday afternoon.
The family of Pheobe Bishop have shared a heartbreaking tribute for her 18th birthday as her accused killers prepare to face court.

Her sister Kaylea Bishop shared a heartbreaking Instagram post on Saturday, uploading a collage of four pictures of herself with her younger sister, including an image of the two in matching white frocks and hair ribbons as small girls.

'Happy heavenly birthday to my angel, the big 18 today,' she wrote in an accompanying caption.

'I miss you so much but I know pop (sic) and you are having an absolute ball up there partying, thrashing cars but most of all leading each other astray and to the next adventure.

'Heaven is lucky to have such a beautiful angel. I'll see you when you're painting the sky beautifully for us tonight. I love and miss you sis.'

Her message comes as Pheobe's housemates Tanika Bromley, 33, and James Wood, 34, prepare to face court over her alleged murder.

At a mention in August at Bundaberg Magistrates' Court, in which the pair did not appear, Bromley's defence lawyer Nick Larter proposed an adjournment to October 27.

Pheobe's family, who were present in court and dressed in black, protested that the date would have been on the girl's 18th birthday, the ABC reported.

Pheobe's sister Kaylea shared an emotional birthday tribute on October 25

Pheobe Bishop went missing on May 15 - her body was found 22 days later

It was then decided the matter of Bromley and Wood, who are each charged with murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse, would instead be mentioned again on November 3.

Brave Kaylea, thought to be in her early 20s, has emerged as a family leader amid the tragedy.

She has physically shielded her mother Kylie Johnson from media questions, and in June spoke bravely at a community memorial for Pheobe in Gin Gin attended by hundreds of mourners and several TV crews.

Pheobe - who was living in the small town west of Bundaberg with Wood and Bromley - went missing on May 15, when she vanished on her way to the local airport.

It is understood she was catching a morning flight to Brisbane, on the first leg of her journey to Perth, to visit her boyfriend Levi.

Police revealed she was last seen in a grey Hyundai ix35, which was also declared a crime scene, along with the Milden Street home she shared with Bromley and Wood.

A huge land and waterway search, involving Queensland Police, SES, cadaver dogs, divers and AirPol, was launched.

Pheobe's housemates were arrested on June 5 and were each charged with one count of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse.

Brave Kaylea, seen with her mother Kylie Johnson, has emerged as a family spokesperson

Pheobe, in maroon, is seen with Kaylea, (left), Kylie, stepfather Ray and other family

Police found Pheobe's body in the remote Good Night Scrub National Park

The following day, police found the teenager's remains in an isolated, wild dog and pig-infested area of Good Night Scrub National Park.

Bromley and Wood are remanded in custody, with police alleging Pheobe was murdered not long after the car was seen on a home's CCTV near Bundaberg Airport.

Police allege her body was moved twice - first on the day she disappeared, and again on May 17.

In August, Prosecutor Vicki Kennedy-Grills told the court police officers had been working at length to gather a 155-exhibit brief of evidence, including witness statements and CCTV footage.

She said the brief would also include phone and message data, photos, and post-mortem documents.

In July, a third person was charged in relation to Pheobe's death.

Kieren Daniel Mittelheuser, 30, was charged with two counts of accessory after the fact to murder.

It is alleged he used Ms Bishop's mobile phone to interfere with investigations.

James Wood is remanded in custody, co-accused of his housemate Pheobe's murder

Tanika Bromley is also before the courts, and her case will be mentioned on November 3

The teenager had been living with Wood and Bromley at a Milden Street home in Gin Gin

On October 13, he dramatically missed court for a second time.

Just 12 minutes before he was scheduled to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates' Court by video link from the Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre, where he remains in custody, the court heard he had experienced a medical issue and would be unable to attend.

This came after Mittelheuser was also scheduled to attend court on August 25, but was excused when the video link was cancelled by the centre.

He is also charged with a string of other offences, and is due to appear via video link on December 15.
A Nebraska educator and her boyfriend were arrested and charged for allegedly grooming and sex trafficking a student.

Elizabeth Love, 36, was busted after the student told a school employee that she had 'inappropriate interactions' with the teacher at ESU-11 in Holdrege, Nebraska.

Her boyfriend, Jarid 'Jack' Krause, 41, was charged on one count of sex trafficking a minor.

'The investigation into Ms. Love and Mr. Krause began after a current high school student, whom Ms. Love was instructing through her employment as a transition coordinator and teacher in ESU-11, reported inappropriate interactions with the couple over the past few weeks,' the Holdrege Police said.

Love traveled to Nebraska for her position with Educational Service Unit 11 but was based in Holdrege, three hours West of Omaha.

A student at one of her schools reported an incident with the couple on October 14.

The current high schooler claimed she first overheard a phone conversation in August between Love and Krause in which Krause allegedly told Love he wanted to have sex with the student, according to The Independent.

Several months later on October 11, the report alleged that Love picked the girl up and brought the her to Love's Holdrege home.

There, Krause reportedly led her upstairs to the bedroom and made a request of the student that she interpreted as sexual, according to the affidavit obtained by Nebraska TV.

Elizabeth Love, 36, was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and grooming by a school employee

Jarid Krause (left) and Love (right) will face up to lifetime in prison if they are convicted

The unnamed student declined his request and asked to leave, which Krause allowed her to do.

Authorities reviewed surveillance footage that allegedly showed Love following the female student in a black Dodge Durango. The girl told police she got in the car and Love drove her home.

The affidavit said Love apologized and told the student not to tell anyone before giving her $100 in $20 increments.

Love later claimed that the money was intended to be a gift for a new phone, not 'hush money.'

According to Love's Facebook page, she is a widow and mother of two.

In a post from ESU-11 earlier this year, the teacher described her love for her job.

'I love working for ESU-11 because I am able to collaborate with incredible people who are dedicated to creating a difference in education.

'I absolutely love partnering with schools to make a difference for students.'

A student alleged that Krause made a request that she thought was for sex

Holdrege Police do not think there are any other victims of the couple

Love worked for ESU-11 for multiple years, traveling to more than a dozen schools across south-central Nebraska. Per KSNB, the educator is now on administrative leave.

Krause and Love are each being held on a $250,000 bond at Phelps County jail with a court appearance set for October 27 at 10am.

If convicted, they face up to lifetime in prison and lifetime placement on the Nebraska sex-offender registry.

The investigation is ongoing. Police do not believe there to be any other victims at this time.

The Daily Mail reached out to ESU-11 and Holdrege Police for comment.
A psychotherapist has explained why many attendees of last week's No Kings protests were educated women, after observers noticed nearly all attendees were white and female.

Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based mental health counselor, told Fox News that '40-something women are probably the biggest demographic of consumers of mental health services. Probably twenties to forties'.

Although there isn't demographics data available for all the hundreds of towns and cities that had these anti-Trump demonstrations, data does exist for Washington, D.C.

American University researchers who track protest movements told Axios that the typical person attending the No Kings protests in D.C. on October 18 was an educated white woman in her forties who had heard about it through their friends or via Instagram.

Alpert added that this kind of person is 'quite fluent in learning how to express themselves, their emotions. So naturally that would play out on the city streets.'

'The No Kings protests, from what I've seen in person and on TV, it seems to me like a big venting session. It's almost like a big group therapy. So, people get stuff off their chest and they feel better in the moment, but it doesn't necessarily bring about any sort of positive change,' he said.

He said that rather than actually effecting change, many of them are simply craving community or validation, which he said 'can be addictive'.

'A lot of times people are unhappy in their own lives,' he told Fox. 'They may have anxiety or anger, and they project that onto others. That's partly what we're seeing play out at these rallies.'

Jonathan Alpert, a New York City-based mental health counselor, said educated white women in their forties, the most common type of person to attend the No Kings protests, are engaging in group therapy with one another

Altogether, an estimated 7 million people turned out to protest Trump's actions as president, specifically things they perceive as dragging the United States closer to authoritarianism

There were roughly 2,500 No Kings events throughout the country last Saturday.

Altogether, an estimated 7 million people turned out to protest Trump's actions as president, specifically things they perceive as dragging the United States closer to authoritarianism.

The name of the movement reveals the not-so-subtle accusation from liberals and leftists that Trump resembles a king, though he's repeatedly denied this.

'I'm not a king,' Trump told reporters on Air Force One ahead of the latest No Kings protests. 'I work my a** off to make our country great.'

On the day of the protests, Trump posted an AI video of himself wearing a crown while in a fighter jet. He proceeds to dump feces on the protestors.

The most common issues demonstrators showed up to publicly oppose were the Trump administration's mass deportation policy and its ongoing efforts to place federal agents and National Guard troops in blue cities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has deemed the nationwide protest as the 'hate America rally' and accused people who showed up being Hamas supporters or being part of Antifa.

Last weekend's No Kings protest was the second one of Trump's term. The prior event, which happened on the same day as Trump's military parade in Washington, D.C., had about 5 million attendees according to organizers.
A fed-up Victorian has summed up the frustration of residents who are sick of their state being overrun by criminals, taking aim at the current bail laws.

Calista Clements accused Premier Jacinta Allan of 'gaslighting' Victorians after claiming 'Melbourne's CBD is safe'.

Allan made the comment following violent protests last Sunday, when left-wing demonstrators hurled rocks at riot police during anti-immigration rallies.

It also came following a spate of crimes with many of the accused either out on bail when they committed their offence, or granted bail afterwards.

'Jacinta, you are absolutely spot on here,' Ms Clements said, sarcastically.

'The Melbourne CBD is safe when you've got taxpayer-funded security guards following you around 24/7.'

Ms Clements was referring to an initiative by the City of Melbourne, which is using taxpayer money to fund a $4.5million public safety programme in the city.

Private security guards are being paid to patrol the streets and clamp down on anti-social behaviour.

Calista Clements accused premier Jacinta Allan of 'gaslighting' Victorians after claiming ' Melbourne 's CBD is safe'

'Her delusion needs to be studied,' Ms Clements said.

The frustrated Victorian recalled the crimes that had taken place in Melbourne over the last month.

Four teenagers were arrested after an allegedly stolen SUV was chased by police through Melbourne's busy Bourke St Mall on September 29.

One of the boys was released on bail.

In a separate incident, a 15-year-old boy, who has been accused of five armed robberies as well as stealing cars and making threats to kill, was also granted bail so he could fly to Europe to holiday with his family.

Ms Clements also referred to the case of a man who was on bail when he allegedly committed several carjackings across Melbourne while wielding a fake gun.

Simon Michael Davies, 48, was charged over the alleged crime spree that stretched from Tarneit to North Melbourne and Melbourne's CBD on October 14.

A Melbourne court heard he had been on bail for stealing a car and threatening to kill hospital staff two days earlier.

Simon Michael Davies, 48, was charged over the alleged crime spree that stretched from Tarneit to North Melbourne and Melbourne's CBD on October 14

Ms Clements then referred to a woman who was allegedly stabbed in the chest while walking to work.

Sushi chef Wan-Ting Lai, 36, was allegedly stabbed near the intersection of Little Bourke Street and Spencer Street, in Melbourne's CBD, at around 7.40am on October 2.

Lauren Darul, 32, was arrested with revelations emerging she was on bail at the time.

'Jacinta Allan's commentary is not your typical beat-around-the-bush-avoid-the-question politician answer,' Ms Clements said.

'This is just straight gaslighting. I have never had a conversation with someone who has not had some kind of encounter with crime in this state, especially over the last year.

'So to stand up behind a microphone and announce that we do not have a safety problem in our Melbourne CBD is just insulting.

'And the thing is, in Victoria, it's not even a divide between Labor voters and Liberal voters anymore. It's a divide between people who live in reality and people who don't.

'And the head of our state is a clear example of a person who does not live in the same reality as the rest of us.'

Four teenagers were arrested after an allegedly stolen SUV was chased by police through Melbourne's busy Bourke St mall in September

Social media users agreed with Ms Clements, with many taking aim at Allan and her government.

'Her level of arrogance and the gaslighting of Victorians is just next level and shes treating every Victorian with contempt,' one said.

'I've been a labor voter since I could vote,' another said.

'Their policies have more often than not aligned to my family's and community's needs. It changes next election.

'I can no longer align myself with anything they're doing at a state or federal level.'

Allan's government introduced on March 28 harsher bail laws that made it more difficult for criminals to be released back into the community.

Despite the clampdown, crime rates have soared with 483,583 criminal incidents reported in the 12 months to June 30, making an 18.3 per cent jump on last year.
Speculation over Sir Keir Starmer's political future intensified yesterday after a Labour MP he sacked from the Cabinet won the race to become his new deputy  and immediately criticised his performance as Prime Minister.

Lucy Powell beat Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson  the Starmerite candidate  by a margin of 54 per cent to 46 per cent, in what had been billed as a referendum on Sir Keir's leadership.

In her victory speech, Ms Powell, 51, took direct aim at the Prime Minister, implying that he had provided only insipid leadership.

'People feel that this Government is not being bold enough in delivering the kind of change we promised,' she said, adding that she thought the party had let Nigel Farage 'and his ilk' run away with the political agenda.

Ms Powell also warned that 'division and hate are on the rise', and said the 'desire for change' among voters was 'palpable'.

The election, which was triggered by Angela Rayner's resignation over the underpayment of stamp duty on her seaside home, means the Prime Minister will have as his deputy a close ally of Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who is the favourite to succeed Sir Keir if he is ousted by increasingly restless Labour MPs.

It also exposes his apparent lack of control over the internal party machinery, and caps another disastrous week for the Prime Minister, during which the grooming gangs inquiry was mired in chaos, a migrant sex offender was mistakenly released from prison and Labour was beaten into third in a Senedd by-election in Caerphilly, an area the party had held for a century.

The Prime Minister said he accepted the party had suffered a 'bad result' in Wales, describing it as a 'reminder that people need to look out their window and see change and renewal in their community, opportunities for their children, public services rebuilt, the cost of living crisis tackled'.

Lucy Powell (left) hugs Keir Starmer (right) after she is made the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

Ms Powell, the former Commons Leader, was the only Cabinet member to be sacked from the Government in Sir Keir's reshuffle last month, amid strongly denied claims she was involved with a Commons rebellion over attempted welfare cuts by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Sir Keir responded to her victory through gritted teeth, calling her a 'proud defender' of Labour values and saying: 'I know Lucy will be an incredible deputy leader and help our party be election-ready'.

Ms Powell was elected by the party membership, and as a backbench MP will have the freedom to continue to criticise the Government.

Her election will increase the pressure on Sir Keir to push the party towards the Left: during the campaign she called for an end of the two-child benefit limit, despite the intense pressure on Ms Reeves to cut public spending.

Ms Phillipson had pitched herself as the 'unity candidate', warning that voting for her opponent would result in 'internal debate and divisions that leads us back to opposition'.

Ms Powell was backed by the Burnham-linked 'soft Left' campaign group Mainstream and endorsed by Lord Kinnock, the former Labour leader, who has grown increasingly critical of No 10's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's long-time ally, who is regarded as a puppet of the Blairites by the Left.

During her speech, Ms Powell said Ms Rayner had 'done so much for this party and for this country, and I know she will do a lot more in the future as well'.

She said she would 'help Keir and our Government to succeed' but said the party 'must change how we are doing things to turn things around'.

Powell beat Bridget Phillipson - the Starmerite candidate - (centre) by a margin of 54 per cent to 46 per cent

Singling out Reform UK, she said Labour should 'wrestle back the political megaphone and set the agenda more strongly, because let's be honest we've let [Nigel] Farage and his ilk run away with it'.

In response, Luke Hurst, national co-ordinator of Mainstream, said: 'Only a deep and fundamental reset can stop Labour from driving off an electoral cliff.

'The election of a deputy leader concerned to bridge the gap between the leadership and the grassroots is a welcome step towards correcting course.' Neal Lawson, of the centre-Left Compass group, said: 'Labour members, like the public, want big policy changes such as public ownership of water, wealth taxes and proportional representation.

'But unless and until Labour instigates a major reset along these lines, then not even a change of some key people at the top of the party will save it.'

Firms: Angelas laws will drag us back to 70s chaos

By Glen Owen and Gabriel Millard-Clothier

While Lucy Powell celebrates her victory in Labours deputy leadership election, her predecessor is casting a long shadow over struggling British businesses.

Angela Rayners Employment Rights Bill, which contains a battery of new crippling industrial laws, will be debated in the House of Lords this week  with the Tories warning that unless it is heavily amended it will take Britain back to the pre-Thatcher era of endless, nationwide strikes.

Critics warn that Ms Rayners union-pleasing legislation will stifle the economy by making it more onerous to employ workers, boosting redundancy rights and making it far easier to trigger industrial action.

Writing in todays The Mail on Sunday, below, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said that the Bill had united businesses in fear and would drive wealth creators overseas.

He writes: 'Britains jobs market is already teetering, but this Bill will kneecap it for good'.

Ms Rayner, who last week delivered her delayed Commons resignation statement after the furore over her underpayment of stamp duty on her 800,000 seaside home, is not thought to have abandoned her leadership ambitions.

When Health Secretary Wes Streeting paid tribute to her at Labours annual conference in Liverpool last month  saying 'We need her back'  he was greeted by a roar of approval from delegates.

Ms Rayners Bill has helped her to boost her credentials with the unions, who have donated 39 million to the party since Sir Keir Starmer became leader.

The most recent consultation on the Bill, the Make work pay paper published last week, makes clear that the unions will have automatic access to almost all businesses, with only limited powers for companies to fight back  and 150,000 fines for breaches of the complex new rules.

Other proposals, such as so-called day-one rights and an increase in paid time off for union work, have caused alarm among businesses. The Confederation of British Industry says it will have 'consequences for growth, jobs and investment.'

Meanwhile, the Federation of Small Business (FSB) says the number of small businesses planning to let go of staff has doubled to a third because of the increase in employment costs.

The FSB reports that more than half of small employers say employment costs are the greatest barrier to growth and 67 per cent will stop hiring because of the Bill.
A North Carolina shooting at a Halloween house party with 'underage guests' has left two dead and 11 injured.

Gunshots rang throughout the large gathering at a home near Maxton on Saturday morning at around 1:15 am, according to the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.

While authorities were first called to the party at 298 Dixon Drive for noise complaints, they received multiple calls about the shooting on their way there.

Jessie Locklear Jr., 49, and Nehemiah Locklear, 16, of Lumberton, were fatally shot and pronounced dead at the scene, located at the end of a dirt road in a rural area.

It is unclear if and how the two people who were killed were related.

The remaining victims' ages range from 17 to 43. One of those people was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Several others remain hospitalized, while some have been treated and released, according to the sheriff's office.

'This was yet another senseless act of gun violence that has taken the lives of two individuals and left many others seriously injured,' Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said in a heartbreaking statement.

Jessie Locklear Jr., 49, was fatally shot at the Halloween party early on Saturday around 1:15 am

Nehemiah Locklear, 16, was pronounced dead at the scene of the party, where authorities said many of the guests were underage

'What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol and guns at a large house party.

'Dozens of videos posted from the party on multiple platforms, simply show that alcohol and guns dont mix, regardless of age. As seen here, the consequences are once again tragic.'

The sheriff described the senseless shooting at the 150-person party as a 'reckless and heartless' act.

Police are actively searching for the culprit and have urged anyone with information to come forward. No suspect is custody at this time.

'Some are cooperating and some are not cooperating,' Wilkins said of witnesses during a press conference.

'Which is sadly common for a situation like this with this many people here, it's unfortunate.'

He reiterated that many of the partygoers were underage, and given the sheer number of people in attendance, the town should have been notified that the event was being held.

According to a poster allegedly promoting the party circulating online, the event was Halloween-themed.

The event was held at a house located on the end of a secluded dirt road in a rural area

Sheriff Burnis Wilkins called the shooting 'reckless' and urged people to come forward with information

'Ain't no party like a dirt road party,' the poster reads, containing the address where the shooting occurred and that the event was 'BYOB,' an acronym for 'bring your own booze.'

The surviving victims include:
The police hunt for a wrongly freed migrant sex attacker descended deeper into farce yesterday after it was revealed prison officers gave him directions to the nearest train station.

Hadush Kebatu, jailed for sexually assaulting a teenage girl, should have been transferred from HMP Chelmsford to an immigration removal centre on Friday ahead of his deportation.

But an astonishing 'error' led to the offender  whose offences sparked protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, and around the country this year  being released, triggering a manhunt involving three police forces.

Now it has emerged that prison officers told the 38-year-old Ethiopian he had to make it to the removal centre on his own steam.

A delivery driver told Sky News: 'I heard one of the officers saying, "This is how you get to the station, you go down here..." [he] directed him to the station and said he had to get on a train to get to this place... This conversation was at the front of the prison.'

In what caused further disbelief last night, Kebatu spent more than 90 minutes hanging around outside the prison because he simply did not know 'where to go or what to do'.

The driver, who was delivering equipment to the prison, said: '[The officers] were basically sending him away, saying, "Go, you've been released, you go".'

Kebatu was last seen boarding Friday's 12.41pm train from Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street after apparently seeking help from a woman and persuading her to pay for his ticket.

A CCTV image issued by the Metropolitan Police (pictured) shows Hadush Kebatu in Dalston, London, on Saturday night

Video footage (above) appeared to capture Kebatu in Chelmsford town centre asking for directions from locals

The sex offender (pictured) was accidentally freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning by bungling staff after serving just a month of his 12-month sentence for preying on a schoolgirl

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He got off at Stratford Station in east London after 30 minutes and then disappeared. Police believe he has also sought help from the public in London. The debacle has left Labour facing fresh questions about its handling of the migrant crisis.

It comes amid a backlash against efforts to tackle illegal migration after a man who was deported under the 'one in, one out' scheme with France reappeared on UK shores having crossed the Channel again in a small boat.

Tory MP for Epping Forest, Neil Hudson, called Kebatu's release a 'catastrophic mistake' which had 'deeply distressed, upset and angered' the whole community, adding that 'accountability must go right to the top'.

Even after being set free, Kebatu kept going 'back and forth' into the prison reception area seeking help and showing staff a wad of paperwork about his case, according to the driver.

'I'm not sticking up for the guy but in my eyes he wanted to do the right thing and go to the right place,' he said.

'He knew he was getting deported but he didn't know where to go or how he should get there. He kept scratching his head and saying, "Where do I go, where do I go?"'

He added that the officers had no interest in helping him, saying, 'You're released, you're released'.

Kebatu was jailed for a year last month after assaulting his 14-year-old victim. During his trial, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard that he acted 'ignorantly and repulsively'.

The migrant became aroused as he put his hand on the girl's thighs and stroked her hair despite knowing 'full well she was only 14'. He said he wanted to have a baby with her and invited her back to The Bell Hotel, where he was living.

Kebatu then tried to kiss a woman who attempted to intervene, before putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

Met Police Commander James Conway urged Kebatu to give himself up, saying: 'We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way. You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff. The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us.'

He said the asylum seeker had taken 'a number of journeys' across London since his release on Friday and had 'access to funds'.
Scientists working at a military base which was at the heart of the Skripal nerve agent probe fear their personal details may have been stolen by cyber criminals.

Workers at the Defence Scientific Technical Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, Salisbury, were alerted to the security breach this month by union officials.

The base had been key in determining that it was Novichok which had been used in the attempted murder of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in 2018.

Others victims of the hack include technicians at BAE Systems, Siemens and Rolls-Royce, all of which have military contracts.

It comes after The Mail on Sunday last week revealed Russian cyber criminals had stolen hundreds of sensitive military documents containing details of eight RAF and Royal Navy bases and posted them on the dark web.

The latest attack saw hackers target Prospect, one of the UKs biggest civil service unions, which includes Ministry of Defence officials among its members.

The union was hacked in June but most members only learnt this month that personal information, including bank details, email addresses, employment records and even their sexual orientation may have been stolen. The delay has sparked frustration.

An email seen by National Security News and sent by one Porton Down scientist to Prospect, said: We work in national security, some in extremely sensitive roles dealing with current operations. When you found our data had been compromised you should have told us all immediately as our personal security is at risk.

Another email said The membership of this union includes top-level civil servants, the defence sector, nuclear sector etc  its a national security risk.

The base had been key in determining that it was Novichok which had been used in the attempted murder of Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia

Workers at the Defence Scientific Technical Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, Salisbury, were alerted to the security breach this month by union officials

The data could well end up in the hands of a hostile state actor.

A Prospect member also claimed that the union refused to identify hackers or whether a ransom had been paid to retrieve stolen data.

Former First Sea Lord Alan West believed Russia was behind most recent cyber attacks. He said: Hackers will often target small businesses working for the MoD to gain access to bigger projects.

Porton Down is one of the UKs most sensitive military bases, conducting top-secret work into biological agents.

A Prospect Spokesperson said:

We take our responsibility to our members incredibly seriously. We worked relentlessly to ensure we knew the precise scope of impact so we could notify those affected, in accordance with our legal obligations, and not cause unnecessary concern to other members who did not need to be notified.

"This required extensive detailed work to achieve and was completed as quickly as possible. Differentiating and identifying impact did take time but this allowed us to provide tailored communications, so members we notified knew exactly how they were affected and the support we were making available to them.

We have engaged with employers, who are reinforcing our advice to affected members, including those in sensitive roles, and this will continue. Based on our engagement to date, there is no basis to suggest any broader security risk.
Two of the murderers of teenager Ben Kinsella, whose ex-EastEnders actress sister Brooke set up a charity in his honour, have made bids for freedom from prison.

Juress Kika, 35, from Islington, north London, and Jade Braithwaite, 36, from Bow, east London, could walk free in a matter of weeks, it has been reported.

They, along with Michael Alleyne, 34, also from Islington, were jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years in 2009 for stabbing the 16-year-old to death in Islington in June the year before.

Mr Kinsella had been walking home from a night at the pub with friends celebrating the end of his GCSEs when he was attacked by the three men.

A friend of Braithwaite, then 19, had earlier got into an argument with one of the teen's friends.

Braithwaite later brought his two accomplices, both then 18, as back-up to seek revenge for the perceived disrespect.

But the Parole Board is set to decide if he should be moved to an open prison - a low-security facility for inmates considered low-risk - at a hearing on November 27.

And the panel has already recommended, in June this year, that his co-conspirator Kika be transferred in this way.

Two of the murderers of teenager Ben Kinsella (pictured), whose ex-EastEnders actress sister Brooke set up a charity in his honour, have made a bid for freedom from jail

Juress Kika (pictured), 35, from Islington, north London, and Jade Braithwaite, 36, from Bow, east London, could walk free in a matter of weeks despite stabbing the 16-year-old to death in June 2008

A friend of Braithwaite (pictured), then 19, had got into an argument with one of the teen's friends at the pub. Braithwaite later brought his two accomplices to seek revenge

The Ministry of Justice has now confirmed Kika has already been transferred to such a jail ahead of a potential release, The Sun on Sunday reports.

Alleyne, meanwhile, has not been referred to the independent body and remains in situ.

Brooke, 42, who played long-time EastEnders character Zoe Slater's friend Kelly Taylor from 2001 until 2004, set up The Ben Kinsella Trust in 2008.

The charity aims to curb knife crime through delivering workshops to young people, providing education tools and undertaking campaign work.

Ms Kinsella has previously said of the organisation: 'We've worked so hard to make a difference.'

But she told the Daily Mail in 2018, on the tenth anniversary of her brother's death: '[Knife crime] hasn't stopped. If anything, it has got worse.

'You do have moments where you think, what were we thinking, believing that Ben's death would mark a changing point?'

She said of her brother's killers in the same interview: 'I don't like to think about them.

'But while I hate to think about them getting out, we've worked with a lot of families who haven't had any justice at all. In that regard, we were lucky.'

They were more than halfway through their 19-year minimum sentences when she spoke to this publication.

'At the time we thought we were lucky. They got a decent stretch, 'she said.

'But they will still be young when they come out. They have time to meet people, have families, do all the things that Ben will never do. That is hard, really hard.'

It is understood her family is aware of the latest developments in her brother's case.

Mr Kinsella's killing shocked the country at the time, partly because of his youth and background and partly because of his sister's celebrity.

His sister was well-known thanks to her role on EastEnders and the Kinsella family was part of a tight-knit and influential community.

They, along with Michael Alleyne (pictured), 34, also from Islington, were jailed for life with a minimum of 19 years in 2009 for Mr Kinsella's murder

Their victim's sister Brooke Kinsella (pictured on ITV chat show Lorraine in 2023) has campaigned against knife crime since her brother's death

One of the teenage friends who cradled Ben as he died was the son of Birds Of A Feather actress Linda Robson.

On the night of his death, Mr Kinsella, a popular, bright student from Islington who wanted to be a graphic designer, had just finished his exams and went out with friends to celebrate.

He never got to know his results but he passed all his GCSEs, receiving two A*s, two As, four Bs and one C.

There was an altercation between one of their group and a man named Osman Ozdemir, a friend of Braithwaite.

At 2am, when the group set off to return home, they realised they were being followed.

Several of the group started to run - but Mr Kinsella did not, possibly because he had not been involved with the earlier fracas.

He was set upon, kicked and punched to the ground and stabbed repeatedly.

Two thrusts entered his lungs and another split a rib before puncturing his heart, with some of the wounds nearly 7in deep.

CCTV footage shown during the trial of Ben's attackers showed him staggering from the scene, supported by friend Louis Robson.

He was pronounced dead at 7.24 am, by which time his family had rushed to his bedside.

When his family eventually went through his things, they found a letter he had written to then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown about knife crime for his GCSE coursework.

His worries about it came from personal experience, after he was threatened with stabbing when he prevented the theft of a mountain bike.

He had also written a creative writing piece imagining his death from stabbing.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'All prisoners must pass a strict risk assessment before any move to open conditions, and we do not hesitate to move them back to closed prisons if they break the rules.'

The Ben Kinsella Trust and the Kinsella family declined to comment.
China has threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Britain unless Keir Starmer supports its ownership of Taiwan.

Beijing's ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, said that the 'key to ensuring the sound and steady development of UK-China relations' depended on Britain accepting that 'Taiwan has never been a country' and that Taiwan 'belongs to China'.

Zeguang said that Britain made an 'unequivocal commitment' to defend China's ownership of Taiwan when relations were established with the People's Republic of China in 1972, and stressed that the deal must not be forgotten.

Britain has long acknowledged China's claim on Taiwan without endorsing it.

Beijing considers Taiwan  a democracy of 23 million people that has been governed separately from China since 1949  to be a breakaway province, and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

China puts military pressure on Taiwan by sending warships and aircraft near the island almost daily.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party reject Beijing's assertions and maintain that Taiwan is a sovereign country whose future should be decided by its people.

China has threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Britain unless Keir Starmer supports its ownership of Taiwan

China has renewed threats that it would take over self-ruled Taiwan. Pictured: Formation of the People's Armed Police Force marches through Tian'anmen Square during V-Day military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War on September 3, 2025 in Beijing, China

'We hope that the UK government will honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972...and handle Taiwan related issues prudently', Zeguang told The Telegraph.

In response to Zeguang's comments, former security minister Tom Tugendhat said: 'Beijing's attempts to distort international law, including claims that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 confers dominion over Taiwan, should be resisted. These are rightly matters for the Taiwanese people to determine. Using economic coercing to force others to submit does not make it legal'.

The ambassador's remarks come at a time of increased tension with Beijing over the Chinese spy scandal and calls to halt the construction of China's embassy in London over fears that it could be used to access sensitive information.

Last month, China's defence minister renewed threats that his country would take over self-ruled Taiwan as he opened a security forum in Beijing.

The 'restoration' of Taiwan to China 'is an integral part of the post-war international order,' Dong Jun told an audience of international military officials attending the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, an annual event where China aims to project regional leadership and boost military cooperation.

Dong said China would 'never allow any separatist attempts for Taiwan independence to succeed' and that it is ready to thwart 'any external military interference.'

'The Chinese military stands ready to work with all parties to serve as a force for global peace, stability and progress,' he said.

While not mentioning the US by name, Dong chided 'behaviours such as external military interference, seeking spheres of influence and coercing others into taking sides.' He called those a means to 'plunge the international community into chaos and conflict.'

Pictured: China's ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang in 2019

The security forum comes after Beijing last month held a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

China's army, the world's largest, showcased its advanced weaponry at the parade, including Chinese-made hypersonic missiles and tanks.

Dong stressed the importance of upholding the 'UN-centred international system' as a framework for global peace and stability.

'We must defend the post-war order,' he said. 'We do not intend to overturn the existing order or to create a new one. Rather the goal is to reinforce the cornerstone and pillars of the system.'
They came for great works by Homer, Shakespeare, and Dickens  and now woke warriors have slapped a trigger warning on the very word of God.

Students of English literature are being warned about violence and murder in the Bible, including Christs crucifixion.

Bizarrely, the University of Sheffield advises that the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John include scenes of graphic bodily injury and sexual violence as they relate the events leading up to the death of Jesus.

Details of the guidance  issued to students studying biblical and classical sources in English literature  have been obtained by The Mail on Sunday under Freedom of Information laws.

Christians and historians last night said the warnings were misguided, absurd and incompatible with discussions about morality.

One relates to the story of Cain and Abel, the first sons of Adam and Eve. In the Book of Genesis, Cain, the first person to be born, kills his brother, Abel, who becomes the first person to die.

But critics of the censorship point out that there is no mention in the Bible of how Cain kills Abel  and were at a complete loss to explain the inclusion of sexual violence in the warnings.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: Applying trigger warnings to salvation narratives that have shaped our civilisation is not only misguided, but absurd. Singling out the Bible in this way is discriminatory and deeply ill-informed. To suggest that the crucifixion story involves "sexual violence" is not just inaccurate, its a profound misreading of the text. The account of Jesuss death is not a tale of trauma, it is the ultimate expression of love, sacrifice, and redemption, central to the Christian faith.

Students of English literature are being warned about violence and murder in the Bible, including Christs crucifixion

Monsignor Michael Nazir-Ali, the former Anglican Bishop of Rochester who converted to Catholicism, said: Knowing the Bible is essential if you are studying English literature.

Students have to be exposed to what is unpleasant and frightening so they can learn to deal with that. The Bible is very restrained in how it describes both the murder of Abel by Cain and the crucifixion, particularly if you compare the accounts of the Evangelists with something like Mel Gibsons The Passion of the Christ.

Jeremy Black, the author of A Brief History of History, said: Biblical and Classical narratives oppose good and evil, in the cosmos, in society and within individuals. These struggles are elemental and fundamental... Students need to be exposed to the power of the texts, their uncompromising character, and the violence of the passage into redemption. There is no need for trigger warnings when morality is concerned.

The University of Sheffield said: A content note is a standard academic tool used to signpost when sensitive or graphic content will be discussed. Its purpose is to ensure subjects can be highlighted and discussed openly and critically, while preparing students who might find such details difficult.
Tony Hudgell's adoptive mother has revealed doctors misdiagnosed her 14 times - as she opened up about her terminal cancer diagnosis and the heartbreak of not being able to see her son grow up.

Paula Hudgell created a safe and happy home for Tony, now 10, after he was so badly abused by his birth parents that he had to have both his legs amputated.

The 58-year-old former nurse has tirelessly campaigned for tougher sentences for child abusers and successfully brought in Tony's Law in 2022.

The new piece of legislation increased the maximum sentence for anyone who causes or allows the death of a child death from 14 years to life.

Devastatingly, Paula was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago and in the summer revealed that the disease had spread to her lungs and is now incurable.

Speaking about her diagnosis, she told the Mirror: 'It's hard for all of us to get our heads around, but I'm trying to prepare them as much as possible.

'I was on the school run with Tony last week and he turned the radio up, because there was a love song playing that he liked. He told me he was going to have it at his wedding.

'It suddenly hit me that I won't be at his wedding. I had my tears from him but it hurts so much that I won't see him grow up or get married.'

Paula Hudgell created a safe and happy home for Tony, now 10, after he was so badly abused by his birth parents that he had to have both his legs amputated

Paula hugging her adopted son, Tony, now ten, in a park on August 11, 2018

Paula, who was awarded an OBE in 2022, said she saw her GP 14 times before she received a cancer diagnosis, saying she was repeatedly 'fobbed off'.

She was told by doctors that her bouts of diarrhoea and constipation were most likely IBS and was sent home.

Paula said she lived with her symptoms for four years before she demanded a test for bowel cancer.

And after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, Paula was told she was cancer free.

But in July, she revealed on social media that the disease had returned and spread to one of her lungs.

'It's been a really tough few weeks,' she penned in an emotional Instagram post.

'In 2022, I was diagnosed with bowel cancer - and after feeling the best I have in years, I've now been hit with the heartbreaking news that it's returned, and this time it's also in my lung.

'Stage 4. It's been a huge shock, and it's taken some time for us to get our heads around it.'

Sharing a photo on Instagram showing the marking on her skin from a portacath being fitted [a medical device used to administer treatments], she continued: 'In ten days, I'll start aggressive chemo.

Paula took to her Instagram to release the above statement in July regarding her recent diagnosis

Paula (pictured on this morning with Tony in 2025) has vowed to take on the 'biggest fight of her life' as she prepares to undergo aggressive chemotherapy treatment

'We don't know exactly what the future holds, but I'm ready to give this the biggest fight of my life.'

Tony was just six weeks old when he suffered multiple fractures, sepsis, organ failure and ultimately had to have both legs amputated.

But despite his traumatic start in life, Tony has grown into a cheerful and determined young boy under Paula's care - learning to walk on prosthetic legs and even winning a Pride of Britain award.

He has gained the admiration of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who have publicly praised him for his bravery and resilience.

Tony has also met Prince Harry along with a string of celebrities. In 2022, he was singled out for his inspiration by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Despite the attention, Paula previously said of Tony: 'He takes all of it in his stride, so to speak. He is just amazing.

'He's very much a people person. He can capture a room of people and will talk to them all.'

Though she now faces her own health battle, Paula made it clear that the work she and Tony have done together will continue.

'To our amazing friends and family: thank you for your love, support, and strength - you've been incredible, and it means the world,' she added.

Tony, with Paula and father Mark on a fundraising walk in West Malling Kent at the age of five

'As for Tony and everything the @tonyhudgellfoundation stands for - nothing stops. The Lapland trips for the kids and their families will still go ahead, and I'll always be Tony's biggest supporter, just from the backseat for now, letting others take the reins.'

Paula's message ended with a stark but heartfelt plea: 'This beast may have returned, but I'm not going anywhere without a fight.

'And please - check your poo. Early detection saves lives.'

Supporters flooded her post with comments, including ITV's Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins, who wrote: 'Oh no, I'm so very sorry to hear this - sending you so much love & a huge hug. Keep fighting.'
It was widely ridiculed at its launch. But Gwyneth Paltrow calling her lifestyle brand Goop may well have helped her get a headstart on her competitors.

Giving a company a meaningless name may help make it more successful, researchers claim.

'Non-semantic' names such as Google, Xerox or Etsy create a mental itch which makes people more curious and more likely to invest or buy products, they say.

Academics found that a brand lacking pinpoint meaning attracts 13,000 more in initial investment, compared with brands that have 'semantic' names, such as Red Bull or Zoom.

The researchers from the University of Virginia and academic centres in France and Spain looked at 6,487 crowdfunding campaigns for technology companies in 22 countries.

They found on average those with 'non-semantic' names attracted 17.12 per cent more funding  or around 13,000.

In another experiment, around 250 men and women, were asked how much they would pay for a subscription to an AI device called either Brownie or a nonsense name made up of the same letters, such as Wbonire.

People were willing to pay about 30 per cent more for the device when it had a meaningless name.

Gwyneth Paltrow's brand Goop is scientifically more likely to be successful due to its 'non-semantic' name, according to research

Made up of Paltrow's initials, Goop is a 'non-semantic' name that is said to attract 17.12 per cent more funding than a company with a 'semantic' name such as Red Bull or Zoom

Writing in the Journal of Business Research, the academics say non-semantic names can help to foster strong brands.

Goop is a combination of Paltrow's initials and what she says she was told in 2008  that internet companies with a double 'o' in the name are more successful.

Haagen-Dazs was made up by founder Reuben Mattus to sound European, while Etsy co-founder Robert Kalin said he simply wanted a nonsense name.
Racing heiress Kate Waterhouse and her NRL star husband Luke Ricketson are being sued by a well-known Sydney builder.

James Watkin, who owns Jakin Constructions, claims the couple short-changed him amid a $3.2million renovation to their luxury mansion overlooking Mosman's Balmoral Beach.

In a statement of claim lodged with the NSW District Court, Mr Watkin alleges Ms Waterhouse and Mr Ricketson shorted him $161,000 and refused to pay the outstanding balance.

The couple engaged Jakin Constructions last year to revamp the home they purchased in 2020 for $17.8 million - one of the highest sales of the year in the exclusive suburb.

It is understood the company was hired in 2024 to build a new pool and strip the interior.

A Google Maps image of the property shows the front fence covered with Jakin-branded cladding amid the works.

Mr Ricketson and Ms Waterhouse - a member of the Waterhouse racing dynasty who is also a model, TV journalist, and author - are yet to file a defence.

Former NRL star Luke and racing heiress Kate are embroiled in a renovation war

James Watkin, who owns Jakin Constructions, claims the pair short-changed him

Sydney Roosters legend Mr Ricketson told the Daily Telegraph: 'We've been overcharged and we'll be defending the matter, we're fair people.'

The couple's lawyer Matt Hourn added: 'My clients are happy to pay for work performed, but our clients obtained expert auditing advice of the fees charged by (Jakin).

'That advice raised questions as to if the costs invoiced were in accordance with the contract.

'After raising those issues with (Jakin), the auditor was unable to be satisfied with the explanation and documents provided  as a result the matter is now with the courts.'

Mr Watkin alleges the couple had settled all of their invoices except for the final three for works completed late last year.

'No issues were raised during the build and there has never been a complaint about the quality of the work,' he said.

'Instead, only after we engaged lawyers, they asserted that they had overpaid. We refute the assertion and say there is a clear basis to have our invoices paid.

The Jakin logo can be seen on the Waterhouse-Ricketson mansion in Mosman

'We are now in the unfortunate position of having to run this through the court.'

Daily Mail has contacted Ms Waterhouse and Mr Watkin for comment.
There was a reason to be fearful as costume-clad Hallowe'en revellers took to the streets to celebrate ahead of the coming week's 'scariest night of the year'.

Party-goers in Leeds showed off their outfits on Saturday night while enjoying the city's renowned pub crawl, the Otley Run.

The pub crawl has 18 stops on the way as groups make their way to the city centre.

The traditional tour starts at about 3pm and weaves its way from Headingley in the outskirts of Leeds along Headingley Lane, past the University of Leeds, and finishes at The Dry Dock Leeds in the city centre 1.5 miles away from the start.

There was a mixture of costumes ranging from spooky to sexy, as well as secret agents.

From jack o'lanterns to Scream and even Freddy Krueger, they donned wonderful and weird outfits, while making the most of an extra hour ahead of the clocks going back.

LEEDS: Revellers choosing to dress on the spooky side with one dressing as Ghostface from Scream

LEEDS: Freddy Krueger and a joker take to the streets of Leeds to enjoy a pint for the Otley Run

LEEDS: This group decided to dress as secret agents who monitor and police extraterrestrials

This group decided to show off their jack o'lantern costumes

In previous years, some of the standout and most eye catching outfits include partygoers have included women dressed as corpse brides and drenched in fake blood.

Meanwhile 2019 proved to be the year of the clown with many choosing to dress like the Joker or don a scary circus theme vibe.

Elsewhere in the world on this Saturday night, party-goers in Ukraine kicked off Halloween early with a costumed rave that packed a Kyiv concert hall with hundreds of revelers dressed as Pennywise, the Joker, Medusa and more.

The daytime techno bash, complete with an on site tattoo parlor, art installations and bean bag lounges, started hours before sunset to beat the city's midnight curfew.

Organised by Laboratorium, the event is part of a recurring electronic music and art festival series that's become a staple of the Ukrainian capital's underground scene.

2022 - A group of friends dressed as a prison inmate, pirate, corpse bride, werewolf and Little Red Riding Hood are spotted in Leeds

2022 - Three people dressed as cats attend the MCM Comic Con event at the ExCel in east London

2022 - Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc gang head out for Halloween celebrations in rainy Newcastle

2019 - Some students enjoyed the spooky celebration with scary costumes while others opted for clown themed outfits as they braved the rainy conditions

This party-goer went all out on his colourful circus themed Halloween costume including face paint as he made his way between pubs
A podcaster who was recently called 'very attractive' by President Donald Trump said she was attacked on Saturday by a member of Antifa outside the ICE facility in Portland.

Brandi Kruse, a right-wing social media personality who has been covering the ICE protests in Oregon for weeks, was at a roundtable on Antifa at the White House earlier this month when Trump made the unexpected remark.

Weeks later, Kruse claims she was assaulted by a man who she said was part of a crew of Antifa agitators who then fled to a notorious 'safe house.'

A video shared to social media showed group of seven people fleeing the scene of the alleged attack. The man Kruse said assaulted her was wearing a camo jacket and a keffiyeh to obscure his face.

The other alleged Antifa members were fully clad in black with helmets and sunglasses. One was holding a transgender pride flag.

Kruse's friend Jonathan Choe, an independent journalist with the Discovery Institute, repeatedly asked the man why he assaulted Kruse. The group only responded with vulgar taunts.

'If you're gonna assault women, why don't you show your face?' Choe yelled out at one point.

One of the women shouted back a crude reference at Choe.

Brandi Kruse, an Emmy-winning journalist who went independent in 2021, said she was assaulted by a man that was part of an alleged Antifa group

The man in the camo jacket is who Kruse said assaulted her. When he sees he's being filmed by Choe, he puts on a keffiyeh to further obscure his identity

The group then arrives at what Choe and others have called an Antifa safehouse.

Clearly visible in the window was a Palestinian flag, a 'Fight Oligarchy' shirt and a sign that reads, 'Regulating Capitalism Only Delays Oligarchy.'

'This is the proof ladies and gentlemen that Antifa uses a safehouse, there is coordination with people in this building just a block away,' Choe said.

'Your journalism sucks!' one of the women said as she hid her face behind an umbrella while jetting to the 'safe house.'

Kruse, pleased with Choe's efforts, thanked him for 'chasing down an Antifa goon for me,' adding that he was a 'true friend'.

Because of her coverage of Antifa, a group the Trump administration deemed a terrorist organization, Kruse got an audience with the president during an October 8 event where conservative influencers talked about their experiences on the ground in Portland.

Kruse, an Emmy-Award-winning journalist, left Seattle's Fox affiliate in 2021 to start her current independent platform and confessed to Trump that she used to have 'Trump Derangement Syndrome', a term that describes liberals' over-the-top disgust for him.

'Im living proof that you can recover from TDS,' she said. 'I had strong Trump Derangement Syndrome for probably eight years. This is one of the reasons Ive recovered from it.'

'And by the way, its much better to not have TDS. Im happier, I'm healthier, more successful. I even think I got a little more attractive after I got rid of my Trump Derangement Syndrome.'

'Very attractive,' Trump said under his breath.

President Donald Trump is pictured as Kruse is speaking. He agreed with her assessment that she was 'more attractive' after she shed her 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'

Pictured: The so-called Antifa members head inside what has been deemed an Antifa safehouse in Portland. It's an apartment that's being rented by 29-year-old Chandler Patey

Jonathan Choe, an independent journalist with the Discovery Institute, followed the group of seven people, most of whom were wearing masks

The so-called Antifa safehouse in Portland, which has been covered by Kruse, was discussed Wednesday on Laura Ingraham's Fox News show.

Right-wing influencer Nick Sortor joined Ingraham because he had filmed inside the apartment, where a 29-year-old man named Chandler Patey lives.

Patey, himself an antifascist, freely admitted to The Oregonian that he has been allowing protestors to use his apartment to wash off pepper spray, recuperate and store various supplies.

'Ironically, its technically not wrong to say that this is an anti-fascist safehouse, because if youre an anti-fascist, then youre allowed in,' Patey said. 'If you need to use the restroom, thats totally cool, man. Just dont make a mess of things.'

He called Sortor's allegation that he and other protestors are conducting paramilitary operations 'insane'.

Patey also sought to clarify that there is no centralized Antifa organization and that the term Antifa only refers t people who 'don't like fascism'.

In Trump's executive order, he describes Antifa as 'a militarist, anarchist enterprise' that recruits and trains young Americans to engage in violence against ICE agents and other federal officers.
President Donald Trump greeted Malaysian dancers with his signature moves as he kicked off his highly anticipated week-long foreign trip to Asia.

Drums played as he strutted down the red carpet, leading him off Air Force One in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, toward the native dancers on Sunday morning local time.

After a 23-hour flight from Washington, DC, Trump, 79, stepped side to side as he pumped his fists.

Trump popularized his iconic dance during his 2024 election campaign, before he beat Kamala Harris and returned to the White House for a second term.

He was dancing along with a massive group of vibrantly dressed performers. The stunning array of colors they wore represented the country's major ethic groups, including Malays, Chinese, Indians and indigenous people from Borneo.

The dancers clapped, swayed and chanted in unison while performing a traditional routine to welcome Trump on the first stop of his trip, during which he will also visit Japan and South Korea, where he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump's former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has warned that this trip is one of the president's 'riskiest' ever.

His meeting with Xi has sparked fears over the potentially detrimental impact on Americans' wallets if the two leaders fail to reach an agreement amid their raging trade war.

President Donald Trump greeted Malaysian dancers with his signature moves as he kicked off his highly anticipated week-long foreign trip to Asia

Trump performed his iconic dance with the eager performers clapping along

Performers gave Trump a warm welcome, cheering as he arrived at the capital

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim walked alongside Trump as he was given a warm introduction to the Southeast Asian nation

'The Chinese Communist Party has declared open economic warfare against America, so this is what they call a throw of the "iron dice." This is as high stakes as it gets,' Bannon claimed.

A jubilant crowd waving American and Malaysian flags applauded during Trump's spirited arrival. Trump approached the onlookers, grabbed two flags and posed for photos.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim walked alongside Trump as he was given a warm introduction to the Southeast Asian nation.

While the US president was greeted with much enthusiasm, protesters also gathered in the city to express their discontent with Trump's presence.

Trump has embarked on this five-day Asia tour to arrange trade deals throughout the region.

He has set high expectations for the trip, claiming he will leave his meeting with Xi in South Korea with a 'really fair and really great trade deal.'

But before he meets with Xi, he has several other diplomatic stops to make.

He attended a peace deal ceremony during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center between Cambodia and Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet signed a ceasefire agreement under Trump's oversight, according to the BBC.

Just before the deal was signed, Manet expressed gratitude toward Trump for his 'decisive lead' that helped the agreement come to fruition.

'No matter how difficult and complex a dispute may be, they must be resolved by peaceful means,' Manet said.

Trump arrived in Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, on Sunday morning local time

Trump grabbed an American and a Malaysian flag before posing for photos with the eager crowd

A crowd holding American and Malaysian flags applauded Trump as he danced

Protesters in Kuala Lumpur rallied against Trump's arrival

After the peace agreement was settled, Trump signed trade deals with Malaysia and Cambodia, as well as a minerals deal with Thailand.

Trump is also set to meet with the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo.

His next stop will be South Korea, where he will deliver remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Finally, he will conclude his trip with a consequential bilateral meeting with Xi. Trump also said he was open to speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone.

The trip comes after a week of breakdowns in foreign policy for the Trump administration.

Peace in the Middle East remains tenuous after the Israeli Knesset symbolically voted to support West Bank annexation after the president secured an agreement with Hamas earlier this month.

His second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin fell apart, leading to the imposition of oil sanctions, and tensions with China are at a months-long high.

On his flight to Malaysia, Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on Canada by 10 percent. He also noted that he hopes to land on a 'comprehensive' trade deal with China.

When Air Force One made a refueling stop in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday, Trump briefly met with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

From left to right, Ibrahim applauded as Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Trump held up documents during the ceremonial signing of a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia

On Saturday, during a brief refueling stop in Doha, Trump met with Qatars Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani aboard Air Force One

Aside from meeting with Qatar's Emir, Trump also declared he wants to raise tariffs on Canada on his way to Malaysia

Trump warned that Hamas 'will have a very big problem' if it fails to uphold the tentative deal forged with Israel earlier this month, which many fear is teetering on the brink.

'The ceasefire will hold. If not, we will deal with Hamas very harshly,' Trump declared.

Trump also sat down with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

'We have done a lot together, especially in the last year... Peace to the Middle East, and they were a very big factor in it,' Trump said to the two Qatari leaders.

Despite concerns raised by Bannon and other skeptics, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has shared a positive outlook for Trump's tour.

Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent spoke with Chinese officials in Kuala Lumpur.

'I think were moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to conclude together,' Greer told reporters, according to CNN.

'We had quite constructive discussions with our Chinese counterparts. We think were getting to a point where we have something we can present to the leaders.'
A businessman dubbed the coffee king has slammed Welcome to Country ceremonies, claiming they are disrespectful to migrants.

Phil Di Bella took aim at the ceremonies, claiming more recognition needs to be given to migrants who helped build the country.

'I've contributed over $30million in tax so far, so I don't need to be welcomed to my own country,' he told the Courier Mail.

Mr Di Bella also took issue with Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies, saying he had invented his own version.

'My acknowledgment is to both; it starts with the traditional custodians then flows to the migrants who came here to make Australia what it is and what it will be  and politicians are starting to copy me,' Di Bella said.

A Welcome to Country ceremony can only be performed by a traditional owner and formally welcomes visitors to their land.

An Acknowledgement of Country can be delivered by either an Indigenous or non-Indigenous person and recognises traditional owners of the land.

Acknowledgement of Country is a relatively recent practice, emerging during the 1990s in what the Keating Government called 'the Reconciliation Decade'.

Phil Di Bella took aim at the ceremonies, claiming more recognition needed to be given to migrants who helped build the country

A series of organisations were introduced to help advance Indigenous-state relations, and the practice was formalised through one of those branches.

Mr Di Bella is the son of Sicilian migrants, with his father working as a groundsman at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and his mother a seamstress at Breakfast Creek.

He turned his fortune around when he created coffee company Di Bella Coffee at the age of 26 in 2002.

It has now become the country's largest speciality coffee company, which he sold for more than $47million in 2014.

Mr Di Bella's comments come after a North Queensland council banned Welcome to Country ceremonies following advice from an Aboriginal corporation.

It is understood Burdekin Shire Council voted to adopt its own protocol for the practice.

Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort told the Townsville Bulletin the organisation was no longer holding Welcome to Country ceremonies.

Meeting minutes from the council said the authority had introduced the change on legal advice based on correspondence from the Kyburra Munda Yulga Aboriginal Corporation.

A Welcome to Country ceremony can only be performed by a traditional owner and formally welcomes visitors to their land (stock image)

'We're just keeping to our own place, we don't have Welcome to Country, we don't do that here and that's it basically,' Ms Dalle Cort said.

The Juru people of the Shire of Burdekin announced in December last year that they would end Welcome to Country ceremonies on their land.

Juru Elder Randall Ross said Elders had met and agreed on the decision due to misuse and a feeling that the practice had lost cultural significance.

'We're only speaking for our country and that's why it's important that we can see it well and truly being abused,' he told 4BC.

'It makes us feel embarrassed,' he said, adding that Elders from the Burdekin region had seen from people who werent local who were paid for delivering it.

'Welcome to Country has become a business that supports certain individuals and thats where they are losing the cultural insight about what the Welcome to Countrys are about.

'This is a stand that we are taking in our particular area, and I think its been long overdue.'

Ms Dalle Cort welcomed the decision by the Juru people to stop the ceremonies on their land.

'I can't get into a political nightmare here, but all I can say is I'm happy to work with the traditional owners,' she said.
The Victorian government will double the amount it collects in pet registration fees, potentially affecting more than a million households.

Victorian councils will be forced to pay nearly double the current rate per cat and dog in registration fees to the Allan Government from next year, under new legislation introduced to Parliament.

Local councils are widely expected to pass the hike on to taxpayers, meaning the state's 1.4million pet-owning households would be affected.

The state government claimed the revenue will go towards animal welfare initiatives like the RSPCA.

Critics, however, have slammed the increased fees as yet another 'tax grab' to offset the state's soaring debt.

Just a few weeks ago financial results showed the state's net debt increased by more than $2million each hour over the past financial year.

The changes, which cleared parliament as part of a larger tax reform bill last week, will increase the annual registration fees paid by councils to the government from $4.51 to $9 for both cats and dogs.

Greyhound registration fees will also double from $3.50 to $7, with the changes to take effect from July next year.

The Allan government has been accused of a 'tax grab' for doubling registration fees for pets which councils need to pay the state government. It will likely be passed onto taxpayers

Registration fees for dogs and cats will increase to $9 per pet and the change is set to affect more than a million taxpayers

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin slammed the increase as a 'petty cash grab', and said it would unfairly punish pet owners.

'Jacinta Allan will tax anything that moves - even if it barks or purrs,' he wrote on social media on Saturday.

'Her new Pet Tax is a way to squeeze more money out of Victorians.

'Tell her enough is enough. It's time for a fresh start.'

Shadow Treasurer Jess Wilson said the move was designed to patch over years of fiscal mismanagement by the Labor government.

'This is a petty cash grab on the family dog and the household cat  pure and simple,' Ms Wilson said.

'Victorians are already struggling with the highest taxes in the nation  and now Labor wants to tax the family pet.

'After years of waste and mismanagement, Labor's run out of money and ideas. So instead of fixing the budget, they're taxing cats and dogs.

'First it was new taxes on GP visits, school fees and rents, then a tax on every household through the Emergency Services Tax. Now, it's a Pet Tax. What's next?

'The Allan Labor Government should be focused on easing cost-of-living pressures, not making it more expensive to own a pet.'

There were about 2.2million cats and dogs across 1.4million Victorian homes in 2023, according to the Victorian Pet Census.

A state government spokesperson said the fee increase would go towards funding RSPCA Victoria's activities.

'This will fund the RSPCA, responsible pet ownership programs, animal welfare initiatives, research into domestic animal management, and the administration of the laws that protect our pets,' the spokesperson said.

'Critically, these fees also fund RSPCA Victoria Inspectors who are on the frontline protecting animals, relieving suffering and ending cruelty across the state.'
A three-year-old boy who died after a car crash that police are treating as a potential domestic violence incident had been looking forward to dressing up for Halloween.

The boy was inside a Mazda 323 with his 24-year-old father, 22-year-old mother and one-year-old brother when it veered off Burnside Road at Yatala, in south-east Queensland, and crashed at about 5am on Saturday.

The father left the scene with the one-year-old, while a passing motorist helped the mother and three-year-old out of the vehicle and took them to Beenleigh Police Station.

Caden was unresponsive on arrival at the police station and officers performed CPR, however he died in the foyer.

Police said the parents were separated, and they are investigating whether the car was deliberately crashed.

His grief-stricken grandmother made the heartbreaking revelation that her grandson could not wait to dress up with his brother for Halloween.

'He was looking forward to Halloween. He was going as a vampire, he was so excited,' she told the Courier Mail.

'He was a firecracker who loved life. I just can't believe it. I hope no family ever has to go through this.'

The three-year-old died in the foyer of a police station after the car he was travelling in with his mother, father and one-year-old brother veered off the road and crashed into bushland

On Sunday evening, multiple sources connected to Caden's devastated mother confirmed the tragic loss to Daily Mail.

Caden's great-grandmother paid an emotional tribute to her great-grandson on Facebook.

'Our family has lost a beautiful little boy who was a firecracker,' she said.

The child's great-grandfather, told Daily Mail on Sunday night that the family's pain was still 'very raw'.

'We are leaving it all up to the police. We do not want to jeopardise the case,' he said.

Detectives are investigating whether the parents had been arguing before the crash.

The father and one-year-old son were found at a Beenleigh address about 90 minutes after the incident.

The father was taken into custody. He was charged with related offences, including breach of bail, and is set to face court on Monday.

A bystander (pictured speaking with police) who was travelling behind the Mazda, witnessed the crash and helped the mother and Caden out of the vehicle before taking them to the Police Station

The one-year-old was taken to hospital for observation but is believed not to have been injured. His parents were medically discharged before his father was taken into custody.

Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney said police were looking into any possible domestic violence links.

He added police were still investigating the circumstances of the crash and that further charges could be laid.

'That's not off the table, that's definitely what we are investigating. We're just trying to determine the exact circumstances to what led the vehicle veering off the road,' Supt Mooney said.

'My understanding is the toddler was unresponsive upon arrival (at the police station).

'He was in a bad medical way prior to arrival at the police station and as soon as he arrived, police immediately commenced CPR.

'The mother had called Triple 0 prior to her arrival. The three-year-old has sustained a head injury which has caused his death, I understand.'

Supt Mooney said the mother and the two children had been living on the Gold Coast, while the father was living at Beenleigh.

Police are investigating whether the incident was domestic violence related and the car deliberately crashed

He said the mother had driven to a property on Coral Street in Beenleigh where an associate of the father lived.

The Mazda then left the property at about 4.50am before it crashed ten minutes later.

The motorist who witnessed the crash had been driving behind the Mazda and drove the mother and her three-year-old boy to the police station at her request.

Asked why the child was taken to the police station, Supt Mooney said it was at the mother's request and 'probably because it's the closest available facility'.

Police established four crime scenes including at the crash site and the home where the father and one-year-old boy were found.

A GoFundMe started by the mother's cousin to help pay for funeral expenses had raised more than $2,300 by Sunday night.

'My cousin has tragically lost her three-year-old son in a car accident... a mother's worst nightmare,' the woman wrote.

The father left the scene with the one-year-old, with the pair found at a property about 90minutes after the crash

'As all our hearts are breaking I want to take a little pressure of her by asking for everyone's help to raise some money for his funeral, no mother should have to bury (her) baby, let alone have the stress of worrying about paying for it.

'She's only 22 and has just lost her baby who made her a mum, and her heart is breaking.

'If you could please find it in your heart to help we would all be so appreciative. May our little angel boy rest in peace.'
Vladimir Putin today issued a chilling warning to the West, boasting that Russia now has the 'highest level' nuclear forces in the world as he unveiled his new 'unstoppable' missile which has been dubbed the 'Flying Chernobyl'.

In a stark World War Three threat, the Russian president announced a 'successful' secret test flight on October 21 of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, said to have 'unlimited range'.

Dressed in military uniform, Putin spoke of the weapon during a late-night visit to a war command post, where he was briefed on the Ukrainian frontline by Russias top general, Valery Gerasimov, 70.

As he made his remarks, Russian missiles pounded residential blocks in Kyiv, in a barbaric attack, killing at least three sleeping civilians and injuring nearly 30 others, including seven children.

Defying Donald Trumps latest calls for peace, Putin also revealed details of nuclear war drills carried out by his forces over the past week.

'The modernity of our.nuclear deterrent forces, is at the highest level,' he boasted.

'Well, it would probably be no exaggeration to say that it is at a higher level than all nuclear states.'

He revealed new tests on a missile intended to fly for days at a time and able to counter all current Western defences.

Putin revealed a 'successful' secret flight on October 21 of the Burevestnik doomsday winged rocket which has an 'unlimited range'

In a stark World War Three threat, the Russian president announced a 'successful' secret test flight on October 21

'We're talking about testing the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile with an unlimited range,' he said.

'As far as I understand, the key objectives have now been achieved.'

Gerasimov revealed the Burevestnik - aka Flying Chernobyl - was tested on October 21.

'The missile flew for several hours, covering a distance of 14,000 kilometres [8,700 miles],' he said.

'And that's not the limit. It is nuclear-powered.

'And the technical characteristics of the Burevestnik generally allow it to be used with guaranteed accuracy against highly protected targets at any distance.

'Furthermore, during the flight, the missile performed all the prescribed vertical and horizontal manoeuvres, demonstrating its high capabilities for evading missile and air defence systems.'

It flew for 15 hours non-stop which is 'not the limit', he told a smirking Putin, 73, who first announced plans for the Burevestnik seven years ago.

The previous test in 2022 only lasted two minutes.

He claimed his scientists had done what experts believed impossible in successfully producing the weapon which was tested in the Arctic amid activity by watching Western spy planes.

It is called the 'Flying Chernobyl' because it emits radioactive exhaust due to its unshielded or partially shielded reactor, raising ecological and safety concerns.

The nickname relates to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion in 1986.

He claimed more than 10,000 Ukrainian troops are surrounded in separate locations on the frontline.

Putin admitted the Burevestnik is not yet ready for combat use but aimed to frighten the West as he made clear his troops are continuing the war in Ukraine, with a refusal to put an end date on the conflict.

It flew for 15 hours non-stop which is 'not the limit', the general told a smirking Putin, 73, who first announced plans for the Burevestnik seven years ago

Russian missiles pounded residential blocks in Kyiv, in a barbaric attack, killing at least three sleeping civilians

In Kyiv, fires raged in the high-rises as rescuers sought to save residents from the appalling attack.

The deadly strikes came after Putin's envoy in the US, Kiril Dmitriev, sickeningly sought to blame Ukrainian air defences for strikes on its own civilians.

Putin's drones terrorised ordinary Ukrainian families in several districts of Kyiv, hitting nine-storey and 16-floor towers.

A total of three were killed and 29 wounded. Envoy Dmitriev sought to blame Kyiv for attacks on their own people.

'Sometimes Ukrainian air defence missiles miss their targets,' he claimed.

Against all the evidence, he claimed Russia wants to 'end this conflict as soon as possible'.

Denying Russia deliberately targeted the kindergartens it has repeatedly struck, Putin's man admitted he was 'not a military person'. Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the new attacks.

'Every strike by Russia is an attempt to cause as much damage as possible to ordinary life,' he said.

'These are strikes on residential buildings, on our people, on children, on civilian infrastructure. These are the main targets for the Russians.

'Thousands of strikes with various types of weapons  in just one week, Russia used almost 1,200 strike drones, more than 1,360 guided aerial bombs, and over 50 missiles of various types against Ukraine.'

Trump again stressed he will not waste time meeting Putin who was not seeking peace.

Instead the US has slapped swingeing oil sanctions on Russia, with reports saying more economic punishment is on the way.
The Government was today forced to issue a desperate plea to the public to help them track down the sex attack migrant who was accidentally released from prison.

Hadush Kebatu was set free from HMP Chelmsford in error on Friday just four weeks after being sentenced for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, while being housed at an asylum seeker hotel.

The 38-year-old Ethiopian, whose offences sparked protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping and around the country, was awaiting transfer to an immigration detention centre ahead of his planned deportation, but bungling prison staff freed him instead.

In further embarrassment, it has emerged how prison staff led him away and towards the train station and that Kebatu even attempted to return to prison but was turned away.

The convicted sex offender was filmed in Chelmsford speaking to members of the public before boarding a 12.41pm train to London Liverpool Street.

The Metropolitan Police last night released CCTV of Kebatu in the Dalston area of Hackney just before 8pm. He was also picked up on CCTV at a library in Dalston Square around two hours earlier, wearing a prison grey tracksuit while clutching a white tote bag with avocados on it.

As the hunt descends deeper into farce, Wes Streeting today begged for the public's help in finding the wrongly released sex attacker.

Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the health secretary said the government is 'turning over every stone' to find Kebatu and that there is an 'intensive manhunt' underway.

As the hunt descends deeper into farce, Wes Streeting (pictured) today begged for the public's help in finding the wrongly released sex attacker

A CCTV image issued by the Metropolitan Police (pictured) shows Hadush Kebatu in Dalston, London, on Friday night

The sex offender (pictured) was accidentally freed from HMP Chelmsford on Friday morning by bungling staff after serving just a month of his 12-month sentence for preying on a schoolgirl

'He [Kebatu] was last spotted in east London and so I would appeal to people watching to look at the images of this man to make sure that we're all vigilant and if he's sighted to dial 999 immediately.

'We want him found, arrested and deported.'

He added: 'This man was behind bars because of serious sex offences. He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, what what was supposed to be happening is he was meant to be transferred for deportation.

'So, the idea that he's loose on our streets is incredibly serious. It is a serious failure.'

The cabinet minister admitted that the mistaken release shows something has gone 'spectacularly wrong'.

He added: 'I feel as angry as people watching this morning. You cannot fathom how on earth this has happened. We don't want to prejudge the investigation. We will get to the bottom of exactly what's gone wrong.

'Every single day, there are millions of people working across the public sector doing a great job. And when something like this goes spectacularly wrong, we need to work out how.'

It comes after it emerged that prison officers told Kebatu he had to make it to the removal centre on his own steam.

A delivery driver told Sky News: 'I heard one of the officers saying, 'This is how you get to the station, you go down here...' [he] directed him to the station and said he had to get on a train to get to this place... This conversation was at the front of the prison.'

In what caused further disbelief last night, Kebatu spent more than 90 minutes hanging around outside the prison because he simply did not know 'where to go or what to do'.

The driver, who was delivering equipment to the prison, said: '[The officers] were basically sending him away, saying, 'Go, you've been released, you go'.'

Video footage (above) appeared to capture Kebatu in Chelmsford town centre asking for directions from locals

The debacle has left Labour facing fresh questions about its handling of the migrant crisis.

It comes amid a backlash against efforts to tackle illegal migration after a man who was deported under the 'one in, one out' scheme with France reappeared on UK shores having crossed the Channel again in a small boat.

Tory MP for Epping Forest, Neil Hudson, called Kebatu's release a 'catastrophic mistake' which had 'deeply distressed, upset and angered' the whole community, adding that 'accountability must go right to the top'.

Even after being set free, Kebatu kept going 'back and forth' into the prison reception area seeking help and showing staff a wad of paperwork about his case, according to the driver.

'I'm not sticking up for the guy but in my eyes he wanted to do the right thing and go to the right place,' he said.

'He knew he was getting deported but he didn't know where to go or how he should get there. He kept scratching his head and saying, 'Where do I go, where do I go?''

He added that the officers had no interest in helping him, saying, 'You're released, you're released'.

Kebatu was jailed for a year last month after assaulting his 14-year-old victim. During his trial, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard that he acted 'ignorantly and repulsively'.

The migrant became aroused as he put his hand on the girl's thighs and stroked her hair despite knowing 'full well she was only 14'. He said he wanted to have a baby with her and invited her back to The Bell Hotel, where he was living.

Kebatu then tried to kiss a woman who attempted to intervene, before putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The asylum seeker gave his age as 38 during a court appearance but a judge said he had seen information indicating he was 41.

Met Police Commander James Conway urged Kebatu to give himself up, saying: 'We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way. You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff. The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us.'

He said the asylum seeker had taken 'a number of journeys' across London since his release on Friday and had 'access to funds'.
Prince Andrew's teenage sex accuser Virginia Giuffre was left shaking with fear after having sex with the royal, her ex-boyfriend has claimed.

Anthony Figueroa, who was in a relationship with Ms Giuffre at the time of the allegations in 2001, said he received a call from the 'terrified' 17-year-old just hours after she was allegedly trafficked to Andrew for the first time.

Ms Giuffre alleged that she had sex with Andrew on three separate occasions, including once with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein and eight other young women.

The prince, who reached a financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022, has always denied any wrongdoing.

Ms Giuffre claims she first met Andrew, then 41, in March 2001 after sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell introduced her to him. She says she went to London's Tramp nightclub with Andrew, Epstein and Maxwell where the prince 'sweated profusely'.

In her posthumous memoir, Ms Giuffre claims that she later had sex with Andrew, writing: 'He was friendly enough, but still entitled - as if he believed having sex with me was his birthright.'

Now in a new interview, her then boyfriend Mr Figueroa has revealed how Ms Giuffre was left feeling in the moments after she allegedly had sex with Andrew.

At the time, wild conspiracy theories swirled that Princess Diana had been killed by the Royal Family - fuelling concerns for Ms Giuffre's safety.

Anthony Figueroa, who was in a relationship with Ms Giuffre at the time of the allegations in 2001, said he received a call from the 'terrified' 17-year-old just hours after she was allegedly trafficked to Andrew for the first time. Pictured: Mr Figueroa with Ms Giuffre

Virginia Giuffre photographed with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell in London in 2001

Mr Figueroa, now 43, told The Sun: 'I remember that call clearly. She was terrified. Her voice was shaking the whole time.

'I was also absolutely terrified something would happen to her. We talked about the death of Diana. This man was so powerful, he was literally a prince.'

He added: ''What could I have done? I wasn't in the country. Who would believe me if something bad happened to her?'

Mr Figueroa says he received the phone call in March 2001, the day after Ms Giuffre allegedly had sex with Andrew at Maxwell's London home.

He claims Ms Giuffre 'didn't want to do it' but felt she had no choice because he was a prince in one of the 'most powerful families in the world'. The Daily Mail has contacted Prince Andrew for comment.

His comments come just days after Prince Andrew was forced to drop his royal titles - including Duke of York - amid fresh revelations by the Mail on Sunday which proves he lied about when he cut ties with Epstein.

Andrew told Epstein 'we are in this together' and hoped to 'play some more soon' in an email he sent to the paedophile 12 weeks after supposedly ceasing all contact.

The leaked email provides definitive proof that the Duke lied in his interview with BBC's Newsnight when he claimed he 'never had any contact' with Epstein after the pair were famously pictured walking together in New York's Central Park in December 2010.

The email was sent one day after the Mail first published the infamous picture of Andrew with Ms Giuffre.

Mr Figueroa was with Ms Giuffre when she collected the print from a one-hour kiosk near their home in Palm Beach, Florida. He trashed Andrew's suggestion that the photo of him with his arm around Ms Giuffre was fake.

He also suggested that Andrew has not been punished enough and that simply dropping the Duke of York title is 'nothing'.

The revelation came weeks after the MoS exposed how Sarah Ferguson, then Andrew's wife, wrote Epstein a gushing message calling him her 'supreme friend'  despite telling journalists she would never have anything to do with him again.

The string of MoS exclusives coupled with the publication of Ms Giuffre's memoir from beyond the grave, has heaped further pressure on the Royal Family to sever all ties and raises fresh questions about their future at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Prince Andrew, King Charles III and Prince William attend the Funeral of the Duchess of Kent at Westminster Cathedral on September 16

Andrew is facing mounting pressure to quit Royal Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales move into their nearby 'forever home', it has been claimed.

Royal sources told the MoS that William and Kate want to move into Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park before Bonfire Night.

The eight-bedroom home is just over a mile from Royal Lodge, where Andrew has lived for more than 20 years, and William is said to want his disgraced uncle out of his 30-room mansion by the time they move in.

Negotiations over the prince's living arrangements are taking place on a daily basis amid a public outcry after it emerged he only pays a 'peppercorn rent' on the lavish property.

Andrew cannot legally be evicted from Royal Lodge under the terms of his 'cast iron' lease but Palace insiders believe he will inevitably have to move out because of the scale of public anger.

William and Kate are said to be keen to use the half-term break to prepare their children George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and Louis, seven, for their house move.

A source said: 'Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it. William wants him gone before they start to move in next week. It's not about what Andrew doesn't want to do anymore. It's about what he's going to be told to do.'
Jimmy Carr has praised 'cancelled' writer and comedian Graham Linehan after he was arrested for anti-trans tweets.

The Father Ted and IT Crowd writer, 57, was arrested by armed police when he touched down at Heathrow Airport last month from Arizona in the US and detained on suspicion of inciting violence.

He has since been told he will face no further police action over the social media posts.

Now footage has emerged from Jimmy Carr performing in the US, where he heaped praise on Linehan.

It prompted Linehan to reveal that Carr visited him when he was trying to save his 'marriage and career'.

At a show in Minneapolis as part of his 'Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny' tour, the comedian asked members of the audience to submit questions to him.

One had written: 'Welcome to Minnesota, Jimmy. Do you have any good jokes that would get you arrested at Heathrow?'

Shortly after, another audience member shouted: 'Where's Graham Linehan.'

Performing at a show in the US, Jimmy Carr praised Graham Linehan for his 'bravery'

Father Ted co-creator and gender critical campaigner Graham Linehan says he faces no further police action over anti-trans tweets that saw him arrested at an airport

Carr replied: 'Graham Linehan. I f***ing love Graham.

'Whether you agree with Graham or JK Rowling or not, you have to admit the thing that's in short supply in our society is bravery.

'And he's a f***ing brave guy.

'It's easy now to say men are men, women are women, and there's a very tiny percentage of people that want to live different lives - let them do their own thing.

'But at the time, when he started saying it, it was f***ing incredible that he was saying it - and he gave up everything.

'He lost his family, he lost his career, he lost everything.

'And then he was getting f***ing arrested at the airport. F***ing madness.

'You've got the First Amendment. F***ing cherish it.'

Graham Linehan (above) posted online this photo taken in A&E after he was tested for high blood pressure following his arrest in September 2025 at Heathrow airport

The writer then took to social media to reveal that Jimmy Carr was one of the few comedians to visit him, despite the two not being close friends.

Linehan wrote: 'Delighted that Jimmy Carr has shown support.

'I hope it;s now safe to say that he alone visited me when I was being cancelled and trying desperately to save my marriage and career.

'He wasn't even a close friend, so it was exceptionally kind'.

He then added: 'I couldn't expect him to defend me earlier because the same people who came after me were constantly trying to cancel him.

'They nearly succeeded a number of times so I certainly didn't want his career on my conscience.'

Linehan also later said that the late Sean Lock once 'confided' with him about an Irish comedian who 'took offence to every other joke' on 8 Out of 10 Cats, which Jimmy Carr hosts.

'I'll leave you to guess who it was,' he added.

Mr Linehan, currently living across the Atlantic, later declared he would no longer want to return to Britain after his arrest that was met with fury from high-profile figures such as Harry Potter author JK Rowling who came to his support by branding the detention 'utterly deplorable'.

Linehan, who also co-wrote and directed sitcoms such as Black Books, The IT Crowd and Count Arthur Strong, was detained in relation to three tweets which police deemed to warrant an arrest on suspicion of inciting violence.

The first, from April 20, read: 'If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.'

A second tweet, on April 19, was a picture of a trans rally with the caption: 'A photo you can smell.' The third was a follow-up to this tweet which said: 'I hate them. Misogynists and homophobes. F*** em.'

The writer was heard audibly fuming in disbelief when he was stopped by armed officers at the west London airport.

He told them: 'I'm a f****** comedy writer, I wrote Father Ted. Are you a f****** idiot?... It's just disgraceful.'

When told he was under arrest, Linehan shouted: 'Holy s***, I don't f****** believe it, do you know what this country looks like to America?,' before telling them 'I'm going to sue you into the ground'.

He called the officers 'f****** bastards' and shouted 'how dare you' before they urged him to calm down.

The writer (above) has separately appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month having been accused of harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks

Shortly afterwards, Linehan can be heard saying: 'I'm f****** infuriated. You scumbags are working for f****** arseholes who go into women's toilets.'

After his arrest, the writer claimed he was escorted to A&E 'because the stress nearly killed me' - adding that his blood pressure was recorded at over 200mm Hg by a nurse.

Linehan said he was stopped by five armed police officers, although it is understood this is because they were from the Met's Aviation unit and routinely carry firearms.

The writer has separately appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month, having been accused of harassing transgender activist Sophia Brooks.

Linehan has denied one count of harassing Brooks on social media between October 11 and October 27 last year, and a further charge of criminal damage of their mobile phone on October 19 last year.

The trial was adjourned and will resume on October 29, with Linehan released on bail.

Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk described Britain as a 'police state' in response to Linehan's arrest at Heathrow, while Rowling fumed: 'What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.'
Rachel Reeves's class war plan to hammer wealthy homeowners with a new mansion tax was torn apart by ex-Bank of England governor Mervyn King today.

Baron King lashed out after it was revealed the Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hit those with homes worth more than 2million with a punitive levy in the Budget next month.

Under the proposals revealed by the Mail on Sunday the owners of properties worth 2million and above would face a charge of 1 per cent of the amount by which the property exceeds that value.

That would mean the owners of a 3million property would face a bill of 10,000 every year.

Speaking to Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips the peer, who ran the Bank between 2003 and 2013 said the UK needed more than plans 'written on the back of a fag packet'.

'That is not a coherent tax strategy and you could do a great deal by thinking it through first,' he said.

'Property taxes are an interaction between stamp duty, council tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax.

'You dont solve that problem by just adding another wealth tax to it.'

Property experts condemned the policy as a 'blunt and crude instrument' which would distort the housing market and disproportionately affect older households, while the Tories slammed it as class-based and counter-productive.

The plan is the latest sign that Ms Reeves is preparing a raft of soak-the-rich measures in the Budget  possibly including a manifesto-busting hike in income tax and the slashing of pensioners' tax-free allowances  as she struggles to fill a 40billion hole in the public finances.

Baron King lashed out after it was revealed the Chancellor Rachel Reeves could hit those with homes worth more than 2million with a punitive levy in the Budget next month

Rachel Reeves could hit homeowners with a new mansion tax costing thousands of pounds a year as part of a class war plan being considered for next month's Budget

Previously it has been reported that Ms Reeves could look at a property tax on homes of all values as a replacement for council tax. Analysis of such a plan by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 2020 showed that such a move would soak homeowners in the affluent south

Previously it has been reported that Ms Reeves could look at a property tax on homes of all values as a replacement for council tax.

Analysis of such a plan by the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 2020 showed that such a move would soak homeowners in the affluent south, increasing their tax bill by up to 410 per cent, while cutting average bills in the north and Scotland.

Asked if higher taxes on the wealthy would feature in her crucial statement next month, Rachel Reeves this month said: 'That will be part of the story.' But she denied it would spark an exodus of better-off Britons.

Preparations for the Budget are being led by Treasury Minister Torsten Bell, who worked as Ed Miliband's director of policy when, as party leader, he included the mansion tax in Labour's 2015 general election manifesto.

Under that plan, people with homes worth between 2million and 3million would have paid 3,000 a year in extra taxes, while owners of homes worth tens of millions and second home owners would have paid much higher rates.

The '1 per cent' proposal would be similar to the Liberal Democrats' policy in the 2010 general election, and could raise between 2billion and 3billion for the Exchequer.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: 'Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves promised not to raise taxes, now we know they are planning to do just that. If Starmer and Reeves introduce a so-called mansion tax, they will be punishing aspiration and hitting hard-working people. This isn't fairness, it's class war.

'If Rachel Reeves had a backbone, she'd get a grip of spending  including the welfare bill  instead of raising taxes again and chasing out the very wealth creators our economy depends on.

'Under Labour, nothing is safe  not your job, your home, your savings or your pension. Rachel Reeves will tax your children's future to pay for her failure.'

The plans come as exclusive new polling reveals the collapse in public confidence over the state of the economy.

The survey, conducted by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft and shared with The Mail on Sunday, shows that just 1 per cent of voters think that the economy will fare 'very well' over the next year. Nearly three quarters, 73 per cent, think that it will perform badly.

Exclusive polling (above) conducted by Lord Ashcroft and shared with The Mail on Sunday reveals the collapse in public confidence over the state of the economy

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Mr Stride are preferred over Sir Keir and Ms Reeves in terms of running the economy by 28 per cent to 25 per cent.

The poll also finds that nearly half of all voters, 45 per cent, think that Ms Reeves should not break Labour's manifesto promises over tax.

Introducing a mansion tax would require a complicated and bureaucratic property revaluation, as the current council tax bands are based on the property values of April 1991.

Last week, The Mail on Sunday revealed that Ms Reeves was also considering introducing new council tax bands for higher-valued properties.

Until last year, Mr Bell was the chief executive of the Resolution Foundation think-tank, which proposed a root-and-branch reform of property taxation in the UK. It floated the idea of scrapping council tax and replacing it with a flat charge of 0.5 per cent of a property's value every year.

The foundation also proposed ripping up the current inheritance tax system and replacing it with a new one that levies tax on individual heirs, not estates, with a lifetime tax-free allowance of 125,000, a basic rate of 20 per cent tax on inherited income up to 500,000 and a 30 per cent tax on income of more than 500,000.

Lucian Cook, head of residential research at estate agent Savills, said that a mansion tax targeting homes worth more than 2million was a 'very blunt and crude instrument' that was unlikely to truly target the wealthy.

He said: 'There's a big difference between someone in a 2million house without a mortgage and someone with a sizeable mortgage. So it doesn't necessarily capture net wealth at all.'

Torsten Bell (pictured) is leading the new Budget preparations - he worked for Ed Miliband when he included the mansion tax in Labour's 2015 general election manifesto

Under Bell's 2015 plans, people with homes worth between 2million and 3million would have paid 3,000 a year in extra taxes

He added that it was 'very difficult to get accurate valuations' of properties worth over 2million as such houses tend to be 'quite specific properties, so administering this tax is going to be expensive because any valuation is likely to be contested'.

Mr Cook also said 'older retired households' who had seen the value of their property increase over a long period of time could be caught by the mansion tax but 'not necessarily have the means to pay for it'.

Neal Hudson, founder of housing market data firm Residential Analysts, said the fact a mansion tax was being considered meant the Treasury was likely 'looking at this as a way of raising revenue' and was not 'particularly concerned about the efficiency or fairness of the property market'.

He said: 'There's a danger this will have some fairly negative impacts. The top end of the market has been stagnating for the last decade already as it's been hit by higher rates of stamp duty.

'So this will just depress transactions even more. [The Treasury] might make more money from an ongoing tax but you might find there are suddenly a lot of properties priced just below 2million.'

He also predicted 'lots of legal challenges to work through' as homeowners contested the valuation of their properties if they fell within the threshold of the tax.

'There will be a lot of unhappy estate agents in Central London if it happens,' Hudson added.

A Treasury spokesman said: 'The Chancellor makes tax policy decisions at fiscal events. We do not comment on speculation around future changes to tax policy.'
Two men have been arrested in connection with the 78million Louvre museum heist in France.

Paris police confirmed on Sunday that they were suspected of breaking into the most visited art gallery in the world a week ago.

The men were under surveillance after forensic evidence pointed to them being around the Louvre last Sunday, said the investigating source.

This is common practice after a heist, as police hope suspects will lead them to the stolen goods.

When one of the men was seen at the airport, however, detectives took the 'emergency decision' to make the arrests.

The men were taken to the high-security headquarters of the Paris judicial police, where they were being questioned on Sunday.

Referring to a suburb north of the French capital, an investigating source said: 'They are in their 30s, and come from Seine St Denis.

'One was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport, as he attempted to take a flight to Algeria on Saturday night, at about 10pm.'

The two men, already known to the police for burglaries, have the profile of seasoned burglars who may have being acting to order.

The Louvre burglars left at least 150 DNA samples including fingerprints behind before they fled.

Details of the evidence against the four raiders were revealed by the Paris prosecutor who remained 'optimistic' that they would soon be found.

Laure Beccuau was speaking after the spectacular broad daylight heist on the most visited art museum in the world.

Investigators have been casing the crime scene for DNA

Video, shared to social media, shows two thieves coming down a large ladder by the famous museum in the heart of Paris

She hoped that the criminals had previous convictions, meaning their DNA would already be on forensic data bases, and could be matched.

'Analysis requires time, and is of course a priority for the laboratories,' said Ms Beccuau.

'Work in the coming days may open up leads, especially if the perpetrators are on file.'

The '150 trace samples' were left on a stolen flatbed truck, and on a crash helmet and glove that were abandoned.

There were attempts to set the vehicle on fire, but they failed, as the raiders got away on two motorbikes following a burglary that lasted just seven minutes.

Four raiders were seen at the Louvre last Sunday, and some were videoed by witnesses.

The jewellery taken included a broach containing 2348 diamonds, and a tiara with 1083 diamonds - all of it once worn by relatives of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Five security guards ran away, while police responding to an alarm arrived far too late to see the gang disappearing on two motor scooters.

It was only through luck that the villains dropped a fabulously ornate headpiece created for the Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, for the French capital's Universal Exhibition in 1855.

The treasure was extremely badly damaged and will require months of intricate restoration.

While CCTV cameras inside the Louvre were largely pointing away from the Apollo Gallery - the scene of the crime where seven historic pieces representing France's 'crown jewels' were taken - there was plenty outside.

Ms Beccuau said video surveillance 'made it possible to follow the route taken by the criminals to escape' Paris and 'neighboring departments' [the French equivalent of counties].

This was all thanks to 'images available from public or private cameras' which will be exploited in the days ahead.

Now there is a race against time, to make sure the 'arrest of the perpetrators comes as quickly as possible to recover the jewelry before their stones are possibly removed and the metals melted,' said Ms Beccuau.

She said 'the media coverage' of the theft provides 'a small hope that the perpetrators won't dare to move too much with the jewels,' adding 'I want to be optimistic'.

The world-famous Louvre museum in Paris was hit by a gang who stole jewellery worth millions (pictured: French police officers next to a ladder propped up against the tourist site)

Ms Beccuau has opened an investigation into 'theft and criminal conspiracy to commit a crime,' by a 'highy organised criminal gang'.

If caught and convicted, those responsible face up to 15 years in prison.

The Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police is leading the enquiry, along with the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property.

The Louvre welcomed nearly 9 million visitors in 2024, 80% of whom were foreigners, including hundreds of thousands of people from the UK.

Those stealing historical art pieces are often working to the orders of dealers who will be unable to sell on the black market.

Instead, the jewellery will be kept hidden, and enjoyed by the master criminal who commissioned the raid.

Alternatively, criminals may chose to break the pieces up, and sell jewels and golds independently, so disguising their historic origins.

This is a breaking news, it will be updated soon.
This is the dramatic moment police arrested a man responsible for smuggling up to 300k of drugs into prisons via drones.

In the space of less than a year, Curtis Carney, 36, and his accomplice Robert Stoba, 26, attempted 50 drops with the devices, over six different prisons across the North West of England.

The pair groomed vulnerable women into their crimes, using them to store the drugs and to drive them to the jails, so as not to arouse suspicion.

But they were caught following an investigation by specialist detectives from the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (NWROCU), who stopped ringleader Carney on the M6 in Lancashire in June last year.

Moments before pulling onto the hard shoulder, Carney hurled a large package  which was wrapped in grass to camouflage it - from the car.

Officers found it on the motorway embankment and discovered drugs and mobile phones inside. A drone was also discovered inside the boot of his VW Polo.

Carney was detained, with the arresting officer telling him: No funny business we are on the side of the motorway.

He was questioned and then bailed but not deterred.

Curtis Carney, 36, was arrested on the M6 motorway and jailed for eight years after being caught trying to smuggle 300k of drugs into jails across the North West

Accomplice Ryan Stoba, 26, also received 22 months for his part in the smuggling conspiracy

He was caught attempting another smuggling operation, close to HMP Liverpool four months later and arrested again.

Two more drones were found in his car, as well as four packages, each containing drugs and mobile phones, in the footwell.

Accomplice Stoba was also with him in the vehicle. Investigators linked Carney to other illicit packages that had been previously flown into the prison and they were both charged.

In total, officers seized 11 drones and drugs, including cannabis and ketamine, with a prison value of up to 295,000, during their 10-month inquiry.

They discovered the drones had been involved in more than 50 flights, dropping drugs and mobile phones into HMP Liverpool and HMP Altcourse, both in Merseyside; HMP Hindley, in Greater Manchester; HMP Wymott and HMP Garth in Lancashire and HMP Deerbolt in County Durham.

Last week Carney, of Kirkby, Liverpool, and Stoba, of no fixed abode, were jailed for almost 10 years in total at Liverpool Crown Court.

Carney, who admitted conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison, between April last year and May this year, conveyance of articles into prison, possession with intent to supply a Class B drug in prison, plus dangerous driving was jailed for eight years.

Stoba, who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey prohibited articles into prison, was jailed for 22 months.

Carney was also made the subject of a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO), banning him from using mobile phones and drones for five years on his release. Breaching the conditions of an SCPO is a criminal offence and can result in up to five years imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

One of the 11 drones that were seized by police during their operation

The parcels of drugs (pictured) recovered by police were wrapped in grass to camouflage them

Detective Chief Inspector Dan Clegg, from the NWROCU, said: This case highlights the evolving tactics of organised crime groups.

'Our operation brought together intelligence and resources from across the North West to dismantle a sophisticated network exploiting drone technology to breach prison security.

We remain committed to protecting our communities and prisons from this kind of threat.

Emma Thompson, head of the Corruption, Crime and Policing Unit for HM Prison and Probation Service, said: As this case shows, anyone trying to smuggle contraband into our jails will feel the full force of the law  and we will use every power available to disrupt their criminal activity.
Locals in a regional town have been outraged by a video which exposes the extent of the growing homelessness problem.

Cessnock City Council in the NSW Hunter Region has been under mounting pressure to remove a makeshift camp in the town's main street, in full view of shops and commuters.

Fed-up residents claim HJ Sternbeck Park in Vincent Street - which is supposed to be picnic and rest area for families and local workers - has transformed into a haven for 'junkies' with open-air drug use, sex acts and aggressive behaviour on full display.

Now, a graphic clip recently posted online has become been the final straw for many, with hundreds flooding the comments section to complain and the mayor even forced to respond.

The video depicted a man as he projectile vomited in broad daylight within the homeless encampment while pedestrians went about their day.

'Can lounge around in ya camp in the main street all day, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, spewing, pissing and s***ting in public,' the video was captioned. 'What a town we live in.'

Business owners claimed they had lost customers as a result of the encampment, with families staying away from potential safety risks.

'They've kicked in our windows, they've yelled, they've sworn,' a business owner told NBN News. 'We've had families that refuse to come here now.'

Occupants have been ordered to vacate a homeless encampment at HJ Sternbeck Park in Cessnock (above) by Monday, following safety and drug complaints

The council has announced occupants have been ordered to clear off by 12pm on Monday.

But this was only after many weeks of pressure and finger-pointing between the council, police and Telstra, which owns the land.

'From Tuesday 28 October, Council will start maintenance works (approved by Telstra) and the entire site will be fenced off indefinitely for safety reasons,' federal MP for the Hunter Dan Repacholi said on Friday.

'There'll be no public access while this work is carried out.

'If the site is still occupied on Tuesday morning, Hunter Valley Police District will assist Council to remove the remaining campers so repairs can proceed safely.'

He added fencing will remain at the site for three months and said he initially offered social, health and housing assistance to the occupants but they refused the offer.

Residents argue the plan to clear the area is too little, too late and will only delay or relocate the problem.

'Real help would be finding them a place where they can camp safely, without the constant threat of a move-on order,' one woman wrote.

Hunter MP Dan Repacholi (above) announced occupants will be forced to vacate the site by Monday to allow works to be carried out at the site

'Where will they go? I guess that doesn't matter as long as they are someone else's problem,' another said.

It followed a series of posts by Cessnock Mayor Daniel Watton, who insisted the council had long been asking police and Telstra to intervene.

'It's completely unreasonable and unfair to shift all the blame onto council or its staff,' he wrote on Friday.

'They've worked tirelessly, over a long period of time, doing absolutely everything they can within the limits of what council is legally able to do.'

Police had told him they had no authority to issue 'move on' orders without evidence of unsafe behaviour at the park.

Meanwhile, the land owner was difficult to get a hold of, he claimed.

'Council has repeatedly contacted Telstra, both in writing and by phone, since the beginning of this issue,' Mr Watton wrote.

'Telstra only responded this week, confirming they had previously made complaints to police in August and September but did not receive a reply.'

The offending video was filmed by a pedestrian at the makeshift camp off the main street

Locals claim the incident is only the latest to showcase the extent of the area's homelessness challenge, spurred on by affordability issues and inadequate services.

Earlier this month, Daily Mail reported on the widely commended efforts of 'hero' local father Joel Carroll who spent a day clearing piles of trash, including drug refuse, from a local stormwater drain.

He documented his efforts in a series of posts to social media which drew praise from residents and local representatives.

'The level of rubbish was simply ignored for too long and I couldn't turn a blind eye,' he 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.'

Cessnock has among the highest level of housing stress in regional NSW, with a vacancy rate below one per cent.

Median rents in the region have risen more than 30 per cent in the past five years and social housing is heavily oversubscribed.
TV star Jeremy Clarkson says he hates litterbugs so much he wants to put snipers in trees ready to shoot them dead.

The outspoken 65-year-old Clarkson's Farm star - who runs the 1,000 acre Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire - said he hated people who littered the country with sweetie wrappers and empty juice cans.

The former Top Gear host said his solution was quite simple; don't give them an on-the-spot fine, instead shoot them dead on the spot.

He said: 'You probably have racists and paedophiles at the top of your hate list, but for me it's people who drop litter.

'I am not a believer in the death penalty, but I would make an exception for people who can't be bothered to find a bin.

'Seriously*I would have snipers in trees and on top of bus shelters and there'd be no trials, no arrest, no reading of the rights. Just blam. Bullet in your head and your body dumped into a skip.'

He said it was 'sad' that we are still a 'long way' from simply putting a bullet in the heads of all litterbugs.

The outspoken 65-year-old Clarkson's Farm star - who runs the 1,000 acre Diddly Squat farm in Oxfordshire - said he hated people who littered the country with sweetie wrappers and empty juice cans

Writing in The Sunday Times magazine today, he revealed the scale of the problem, saying: 'The verges round where I live are festooned with the wrappers from milk chocolate Bounty bars and Red Bull cans.

'There is no hedge in the land that doesn't have a fridge in it. '

He also said he regularly finds deflated helium balloons in his woods, and would like to track down the offenders and 'hit the back of their hands with a hammer'.

Clarkson said the 'litter police' who fined Burcu Yesilyurt 150 for pouring the dregs of her coffee down a storm drain in Richmond, south west London, last week should be 'congratulated' on doing their job properly.

He said he reckoned the police should recruit council litter enforcement officers, saying they laid down the law better than cops.

He said: 'These guys are out there. Hard-working. Au fait with the law. And ready to impose it on everyone without fear or favour.

'Imagine if you had these guys, in a proper police uniform, on Oxford Street.

'Those phone thieves wouldn't stand a chance.'

In January, a national survey of 1,140 miles of urban and rural sites in England found that more than nine out of ten contained litter.

Meanwhile a poll of the British public found that three quarters believe the nation's litter problem has worsened in recent years, with seven in ten now noticing litter in their local area daily.

More than half of the 1,737 people surveyed - 52 per cent - said they felt that littering has become normal behaviour.

A national survey of 1,140 miles of urban and rural sites in England found that more than nine out of ten contained litter (file pic)

The survey found that litter not only looks unsightly but also may have negative psychological effects - and harm the country's economy.

When shown an image of a heavily littered street, two thirds of survey respondents (66 per cent) said that they wouldn't feel safe walking there at night, 86 per cent said they would feel embarrassed to live there and almost one in seven (67 per cent) felt that living in such an area would negatively affect their mental health.

Furthermore, almost nine in ten (87 per cent) said they would be discouraged from buying or renting in such a littered area and more than three quarters (78 per cent) believed the high levels of litter would deter business investment.

The report revealed overwhelming public support for prevention measures to tackle the problem, including anti-littering campaigns.

A lack of pride in maintaining local community spaces was seen as a contributing factor to an increasing litter problem by six in ten people (62 per cent).
Tens of thousands of homes across Queensland are without power after severe thunderstorms lashed the state, with wind gusts reaching more than 95km/h.

Energex reported 67, 617 customers were without power in southeast Queensland about 10.30pm on Sunday evening.

Lightning halted play during the rugby league Pacific Cup Men's match between Samoa and Tonga in Brisbane, with spectators moved to shelter as the storm hit.

Residents posted footage of intense hail falling and lightning strikes across Brisbane, Toowoomba and Ipswich, with many reporting damaged properties. Wind gusts of 96km/h were recorded at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane.

Less intense storms were also seen through Victoria and southern NSW. Into the week, rain is forecast for Monday and Tuesday in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

A deep low-pressure system is driving the cold front across the southeast and can be seen rotating clockwise to the south of Australia.

Residents are warned heavy rain could bring flash flooding, large hailstorms and dangerous driving conditions, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Miriam Bradbury said on Sunday.

'We are going to see a severe storm potential through Sunday afternoon and evening across the central parts of Victoria, including much of the greater Melbourne area, pushing up across much of the Riverina of NSW as well,' she said.

Wild weather swept through parts of southeast Queensland on Sunday evening

One house part way through renovation was blown from its foundations in Brisbane

The storm was brief but fierce with more hot weather and rain forecast for the early week

The Victorian chief health officer warned there was an increased chance of epidemic thunderstorm asthma across the state's northern country region.

Epidemic thunderstorm asthma is where a large number of people suddenly develop asthma symptoms over a short period and is thought to be triggered by a combination of high pollen levels and a certain type of thunderstorm.

In November 2016, Melbourne experienced the world's largest epidemic thunderstorm asthma event, overwhelming emergency services and leading to 10 deaths.

Among those affected were people with seasonal hay fever who had never had asthma.

Asthma sufferers are urged to carry their reliever puffers with them at all times.

In Queensland, the storms extended across much of the southeast, including the southeast coast, the Darling Downs and the Wide Bay and Burnett area.

Ms Bradbury warned the Brisbane area, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast were in for a torrid time.

'It's a good idea to be keeping a close eye out for any warnings we do need to issue,' she said.

Lightning halts play during the rugby league Pacific Cup Men's match between Samoa and Tonga at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane

Residents in the city's west reported gold ball sized hail stones

Victoria also experienced brief storms with Melbourne in for more rain on Monday

Damp conditions are expected to linger along much of eastern Queensland next week as a low-pressure trough continues to draw in moisture against the coast.

Tuesday is likely to be the wettest day.
A popular influencer has broken her silence after being accused of heading up a notorious interstate drug smuggling network.

Melissa Said, who boasts 340,000 followers on Instagram and shares content related to cannabis, was arrested in Bahia, Brazil, for allegedly leading a criminal gang involved with the distribution of the drug and money laundering.

Said spoke out on Friday as she vehemently denied being part of the trafficking network, calling her apprehension a 'shame.'

She said: 'It's a shame. No one in the world should be arrested for smoking marijuana,' according to the Sun US.

Local police raided five properties linked to the 23-year-old and her alleged organization. Footage showed Said being taken into custody last week.

Cops arrested three suspected accomplices on Wednesday.

Officers seized electronic devices, cash and found evidence of several suspicious financial transactions during their investigation.

Said spoke out on Friday as she vehemently denied being part of the trafficking network, calling her apprehension a 'shame'

Melissa Said - who posts about her life for a living - is accused of running a drug trafficking ring in Brazil

Authorities believe that the social media personality had suppliers in the states of Bahia and Sao Paolo and that she encouraged the smuggling and consumption of drugs.

She is also believed to have advised her followers on how to evade police while transporting drugs.

Ernandes Jr., director for the State Department for Prevention and Suppression of Drug Trafficking (DENARC), said: 'The objective of this operation is to combat drug trafficking, with the main target being a digital influencer who promotes crime.

'It was discovered that in addition to promoting crime and drug use, she also sells and distributes narcotics in Bahia, with some people from Sao Paulo as one of her suppliers.'

Footage showed Said being taken into custody last week

Investigations into the influencer began in 2024, after she was reportedly caught with drugs at an airport and taken to a police station.

Melissa's last Instagram post before becoming a fugitive was a video in which she discussed the legalization of marijuana while appearing to smoke an unknown substance.
A Florida man who suffered a terrifying shark attack and nearly had his arm torn off has issued a warning to swimmers.

Yosvany Echevarria, 46, said he was snorkeling with friends off the coast of Boca Chita Key on Saturday morning when he was attacked.

Boca Chita Key is a small island part of Biscayne National Park about 20 miles southeast of Miami. The shark bit Echevarria around 11.30am.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the call and transported Echevarria to the Jackson South Medical Center for treatment.

With his left hand and half his forearm wrapped in thick layers of gauze, Echevarria recounted the attack that left him with 27 stitches to CBS News Miami.

'He could have ripped my arm off,' he said. 'I was scared. I was in a lot of pain. We were swimming there by the beach. I was diving in the water and snorkeling, and a shark lunged at me, at my hands.'

Echevarria went on to describe the shark. He motioned with his hands near his chest to indicate the size of the fish and said it was white - but he did not know what species it was.

He said the shark bit him seven or eight times and left him with injuries that required 27 stitches on his arm.

Yosvany Echevarria, 46, said he was snorkeling with friends off the coast of Boca Chita Key Saturday morning when he was attacked by a shark

Echevarria said the shark bit him seven or eight times and he had to get 27 stiches

He and his friends were able to get out of the water quickly because they were close to the shore, and they called for help.

Echevarria said he moved to South Florida from Cuba three years ago and has been snorkeling regularly ever since.

'I love to be out there,' he said, adding that this was the first time he was attacked by a shark and that it will take a long time for him to build enough courage to get back into the water.

After his terrifying encounter, Echevarria issued a warning to fellow swimmers: 'My advice to people is if they are going to get in the water, they need to be careful.

'It could have been much worse. I was lucky it was just bites.'

Florida has had the most unprovoked shark bites in the world for years, according to Florida Museum.

In 2024, the state had 14 recorded shark bites, which made up 50 percent of the US total and 30 percent of the global total.

None of the attacks in the state were fatal, and the 2024 figure is lower than Florida's five-year average of 19 bites.

He said he was lucky the shark did not rip his arm off

Echevarria was attacked off the coast of Boca Chita Key (pictured, island with the lighthouse), which is a small island about 20 miles southeast of Miami

Echevarria was snorkeling near a beach such as this one on Boca Chita Key (stock image)

In April this year, a Florida man was bitten by a shark in an unexpected location - the state's Everglades National Park.

Although the area is more well known for its alligators and alligator attacks, it is also home to several species of sharks, some of which are dangerous to humans.

In August, another Florida man was bitten by a lemon shark after he and his friends pulled it from the ocean and were posing for pictures with it.

In early September, an eight-year-old boy was left fighting for his life after he was attacked by a shark while swimming near Horseshoe Reef, Key Largo in the Florida Keys.
A woman and her four-day-old newborn have died after her boyfriend allegedly strangled her and set fire to their home in New York while the child was still inside.

Kidane Haile, 30, was indicted and arraigned for second-degree murder on October 23 in Erie County after allegedly killing his girlfriend, 29-year-old Kathleen Carrig, and his infant son, Noah, according to the district attorney's office.

District Attorney Mike Keane said Haile 'is accused of intentionally killing his girlfriend prior to the fire,' and added that his office anticipates filing additional charges after further investigation.

'My thoughts remain with the family of these victims as we continue to seek answers and justice,' he said.

The fire and alleged killings took place on October 18. The Buffalo Fire Department was called to an apartment on the city's Norwood Avenue around 8.35am after receiving a report of a fire.

Inside the apartment, firefighters discovered Carrig and her newborn, who were pronounced dead at the scene.

Haile was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. He was discharged on October 22 and taken into police custody because investigators of the fire had quickly deemed it a 'suspicious incident.'

The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office also determined Carrig's death was a homicide caused by asphyxia due to strangulation.

Haile pleaded not guilty in court. Prosecutors expect to file additional charges against Haile for the death of the infant once there has been further investigation

Kathleen Carrig (left) perished in the home. The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office determined Carrig's death was a homicide caused by asphyxia due to strangulation

Noah was four days old and died after Haile allegedly doused the apartment with gasoline and set it on fire

At a press conference, District Attorney Keane accused Haile of strangling his girlfriend to death before using gasoline to set fire to their first-floor apartment while the infant was inside.

The specific cause of death of the four-day-old is still under investigation.

'The people intend to seek charges in respect to an additional victim in this case and intend to file a superseding indictment in the very near future,' Keane said.

Haile was a financial aid advisor at the University of Buffalo. The school released a statement after his arrest that extended condolences to those grieving and said: 'The university is aware of the serious charge against Kidane Haile.

'Although the university cannot comment on specific personnel matters, UB has a robust disciplinary process in place to address instances where an employee may have engaged in criminal activity.'

Haile is being held in the Erie County Holding Center without bail, and a return court date has not yet been scheduled. He pleaded not guilty to his charges.

Carrig was allegedly strangled to death by Haile before he set fire to the apartment

Grieving friends on social media described Carrig as a 'sweet girl' and 'a wonderful person'

The fire and alleged killings took place on the first floor of this building on Norwood Avenue in Buffalo

Kidane Haile, 30, was indicted and arraigned for second-degree murder after allegedly killing his girlfriend, 29-year-old Kathleen Carrig, and his infant son, Noah

If convicted, Haile faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Grieving friends on social media described Carrig as a 'sweet girl' and 'a wonderful person.'

This was not the first time a child has been killed in a house fire intentionally or through negligence.

In July 2024, an Australian father was accused of barricading the doors and setting fire to his house while his seven children were inside. Four of them escaped but three died.

In 2016, a New York mother was charged with causing the death of her toddler daughter who was killed in a fire while the mother was performing at a strip club.

In 2015, a particularly disturbing case similar to Haile's alleged crimes took place. A New Jersey mother was charged with dousing her newborn daughter with accelerant and lighting her on fire.
A migrant has been spared deportation in Sweden after a court ruled the length of the attack on his 16-year-old victim did not constitute as an 'exceptionally serious offence.'

Eritrean refugee Yazied Mohamed, 19, raped Meya Aberg as she walked through a tunnel following her McDonald's shift in Skelleftea. She had unfortunately missed the bus.

The migrant snatched the teen's phone before dragging her into the tunnel where he sexually assaulted her until she managed to free herself.

Ms Aberg's family reported the incident to police however, due to a 'lack of evidence' Mohamed was acquitted of the crime.

And on her first day back at school the teen saw her attacker, with it also being inferred he may have also been a pupil.

Following a hearing at the Court of Appeal, he has been jailed for three years and ordered to pay 240,000 kronor (19,172.40) in damages to the victim.

But despite prosecutors insisting the rapist should be deported, the court rejected their plea.

'Given the nature and duration of the offence, while serious, it does not constitute an exceptionally serious offence warranting deportation,' the court said.

Eritrean refugee Yazied Mohamed, 19, raped Meya Aberg as she walked through a tunnel following her McDonald's shift in Skelleftea (file image)

Under Swedish law, migrants can only be deported if the offence is 'exceptionally serious' and also poses a risk to public safety.

Speaking to local media of her ordeal, Ms Aberg said: 'I want to say that I hate him and that he has destroyed me.'

The decision has been met with furore, with former Chancellor Nadhim Zahawai branding it as 'insanity'.

'An injustice done to the poor girl & her family. A mad judgement, deport this criminal, Sweden wake up!

He added: 'Wrong side of history, if the law is an ass, then change the law.'

Questions about migration have been a contested topic in Sweden.

In 2024 anger over the debate was reignited after it emerged Syrian asylum seeker, Karam Kanjo, 26, was on parole for raping another woman when he attacked an elderly woman as she made her way to her husband's grave.
Real Time host Bill Maher gave a scathing assessment of New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for campaigning 'with a terrorist.'

Maher clashed with Kate Bedingfield, a guest on the show during Friday's broadcast, over fellow candidate Andrew Cuomo's attacks on Mamdani and his association with a 'terrorist.'

Mamdani, who is currently leading in the mayoral race against Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, was pictured with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, 75, an unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that left six dead.

Bedingfield, CNN commentator and former White House communications director under former president Joe Biden, said that comments directed at Mamdani made by Cuomo were 'ugly.'

'I'm talking about what Cuomo's doing, suggesting that Mamdani couldn't be a leader in a terror situation if he were mayor of New York,' Bedingfield said.

Cuomo had claimed, in agreement with a conservative radio host, that Mamdani would 'cheer' if he were mayor during the tragedy of the 9/11 terror attack.

Maher, however, jumped in and said, 'Well, he did campaign with a terrorist this week,' referring to the picture of Mamdani and Imam Wahhaj.

Bedingfield responded: 'He did say it, well, but Cuomo was pretty clear. I thought he talked about that in a way that I thought was ugly.'

Real Time host Bill Maher jabbed at NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for campaigning 'with a terrorist'

Mamdani is currently leading in the polls against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the NYC mayoral race as early voting began this weekend

Last week, Mamdani posted a picture of himself with activist Yusef Abdus Salaam (left) and unindicted co-conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing Imam Siraj Wahhaj (right)

'Well, he campaigned this week with a guy who was an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and served as a character witness for Omar Abdelrahman, the terrorist who organized it,' Maher continued.

'So Sarah Palin used to say, [Barack] Obama palled around the terrorists, which was bulls**t. I just dont know if this is a great look for the party.'

Last week, Mamdani posted a picture of himself with activist Yusef Abdus Salaam and Imam Wahhaj.

Wahhaj was also said to have defended those who plotted the 1993 WTC attack against the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency, whom he said were the 'real terrorists' at the time.

'Today at Masjid At-Taqwa, I had the pleasure of meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, one of the nations foremost Muslim leaders and a pillar of the Bed-Stuy community for nearly half a century,' Mamdani captioned the image.

Cuomo jumped quickly to criticize Mamdani and queried to the New York Post if his opponent was 'proud to be standing with an unindicted co-conspirator in the 93 World Trade Center terror attack that killed New Yorkers?'

'The same person who preaches radical hate toward the LBGTQ community, just weeks after Mamdani was caught posing with a family-friend Ugandan politician who passed a law sentencing gay people to jail for life? When people tell you who they are, you should believe them  and Zohran, wipe that smile off your face,' Cuomo continued.

A report obtained by the New York Post found that Wahhaj had made comments suggesting that queer people should be killed.

CNN commentator Kate Bedingfield debated with Maher over Mamdani's association with Imam Wahhaj and Cuomo's 'ugly' attacks on his mayoral opponent

Wahhaj was found to have made comments defending the plotters of the '93 WTC attack, as well as calling for the deaths of men who engage in homosexual activity

Candidates, Cuomo, Zohran and Sliwa (left to right), during the second NYC mayoral debate on October 22

'And you know, brothers and sisters, you know what the punishment is, if a man is found with another man?' he preached in a 2017 sermon.

'The Prophet Mohammad said the one who does it and the one to whom it is done to, kill them both.'

According to the outlet, the imam also told followers not to launch any attacks against the queer community.

'For Zohran to think that he should be mayor of New York, the capital of acceptance and tolerance and diversity, the city and the state where the gay rights movement was birthed, the place that made history in passing same-sex marriage, the disconnect is so disturbing,' Cuomo added.

Mamdani's opponent's comments were addressed by Maher as well, who pointed out the mayoral candidate's dual citizenship.

'You make it sound like hes a little more mainstream than I think he is. I mean, the issue now that Andrew Cuomo is bringing up in New York is that he is a Ugandan citizen. Ugandas a country where they kill homosexuals,' Maher said to Bedingfield.

Bedingfield then queried to Maher if a person who holds dual citizenship couldn't be mayor of New York, to which Maher said: 'If I was a dual citizen with a country whose policy, government policy, was we kill homosexuals. Yeah, I would renounce that citizenship.'

'I think that is buying into a fear framework that is not good for the country,' Bedingfield snapped back.

Zohran's dual citizenship in Uganda has also raised concerns, considering controversial laws held in the country of his birth

Sliwa said Mamdani's association with Imam Wahhaj is 'disqualifying' and declared that NYC needs a mayor 'who protects them from terrorism'

Despite fellow candidate Curtis Sliwa and Mamdani's apparent allegiance in attacks against Cuomo, Sliwa also condemned Mamdani's association with Imam Wahhaj.

'The fact that Mamdani stands with this imam is disqualifying,' Sliwa said.

'New York needs a mayor who protects New Yorkers from terrorism, not embraces terrorists.'

Vice President JD Vance also quipped in a post on X that he had been 'reliably informed that Democrats are opposed to any kind of political violence' and that he was looking forward to them 'universally condemning Zohran Mamdani for campaigning with an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorist plot that killed 6 New Yorkers.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mamdani and the Masjid At-Taqwa mosque in Brooklyn for comment.
Fake council letters have been sent around families warning them that they will be forced to home refugees if they fly the St George's flag.

The hoax letter said that 'patriotic' households in Gloucestershire which display the flag will be forced to house refugees.

Police have confirmed they are now looking into whether a crime has been committed.

Gloucestershire Constabulary also warned residents not to call a number which was included on the letter.

It said that those displaying the England flag 'would be proud to assist your country'.

The letter wrote that a fictional former British territory in the Middle East called 'Legin' - referring to Nigel Farage with his name spelt backwards - had been taken over by far right extremists.

It said that a muslim tribe known as 'Pha Rage' was being deported, in a play-on-words about the Reform UK leader.

It said residents who agreed would receive a mug with a St George's flag on from King Charles.

A fake letter warned residents who were flying a St George's Flag that they would be forced to provide a home for refugees

Forest of Dean district councillor Alan Preest said the letters were 'childish' and 'silly'.

The Reform UK Councillor said the letters are 'wasting everybody's time'.

He told BBC News: 'It is the vulnerable people that I'm concerned about.'

A council spokesperson said: 'We are aware of a letter that has been sent to residents in the Forest of Dean regarding the housing of refugees.

'Currently, the letter seems to have been distributed to addresses in Lydney.

'We want to reassure residents that this letter has not been written by Forest of Dean District Council and should be ignored.'
An eight-year-old girl was hospitalized after a pit bull attacked her in Hollywood, Florida, on Friday.

Police received reports of a dog attack on the 1800 block of Funston Street around 2.17pm on October 24. A little girl had been bitten by a neighbor's pit bull as she was approaching her apartment with her mother.

The mother, Keyrelly Jean Castro, had just picked up her daughter from school. The eight-year-old, who is autistic, was running from the front gate of the apartment complex to her door.

A neighbor's pit bull was chained up in the courtyard, but it slipped its leash and pounced on the child, biting her face, according to Hollywood police.

In Spanish, Jean Castro told CBS News Miami: 'I looked at the guy and I didn't even open the gate fully and she started running. My daughter. She was over there. And the dog attacked her.'

The neighbor tried to stop his dog by pulling on the leash and wrestling the pit bull after it began attacking the girl, and he was injured in the process.

The little girl was left bloodied and suffered injuries to her face. Witnesses quickly ran over to provide assistance and wrapped her head in a towel.

Hollywood Fire Rescue said she was treated for facial injuries at the scene before she was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Surveillance video from the apartment complex shows the moment an eight-year-old girl was arriving home when she was attacked by a pit bull

The pit bull belonged to a neighbor, and it slipped its leash before pouncing on the girl. The neighbor can be seen in the back left running over to try and stop his dog

The attack left the little girl bloodied and she suffered injuries to her face

Broward County Animal Control took the dog away, and its owner surrendered it to a shelter.

Jean Castro said it was not the first time the pit bull was aggressive. She showed CBS News Miami a video taken last month which showed the dog almost attacking her and her older daughter while they were moving furniture.

She also pointed out that although the dog was leashed, there was enough slack for it to run across the courtyard.

The owner said the five-year-old pit bull was protective but not typically aggressive and that it had met the little girl and her mother before without incident.

The owner, who requested anonymity but told NBC6 Miami that he is a disabled veteran, also told the outlet: 'That was totally out of character.'

'The dog slipped out while I tried to help her out,' he said. 'I asked them not to move - they didnt move, the dog didnt do anything. But the screaming agitated the dog.'

He said that while trying to pull the pit bull from the little girl, it bit his ear and his arm below the elbow. He also said he hurt his leg and head when he fell down the stairs while wrestling the dog.

The owner said that even though believed the dog was 'just trying to protect' him, he felt guilty for the trauma the little girl suffered and agreed to give up the pit bull.

The eight-year-old was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries

The girl's mother, Keyrelly Jean Castro, said it was not the first time the dog had been aggressive

The dog attack occurred at this apartment complex on the 1800 block of Funston Street in Hollywood, Florida

'I cant take that chance anymore. His protection of me could hurt somebody else, and I couldnt live with that,' he said.

According to DogsBite.org, a nonprofit that tracks dog attacks, every day nearly 1,000 US citizens require emergency care treatment for dog bite injuries, and about 12,480 are hospitalized due to their injuries every year.

The nonprofit recorded 63 fatal dog bites 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 between 2005 and 2019, pit bulls contributed to 66 percent of them, and pit bulls and rottweilers combined contributed to 76 percent of them.
Asylum seekers will be housed by over 90 per cent of councils by the end of the year, documents from the Home Office have revealed.

This summer it was disclosed that 82 per cent of local authorities were housing migrants, but that number will rise to 92 per cent by the end of 2025.

Another 40,000 people are set to be given homes in London, southern England and the East of England, as Labour attempts to close migrant hotels across the country.

The current plans have enough space for 46,640, with a further 66,000 in need of 'dispersal accommodation' - which includes houses, flats and bedsits.

The Home Office is reportedly considering using more military bases and abandoned buildings to home the asylum seekers instead of hotels.

The Service User Demand Plans which were drawn up by the Home Office have revealed how many migrants are set to be housed in each region.

In the North West of England, there is supposed to be 13,486 people living in dispersal accommodation.

However the records show that there are 17,218 living there, with a further 1,809 in the queue for a home.

Nine in Ten councils in the UK will be housing migrants by the end of the year, Home Office documents have revealed

The West Midlands is also set to overtake its target of 10,944, as 9,086 have already been housed with another 4,930 on the waiting list.

In contrast in the South East, there are supposed to be 14,092 people living in homes but there are only 3,118 - with an extra 12,032 in the queue.

In London, the Home Office needs to find another 12,206 homes for migrants on the waiting list.

Five of the 12 regions are under half the target number of homes needed for the asylum seekers.

Shadow Housing Secretary Sir James Cleverly told the Sunday Express: 'Labour promised to end the illegal migration crisis. Instead, nearly every council is being forced to host asylum seekers.

'That means more young unemployed men housed at taxpayers' expense in communities across the country.

'What's more, this all means greater pressures on social housing at a time when many British nationals are struggling to find affordable accommodation.'

Home Office Minister Alex Norris said in a letter to MPs: 'The plans consider a range of factors, such as the availability of housing, the presence of other supported Home Office cohorts, the capacity of the local authority to meet user needs (e.g. GP availability) as well as broader social considerations like homelessness and social cohesion.

It was revealed this week that pre-fabricated buildings could be used to house migrants

'As of July 1, 82 per cent (297) of local authorities and districts are accommodating service users.

'Among the 64 that do not currently provide accommodation, a further 36 local authorities are projected to have estate by the year's end, increasing national coverage to 92 per cent.'

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The government is furious about the number of illegal migrants in this country and in hotels.

'That is why we will close every single asylum hotel  saving the taxpayer billions of pounds.

'We have already taken action  closing hotels, slashing asylum costs by nearly a billion pounds and exploring the use of military bases and disused properties.'

It comes as it was revealed that pre-fabricated homes could be used to house the homeless as part of a new scheme which could see new Portakabin 'villages' erected on brownfield sites across the country amid Britain's spiraling migrant crisis.

The Portakabin company is currently in talks with almost a dozen councils about setting up mini estates of temporary homes in areas with dwindling housing stock.

This week it emerged that Portakabin could finalise deals in the coming weeks with as many as 11 local authorities to build bespoke temporary flats in their area in a bid to ease the nation's homelessness crisis.

And more controversially, the company suggested it could be open to talks with the Home Office to house migrants in its temporary homes as a cheaper alternative to the Government's current unpopular strategy of holding asylum seekers in hotels and converted army bases.
Federal agents caused an uproar in a Chicago neighborhood after tear gas poured onto the streets just moments before a local kids Halloween parade.

The agents, said to have been with Border Patrol, descended onto the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Saturday morning at around 9.50am to arrest a suspect - ahead of a local Halloween parade that was taking place just around the block.

The Old Irving Park Association Halloween Parade and Party was set to kick off at 10am on Saturday morning, beginning at the Disney II Magnet Elementary School.

But, before the parade could begin, locals said they began hearing 'whistles' before the arrest of three people took place on the 3700 block of North Kildare Avenue.

Resident Brian Kolp told Fox 32: '[I] started hearing some whistles and when I looked out I saw two fully uniformed Customs and Border Patrol agents tackling a guy to the ground literally in my front yard right here.'

The man who was detained had been working on a nearby home when he was chased on foot and arrested on the street outside of Kolp's home. His brother told the outlet he was an undocumented immigrant who had been brought to the US when he was four years old.

The scene escalated as angry locals poured out of their homes and began blowing whistles and protesting the agents' presence in the neighborhood. It was at this point the federal agents tossed tear gas onto the crowd.

North Kildare Avenue, specifically the 3700 block, was mapped as part of the Halloween parade taking place just around the corner.

Locals are in uproar after federal agents deployed tear gas on a block in Old Irving Park just minutes before a children's Halloween parade was set to begin just blocks away

Resident Brian Kolp said he began hearing whistles before he saw the arrest of a man as well as his elderly neighbor thrown to the ground and detained

The scene escalated as angry locals poured out of their homes and began blowing whistles and protesting the agents' presence in the neighborhood

The parade began at the elementary school and looped down North Keeler Avenue before coming back up North Kildare three blocks over, where the tear gas was deployed.

'So you had folks who were literally out on the street taking their kids to this Halloween parade when this happened,' Kolp told the outlet.

'And I didn't see anybody with a weapon. I didn't see anybody make physical contact with these agents. I didn't see anybody do anything that justified, for instance, taking my 70-year-old neighbor to the ground.'

Kolp told Fox 32 that the neighbor in question was also taken into custody, the second of the three total who were detained during the incident.

The former Cook County prosecutor told the outlet that he picked up some of the canisters used by the federal agents and gave them to a law firm that is preparing to sue the federal government.

'Although I wasn't close to where they used the [tear] gas, I never heard them announce they were going to use it,' Kolp told WGN-TV.

'It was an upsetting situation for a lot of people. There are kids on the block right now, there were kids on the block when it happened.'

Around thirty minutes later, the agents were said to have got back in their cars and drove away.

Kolp said he picked up the canisters and took them to a law firm that is preparing to sue the federal government

The Halloween parade's route was set to walk up the street where the agents deployed the tear gas

The agents arrested at least three people on Saturday morning before the tear gas was set off around 9.50am as angry locals took to the streets

While the parade went ahead, many elected to stay home instead, according to Fox 32.

State Representative Lindsey LaPointe wrote on Facebook that the agents appeared in the neighborhood with 'force and aggression' on Saturday morning.

'They tackled neighbors and area landscape workers, detained what we believe to be four people (including a US Citizen area resident, and a US citizen cyclist) and deployed tear gas. These actions are harmful, traumatic, illegal and uncalled for,' LaPointe wrote.

The state representative said she appeared on the scene after the tear gas had dissipated and began handing out whistles and Know Your Rights information, along with Alderwoman Cruz's Office and the Mayor's Office for Immigrant Rights.

'Many of us are appalled, horrified and angered by these federal actions. But many of us are also heartened that neighbors care and are coming together - showing up for each other, sharing information and making it clear that none of this is okay and none of this is normal,' she continued.

'After everything had cleared, many neighbors walked the block after seeing info on social media, showing up because they care.'

Many Old Irving Park locals shared their anxiety and anger over the incident on Facebook.

On a post by the OIPA, one resident said: 'One of my fears is walking outside with my mother who is 83 and her getting tear gassed.'

Protestors hold signs protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Little Village, Chicago IL on Saturday

Another user shared the representative's post and described the incident as a 'gut-punch.'

'Its much worse. This one honestly has me in tears, its such a gut-punch. This is just around the corner from our last home in Chicago, a neighborhood that I truly loved and where I really thought wed live out our days,' they wrote.

'We had incredible neighbors, many who had lived there for generations, were invested in the community, and looked out for each other. HOME. When I think of Chicago and home, this is the neighborhood I picture.

'Im so proud of my former neighbors for doing what they always do, keeping each other safe, and Im devastated that Im not there to support them. ICE is terrorizing our communities. THIS is the truth about what is actually happening.'

One user claimed the agents had been 'hanging around' for around two to three weeks in the neighborhood.

'I am hearing parents don't even want to take kids to school and even doctor visits,' the wrote. 'They are also hanging around by the Jewel parking lot by Six Corners too. This is going to start causing a public health emergency if it continues.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, the Old Irving Park Association and the Chicago Police Department for comment.

The uproar comes as a judge indefinitely extended her temporary restraining order against National Guard troops being deployed in the Chicago area.

Members of the National Guard patrol along Beale Street on Friday in Memphis, Tennessee

On Wednesday, US District Judge April Perry blocked the deployment of troops until the case has been decided either in her court of the US Supreme Court Intervenes.

Perry had already blocked their deployment for two weeks with a temporary restraining order.

Attorneys representing the federal government said they would agree to extend the order but emphasized that they would continue pressing for an emergency order from the Supreme Court that would allow for the deployment.

'Every day this improper TRO remains in effect imposes grievous and irreparable harm on the Executive,' Solicitor General Dean John Sauer wrote in a Supreme Court filing Tuesday.

Lawyers representing Chicago and Illinois have asked the Supreme Court to continue to block the deployment, calling it a 'dramatic step.'
A family in West Virginia were left baffled after four sisters were diagnosed with the same rare brain condition one after the other.

Paul and Ashlee Higginbotham were shocked after their youngest daughter was diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a rare brain condition, at just 18 months old.

But their nightmare was only just beginning as four of their six children would receive the same diagnosis.

Chiari malformation occurs when the lower part of the brain doesn't fit inside the skull, and instead bulges out of the opening between the skull and the spinal cord.

Most patients are born with the malformation, which occurs in one in every 2,000 people, while its cause currently remains unclear.

Dr David Harter, director of pediatric neurosurgery at NYU Langone, told CBS News that it puts pressure on the brain and spinal cord and can cause symptoms such as weakness of the limbs, difficulty breathing, scoliosis, headaches and nerve pain.

The condition, if left untreated, can result in lifelong pain as well as paralysis and nerve damage.

The Higginbotham's youngest daughter, Austyn, was diagnosed with the condition after her behavior struck the parents as odd.

Four of the Higginbotham's six children were diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a condition where the lower portion of the brain cannot fit in the skull

Paul and Ashlee Higginbotham were left baffled after four of their six children received the rare diagnosis

Aubrey, seven, was the third daughter who received the diagnosis and underwent surgery by Dr Jeffrey Greenfield (pictured right)

Her mother, Ashlee, said Austyn was 'never content... never smiling, never laughing' and had mild developmental delays and a tremor.

Through genetic testing, Austyn was diagnosed with the rare condition where she was found to have had severe compression in her spine and a spinal fluid blockage.

'That moment when Austyn's MRI results came up on my screen and we read the diagnosis of Chiari malformation - that was the moment our world was flipped upside down,' Ashlee told the outlet.

The family travelled from West Virginia to New York City and Austyn underwent brain surgery.

Dr Jeffrey Greenfield, a pediatric neurosurgeon at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, told the outlet that in cases involving young patients, like Austyn, surgeons can only remove some of the bone.

The procedure is intended to allow the brain more space and restore flow of spinal fluid, Greenfield told CBS News.

The surgery in March 2023 changed Austyn, as Ashlee said that her daughter woke up 'ready to go.'

'She was trying to get out of bed, she was trying to walk. She was smiley. It was like the pain she'd always felt was gone, and the pain of surgery didn't match what she'd always felt,' Ashlee continued.

Ashlee Higginbotham said, upon their eldest becoming the fourth diagnosed, that they had a 'You've got to be kidding' moment, as only ten percent of cases are linked genetically

Most patients are born with the malformation, which occurs in one in every 2,000 people, while its cause currently remains unclear

'She was just ready to run laps around the ICU. When we did the follow-up with Dr Greenfield, I told him, "You gave me her laugh."'

But their joy was quickly dimmed after Austyn's follow up appointment ended in another diagnosis of Chiari malformation in their three-year-old daughter Amelia.

Imaging revealed that Amelia was also suffering from a tethered spinal cord, which is seen in about five percent of patients diagnosed with Chiari malformation, and occurs when the spinal cord attaches to surrounding tissue.

In October 2023, Amelia underwent the Chiari malformation surgery as well as a procedure to snip her tethered spinal cord.

Paul told CBS News that sitting in the waiting room was 'just as nerve wracking as the first time.'

'It feels like days that you're just sitting there, waiting to see what the outcome is,' he added.

Their second daughter who was diagnosed with Chiari malformation also recovered quickly, but it was then seven-year-old Aubrey who was struck by the condition.

The Higginbothams said Aubrey became moody and began getting frequent urinary tract infections before they pieced together what was happening.

'I remember driving down the road, and it just clicked in my head. I was like "Oh my gosh, I need to get an order for an MRI. She needs to be checked for a tethered cord,"' Ashlee said.

'She was our happy kid, and it was like one day she woke up and was different, like a flip of a switch, and we were losing her. I wish I would have thought of it sooner.'

Aubrey, like Amelia, was diagnosed with Chiari malformation and a tethered spinal cord and underwent surgery in November 2023.

The seven-year-old recovered quickly like her younger sisters, but then 11-year-old Adalee began experiencing severe leg pain that had been worsening for years.

Adalee, like her sisters, was subsequently diagnosed with Chiari malformation and a tethered spinal cord.

'It was such a blur of "You've got to be kidding,"' Ashlee said. 'You hear of people having one or two kids, but four?'

Greenfield told the outlet that only about ten percent of Chiari cases are linked genetically.

He said he felt 'a little bit of disbelief' as the Higginbotham daughters were diagnosed one after the other.

Ashlee said their big family is now enjoying the 'new normal' with their house full of happy, smiling children free from constant chronic pain

Adalee received surgery for her tethered spinal cord, but not the Chiari malformation which wasn't presenting symptoms. Harter told the outlet that doctors typically won't operate unless necessary, but will continue to monitor the patient.

After four cases in their family, the Higginbotham's two eldest children were screened for the malformation but did not have the condition.

Austyn, now older, underwent a second successful surgery in February 2025.

Ashlee said their big family is now enjoying the 'new normal' with their house full of happy, smiling children free from constant chronic pain.

'[Dr Greenfield] gave us our family back, and that is the most amazing gift anyone could get,' Ashlee told the outlet.

'Some days we weren't sure how things would ever get better for our girls... It's been a whirlwind, but we're thankful we are where we are today.'
Britain is paying firms with links to the Chinese government at least 15million a year to run three asylum seeker hotels in Britain, it was claimed today.

Hotels in Cheshire, Kent and Cardiff used to house migrants are ultimately owned by businesses close to the Communist regime.

They are among 442 assets and interests owned by Chinese individuals, businesses and state-backed groups in the UK which have a combined value of some 190billion.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of this value, some 51.3 billion, is directly controlled by groups tied to Beijing, the Sunday Times reported today.

It includes the former Royal Mint site in London earmarked for the country's controversial new embassy.

It also has stakes in Heathrow Airport, power and water utilities and almost 30 public schools, an investigation found.

Two Holiday Inns in Warrington, Cheshire and Ashford, Kent, have been block booked to hold asylum seekers, and were subject to protests earlier this year, the paper reported.

The brand is owned by the Kew Green Group, which is itself owned by the state-run China Tourism Group Corporation.

A third hotel in Cardiff is run by Campanile, which is ultimately owned by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. Both firms have been contacted for comment.

It comes at a time when the UK's complex relationship with China is firmly in the spotlight.

The UK has 442 assets and interests owned by Chinese individuals, businesses and state-backed groups which have a combined value of some 190billion, including the former Royal Mint site in London earmarked for the country's controversial new embassy

Two Holiday Inns in Warrington, Cheshire and Ashford, Kent, have been block booked to hold asylum seekers, and were subject to protests earlier this year. The brand is owned by the Kew Green Group, which is itself owned by the China Tourism Group Corporation

Labour is mired in a row over the collapse of a criminal case against two British men accused of spying for Beijing, with claims evidence was weakened to avoid a flashpoint with an economic powerhouse.

Labour is mired in a row over the collapse of a criminal case against two British men accused of spying for Beijing, with claims evidence was weakened to avoid a flashpoint with an economic powerhouse.

Last week security Minister Dan Jarvis told MPs furious at the collapse of the prosecution of Chris Berry and Chris Cash that 'where we are able to co-operate economically, where it is in our national interest to do so, we should proceed'.

But he also said that 'fundamentally, our national security comes first.'

Last night China threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Britain unless Keir Starmer supports its ownership of Taiwan.

Beijing's ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, said that the 'key to ensuring the sound and steady development of UK-China relations' depended on Britain accepting that 'Taiwan has never been a country' and that Taiwan 'belongs to China'.

Zeguang said that Britain made an 'unequivocal commitment' to defend China's ownership of Taiwan when relations were established with the People's Republic of China in 1972, and stressed that the deal must not be forgotten.

Britain has long acknowledged China's claim on Taiwan without endorsing it.

Beijing considers Taiwan  a democracy of 23 million people that has been governed separately from China since 1949  to be a breakaway province, and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.

China puts military pressure on Taiwan by sending warships and aircraft near the island almost daily.

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party reject Beijing's assertions and maintain that Taiwan is a sovereign country whose future should be decided by its people.

'We hope that the UK government will honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972...and handle Taiwan related issues prudently', Zeguang told The Telegraph.

In response to Zeguang's comments, former security minister Tom Tugendhat said: 'Beijing's attempts to distort international law, including claims that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 confers dominion over Taiwan, should be resisted. These are rightly matters for the Taiwanese people to determine. Using economic coercing to force others to submit does not make it legal'.
The Ethiopian sex-attack migrant who was mistakenly freed from prison will be deported from Britain in the coming days, the Government confirmed today.

Hadush Kebatu was arrested by four officers inside Finsbury Park, north London, at around 8.30am on Sunday, bringing a nationwide manhunt to an end after a humiliating blunder saw him let loose on the streets for three days.

Justice Secretary David Lammy today visited Wood Green Police Station to thank the officers for detaining Kebatu and confirmed the migrant would be 'deported this week', branding the blunder 'totally unacceptable'.

When pressed by reporters on why Kebatu could not be deported on tonight's flight from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, the deputy PM said: 'It is right that he is questioned by the police following his route from Essex into London.

'It's right that we get to the bottom of what's happened over those 48 hours, but I can assure you that he will be deported as he was expected to be deported. I expect that to happen this week.'

Mr Lammy then shamelessly appeared to pin the blame on the Tories while being quizzed on why 262 prisoners were released in error between March 2024 and 2025 - a 128 per cent rise from 115 the year before.

He said: 'You will know that we inherited a system that was collapsing, in which the previous government was releasing people early without any scrutiny at all, in which officers were cut and there are a lot of junior officers in the prison system.

'All of that needs a close look at to ensure the public are safe - and certainly that foreign nationals that commit offences and should not be in the country are absolutely deported back to where they are from.'

Kebatu was set free from HMP Chelmsford in error on Friday just four weeks after being sentenced for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl and a woman in Epping, Essex, while being housed at an asylum seeker hotel.

The 38-year-old, whose offences sparked protests outside The Bell Hotel in Epping and around the country, was awaiting transfer to an immigration detention centre ahead of his planned deportation to Ethiopia, but bungling prison staff freed him instead.

Justice Secretary David Lammy today visited Wood Green Police Station to 'thank the officers' for detaining Kebatu in his constituency area and confirmed the migrant would be 'deported this week'

This is the moment Hadush Kebatu (second from left) was arrested by Met Police officers in Finsbury Park, north London on Sunday. He was seen wearing a dark puffer jacket with a black and grey hoodie, jeans and grey trainers

Video footage (above) appeared to capture Kebatu in Chelmsford town centre asking for directions from locals on Friday, while wearing his prison tracksuit

After his release, the convicted sex offender is understood to have returned to prison but was repeatedly turned away by guards who instead directed him to Chelmsford train station.

Kebatu was filmed in Chelmsford town centre speaking to members of the public before boarding a 12.41pm train to Stratford, east London. He was wearing his prison-issue grey tracksuit and a clear bag filled with his belongings.

By Friday evening, Kebatu had made it to the Dalston area of Hackney, where he was spotted wearing the same prison tracksuit while clutching a white tote bag with avocados on it. He was seen walking up a staircase at a library in Dalston Square at around 6pm and was spotted again two hours later.

His movements on Saturday are unclear but the Met Police confirmed today that he was finally caught in Finsbury Park on Sunday morning, three days after being mistakenly freed. He will now be returned to prison and later deported.

In a picture of his arrest, Kebatu was seen wearing a dark puffer jacket with a black and grey hoodie, jeans and grey trainers. It is not clear when Kebatu changed his outfit but he was reportedly handed a 76 discharge grant when he was freed.

The Met confirmed a member of the public saw someone matching Kebatu's appearance at a bus stop near Finsbury Park Station at 8.03am. The force deployed officers and found Kebatu inside the park, close to the entrance opposite Finsbury Park Road, at 8.19am.

He was then arrested for being unlawfully at large.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said today: 'Hadush Kebatu has been arrested and will be deported. Officers have worked quickly and diligently to bring him back into custody. We have ordered an investigation to establish what went wrong. We must make sure this doesn't happen again.'

Mr Lammy has ordered the 'immediate strengthening of release checks and a full investigation into what went wrong'.

Confirmation of the arrest came shortly after Wes Streeting had begged for the public's help in finding the wrongly released sex attacker.

Speaking on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, the health secretary said the government had been 'turning over every stone' to find Kebatu.

'He [Kebatu] was last spotted in east London and so I would appeal to people watching to look at the images of this man to make sure that we're all vigilant and if he's sighted to dial 999 immediately.

'We want him found, arrested and deported.'

He added: 'This man was behind bars because of serious sex offences. He is not meant to be in this country. In fact, what what was supposed to be happening is he was meant to be transferred for deportation.

'So, the idea that he's loose on our streets is incredibly serious. It is a serious failure.'

The cabinet minister admitted that the mistaken release shows something has gone 'spectacularly wrong'.

He added: 'I feel as angry as people watching this morning. You cannot fathom how on earth this has happened. We don't want to prejudge the investigation. We will get to the bottom of exactly what's gone wrong.

'Every single day, there are millions of people working across the public sector doing a great job. And when something like this goes spectacularly wrong, we need to work out how.'

It comes after it emerged that prison officers told Kebatu he had to make it to the removal centre on his own steam.

A delivery driver told Sky News: 'I heard one of the officers saying, "This is how you get to the station, you go down here..." [he] directed him to the station and said he had to get on a train to get to this place... This conversation was at the front of the prison.'

In what caused further disbelief last night, Kebatu spent more than 90 minutes hanging around outside the prison because he simply did not know 'where to go or what to do'.

The driver, who was delivering equipment to the prison, said: '[The officers] were basically sending him away, saying, "Go, you've been released, you go."'

Kebatu was arrested by Met officers in the Finsbury Park area of London at around 8.30am this morning

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Footage shows Kebatu being bundled into the back of a police van after being arrested in Finsbury Park

As the hunt descended deeper into farce, Wes Streeting had begged for the public's help in finding the wrongly released sex attacker

The debacle has left Labour facing fresh questions about its handling of the migrant crisis.

It comes amid a backlash against efforts to tackle illegal migration after a man who was deported under the 'one in, one out' scheme with France reappeared on UK shores having crossed the Channel again in a small boat.

Tory MP for Epping Forest, Neil Hudson, called Kebatu's release a 'catastrophic mistake' which had 'deeply distressed, upset and angered' the whole community, adding that 'accountability must go right to the top'.

Even after being set free, Kebatu kept going 'back and forth' into the prison reception area seeking help and showing staff a wad of paperwork about his case, according to the driver.

'I'm not sticking up for the guy but in my eyes he wanted to do the right thing and go to the right place,' he said.

'He knew he was getting deported but he didn't know where to go or how he should get there. He kept scratching his head and saying, "Where do I go, where do I go?"'

He added that the officers had no interest in helping him, saying, 'You're released, you're released.'

Kebatu had been spotted walking through Chelmsford, Essex, after his accidental release from prison

Kebatu was jailed for a year last month after assaulting his 14-year-old victim. During his trial, Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard that he acted 'ignorantly and repulsively'.

The migrant became aroused as he put his hand on the girl's thighs and stroked her hair despite knowing 'full well she was only 14'. He said he wanted to have a baby with her and invited her back to The Bell Hotel, where he was living.

Kebatu then tried to kiss a woman who attempted to intervene, before putting his hand on her leg and telling her she was pretty.

The asylum seeker gave his age as 38 during a court appearance but a judge said he had seen information indicating he was 41.

Met Police Commander James Conway urged Kebatu to give himself up, saying: 'We want to locate you in a safe and controlled way. You had already indicated a desire to return to Ethiopia when speaking to immigration staff. The best outcome for you is to make contact directly with us.'

He said the asylum seeker had taken 'a number of journeys' across London since his release on Friday and had 'access to funds'.
Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping have finalized a deal to transfer TikTok to new owners after a years-long struggle over the social media app.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CBS News's Face The Nation that the two world leaders will 'consummate' the deal when they meet in Korea on Thursday.

'All the details are ironed out,' Bessent said as he delivered the news on Sunday.

He refused to divulge any further details about who the new owner of the app will be.

Bessent said: 'We reached a final deal on TikTok. We reached one in Madrid, and I believe that as of today, all the details are ironed out, and that will be for the two leaders to consummate that transaction on Thursday in Korea.'

He noted that he wasn't part of the 'commercial side of the transaction.'

This marks a historic end to the power struggle over the app - which has quickly become one the world's most popular social media platforms.

Meanwhile, US - China trade tensions appeared to cool Sunday before the leaders' upcoming meeting, with each side saying a deal was nearing between the world's two largest economies.

Donald Trump and China 's Xi Jinping are seen in Florida in 2017. The two world leaders are expected to meet in Korea on Thursday

The agreement marks a historic end to the power struggle over the app - which has quickly become one the world's most popular social media platforms. Pictured: A demonstrator holds a 'Keep TikTok' sign outside the US Supreme Court in Washington

Any agreement would be a relief to international markets even it does not address underlying issues involving manufacturing imbalances and access to state-of-the-art computer chips.

Beijing recently limited exports of rare earth elements that are needed for advanced technologies, and Trump responded by threatening additional tariffs on Chinese products.

The prospect of a widening conflict risked weakening economic growth worldwide.

Chinas top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, told reporters that the two sides had reached a 'preliminary consensus,' while Trump's treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, said there was 'a very successful framework.'

Trump also expressed confidence that an agreement was at hand, saying the Chinese 'want to make a deal and we want to make a deal.'

The President reiterated that he plans to visit China in the future and suggested that Xi could come to Washington or Mar-a-Lago, Trump's private club in Florida.

Bessent also told Face the Nation that the threat of additional higher tariffs on China was 'effectively off the table.'

In interviews on several American news shows, he said discussions with China yielded initial agreements to stop the precursor chemicals for fentanyl from coming into the US, and that Beijing would make 'substantial' purchases of soybean and other agricultural products while putting off export controls on rare earths.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed that he has ambitions to run for president in 2028.

When asked if he was seriously considering a campaign for the White House, Newsom said: 'Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise. I'd just be lying. And I can't do that.'

It's the clearest indication thus far that the firebrand Democrat, and staunch political enemy of the Trump administration, has his eyes on the Oval Office in 2028.

Newsom spoke to CBS News Sunday Morning about his ambitions, but continued to shy away from fully committing himself to the liberal ticket for the next election.

The 6'3ft Californian, 58, said he'd leave it to 'fate' to work out a reason for a national candidacy.

Newsom is no stranger to the political spotlight - and has used his voice to heavily critique Trump since his inauguration earlier this year.

This month, Newsom announce he was suing the Trump administration after his National Guard officers were deployed in another US state.

In a statement, Newsom confirmed he was seeking legal action against the administration over the use of his state's National Guard in Portland, Oregon.

Newsom's comment is the clearest indication thus far that the firebrand Democrat, and staunch political enemy of the Trump administration, has his eyes on the Oval Office in 2028

California Governor Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, attend a black-tie dinner in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC

He said: 'We're suing Donald Trump. His deployment of the California National Guard to Oregon isn't about crime.

'It's about power. He is using our military as political pawns to build up his own ego. It's appalling. It's un-American. And it must stop.'

The president deployed 300 personnel from California into the city after a federal district court blocked his attempt to federalize Oregon's own National Guard.

And last week, Newsom posted a crude, censored take on the Time Magazine cover photo that made Donald Trump furious.

Trump called the photo celebrating his achievement in brokering a peace deal between Israel and Hamas 'the worst of all time' in a late Truth Social post.

Social media was set on fire with reactions to the photo ranging from those agreeing with Trump's concerns about looking bald, while others simply mocked the president.

Some even said Trump had displayed a 'turkey neck.'

Newsom, whose social media team has desperately attempting to troll the president by mimicking his online style, reposted the photo with Trump's neck blurred out to censor it.
It once topped the list for the 50 Worst Places to Live in the UK over a decade ago.

A book titled Crap Town described Hull as a 'sad story of unemployment, teenage pregnancy, heroin addiction, crime, violence and rampant self-neglect.'

But now, it has skyrocketed to landing a spot on the National Geographic's top 25 best global destinations in the world.

In the last ten years, the city has 'significant[ly]' improved, according to the publication.

And in 2017 'underrated' city was named the UK City of Culture, and has been recognised for its cultural site such as the Spurn Lightship and the Arctic Corsair.

Elsewhere its Maritime Museum has been granted a 27.5million renovation to highlight the city's 800-year seaside heritage - and is due to open its doors in 2026.

Resident Susan Hogan, who has travelled 79 countries and has visited the likes of Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro and Hawaii think the city 'holds its town'.

Susan Hogan is enjoying an autumnal stroll around Hull Marina  and her Disney T-shirt is apt.

She told The BBC: 'The only thing the city is missing is a big, yellow ball in the sky!'

In 2025, a book titled Crap Town described Hull as a 'sad story of unemployment, teenage pregnancy, heroin addiction, crime , violence and rampant self-neglect.'

But now, it has skyrocketed to landing a spot on the National Geographic's top 25 best global destinations in the world

Elsewhere council leader Mike Ross has been left thrilled by the city's recent accolade, branding it a 'powerful recognition of how far' the city has come.

He added the recognition highlights the 'incredible work' taking place across Hull, including the revitalisation of museums, historic ship and the Marina.

'It's a testament to the passion and dedication of our communities, cultural partners and everyone working to make Hull a place people want to visit, explore, and return to,' he added.

However, some residents have been left 'shocked' by the recent tile bestowed on to the northern city, with local Terry Cook, 66, saying he wouldn't have been so blown away had it only been a list for the UK or England.

And while fellow residents Doreen Barnes and her husband Ken were both surprised were also shocked, they spoke of how their home has 'so much to offer.

'The museums are fantastic  and free. It has beautiful buildings. Where we are now is beautiful,' Mrs Barnes said while looking out across the sea.

Sixty-year-old Sean was left 'baffled' by Hull's place on the worldwide list, describing the town he has lived in for nearly four decades as 'not intimidating'.

'That may not sound like praise but some larger cities, like Leeds and Manchester, can feel quite intimidating. Hull has a big town feel rather than a big city vibe,' he said.

Sitting near the Murdoch's Connection, a footbridge extending from the A63, said Hull had a real sense of community.

Recalling how the place has transformed in the 25-years he has lived there, he noted how the nearby award-winning aquarium was a great place to take children.

His partner Danielle Mullan added: 'This is my favourite place in Hull. On a day like today, the sun shining, looking out at the boats, you could be anywhere.'
Two burglars suspected of stealing 76million-worth of jewels from the Louvre were under arrest in Paris today after trying to escape to Africa.

The men, who have not been named, were taken into custody a week after the spectacular seven-minute heist at the worlds most visited art museum.

Both in their 30s and from the French capitals northern suburbs, had been under surveillance thanks to forensic evidence left behind at the crime scene.

Their DNA is thought to be among 150 traces left behind, including on a flatbed truck with an extendable ladder that was used to get up to a first-floor window.

When one was seen heading to Paris Charles De Gaulle airport at around 10pm on Saturday, so as to get a flight to Algeria, investigators took the decision to swoop.

There was a coordinated operation by armed officers to arrest the man, who was well known to the authorities, said one.

This action was considered an emergency, despite hopes that the men would lead those watching them to the stolen jewels.

The second suspect was said to be on his way to Mali, the west African country, when he too was apprehended.

French police officers stand next to a furniture elevator used by robbers to enter the Louvre Museum, on Quai Francois Mitterrand, in Paris on October 19, 2025

Investigators were seen at the Louvre after it was placed into lockdown

Neither Algeria or Mali, which are both former French colonies, have extradition treaties with their former Imperial masters.

Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor who is leading the investigation into the Louvre heist, was furious that news of the two arrests had been made public.

She said: I deeply deplore the hasty disclosure of this information by informed individuals, without consideration for the investigation.

This revelation can only harm the investigative efforts of the hundred or so investigators involved in the search for both the stolen jewellery and all the perpetrators.

Despite this, Laurent Nunez, Frances Interior Minister, took to X to write: I extend my warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly as I requested and who have always had my full confidence.

The investigations must continue while respecting the confidentiality of the inquiry under the authority of the specialised interregional jurisdiction of Paris prosecutors. It will be with the same determination !! We keep going !!

It is common practice for suspects to be placed under surveillance following a heist, as police hope suspects will lead them to the stolen goods.

But the French authorities confirmed that there was no sign of the so-called Louvre crown jewels.

The men were taken to the high-security headquarters of the Paris judicial police, where they were being questioned on Sunday.

Four raiders were seen at the Louvre last Sunday, and some were videoed by witnesses.

The jewellery taken included a broach containing 2348 diamonds, and a tiara with 1083 diamonds  all of it once worn by relatives of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Five security guards ran away, while police responding to an alarm arrived far too late to see the gang disappearing on two motor scooters.

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It was only through luck that the villains dropped a fabulously ornate headpiece created for the Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, for the French capitals Universal Exhibition in 1855.

The treasure was extremely badly damaged and will require months of intricate restoration.

Jewellery that was left behind by the Louvre burglars has since been transferred to the Bank of France.

The collections of the historic Apollo Gallery were deposited in the Banks main vault, which is buried 85feet (26m) underground, along with Frances gold reserves.

The ultra-secure space is also home to the 500million notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, who painted the Louvres most famous treasure  the Mona Lisa.

The Louvre welcomed nearly 9 million visitors in 2024, 80% of whom were foreigners, including hundreds of thousands of people from the UK.

Those stealing historical art pieces are often working to the orders of dealers who will be unable to sell on the black market.

Instead, the jewellery will be kept hidden and enjoyed by the master criminal who commissioned the raid.

Alternatively, criminals may chose to break the pieces up, and sell jewels and golds independently, so disguising their historic origins.
A high school senior in Colorado who was banned from decorating her personal parking space with Christian imagery and messages has accused the school of violating her First Amendment right to free speech.

Sophia Shumaker was barred by Rampart High School from painting her space with 'a shepherd on a hill, a staff and a sheep, along with a Bible verse,' according to a demand letter sent to the school on October 22.

She was also later denied a request for a more subtle inclusion of an abbreviated verse, '1 Cor 13:4,' along with a new design that 'was otherwise not religious.'

The Bible verse she wanted to reference is one of the most recognizable in the faith: 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.'

In response to the denials, the senior enlisted the help of the First Liberty Institute, which is 'the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty for all Americans,' according to the firm's website.

On behalf of Shumaker, First Liberty sent a demand letter to Rampart High School and Academy School District 20 that asserted messages in senior parking spaces are private speech and therefore cannot be denied for being religious.

The letter noted that the school's policy includes guidelines for senior parking spaces that 'prohibit messages that the district deems, offensive, negative, rude, gang-related, political, religious, or trademarked images.'

It also highlighted the policy that if a student's first design is deemed 'unacceptable' by the school, the student has just one chance to change it before forfeiting their spot.

Sophia Shumaker, a senior at Rampart High School, was barred from decorating her parking space at the school with religious imagery

After her religious designs were banned, Shumaker settled on painting a group of fish with one swimming against the crowd, a design she said quietly represents her faith

The original design Shumaker wanted to paint was a shepherd on a hill with a staff and sheep, along with a bible verse

First Liberty countered those guidelines by pointing out Academy School District 20's inconsistent policies across schools in the district.

The demand letter said: 'While Rampart High School bans religious messages on the parking spots as a matter of policy and practice, several schools throughout Academy School District 20 allow religious messages.

'The districts inconsistent policies demonstrate that the seniors messages on the parking spots in Academy School District 20, including those at Rampart, are private speech, not government speech. Therefore, the district cannot deny Ms. Shumakers private, religious speech without violating the First Amendment.'

The claim that Shumaker's First Amendment right was violated began brewing in August, when the senior's first proposed religious design for her parking space was denied.

In an attempt to amend the design and make it acceptable to school guidelines while still being in line with her religious values, Shumaker asked if she could just include an abbreviated verse in the parking spot along with a neutral design.

She texted a teacher to ask if that would be allowed, and the teacher allegedly discouraged her, saying: 'Yeah, no abbreviated verse. Not sure if it would get approved. Let me ask.'

The demand letter said Shumaker was afraid the second design would be rejected and she would forfeit her spot, so she told the teacher she would use a different one.

She ultimately painted a group of fish with one swimming against the crowd, a design she said quietly represents her faith.

The fish symbol was used by early members of the Christian faith as a way to discretely tell others they were believers, especially during periods of intense persecution under the Roman Empire.

A statement from First Liberty Institute said Shumaker 'has every right to express her faith. What she displays on her parking spot is her private speech.

Seniors at Rampart High School are allowed to decorate their parking spots, but the school has strict guidelines about what is allowed

First Liberty Institute provided these examples of parking spaces with religious imagery painted by students at other schools in the district to highlight inconsistencies in policies

'Students dont give up their First Amendment rights at school. A students private religious expression is constitutionally protected even when it occurs on school property.'

The demand letter concluded by calling for the district to reverse Rampart High School's denial of Shumaker's religious designs and to permanently remove its 'unconstitutional policy.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Rampart High School for comment.

Shumaker told KKTV 11 News, 'My identity, everything about me, is through Christ. I just wanted that to be represented in my parking space.'

First Liberty Institute said Shumaker was inspired by another client, Sabrina Steffans, whom the firm represented in a similar case.

Steffans, another high school senior, was allowed to paint her parking space with religious imagery after First Liberty represented her and was able to reverse the rejection of her designs at a school near Buffalo, New York.

Shumaker said she hopes her story encourages other students to stand up for what they believe in.
Chocolates from Vladimir Putin with his rants emblazoned on them such as 'it's better to hit first' were presented to US officials today.

In a bid to sweeten up senior Trump officials, Putin's emissary, Kirill Dmitriev, presented them with a box of sweets called 'Great words of a great man'.

Inside one of the wrappers is a line which boasts of the Kremlin ruler's record of killing anyone he labels a terrorist.

'It is God's job to forgive terrorists, my job is to send them to him,' says the Putin quote written in Russian on the wrapper.

Another read: 'When a person stops getting surprised, it's time for him to go to the cemetery.'

Putin has sent more Russians and Ukrainians to their deaths than any Soviet leader since Stalin.

However, his public relations machine now aims to sugar coat his image for Americans, even though the sayings struggle to hide his thuggish tendencies.

'If need be, we can teach those who need [to be taught] a thing or two,' one read.

Chocolates from Vladimir Putin (pictured with Kirill Dmitriev) with his rants emblazoned on them such as 'it's better to hit first' were presented to US officials today

Inside one of the wrappers is a line which boasts of the Kremlin ruler's record of killing anyone he labels a terrorist.

Another said: 'The law has to be obeyed always, not only when you're grabbed by a certain place' and 'If a fight cannot be avoided, it's better to hit first.'

While one chocolate menacingly inferred a philosophy which had led to the current conflict with Ukraine, 'The borders of Russia are not limited.'

'We're ready for any challenge that time presents - and to win it,' one message read, while another said: 'The fewer teeth you have, the more you like porridge.'

The final quote said: 'Russia is not getting angry, Russia is getting focused,' reads the final quote.

One one box there was a sticker which described dialogue with the use of force in relation to Russia 'is pointless.'

While a second box of sweet treats features the Kremlin despot's face and a caption reading 'We don't leave ours behind.'

Dmitriev was sent to the US on a mission to persuade the Trump administration to withdraw new oil sanctions which are seen as likely to clobber the Russian economy.

The chocolates were described as a 'gift' within the 'framework' of Russian-US dialogue.

It is unclear that his chocolate diplomacy has so far swayed the White House.

It comes as Putin issued a chilling warning to the West, boasting that Russia now has the 'highest level' nuclear forces in the world as he unveiled his new 'unstoppable' missie which he is caling it 'Flying Chernobyl'.

In a stark World War three threat, the Russian president announced a 'successful' secret test flight on October 21 of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, said to have 'unlimited range'.

In a bid to sweeten up senior Trump officials, Putin's emissary, Kirill Dmitriev (pictured), presented them with a box of sweets called 'Great words of a great man'

The chocolates were described as a 'gift' within the 'framework' of Russian-US dialogue.

Dressed in military uniform, Putin spoke of the weapon during a late-night visit to a war command post, where he was briefed on the Ukrainian frontline by Russias top general, Valery Gerasimov, 70.

As he made his remarks, Russian missiles pounded residential blocks in Kyiv, killing at least three sleeping civilians and injuring nearly 30 others, including seven children.

Defying Donald Trumps latest calls for peace, Putin also revealed details of nuclear war drills carried out by his forces over the past week.

'The modernity of our.nuclear deterrent forces, is at the highest level,' he boasted.

'Well, it would probably be no exaggeration to say that it is at a higher level than all nuclear states.'

He revealed new tests on a missile intended to fly for days at a time and able to counter all current Western defences.
A community leader declared 'no face, no case' as he flogged 5 balaclavas to his 'Muslim brothers' before appearing on stage at a counter-protest in response to a planned UKIP march.

The UK Independent Party (UKIP) was banned from staging a demonstration in Tower Hamlets, east London, which has the largest percentage of Muslim residents anywhere in the UK.

Instead, large groups of masked Muslim youths took to the streets on Saturday vowing to be 'ready to defend their community'.

Many young men dressed in black, with hoods up and their faces covered, could be seen as Bangladesh and Palestine flags were waved at the demonstration on streets where UKIP had originally intended to march.

New footage has now emerged of one of the protest leaders selling balaclavas ahead of the march, which had sparked major concerns from locals.

The social media businessman, who goes by 'Big Fish', is seen wearing one of the masks as he asks protesters to make sure they are prepared for the demonstration.

Suggesting protesters should cover their faces to avoid being identified by police, he said: 'No face no case.' He added: 'What's going on my people? In all our shops... this Saturday inshallah if you guys need it, 5 each. My brothers, please start buying them now as I don't want you to come the day before and found out we have run out.

'I want to be able to facilitate this for the ends, inshallah. I've got this one as I don't like the other ones, it makes Muslims look like criminals, you know with the eye, none of that. Please my brothers come and start buying it now so I can get more stock in to facilitate everyone for the day... get them on.'

This is the community leader who was flogging 5 balaclavas for his 'Muslim brothers' ahead of the protest against UKIP on Saturday

Members of the Bangladeshi community dressed in all black took to the streets to oppose a far-right march which was banned from entering Whitechapel on Saturday

Members of the Bangladeshi community praying during a counter demonstration outside an east London Mosque

The video was posted in an east London Facebook group where residents voiced major concerns about the planned demo.

One local wrote: 'I want to raise awareness about a troubling video that has surfaced. It features a man wearing a balaclava and saying, no face, no case. He appears to be selling these balaclavas, and the tone of the video is concerning, as it seems to encourage intimidation and inciting violence on our streets.'

They added: 'While I do not support UKIP or their views, Im left wondering why there appears to be talk of balaclavas and violence this weekend if the event has been cancelled. Why is this individual promoting behaviour that could incite fear or violence in our community?'

Another said: 'The public has a right to know why masked men will be on the streets. As I would not feel comfortable allowing a lady to walk among mobs of masked men.'

In another video, he is seen shaking hands and hugging controversial Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman. 'The police might have said it's been cancelled or whatever, but like the mayor said we still want you there,' he says.

Mr Rahman is a divisive figure who was struck off as a solicitor and once banned from standing in election for five years after a specialist court found him guilty of vote-rigging and religious intimidation.

He was re-elected the independent mayor of Tower Hamlets in May 2022 and is still widely respected by many in the community.

Locals said their video together 'raised questions about the context of their interaction and what message it may be sending.

On Saturday, 'Big fish' shared several posts of himself at the Tower Hamlets demonstration. In one video, he is seen standing on stage holding a large Bangladeshi flag as a masked protester next to him delivers a speech to the crowd.

In another, he is seen with a group of masked protesters saying: 'I'm here with all the brothers behind me... Here not for violence or hate, we are here we to stand ground on our own area which is Tower Hamlets.'

The counter-protest took place in Tower Hamlets, while UKIP's planned demo was moved to central London.

One protester at the Whitechapel demo took to a microphone promising to 'stand firm' in defending their community from far-right protesters.

'They came specifically targeting Islam,' he said. 'They said, "we are coming on a crusade", they said "we need to take back our streets".

'We stand firm to let them know if you come, we will stand firm and will be ready to defend our elders, to defend our women, to defend our community.

'We have never once said we were going on crusades or going into your areas to cause you problems.

'You are coming into our homes and you want to cause us problems. What is wrong with us standing up?

'Today is a day we unite,' he said to a crowd chanting a series of messages in Arabic.

'Big fish' posted several videos from the demonstration which took place in Whitechapel

In another video, he was seen shaking hands and hugging controversial Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman

'Big fish' is seen on stage as a masked protester delivers a speech with a megaphone

'They came specifically targeting Islam,' the man said while speaking into a microphone. 'They said, "we are coming on a crusade", they said "we need to take back our streets"

'Today is a day we unite,' he said to a crowd chanting a series of messages in Arabic

On Tuesday, the Met had imposed restrictions on the UKIP demonstration, banning supporters from entering the borough of Tower Hamlets in a bid to prevent 'serious disorder' and instead directing them to Marble Arch.

Left-wing counter-protesters were told to continue their protest as planned in Whitechapel and not enter areas of central London where the UKIP march would be taking place instead.

But at the Marble Arch meeting four left-wing protesters, believed to be supporters of campaign group Stand Up To Racism, were arrested by Met Police officers in Hyde Park Corner after defying the police ban in an attempt to confront UKIP protesters.

Elsewhere, outside the London Oratory, a Catholic church in Kensington, 75 UKIP activists gathered at 1pm before their march towards Marble Arch, with many holding Union Jacks, crosses and signs reading 'Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain'.

They were led by UKIP leader Nick Tenconi, carrying a banner which read 'Islamist invaders not welcome in Britain' while others at the protest carried wooden crosses.

They could be heard chanting, 'hail the nation, deportation and send them home,' as well as 'who's the King of Britain? Christ is King!'.

Tenconi also rejected allegations of fascism, telling protestors that his grandparents had fled fascist Italy.

Attending the protest was TV personality Narinder Kaur, who was pictured being led away by police officers after she confronted far-right protesters

She took to Twitter (formerly X) after the incident, writing: 'Love how they were more interested in me than little Nick from Ukip.

'They tried to get me arrested but managed to just get the police to protect me.'

TV personality Narinder Kaur is led away by police officers after she confronted far right protesters

Masked men took to the streets of east London vowed to 'defend their community' against far-right protesters

A masked man standing with a megaphone in Whitechapel on Saturday

The turnout of people in the community opposing UKIPs demo comes after restrictions prevented the group marching in Whitechapel

A wedding guest was also left irritated by the demonstration due to marchers 'massively disrupt[ing] proceedings' outside a church.

'The bride is just shattered,' he added.

UKIP protest attendee Martin Ponting, 45, said the march was about 'sending a clear message'.

'We live in a two-tier country. Why couldnt we be in east London?,' he said. 'But were here instead and weve had enough.'

A counter-protest, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and other local groups, amassed from 12pm in Whitechapel, east London

The Met imposed restrictions on the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) demonstration, banning supporters from entering the borough of Tower Hamlets in a bid to prevent 'serious disorder'

Protesters pass by Harrods with a banner during a march organised by UKIP

Around 75 people turned up to the UKIP rally, which set off from the London Oratory in Kensington

Supporters of UK Independence Party (UKIP) wave flags during a march in London on October 25

Supporters of UK Independence Party (UKIP) gather for a march in London on October 25

A man waves a large Union Jack flag at a march in support of UKIP on Saturday

Earlier this week, Met imposed Public Order Act conditions on UKIP demonstrators, preventing them from holding the protest anywhere in the borough of Tower Hamlets on Tuesday.

Previously, the force banned the demonstration from its planned site in Whitechapel, an area with a large Muslim population, with officers saying there was 'realistic prospect of serious disorder'.

The march is part of a series of events taking place across the UK which were promoted as a 'mass deportations tour', with organisers calling on attendees to 'reclaim Whitechapel from the Islamists', UKIP's X profile said.
SNP ministers have been accused of putting public safety at risk after ditching tougher rules on fireworks ahead of Bonfire Night despite fears of public disorder.

The Scottish Government confirmed its groundbreaking laws to licence the buying of fireworks and restrict sales to a few days a year had been abandoned.

The Scottish Conservatives warned of a repeat of the disgraceful violence of recent years, while Scottish Labour called it farcical.

Firefighters were bombarded by bricks, bottles and fireworks as they responded to more than 1,000 emergency calls on Guy Fawkes Night last year.

Rampaging yobs struck in Clydebank, Glasgow, West Lothian and in multiple parts of Edinburgh, where a police helicopter was deployed amid significant disorder.

As part of a crackdown on the abuse of pyrotechnics, the SNP previously promised to license their purchase by late 2023 or early 2024.

Legislation passed in 2022 but later paused was also meant to limit sales to selected days.

But SNP community safety minister Siobhian Brown said the Government would not progress either plan in order to focus resources on frontline police and fire services.

Riot Police in Niddrie, Edinburgh, last year as fireworks, rocks and glass bottles werethrown at them

Thugs set off fireworks in Edinburgh during disorder last year

Scottish Tory MSP Sharon Dowey said: We warned that the SNPs bungled fireworks bill was unworkable  and public safety is being put at risk as it unravels.

Police officers, firefighters and terrified residents should not have to suffer scenes of disgraceful violence every year, so SNP ministers must explain to them why they have ditched this key promise.

Holyrood passed the Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act three years ago, with an SNP minister hailing it as groundbreaking legislation which would address the harm and distress fireworks can cause.

It gave councils the power to ban fireworks from control zones, but ministers later paused other parts of the law, including a ban on selling fireworks for most of the year and a permit scheme to buy them, blaming a squeeze on Holyroods budget.

In 2023, an SNP minister told Holyroods criminal justice committee there would only be a slight delay to the licensing system.

But the Scottish Sun reported Ms Brown, who last year assured MSPs she was working to a timeline of early 2026 for fireworks licensing, has now dropped the plans altogether.

Scottish Labour justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said: This farcical U-turn shows the SNP has no idea what it is doing.

The SNP has wasted everyones time and made a mockery of the Scottish Parliament by asking all parties to vote for a scheme they had no idea how to implement.

Police Scotland previously seized illegal fireworks worth up to 100,000 in West Lothian

Police night vision cameras caught youths running wild and hurling fireworks in Edinburgh last year

This is yet another SNP promise that has been quietly dumped  but not before wasting time and public money on a damp squib.

The SNP must now set out how it will maintain public order and keep communities safe on Bonfire night this year.

Independent MSP Ash Regan, who piloted the law through Holyrood as an SNP minister, said: Its not good enough to bring in legislation that isnt brought into force.

The Government should have prioritised getting this scheme up and running.

Communities across Scotland will be very angry at the lack of action when the same anti-social issues that have blighted our communities are evident again this year.

Ms Brown said: We have introduced a number of measures to improve firework safety, including a ban on providing fireworks to under-18s and making attacks on emergency workers using fireworks an aggravating factor that courts can take into account when sentencing offenders.

We are focusing our resources on frontline public services, including police and fire. As a result, we will not progress plans to implement a fireworks licencing scheme or restrictions on the days on which fireworks can be supplied and used.
It may be a long way from her childhood home in the United States.

But Star Wars: Ahsoka actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead has claimed that life in rural Scotland with husband Ewan McGregor is heaven to me.

The Hollywood stars have been renovating an 18th century mansion in Perthshire, close to where the Obi-Wan Kenobi actor grew up in Crieff.

Land Registry documents show that McGregor, 54, bought the Perthshire country pile, complete with ten bedrooms and a billiards room, in May 2023 for 2.35million.

Now his wife Mary, who is currently filming the second series of Ahsoka, has opened up about life in Scotland with McGregor and their son Laurie, four.

The 40-year-old said: As much as I love working and as grateful as I am, I had a weekend last week which was very wholesome, very simple, and I was like, If I could choose what heaven is going to be, this is heaven for me.

Just being at our house and cooking... picking apples and being outside and being in nature... its just perfect.

Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is enjoying life in rural Perthshire

Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ewan McGregor at the Ewan McGregor Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony last year

However renovating the 18-acre property has not been without controversy, with McGregor previously forced to lodge retrospective plans to revamp the water-damaged home and install CCTV cameras.

The star was accused of carrying out unauthorised works on the C-listed building.

But Perth and Kinross Council later gave his plans the go-ahead, which included a replacement garage, a new master bedroom and a bathroom suite.

The actor spoke last year of his joy at moving back to Scotland, saying: I never saw it coming... You just reach an age when its time to go home.
A British man has been detained by American immigration officials for his 'support of terrorism,' according to a top US immigration official.

Sami Hamdi describes himself on X as a commentator on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) issues, and an advisor to companies and stakeholders, as well as the Managing Director at the International Interest.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin shared Sunday that Hamdi's 'visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal.'

McLaughlin also added in her X post that, 'under President Trump, those who support terrorism and undermine American national security will not be allowed to work or visit this country, adding 'it's commonsense.'

He was arrested by ICE at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning.

Hamdi frequently posts anti-Israel content on his social media, and has featured on reputable TV stations speaking about his opinion on Hamas and the conflict in the Middle East.

On October 15, he appeared on Sky News saying: 'Given Trump has imposed a ceasefire on the reluctant Israelis after reportedly engaging directly with Hamas, and is being lobbied by Turkey to establish an international force in Gaza, Israel is exploring how to go back to war without offending Trump.'

Hamdi often cites his opinion that Netanyahu does not want the war in Gaza to end.

Hamdi's visa was revoked and he is in ICE custody pending removal

Ten days after the October 7 Hamas attacks, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis, Hamdi was filmed encouraging people to 'celebrate the victory' of the terrorist organization.

'Celebrate the victory! Allah has shown the world that no normalization can erase the Palestinian cause,' Hamdi said ten days after the worst loss of life for Jews in a single day since the holocaust.

'When everybody thought it was finished, it's roaring! How many of you feel it in your hearts? When you go the news that it happened, how many of you felt the euphoria? Allahu Akbar! How many of you felt it?'

Hamdi has previously been banned from speaking at two universities in Canada after his comments came to light.

The announcement comes as the White House is reportedly unhappy with the pace of deportations.

A Friday report from the New York Times notes that per DHS, more than 400,000 deportations have taken place during the second Trump administration thus far.

That number is said to be short of Stephen Miller's target of 3,000 per day, currently averaging between 1,000 to 2,000 daily.

By the end of the yearaccording to DHSTrump is presently on pace to deport 600,000 illegal immigrants, short of his 1 million goal.

That New York Times story quotes McLaughlin as saying that 'the Trump administration continues to be focused on delivering results and removing violent criminal illegal aliens from this country,' adding that 'as for personnel, there have been no changes, and we have nothing to announce.'

Hamdi's arrest happened four days after a report by Amy 'Mek' Mekelburg - founder and editor-in-chief of Rise Align Ignite Reclaim (RAIR) - was published, which identified him as a security threat.

The British commentator was arrested by ICE at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday morning

Mekelburg described Hamdi as 'not a journalist passing through America' but 'a deployed actor from an overseas cadre system that grooms Western Muslims for on-shore mobilization.'

She additionally noted that Hamdi has promoted extremist figures, 'praised Hamas hostage-taking as mercy', and appeared 'alongside some of Americas most aggressive Islamic agitators, militant imams, and groups with documented terror-linked histories.'

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described Hamdi's detainment as a 'blatant affront to free speech.'

CAIR additionally noted that 'our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots; this is an Israel First policy, not an America First policy, and it must end.'
Reform UK has overtaken Labour and moved into second place in the race for Holyrood, with a poll predicting Nigel Farages party will win 22 MSPs.

Survation put Reform second on both the constituency and list votes for the first time, as the party gained in popularity last month while the SNP and others went backwards.

The survey of more than 2,000 Scots showed the SNP still likely to be the biggest party at next Mays election, but with fewer MSPs.

If correct, it would shatter John Swinneys plan for a second independence vote, as the First Minister has insisted only another SNP majority can deliver a referendum.

Modelling by pollster Mark Diffley said the survey translated into 55 MSPs for the SNP, down nine on their 2021 result, and 10 short of an outright majority.

Challenging the SNP hard and tipped to become the offiical opposition at Holyrood, Reform would get 22 MSPs, up from zero at the last election, Labour 19 (down 3), the Tories 12 (down 19), the Liberal Democrats 11 (up 7), and Greens 10 (up 2).

The poll was first reported in the Herald on Sunday.

Mr Diffley told the paper: This is the first poll in Scotland to show Reform UK in second place on both the constituency and regional list votes.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has overtaken Labour in Scotland, according to the poll

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar

It consolidates the trend we have seen over the past year, with the party averaging around 20 per cent support and now edging ahead at 22 per cent.

They seem to be pushing Labour further back into third place, which is a clear problem for Labour.

Reform came a close third in the Holyrood byelection in Hamilton June with 26.1 per cent of the vote, and second in last weeks Senedd byelection in Caerphilly with 36 per cent, ahead of Labour.

Reform only has one MSP at present  Tory defector Graham Simpson - but the proportional system used for Holyrood elections means it could pick up large numbers of list MSPs with even modest support.

Mr Farage told The Herald on Sunday: We are pleased with our progress in Scotland as we plan for the election next May.

Commissioned by the IPPR thinktank for its 10th anniversary conference this week, the poll showed the SNP leading the constituency vote on 34 per cent, followed by Reform on 22, Labour 18, the Tories 10, Liberal Democrats 8 and Greens 7.

On the regional list, the SNP had 29 per cent, Reform 20, Labour 17, the Tories 12 and the LibDems and Greens 10.

Compared to a Survation poll last month, the SNP were down two points on the list and three on the constituency vote, while Reform were up four on both.

Labour and the Tories each dipped slightly, while the Greens edge upwards.

The survey also found 80 per cent of Scots worried about the affordability and long-term future of public services

Just 41 per cent were optimistic about Scotlands future, against 34 per cent pessimistic.

IPPR Scotland director Stephen Boyd said the results were unsettling.

He said: The growth of anti-establishment politics has its roots in voters growing belief that government does not deliver. That feeling is fed by overambitious targets and promises on the one hand and a lack of realism about tax on the other.

A Scottish Conservative spokesman said: These figures are further evidence that voting Reform will only help John Swinney remain in power.

The public are scunnered with disconnected politicians. Under Russell Findlays common-sense leadership, we are focused on economic growth to generate more money for schools and hospitals and to cut household bills, not the fringe obsessions of the left-wing clique at Holyrood.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie added: Reform have no answers to the challenges Scotland faces.

Scottish LibDem election campaign chair Wendy Chamberlain said: It is clear the people of Scotland want change. That does not have to be bleak and nasty change with Reform.

SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: This is yet another poll showing the SNP well in the lead.

It is a disaster for Labour who have now fallen behind Nigel Farage into third place  Keir Starmers incompetent Labour government is becoming more unpopular by the day.
Most Scots think the health service is in decline and getting worse, and half want the private sector to help deliver more services.

The poll findings coincided with a leading Scottish medical body warning a cradle to grave NHS is no longer possible because of under-funding.

The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) said the pressure on services was relentless and urged politicians not to pretend the NHS can provide the best care without more cash.

The stark message came ahead of a conference on the future of health in Scotland today hosted by the RCPE, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and the think tank Enlighten.

Health Secretary Neil Gray will be among several Holyrood politicians present. Polling commissioned for the event found widespread concern about the NHS north of the Border and support for reform, including more private sector involvement.

The Diffley Partnership found 71 per cent of Scots think the NHS is worse now than 10 years ago, and 77 per cent believe that it will be even worse 10 years hence.

A colossal 93 per cent think the NHS needs reform, with 45 per cent saying significant change is needed.

Although the vast majority (88 per cent) want healthcare to stay free at the point of need, 50 per cent said private providers should play a bigger role in delivering NHS services.

The NHS is under greater pressure than ever before

Health Secretary Neil Gray faces growing criticism over services

NHS care 'from cradle to grave' may not be an option for much longer

Scottish Tory public health spokesman Brian Whittle said: Without urgent action on preventative care and boosting GP numbers, Scotlands NHS risks being overwhelmed.

Enlighten Director Chris Deerin, who will chair the political panel, said: 'The people on the front line of delivering health and social care in Scotland are increasingly telling us that the system is unsustainable, often stretched beyond capacity and overly complex.

'We also know that the nation's health is deteriorating, that inequalities are widening and that with an ageing population demand for health and social care services can only grow.

'The polling we commissioned ahead of today's conference shows that the users of the services see that too, and accept that the status quo is not an option.'

RCPE president Professor Andrew Elder said: The college recognises that under the current funding envelope, it is not possible to continue providing everything that modern healthcare can now offer, from cradle to grave.

Mr Gray said: We are investing a record 21.7billion in health and social care this year, targeting areas with the longest waits, tackling backlogs, and ensuring patients get the care they need faster.
Entrepreneur Dick Smith has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand up to foreign competitors and support home-grown businesses.

Mr Smith, 81, has warned that small enterprises, the backbone of the economy, are being neglected as foreign competitors tighten their grip.

'I will ask Mr Albanese to be strong, to stand up to those foreign lobbyists and say, "No, we're going to support Australian Made and Australian Owned",' Mr Smith told the Herald Sun.

He said the successful Australian Made campaign of the late 1980s is a blueprint for a renewal of patriotic consumer support.

Back then, the green-and-gold kangaroo logo became readily recognised by consumers who wanted to help local businesses, and Mr Smith believes it's time for an even stronger push.

'It was such a brilliantly simple idea. You put it on TV, and you have well-known people saying, let's support Australia,' he said

Mr Smith wants clear 'Australian-owned' labelling, as profits from these products stay in the country and get recycled through the economy.

He believes successive governments have shied away from promoting local goods for fear of upsetting foreign corporations.

Millionaire entrepreneur Dick Smith has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to stand up to foreign competitors and support homegrown businesses

Mr Smith's concerns about the fragility of the small business sector was borne out by recent figures.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, investment in small enterprises fell by 7.3 per cent in the past financial year, marking the sharpest decline in a decade.

Industry groups say this trend threatens innovation and job creation, especially as global supply chains dominate retail shelves.

Meanwhile, gross operating profits fell 3.3 per cent year-on-year from June, while wages climbed 5.8 per cent, squeezing margins.

Mr Smith, who famously turned a $610 car radio venture into a $25million empire, says any campaign must appeal to patriotism, supporting local farmers, manufacturers and companies as you would a 'home team.'

He said he also sees emerging technology as a double-edged sword for Australia.

While artificial intelligence could automate labour at the cost of jobs, he believes that will take away the manufacturing advantage of low-wage nations.

With less labour input, relatively high-wage countries like Australia will become more competitive against the likes of China and India, where the middle class is growing and wages are escalating.

Mr Smith argued the federal government needed to invest in local ventures for the sake of Australia's future and grandchildren

Local business owners will spend most of their profits within the country, whereas foreign firms suck the money out.

'When you stop and compare, you're helping a mate, and you are helping Australia,' Mr Smith said.

He said he was personally asked by then Prime Minister Bob Hawke to be involved in the Australian Made campaign at the time.

Mr Smith said that modern politicians do not have the same conviction towards the issue as they did back then, as they are wedded to globalist terms of trade.

He pointed to solar panels as an example. Most are made in China, but Mr Smith believes Australia could reclaim that market with the right investment and policy support.
Meghan Markle is no stranger to criticism, especially when it comes to accusations that she uses friendships and connections to get what she wants.

Her wedding was packed with A-listers, including George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams and David Beckham.

But the celebrity who arguably had the biggest fall from grace was chief bridesmaid Jessica Mulroney, whose children also featured in the wedding.

Royal biographer Tina Brown wrote in her book, The Palace Papers, that the now-Duchess and stylist met while Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto in 2011.

'For an aspiring cosmopolite like Meghan, the city's ambience provided a heady cultural and social accelerant.

'Within a couple of years, she was hobnobbing with the son of former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, TV host Ben Mulroney and his style-queen wife, Jessica.

'Meghan has always been astute in flattering fashionable and famous women and absorbing their networks.

'There's a long list of strategic besties - Misha Nonoo, the internationally connected British-Bahraini fashion designer; Serena Williams, whom she love-bombed at a 2010 Super Bowl party in Miami; actress Priyanka Chopra, co-opted at a 2016 Elle Women in Television dinner; and, soon to come, her ultimate ace-in-the-hole, Oprah Winfrey.

Jessica Mulroney and Meghan Markle are pictured at the Instagram Dinner held at the MARS Discovery District on May 31, 2016, in Toronto, Canada

Pictured: Kate Middleton, Jessica Mulroney and bridesmaids, including Princess Charlotte and Ivy Mulroney, arrive for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018

Royal biographer Tina Brown wrote in her book, The Palace Papers, that the now-Duchess and stylist met while Meghan was filming Suits in Toronto in 2011

'Jessica Mulroney - a buzzed-up Toronto tastemaker - was Meghan's thirty-something role model in style and new BFF.'

The stylist married Ben, a wealthy TV host and son of the former Prime Minister of Canada, on October 30, 2008. They are reported to have separated in July this year.

Married for 16 years, Jessica and Ben were a power couple in Toronto, a status fuelled by Jessica posting glossy scenes of domestic perfection featuring her handsome husband, their sons, now 14, and daughter, 12.

Brown wrote: 'As a fashion-stylist-cum-marketer, Jessica marked everything in her world with a hashtag.

'Her own three-day nuptials were covered on Canadian television news, her parenting became a partnership with Pampers and her trips to the gym a promotional opportunity for Adidas.

'It could not have escaped Meghan's notice that a crucial factor in Jessica's commercial leverage was her famous husband.'

According to royal correspondent Kate Nicholl, Meghan and Jessica met through a yoga and pilates class.

'Meghan really looks up to Jessica. She thinks shes a talented person, a wonderful mother, and a great best friend,' she said in 2018.

Brown wrote: 'Physically, Jessica Mulroney could have been Meghan's sister and was just as tireless.

'She had turned her private life into a permanent destination wedding, posting a ceaseless flow of images about her glossy existence.'

With Jessica at her side, Meghan turned from a jobbing LA actress to a more sophisticated figure.

They even took a girl squad trip to Europe together in 2015, which Jessica called a #fakehoneymoon, adding Happy wife, happy life to images she posted accompanying the trip.

It was towards the end of that holiday that Meghan had her first date with Prince Harry. And when news of the royal romance broke in 2016, Jessica helped Meghan get to London, secretly, to be with him.

In the book Finding Freedom, author Omid Scobie says Jessica arranged for Meghan to use the private jet of the Canadian real-estate power couple Krystal Koo and Michael Cooper: Long-time friends of Jessicas, the couple... were more than happy to help.

As time went on, Jessica became intimately involved in Meghans romance with Harry.

As revealed in the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, Meghan was FaceTiming her when Harry was about to propose. The programme showed Meghan squeaking: Oh my God, Jess, its happening.

Jessica helped style Meghan for her engagement photocall and later travelled with her on her first Royal tour to Australia, again as a stylist but also as a best friend and sounding board.

But this friendship is thought to have come crashing down in 2020.

Jessica became caught up in a 'white-privilege' scandal where she was axed from TV gigs following her racially charged spat with lifestyle blogger Sasha Exeter.

She issued an apology at the time, while her then-husband Ben quit his job as a television presenter to help her with the rampant online and professional backlash, which led to a very public souring of her friendship with Meghan.

For her part, Jessica no longer follows Meghan or her brands on Instagram.

Pictured: A graphic showing the rise and fall of Meghan Markle and Jessica Mulroney's friendship

Most recently, it has been reported that Jessica could release an explosive tell-all book, with insiders claiming details of the breakdown of her friendship with the Duchess of Sussex could feature.

Well-connected gossip columnist Shinan Govani told the Mail: The Jessica Mulroney relationship was key in that it opened up Meghans world.

'Its what connected her to people like [the then Canadian premier] Justin Trudeau and Sophie, and also to Markus Anderson, the global membership director of Soho House.

One well-placed source said Jessica traces her current unhappiness back not to her bruising online scandal  but to that glorious day in 2018 when she watched her then best friend walk down the aisle of St Georges Chapel in Windsor.

So much so that now, rather than looking back on her brush with history with pride, a perfectly placed source reveals: Jessica says now that she somewhat regrets becoming friends with Meghan.

While she enjoyed all the exposure it brought her at the time, that same exposure is what caused her social media rift to blow up in the way it did and led to the end of her friendship with Meghan and her marriage.

The source added: If she could go back, a part of her wishes she was never part of that wedding.

She really did consider Meghan family. But now she sees that whole time as a dark cloud.
Djibouti's parliament has voted unanimously to lift a presidential age limit, opening the way for its 77-year-old leader Ismail Omar Guelleh to run for a sixth term in April 2026 election.

Guelleh, known as IOG, has held power in the tiny Horn of Africa nation since 1999.

With a population of just one million, it's one of Africa's smallest countries but is also a major port that hosts military bases for the United States, France, and China.

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Djibouti's constitution says the head of state cannot run for office after 75, which prevented Guelleh, 77, from running in the next election in April 2026.

But an amendment to remove the age limit was backed by all 65 parliamentarians present on Sunday, speaker Dileita Mohamed Dileita told France's AFP agency.

The president can choose to approve the decision or call a referendum.

If approved, parliament will confirm the decision with a second vote, expected on 2 November.

Five things to know about Djibouti

No surprise

Guelleh left the door open to another five-year term in an interview this May with The Africa Report.

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"All I can tell you is that I love my country too much to embark on an irresponsible adventure and be the cause of divisions," he said.

This vote is "not a surprise," said Sonia le Gouriellec, a Horn of Africa specialist at the Catholic University of Lille.

"There are protests on social media, but I fear that the opposition will not have the space to express itself in Djibouti," she said.

The state has a poor record of freedom of expression and the press.

Dileita told AFP the constitutional change was necessary to ensure "the stability of the small country, in a troubled region, the Horn of Africa, with Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea".

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"I think more than 80 percent of the population supports this," he said.

Macron champions France's military role in Djibouti as key to Indo-Pacific strategy

Landslide victory

In April 2021, Guelleh was re-elected with more than 97 percent of the vote.

His party, the Union for the Presidential Majority, holds the majority of parliamentary seats.

Guelleh succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the father of Djibouti's independence, in 1999 after serving as his chief of staff for 22 years.

One of the least populated countries on the continent, Djibouti plays an outsized strategic role in the region.

It lies opposite Yemen at the mouth of the Red Sea, in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, through which passes a large part of global trade between Asia and the West.

Djibouti is also home to the only permanent US military base in Africa, with some 4,000 soldiers supporting anti-terrorist operations on the continent, notably in Somalia.

(with AFP)
It was to be their last hurrah before the lives of the British prince and the American Suits star changed for ever.

Just hours before the news of their budding romance broke to the world, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had one final night of freedom, a chance to revel in a slight sense of normality by operating incognito.

A seemingly unlikely pairing due to their strikingly different backgrounds, the couple had met three months earlier after a mutual friend set them up on a blind date at London's exclusive Soho House.

What followed was an array of secretive dates, with the pair often wearing disguises in a desperate bid, as Harry himself reveals in his explosive memoir Spare, to 'maintain the bubble'.

By October 2016, the Duke of Sussex, who was utterly besotted with Meghan, flew over to Toronto to gain a direct insight into 'her life, her dogs, her little house, which she adored'.

Describing his trip to the Canadian city as his 'first proper visit', Harry recalled in Spare his eagerness to explore Meghan's life in Canada, which had been her base for the last five years while she filmed Suits.

And while their trip consisted of walking through 'big, open ravines and parks' and strolling through Meghan's neighbourhood, the couple still operated under a shroud of secrecy, remaining 'ever cautious' of their identities being discovered.

But their secret rendezvous were to be short-lived. The world was catching on.

Hours before the news of their budding romance broke to the world, Prince Harry and Meghan (pictured) had one final night of freedom

Meghan and Harry pose for a photograph with Eugenie. In a rather ominous indication of what was to come, they opted to attend the Halloween party with an 'apocalypse' theme

Having been made aware their relationship was about to become world news, the pair, never fearful of breaking with precedent, chose to spend their final hours of secrecy in a manner far removed from Royal protocol.

In a rather ominous indication of what was to come, they attended a Halloween party hosted at Toronto's Soho House, with an 'apocalypse' theme.

They were joined by Harry's close cousin Princess Eugenie and her now-husband Jack Brooksbank, alongside Meghan's friend Markus.

Eugenie and Meghan were introduced by their mutual friend, fashion designer Misha Nonoo, before Meghan had even met Harry.

But for Harry, the party invitation provoked a degree of anxiety. 'I mumbled to Meg that I'd not had great luck with themed fancy-dress parties, but I'd give it another go', Harry recalled.

The prince was no doubt referring to the scandal that ensued when he infamously wore a Nazi costume to a 'native and colonial' fancy dress costume party in 2008.

At 20 years old, Harry attended the party dressed in a mock uniform that featured the Nazis' infamous swastika on his arm and the badge of the German Wehrmacht on his collar.

During Harry and Meghan's Netflix series, released in 2022, the prince expressed contrition for his 2005 gaffe, describing the outfit choice as one of the 'biggest mistakes' of his life.

Eugenie and Meghan (pictured) were introduced by their mutual friend, fashion designer Misha Nonoo

Prince Harry and Meghan (top right) are seen partying with Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank and a friend (far left) for Halloween in their new Netflix documentary

And so, more than ten years later, Harry's fancy dress outfit choice for their Halloween extravaganza was a matter for careful consideration.

But rather than purchasing an outfit online or visiting a fancy dress shop, the prince instead sought the direct assistance of actor and close friend Tom Hardy, borrowing his outfit from the hit action film Mad Max.

As intended, the prince's costume, which featured a skeleton mask and dark concealing clothing, made him entirely 'unrecognisable', while his soon-to-be wife donned 'torn black shorts, a camo top and fishnet stockings'.

Jovial images captured by Harry and Meghan before the party showed what easily could have been mistaken for an entirely normal group of friends.

The group shots make it almost hard to comprehend that the same playful foursome served as integral members of the British Royal Family.

Speaking to former presenter Ellen DeGeneres in a surprise talk show interview in November 2021, Meghan explained both her and Harry's desire to have 'one fun night on the town before it was out in the world that we were a couple'.

Describing the night as 'so great' and 'just silly fun', she added that she and Harry had 'wanted to pull the pin on the fun grenade' and had deliberately 'snuck out in Halloween costumes' to have 'one fun final night out'.

In one last final extravaganza shrouded in secrecy, Harry recalled in his memoir the moment they entered the 'loud, dark' and 'drunk' party incognito.

The Prince (left) simply blended into the Halloween party crowd. But as the sun rose, the lives of Harry and Meghan were to be changed for ever

Chuffed with the incredible success of his costume, the Prince revealed that while 'several people did double-takes as Meg passed through the rooms', not a single person 'looked twice at her dystopian date'.

For a man who had never known a moment of anonymity, it was a surreal experience.

While he was fifth in line to the throne and one of the most recognisable people in the world, in that moment he simply blended into the crowd.

'I wished I could wear this disguise every day', he recalled.

But as the sun rose, another apocalypse was coming. The lives of Prince Harry and Meghan were to be changed for ever.

Harry recalled the moment the news broke, minutes before he was due to leave for the airport.

Asking Meghan if she was fearful for their future now their relationship had been exposed, she responded: 'Yes. No. Maybe.'

But Harry was slightly less optimistic about their new life in the public eye. He issued an ominous warning to the future duchess: 'We're going to be haunted. No two ways about it', before insisting that he would keep her 'safe'.

And yet when the prince landed in London's Heathrow Airport, any speculation about a romantic relationship between the pair appeared to have passed, given there were no confirmed reports of it and no photos had been taken.

For Harry, the party invitation was intertwined with a degree of anxiety

After leaving the Firm, Meghan and Harry maintained a close relationship with Eugenie and Jack

It was to be, according to Harry, the 'calm before the s*** storm', as Meghan Markle was finally exposed to the world as the prince's new lover.

On November 8, Kensington Palace released a statement confirming their relationship.

And, in a rare turn of events, Harry also issued a lengthy appeal to the media claiming that Meghan had been at the receiving end of harassment, 'sexism and racism' .

He acknowledged that there was 'significant curiosity about his private life' but appealed to people to respect Meghan's privacy.

'Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,' the note read. 'It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm.'

But despite the public being made aware of their budding romance, the pair kept a relatively low profile for nearly a year.

In September 2017, Meghan spoke openly about her relationship with Harry for the first time in an interview with Vanity Fair for the October 2017 issue.

I can tell you that at the end of the day I think it's really simple. We're two people who are really happy and in love,' she said.

Despite the public being made aware of their budding romance in October 2016, the pair kept a relatively low profile for nearly a year. Their first public appearance wasn't to be until the following September as they watched the Invictus Games in Toronto

Two months later, the couple's engagement was duly announced, with the pair marrying in a fairytale ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor the following May

Their first public appearance wasn't to be until the following September, with the pair seen holding hands and sharing laughs as they watched the Invictus Games in Toronto.

Meghan's outfit choice of ripped jeans and a white shirt called The Husband - designed by her friend Misha Nonoo - only fuelled rumours that the pair would soon get engaged.

Within hours of the couple stepping out together, bookies Ladbrokes had suspended betting on an engagement announcement.

Two months later, the couple's engagement was duly announced, with the pair marrying in a fairytale ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor the following May.

But their final night of apocalyptic fun was perhaps a sign of the couple's tendency to deviate from royal tradition, alongside their self-proclaimed desire for privacy, which they cited as one of the key reasons for 'Megxit' in 2020.

The couple expressed their frustration at the intense public scrutiny they encountered and claimed the constant barrage of criticism was detrimental to their well-being.

And after leaving the Firm, Meghan and Harry maintained the close relationship with Eugenie and Jack they had developed during their early courting years.

In their Netflix series Harry & Meghan, it was revealed that Princess Eugenie had spent time with the duke and duchess, alongside their son Archie, while in Los Angeles.

'Out of all the Queen's grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections,' Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote in Finding Freedom

At the King's Coronation in 2023, Harry was captured walking into Westminster Abbey alongside Princess Eugenie and sharing a 'happy exchange' with her husband Jack

Following their high-profile exit from royal duties, Eugenie became the first member of the Royal Family to publicly visit Harry and Meghan as they forged a new life across the pond.

The pair were photographed watching the Super Bowl at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, shortly after the news broke that Prince Harry was working on his tell-all memoir about his life in the royal family.

Eugenie even appeared in the finale episode of the six-part docuseries, while in the first three episodes, she was the only member of the Royal Family to feature in a number of personal snaps shared by the Sussexes.

In the Sussex biography Finding Freedom, royal experts Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote: 'Out of all the Queen's grandchildren, Harry and Eugenie have one of the most natural connections.' The book also describes them as the 'closest of friends'.

'Like Harry, Eugenie is loyal, honest and great fun,' the book continues. 'The two had many nights out together in London, sneaking into back entrances of clubs, such as Mahiki, where Jack once was manager, or Tonteria, where in one of the VIP cave areas they downed shots from Mexican skull shaped glasses and a giant frozen margarita (with multiple straws).'

In the tell-all Oprah Winfrey interview, in which Harry and Meghan criticised the Royal Family, Eugenie was singled out for praise.

Meghan said: 'Eugenie and I had known each other before I had known Harry, so that was comfortable [...] We're friends with them as a couple.'

She also referred to the Duchess of York as 'Fergie', hinting at a friendship that would have surprised many viewers.

Meanwhile, at the King's Coronation in 2023, while relations were believed to be tense between Harry and the remainder of the Royal Family, the duke was captured walking into Westminster Abbey alongside Princess Eugenie and sharing a 'happy exchange' with Jack.

Despite being separated by distance, Harry and Eugenie are also said to have bonded over the shared difficulty of carving a role for themselves within the Firm - with Eugenie, who does not serve as a working royal, having to forge her own career path.
When American actress Meghan Markle traded the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for the strict grandeur of the British Royal Family, the world anxiously awaited her first overseas tour with her newlywed Prince.

But as the Royal rookie touched down in the island of Tonga, south of Fiji, in October 2018, eagle-eyed onlookers couldn't help but notice that the new Duchess had made a rather startling fashion faux pas.

Accompanied by Prince Harry, Meghan was seen disembarking a private jet at Fua'amotu Airport dressed in a striking 380 Self Portrait dress during their 16-day trip across New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and Tonga.

Her bright red floral dress, which mirrored the colour of the Tongan flag, was accompanied by a Christian Dior Clutch and Manolo Blahnik BB pumps.

But her otherwise impeccable outfit and air of Royal prestige was to be slightly dampened by the dress label which remained on show for at least five minutes as the Duke and Duchess walked along the runway.

The fashion error stunned several onlookers online, who jokingly speculated that perhaps the Princess had deliberately left the tag on in the hopes of returning the impeccable dress after the event had ceased.

Meanwhile, others critically questioned why her colleagues had failed to mention the glaring issue prior to her disembarking the flight.

However, Good Morning Britain presenter Charlotte Hawkins defended Meghan's gaffe - insisting that it was 'easily done' and might have happened because the label is often hidden in different places in women's clothes and you don't automatically know where to look.

As the Royal rookie touched down in the island of Tonga , south of Fiji , in October 2018, eagle-eyed onlookers couldn't help but notice that the new Duchess had made a rather startling fashion faux pas

Meghan's otherwise impeccable outfit and air of Royal prestige was to be slightly dampened by the dress label which remained on show for at least five minutes as the Duke and Duchess walked along the runway.

Ms Hawkins was discussing the slip up with the rest of the GMB panel shortly after it occurred when she defended Meghan's mistake.

She said: 'It's easily done, you put it on and you forget. They put labels in all different places; sometimes it's in the back, sometimes it's in the bottom, sometimes it's in the sleeve.'

But it was not the first time that Meghan, who earlier this month made her Paris Fashion week debut to attend the glamorous Balenciaga show, has turned heads with her contemporary approach to fashion or indeed fallen victim to an unfortunate fashion faux.

While the royal dress code has traditionally been strictly followed by members of the Firm over the decades, Meghan has often made the controversial decision to deliberately go against archaic Royal protocols.

Challenging dress codes with her penchant for off-the-shoulder dresses and bold nail colours, she was considered unconventional by royal standards.

The bottom line is that the outfit always has to fit the occasion, royal expert Myka Meier of Beaumont Etiquette previously told The Daily Mail. It has to be modest, elegant and appropriate, and it should never distract from the role.

But during an engagement in Birmingham in March earlier that year, Meghan, who was just weeks away from her fairytale wedding to Prince Harry, failed to remove the loose criss-cross stitching that was holding together the back of her $298 navy Italian stadium-cloth wool coat by J. Crew.

The 'X' stitching, also known as a tailor's tack, is designed to keep the shape of the garment while it is being transported or on display.

Meghan's striking 380 Self Portrait dress, which mirrored the colour of the Tongan flag, was accompanied by a Christian Dior Clutch and Manolo Blahnik BB pumps

The fashion error stunned several onlookers online, who jokingly speculated that perhaps the Princess had deliberately left the tag on in the hopes of returning the impeccable dress after the event had ceased

But the stitching should be removed once the garment has been bought - and certainly before it is worn for the first time.

Pictures showed Meghan and Harry greeting crowds outside an International Women's Day event, while, unbeknown to the attendees, the stitching was on clear show for the numerous photographers seen at the event.

When the Duchess made her debut at Trooping the Colour earlier that year, she arrived in an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress in a soft blush pink shade with a matching Philip Treacy hat.

Yet while fashion lovers lauded her modern and elegant choice, several royal onlookers were sceptical of the new Royal's outfit choice.

The reason? Her shoulder-baring frock broke with royal tradition, a move that in hindsight might be seen to have foreshadowed the Meghans challenge to the monarchy.

The dress was a striking departure from the typical demure looks normally favoured at such occasions events.

Laura Windsor, the UKs Queen of Etiquette, previously explained that for royal occasions such as Trooping the Colour, being modest and conservative is key.

Shoulders should always be covered, and the golden rule of dressing is to adhere to protocol. Protocol is there for a reason as every time it is breached, a member of the Royal Family becomes headline news.

But it was not Meghan's first unfortunate fashion faux. During an engagement in Birmingham in March in 2018, she failed to remove the loose criss-cross stitching that was holding together the back of her $298 navy Italian stadium-cloth wool coat by J. Crew

Unafraid of departing from Royal fashion protocol, when the Duchess made her debut at Trooping the Colour earlier that year, she arrived in an off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera dress in a soft blush pink shade with a matching Philip Treacy hat

Meghan was a member of the Royal Family and should have respected protocol. By breaching protocol, she was sending a pretty clear message.

In my view, that made her a poor decision-maker.'

She wonders if Meghan felt  mistakenly  that she could single-handedly overhaul the dress codes of the Windsor's.

I would expect an emotionally mature person to respect the tradition and protocol of a country. Meghan chose to take her own independent path with her fashion choices.

To some royal insiders, this was more than just a sartorial choice, it was a message. Royal women have long adhered to an unwritten but closely followed set of style rules, which dictate appropriate hemlines, sleeve lengths, and colour palettes.

Off-the-shoulder gowns are typically reserved for evening events, not daytime occasions steeped in military history. But Meghan, ever the Hollywood starlet, brought a touch of red-carpet glamour to the palace balcony.

Then, in December, as the Duchess cradled her growing baby bump during an appearance at the British Fashion Awards, she glowed in an asymmetrical Givenchy as she presented a prize to Clare Waight Keller, the designer who had done her 100,000 wedding dress.

However, while it seemed to be an entirely elegant, clean-cut display, there was one aspect of the outfit that raised an eyebrow or two.

In December 2018, as the Duchess cradled her growing baby bump at the British Fashion Awards, her hands were adorned not with the clear or neutral tones of nail varnish normally expected of women in the British Royal Family, but a vibrant shade of red-black

Her hands, that showed off her marriage sparklers and baby bump, were adorned not with the clear or neutral tones of nail varnish normally expected of women in the British Royal Family, but a vibrant shade of red-black.

But while many accused Meghan of 'breaking royal protocol', royal correspondent Omid Scobie defended her, telling Harper's Bazaar: 'Theres no actual protocol about dark nail polish.

'Its simply about being appropriate - wed never see this at a royal engagement.

'[The British Fashion Awards ceremony] is a celebration of fashion and theres a lot more flexibility on what one can wear.'

Indeed, Meghan adhered to the Queen's nail polish preferences when the world focused in on her hand during her engagement announcement on November 27, 2017.

While showcasing the stunning ring designed by Prince Harry himself with one stone from Botswana and two diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection, Meghan's nails were painted a nude pink.

Sticking with a chic, understated manicure, the Duchess wore CND Shellac to marry her Prince at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.

Salon DryByLondon revealed they were behind her neutral nails and mixed the shades Unmasked and Negligee together to create the opalescent look, according to British Vogue.

In other instances, Meghan also sparked controversy after appearing to go against the Royal norm by championing her fashion staple: the mini dress. The appropriate length should never be more than three or four inches above the knee with leg slits kept to a minimum

In other instances, Meghan also sparked controversy after appearing to go against the Royal norm by championing her fashion staple: the mini dress.

The appropriate length should never be more than three or four inches above the knee with leg slits kept to a minimum as modesty reigns supreme and while it's not said to be strictly enforced, the late Queen was believed to prefer royal ladies to wear tights for formal events

Meghan however bucked this trend, championing her fashion staple the mini dress, wearing a tuxedo style by Judith & Charles for a performance of Hamilton in 2018.

The Duchess also caused some controversy when wearing a Reformation sun dress with thigh-high slit while visiting Fraser Island in Australia.

While seemingly unlikely that the Duchess' Royal price tag moment was a deliberate act of defiance, it served as a clear indicator that the former American actress was perhaps slightly out of her depth as she embarked into the hectic world of official engagements under the world's microscope.

It was also perhaps to be indicative of what was to come for Harry and Meghan who just 15 months later would sensationally step back from senior Royal duties, a bombshell decision later dubbed 'Megxit'.

Meghan, and indeed Harry, sought to showcase themselves as more 'regular' Royal figures, unafraid of failing to fit the mould and go against the conventional grain.

According to royal biographer Tom Quinn writing in his 2023 book, Gilded Youth, when Meghan married into the grandeur of the British Royal Family she had been left 'shocked by the Palace protocol and by the fact that she was not and never could be first in the pecking order'.

He added: 'She was a global superstar but was being told what she could and could not do, what she could and could not say. She hated it.'

According to royal biographer Tom Quinn writing in his 2023 book, Gilded Youth, when Meghan married into the grandeur of the British Royal Family she had been left 'shocked by the Palace protocol and by the fact that she was not and never could be first in the pecking order'

While promoting her second series of her Netflix Series, Meghan told Bloomberg's Emily Chang of the 'inherent tension' that exists between 'trying to be relatable' while also being a Duchess.

Appearing to take a thinly veiled swipe at her former life in the Royal fold, Meghan said: 'It was different several years ago where I couldn't be as vocal and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time!'

The Duchess later added that it 'felt a little bit inauthentic'.

Previously, Meghan has touched on a number of things she had to sacrifice in order to be a royal, such as her lifestyle blog The Tig, which she ditched in April 2017, a few months before her engagement to Harry.

Indeed, according to Quinn's book, the royal staffer felt that the traditions of the Royal Family came as a shock to Meghan, who 'always felt in control of her own destiny'.

Quinn added that Meghan 'undoubtedly felt constrained' by the Royal Family and that she and Harry needed to 'do their own thing without consulting the big royal machine'.

Meghan's tendency to go off-script and rebel against the constraints of royal life were glaringly obvious during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tour of Southern Africa in 2019.

While stopping to speak to ITV journalist Tom Bradby, Meghan gave a remarkably candid interview about how she was struggling to cope with the media scrutiny on top of being a new mother and a newlywed.

While promoting her second series of her Netflix Series, Meghan took a thinly veiled swipe at her former life in the Royal fold, stating: 'It was different several years ago where I couldn't be as vocal and I had to wear nude pantyhose all the time!', adding it 'felt a little bit inauthentic'

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During the notorious interview she thanked Bradby for asking if she was OK, claiming that 'not many people have asked if I'm OK'.

Then, when when asked if it had been a struggle, she agreed with the reporter's analysis.

While Meghan received praise in some circles for her openness, it was not the sort of answer many working royals would have been expected to give during a royal tour.

Indeed, the interview, along with the trip, became something of a PR disaster for the Royal Family.

According to royal author Valentine Low, it was Meghan's feelings of restriction caused by life in the firm, coupled with her yearning to monetise her royal title, that ultimately led to the couple's high-profile departure from the Firm, dubbed 'Megxit'.

Writing in his tell-all book Courtiers, Low claims that Meghan's desire to 'earn money for herself' which prompted the couple to abandon their duties entirely.

Low writes: 'Some suspected that in the end she wanted to make money. And the only way she was going to do that was by leaving her royal life behind and going back to America.'

Indeed, following the second part of With Love, Meghan, alongside her recent Paris Fashion Show debut, it seems that the former actress has turned her attention firmly to her lifestyle brand and a possible fashion venture, a far cry from her short-lived Royal tenure strongly dictated by protocol.
Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein asked Prince Andrew to arrange a dinner with the attractive daughter of the former Australian prime minister, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

In an email dated February 16, 2011  part of The Epstein Files currently being reviewed by the US Congress  Epstein wrote to Andrew saying: 'Would you ask Katherine Keating if she would like to come for dinner with Woody Allen next week in New York?' to which the prince replied: 'Will do.'

Two days later, on the eve of Andrew's 51st birthday, Epstein wrote: 'What will you do tomorrow? Sorry I cannot be there as you get older.'

Andrew responded: 'Having a very quiet day. But a dinner party in the evening. On the Keating case.'

Socialite Ms Keating, who was 29 at the time, is the daughter of Paul Keating, the Australian PM from 1991 to 1996 who was dubbed 'The Lizard of Oz' in 1992 when he placed his arm around Queen Elizabeth.

Ms Keating confirmed Andrew 'fixed' her 2011 dinner with Epstein.

Addressing her links to Epstein for the first time she told the MoS: 'I did attend a February dinner at Andrew's invitation  a large social event.'

The brunette was famously photographed waving goodbye to Andrew two months earlier when he stayed at Epstein's New York mansion and the financier hosted another dinner.

Prince Andrew waves to Katherine Keating, the daughter of former Australian PM Paul Keating, at Epstein's New York mansion in December 2010

Ms Keating (pictured), now 44, confirmed Andrew 'fixed' her 2011 dinner with Jeffrey Epstein

Ms Keating, now 44, said: 'It was a large social event. A sizable chunk of NY society was there, including [American broadcasters] Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose and Katie Couric.

'At the time, I had only lived in NY about ten weeks, and was happy to accept the odd social invitation.'

It is not suggested that Ms Keating engaged in, or had any knowledge of, any improper or illegal conduct by Epstein or any of his associates.

Andrew told Emily Maitlis during his infamous Newsnight interview that he had visited Epstein in New York to break off contact.

The pair were pictured in Central Park together during that visit.

The MoS recently revealed that, despite those claims Andrew continued to keep in touch with Epstein, promising to 'play some more soon' in one 2011 email.

It is not known how Ms Keating came into Andrew's orbit.

Some reports have suggested she was friends with Andrew's friend and Epstein's 'madam' Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving 20 years for sex trafficking.
A royal protection officer who guarded Prince Andrew during an infamous stay at paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's New York mansion says he is only prepared to speak to US Congress about what he knows.

The retired officer said Andrew's Metropolitan Police bodyguards had not been 'privy' to conversations between Epstein and the royal.

The ex-officer, who The Mail on Sunday is not naming, said: 'We had a role to do. Our role was to protect the principal. That was our job. End of story. So we were not privy to any sort of private conversations.'

The name of the former officer, who is in his mid-60s, appears in a cache of emails currently with the US Congress that have been obtained exclusively by this newspaper.

Writing to Epstein's office on November 26, 2010, Amanda Thirsk, Andrew's deputy private secretary at the time, asked for the 'address of the house that the Duke of York will be staying in next week' and enquired 'whether there is room for both his protection officers.' She said that one of the bodyguards  who she named 'will arrive in the US on Sunday'.

One of Epstein's assistants said she didn't think there would be room for Andrew and two protection officers, adding: 'We have  Andrew and one of his security on the fourth floor.'

It later emerged that Andrew spent at least five days at Epstein's 21,000 sq ft Manhattan mansion in December 2010. The visit came 17 months after Epstein's release from jail for child sex offences. On December 5, 2010, Andrew and Epstein were famously photographed strolling together in Central Park.

Speaking at his 750,000 home in South East England on Thursday, the former protection officer insisted that he did not stay overnight at Epstein's 60 million mansion during Andrew's visit. 'I did not stay in the house, that's all I'm saying.'

Andrew (left) and Epstein (right) strolling together in Central Park on December 5, 2010

The email is part of the Epstein Files that are being reviewed by the US Congress and are set to be released once they have been redacted to protect the identity of hundreds of young girls Epstein raped and abused.

The ex-policeman, who served in the Met for more than 30 years, suggested he was prepared to speak to US lawmakers  which could deepen the crisis engulfing Andrew. 'If Congress wants to speak to me then Congress can speak to me but I'm not speaking to the press,' he said.

In one of the most jaw-dropping messages revealed by the MoS last week, Epstein claimed that Sarah Ferguson, Andrew's ex-wife, was 'the first to celebrate' his release from jail 'with her two daughters in tow'.

Princess Beatrice would have been 20 at the time and Eugenie 19, the same age as many of his victims.

But speaking last Thursday, the former protection officer accused the media of a 'witch hunt' against Andrew's family and stressed that the princesses were not in contact with Epstein.

'I spent a long time with his daughters after this and there has never been any contact with Epstein at all,' he said.

He added: 'You're looking at it from a specific point of view. If you really think that the police officers who protected him at the time were privy to anything that went on in conversations and follow up emails you are on completely the wrong [path].'

Andrew claimed to BBC Newsnight in 2019 that he had travelled to New York to end his friendship with the sex offender  but a bombshell email revealed exclusively by the MoS earlier this month showed he lied as the pair had remained in contact.

An investigation by this newspaper in 2020 revealed how Andrew treated Epstein's house like it was his own and stayed in an opulent bedroom that was dubbed Room Britannica.

During his December 2010 visit, Andrew was guest of honour at a dinner party at Epstein's mansion. The guest list included film director Woody Allen, broadcaster Katie Couric and Bill Clinton's former spin doctor George Stephanopoulos.

The emails obtained by the MoS reveal Epstein's anger when details of the dinner appeared in the press. In a message to party planner Peggy Siegal on December 6 2010, Epstein wrote: 'Not good for Andrew, not good for me  not good for you.'
Prince Andrew is facing mounting pressure to quit Royal Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales move into their nearby 'forever home', it has been claimed.

Royal sources have told this newspaper that William and Kate want to move into Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park before Bonfire Night.

The eight-bedroom home is just over a mile from Royal Lodge, where Andrew has lived for more than 20 years, and William is said to want his disgraced uncle out of his 30-room mansion by the time they move in.

Negotiations over the prince's living arrangements are taking place on a daily basis amid a public outcry after it emerged he only pays a 'peppercorn rent' on the lavish property.

Andrew cannot legally be evicted from Royal Lodge under the terms of his 'cast iron' lease but Palace insiders believe he will inevitably have to move out because of the scale of public anger.

William and Kate are said to be keen to use the half-term break to prepare their children George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and Louis, seven, for their house move.

A source said: 'Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it. William wants him gone before they start to move in next week. It's not about what Andrew doesn't want to do anymore. It's about what he's going to be told to do.'

The Waleses moved from an apartment in Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage, which is just over three miles from Forest Lodge, in August 2022. The MoS has learnt that they had previously wanted to move to Royal Lodge  but Andrew insisted on staying.

Royal sources have told this newspaper that William (left) and Kate (right) want to move into Forest Lodge' before Bonfire Night

Prince Andrew is facing mounting pressure to quit Royal Lodge (pictured) before the Prince and Princess of Wales move into their new home

Forest Lodge (pictured) in Windsor Great Park has been dubbed the Waleses' 'forever home'

Andrew (pictured) cannot legally be evicted from Royal Lodge due to his 'cast iron' lease but Palace insiders believe he will inevitably have to move out because of the scale of public anger

'Them going into Adelaide Cottage was never the plan,' one well-connected source said last night. 'But they were forced to because Prince Andrew wouldn't shift.'

Earlier this year, however, the family set their hearts on Forest Lodge, a Georgian mansion where they hope to raise their children in a more relaxed, rural setting and remain hands-on parents.

Royal Lodge and Forest Lodge are a short walk from each other, with both nestled in quiet corners of Windsor Great Park. Andrew regularly goes horse-riding in the fields and woodland nearby.

Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew's ex-wife who also lives in Royal Lodge, was said by one insider to have been excited about the prospect of the Waleses and their young children being neighbours.

But outrage following a blizzard of revelations in The Mail on Sunday in recent weeks about Andrew and Fergie's links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein is said to have convinced Buckingham Palace that the couple must move out.

Royal author Andrew Lownie said: 'King Charles is now trying to be a bit tougher and I think he sees the reputational damage to the monarchy. I think they realise they need to get a grip on it.'

A source tells today's Sunday Times that Charles should 'say to [Andrew's] face, "There's no choice here, you must leave Royal Lodge. Whatever the lease says. You say you always put your family and country first. Prove it."'

The MoS can reveal that, after being forced to relinquish his remaining titles, Prince Andrew has dropped 'Duke of York' from Companies House records for his defunct business initiative firm Pitch@Palace.

And Sarah Ferguson has dropped 'Duchess of York' from her social media accounts.
Meghan Markle's 'longtime friend' Courtney Adamo has seemingly brushed off their recent 'awkward exchange' by paying a gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex.

Courtney, who co-founded popular UK parenting blog Babyccino Kids, thanked Meghan, 44, for 'supporting me' at the launch of her new book at an event at Godmothers bookstore in California last Thursday.

This was after the Duchess ended up creating a briefly awkward moment when she unexpectedly took hold of Courtney's microphone so guests could hear her better.

Meghan grabbed her friend's arm and pushed the microphone closer to Courtney's mouth, even joking: 'I could hold it [the microphone] for you'.

After being corrected, Courtney said: 'This makes me so nervous', while Meghan giggled, putting her arm around her.

The rest of their discussion revolved around Courtney's new family-focused interior design book, The Family Home: Inspiring Ideas For A Home Filled With Joy.

Speaking about life in her and Prince Harry's $29 million Montecito home, Meghan opened up about the royal couple's parenting techniques, her four-year-old daughter Lilibet's 'very strong personality', and her go-to hosting trick that leaves guests feeling 'softened' as soon as they walk in.

Taking to Instagram afterwards, Courtney shared photos from the book signing after - including a group shot with Meghan - as she celebrated the 'exciting career highlight'.

Meghan Markle's 'longtime friend' Courtney Adamo has seemingly brushed off their recent 'awkward exchange' by paying a gushing tribute to the Duchess of Sussex

Her caption read: 'This was such an exciting career highlight for me to sit up on stage in the beautiful Godmothers Bookstore, in front of the most engaged and smiling audience, to share about our new book and to answer questions about how we can create a home for our family that is filled with joy and intention.

'Thank you to [Godmothers bookstore] for hosting and to my longtime friend Meghan for joining and supporting me.

'I hardly slept last night from all the excitement!'

Meghan was invited to participate in the event by Courtney, with the pair having first crossed paths at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001.

'We've been friends since college just so you know,' Meghan eagerly told the crowd in reference to her decades-long friendship with Courtney.

Meghan put together an understated yet elegant outfit for Thursday's event, with the mother-of-two turning to one of her favourite brands, Californian label Cuyana, for the occasion.

She paired a silky, brown tank top with matching trousers, and accessorised her monochromatic look with a bow-detail black clutch from Aquazzura - another of Meghan's most-worn brands.

Meghan opted for a slicked-back bun for the event, and kept her makeup minimal.

Meghan (centre-left) was invited to participate in the event by Courtney (centre-right), with the pair having first crossed paths at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois back in 2001

It was at the event that Meghan revealed that she and Courtney met 'when [they] were 17' and shared how their upbringings differed.

'She grew up on a tulip farm. I did not grow up on a tulip farm,' said Meghan, who referred to 'growing up in a small duplex' in Los Angeles soon after.

'I learned so many things from Courtney,' she continued.

Speaking about raising her and Prince Harry's children, Meghan told the crowd that daughter Lilibet responds really well to the 'rose and thorn' parenting ritual.

The 'rose and thorn' exercise - sometimes referred to as 'rose, bud, and thorn' helps young children open up and reflect on their lives by sharing a positive experience (rose), difficult moment (thorn), and something they are looking forward to (bud).

Meghan said the activity can be particularly helpful when they only give 'yes and no answers'.

'Our daughter, she's four and she's a very strong personality and she's incredible,' Meghan said. 'And now she's in this moment where I say, "What's your rose and your thorn?" And she goes, 'My day was just a blast.'

The Duchess also revealed her tried-and-tested trick for making her guests feel comfortable was to open the door of her home while 'barefoot' with an 'apron on'.

Explaining the rationale for opening the door without shoes on, Meghan said: 'It demystifies. People walk in and go, "Oh, shes in this with me."

'And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyones a little bit softened.'

On the same day as Meghan's bookstore appearance, the Duchess teased a major As Ever announcement while asking fans to 'save the date' amid rumours she is gearing up for a new product launch.

Taking to Instagram, Megha shared a video of herself, wearing a black dress and white cardigan and strolling casually amongst trees.

Accompanying the clip, which was set to piano music, were the words: 'Save The Date 10.28.2025... As Ever', and an excerpt was also posted to her Instagram story.

She is seen reaching up towards a tree before the screen fades to show the As Ever logo, a palm tree with two birds.

It is thought the date could mark a new product announcement or campaign by Meghan, although there is no hint as to what it could be.
Prince Andrew may face the humiliating spectacle of MPs lining to criticise his lifestyle and his living arrangements in the House of Commons.

Plans are underway to give Parliament an opportunity to address the scandal surrounding the King's brother, including his friendship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prince's rent-free occupation of Royal Lodge in Windsor for more than 20 years and the possibility of officially stripping him of his York dukedom would also be addressed.

Although Andrew has given up using his Duke of York title, only a law passed by Parliament can formally remove it.

The Government has so far refused to allocate time in the House of Commons for MPs to discuss Andrew's situation because the royal family wants Parliament to focus on 'important issues'.

But the issue could be raised on one of the days when ministers are not in control of the parliamentary timetable.

A Liberal Democrat source indicated to the Sunday Times that the party could be prepared to use one of its opposition days to allow MPs to discuss Andrew's behaviour.

It comes as Andrew faced mounting pressure to quit Royal Lodge before the Prince and Princess of Wales move into their nearby 'forever home'.

Royal sources told the Mail on Sunday that William and Kate want to move into Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park before Bonfire Night.

Plans are underway to give Parliament an opportunity to address the scandal surrounding the King's brother, including his friendship with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Prince's rent-free occupation of Royal Lodge in Windsor for more than 20 years and the possibility of officially stripping him of his York dukedom would also be addressed.

A Liberal Democrat source indicated that Ed Davey's party could be prepared to use one of its opposition days to allow MPs to discuss Andrew's behaviour

The eight-bedroom home is just over a mile from Royal Lodge, where Andrew has lived for more than 20 years, and William is said to want his disgraced uncle out of his 30-room mansion by the time they move in.

Negotiations over the prince's living arrangements are taking place on a daily basis amid a public outcry after it emerged he only pays a 'peppercorn rent' on the lavish property.

Andrew cannot legally be evicted from Royal Lodge under the terms of his 'cast iron' lease but Palace insiders believe he will inevitably have to move out because of the scale of public anger.

The King's brother is said to be in talks with Charles' representatives but is reluctant to give up his residence of more than 20 years, with the sticking points said to be the location of his new home and financial compensation for funds spent on the lodge.

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said the party would look at 'all options' to trigger a Commons debate, telling Times Radio: 'This is about public accountability for someone who shouldn't have had taxpayer money paying their rent at a time when I can barely afford to pay my own rent, let alone subsidise Prince Andrew's.'

She pointed out that the 8.5million paid by the Prince before moving in amounted to a rent of 2,000 a month over the time he has been in the 30-room mansion.

'I don't accept that that's allowed, that's acceptable,' she added.

'I just don't, for a non-working royal who is a national disgrace, I don't feel that taxpayers should be footing that bill.'

William and Kate are said to be keen to use the half-term break to prepare their children George, 12, Charlotte, ten, and Louis, seven, for their house move.

A source said: 'Catherine shudders at the thought of living so close to Royal Lodge while Prince Andrew is still in it. William wants him gone before they start to move in next week. It's not about what Andrew doesn't want to do anymore. It's about what he's going to be told to do.'

The Waleses moved from an apartment in Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage, which is just over three miles from Forest Lodge, in August 2022. The MoS has learnt that they had previously wanted to move to Royal Lodge  but Andrew insisted on staying.

Andrew has attempted to draw a line under years of controversy, following allegations he sexually abused Virginia Giuffre, by giving up his dukedom and other honours ahead of the publication of Giuffre's posthumous memoirs.

But the prince, who strenuously denies the allegations, was instead swamped by criticism that has focused on the property he has lived in effectively rent-free since 2003.

The ability of MPs to discuss matters relating to the royal family is constrained under the Commons' procedures.

The guide to the rules, known as Erskine May, states that 'unless the discussion is based upon a substantive motion, drawn in proper terms, reflections must not be cast in debate upon the conduct of the sovereign, the heir to the throne, or other members of the royal family'.

With the Government unwilling to table a motion to discuss Andrew due to the wishes of the royal family, an opposition day debate could be a way for MPs to speak out.

A Liberal Democrat source said: 'We need to explore all options, including an opposition day debate, to ensure Parliament can scrutinise this properly, from Prince Andrew's residence at Royal Lodge to his dukedom.

'The first thing we need is proper transparency and accountability  that's why we have called for the Crown Estate and Prince Andrew to give evidence under oath in Parliament.'

The Lib Dems have one opposition day left this parliamentary session, but no date has yet been allocated for it.

The source added: 'We'll take a decision on what is most important for the national interest as and when the government tells us when it will be.'

The Lib Dem insider indicated that they hoped the King would be willing to take action.

'It's right that we're led by the King on this, and if Parliament does have to act we hope it can be be hand-in-hand with the Palace,' the source said.
Turn off the lights, burn a candle, look into the mirror and say the magic words: 'Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary'.

If you do it right, the next thing you see should be a terrifying ghost emerging from the darkness  at least according to the rules of the classic sleepover party game.

While Bloody Mary has terrified people for generations, psychologists now say there is more to this party trick than the overactive imaginations of excited teenagers.

And if you do call on Bloody Mary this Halloween, you really might see something terrifying.

Research has shown that looking at your own face in a darkened mirror produces strange hallucinations and anomalous experiences in the vast majority of people.

In one study, almost half of the participants saw 'fantastical and monstrous beings' after looking into the mirror for 10 minutes.

Scariest of all, scientists still aren't sure why these terrifying monsters and ghouls appear.

So, if you want to see how this simple game can really summon a ghost, here's how to try it out for yourself.

'Bloody Mary' is a classic sleepover game that has terrified generations of children, but scientists say that you really can see a 'ghost' in the mirror using this classic trick (stock image)

After looking into a dimly lit mirror for 10 minutes, almost half of all participants in one study reported seeing 'fantastical and monstrous beings'. These images show some of the faces people saw in the mirror

Although some form of the Bloody Mary game dates back as far as the early 20th century, scientists didn't start taking the idea seriously until 2010.

Dr Giovanni Caputo, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Urbino, had been conducting an experiment in which participants sat in a room entirely enclosed by mirrors.

However, while setting up the room one morning, Dr Caputo decided to sit in front of the mirrors in neartotal darkness.

Before long, he began to witness strange faces leering back at him that were so alarming he initially thought he was hallucinating.

But as Dr Caputo recreated this strange ritual with others, he soon discovered that he was not alone in seeing the haunting visions.

In the first study of its kind, Dr Caputo asked 50 volunteers to sit in front of a mirror in a dimly lit, quiet room for 10 minutes and stare at their own reflection.

While the descriptions of their visions varied, 66 per cent said they saw their faces undergoing huge deformations, while many said they saw someone entirely different.

Over a quarter of people said they saw someone they had never met before, while 10 per cent said they saw a deceased parent looking back at them.

The illusion is so powerful because it creates a dissociation between the viewer and their reflection, triggering a feeling that someone else is looking back (artists' impression left). The illusion is so strong that it even works if you stare at someone else's face (artist's impression right)

How to see 'Bloody Mary' Place a chair in front of a mirror so that you can see your face while sitting.

Either place a small lamp behind yourself, so it is not visible in the mirror, or light a few candles.

Adjust the lighting so that you can just make out your reflection and see all of your facial features.

Position your face 40 centimetres from the mirror.

Focus on your face in the mirror and try not to look away.

Keep staring at your reflection for 10 minutes and take note of what you see. Advertisement

Perhaps even more surprisingly, 48 per cent said they saw 'fantastical and monstrous beings'.

Dr Caputo told Daily Mail he believes that the 'strange face in the mirror illusion' is the reason that people really do see monstrous figures during the Bloody Mary game.

What made these visions so terrifying is that people universally reported seeing their own reflection transforming into someone they didn't recognise.

Scientists think that the capacity to recognise our own reflection is a key component of our conception of the 'self', so anything that disrupts that process is extremely unsettling.

'There is the very unsettling experience of a strange connection between myself and the alter 'Bloody Mary' who stares at me from beyond the mirror,' says Dr Caputo.

However, the bigger question is why so many people experience such horrendous visions.

Dr Caputo thinks that the illusion occurs in three stages: deformation, detachment, and depersonalisation.

Deformation, in which the face in the mirror begins to warp, is likely a product of our brain's ability for selective processing.

Scientists believe that the distortion occurs due to the Troxler Effect, which causes information in our periphery to fade. To see how this works, stare at the 'x' and watch the Cheshire Cat vanish

The Bloody Mary illusion is related to an effect called the 'flashed face distortion' effect, which causes faces to warp in terrifying ways. To see this in action, stare at the cross between these two photos

The neurons in our brain stop responding to stimuli that don't change, which is why you aren't always aware of the feeling of your socks on your feet or the smell of your own breath.

When we stare at ourselves in the mirror, our brain starts to tune out the unchanging parts of the image, and the features begin to become distorted.

At the same time, the regions of our brain that are responsible for recognising faces scramble to piece together the warped facial features into a coherent image, creating a horrific visage.

Next, Dr Caputo says there is a 'detachment of one's own body' from the image you are seeing in the mirror, which is similar to what people undergo in outofbody experiences.

Finally, there is a moment of dissociation in which a 'new identity is created by the mind and is projected to "Bloody Mary" who stares at me'.

This illusion is so powerful that it even works if you look intensely at someone else's face or if you look in the mirror while wearing a mask.

These stages also explain why so many people have the disconcerting experience of seeing their own reflection turn into a stranger, a loved one, or the terrifying ghost of Bloody Mary herself.

What this doesn't explain, however, is why so many people report seeing beasts and monsters leering out from the mirror.

Thanks to the fame of the childhood game and the prominent role of mirrors in horror movies, such as the classic Candyman, this makes for an exceptionally strong placebo effect

Dr David Terhune, an expert on anomalous perceptions from King's College London, told Daily Mail that this is something scientists still don't fully understand.

He believes these strange visions might be linked to the spooky setup of the Bloody Mary game and our cultural expectations about the power of mirror gazing.

He says: 'Reflective surfaces have long been used for divination. The broad cultural context surrounding these effects can produce strong expectations that an individual will also experience such faces.'

Thanks to the fame of the childhood game and the prominent role of mirrors in horror movies, such as the classic Candyman, this makes for an exceptionally strong placebo effect.

Combined with environmental factors such as the dark room, the ominous setting, and chanting the name 'Bloody Mary', our minds are prone to conjuring some truly terrifying visions.

In his own research, people were twice as likely to experience a visual hallucination if they had been told they would see faces in the mirror.

'It's a reminder that our perception is highly malleable and can be easily modulated using relatively simple procedures,' says Dr Tehrune.

And it is this malleability that makes the Bloody Mary illusion just as scary to adults today as it always has been for children.
A growing network of at least 5,000 data centers across the US is becoming a hidden public health threat, scientists have warned.

That is because the energy-hungry backbone of artificial intelligence pumps out dangerous pollutants that can cause asthma, cancer and even death.

Researchers say that as demand for AI and cloud computing surges, pollution from the diesel generators that keep these facilities operating could soon rival emissions from entire industries, with Caltech estimating 1,300 premature deaths annually linked to the toxic plumes.

The backup generators, used to maintain 'uptime' during power failures, are often diesel-powered, releasing clouds of fine-particle pollution that spread across state lines.

In total, the emissions could cost the US $20 billion each year through health problems and lost productivity, according to researchers.

The energy needed to train a single Meta large language model equals 10,000 car trips from Los Angeles to New York City, and individual data centers can consume as much power as small cities.

Professor Francesca Dominici of Harvard University warned that the health implications of these sites remain overlooked, telling Daily Mail: 'As the number of hyperscale data centers continues to demand increasing amounts of energy, we must start considering their environmental and health impacts on surrounding communities, an issue that, right now, is largely missing from the conversation.'

Diesel exhaust contains tiny particles linked to heart attacks, lung disease, and cancer, and researchers say their concentration is highest around data center clusters such as Northern Virginia's 'Data Center Alley' and West Virginia, where facilities consume city-scale power levels.

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In Virginia, dozens of data centers have been approved or built, among the 1,240 spread across the US.

'This can be particularly harmful when a large cluster of data centers runs their diesel generators for demand response and releases a large amount of NOx that creates public health risks,' Dominici said.

During a recent heatwave, many centers switched on generators simultaneously for 'load shedding,' releasing a surge of emissions.

Dominici added: 'The direct health impacts are concentrated in regions with many data centers, such as Northern Virginia, where diesel emissions are significant, especially during demand response events.

'The indirect impact is broader. Many of the hardest-hit communities neither host large data centers nor directly benefit economically from AI data centers, such as through tax revenues.

'For example, several counties in West Virginia are among the most affected, because many coal-fired power plants in West Virginia are supplying electricity to data centers in the neighboring state of Virginia.'

Caltech researchers found that pollution from backup generators drifts across county and state lines, with emissions from Northern Virginia affecting Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Washington DC.

These states also have their own data centers, generating their own pollution, with more than 70 data centers believed to be in New York, for example.

They estimated public health costs between $190 million and $260 million annually, potentially rising tenfold if emissions reach their legal maximums.

In Virginia, dozens of data centers have been approved or built, among the 1,240 spread across the US. Pictured is an aerial view of an Amazon Web Services Data Center known as US East 1 in Ashburn, Virginia

Diesel exhaust contains tiny particles linked to heart attacks, lung disease, and cancer, and researchers say their concentration is highest around data center clusters

Studies by Harvard and Caltech also found that data centers used four percent of all US electricity in 2023, generating 105 million tons of carbon dioxide, with 56 percent powered by fossil fuels.

According to the Kapor Foundation, tech hubs in California, home to 32 of the world's top 50 AI companies, overlap heavily with areas suffering poor public health.

There are more than 300 data centers across California, with concentrations in Santa Clara.

Cecilia Merriman of the foundation noted: 'To be clear, this correlation does not prove (nor necessarily suggest) that data centers caused the poor public health outcomes; rather, it is evident that data centers are clustered in already polluted areas with such outcomes.'

By 2030, researchers said the data center industry's public health impact could double that of steelmaking and rival all vehicles in California, driven by nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter.

Professor Amin Al-Habaibeh of Nottingham Trent University said that the risks go beyond air pollution.

'The other environmental risks of data centers are heat islands and water supplies,' he said.

'The heat produced by the servers and computer systems will need to be dissipated, and if water is used, then the facilities might need significant volumes of water for open-loop cooling systems.

'Closed-loop cooling systems, similar to a car coolant system, consume less water. In either case, the use of rainwater or greywater to compensate for water use could reduce the water-related environmental impact.'
A disturbing weather pattern could wreak havoc across the US at the end of this year's hurricane season, experts have warned.

November tropical storms may be affected by La Nina, according to Matthew Rosencrans, the lead hurricane seasonal forecaster with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

La Nina is part of a natural climate cycle known as El Nino-Southern Oscillation Neutral (ENSO), which alternates between warmer and cooler seawater along the equator in the Pacific Ocean.

During a La Nina event, trade winds are stronger than usual, pushing warmer water westward while colder water then rises to the surface off the west coast of North America. These cold waters on the west cause a northward jet stream.

The pattern can lead to drought in the southern US but also heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest of the country, according to the NOAA's Ocean Service.

'La Nina conditions are associated with [roughly double the amount of] activity in November when compared to ENSO and especially when compared to Novembers with El Nino conditions,' Rosencrans told USA TODAY.

An El Nino brings the opposite effect, with warmer Pacific waters that typically suppress Atlantic storm activity.

A La Nina is predicted to be heading to the US in November and could cause heavy rain and flooding

While La Nina is potentially treacherous, the pattern is natural and is an interconnected part of the climate cycle known as El Nino-Southern Oscillation

The latest La Nina is predicted to be weaker than previous patterns and fairly short-lived. However, it should not be underestimated.

Jon Gottschalck, the chief of the Climate Prediction Center's operational prediction branch, said: 'Even though it is considered a weak event, likely shorter than normal in duration, its impact is likely to be strongest during the winter season and so plays a large role in the outlooks.'

Even a mild La Nina can potentially lead to extreme weather.

A typical La Nina winter can bring cold and snow to the Northwest and unusually dry conditions to most of the southern states, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

In areas such as Southern California, dry conditions caused by a La Nina can cause a horrific fire season if precipitation fails to arrive.

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) use various tools to monitor and forecast temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean, including satellites, sea level analysis, and moored, drifting and expendable buoys.

A La Nina appears when cool water on the ocean's surface is present; the opposite conditions would then cause an El Nino system

This can lead to drought in the southern US but also to heavy rains and flooding in the Pacific Northwest

The latest La Nina is expected to be weaker than previous patterns and fairly short-lived. However, it could still cause extreme weather

'Predicting the onset of a warm or cold phase is critical in helping water, energy and transportation managers, and farmers plan for, avoid or mitigate potential losses,' the NOAA said.

'Advances in improved climate predictions will also result in significantly enhanced economic opportunities, particularly for the national agriculture, fishing, forestry and energy sectors, as well as social benefits.'

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Second Lady Usha Vance was a secret adviser on a high-stakes minerals deal with Ukraine this year, White House chronicler Jonathan Karl claims in a forthcoming book.

The question of whether the February deal had been legally vetted emerged during talks between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Karl writes thats when the VP stepped in to offer his wifes legal expertise.

I can have Usha take a look at it, Vance said, according to Politico, which obtained an excerpt of Karls book.

Usha Vance has kept a low profile in MAGA 2.0, but she did travel with the vice president to Greenland and Europe this year. The couples three childrenaged 8, 5, and 3 at the timealso made the trip to Europe this winter. / Saul Loeb/Getty Images

Usha, a 39-year-old Yale Law graduate, has no experience in national security law, having previously worked in civil litigation and appeals, including past stints clerking for Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

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Still, Trump has repeatedly placed his trust in allies over experts, as evidenced by his appointment of the one-time environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as his choice of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon.

Vance followed through on his offer and asked Usha to review the deal. She reportedly visited the West Wing to go over the agreement, but it is unclear whether she offered any revisions.

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

Separately, Trump also sought advice on the deal from Steve Bannon, his first-term White House adviser who is now a MAGA podcaster actively pushing to end presidential term limits to keep Trump in power beyond January 2029.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance sits with his wife, Usha, before a Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony in the Rose Garden this month. / Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images

Karl wrote of the minerals deal scene, And with that, the vice president asked the Second Lady of the United Stateswho, like Steve Bannon, had no role whatsoever on the National Security Councilto come over to the West Wing and review a bilateral agreement that was supposed to be signed the next day.

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That mineral deal ultimately fell apart. Zelensky was ambushed the following day by Vance, who accused him in an Oval Office meeting of not being grateful enough for U.S. support in his countrys war against Russia. Zelensky, who was expected to sign the deal after the Oval meeting, was ordered out of the White House by Secretary of State Marco Rubio before the rare earths deal was signed.

Word of Ushas involvement in the deal contrasts with the publics perception that she is a mostly hands-off second lady. She has generally kept a low profile since Inauguration Day. However, she also launched a summer reading challenge and traveled with her husband on his high-profile Greenland visit, on his first trip to speak with European leaders, and on a visit to Israel this week.

Ushas name made headlines earlier this week after former President Joe Bidens one-time press secretary, Jenn Psaki, controversially suggested she may need saving from her marriage.

I think the little Manchurian candidate, JD Vance, wants to be president more than anything else, Psaki said on a podcast, adding, I always wonder whats going on in the mind of his wife. Like, are you OK? Please blink four times. Well come over here. Well save you.

Usha did not address the remark, but the VP said he found it disgraceful.
As Halloween approaches, many Brits will be looking to decorate their houses with lights, cobwebs and carved pumpkins.

But you could be unwittingly inviting real creepy crawlies into your home, experts have warned.

Decor specialists have advised Brits to reconsider their plans before putting up all their spooky decorations, as they could tempt spiders and rats to your front door.

Carved pumpkins are the first cause of the problem since, after a day or two, they smell soft and sweet which can entice unwanted visitors, they said.

Adding bright porch lights also attracts flying insects  which in turn bring spiders  while fictitious webs can trap bugs.

'Halloween is all about thrills and chills, but a rodent infestation isn't the kind of scare anyone wants,' a spokesman from Quote My Wall said.

'By taking a few precautions, you can enjoy a fun and festive Halloween without worrying about unwanted guests sneaking in for a treat of their own.'

Thankfully help is at hand, a they experts have recommended a few easy swaps to help avoid a reallife nightmare.

Carved pumpkins are the first cause of the problem since, after a day or two, they smell soft and sweet which can attract unwanted visitors, experts said (file image)

Fake spider webs, like these ones pictured outside a house in Leeds, could trap real bugs and tempt spiders to your home

Impressive Halloween themed decorations outside two houses on Case Grove, Prescott in Merseyside

Bringing your carved pumpkin indoors overnight or moving them well away from doors and windows can help keep pests at bay, they said.

Switching porch bulbs to warm or yellow LEDs and skipping the fake outdoor spider webs can deter flying insects.

Meanwhile keeping sweet bowls sealed and immediately sweeping up any spills reduces the chances of animals being tempted by the smell.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) in America has also issued a warning about rodents, adding that they can spread disease to humans and that preventing an infestation is key.

'Rodents can find their way indoors through tiny gaps  mice through openings as small as a dime, and rats through quartersized holes,' said Dr Jim Fredericks, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs.

'They don't care about the state of your home  if there's food and shelter, they'll try to move in.'

The NPMA recommends sealing entry points to your home, decluttering and scheduling regular inspections to look for droppings, chewed wires or nesting materials.

'The most effective prevention happens before you notice the first signs of trouble,' Dr Fredericks emphasized.

Large rats were spotted in Dagenham, East London earlier this year. Experts warn certain decorations could trigger a further surge in pests

This summer, rats were pictured running around the streets of Birmingham as rubbish piled high amid bin strikes

Dorsetbased pest controller Terry Walker caught a giant 19inch long mutant rat (left) while gas engineer Tony Smith, 46, spotted an enormous rat while working at a block of flats near Hackney Downs, north London (right)

'Pest control professionals can identify vulnerabilities that many homeowners may overlook and help protect your health and home.'

People living in the UK were recently warned to brace for a surge in rodents thanks to an unusually high acorn season.

Specialists say the bumper season could lead to a spike in rat activity as the creatures take advantage of the extra food supplies.

It comes as hunters already report catching rodents more than 20 inches long amid a 'horrendous infestation'.
A new forensic study may have finally solved one of Christianity's oldest mysteries.

Using advanced forensic analysis, a researcher has recreated the 'true' look of Jesus' Crown of Thorns based on blood patterns found on the Shroud of Turin, the cloth believed to have wrapped his body following the crucifixion.

The Bible describes Roman soldiers twisting a crown of thorns and placing it on Jesus' head as an act of mockery just hours before his death.

Scholars and scientists have debated the true shape of Jesus' Crown of Thorns for centuries, with discussions dating back to the Middle Ages.

Some believe it was a simple circlet or wreath of thorny branches placed around the top of his head, while others argue it was a full cap or helmet of thorns that covered the entire scalp.

Biological systems analyst Otangelo Grasso may have finally settled the debate, finding the crown was a ring-like wreath that concentrated wounds around the hairline, temples and back of the head.

He analyzed the distribution of bloodstains on the Shroud, the geometric gaps in the cloth and the engineering complexity of each possible crown structure.

'The Shroud's head imagery shows concentrated bloodstains at the brow/temples and nape, with no vertex transfer across the non-contact bridge,' the study explains. 'This absence of blood at the very top of the head, they note, is a key clue that rules out a helmet-style crown.'

The Bible describes Roman soldiers twisting a crown of thorns and placing it on Jesus' head as an act of mockery just hours before his death. Scholars and scientists have debated the true shape of Jesus' Crown of Thorns for centuries, with discussions dating back to the Middle Ages

Biological systems analyst Otangelo Grasso found the crown was a ring-like wreath that concentrated wounds around the hairline, temples and back of the head

The 14-foot-long Shroud of Turin is touted as a wrapping used for Jesus' body after the crucifixion, which shows a faint, bloodstained pattern of a man with his arms folded in front

Researchers who support a cap-like helmet theory point to over 50 puncture wounds across the scalp, forehead and nape, arguing that a simple headband could not produce such an extensive injury pattern.

They have claimed this is consistent with a helmet or cap of thorns pressed brutally onto Jesus's entire head.

However, Grasso, in his study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, challenged this view.

He noted that forensic studies of the Shroud show scalp blood could be reactivated after death through hair wicking and handling, allowing it to transfer across the head and face during burial.

'Some droplets should still appear on the bridge unless the vertex wounds dried unusually fast or were fully contained by hair,' Grasso explained.

'The circlet explains the same observations with fewer auxiliary assumptions.'

In experimental reconstructions, a circlet with inward-pointing thorns produced rich perimeter staining, tangential entrance-exit-re-entry puncture triads from single thorns, and limited supra-band punctures three to five centimeters above the hoop plane from broken thorn fragments during forced seating.

He analyzed the distribution of bloodstains on the Shroud, the geometric gaps in the cloth and the engineering complexity of each possible crown structure

Forensic studies of the Shroud show scalp blood could be reactivated after death through hair wicking and handling, allowing it to transfer across the head and face during burial.

By contrast, the helmet model would require a complex lattice construction with multiple layers and interwoven branches.

'Documented cap builds required more than two hours and complex interlacing,' the paper notes, while a circlet 'can be fabricated with one structural join and inherent hoop stability.'

The simplicity of the circlet, combined with forensic and geometric data, makes it the more likely option, the researcher noted.

Grasso also considered historical evidence and ancient texts. Early Christian sources use the Greek words  (stephanos) and  (pleko), which denote a plaited wreath rather than a cap, suggesting a parody of royal crowns rather than a helmet of suffering.

Further support came from the Sudarium of Oviedo, a separate cloth believed to have covered Jesus' face.

Measuring 33 inches by 20 inches and housed in the Cathedral of Oviedo, Spain, it contains bloodstains consistent with the head of a crucified man.

Blood patterns on both relics corresponded to a narrow band of wounds, consistent with a ring-style crown rather than a dome-like structure. 'Geometric analysis demonstrates circlet compatibility,' Grasso wrote.

The 14-foot-long Shroud of Turin is touted as a wrapping used for Jesus' body after the crucifixion, which shows a faint, bloodstained pattern of a man with his arms folded in front

Even with advanced modeling and statistical shape analysis, the research remains cautious.

Grasso acknowledged that a cap-like construction is still 'possible,' but only under highly-specific conditions, such as 'selective early vertex clotting' or all the blood from the top of the head being 'wholly hair-contained.'

Both explanations, he argued, 'strain geometric, forensic, and experimental constraints.'

Taken together, these strands provide moderate-to-strong support for a circlet; a helmet remains possible but demands auxiliary assumptions,' Grasso stated.

The reconstructed circlet also produced a striking 'halo suspension' effect. When first placed on the mannequin, inward-pointing thorns caused the ring to hover just above the scalp before being pressed down, reflecting descriptions of Roman soldiers forcing the crown onto Christ's head.

This forensic approach provides a scientific framework to understand crucifixion artifacts and their depiction in religious art.

It also demonstrates how modern tools, from geometric modeling to material testing, can shed light on details from the ancient past.

While the mystery of the Shroud of Turin remains far from solved, Grasso believes his work brings history closer to understanding the likely design of Jesus' headpiece.

'Shroud head-stain mapping, a clean vertex bridge amid otherwise active head/face transfer potential, experimental inward-spine mechanics, posture-driven posterior elevation, and the build-time/manipulation differential together provide support for a circlet over a cap,' the study concluded.

The findings align with historical and linguistic evidence and may help historians reinterpret depictions of the Passion, suggesting that the instrument of Jesus' mock coronation was not a full crown, but a cruel, thorn-studded wreath encircling His head.
It may seem like a relatively harmless right of passage.

But cannabis isn't safe for young brains which are still developing, the UK's top psychiatrist has warned.

An aggressive cannabis lobby is making parents complacent about the risks the drug poses to teenagers' mental health, Dr Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said.

And taking up the habit could damage the brain or even trigger psychotic episodes later in life, she cautioned.

'When you start smoking with your mates at 14 or 15 you are literally growing your brain in a cannabis soup,' Dr Smith told The Sunday Times.

'There's no doubt at all. Cannabis is a cause of psychosis.'

This health condition is a serious mental illness where a person loses touch with reality, often involving symptoms like hallucinations and delusions which can cause them to pose a danger to themselves or others.

Figures show cannabis is consistently the most consumed illegal drug in England and Wales, with 2.3 million people estimated to have used it in the year to March 2024.

Many parents still think cannabis is relatively safe for their children to have, Dr Smith warned, and called on the government to raise awareness of the potential harms (stock image)

Research, published last year, shows adolescents who used it were 11 times more likely to have a psychotic episode as an adult.

However, many parents still see it as relatively safe, Dr Smith warned, calling on the government to do more to educate parents and young people.

'We've not got the public health message right,' she said. 'We know that cannabis is not a safe option.'

She explained that  as well as psychosis  smoking cannabis is also linked to a higher risk of anxiety and depression.

Children from any walk of life, including from well-to-do families, have developed psychotic illnesses, carried out dangerous stunts or fallen foul of the police due to their cannabis use, she warned.

A study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry found that rates of first episode psychosis are higher in south-east London, where she works, than anywhere else in Europe.

A staggering 97 per cent of patients in her service had a substance abuse problem, with high-strength cannabis the main drug of choice.

The cannabis that has been available in the last 10-15 years in the UK is high-strength, meaning it contains high levels of the active compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which affects the brain.

Cannabis contains THC, a compound that can affect the brain in many ways. Studies suggest it can reduce the amount of grey matter  important for processing information and sensory control (file image)

It can interfere with the release of dopamine in the brain's reward centre, reduce the amount of grey matter in the brain, lower inhibitions and cause chronic bronchitis symptoms.

Smoking cannabis 'regularly' is the equivalent of just one spliff per week, Dr Smith explained, adding that having a problem with the drug 'could completely ruin your life'.

Seven years ago the law was changed to allow the prescriptions of cannabisbased medicines that include cannabidiol (CBD), which does not give the same high but can still alter consciousness and the perception of pain.

Dr Smith said she believes the use of cannabis as a medicine should face further scrutiny. Sir Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, also warned against 'cannabis exceptionalism' in 2019.

Separate studies have also indicated that cannabis use can negatively impact female fertility and lead to increased levels of paranoia.

Speaking previously about the effects of cannabis on mental health Dr Emily Finch, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Addiction Faculty, said: 'Society must be more aware of the substantial evidence on cannabis harms, and correct the widespread misapprehension that cannabis is not an addictive substance.

'Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance in the UK, and around a third of people who use cannabis develop a problem with the drug at some point during their lives. This is similar to the proportion of people who will develop a problem with alcohol.

'The use of both natural and "synthetic" cannabinoids over the long-term risks addiction and severe co-occurring mental illness harms.'
I often travel alone - from a months-long Morocco trip to living by myself in Paris and plenty of short breaks in between, I'm no stranger to a solo trip.

I always want to capture my experiences on camera to keep a lasting memory and, when travelling with people, this is easy to do - as simple as a quick request for a mini photoshoot.

My best friend and boyfriend are both well trained in the art by now.

But when I'm by myself, it can be trickier. How can I get the best shot without a willing volunteer to take it for me?

On a mission to get the perfect photograph, I went on a deep dive of social media to find the best solo traveller photography hacks online to try out and assess if any could be quite as good as having a photographer in tow.

I then spent a sunny afternoon in Madrid, strolling around the city centre testing out the methods - some of which, I will admit, got looks from locals watching from terrace cafes.

But these are the best - and the worst - tips and tricks to get that perfect holiday pic, all of which have been given a ranking out of five...

The self-timer method - 4/5

Erin went on a deep dive to find the best solo traveller photography hacks online to try out and assess if any could be quite as good as having a photographer in tow. The first trick she tried was using my iPhone's self-timer feature. The results were mixed

If I stayed close enough to the camera, I could get a decent close-up shot

The first trick I tried was using my iPhone's self-timer feature. Three seconds was too short, I discovered, so I settled on a five-second countdown to get myself in place.

The results were mixed. Occasionally, walking away from the camera adjusted the lighting so what initially seemed to be perfect turned out to be too dark.

But other times, if I stayed near enough to the camera, I could get a decent close-up shot.

Overall verdict? A solid start.

While I refused to buy any equipment, other TikTokers recommended using my handbag as a sort of tripod.

This one took a while, as I needed to find a spot where my belongings wouldn't be pinched while I was posing - so might work better in a hotel or private space. But I will admit, my bag doubled pretty well as a tripod stand once I found a good wall to lean it on.

I was also told to pose during golden hour - the period of time just before sunset when the light is infused with red and gold tones. This worked very well, as it made the lighting easier.

Live Photos - 3/5

Instagram travellers recommended I enable Live Photos on my iPhone to let me take several pictures at once - which was helpful but, in all honesty, still didn't make much difference when I still had to take the photos with the front-facing camera as selfies

Next up were some simple phone tricks to try to help you take better photos.

Instagram travellers recommended I enable Live Photos on my iPhone to let me take several pictures at once.

This was helpful but, in all honesty, still didn't make much difference when I had to take the photos with the front-facing camera as selfies.

Combined with self-timer, though, I could get several shots of myself in one go to choose from.

Flip the camera around - 4/5

Using the back camera, which is higher quality than the selfie front-facing lens, I hoped to get decent shots

The quality is better - even if it did take me a while to get the angle right

Until now, I had been mainly using the front-facing camera so I could see what I looked like while posing.

It was time to go in blind - and flip the camera around.

Using the back camera, which is higher quality than the selfie front-facing lens, I hoped to get decent shots.

I tried similar tactics as before, just with the other lens.

I agree, the quality is better - even if it did take me a while to get the angle right.

Jump over the phone - 1/5

I tested some strange alternatives too - for example, one TikToker advised solo travellers jump over their phone while taking a photo. They made it look so cool. My attempt? Blurry, bizarre and certainly not what I was going for

I tested some strange alternatives too.

For example, one TikToker advised solo travellers jump over their phone while taking a photo.

They made it look impossibly cool.

My attempt? Blurry, bizarre and certainly not what I was going for.

0.5 mode - 3/5

Next up on my list was the classic 0.5 mode on iPhones, which distorted the perspective but was still great

It worked - you could definitely see more of the background. But I didn't think it gave the kind of photo I'd save as a keepsake

Next up on my list was the classic 0.5 mode on iPhones, which distorted the perspective but was still great.

Ultra-wide angle lenses, more commonly known as 0.5 mode on social media, allow you to capture a broader field of view compared to the standard lens.

The 0.5 selfie is easy enough to execute, various Instagrammers explain. You merely select 0.5 on your camera, then flip your phone around so you're facing your rear camera.

It worked - you could definitely see more of the background. But I didn't think it gave the kind of photo I'd save as a keepsake - it was more in the realm of 'social media selfie'. My arm also took up half of the shot!

Turn the camera upside down - 4/5

I also tried putting the camera upside down, and will admit it worked pretty well

I also tried putting the camera upside down, and will admit it worked pretty well.

I'd read that flipping your camera upside down is a creative photography technique that can improve your photos by changing the perspective.

I had to try the angle a few times as I wanted to avoid having too much of the floor in my photos - and enough of the blue sky.

But once I figured it out, the resolution was great and quality superior as I could also use the back lens at the same time.

Screenshot videos - 5/5

By now I had figured out the right angles, so using a video gave me the freedom to test out different poses

I was looking forward to the next one, though. I'd seen it all over Instagram and TikTok, with seemingly excellent results: take a video of yourself and then screenshot it to get photos.

Again, I needed a safe spot away from the crowds, so I can imagine this one would be fabulous for taking poolside pictures in peace, but it still worked well in central Madrid.

Despite the fact tourists and onlookers watched me spin around, twirling for the camera, this yielded my favourite pictures of the photoshoot - and, what's more, I could get loads at once.

By now I had figured out the right angles, so using a video gave me the freedom to test out different poses.

And test, I did. And then spent ages afterwards screenshotting every video 10 times.

These were probably the most natural pictures I got, as I didn't have to pose and press the button so many times.

The closest, I think, to having a partner there with a camera.

'Pretend to grab the camera' selfie - 3/5

I also tried another selfie trick - pretending to grab the camera as I took the snaps

This allowed me to get some fun close-ups and shots in busy, historic places

I also tried another selfie trick - pretending to grab the camera as I took the snaps.

This was cute, and allowed me to get some fun close-ups and shots in busy, historic places such as the Plaza de Mayor and outside the Royal Palace.

It took me some time to figure out how to hold the camera, as it often made my arm look awkward or my background distorted.

But once I figured it out, I got some fun selfies. Although, it must be noted, they were very much selfies, and didn't stand in for having a photographer with me.

They definitely screamed 'solo trip' - it was clear I took the pictures myself.

Just ask - 4/5 (although depends on who you ask)

If all else fails, though, there's one photography technique that stands the test of time: asking a passerby to take your photograph

The results, luckily, were fab. Plus, they meant I could get cultural landmarks in the background, such as the Prado museum and a famous chocolate and churros shop

If all else fails, though, there's one photography technique that stands the test of time.

This one I didn't find on social media - my inspiration was my Boomer grandparents, who have no qualms asking a passerby to take a picture of them wherever they are.

Sometimes, many of us will agree, this pictures turn out awfully. It truly depends who you ask. And you always want to exercise caution, as you never know if someone's going to run off with your phone.

I was judicious in my selection of photographer, targeting women around my own age who were either dressed stylishly, taking their own photos or in a group of travellers who appeared to be taking similarly Instagram-appropriate photos.

The results, luckily, were fabulous. Plus, they meant I could get cultural landmarks in the background, such as the Prado museum and a famous chocolate and churros shop.

You can always offer to return the favour if the photos are especially good.
Britain's Got Talent guest judge Stacey Solomon was reportedly left horrified after a stunt left one act 'dripping with blood' last week.

The TV personality, 36, stepped in at the last minute to replace Simon Cowell, 66, after he suffered a nasty fall ahead of auditions in Birmingham, before filming moved to Blackpool and yet another show hopeful was left injured.

Taking to the stage was an American daredevil who walked naked through a tunnel of electric hedge trimmers as Stacey 'screamed and hid her eyes'.

Despite completing the stunt, one blade badly cut his arm with footage of the grizzly accident leaking online.

A member of the audience said: 'He laughed it off like it wasn't an issue but was hiding his arm behind his back. When he let it drop you could see blood covering his arm and then he accidentally smeared it on his belly.

'Stacey seemed really shocked, especially when fellow judge KSI talked about giving it a go and she begged him not to.'

Britain's Got Talent guest judge Stacey Solomon was reportedly left horrified after a stunt left one act 'dripping with blood' last week

Later in Blackpool knife throwing act Alfredo Silva injured his wife Coral (pictured together) while rehearsing backstage, forcing an ambulance to be called

Later in Blackpool knife throwing act Alfredo Silva injured his wife Coral while rehearsing backstage, forcing an ambulance to be called.

The source told the The Sun: '[Coral] was treated by medics and decided to continue with their audition, but the crew were nervous something might go wrong again in front of the judges and the audience'.

The Daily Mail have contacted ITV for comment.

Last week Simon revealed his absence from the Britain's Got Talent auditions was because he fell down a flight of stairs.

The TV judge was unable to attend the first two days of filming in Birmingham before reappearing on day three and sporting a bruise on his forehead but no explanation was given.

But Simon revealed the cause of his absence during the auditions in Blackpool when a choir made up of ambulance workers took to the stage.

According to The Sun, Amanda said the ambulance workers might be there in case anything went wrong with Simon again.

He replied: 'I fell down some steps... and I bumped my head but I'm fine now.

Taking to the stage was an American daredevil who walked naked through a tunnel of electric hedge trimmers as Stacey 'screamed and hid her eyes'

Despite completing the stunt, one blade badly cut his arm with footage of the grizzly accident leaking online

The TV personality, 36, stepped in at the last minute to replace Simon Cowell , 66, after he suffered a nasty fall ahead of auditions in Birmingham

'I wish you had been around a couple of weeks ago when I actually bashed my head. Seriously  no one sang for me then!'

A source added: 'Simon bumped his head when he stumbled on some steps. It's the sort of thing that can happen to anyone. And, thankfully, he's absolutely fine now.'

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives of Simon Cowell for comment.

Simon previously suffered a terrifying fall in 2017 that forced him to pull out of The X Factor live shows.

The star explained he had fainted due to 'low blood pressure', and vowed to start 'taking good care of himself' from now on, for the sake of his son Eric, who was three at the time.

Simon admitted the horrific fall had reminded him he was not 'invincible', and that he has a 'responsibility' to take control of his health as a father.

The media mogul also broke his back in 2020 after a near-fatal e-bike crash. He was thrown off the bike when he was testing the vehicle at his home in Malibu, California.

He underwent extensive surgery after the shock accident including having a metal rod put in his back to stabilise it and he has overhauled his lifestyle in the years since.
The Maids (Donmar Warehouse, London)

Verdict: When excess is less

Rating:

Jean Genets 1947 power play, inspired by the real-life battering to death of a mother and daughter by their two servants in the Thirties, has always been a tricky show to pull off.

Writer and director Kip Williams, who ingeniously reimagined The Picture Of Dorian Gray with Sarah Snook, once again shakes up a classic for our self-obsessed, smart-phoned, image-conscious age.

Its a visual assault: frenzied, giddying, wildly extravagant.

Behind the diaphanous drapes enclosing a deluxe boudoir  a hothouse of overblown blooms  a young woman (Lydia Wilson) poses in designer undies. An influencer with 28.4 millions followers, she is ordering her maid (Phia Saban, in a shapeless shift) to get this gown, that wig, her breathless stream of commands punctuated by her disgust at the maids pig face  and her own worries that, horror of horrors, she herself looks like Im 30.

Sparkling-eyed avatars: Madame (Yerin Ha, foreground) and her maid (Lydia Wilson), in front of the giant projections which characterise Kip Williams's production

Absurdly self-dramatising, she is always peering into a mirror or taking a selfie, one moment parading to the tune of Tchaikovskys Sugarplum Fairy, the next languishing to Mozarts Requiem. And all the while, the meek maid scurries around, her obedience and adoration complicated by unmasked hatred and contempt.

Behind them loom massive blown-up projections of their faces, distorted by smartphone filters, trout-pouting, sparkling-eyed avatars, hideous and hilarious and scary  and more real than their unfiltered selves.

All feels horribly credible until one of them slips up on the others name and it suddenly becomes clear that this is a game  of sorts. While their Mistress is away, these sisters take turns to play the abuser and the enslaved...and fantasise about ending it all by poisoning her tea.

When Madame's away...The maids (Lydia Wilson and Phia Saban) are out of control

The ceremony is cut short by real Madames return. What had appeared to be a parody as presented by her maid, is seen as all too real. Indeed, Madame (Yerin Ha) uses the same phrases, strikes the same poses, now abusive, now patronising (Youre really lucky to be nobody in this world), oblivious to anything but her own deluded overblown invincible ego.

Its all superbly done  and at an astonishing lick. But overdone, and all on one excessive note, drowning plot, tension, emotion. Too much. Too little.

The Maids runs at the Donmar Warehouse until November 29.

Land Of The Living (Dorfman Theatre)

Verdict: When kindness is cruelty

Rating:

Was what I did wrong? asks Ruth. A conflicted, devastated, devastating Juliet Stevenson plays Ruth, now in her sixties but who, aged 20, was a UN relief worker in post-war Germany tasked with rehoming some of thousands of children displaced from all over Eastern Europe by the Nazis. Imperfect children were killed. The perfect Aryan types were placed with Nazi-supporting families in an endeavour to create a master race.

Though somewhat laboriously revealed in David Lans intriguing, important new play at the National Theatre, this is essential exposition.

When an adult man - Ruth recognises him immediately as a child she had become particularly attached to - arrives at her London home some 45 years on, he wants answers or, at the very least, an explanation.

Boy wonder: Artie Wilkinson-Hunt (Young Thomas) gives a tremendous performance opposite Juliet Stevenson (Ruth) in The Land Of The Living at the National Theatre

Ruth summons the past in a series of flashbacks, playing herself over the decades. Superbly.

She had identified ten-year-old Thomas as one of the displaced children, adopted as a baby by a childless Nazi couple, and found him a home in the States.

Grown-up Thomas (Tom Wlaschiha, Game Of Thrones's mysterious Jaqen H'ghar) has become a concert pianist. But he evidently believes he has lost more than he has gained: his family, his culture, his sense of who he truly is - and Ruth. I longed for you. I was some Kraut kid you found not to your taste and flung back, he says.

Meanwhile, in one of the most accomplished performances by a child I have ever seen, Artie Wilkinson-Hunts young Thomas finds both an arresting stillness and a ferocious energy as ten-year-old Thomas. In mute rage, he hurls metal plates across the stage, kicks out a window, spits and bites. It is only when a sweet soldier asks him about his dog that Ruth discovers he is Polish.

Boy to man: Thomas (Game of Thrones' Tom Wlaschiha), now a concert pianist, tracks down Ruth (played by Juliet Stevenson) 40 years after their first meeting, looking for answers

Later, when Soviet soldiers arrive to seize the children, he clings to Ruth, calling her his mama. No wonder this boy tests Ruths professional detachment to the hilt.

Nevertheless, she does what was considered to be the humanitarian thing and finds him a new home abroad. Could she, should she, have found his real family? Did she do the right thing for Thomas? For herself?

The Land Of The Living runs at the National Theatre's Dorfman until November 1.

Ragdoll, (Jermyn Street Theatre)

Verdict: Revenge served hot

Rating:

A vast, immaculate cream leather sofa stretches across the tiny Jermyn Street stage, which is otherwise piled high with cardboard boxes.

Nathaniel Parkers raddled Bobby, somehow still believing hes Someone, is moving out of his apartment. But before he goes, he has summoned Holly, a woman he has not spoken to for decades; so he can ask her to do him a favour.

Why has Abigail Cruttendens Holly, poised and sleek in her silk shirt, navy trousers and classy jewellery, obeyed his command and driven 200 miles in the sweltering California heat, only to be offered a glass of water and forbidden from sitting on his status-symbol couch? Former lovers? Unfinished business?

The tables have turned: Heiress Holly (Katie Matsell) and lawyer Bobby (Ben Lamb), who failed to keep her out of jail; and their older selves (Abigail Cruttenden and Nathaniel Parker)

All is revealed in Katherine Moars sparky, deftly-written 70-minute play which imagines several meetings, some 40 years apart, between media heiress Patty Hearst (renamed Holly) and the hot-shot, fabulously expensive attorney employed by her parents after Holly, a 19-year-old college girl, had been kidnapped by radical left-wing militants, raped and coerced into the armed robbery of a bank.

Bobbys dismal defence (he was hungover on the day of the closing argument, having dined with Hollywood stars) resulted in her 35-year prison sentence.

I never had your full attention, says Holly. You could have cried more, is Bobbys shameless excuse.

No thanks to Bobby, she was pardoned after two years. Now the tables are turned. He is on trial for bad behaviour and her good word would help.

Set in two time zones, the play juxtaposes the characters as they were in the Seventies with the people they became. Katie Matsell is wholly convincing as the goofy teen in a prison overall, chewing her fingers and jabbering to cocky Bobby (Ben Lamb), all side-burns and swank.

In the final scene of Josh Seymours gripping, nimble production, the younger characters interact with their older selves and the play fizzes with theatricality. A person can choose not to be a victim, but once a louse, always a louse.

Ragdoll runs at the Jermyn Street Theatre in London until November 15.
They've been the subject of romance rumours for months.

And photos of Barry 'Bear' Myrden and Samantha Armytage on the set of The Golden Bachelor are only adding fuel to the saucy whispers.

Photos taken in March show Bear, 61, arriving at a paddock in Glenworth Valley for a group date, set to air on Monday night, with a bevy of glamorous contestants  only to get handsy with the show's host Samantha, 49.

Bear and Samantha are seen riding up to the group on horses, before Bear jumped off and turned back to help Samantha dismount.

Bear then wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist and lowered her onto the ground as she faced away from him.

Brushing off the close encounter, Samantha straightened up and addressed the contestants before leading her horse away.

Photos of Barry 'Bear' Myrden, 61, and Samantha Armytage, 49, on the set of The Golden Bachelor back in March have added fuel to romance rumours

Bear and Samantha are seen riding up to the group on horses, before Bear jumped off and turned back to help Samantha dismount by wrapping his arms around her derriere

Brushing off the close encounter, Samantha straightened up and addressed the contestants before leading her horse away

Samantha dressed in chic riding attire for the scene, sporting an unbuttoned white shirt, grey trousers and brown riding boots

Samantha dressed in chic riding attire for the scene, sporting an unbuttoned white shirt, grey trousers and brown riding boots.

Meanwhile, hunky Bear wore a checked white shirt that clung to his muscular frame, paired with jeans.

The group date began with a champagne toast, before the contestants embarked on a short horse riding expedition together.

Later, Bear was spotted helping contestant Bianca Dye off her horse, wrapping his arm around her waist and playfully carrying her around.

Also spotted on the date was Abbie Chatfield's mother, Laura, as well as horse enthusiast Lauren, who rode her horse in a skimpy bikini top.

Terri, Katrina and Kim were also spotted on the date.

It comes as romance rumours continue to surround Bear and Samantha.

The pair first sparked whispers of an off-screen romance after making their red carpet debut at the Logies, where their close rapport was noticed by attendees.

Hunky Bear meanwhile wore a checked white shirt that clung to his muscular frame, paired with jeans

The group date began with a champagne toast, before the contestants embarked on a short horse riding expedition together

Later, Bear was spotted helping contestant Bianca Dye off her horse, wrapping his arm around her waist and playfully carrying her around

Bianca giggled as Bear took her for a spin

Bear playfully spun around with the blonde in his arms

Also spotted on the date was Abbie Chatfield's mother Laura, as well as horse enthusiast Lauren who rode her horse in a skimpy bikini top

Bear attended the Golden Bachelor premiere in Sydney on Monday, where he couldn't help but gush about his co-star in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail.

'She was sensational. She was great,' Bear said of Samantha's time hosting the inaugural season.

'I used her as a mentor the whole way through and she said, "follow your heart," which I did.'

However, when asked about all of the rumours regarding his relationship with the TV star, he was quick to put them to bed.

'Yeah, well, that's to be expected,' he said of the speculation, adding: 'Let's just say they are rumours.'

The Golden Bachelor co-stars appeared to avoid being photographed together on Monday at the KIIS FM Studio in Sydney as speculation about their relationship continues to swirl.

The pair kept their interactions minimal, avoiding eye contact and conversation as they left The Kyle and Jackie O Show studios.

Last month, Samantha was forced to address rumours that she had got cosy with Bear after the pair's red carpet debut at the Logies sparked whispers of an off-screen romance.

It comes as romance rumours continue to surround Bear and Samantha

The pair first sparked whispers of an off-screen romance after making their red carpet debut at the Logies , where their close rapport was noticed by attendees

Bear attended the Golden Bachelor premiere in Sydney on Monday where he couldn't help but gush about his co-star in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail

'She was sensational. She was great,' Bear said of Samantha's time hosting the inaugural season. 'I used her as a mentor the whole way through and she said, "follow your heart," which I did'

The Golden Bachelor co-stars meanwhile appeared to avoid being photographed together on Monday at the KIIS FM Studio in Sydney as speculation about their relationship continues to swirl

The pair kept their interactions minimal, avoiding eye contact and conversation as they left The Kyle and Jackie O Show studios

Last month, Samantha was forced to address rumours that she had got cosy with Bear after the pair's red carpet debut at the Logies sparked whispers of an off-screen romance

Speaking on Nova's Chrissie Swan Show, the Sunrise alum and new host of Channel Nine's dating experiment laughed off suggestions she and the silver fox had become more than colleagues

Speaking on Nova's Chrissie Swan Show, the Sunrise alum and new host of Channel Nine's dating experiment laughed off suggestions she and the silver fox had become more than colleagues.

'Well, you can't host the show and then steal the Golden Bachelor. Hello. That wouldn't be much fun would it?' Sam quipped when asked if she'd ever considered taking advantage of her 'staff discount.'
Today show star Sarah Abo has reportedly hired a celebrity dealmaker to handle negotiations with Nine amid bombshell claims Samantha Armytage could replace her.

The TV presenter, 39, has hired celebrity accountant Anthony Bell to assist with her contract negotiations, Sunday Confidential has reported.

This is the first time Abo has had another person formally represent her.

Bell is known for his work with several high-profile clients including Michael Clarke, Karl Stefanovic, Alli Langdon and David Warner.

According to sources, Abo and her co-host Karl Stefanovic haven't signed their contracts yet but the 'deal is all but done'.

Abo currently makes $800,000 a year, according to Mediaweek, while Stefanovic landed himself a $3 million per year contract.

Today show star Sarah Abo (pictured) has reportedly hired a celebrity dealmaker to handle negotiations with Nine amid bombshell claims Samantha Armytage could replace her

The TV presenter, 39, has hired celebrity accountant Anthony Bell to assist with her contract negotiations, Sunday Confidential has reported. Pictured Bell and his wife Annika

It comes amid news of a potential shake-up, with many viewers arguing it would be a mistake for Nine to give Abo's Today chair to Armytage.

'Karlos and Sarah are just fine atm. No need to change,' one offered.

Another suggested there had already been too many personnel changes announced at the network.

'The one thing Today doesn't need is another presenter change, from the change at sport, to a new Weekend Today line-up next year, it's in for a lot of change,' the viewer said.

'Changing out Sarah is not necessary. I don't believe it will help the ratings.'

One said that the potential move could backfire on Nine, especially if the Armytage-hosted Golden Bachelor fails to win over fans.

'They would want to be careful about putting Sam in their show, as you never know. The Golden Bachelor might rate terribly, and it could be an embarrassment to put her on Today if the show isn't good,' they said.

Others were quick to claim that Armytage would be a perfect addition to the Today team.

Abo makes $800,000 a year, according to Mediaweek, while her co-host Karl Stefanovic (left) landed himself a $3 million per year contract

'I for one would love to see Sam back on morning television,' a viewer offered.

'Her fun personality and versatile ability as a host makes her perfect for the format.'

According to The Australian, Nine is banking on the 'Armytage effect' which saw Sunrise score a ratings victory when Armytage joined the program in 2013.

Armytage left Sunrise in 2021 and has gone on to helm Farmer Wants A Wife and the upcoming Golden Bachelor.

Nine CEO Matt Stanton did little to dispel the chatter regarding Abo's future at Today, giving The Australian a coy response when asked if Armytage was stepping into the role alongside Stefanovic.

'I don't know. I'm not into that level to be honest, I haven't seen that level of detail,' Stanton told the publication this week.

Abo joined Today in 2023, replacing outgoing host Allison Langdon.

Langdon had announced her departure in 2022. She then stepped into the hosting role at A Current Affair, replacing long-time presenter Tracy Grimshaw.

It comes amid news of the potential shake-up generated much chatter, with many viewers arguing it would be a mistake for Nine to give Abo's Today chair to Armytage (pictured)

Abo's reported recent push for a bigger pay packet is part of the motivation for the switchup, The Australian claimed.

Stefanovic has recently been offered a multi-million, multi-year deal by Nine, but the network is keeping an eye on the ratings under Karl's reign.

The breakfast show host reportedly landed himself a $3 million per year contract, according to The Australian in June.

'Nine sources tell us the network's top brass have just finished passing a hat around at their Denison St headquarters in North Sydney and have managed to scrape together enough loose change to offer him a contract worth about $3 million a year,' the paper's Media Diary wrote of Stefanovic's pay packet.

Sitting on a $2.8 million a year contract at the time, Stefanovic was rumoured to see a significant increase in his pay as he continued to front the successful breakfast show.

According to the publication, Nine is said to have given in to the TV presenter's demands after he threatened to walk away if they offered a lower amount on a new contract.

The news came as a shock considering rival breakfast hosts Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington make a meagre $2 million between them.
The Block auction descended into chaos on Saturday after a protester stormed the site.

As auctions in the rural Victorian town of Daylesford got underway, an environmental protester named Zac climbed a nearby tree and made wild accusations against the producers.

He slammed the Channel Nine show for offering no benefit to Daylesford.

The activist also claimed locals were snubbed as production opened a sponsored McCafe on site instead of supporting nearby cafes.

At one point, the show's producers appeared to be talking to the protestor as he sat on the tree.

A woman was later seen joining him on the tree as he spoke through a megaphone.

The Block auction descended into chaos on Saturday after a protester stormed the site

As the auctions in Daylesford got underway, an environmental protester named Zac climbed a nearby tree and made wild accusations against the producers

The five homes that featured on the popular series went to auction on Saturday, with the results to be aired on Sunday night.

Viewers hoping for a surprise appearance from Adrian Portelli at the anticipated Block finale are set to be disappointed.

While hopeful bidders converged on the site in the rural Victorian town, Adrian was more than 800 kilometres away, touching down in Sydney in his private jet.

He made TV history in 2024 when he purchased all five Phillip Island properties on the renovation show for more than $15 million.

Earlier this year, the controversial Block bidder said he would not return, fuelling speculation that the network had shown him the door.

Scott Cam opened up about rumours surrounding Adrian being banned from the show earlier this month.

'We didn't ban him; that's something he [Adrian] said,' Scott announced on Fox 101.9's Fifi, Fev and Nick breakfast show.

Scott continued: 'It's a public auction, anyone can turn up, we just kindly said, "What do you reckon you had a good run on the auctions, why don't we leave it to some families to try and buy the houses".'

He slammed the Channel Nine show for offering no benefit to Daylesford

The activist also claimed locals were snubbed as production opened a sponsored McCafe on site instead of supporting nearby cafes

At one point, the show's producers appeared to be talking to the protestor as he sat on the tree

The five homes that featured on the popular series went to auction on Saturday, with the results to be aired on Sunday night

The protestor flashed a peace sign before speaking through a megaphone

He was dressed casually in jeans and a black jacket as he stormed the site

Ahead of the anticipated auction, Block stars gave their thoughts on Adrian's auction absence to Daily Mail and Nine's recent Upfronts event.

Emma and Ben appeared to have differing opinions on the situation, with Ben saying: 'I don't think he's coming, which is a shame for everyone.'

Emma, however, had a different take, interjecting with: 'I think it's great  it opens up the door for others.'

It was a similar sentiment shared by Robby and Mat, who welcomed a more open auction field.

'It opens the door for bigger and better players,' Mat said.

Sonny and Alicia, meanwhile, took a more laissez-faire approach to the situation.

'They've just asked to keep it open for everybody,' Alicia said.

'He'll do whatever he wants and I'm sure he'd be welcomed if he came.'

Sonny added: 'If he was to show up and buy someone's house, so be it.'
Jeff Brazier discussed how 'history is repeating itself' on Saturday as his eldest son Freddy prepares to welcome his first child.

Sharing his excitement to become a grandad, the presenter, 46, drew on the 'similarities' between himself and Freddy, 21, after he became at dad at the age 23 and explained that he knows exactly how it feels.

Freddy announced he was set to become a father last month as his then ex partner Holly Swinburn was pregnant, but they have since reconciled.

Jeff recalled how himself and his late partner Jade Goody had 'not really known each other for too long' when she fell pregnant.

Jade tragically died in 2009 from cervical cancer when her son's Freddy and Bobby, were just four and five years old.

Speaking to The Sun he said: 'I feel very excited to be a grandad soon. And weve been building a relationship with Holly and her family so that were all as connected and aligned as possible with regards to how we can support these two.'

Jeff Brazier discussed how 'history is repeating itself' on Saturday as his eldest son Freddy prepares to welcome his first child

The presenter, 46, drew on the 'similarities' between himself and Freddy, 21, after he became at dad at age 23 (Freddy pictured with girlfriend Holly)

Jeff continued: 'It is slightly intriguing actually when I think about the similarities about Jade and I having a child early, having not really known each other for too long before that. And then my mum had me when she was very young as well.

'If I could go back and do it all over again, then I would, just be a little bit less pressured. I dont feel like its on me for the outcome to be perfect.'

Freddy, who announced he was set to become a father with an ex-girlfriend last week, has suffered a turbulent year after a huge fall out with his nan Jackiey Budden, who he had lived with to seek solace from his father after they too had a bust up.

The family have made up in the wake of his baby news, with Jeff saying he will 'always be walking along side' Freddy.

However, in a new interview last week, Freddy said he's 'homeless' just months ahead of the birth of his first child and revealed his hope of naming baby after his late mum Jade, if he has a daughter.

Speaking to Closer magazine he said: 'I'm not living anywhere exactly. It's a bit of a complicated one. I'm just staying with my friends, couch surfing and loving life. I love a sofa and an air bed.'

He also hopes to honour his late mother Jade with his child's name.

He said: 'I actually think if the baby is a girl, I'll call her Jade. I think that would be really mad to do so, but I don't know. We might think of some other names, not that I prefer them, but no one can take that name away from me, so who knows?'

Jeff recalled how himself and his late partner Jade Goody had 'not really known each other for too long' when she fell pregnant (pictured in 2003)

Jeff said: 'I feel very excited to be a grandad soon. And weve been building a relationship with Holly and her family so that were all as connected and aligned as possible'

Jade, died in 2009 from cervical cancer , when her son's Freddy and Bobby, were just four and five years old (Freddy pictured right, with Bobby and mum Jade in 2006)

Freddy and Holly's brief relationship was understood to have ended acrimoniously following a string of rows but it was then said they had discussed reconciling their differences if possible, to become parents together.

And after reconciling, the couple put on a united front on the Pride of Britain red carpet at London's Grosvenor Hotel on Monday.

Mum-to-be Holly showcased her blossoming baby bump in a figure-hugging yellow gown, while Freddy placed a loving arm around her.

Jeff is said to be 'extremely supportive' alongside other close family and friends who have vowed to help him in any way they can.

The baby news will also delight the millions who fell in love with Freddy when he and his father appeared on Celebrity Race Across the World last year.

The pair were seen arguing about his and brother Bobby's upbringing during the 30-day trek.

In one scene Jeff stormed off after Freddy claimed they were 'not open' as a family, prompting his father to reply: 'What have I done for the last seven or eight years. You need to take responsibility, that is part of this.'

A friend told The Mail on Sunday of Freddy: 'It has blindsided him and has been one of the things that has really brought him and his dad back together but it's so devastating that Jade isn't here to see it.

'Jeff was one of the first people he decide to confide in to ask for advice, and he stepped up straight away and wanted to help in any way he could.'
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Kim Kardashian looked nearly unrecognizable as she dressed up as a viral TikTok star alongside her daughter North West and mom Kris Jenner for their Halloween costumes.

The 45-year-old TV personality - who recently revealed that she suffered a brain aneurysm - appeared in a variety of lighthearted clips uploaded to the joint TikTok account she shares with her 12-year-old daughter on Friday.

The SKIMS founder sported facial hair including a thin mustache as she portrayed influencer Jay Guapo while her eldest child cosplayed Pink Cardigan.

The pair have gone viral this year for their skits on the social media platform while also joined by who appears to be their mother Chrissy G.

Kim could be seen also wearing a vibrant blue blazer and leggings as well as a pair of loosened sneakers - a look that Jay has donned in videos.

The mom-of-four also donned a wig while North dressed up wearing a light pink cardigan as well as black leggings and comfy black shoes - channeling Pink Cardigan.

Kim Kardashian, 45, looked nearly unrecognizable as she dressed up as a viral TikTok star alongside her daughter North West and mom Kris Jenner for their Halloween costumes

The SKIMS founder sported facial hair including a mustache as she portrayed influencer Jay Guapo while her eldest child channeled Pink Cardigan

Kris had a blast as she joined in on the fun while dressing up as Chrissy G and also sported a long red wig as well as a black cardigan and fitted white leggings.

The TikTok stars have also gone viral for using water guns in public - which Kim and her daughter recreated with Kris in a video.

The trio were filmed running through what appeared to be a spacious and modern office space as they squirted water guns at each other.

Another showed the reality stars recreating a viral dance video that the influencers previously filmed.

Jay Guapo and Pink Cardigan discovered that the SKIMS founder and her family cosplayed them for Halloween - and Jay reposted a snippet of one clip to his TikTok page.

He also filmed his shocked reaction alongside Pink Cardigan as they sat next to each other on a plane.

Kim jumped to the comment section to reveal that she learned about the TikTok influencers through her daughter North.

'North put me on,' the American Horror Story: Delicate actress penned followed by a laughing face emoji.

Kris had a blast as she joined in on the fun while dressing up as Chrissy G and also sported a long red wig as well as a black cardigan and fitted white leggings

Kim could be seen also wearing a vibrant blue blazer and leggings as well as a pair of loosened sneakers - a look that Jay has donned in videos

The mom-of-four also donned a wig while North dressed up wearing a light pink cardigan as well as black leggings and comfy black shoes - channeling Pink Cardigan

The TikTok stars have also gone viral for using water guns in public - which Kim and her daughter recreated with Kris in a video

Another showed the reality stars recreating a viral dance video that the influencers previously filmed

Kim jumped to the comment section of Jay's repost to reveal that she learned about the TikTok influencers through her daughter North

Chrissy G also reported one of the clips shared by Kim and North and added te text, 'I would love to give a big shout out to Kim and North appreciate u mas.'

Jay responded by also writing in the comment section, 'We made it ma,' followed by crying face and red heart emojis.

Kim and her family are no strangers to going all out when it comes to their Halloween costumes.

Last year, the SKIMS founder made a statement as she dressed up as a sexy 'albino alligator.'

North also donned a Halloween costume last year and dressed up as Princess Tiana from Disney's Princess And The Frog.

Earlier this week, North sparked concern when she posted a series of videos to her joint TikTok account with her famous mom as she showed off fake face tattoos and grillz.

Her blue locks were styled into braids as the 12-year-old sported black grillz as well as a fake nose piercing.

'Fake piercings and fake tatts for life,' the preteen wrote in the caption of the one of the posts.

North also donned a Halloween costume last year and dressed up as Princess Tiana from Disney's Princess And The Frog

Earlier this week, North sparked concern when she posted a series of videos to her joint TikTok account with her famous mom as she showed off fake face tattoos and grillz

Some social media users speculated that the look could simply be a costume for Halloween while others had differing opinions.

'She's 12 years old by the way,' one penned, and another wrote, 'She can have a style, but this "style" looks ridiculously grown and not cute for a 12 year old. Would you want your daughter walking around like this?!'

A TikTok user also added, 'What in the Kanye West is happening?' and one shared, 'Tattoos? I mean if you like it totally do it, its really cute but at 12?'

Another typed out, 'How about go be a kid,' and one commented, 'She growing up a little to fast.'

North could also be seen sporting sparkling blue nails as well as blue eye contacts and what appeared to be fake eyelashes.

Kim recently clapped back after her eldest child was criticized by trolls over the look.

Kim recently clapped back after her eldest child was criticized by trolls over the look; seen earlier this month in London

The Kardashians star responded to a TikTok video uploaded by Daily Mail Australia which covered the backlash and penned in the comment section, 'This is such a non-issue'

The SKIMS founder - who celebrated her 45th birthday on October 21 - garnered a sweet tribute from daughter North

The Kardashians star responded to a TikTok video uploaded by Daily Mail Australia which covered the backlash and penned in the comment section, 'This is such a non-issue.'

The SKIMS founder - who celebrated her 45th birthday on October 21 - garnered a sweet tribute from daughter North days earlier.

Kim posted the message to Instagram which read: 'Happy birthday to my mom, I love you so much and I hope you have the best birthday ever. Thank you for always being there for me and supporting me!'

The star shares North as well as Saint, nine, Chicago, seven and Psalm, six, with ex-husband Kanye West.
Auction day on The Block has gone off with a bang.

The Blockheads gathered in the Victorian town of Daylesford with all the contestants arriving to the site on Saturday.

All five teams were onsite for their auctions, alongside Shelley Craft, Scott Cam and Marty Fox.

It looked to be an exciting - and emotional - day, as the five teams nervously put their houses up for sale, hoping to walk away with a tidy profit.

But one duo appeared very emotional as they left their property after the bidding.

Britt and her partner Taz embraced one another and appeared to break down in tears after the auction.

Auction day on The Block has gone off with a bang as the Blockheads gathered in the Victorian town of Daylesford with all the contestants arriving to the site on Saturday

Britt and her partner Taz embraced one another and appeared to break down in tears after the auction

Their positive reaction has hinted they could be the winners of this year's season

Their positive reaction has hinted they could be the winners of this year's season.

Britt looked glamorous for auction day in a long sparkly gold dress as she walked into her property ahead of the bidding.

They were also joined by Emma and Ben, who couldn't wipe the smile off their faces as they walked alongside one another.

Emma left little to the imagination in a revealing backless dress as she waved to fans.

Matt and Robby also looked dapper and appeared nervous as they waited for the final results.

Han and Can as well as Sonny and Alicia were also spotted onsite and held umbrellas as they walked to their homes.

Viewers hoping for a surprise appearance from Adrian Portelli at the anticipated Block finale are set to be disappointed.

While hopeful bidders converged on the site in the rural Victorian town, Adrian was more than 800 kilometres away, touching down in Sydney in his private jet.

Britt looked glamorous for auction day in a long sparkly gold dress as she walked into her property ahead of the bidding

All five teams were onsite for their auctions, alongside Shelley Craft, Scott Cam (pictured) and Marty Fox

They were also joined by Emma and Ben, who couldn't wipe the smile off their faces as they walked alongside one another

Emma left little to the imagination in a revealing backless dress

Matt and Robby also looked dapper and appeared nervous as they waited for the final results

Earlier this year, the controversial Block bidder said he would not return, fuelling speculation that the network had shown him the door.

Scott Cam opened up about rumours surrounding Adrian being banned from the show earlier this month.

'We didn't ban him; that's something he [Adrian] said,' Scott announced on Fox 101.9's Fifi, Fev and Nick breakfast show.

Scott continued: 'It's a public auction, anyone can turn up, we just kindly said, "What do you reckon you had a good run on the auctions, why don't we leave it to some families to try and buy the houses".'

Ahead of the anticipated auction, Block stars gave their thoughts on Adrian's auction absence to Daily Mail and Nine's recent Upfronts event.

Ben and Emma appeared to have differing opinions on the situation, with Ben saying: 'I don't think he's coming, which is a shame for everyone.'

Emma, however, had a different take, interjecting with: 'I think it's great  it opens up the door for others.'

It was a similar sentiment shared by Robby and Mat, who welcomed a more open auction field.

Han and Can put on stylish displays in power suits as they covered themselves from the rain with an umbrella

It looked liked an enjoyable outing for the reality TV stars

Sonny and Alicia looked stylish as they shielded themselves from the rain

It looked to be an exciting - and emotional - day, as the five teams nervously put their houses up for sale, hoping to walk away with a tidy profit

Not even the dreary weather conditions could dampen the mood of the excited contestants

He made TV history in 2024 when he purchased all five Phillip Island properties on the renovation show for more than $15 million.

'It opens the door for bigger and better players,' Mat said.

Sonny and Alicia, meanwhile, took a more laissez-faire approach to the situation.

'They've just asked to keep it open for everybody,' Alicia said.

'He'll do whatever he wants and I'm sure he'd be welcomed if he came.'

Sonny added: 'If he was to show up and buy someone's house, so be it.'
Megan Fox flaunted her incredible figure in an eye-catching ensemble - just seven months after giving birth to her and Machine Gun Kelly's child.

The 39-year-old actress - who has reportedly reunited with the Bad Things rapper following their dramatic split last year - was spotted exiting a Q+A event in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The Transformers star welcomed daughter Saga Blade earlier this year in March - after her breakup from MGK. She is also mom to Noah, 13, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, nine, whom she shares with ex-husband Brian Austin Green.

Megan made a statement wearing a nude-colored dress with a corset bodice and skirt with ruched fabric around her lower waist.

A thigh-high slit could be seen on the right side for a sultry flare while red-striped fabric was embroidered on the corset top.

Red-beaded details were placed around the neckline and scattered around the skirt portion which continued to add a pop of color.

Megan Fox, 39, flaunted her incredible figure in an eye-catching ensemble - just seven months after giving birth to her and Machine Gun Kelly's child

Megan accessorized the stylish look with a red choker necklace but opted to not add other flashy pieces of jewelry aside from a ring on her left hand.

Her dark locks were parted in the middle and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in light waves.

A warm blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow while a nude-colored satin tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.

The actress was spotted at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to attend an in-person screening of the 2009 cult classic Jennifer's Body - which she had taken a leading role in.

Megan also joined the director of the movie Karyn Kusama as they took part in a discussion with those in attendance at the event on Saturday.

While the movie garnered mixed reception upon its initial release, the film has since gathered a bigger fan following - with a sequel in the possible works.

During a recent interview with Deadline, Karyn talked about the 'fun and crazy' script that writer Diablo Cody is working on for a sequel. Diablo also penned the screenplay for the 2009 film.

'I know she's working on it right now, and I'm very excited to hear what comes of it,' the director said of Diablo.

The Transformers actress made a statement wearing a nude-colored dress with a corset bodice and skirt with ruched fabric around her lower waist

During a recent interview with Deadline, Kusama talked about the 'fun and crazy' script that writer Diablo Cody is working on for a sequel. Diablo also penned the screenplay for the 2009 film

'I know some of the bones of it, so I'm not going to give anything away, but it sounds fun and crazy like the first film. And I have no doubt that Diablo will do something absolutely incredible with it.'

Alongside Fox, other stars that had appeared in the 2009 cult classic include Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody, Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons and Kyle Gallner.

Back in June, Amanda and Adam reunited for Variety's Actors on Actors and the pair talked about their roles in Jennifer's Body - and the possibility of a sequel.

'We're making another one,' the actress told Adam and then asked him if he was 'going to do it?'

The Nobody Wants This star explained that his character died in the movie, but Amanda said, 'But so did Megan, and I'm not doing it without her.'

Further details of the sequel to Jennifer's Body is not yet known.

Megan's latest outing comes just one day after it was reported that both she and MGK have reconciled following their split last year.

'They're together often, but he's going on tour soon,' a source told People, while also stating that is not known if the actress will join the music artist on the tour.

The Nobody Wants This star explained that his character died in the movie, but Amanda said, 'But so did Megan, and I'm not doing it without her'

Megan's latest outing comes just one day after it was reported that both she and MGK have reconciled following their split last year; seen in 2023 in L.A.

'He spends pretty much every night at her house with the baby, and they act like a couple, but they haven't put a label on it or made anything official.'

The insider added that the two stars have grown closer as they raise their baby girl.

'Megan's very happy with how he's stepped up for both her and the baby. While they still have separate homes, they spend a lot of time together as a family.'

The source further told the outlet, 'They're putting the baby first, and it's brought them closer in many ways. Things are great now. He's amazing with the baby and she very much enjoys spending time with him.'

Last month in September, the musician gushed how his baby girl Saga Blade has a very close resemblance to his famous baby mama.

The rapper opened up about co-parenting with his ex-fiancee during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show at the time.

The music artist is also already dad to teen daughter Casie, 16, whom he welcomed with ex Emma Canon.

'We go back and forth on who she looks like,' MGK explained. 'Last month, she looked exactly like me and now she looks exactly like her.'

'He spends pretty much every night at her house with the baby, and they act like a couple, but they haven't put a label on it or made anything official,' the source told the outlet

Last month in September, the musician gushed how his baby girl Saga Blade has a very close resemblance to his famous baby mama; the pair seen in 2021 in L.A.

The Bad Things hitmaker - whose real name is Colson Baker - then went on to call the Transformers star a 'phenomenal mom.'

He explained, 'I had it with a person who is the greatest partner, the greatest partner to have had a child with.'

MGK previously talked about the meaning behind Saga's name but further added to the host, 'So, my family is Norwegian and there's a Norwegian goddess called Saga and it means epic story.

'And so, we named her Saga because to get her on this Earth through highs and lows - it truly was an epic story of love, pain and a lot of magic.'

At the time, MGK jumped to social media to announce that the little one had been born and wrote, 'She's finally here!! our little celestial seed 3/27/25'

Earlier this year in March, MGK and Megan welcomed their first child together - after officially splitting in November 2024.

At the time, MGK jumped to social media to announce that the little one had been born and wrote, 'She's finally here!! our little celestial seed 3/27/25.'

The music artist also included a black and white video of the infant's tiny hand wrapping around one of his fingers.

MGK has since given other small glimpses of Saga on his Instagram page, including a snap of him holding the little one which was taken through the reflection of a car window.
Shelley Craft was ready for action as she arrived for the massive finale of The Block.

As the auctions got underway, the judge appeared to be in great spirits, and looked absolutely luminous in a red, silk matching set.

The 49-year-old opted for a cropped blouse under a matching blazer, and added trousers, all in the same shining fabric.

She added a gold choker and hoop earrings, completing the look with towering gold heels.

For makeup, Shelley chose a clean palette with a pink lipstick, and wore her blonde hair down around her face.

Also in tow was host Scott Cam, who was all business in a blue blazer and green dress shirt.

Shelley Craft (pictured) was ready for action as she arrived for the massive finale of The Block

As the auctions got underway, the judge appeared to be in great spirits, and looked absolutely luminous in a red, silk matching set

The 49-year-old opted for a cropped blouse under a matching blazer, and added trousers, all in the same shining fabric

Judge Marty Fox brought along his family, and was rocking hipster chic in a white T-shirt worn along with a blue suit.

It comes after news that viewers hoping for a surprise appearance from Adrian Portelli at the anticipated Block finale are set to be disappointed.

While hopeful bidders converged on the site in the rural Victorian town, Adrian was more than 800 kilometres away, touching down in Sydney in his private jet.

Earlier this year, the controversial Block bidder said he would not return, fuelling speculation that the network had shown him the door.

Scott Cam opened up about rumours surrounding Adrian being banned from the show earlier this month.

'We didn't ban him; that's something he [Adrian] said,' Scott announced on Fox 101.9's Fifi, Fev and Nick breakfast show.

Scott continued: 'It's a public auction, anyone can turn up, we just kindly said, "What do you reckon you had a good run on the auctions, why don't we leave it to some families to try and buy the houses".'

Ahead of the anticipated auction, Block stars gave their thoughts on Adrian's auction absence to Daily Mail and Nine's recent Upfronts event.

She added a gold choker and hoop earrings, completing the look with towering gold heels

For makeup, Shelley chose a clean palette with a pink lipstick, and wore her blonde hair down around her face

Also in tow was host Scott Cam (pictured), who was all business in a blue blazer and green dress shirt

He completed his ensemble with brown boots

Judge Marty Fox brought along his family. All pictured

He was rocking hipster chic in a white T-shirt worn along with a blue suit

Ben and Emma appeared to have differing opinions on the situation, with Ben saying: 'I don't think he's coming, which is a shame for everyone.'

Emma, however, had a different take, interjecting with: 'I think it's great  it opens up the door for others.'

It was a similar sentiment shared by Robby and Mat, who welcomed a more open auction field.

Adrian made TV history in 2024 when he purchased all five Phillip Island properties on the renovation show for more than $15 million.

'It opens the door for bigger and better players,' Mat said.

Sonny and Alicia, meanwhile, took a more laissez-faire approach to the situation.

'They've just asked to keep it open for everybody,' Alicia said.

'He'll do whatever he wants and I'm sure he'd be welcomed if he came.'
She instantly became a pop culture icon after bursting into the public eye as loudmouthed Page 3 girl, Jordan.

Having tried her hand at modelling, singing, presenting, campaigning and reality TV, the glamour model quickly became a household name in Britain.

Yet while Katie Price's moniker will ring a bell for both young and old, you would be forgiven for not recognising the star on sight alone, with Katie famously undergoing numerous cosmetic procedures over the years.

After two decades in the spotlight, Katie is almost unrecognisable from the naturally pretty teenager who burst on to the modelling scene at the age of 16, with her natural curls and fresh-faced beauty winning her an army of fans.

Katie, now 47, has undergone an array of procedures over the years, including rhinoplasty, a silhouette facelift, 3D, veneers, lip fillers and Botox, culminating in her first facelift in 2017.

Now, after two decades under the surgeon's scalpel, the Daily Mail takes a look at the many faces of Katie Price.

The many faces of Katie Price: The Daily Mail takes a look at the star's changing look after two decades of boob jobs, Botox and face lifts

1995 - Barefaced beauty

At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling.

At a friend's suggestion, the teenager had professional photographs taken and was quickly snapped up by a modelling agency who landed her a Page 3 slot in The Sun newspaper the following year, sparking the creation of her glamour model alter ego, Jordan.

Speaking last year, Katie revealed she was glad that she wasn't exposed to social media at the time as she had 'no idea what Botox was or fillers', otherwise she may have started her tweaks and enhancements at an even earlier age.

1995: At the age of 17, Katie Price was a fresh-faced natural beauty looking to make it into the world of glamour modelling

1998 - First boob job

Having just turned 20, the rising glamour model experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C.

The procedure cost 4,500 and it's thought her mum Amy and stepdad Paul helped pay for her to have the procedure.

Katie has since spoken out about her decision to go under the knife, admitting she was 'too young' and that she feels sorry for young girls growing up these days in a world of social media and filters.

1998: Having just turned 20, Katie experienced her first taste of cosmetic surgery, boosting her 32B cup breasts to a 32C

1999 - Second and third boob job

Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures the following year at the age of 21.

Katie boosted her bust from a C cup to a D cup and just a few months later went up again to an F cup.

Katie has previously claimed that she has only paid for two of her boob jobs over the course of her career - it is not known if these were the ones.

1999: Despite having only just increased her breast size, Katie opted to have two more procedures at the age of 21

2001 - Lip fillers

At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers.

While the glamour model did not confirm the rumours at the time, she was seen sporting a noticeably fuller pout while out enjoying the party scene.

Her overall look had also started drastically transforming, with the model sporting dramatic false lashes, bright lipstick and pale hair extensions.

2001: At the age of 21, Katie had her first cosmetic procedure on her face, opting for lip fillers

2004 - Botox

Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

She made no secret of her love of the procedure, announcing at the time: 'I get my forehead and around my eyes Botoxed every six months and I love it. You can't beat it. It just freezes all the wrinkles and that's what you want.'

At the time, Katie insisted she would never take things further and have a facelift, explaining: 'I'd never have a full facelift. I've seen what they can do to people and I don't want to go through that.'

2004: Aged 26, Katie began to experiment with Botox injections that relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines

2006 - Fourth boob job

Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup.

The glamour model also played around with her overall look and embraced her dark side with a new brunette hairstyle.

She also continued to dabble with fillers and Botox.

2006: Katie went under the knife yet again to take her F cup breasts up to a G cup

2007 - First nose job and veneers

At the age of 29, Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and treating herself to a 25,000 set of new veneers.

'Oh my God, it burned like hell!' she said at the time. 'The next day I had this hideous red rash on my chin but two days later there wasn't a single spot left.'

Speaking about her nose job at the time, she admitted to liking her original nose, explaining: 'I liked my nose before and now. If I had a cupboard with both noses, I would alternate between them!'

2007: Katie took her love of surgery to the next level, undergoing rhinoplasty, a chemical peel and a 25,000 set of veneers

2008 - Fifth boob job

Despite gradually increasingly her bust size over the year, Katie fancied a change on her 30th and brought her bra size back down from an F cup to a C cup.

The procedure meant that Katie had returned to the size of her first boob job ten years prior.

Katie's changing shape also coincided with the launch of her first clothing line - an equestrian range.

2008: Despite gradually increasingly her bust size, Katie fancied a change and brought her bra size back down to a C cup

2011 - Sixth boob job

Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup.

Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers.

The Loose Women panelist admitted that she loved having her cheeks filled to give her a 'plumper, more youthful look'.

2011: Katie's smaller chest didn't last long, and at age 33 she went back under the knife again to boost her bust to an F cup

2015 - Seventh and eighth boob job

Just before appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, the reality star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast and an implant protruding from her flesh.

Katie told her shocked housemates: 'Ive got no tits anymore. Theyve gone. Theres not even anything there. If you saw what Im like underneath. The scars gone septic. My whole implant was hanging out on New Years Day.'

Shortly after leaving the Big Brother house she underwent corrective surgery and had her implants swapped for a D-cup.

2015: Just before Celebrity Big Brother, the star had a botched boob reduction that left her with a hole in her breast

2016 - Ninth boob job and tattooed makeup

Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie was undeterred and flew to a Brussels clinic to go under the knife yet again, this time settling on a 32GG bust.

The reality star also had her eyebrows and lips tattooed, also known as 'permanent make-up', explaining that she prefers to go make-up free on a day-to-day basis.

Additionally the star has regular facial treatments, last year sharing a bloodied selfie after having a dermal roller micro-needling treatment, which sees a dermaroller with many tiny needles rolled across into the skin - designed to stimulate cells into regeneration.

2016: Despite her surgery horror the year before, Katie flew to a Brussels clinic to get another boob job, this time a 32GG cup

2017 - First face lift, new veneers and 10th boob job

Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word undergoing a 'Silhouette' face lift.

The procedure is designed to lift sagging cheeks and a blurred jawline, using 'sutures' implanted under the skin to sculpt features.

However, Katie was soon spotted with puffy features, revealing that she suffered an allergic reaction to anesthetic penicillin after having further work on her veneers. She also had her breast implants reduced from 1000ml implants to 795ml.

2017: Despite insisting she would never have a face lift and could rely on Botox, Katie went back on her word

2018 - Second face lift

Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40 to correct it.

She said at the time 'I need to get my face re-corrected after a surgeon has totally f**ked my face up', admitting it had.

Her agent added: 'She had the thread and it really quite distorted her look. She got a lot of backlash, a lot of negative press, a lot of trolling, everyone saying shed taken it too far, when actually it was a job that had not gone to plan.'

2018: Katie claimed her first face lift had been a botched job and went back under the knife the following year aged 40

2019 - Third face lift, first Brazilian bum lift and 11th boob job

Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her entire look with a full body transformation.

The reality star opted for a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck.

Just three months later she returned to the clinic and opted for another boob job, going back down to a D cup.

2019: Katie jetted to Turkey to overhaul her look with a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift along with a tummy tuck

2020 - 12th boob job and another set of veneers

Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers and revealed her real teeth had been reduced to stubs as she flashed a smile on her YouTube channel.

The mother-of-five then jetted to Belgium to correct botched surgery on her breasts, saying her surgeon was utterly shocked by the 'awful' previous procedure.

Katie said: 'They looked deformed, they were absolutely awful. That's the first time I've gone to a different surgeon. I had to go back to Frank with my head down, ashamed that I'd been to another clinic.'

2020: Katie returned to Turkey to have another set of veneers then jetted to Belgium to correct a botched boob job

2021 - Liposuction, eye and lid lifts and 13th boob job

Amid the Covid pandemic, Katie jetted off to then red-list Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, and fat injected into her bum.

The reality star also visited Belgium to have her 13th boob job as well as full body liposuction with bum fat removal.

The plastic surgery - performed by Dr Frank Plovier - came just five days ahead of the glamour model's sentencing for her shocking drink-drive crash.

2021: Katie jetted to Turkey for a complete cosmetic surgery overhaul, undergoing full body liposuction, eye and lip lifts

2022 - Another brow and eye lift

Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium at the beginning of 2022 for an eye and brow lift and had been concealing her new look with her head in a bandage.

Dr Judy Todd, an aesthetic doctor at Clinica Medica in Glasgow, said: 'It appears like she's had a face lift, temporal brow lift, and possibly an upper blepharoplasty.'

It was reported last month that Katie plans to travel to Turkey imminently for yet more plastic surgery, amid claims she wanted to get some tweaks in after being unhappy with her latest work.

Sian Dellar, Brow Specialist and Founder of Sian Dellar Permanent Makeup Clinic, added: 'Katie's eyebrows, like the rest of her, have changed lots over the years!

'Back in the 90s she had a very thin over plucked brow which was the fashion at the time, and today she has an extremely thick and unnatural looking brow.

'Currently it seems the face or eye lift that shes had have pulled her brows outward which looks unnatural and makes the brows appear almost stretched.

'Of course, as with any enhancement, its personal preference but we recommend not going too many shades darker, and keeping the shape as natural looking as possible and work to create or enhance brows to frame the face.

'Katies choice to have them so thick and dark and in that unusual positioning means they dominate her face and are the first thing the eye is drawn to. I would love to see Katie take her brows back to 2015/2016 when the fuller brow became a big trend. She got it right then and they framed her face well.'

2022: Katie secretly jetted back to Belgium for an eye and brow lift and is planning to travel to Turkey for more surgery

2023 - 16th and 'biggest ever' boob job

It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th.

The star went under the knife in a bid to have the 'biggest in Britain' and was subsequently pictured being wheeled into surgery at the Be Clinic in Belgium.

She is said to have wanted even bigger breasts, opting for 2120 CC implants in a bid to boost her already large bust size.

Katie told OK! magazine of her boobs: 'I love them. They healed really quickly and they didn't hurt at all. That probably doesn't help. Because I heal quickly, it doesn't put me off and I have more.

'I would go bigger as well  and I will eventually. I just love having big boobs and a small body. I've always loved that look. In my eyes, if I'm having a boob job, I want them to look fake, I don't want them to look natural. I don't like the natural look.

'I just like that old-school American Playboy pin-up look. When I have surgery, that is what I'm striving for. If I could look like my airbrushed pictures, that would be amazing. But that's impossible to achieve.'

2023: It's not clear if Katie lost track of the number of breast augmentations or opted to keep some of her surgery private but by 2023 it emerged she'd undergone her 16th boob job, two years after claiming to be on her 13th

2024 - MORE facial surgery

In July 2024 Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing.

The former glamour model was absent at a scheduled 760,000 bankruptcy court hearing having flown overseas for her latest cosmetic procedure.

A warrant was subsequently issued, with Katie admitting she's 'doing the best she can' to rectify her financial issues after receiving 'very clear warnings' that she needed to attend court.

2024: Katie confirmed she is travelling to Turkey for facial surgery, to be filmed for a new documentary, after failing to attend a bankruptcy hearing

2025 - Facelift 'tweaks'

In January 2025, Katie flew abroad for 'tweaks' to her sixth 10,000 face lift and documented the trip for a new YouTube video.

Katie, who was also getting a mini lift on her nose said she ignored the doctor's warnings about potential scarring and was just eager to get in and have her surgery.

After undergoing the tweaks to her facelift and nose, the surgery wasn't finished for Katie.

She had planned to get her ears pinned back to match her new taut visage, but after her blood pressure dropped during the surgery, the doctors advised she get the procedure the following day under local anesthetic.
Demi Moore has opened up about what it took for her to step into her 1996 role as an exotic dancer in Striptease.

The 62-year-old Golden Globe winner  who recently vowed to fight against the desexualization of older women  attended the New Yorker Festival on Saturday, where she discussed her decades-long acting career with journalist Jia Tolentino.

'I really feel like roles choose you as much as you choose them There is a thread that goes through, even if it's an unconscious one. I think mine tend to also challenge the status quo,' she said, per an account from The Mirror.

Demi admitted that her various roles have challenged her to confront her insecurities, specifically naming two if her later 90s films.

'There is a certain physicality, and I think that a lot of that was in an effort also for me to overcome some of my own issues around my body and my own discomfort in my own body,' she reflected.

She elaborated, 'Particularly the ones that were so physical, like G.I. Jane and Strip Tease, where I really knew that my body was a real pivotal part of the character.

'It pushed me to have to, in a sense, face myself and face that discomfort by knowing that it's going to be shared on a certain level. And I think The Substance did it in a different way at a different time.'

Demi Moore has opened up about what it took for her to step into her 1996 role as an exotic dancer in Striptease

Demi became the then-highest-paid actress in Hollywood when she received $12.5 million to lead the cast of Striptease

'There is a certain physicality, and I think that a lot of that was in an effort also for me to overcome some of my own issues around my body and my own discomfort in my own body,' she reflected; pictured in 1997's G.I. Jane

Demi held her tiny Chihuahua Pilaf in her hand while heading to the Festival on Saturday, held at Webster Hall.

She stepped out in style, clad in a monochrome green Yves Saint Laurent velvet suit and ruffled blouse.

Styled by Brad Goreski, the actress added towering black platform boots.

Demi accessorized with black-rimmed aviator eyeglasses as she carried a black leather YSL handbag.

Her ensemble was complemented with small gold hoop earrings and her lustrous jet black locks were bone straight and parted down the middle.

Last year the screen siren marked a career milestone as she picked up the Golden Globe for Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy category for her role in The Substance.

She also collected a SAG Award, Critics' Choice Award, plus BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for her part in the body horror film from director Coralie Fargeat.

Next she can be seen in season two of the Paramount+ drama Landman, premiering November 16.

The 62-year-old Golden Globe winner held the tiny Chihuahua in her hand while heading to the New Yorker Festival

She kept her pint-size pup close as she headed to a speaking engagement

Demi stepped out in style, clad in a monochrome green Yves Saint Laurent velvet suit and ruffled blouse

The Hollywood vet sat for a conversation with journalist Jia Tolentino

She has also been tapped for the adventure sci-fi comedy I Love Boosters from Boots Riley, coming in 2026.

Demi is one of Glamour magazine's Women of the Year, and opened up about aging inside the pages of the glossy.

In a conversation with The Substance co-star Margaret Qualley, she explained the connection between her hair and hitting back against ageist expectations.

'[We often hear] that as women get older, they shouldnt have long hair. And for some reason, to me, I didnt buy it. I didnt believe it, and it didnt make sense to me why that had to be the case,' she mused.

The star added, 'And I did notice, particularly women who were going through menopause, that they were.... I was looking around and seeing that they all were kind of cutting their hair in a very almost masculine way, just desexualizing themselves.'

On how she ended up rocking waist-length locks, she said: 'And so I think there was a combination of this attachment to it too. I dont know. Sometimes I think Ive just willed it.'
Anthony Hopkins has revealed a terrifying incident made him 'come to his senses' and realise he was an alcoholic.

The two-time Oscar winner, 87, who has been sober for five decades, admitted he was once driving drunk and could have killed someone.

Hopkins, known for playing the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter in multiple films, said the near-tragedy led him to seek support to deal with his addiction to alcohol.

He said during a Saturday appearance on the New York Times' The Interview podcast: 'I was drunk and driving my car here in California in a blackout, no clue where I was going, when I realized that I could have killed somebody. Or myself, which I didn't care about.

'I could have killed a family in a car, you know. I realized that I was an alcoholic, and I came to my senses.'

Soon after he then saw his ex-agent at a party and admitted to them: 'I need help', before turning his life around with the help of a 12-step program in Los Angeles.

Anthony Hopkins has revealed a terrifying incident made him 'come to his senses' and realise he was an alcoholic

The two-time Oscar winner, 87, who has been sober for five decades, admitted he was once driving drunk and could have killed someone

Last December he marked nearly five decades of sobriety via social media.

Hopkins told more than 5.3 million followers that help is available for those in search of it.

He said in a video on his socials: 'If you do have a problem - having fun is wonderful, having a drink is fine - but if you are having a problem with the booze, there is help,' Hopkins said. 'It's not a terrible deal - it's a condition if you're allergic to alcohol, get some help, there's plenty of help around.

'One thing I didn't realize, that I was not unique. There are thousands of people around like me - anyway, I got sober and, it sounds a dull word, but I've had a wonderful life.'

He added: 'They still employ me, they still give me jobs. I'm going to be 87 in two days now.'

The actor captioned the clip, 'One day at a time. 49 years. Life is in session.'

Hopkins wrapped up in saying, 'So I'm celebrating my long life - unexpectedly long life.'

He added, 'So if you have a problem, you know where to go. Phone any intergroup, 12-step program, whatever you could do - because it is a killer - with that, happy new year!'

The actor is pictured in 1975, the year he said he confronted his alcoholism problems

Back in December 2023 he sent his fans and followers a sweet New Year's message on Instagram - while also celebrating 48 years of sobriety

The year before that in December 2023 he sent his fans and followers a sweet New Year's message on Instagram - while also celebrating 48 years of sobriety.

'Hello there, Happy New Year to you all!' he enthusiastically kicked off the clip. 'All of you revellers, and drinkers all having fun. Wonderful!'

'Happy New Year, have a great time,' the Oscar winner continued, and added with a laugh, 'If you get a hangover, remember me.'

The star expressed, 'I don't get them anymore because 48 years ago today, I stopped. I got help for it and my life changed.'

'I don't envy you having fun out there,' Hopkins stated, and then encouraged individuals who are struggling with addiction to seek help.

'But if you need help, there's a time. Life is in session. Go for it,' the Hannibal actor positively concluded.

Hopkins won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Lecter in 1991's The Silence of the Lambs.

The film also won the Best Picture, Best Actress for Jodie Foster and Best Director for the late Jonathan Demme, among other honours, at the 1992 Oscars.

He reprised the role in 2001's Hannibal opposite Julianne Moore, and 2002's Red Dragon opposite Edward Norton.

Hopkins won his second Best Actor Oscar for 2021's The Father opposite Olivia Colman for filmmaker Florian Zeller.

If you need help contact Alcohol Anonymous: 0800 917 7650 / help@aamail.org
Newlywed Lauren Sanchez Bezos left little to the imagination when she stepped out for dinner in Miami this weekend.

The 55-year-old smiled for the camera as she headed for a romantic dinner at Carbone Miami with her husband, billionaire Jeff Bezos.

She wore a gorgeous nude-colored asymmetrical mini dress with black floral embellishments, showing off her muscular, tanned left thigh.

Sanchez Bezos paired the ensemble with black strappy heels, which matched her mani-pedi and handbag.

Her luscious brown hair was set back in a ponytail, and she wore a simple necklace around her neck and studs in her ears for the low key occasion.

Jeff, the founder of Amazon, opted for a cool look on Saturday night. He wore an all-black outfit with matching sunglasses, despite it being nighttime.

The 55-year-old smiled for the camera as she headed for a romantic dinner at Carbone with her husband, billionaire Jeff Bezos

Jeff, the founder of Amazon, opted for a cool look on Saturday night. He wore an all-black outfit with matching sunglasses, despite it being nighttime

Bezos wed Sanchez in a star-studded, three-day extravaganza in Venice in June 2025. The couple hosted their nearest and dearest in the Italian lagoon city - despite the ire from the locals living there.

Described as the 'wedding of the century,' the Amazon mogul 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 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 philanthropist debuted her stunning Schwartz ring while stepping out in a Schiaparelli gown.

She wore a gorgeous nude-colored asymmetrical mini dress with black floral embellishments, showing off her muscular, tanned left thigh

Courtesy of celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, the ring is believed to be around 30 carats - valued between $1.5 million and $3 million.

One friend of the couple who couldn't make it to the wedding was Katy Perry.

But the duo are still good friends - and Sanchez took to Instagram on Saturday to wish Perry a happy birthday.

Katy, who is currently on her Lifetimes tour, turned 41 on October 25.

To mark the occasion, the 55-year-old newlywed wife shared photos with the pop star via Instagram Stories.

She wrote, 'Did I mention it's my girl's birthday? Oh, how I love you @katyperry,' over a collage of throwback images.

Lauren also referenced their April launch into space via their Blue Origin flight.

In another post, she wrote, 'Happy birthday @katyperry I love you to space and back.'
Actress Isabelle Adora Tate will be remembered by the show she appeared on just weeks before her heartbreaking death at age 23.

9-1-1 Nashville will be honoring Tate with an in memoriam end card on next week's episode of the ABC series, Daily Mail has learned.

The new show starring Chris O'Donnell, Jessica Capshaw, and LeAnn Rimes will next air on Thursday on ABC.

Tate appeared on the pilot episode of the series, which aired on October 9. She passed just 10 days later.

Her heartbreaking passing was confirmed last week by the agency representing her, the McCray Agency. A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Kim 'Cookie' McCray, the owner of the McCray Agency, told The Daily Mail of Tate: 'Isabelle "Izzy" Tate had a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. She passed away peacefully on the 19th of October.

9-1-1 Nashville will be honoring the late Isabelle Adora Tate with an in memoriam end card on the next episode of 9-1-1 Nashville, Daily Mail has learned

The new show which stars LeAnn Rimes, Chris O'Donnell, and Jessica Capshaw, will next air on Thursday on ABC

'The family requests privacy as they deal with this sudden and shocking loss. Izzy recently returned to acting and booked episode 1 of 9-1-1 Nashville which filmed in June and first aired October 6th.

'Information about the disease Izzy suffered from can be found here: https://cmtausa.org. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Izzy's memory be made at the same site.'

According to the Mayo Clinic, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 'is a group of inherited conditions that cause nerve damage. Inherited conditions pass down through families. This damage mainly is in the nerves of the arms and legs, called the peripheral nerves.'

It notes the illness 'causes smaller, weaker muscles. It also may cause trouble walking, and loss of feeling in the legs and feet.'

According to Cedars-Sinai, 'CMT is not a fatal disease. Most people with it live to a normal age and remain active. In rare cases, it may affect the muscles you need to breathe. Because this can be especially dangerous at night, you may need a nighttime breathing assistive device.'

The agency earlier confirmed Tate's passing on their Instagram earlier this week with a post containing photos of the late actress, as well as two stills of her on the show.

9-1-1 Nashville debuted on October 9 and the pilot episode saw Tate playing a woman at a bachelorette party. She receives a dance from stripper-turned-firefighter Blue (Hunter McVey) after his character notices one of the attendees acting cruelly towards Julie.

'We are deeply saddened and completely heartbroken to share that Isabelle Tate passed away on October 19th. She was 23,' McRay Agency revealed earlier this week. 'Ive known Izzy since she was a teenager and she recently returned to acting. She booked the first series she auditioned for, 9-1-1 Nashville. She had a wonderful time.

'Special thanks to @fincannonmark @shelbay9 for casting her and @caroline_locorriere for that wonderful encouragement and nudge back to the acting world. Also to Lora Sorrentino for making her set experience a good one.

Tate's rep told The Daily Mail her episode was filmed in June

The agency's heartbreaking announcement of her death included a still of her as Julie in 9-1-1 Nashville

She appeared in the pilot episode of the series, which debuted earlier this month

'My heart goes out to her wonderful mother @katerinataterealtor, her sister Daniella, family and friends. I was so lucky to know her and she will be greatly missed by so many.'

An obituary for Tate describes her as someone who 'wanted to change the world' and was 'full of fire.'

Tate, who received a Bachelor's Degree in business from Middle Tennessee State University, had an affinity for volunteering with animals and loved spending time with her friends and family.

'Isabelle was full of fire, a fighter, never once making excuses for the fact that she might have a disability relative to others. She was also quite musically inclined, often spending hours writing and recording songs with friends and even publishing a few.

'What she loved the most though was spending time with family and friends, always the life of the party. Her sister was her best friend and her mom was her shining beacon of light.'

An obituary for Tate describes her as someone who 'wanted to change the world' and was 'full of fire'

The obituary adds she is survived by her mother Katerina Kazakos Tate, her step father Vishnu Jayamohan, her father John Daniel Tate and sister Daniella Tate.

The obituary asked for donations on behalf of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, an organization supporting those suffering from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

In 2022, Tate shared a post revealing she had been diagnosed with a 'progressive neuromuscular disease' at age 13 and had recently accepted that she would need to use a wheelchair 'at times' to 'live my life to the fullest.'

'Please read if you have a moment...' the post began. 'I don't usually get vulnerable on this app, but I feel like this is something I have to share that's been going on in my life. When I was 13, I got diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease that weakens my leg muscles over time. When I was first diagnosed, I couldn't fully understand what it was or grasp what it could be.

Tate received a Bachelor's Degree in business from Middle Tennessee State University

'Over the years, I was going on with my life and would notice little things get more difficult for me, but not so much where it stood out to me significantly. Recently, it's progressed and I've come to terms that if I want to live my life to the fullest I need to use a wheelchair at times.

'This has been a difficult journey for me because having to accept help and surrender to the progression of this condition has been extremely hard. While I was trying to come to terms with this, I really did find that I lost myself in certain ways. I hated that it was not only breaking me down physically, but I was allowing it to also break down my spirit.

'I would've never expected something like this to happen to me, as most of us wouldn't. I don't know why these were in the cards I was dealt in life, but I can't change it so I'm choosing to embrace it and not let it define me.

'This has really changed my perspective on life, and if I've learned anything from this it's to appreciate the little things that are easily taken for granted. You really never know what someone else is going through, so please always be kind and compassionate.'
David and Victoria Beckham enjoyed an alfresco lunch with his mother Sandra and father Ted in Miami on Sunday as a row with their neighbours rages on back in the UK.

David, 50, and Victoria, 51, watched Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1 in the first round of the MLS Cup at at Chase Stadium in Florida on Friday.

After after the match they continued their weekend with the family lunch where Victoria looked stylish in a pair of high-waisted jeans from her own brand and a grey T-shirt.

She completed her look with a sleek brown handbag and added a black cap while opting for a natural makeup look.

David meanwhile cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt and navy chinos while sporting a pricey-looking watch.

The close-knit family looked at ease as they shared conversation while sitting outside the restaurant.

David and Victoria Beckham enjoyed an alfresco lunch with his mother Sandra (right) and father Ted in Miami on Sunday as a row with their neighbours rages on back in the UK

Fashion designer Victoria looked stylish in a pair of high-waisted jeans from her own brand and a grey T-shirt as she enjoyed the lunch

Known for his appreciation of fine wine, David was later seen departing the eatery carrying a box of the tipple.

Their trip to the US comes after the pair have upset their well-heeled neighbours with plans to build a new access road to their 12million Cotswolds home - so they no longer have to share with the crowds that flock to nearby trendy Soho Farmhouse.

The couple have applied for planning permission to turn an agricultural track into a tarmac-laid access route to their Maplewood Barn home - which would enable them to avoid the influencer-wannabe revellers who swarm in their hundreds to enjoy the famed members club.

But the move - the latest in a long line of unpopular planning applications at their residence - has not gone down well.

At least one of their neighbours has claimed the bid must be stopped because it would affect ramblers who should be 'undisturbed by giant SUV's lumbering up and down'.

Currently the Beckham's mansion near Great Tew has a single lane cul-de-sac access, which also serves as the only way for visitors to drive to Soho Farmhouse; the nearby retreat is billed as a 'rural escape' for members who pay 250 a month to enjoy the pools, health cub and range of country pursuits on offer - including clay pigeon shooting.

During the summer months in particular, minor celebrities and media-types come in their droves to relax and network - and their flashy cars are all filtered down the same - and currently only - road that serves the Beckhams' own private retreat.

Now it seems they have finally had enough.

Known for his appreciation of fine wine, David was later seen departing the eatery carrying a box of the tipple

The couple have applied to West Oxfordshire District Council to change the use of part of the existing agricultural track to form a secondary residential access.

They want to extend the track to connect to their existing driveway and improve dropped kerb access and gates onto Ledwell Lane.

In documents to support their application, the Beckhams say their existing access to Tracey Lane is problematic as it is a single use cul-de-sac with busy and 'unsafe' levels of traffic.

But the plans, which are under consideration by the council, have already been hit with local backlash.

Joan Lane, who lives in Great Tew, said: 'I must strongly object to this proposal.

'The house already has gone perfectly serviceable access road so why is another stretch of tarmac laid through the woods deemed a good idea.

'Ramblers use the lane and they should be left undisturbed by giant SUVs lumbering up and down. Please do not allow this application.'

In planning documents, a representative of the Beckhams described it as a 'modest, sensitively designed conversion'.

Their trip to the US comes after the pair have upset their well-heeled neighbours with plans to build a new access road to their 12million Cotswolds home

They argued it would 'modestly upgrade the existing crossover and gates at Ledwell Lane for safe residential use'.

The statement added: 'The works respond to operational, safety, and amenity needs, while being carefully designed to conserve the rural, heritage and landscape character of the area.'

The Beckhams' representative continued that that 'an agricultural, low-key character' would be retained, and any lighting, if later required, would be 'minimal'.

A decision will be made by West Oxfordshire District Council on the latest plans at a later date.
Some US towns are so eager to grow their populations that they're paying Americans to move there.

From the Great Plains to Appalachia, cities and small towns are finding creative ways to lure newcomers  offering cash, housing grants, and even perks like free coworking spaces. Scroll down for the full list  in a fantastic interactive map or a list.

Some of the most tempting deals on offer are coming from states with slower population growth, or even population decline, such as West Virginia.

Most of the programs are in places that are not major cities, but smaller metros in more rural settings  for example Newton, Iowa, multiple counties in Kansas, and smaller communities in West Virginia.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, has one of the country's best-known programs, offering up to $10,000 and a free coworking membership for remote workers willing to relocate.

Launched in 2018, Tulsa Remote has drawn over 3,800 participants. 'While it began as an experiment to diversify our city's economy, the program has emerged as a major vehicle for growth and opportunity,' Justin Harlan, Tulsa Remote's managing director, told the Daily Mail.

Independent research shows that for every $1 spent on the program, Tulsa Remote returns more than $4 to the local economy  with most benefits going to middle- and lower-income earners.

'Tulsans are already seeing the impact through local spending, job creation and new tax revenue,' Harlan said.

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Tulsa, Oklahoma (pictured) has one of the country's most well-known incentive programs, offering a $10,000 grant for remote workers relocating

The program began in 2018 and has since drawn 1,400 people to Tulsa (pictured) - the second largest city in Oklahoma

Justin Harlan, Tulsa Remote's managing director

'Tulsans are already seeing the benefits of this program through increased local spending, job creation, and new tax revenue,' Harlan said.

The deal with the highest approximate value for re-locaters is in Belleville, Kansas  which is offering up to $35,000 in grants to attract new residents willing to build homes there. This includes a $25,000 base grant and a $10,000 bonus if your home is among the first five built under the program.

With a population of under 2,000 people, the city is clearly trying to expand.

Through a program called MakeMyMove, Belleville provides additional incentives for eligible remote workers beyond homebuying assistance  including up to $1,500 per year for five years to help repay student loans, and up to $3,000 for those employed by Republic County to cover moving expenses.

Another Midwest area offering major perks for prospective residents is Jackson, Michigan. The city is granting up to $25,000 in downpayment assistance for eligible buyers.

Jackson is a larger city, with 30,920 residents, but is aiming to grow the population through a variety of initiatives in a direct response to decades of significant population decline.

As part of its 100 Home Program, the city aims to build 100 one- and two-bedroom homes on vacant residential lots throughout Jackson, with each home priced at $175,000.

Topeka, Kansas, is offering up to $15,000 for homebuyers or up to $10,000 for renters under the 'Choose Topeka' program to encourage more people to move into the city.

Independent research has found that for every $1 spent on attracting remote workers, Tulsa Remote returns more than $4 to Tulsans

Jackson, Michigan (pictured) is another Midwest area offering major perks for prospective residents. Jackson is a larger city, with 30,920 residents, but is aiming to grow the population

Topeka, Kansas (pictured) is offering up to $15,000 for homebuyers or up to $10,000 for renters under the 'Choose Topeka' program to encourage more people to move into the city.

The state capital has teamed up with employers to offer cash to those willing to move there and, as an added bonus, sandwich chain Jimmy John's will throw in an extra $1,000 for anyone who moves within delivery range of one of its locations.

Morgantown, West Virginia, has a program offering $12,000 cash for remote workers and other perks, such as a coworking-space membership and free outdoor-gear rentals.

To be eligible, potential residents must be over the age of 18 and willing to relocate to the city for two years.

The vibrant college town home is home to West Virginia University and has a population of 30,000.

All of these incentives have become more realistic options for Americans since working remotely became popular during and after the pandemic.
Are Gen Z workers really the problem in today's workforce?

It's a running joke that employees falling into the Gen Z age range (born between 1997 and 2012) are lazy, unmotivated, and entitled.

Endless memes and TikToks uploaded online poke fun at the way young adults function in the office: showing up late, leaving early, and spending hours scrolling on their phones.

And now new data has found that there is truth to these stereotypes, and that Gen Z's habits are the reason they aren't getting hired.

A recent study by Becoming You Labs set out to find out where the problem lies between Gen Z and their superiors.

The study asked 2,100 US hiring managers what personal value or quality they look for in a candidate, and asked Gen Z employees what they look for in a workplace.

Options ranged from 'desire for community' to 'priority on personal well-being and fun.'

Gen Z's top three values are well-being and self-care, authenticity and expression, and helping people. Meanwhile, the people hiring them are looking for achievement, learning, and hard work.

Only two percent of Gen Z ranked all three of the hiring managers' preferred values in their top five

Gen Z's top three values are well-being and self-care, authenticity and expression, and helping people

The results weren't even close. Some 30 percent of employer respondents wanted their employees to prioritize achievement, 22.8 percent learning, and 22.4 percent hard work.

Meanwhile only 2 percent of Gen Z ranked all three of the hiring managers' preferred values in their top five.

Out of the 2,100 managers asked, only one said they valued 'interest in being in charge', and just 15 said they cared about focus on family considerations.

On the flip side, out of the 7,500 Gen Z respondents, 66 percent said they valued self-care, recreation, leisure, and other forms of personal pleasure, but only 5 percent said they cared about fame or recognition - clear signs of the achievement that hiring managers are seeking in new employees.

The disconnect is clear.

Gen Z candidates care about work-life-balance while hiring managers want hard-workers.

In response to the findings, one CEO said: 'This explains exactly why we can't hire.'

A hospital executive said: 'We are now hiring two or three new docs to replace a retiring one. They tell us we should not be expecting them to work hard because life as a cardiologist isn't what it used to be.'

Gen Z candidates care about work-life-balance while hiring managers want hard-workers

Gen Zers took to TikTok to voice their feelings on the matter.

'Why would we want to live by Boomer values when their values ruined the world?' one asked.

'Old people hate young people because our lives prove theirs were wasted. I'm not going to wish I worked more on my deathbed,' another said.

'Gen Z is pushing against abusive workplace practices more and older generations don't know how to handle it,' someone wrote in the comment section of a TikTok on the topic.

'I recently got fired from a workplace and one of their core complaints was how unprofessional I was. turns out their definition was "Checks phone for 5 minutes once an hour" lol,' someone chimed in.

'I've been saying recently "back in your day? It's not your day anymore, it's supposed to be mine,"' another wrote.

These most recent findings came shortly after it was revealed that companies are axing Gen Z workers just months after hiring them fresh from college.

Business leaders admitted to already firing Gen Z hires they made earlier in the year

Six in 10 employers had already fired some college graduates they had recruited earlier in the year, a survey conducted by Intelligent.com found.

One in seven of the employers said they also might not hire fresh college grads next year after finding a raft of problems with young workers.

Business leaders listed concerns in areas such as communications skills and professionalism that made them wary of hiring Gen Z.

They also said the workers of that age are often unmotivated and need to be constantly told what to do - rather than using their initiative.

'Many recent college graduates may struggle with entering the workforce for the first time as it can be a huge contrast from what they are used to throughout their education journey,' Intelligent's Huy Nguyen wrote in the report.

'They are often unprepared for a less structured environment, workplace cultural dynamics, and the expectation of autonomous work,' he explained.

Three-quarters of companies surveyed said some or all of their recent graduate hires were unsatisfactory in some way.

Half said their Gen Z hires had a lack of motivation, making them difficult to work with.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against seven persons, including a Tanzanian and a Zimbabwean national, for alleged cocaine smuggling linked to a money laundering case.

The chargesheet was filed on October 18 by the Panaji zonal office of the federal probe agency before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Goa, the Enforcement Department (ED) said in a statement on Saturday.

It names Tanzanian national Vedasto Audax, Zimbabwean national Tariro Brightmore Mangwana, and five Indians  Masoom Uikey, Chirag Dudhat, Reshma Wadekar, Mangesh Wadekar and Nibu Vincent, the statement said.

The probe stems from a Goa Police Crime Branch FIR against the alleged smuggling of 4.3 kg of cocaine into India from Laos in March 2025.

The ED arrested the man from Zimbabwe in August after conducting country-wide raids in the case.

Mangwana was taken into custody for his central role in facilitating international narcotics trafficking and laundering the proceeds of crime, the ED said.

He was found to have facilitated travel arrangements and financed the Indian nationals acting as drug couriers. Mangwana was also found to be receiving commission for these activities from the key accused, Audax, a Tanzanian, it said.

The agency had attached a house worth Rs 45.15 lakh in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal belonging to Reshma Wadekar, who allegedly carried the said cocaine from Vientiane (capital of Laos) in March.

The probe found that the accused had links with international rackets operating from the Golden Triangle countries (Myanmar, Thailand and Laos), the Middle East, Nepal, Bangladesh, etc., according to the ED.

Usage of shell (dummy) entities and benami accounts for routing of funds was found as the modus operandi of the racket, it said.
Pakistans Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza has said Islamabad was willing to deepen ties with Dhaka as he met Bangladeshs interim government chief Muhammad Yunus here. Our two countries will support each other, Chief Adviser Yunuss press wing quoted Mirza as saying during the meeting, which was held at his official Jamuna residence late Saturday.

The press wing statement said they discussed a wide range of issues concerning Bangladesh-Pakistan relations, including growing importance of bilateral trade, investment and defence cooperation. It said they exchanged views on the growing challenge of misinformation and the misuse of social media by non-state actors to undermine peace and stability across various regions.

Fake news and disinformation have flooded social media. It is being used to sow chaos. There must be a concerted global effort to combat this menace, the statement quoted Yunus as saying to the Pakistani military leader. According to the statement, Mirza emphasised the shared historical, cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries and expressed Pakistans desire to strengthen cooperation in multiple sectors.

Mirza noted that a two-way shipping route between Karachi and Chittagong was operational while a Dhaka-Karachi air route was expected to open within months. The press wing said both sides also underscored the need to de-escalate tensions in West Asia and Europe. According to the statement, Yunuss National Security Adviser and ex-diplomat Khalilur Rahman, Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider were present during the meeting.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on Monday to participate in the ninth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9), the Foreign Office announced on Sunday. The conference will be held from October 27 to 29 in the Saudi capital Riyadh. According to the Foreign Office (FO), the Prime Minister will lead a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, to the FII9.

The FII9 will convene global leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to explore the theme The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth. During his stay, Sharif will engage with the Saudi leadership to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in the trade, investment, energy, and human resource sectors.

The discussions will also cover regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern, the FO said. On the sidelines of FII9, Sharif will also interact with leaders from other participating countries and heads of international organisations. This visit underscores Pakistans commitment to advancing economic diplomacy and fostering strategic partnerships in investment, technology, and sustainable development, the FO said.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers held talks Saturday ahead of a landmark ASEAN summit that will formally welcome East Timor as the blocs 11th member and mark US President Donald Trumps first trip to Asia since returning to the White House.

The meeting serves as a curtain-raiser for the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit which starts on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur, followed by two days of high-level engagements with key partners, including China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the US. Leaders are expected to focus on regional security, economic resilience, and maritime disputes  with US tariffs and shifting global trade patterns looming large over discussions. Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan cautioned his counterparts that the turbulence of global politics will surely continue to cast a long shadow over our region in the years ahead.

As the international landscape becomes increasingly dominated by contestation rather than consensus, division rather than dialogue, ASEAN finds itself at a crossroads, he said.

Our space for neutrality and centrality is narrowing, particularly in areas such as trade, technology and regional security arrangement, he said. "We must continue to act as the speakers and not the spoken for.

A separate leaders summit of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership  the world's largest trade bloc encompassing ASEAN and five partners: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand  will convene for the first time since 2020.

Its revival comes as regional economies seek to stabilise trade flows at a time when Washingtons tariff measures have rattled markets and tested decades of globalisation.

Apart from Trump, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Japans newly-inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are among more than a dozen leaders attending the ASEAN summit and related meetings. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will also participate as new sectoral dialogue partners  part of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahims effort to deepen ASEANs economic ties with Africa and Latin America.

Trumps return to Asia

Trumps trip marks his first ASEAN meeting since 2017 and his first journey to Asia in his second term. The last US president to attend an ASEAN meeting was Joe Biden in 2022. Officials say Trump is expected to witness new US trade deals, including with Malaysia.

Trump is also expected to preside over the signing of an expanded ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, following border clashes between the countries earlier this year.

The ceasefire deal was brokered in Kuala Lumpur in July with ASEANs support and under Trumps threat to suspend trade negotiations. His trip will also take him to Japan and South Korea.

Trumps presence reflects a rare moment of direct US presidential engagement in the region, said Joanne Lin, co-coordinator of the ISEASYusof Ishak Institutes ASEAN Studies Centre in Singapore. It signaled Washington still sees value in ASEAN as part of its Indo-Pacific outreach, she said. But more than deepening US involvement, this visit is about visibility. Trump wants to project himself as a global dealmaker at a time when his domestic policies, especially tariffs, have unsettled key partners in the region, Lin said.

Tight security in Kuala Lumpur

Security has been ramped up across Kuala Lumpur ahead of planned protests against Trumps visit, particularly over his administrations stance on the Palestinian issue.

Anwar has said the government would allow peaceful demonstrations but vowed the meetings would proceed smoothly. While Anwar acknowledged that some critics may have called Trump anti-Muslim, Anwar commended Trump for helping broker a ceasefire in Gaza which is near impossible under normal terms.

Malaysia, however, maintains that the truce has not resolved the Palestinian question and intends to raise the issue directly with Trump during the summit, Anwar said. In his opening remarks, Mohamad welcomed Trumps plan for peace, calling it an important step forward while emphasising he hoped would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

East Timor joins ASEAN

This years summit marks a milestone for ASEAN as it welcomes a new member for the first time in 26 years. It has been a long but rewarding journey for East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, which applied for membership in 2011.

The last member to join ASEAN was Cambodia in 1999. Welcoming this young democracy strengthens not only our collective resolve, but also our capacity to meet future challenges together, Mohamad said.

The integration of the regions youngest and poorest nation  with just 1.4 million people  is being hailed as a symbolic step for regional inclusivity. East Timor was a Portuguese colony for over four centuries before Indonesias 1975 invasion.

A brutal 24-year occupation followed, claiming tens of thousands of lives through conflict, famine and disease. A UN-supervised referendum in 1999 paved the way for independence, which was formally restored in 2002.

ASEAN membership gives East Timor access to the blocs free trade deals, investment opportunities and a broader regional market  vital for diversifying an economy long reliant on oil and gas. They are poor, yes, but they still have the potential. As a community, it's our duty to prop up these countries, Anwar has said.

Regional tensions and the Myanmar crisis

Leaders are also expected to discuss flashpoints including the South China Sea dispute, Myanmar's civil war, and the spread of cross-border scam networks.

During the meetings, ASEAN will sign an upgraded free trade pact with China and continue negotiations on a long-delayed code of conduct for the contested waterway.

Meanwhile, the civil war triggered by Myanmars 2021 military takeover continues to test ASEAN's unity, with military government leaders still barred from summits after failing to comply with the blocs 2021 Five-Point Consensus on peace and dialogue. Myanmar's plans for elections in December  dismissed by critics as neither free nor fair  have put the bloc in a tight spot and will be discussed at the summit.

The military government has invited ASEAN nations to send election observers, but accepting could be seen as legitimizing the regime, while refusal risks further isolating Myanmar and weakening ASEANs leverage. The bloc is also faced with the dilemma of whether it would recognize the elected government.

Following the foreign minister talks, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters his country would be prepared to send observers, but stressed that it would not mean endorsing the polls. We think that we have to be there, we have to be involved, post election as well, he said.
Around 2,000 containers of Dak Lak durians have been stranded at warehouses, packing facilities and border checkpoints for 10-15 days after labs halted chemical testing, causing heavy losses to exporters.

Le Anh Trung, chairman of the Dak Lak Durian Association, told VnExpress that the issue began on Oct. 11, when facilities responsible for chemical residue testing for durian exports stopped accepting samples.

They have also not released the results for previous batches, preventing businesses from getting the certifications needed for export.

Trung said few facilities can test for both Auramine O, a carcinogenic dye, and cadmium, a heavy metal. Most labs can handle only one of the two, even though both tests are required.

As a result, the testing process has fallen behind just as the durian harvest peaks in Dak Lak, a major producing province in the Central Highlands, he added.

The stranded shipments are at risk of spoilage and cracked shells, which could reduce their quality, according to the association.

The pause has also forced factories and cooperatives to stop buying fruit from growers, driving down prices.

The price of grade A durians at traders has dropped from over VND100,000 (US$3.8) to around VND80,000 per kilogram.

Thousands of tons of ripe fruit remain unsold while farmers still have to bear the costs of plant care, transportation and storage.

Durians harvested and piled up by farmers in Dak Lak Province, Central Highlands, on Oct. 25, 2025, as businesses and traders halted purchases. Photo by Linh Dan

The association has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the provincial Peoples Committee to intervene and resume testing.

It proposed prioritizing export-related testing and temporarily authorizing qualified local facilities to handle the work to ease the burden on central laboratories during the peak season.

The ministry held a meeting with several labs and specialized units on Friday afternoon to resolve the bottleneck. That evening, some facilities began releasing results for previously delayed shipments, helping clear part of the backlog of containers.

However, new samples have yet to be accepted and businesses are still awaiting further guidance.

Meanwhile, durian exports remain under heavy pressure as each day of delay could lead to hundreds of tons of fruit spoiling and damage Vietnams reputation with trade partners.

Trung said a solution is urgently needed to maintain testing capacity during the peak season and prevent recurrences.

Vietnam exported around 451,000 tons of fresh durians worth $1.52 billion in the first eight months of 2025, down 24% in volume and 25% in value from a year ago, according to customs data.

Frozen durian shipments amounted to over 58,000 tons worth $265 million, up 67% and 127% year-on-year, respectively.

Exports of the fruit totaled nearly $1.8 billion during the period, a nearly 16% decline from a year earlier.

The association said it is compiling data from businesses to propose measures that not only address immediate difficulties but also establish a stable testing mechanism for the durian industry in the long term, as the fruit becomes one of Vietnams key agricultural exports.
A seminar for media representatives has been held as part of the second phase of the European Union's "EU4Energy" project, organized jointly by the Azerbaijan Energy, the Energy Regulatory Agency (EMRA), and the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), Azernews reports.

During the media seminar, participants were provided with detailed information on the role of the media in public awareness and increasing transparency in energy policies.

Local and international experts shared their experiences with the participants regarding the key challenges faced by the energy sector and the measures designed to address these challenges.

The seminar covered the most important aspects of energy regulation, including the structure of the energy sector, tariff setting, service quality, energy efficiency studies, as well as a review of the EU's best practices.

The event also highlighted the necessity of close cooperation between energy specialists, government agencies, and the media to ensure effective communication.

At the end of the seminar, certificates were presented to the media representatives.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with U.S. President Donald Trump during the 13th ASEAN-U.S. Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Oct. 26, 2025. Photo by VNA

Vietnam and the U.S. have agreed to a framework for the agreement on "reciprocal, fair and balanced" trade between the two nations, the countries said in a joint statement released by the White House on Sunday.

The United States and Vietnam will finalize a trade agreement in the coming weeks that will maintain 20% tariffs on most Vietnamese goods but lift duties on certain products that will be decided at a later stage, the White House said.

In return Vietnam committed to offering "preferential access" for most all U.S. goods.

U.S. President Donald Trump in July announced that the United States would place a 20% tariff on many Vietnamese products, as well as a 40% levy on trans-shipments through Vietnam from third countries.

U.S. tariffs to fall to zero on some Vietnam products

In the new deal, the United States will maintain its tariff rate on Vietnamese goods at 20%, but will identify products where the levy can be reduced to zero.

The agreement "will provide both countries' exporters unprecedented access to each other's markets", the Sunday statement said.

"In the coming weeks, the United States and Vietnam will work to finalize the Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade, prepare the Agreement for signature, and undertake domestic formalities in advance of the Agreement entering into force," the statement said.

U.S. and Vietnam address non-tariffs barriers

The United States and Vietnam will also work to address both countries' interests when it comes to non-tariff barriers, it said.

Vietnam has agreed to accept vehicles built to U.S. motor vehicle safety and emissions standards, address the issue of import licenses for U.S. medical devices, and streamline regulatory requirements and approvals for U.S. pharmaceutical products.

It will also fully implement Vietnam's obligations under certain international intellectual property treaties, it added.

"The United States and Vietnam are committed to strengthening cooperation towards our shared goals to enhance supply chain resilience, including addressing duty evasion and cooperating on export controls," it said.

Vietnam to buy more U.S. products

Vietnam Airlines, the country's flag carrier, has agreed to purchase 50 aircraft from Boeing in a deal worth over $8 billion, according to the White House statement.

Vietnamese companies have also signed twenty memorandums of understanding with U.S. companies to purchase U.S. agricultural commodities worth a total estimated value of over $2.9 billion, it added.

Bilateral trade between the U.S. and Vietnam in the first nine months of this year rose 27% from a year earlier to $126.4 billion, according to Vietnam's customs data.
A passion for Colombian music has helped forge a unique identity in this Mexican city. It gives a distinctive folklore, aesthetic and way of life to the rough neighborhood of La Independencia

Cumbia is Mario Alberto Alfaros passion. The 52-year-old is a member of a collective that keeps this musical genre  which originates from Colombias Caribbean coast  alive in La Independencia, a rough neighborhood in Monterrey, Mexico. Alfaro is part of a musical dynasty that, since the 1970s, has forged an entire culture around Colombia, a country that has become the stuff of legend in the streets of this industrial Mexican city nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Here, cumbia isnt just a soundtrack amidst hardship. Rather, its a way of life that preserves and amplifies the rhythms that fuse African, Indigenous and Spanish culture. Cumbia is something very special but it sounds cooler with our tunes, Alfaro proudly declares. He adds: For me, its the most beautiful thing in the world. Any song you play touches your soul. Its something magical. And thats what we strive for here in Monterrey: to preserve it.

Alfaros musical dynasty, a term used to describe the oldest DJ crews in the area, is known as the Zorro Agustin dynasty. The nickname Zorro was given to his brother, the bands founder, back in the 1970s. He was my mentor, may he rest in peace. I started playing around with the sounds he left us when I was 15. I [would go on stage] with friends so they could help me with the equipment, my records, my speakers. I quickly learned how to play a song on the turntable. Many people struggle since they dont have the rhythm, but I knew the groove of the record, the musician explains.

On a sunny October morning, Alfaro welcomes a group of Colombian artists, government officials and journalists. Theyre visiting La Independencia, drawn by its passion for cumbia, but also by the love that Colombia as a whole inspires in a Mexican neighborhood where the cheerful, passionate and hospitable residents view the South American country as a kind of Mecca.

In Monterrey, La Independencia is infamous for being considered a violent neighborhood. However, much of that bad reputation is steeped in old taboos. This is according to Yasodari Sanchez, a diligent and enthusiastic Monterrey-born academic who has done extensive work on the citys cumbia culture. It is she who opens the doors of the neighborhood to foreign visitors.

Mario Alberto Alfaro, from the legendary DJ crew Zorro Agustin, pictured in the neighborhood of La Independencia CARLOS SALINAS MALDONADO

The neighborhood, she explains, began to form in the mid-19th century, populated by migrants from the nearby cities of San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas. Her own relatives were migrants: they came to work in an area that was rapidly developing its industrial sector.

La Indepe, as its inhabitants affectionately call it, was gradually established on the mountain slopes surrounding Monterrey, the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon. The urban sprawl consists of houses up to four stories high, alleys and staircases that rise into a labyrinth, which is dominated by the yellow, blue and red of the Colombian flag.

Sanchez explains that there are sometimes curfews in the neighborhood and that it has streets where its not advisable to walk. And, at night, cars must drive with their lights off. But she emphasizes that La Independencia is a hardworking community and that its residents are passionate and joyful, despite having been marginalized by a city that fears them.

This researcher explains that the neighborhood has generated collective memory through music, dance, DJing and the appropriation of public spaces. She adds that the residents have forged their own identity, with their own unique folklore, esthetics and way of life. This is confirmed by sound engineer Mario Alfaro: Here, on Saturdays and Sundays, wherever you are, you can hear the trumpets [and] the speakers playing one sound here, another there. When someone receives a new record, they put it on and its a pleasure to hear that theyve finally found the song they wanted. Some take pride in this, [boasting that] they have the best music in the neighborhood.

Record-collecting and sharing are fundamental parts of the local music culture. The DJs and MCs aspire to always have a vast repertoire: they travel to record stores in Mexico City so that they can stay up-to-date. And those who can afford it also take trips to Colombia. Thats the best source of that beautiful music we love, Alfaro points out. In his case, he buys from collectors in the Mexican capital.

The purchasing of vinyl records represents a huge economic effort for these working-class people. There are records that can cost up to 8,000 pesos (about $400), the equivalent of the monthly minimum wage in Mexico. Alfaro proudly comments that he has managed to build a collection of 2,500 records. Since its a huge investment, we have to buy something thats playable, successful and rhythmic. I only have Colombian music; we dont use anything [produced locally], because the most beautiful [records] are from Colombia, he asserts.

Jose Rada Garcia, sound engineer for the La Independencia neighborhood. Lina Castano

Another avid collector is Jose Rada Garcia, 63, who has been involved in the local cumbia scene since 1974. The golden age, as he describes it.

Rada keeps his records in plastic boxes in a small, humble studio that he set up in the living room of his home. The front door is painted with the colors of the Colombian flag. And, during his interview with EL PAIS, he wears a T-shirt that also displays the flag. He speaks enthusiastically about a trip he made to the South American country back in 2017: he brought back 500 records. Some of them were duplicates from his collection, meant to be traded with other bands. Colombia is everything. Their taste in music is amazing, he sighs.

Rada began playing cumbia music when he was 13 years old. He did so alongside his brother, who quickly abandoned the artform because he decided to enroll in the Police Academy. A young Rada eventually traveled to Tepito, a rough neighborhood in the Mexican capital, where he could find records at affordable prices. For me, it was a huge joy, because Im passionate about this music. Even if you cant dance, you hear the rhythm and start moving your feet, just like that, he smiles, moving his legs. I mean, this is something very beautiful, because the music carries a message of joy, he affirms.

An altar in Radas home includes pictures of legendary bands such as La Sonora Dinamita, composer Andres Landero and musician Humberto Pabon of Grupo Canaveral, one of the most important cumbia groups in Mexico.

La Independencia is known for preserving cumbia. This genre of music is seen as folkloric in Colombia, where it isnt played with nearly the same passion as in the outskirts of Monterrey. But the Mexican neighborhood has also created its own fusion, a whole new culture that has attracted young people. Here, they also play the so-called cumbia rebajada  a subgenre characterized by a slower tempo. Rada explains that this was born accidentally, when a stereo system overheated, causing the record on the turntable to play more slowly.

Rada jokes that when there are power outages in this neighborhood, which is covered by a tangle of power lines, the turntables speed drops so much that records can play with astonishing slowness. That accident caught on and became a whole new way of making music in Monterrey. It became the favorite sound of the urban subculture, whose members are known as cholombianos: young people who wear baggy clothes and have long sideburns and tattoos. Theyre part of a generation stigmatized by Monterrey society, one which has suffered the brutal state violence unleashed by the administration of former President Felipe Calderon (2006-2012). This story was told in the acclaimed film Im No Longer Here (2019), selected as Mexicos nominee for Best International Feature Film at the 2021 Oscars.

Even though Rada doesnt like the film, he acknowledges that it generated a lot of interest in Monterreys cumbia culture and specifically brought attention to La Independencia, Mexicos little Colombia.

A turntable that belongs to Gabriel Sonido Duenez, in Monterrey. Gladys Serrano

During their October morning stroll through La Independencia, the Colombian delegation expressed admiration for the neighborhood. The artists and officials are in Mexico to participate in the Monterrey International Book Fair: Colombia is this years guest of honor.

Theyve reinvented Colombia, says Jaime Andres Monsalve, music director for Colombian National Radio. Hes also the author of more than a dozen books on music. Theres a reinvention of the country being undertaken by the Monterrey residents thats absolutely unprecedented. Weve had some clues in films like Im No Longer Here. [And weve also seen this development] with the [creation] of cumbia rebajada and especially through people who have dedicated themselves to trying to archive Colombian musical heritage, which is an immense task, he comments.

This adoration of Colombia baffles the visiting Colombians, who stroll in awe through La Independencia. They chat with local residents, listen to their stories and photograph their murals. Some of these images depict Our Lady of Guadalupe  their beloved protector  alongside accordions and traditional sombreros from the South American country. We realized that much of our musical heritage has been scrutinized by Mexicans, sampled and brought here. All of this speaks to a love for our music but that love has also become something extra-musical, Monsalve explains.

Without hiding his admiration, he adds: The fact that you see such a unique way of dancing cumbia  of listening to it, toning it down [and] adapting it to all the needs of the dance, but also to [the needs] of everyday life, [to the locals] reason for existing  stirs me deeply. His words express the wonder of a Colombian who sees his culture mimicked by the yellow, blue and red colors that shine on the houses of La Independencia, the Mexican branch of Colombian music.

Celso Pinas Musical Altar

Celso Pina (1953-2019) is worshipped in La Independencia. For local residents, the musician is the greatest representative of a culture that idolizes cumbia. Pina lived in La Campana  another working-class neighborhood in Monterrey  where his sister, Veronica Pina, preserves the former home of the musician, who died unexpectedly in 2019 during surgery.

The house is a three-story building that houses Pinas musical instruments, his awards, his album covers, and his passion for music. I wanted to continue the legacy that my brother left behind. I dont just want it to be like this, with the news saying, today is the anniversary of Celso Pinas death, and thats it. No. We hold a cumbia festival [in this city]; we bring together more than 17,000 people to celebrate, she affirms.

The house is run with support from the local government and via donations. For the family, ensuring its upkeep is a challenge. Despite this, however, they offer music and dance classes for children, because we want them to dance to the songs that Celso played in other words, [we want the kids] to dance in the Colombian style, the musicians sister explains. Its very important to me to maintain this house, because Celsos legacy continues from here, she reiterates.

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The co-founder of an archive on the history of the Dutch colonies speaks about the importance of memory and anti-racism, amid the rise of the far-right in the Netherlands

To support every claim that he makes, 37-year-old Mitchell Esajas pulls newspapers, books and photographs out of his backpack. This Amsterdam-born anthropologist is a descendant of people who were enslaved in Suriname during the Dutch colonial period. He believes that the most effective way to talk about anti-colonialism and anti-racism with people who dont yet understand the concepts is through historical archives.

We can show them that theres a different historical narrative [thats backed up] with real material; its not just based on emotions, ideologies, or convictions, Esajas explains. Hes the co-founder of The Black Archives, a project that documents the history of the Dutch colonies and Black emancipation movements in the Netherlands.

The Black Archives house more than 25,000 books, documents, works of art and all kinds of materials that reflect on racism, slavery, and development in Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles. More than 400,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands. This diaspora settled in the 1970s, following the countrys independence. Esajass parents, for example, arrived in Europe during this large migration.

In an interview with EL PAIS as part of the Afro Consciousness Festival in Madrid, the co-founder of The Black Archives talks about the impact of the body of work that hes been building since 2015, which is a benchmark in Europe. He also mentions the near future: on October 29, the Netherlands will hold general elections after the collapse of the governing coalition, which included a far-right party that targets migrants and people of color.

Question. Where did the idea for this project come from?

Answer. I learned from my mother that there are different narratives of our history. When I went to university, I saw that there was a very Eurocentric perspective [imposed] on the story. So, back in 2011, with a few friends, I created a student group called the New Urban Collective. We began organizing talks, debates and youth exchanges on Black history and also on the Black future.

In 2015, the children of Waldo Heilbron (1936-2009)  a Surinamese sociologist who researched colonial history  contacted us. They had inherited more than 2,000 books from their father and [wanted to share] them with us.

We housed the books in a small room in a building in North Amsterdam. Then, we moved them to the headquarters of the Vereniging Ons Surinam, the oldest Surinamese association in the Netherlands. We told the association we would help them [organize their materials] if they let us store the books [in their building]. And it turns out that we found treasures there: magazines, books and newspapers that talked about the abolition of slavery in Suriname, discrimination in the real estate market, as well as police violence. There were many stories our community didnt know about, so we decided to organize temporary exhibitions to tell them.

Q. How present is Dutch colonialism in public debate?

A. 15 years ago, racism was taboo. There were Surinamese groups that talked about it, but even for some, it was a sensitive topic. Then, partly due to the anti-racism movement and the debate about blackface, much more space was created in society to address it.

In 2022, the then-prime minister [Mark Rutte] apologized for slavery. Ironically, a few months later, his government fell and we got the most extreme right-wing government. Its paradoxical, but thats history, which isnt linear and has ups and downs. Of course, they wont be able to undo the apology, nor take away the knowledge that people have acquired.

Mitchell Esajas wears a t-shirt that bears the phrase Nobody Is Free Until Everybody is Free. The design is part of a temporary exhibition and a free newspaper produced by The Black Archives. INMA FLORES

Q. How important are The Black Archives in this political moment?

A. One of the things that the far-right tries to do is develop mythical historical narratives. In the Netherlands, theres the narrative of the [17th century] Golden Age, [having to do with] the pride we should feel for the Dutch East India Company. When you look at it from a different perspective, you can say that the basis of that Golden Age was slavery, colonialism and the genocide of Indigenous peoples. In this rhetoric, the far-right tries to argue that Dutchness is white and Black people are second-class citizens.

We believe that, through the archive, we can respond with real material, not just emotions, ideologies, or convictions. We have [documents] that show theres a different narrative. We are here because your ancestors colonized and exploited our people. And we have the right to claim our space, because we are also Dutch citizens.

The basis of that Golden Age was slavery, colonialism and the genocide of Indigenous peoples

Q. Do you think it will be more difficult to continue your work now?

A. I think it will be more complicated, but Im not afraid. Our ancestors have had to deal with much worse.

Q. You also offer a service to help people find their roots in Suriname.

A. We help people with the early stages. The National Archives of the Netherlands has digitized many slavery documents, so that, based on surnames, we can trace the plantations where our ancestors were enslaved. For example, my surname  Esajas  is linked to the Sarah Plantation, in the Surinamese district of Coronie. [Using slave labor, this plantation grew cotton, cocoa and nuts].

Q. Have people been interested in this service?

A. Yes, very much so. As Marcus Garvey said: A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. We believe its important to know where you come from, in order to find out where you want to go and to understand your place in society.

Q. Is the states apology for slavery enough?

A. After the former prime ministers speech, we said, Were putting a comma, not a period. The apology is fine, but we want restorative justice. Im not saying they should give us a blank check. We think holistically, which means investing in education, mental health and anti-racist policies, so that everyone has equal rights.

As Marcus Garvey said: A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. We believe its important to know where you come from, in order to find out where you want to go and to understand your place in society

Q. How will you celebrate Surinames 50th anniversary of independence this November?

A. Were preparing an exhibition titled Echoes of In*dependence. The asterisk is used because theres a new form of colonialism, in which youre economically independent, but still controlled by multinational corporations, financial interests, etc. Through our project, we want to critically analyze what independence really means and what we can do to continue the unfinished task of liberation.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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As the Mexican government considers using this process again to increase dwindling oil reserves, the activist and scientist warns of the social and environmental consequences

The path to activism for biologist Sandra Steingraber, 66, began when, as a student, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. It was the same disease that had claimed her aunt. However, as an adopted child, she knew it wasnt genetics that had caused their shared misfortune. And so, she wondered: perhaps it was because they shared the same environment?

Her search for an answer led to a seminal book, Living Downstream (1997), in which she combined her scientific knowledge with cancer registries and toxic waste inventories. The biologist discovered that she wasnt alone: she was part of a large group of people in a community with high levels of cancer, due to the fact that they were all drinking from the same contaminated water wells.

Since then, the Illinois-born Steingraber has balanced science and activism. For the past 15 years of her career, she has focused on studying and raising awareness about the health and environmental damage caused by hydraulic fracturing, popularly known as fracking. This consists of a series of hydrocarbon extraction techniques  which use a mixture of millions of liters of water with sand and chemical additives  to break up rocks containing natural gas and oil. Thats what recently brought her to Mexico, where the Mexican Alliance Against Fracking and other environmental organizations have organized a forum with legislators from the Labor Party and the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena). They aim to propose legislation to prohibit these practices just as the government is considering returning to them, in order to increase the countrys dwindling oil reserves.

Hydraulic fracturing was invented in the United States. This has led us to become the worlds leading exporter of natural gas, in a time of climate emergency, she reflects. So, I feel the need to apologize, because I think its the worst technology that my country has ever exported.

Worse than the atomic bomb?

She laughs. One of the two worst.

Question. Youve mentioned several times that fracking is one of the ugliest words in the English language.

Answer. Its a word that feels horrible to say: [the process] makes the world a more horrendous place. It releases substances that, while trapped underground, dont harm anyone. But when we fracture rocks, we release radiation and heavy metals like arsenic  which cause leukemia and [other types of cancer]  and we remove drinking water from the ecological cycle. In a time of climate emergency, its an immoral practice.

Q. Mexico and PEMEX, the state-owned oil company, are currently considering resuming hydraulic fracturing, with the idea of obtaining natural gas. How do you assess this project?

A. If Mexico uses it again, it will be a bad decision. Not only because of the practice itself, but also because of natural gas, which is one of the biggest environmental villains. Even those of us in the scientific community havent paid enough attention to the damage this gas does to the climate and our health.

Q. Since 2012, youve been publishing Compendium of Scientific, Medical and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking and Associated Gas and Oil Infrastructure. Its now in its ninth edition. How has this scientific evidence evolved in recent years?

A. When we published the first edition, we had 65 studies on hydraulic fracturing, which showed the harms and dangers of this practice. We put them all together and it was like putting together a puzzle with missing pieces. In the second edition, there were 150 studies. In the third, 400. And they all pointed in the same direction: hydraulic fracturing cannot be carried out safely, [regardless] of any laws or regulations. Today, there are 2,500 studies, with each new piece confirming the previous ones. This compendium was instrumental in convincing the then-governor of New York to ban hydraulic fracturing in 2012.

Q. As one of the leaders of this political process, what lessons can similar movements learn from your experience?

A. Ive seen that its always much easier to debate and explain science in places where the industry hasnt yet taken hold. Once theres economic dependence, its much harder to impose a ban. [This is because] legislators are pressured by companies, who have their own propaganda, their own data theyre a very powerful lobby.

Q. When the Mexican government announced that it would reconsider the practice of fracking to increase oil reserves, it insisted that there are new, more environmentally friendly techniques that consume less water.

A. The same thing was said in the United States. They used [this argument] to allow these techniques to reach areas where there was public opposition. Ultimately, the water was still contaminated.

Let me talk about science for a moment. When rocks are fractured  in addition to the contaminants  a large amount of salt is released, which mixes with the water. This makes it corrosive to the steel pipes used for hydraulic fracturing. So, the water must be treated before it can be reused for another fracture. Then, the contaminants make that water corrosive to the membranes used for desalination. Doing this on a large scale is too expensive for the industry.

Q. What do you do with the contaminated water?

A. The current practice is to pump it back into the ground, into what are called injection wells. And this is one of the main causes of earthquakes associated with hydraulic fracturing.

Theres no good solution for this type of waste. And, as a scientist, Ive never seen evidence that you can use this type of water forever and not generate waste. It doesnt work that way.

Q. You always speak as a scientist, but youre also an activist. Doesnt speaking from a political position undermine the objectivity and credibility of the science behind it?

A. As a scientist, Im very proud of my ability to analyze data objectively, leaving aside my political views. But when this process is over  if I have evidence that harm will occur  I feel obliged not only to publish it in an article, but also to warn the public.

My role model is Albert Einstein. He was a scientist, but also an activist, warning of the dangers of Nazism or the atomic bomb. Its necessary to bring the data to politicians so that they can make the right decisions. If science is combined with legislation, we can build a better world for all.

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The latest in the series of the Connections Peace Barrier Projects "Did Ye Hear About?" on Tuesday last at the Gasyard Centre saw host and former Derry Journal editor, Pat McArt joined by Gaelle Gormley of the North West Migrants Forum.

The topic for this latest offering in the myth-busting series was the urban myths out there in regard to immigrants.

At the outset, Mrs Gormley said it was important to get it understood that there has been a growing campaign to demonise immigrants as being the fault for the all the ills of society.

She stated that most of what is shared on social media, especially racist videos and posts, were lies and fake news, part of a strategy from what she described as very organised extreme groups to hurt innocent people and make their lives miserable.

She explained: It is a total myth that asylum seekers are treated better than the host community. That is totally wrong. An asylum seeker gets between 1.20 and 7.02 per day. They are not entitled to more benefits than others.

As for the myth they are lazy and want to do nothing, while most want to work, they are not allowed to work. Neither are they allowed to access public funds of any kind until a decision on their status is made. So, they are not free-loaders, they are not lazy hanging around wanting to do nothing. Its because they have no choice. And they are certainly not taking peoples jobs or resources.

The welfare and integration officer with the NWMF, Mrs Gormley said UK wide studies had also dispelled the myth that immigrants did not contribute positively to society.

A recent study had found that they contribute 20bn to the economy, while immigrant owned businesses contribute 7.6bn.

As to the situation locally, she pointed out that one of the first prominent immigrants to the North-West was Dr Raphael Armattoe, a Ghanaian medical doctor, author, poet and politician, who moved to Derry in 1939 where he opened a medical practice. He was later nominated for the Nobel Prize for medical research

And she added: Black and minority ethnic people are recorded in Britain and Ireland since at least Roman and Viking times. Records from the 1700s show people working and living in Ireland from different ethnic backgrounds.

Both Mrs Gormley and Anatasia Shevchenko, a volunteer at the Forum, gave personal experiences of being immigrants, the former being French but being married to a Derry man while the latter is from Ukraine.

The Mythbuster Lectures are part of the Connections  A Peace Barrier Project, organised by the Neighbourhood Management Team and funded by the International Fund For Ireland.

The Did Ye Hear About..? series is to continue over the coming months with a number of events taking place. See local Press for further details.
Police have lifted a security alert in Londonderry following the discovery of a viable explosive.

The device at a residential property in the Campion Court area of the Waterside was reported to police shortly after 5.35pm on Saturday.

Ammunition Technical Officers deemed the device to be viable after examination.

It was made safe before it was removed for further forensic examination.

Detective Inspector Hanbidge said: A number of local residents had to be evacuated from the area, and we thank them for their patience while this safety operation was carried out.

This device posed a serious risk to the local community. Were thankful it did not detonate before it was discovered.

We would ask that the public be vigilant to any suspicious items or behaviour in their area, and report any concerns to us immediately.

Officers will continue to maintain a presence in the area today as we conduct further inquiries.

The PSNI appealed to anyone with any information in relation to the incident to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1161 25/10/25.

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously.

SDLP Waterside councillor Martin Reilly condemned those responsible.

He said they had caused inconvenience and worry for residents in the area.

Weve had families disrupted on a cold, wet evening and the Top of the Hill community want this type of disruption to end.

Im glad this alert has ended and residents were able to return to their homes. Anyone with information should come forward to police.
The US has expelled a group of people to Ghana and other African countries. This has taken place amid intense secrecy, through an aggressive deportation strategy that offers few safeguards to those detained

The life of K.S., a Gambian citizen who uses a pseudonym for security reasons, changed abruptly on September 4, 2025. In the middle of the night, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents unexpectedly removed him from his cell at the Louisiana detention center where he was being held. He was not given any explanation: he was not allowed to call his lawyer, nor did agents provide him with any documentation.

They chained my hands, waist and ankles and put me on a military plane, K.S. describes. Hes one of 14 people deported by the United States to Ghana, as part of an aggressive deportation strategy promoted by the Trump administration.

At the time, the detainees didnt know what was happening. Four of them were put in straitjackets, because they refused to board [the military planes] without speaking to their lawyers, the Gambian recalls. And 16 hours later, the group landed in the Ghanaian capital, Accra. Its a part of the world thats completely foreign to them. Since then, the groups future remains a mystery even to themselves.

As part of its mass deportation campaign, the Trump administration has secretly pressured at least 30 African governments to accept migrants. This is according to an investigation by The New York Times, which matches information that has trickled out from those countries. Washington has already persuaded five African nations to sign some kind of agreement: Ghana, Eswatini, South Sudan, Rwanda and Uganda.

Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., highlights the Trump administrations lack of transparency, asserting that fear is a central component of the strategy. Its about killing several birds with one stone, he asserts.

Chishti explains that the policy is meant to sow anxiety among those residing in the United States without documentation. This will encourage so-called self-deportation  leaving the country on ones own initiative  and deter those who seek to migrate irregularly.

Its a drop in the ocean, the specialist sighs. He compares the dozens of people who have arrived in Africa in recent days with the 400,000 people who have been deported from the U.S. in the last eight months, according to official data. The Trump administration has carried out 1,563 deportation flights as of September, according to a report published by the organization Human Rights First. And, in the last six months, six flights are known to have transported migrants to African countries which they dont hail from. Its not about numbers, Chishti emphasizes, but about creating an environment of cruelty.

The flight that K.S. traveled on was kept secret for almost a week. It wasnt until September 10 that the Ghanaian government acknowledged that it had reached an agreement with the White House, in an act of pan-African solidarity. Of those who were transferred, two went missing the same day they arrived in Accra. K.S. believes that they were taken to Nigeria.

K.S. had previously obtained humanitarian parole to remain in the U.S., after leaving his country for being a member of the LGBTQ+ community. In Gambia, this is punishable by up to life in prison. He expressed his fear of returning to his homeland in conversations with Ghanaian officials. However, he explains that immigration authorities went ahead and returned him to Gambia, the same country he fled. Hes currently in hiding.

The case is fraught with contradictions. A Ghanaian government spokesperson initially said that the group consisted of 13 Nigerians and one Gambian. But according to Oliver Barker-Vormawor  one of the groups lawyers  there were actually 11 detainees in total: four Nigerians, three Togolese, two Malians, one Liberian and one Gambian.

Furthermore, Ghanaian authorities made assurances that all had been returned to their countries of origin. But the deportees told their families that they were still there. They sleep in tents and the supply of food and water is irregular, says Noah Baron, a member of the U.S. legal team representing K.S. and four other deportees. He spoke with EL PAIS via video call.

The lawyer indicates that the deportees were held at the Bundase Military Camp, which had never previously been used to receive migrants.

On September 23, Ghana deported eight of the 11 individuals to Togo, according to Barker-Vormawor. The government gave each of them 1,500 cedis (about $100) and abandoned them at the border. They have no family or friends in Togo. They were forced to cross illegally and were stranded there, he tells EL PAIS by phone.

Barker-Vormawor believes that two of them were taken to Mali and another remains in Ghana. He also denounces mistreatment by the authorities. The officers told them that if they tried to flee, they would be shot, he details. One of the Nigerians told the BBC that they were tricked into going to the Togolese border. They had been promised accommodation in a hotel.

Washington maintains that all those deported were illegals, some even heinous criminals. The lawsuit challenging this deportation has also made no progress: the judge hearing the case maintains that she lacks authority in the matter.

Whereabouts unknown

On July 5, the White House announced it had sent eight barbaric, violent illegal criminal aliens to South Sudan, a country ravaged by civil war and with minimal safeguards for detainees. Among those deported were two Burmese nationals, two Cubans, a Laotian national, a Vietnamese national, a Mexican national, as well as a South Sudanese national. The group spent more than six weeks in a shipping container at a U.S. military base in Djibouti, waiting on an appeal filed by their lawyers in the U.S. Even the ICE agents who transported them described the living conditions as outrageous.

The men deported to South Sudan, aboard a plane and guarded by U.S. soldiers, in an image released by the Department of Homeland Security in July.

About 10 days later, five more deportees from Jamaica, Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and Yemen arrived in Eswatini. Formerly known as Swaziland, its Africas last absolute monarchy. And 10 more migrants were received on October 6, although their names and nationalities are unknown. Its a punishment, says Alma David, during a video call with EL PAIS. Shes the lawyer for one of the people deported to South Sudan and for two others who were deported to Eswatini. The message it sends is dont come here.

Several lawyers handling these migrants cases have denounced the precarious detention conditions, as well as the legal limbo that their clients face. They have also highlighted the difficulties they experience when they attempt to contact them.

Alma David says that she doesnt know where six of the deportees to South Sudan are, even though theyre still in custody. She suggests that they may be imprisoned at the Blue House, the headquarters of the African countrys National Security Services. Sources close to the case report that one of the deportees  Mexican citizen Jesus Munoz  was repatriated to his home country in early September. Another individual  South Sudanese citizen Peter Domach  was released.

Matsapha Prison near Mbabane, Eswatini, where four of the five citizens deported by the U.S. to the country last July are being held without charge. AP

In Eswatini, the deportees were sent to the Matsapha Correctional Center, the countrys main maximum-security prison. This is according to Mzwandile Masuku, one of the groups lawyers. Jamaican national Orville Etoria was able to return to his country at the end of September. But Masuku claims that the other four remain detained and dont have permission to receive visitors.

Other countries  such as Denmark and the United Kingdom  have also attempted to deport migrants to Africa in the past. However, in both cases, the courts blocked them. Such a policy, according to Chishti, is a way of externalizing countries responsibilities for immigration and border control: The logic is to export detainees to countries where its cheaper to hold them.

Neither party has made public the agreements or the terms negotiated. EL PAIS has obtained the agreement signed between Eswatini and the U.S., which provides for the transfer of 160 deportees in exchange for $5.1 million. It also provides for the relocation of the deportees to other countries within one year of their arrival, without specifying which countries or individuals will be responsible for their transfer.

The Ghanaian government has stated that it anticipates the arrival of approximately 40 more deportees, although officials have stressed that the country will not receive a single dollar in return. Rwandan authorities have agreed to receive 250 deported migrants and have acknowledged that seven arrived in August. However, the first  Omar Abdulsattar Ameen, an Iraqi citizen  arrived last April. The identities, origins and legal status of the seven deportees, as well as Ameens fate, are currently unknown. The Ugandan government also acknowledges the existence of an agreement, but hasnt provided details. These men are pawns in this kind of twisted game being played by the governments, David sighs.

A policy thats legal, but aggressive

Third-country deportations are provided for in U.S. immigration law when its impossible, impractical, or inadvisable to return migrants to their countries of origin. This is the legal argument that supports the strategy. And the experts consulted by EL PAIS agree that the Trump administration has pushed the limits of the law to the limit. Theyve used every tool at their disposal to push this agenda, Chishti says.

Tariffs, immigration bans, cash payouts for each immigrant received, or the promise to avoid criticism of African countries domestic politics  as well as the opportunity to curry favor with Washington  are all tools that the U.S. has at its disposal. It is easier to negotiate with these types of countries, Chishti points out, since theyre more vulnerable to diplomatic pressure or economic incentives.

Ghana is the clearest example of a country being subjected to these techniques. On September 27, the U.S. lifted the visa restrictions it had imposed back in June. Ghanaians were previously eligible for a single-entry visa lasting only three months. They can now apply for five-year multiple-entry visas.

Diplomatic cable from the U.S. Embassy in Rwanda to the State Department. The Handbasket

Regarding Rwanda: on March 13, a diplomatic cable was sent by the U.S. Embassy in Kigali to the State Department. It notes that the country is open to receiving deportees. It adds a wish list in return, ranging from political concessions to a payment of $100,000. Rwandas motivation [...] is to improve relations [with the U.S.], the document reads. It was published by the specialized media outlet The Handbasket.

We dont trust these countries or their rule of law, yet we send them people, Chishti criticizes. The agreements have also been questioned in the countries that receive migrants, sparking protests and criticism in Eswatini, Ghana and Uganda. The African Union has criticized the U.S. for outsourcing its responsibilities to other countries. However, many families of deportees are afraid to speak out, for fear of reprisals.

Ada  a friend of Cuban national Roberto Mosquera, who was deported to Eswatini  compares the limbo hes experiencing to being kidnapped. They told us that they had returned him to his country, but it was a lie, she says. We dont understand how a man who was free for years  who had a life here [in the United States]  ended up imprisoned in a country he didnt know and where he never committed a crime, without rights and without access to a lawyer."

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The son of a Leitrim farmer found dead with mysterious injuries at his home has spoken out as gardai confirm a cold case review into the case.

On January 11, 2020, 87-year-old Liam Farrell walked home along the N4 road in the village of Rooskey after an evening socialising locally. Fifteen hours later, Liams body was found outside his back door. He was badly bruised, partially undressed and lying on his back.

A post-mortem examination concluded Liam died from a heart attack, but Liams family remain convinced that there is more to their fathers death, citing injuries to various parts of Liams body, bloodied items in the house, and his missing wallet. This week, it was confirmed that Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has requested that the Serious Crime Review Team look at the investigation.

Speaking about seeing the circumstances of his fathers death in September, Liams son Brendan said: I could understand, yes, a heart attackbut what about the injuries? And what caused the heart attack? What led to that? I mean, it was carnage you didnt have to be an expert to know that poor Daddy was attacked.

At a subsequent inquest, the hospital pathologist, Professor Paul Hartel, carried out a post-mortem examination of Mr Farrells body, he revealed he had not been informed that Liams body had been removed from a potential crime scene.

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Professor Hartel testified that had he been aware of the circumstances, he would have refused to carry out the autopsy and insisted a forensic pathologist be assigned.

Speaking to Claire Byrne on RTE radio this week, Liam's son Brendan said: "We're coming into six years now on January 12 since we found poor dad at the back of his property in that horrendous, horrific state. It's as if it's happened five minutes ago," he added.

He said getting a letter confirming the cold case review from Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly felt like "we've been listened to," adding, "they're taking daddy's death very seriously now. They're moving it up to the next step."

Brendan described the awful scene and trying to save his dad at the back door of his house, telling Claire that he didn't recognise him given the level of injuries he had sustained.

"It was the most horrific day of my life. I rang the ambulance straight away, pulled in at his window. I ran, my heart was thumping, and I came around the corner, Claire, and the problem is, I didn't recognise him. I don't know whether people can understand this or not but this is my father, a gentle giant, and his head is wedged into that wall, I didn't recognise him.

"I knew when I was working on him, we were doing the CPR, I could feel I knew, because of the way things were around his body, someone had been there before. We asked them to take out his false teeth because I was afraid it might interrupt when they were working on him, and that caused me concern as well. If anyone was saying, 'oh, your father took a heart attack and he thought he was going to bed in a confused state, well, he'd always take his teeth out, he'd always roll up his tie and that wasn't the case.

I knew and I still know to this day, there was somebody there before I got there," Brendan added.

Brendan said he hopes for answers and described his dad as "an amazing father, grandfather, husband to my late mum, and he loved the kids and he loved simple things. I'd call up to him at the weekend and we'd go for a bit of dinner. Days before he died, we had the dinner and little did I know, that was going to be our last time together," he concluded.

An RTE Prime Time special on the Liam Farrell case was aired in September 2025 and you can watch it below:
Dromad Hire in Dundalk has been named as a finalist across four major categories at the upcoming Plant & Civil Engineer Awards 2025: Health & Safety, Environmental Initiative, Excellence in Customer Service, and Plant Hire Company of the Year.

The company said that the recognition highlights Dromad Hires continued commitment to operating safely, sustainably, and with the customer always at the forefront. From investing in an expanding zero-emission fleet and new solar infrastructure, to maintaining the highest standards of safety and service, these nominations reflect the companys ongoing pursuit of excellence across every area of its business, it said.

To be recognised across four categories this year is a fantastic achievement for our entire team, said Ronan Cotter, Operations Director at Dromad Hire.

Its a real credit to the people behind the company  their passion, attention to detail, and customer-first attitude are what make Dromad Hire what it is today. Every department plays a role in delivering the level of service and quality our customers expect, and this recognition belongs to them.

Read also: Louth student awarded 25k scholarship

The independently Irish-owned rental company holds both SafeHire Certification and IPAF Rental+ accreditation, delivering nationwide service from its headquarters in Dundalk. Dromad Hire specialises in Powered Access Hire, General Plant & Tool Rental, Professional Cleaning Equipment, and Approved Ex-Rental Sales.

The Plant & Civil Engineer Awards, now in their 16th year, celebrate excellence and innovation across Irelands construction, plant, and engineering sectors. The 2025 awards will take place on Thursday 21 November at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, honouring companies and individuals setting new standards in safety, sustainability, and service.
Fianna Fail TD Erin McGreehan has welcomed the allocation of over 2,449,000 to farmers in County Louth under the Eco-Scheme, announced by the Minister for Agriculture.

The Eco-Scheme, part of Irelands CAP Strategic Plan 20232027, rewards farmers for implementing measures that protect and enhance the climate, environment, water quality and biodiversity.

Deputy McGreehan said: Farmers are the backbone of our economy and our rural communities.

"They deliver world-class produce that supports international trade, and it is essential that they are supported in doing so."

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She added: In Fianna Fail, we remain firmly committed to supporting farmers and the agri-food sector.

"The Eco-Scheme is one of the key levers that ensures vital farm payments are not just protected but strengthened into the future.

Deputy McGreehan highlighted that the 2025 Eco-Scheme rate will be 66 per hectare, describing it as a vital support for family farms and reaffirmed Fianna Fails commitment to a strong Common Agricultural Policy.

The payment rate of 66 per eligible hectare will provide meaningful support to over 110,000 farmers nationwide, including 1,249 here in Louth.

Fianna Fail is steadfast in our support for a strong CAP that works for farmers, and we will continue to champion this at EU level, she said.

Concluding, Deputy McGreehan confirmed that payments will begin issuing from today.

Farmers across the constituency who applied to the scheme will see payments appearing in their bank accounts over the coming days.

"I would also encourage anyone with outstanding documentation to complete it as soon as possible to ensure prompt payment.
Dundalk Institute of Technology recently held Mental Health Awareness Week, with a host of onsite supports and fun activities for both students and staff.

Throughout the week, there were a variety of activities happening across campus daily including a reset station, pilates, knitting and crochet, beginner yoga and a taster Hyrox session off campus in Sean Kilroy Fitness.

In addition to the multiple activities taking place, students also had the opportunity to have a chat or learn more about internal supports and local and national mental health supports at the Zen Den.

It was wonderful to have representatives from Turas, Shine, Samaritans, Dundalk Counselling Centre, Women's Aid, Mental Health Ireland, and Dundalk Outcomers on campus. DkITs Ending Sexual Violence & Harassment (ESVH) Manager also spoke to students about recognising Green Flags in relationships. As always, a visit from some furry friends from Dundalk Dog Rescue went down a treat, said a spokesperson for the college.

Students had the chance to share their skills in sessions organised by the Knitting and Crocheting Society and the Circus Society, providing a welcoming space for relaxation and trying something new. Meanwhile, the Walk and Talk event gave everyone a chance to chat, make friends, enjoy the outdoors, and lift their spirits with some gentle movement.

To round off the week, a special gathering was arranged for the handover of a commissioned art piece that was a collaboration for Mental Health Awareness Week by the library, pastoral care and counselling teams.

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Staff and students are welcome to visit the library and have a look at the wonderful art piece. Created by Ne ONuallain the painting is entitled An Dochas Amach is an Aonas Isteach. This is an Irish seanfhocail /old Irish saying which translates to out with the bad and in with the good and is used to signify the hope for a transformation from negativity to positivity.

It was erected in the library as a constant reminder to the DkIT community about keeping the conversation going around mental health.
Theres something exciting brewing in the skies  Sunlight Air just welcomed a brand-new aircraft to its growing family! The ATR 72-600 officially touched down at Clark International Airport last October 3, 2025, and its already gearing up to whisk travelers away to some of the Philippines most-loved island destinations.

If youve flown with Sunlight Air before, you know theyre all about cozy flights, beautiful destinations, and that signature boutique airline touch. This new aircraft  the ATR 72-600  takes all that to the next level. Its modern, energy-efficient, and designed for smoother short-haul flights. Translation? Less turbulence, more comfort, and eco-friendly travel vibes all around.

With a capacity of up to 68 passengers, the ATR 72-600 joins the airlines current fleet of three ATR 72-500s. Its a small but mighty upgrade that shows how much Sunlight Air has grown in just a few years.

Its been a long time coming, and were ecstatic to announce our latest addition of the ATR 72-600, shared Ryna Brito-Garcia, CEO of Sunlight Air. This is just one of the many steps were taking to improve our services and connect even more travelers to the countrys most beautiful destinations.

And speaking of destinations  mark your calendars! Starting October 26, 2025, the new aircraft officially enters service with flights from ClarkSiargao, SiargaoCebu, CebuBusuanga, and BusuangaClark.

But the best part? Sunlight Air just announced a brand-new route: Siquijor! Beginning December 15, you can fly directly from Cebu to this mystical island  the first-ever direct route from the Queen City of the South. Four flights weekly, straight into the islands magic.

The ATR 72-600 made its grand debut at a special launch event last October 24, where Sunlight Air also revealed its refreshed logo and new livery  a clean, modern look that perfectly matches the brands island-chic energy. The celebration brought together partners from Sunlight Hotels and Resorts, Discovery Hotels & Resorts, Uni-Tech Philippines Industrial Machinery Inc., A&M Elite Aviation International Corp., LIPAD Corp., and Clark Development Corporation, all showing love and support for Sunlight Airs newest milestone.

Today, Sunlight Air flies from Clark, Cebu, and Manila to dreamy destinations like Boracay, Coron (Busuanga), Siargao, and Cagayan de Oro. They also make trip planning a breeze with their Sunlight Vacations packages  where you can book your flights and hotel in one go. Check them out at sunlightair.ph/vacations for a full-on island escape made easy.

Whether youre craving a quick island hop or planning a long overdue beach break, Sunlight Airs newest ATR 72-600 is your ticket to more comfort, more destinations, and more reasons to fall in love with exploring the Philippines.

Follow Sunlight Air on Facebook and Instagram or visit sunlightair.ph for the latest updates  because your next island adventure might just be one flight away.

Heres my coverage of the Sunlight Air new aircraft launcj:
The musical drama The House Must Win, which is based on Mick Flannerys debut album Evening Train, will be performed at The Everyman Theatre in Cork from May 6 to 16 next year.

Directed by Julie Kelleher, with Liam Robinson (Hadestown) as music supervisor and Ciaran Bagnall on set and lighting design, the creative team has worked closely with Mr Flannery over the past three years, collaborating on this new script and its 21 songs.

A musical drama set in 1970s Ireland, The House Must Win follows two brothers living with the odds being stacked against them.

Each takes a different path in the hope of leading a good life, both trying to honour the woman who holds their hearts.

In a town of backroom poker games, secrets and bribes, broken families and broken hearts, the people of the area must learn how to play the cards they been dealt with and discover what it truly means when the house must win.

Cast details for the production will be announced in the coming weeks.

When asked about the upcoming production and dates at The Everyman Theatre next year Mr Flannery said:

Im nervously excited about this production as it features my debut shot at writing a script.

Ive found this challenge entirely new and very divorced from songwriting but Ive enjoyed the process very much.

Im looking forward to having ears on the themes, jokes, and new songs, from the public, in hope that they show up.

Im very much indebted to the team, musicians, and actors who have given their time and talent to this project over the last few years.

Over the past decade, Mr Flannery has earned a reputation as one of hardest working musicians in Ireland, touring extensively across Europe and North America, collaborating with artists including Anais Mitchell, Valerie June, Tianna Esperanza, and Jeffrey Martin.

Tickets for the The House Must Win are available now at https://everymancork.com/
A four-month prison sentence was imposed on a 34-year-old man for a number of shoplifting offences.

David Burke, of Mount Carmel, Glasheen Road, pleaded guilty to the charges at Cork District Court where Judge Mary Dorgan sentenced him.

Sergeant John Dineen outlined the offences committed by the accused.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the defendant was pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, and is doing his best to address his issues while in prison.

On October 12, 2024, he stole alcohol from Aldi at East Gate in Ballincollig.

He stole more alcohol on April 3, 2025, at Firgrove service station in Bishopstown.

On May 24, 2025, he stole alcohol from Texaco at Model Farm Road in Cork.

The same day he stole food and alcohol at Centra on Curraheen Rd, Cork.

He stole a small amount of food items at Aldi in East Gate on June 22.

On July 24, he stole a bottle of vodka from Centra in Doughcloyne, Togher.
A sentencing judge said that it was disappointing to see the disrespectful replies a man on multiple alcohol theft charges made to a garda.

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a sentence of five months, with the last three months suspended, at Cork District Court, on 37-year-old Patrick OReilly, of no fixed address in Cork.

The judge said she was very disappointed to see that in one set of charges his reply after caution to each charge was to call the garda a f***ing c***.

Judge Dorgan said one did not often see that kind of reply to charges, and that it was very disappointing.

The defendant spoke in court and said that it happened on a particularly bad night and alleged the garda had called him a scumbag and asked him why he didnt f*** off back to Dublin.

He went on to say that he wanted to get out of Cork anyway as all of his friends in Cork were alcoholics. He said he was trying to get clear of drink through Alcoholics Anonymous and had the prospect of employment in Dublin.

Judge Dorgan said she hoped he would serve the two months to get clear of alcohol and get back to Dublin and start afresh.

On October 5, he stole alcohol at The Offie on Douglas St. The following day he stole alcohol from Lidl on Cornmarket St, and on October 10 he stole alcohol from Tesco Express on South Main St.

The next day he stole a bottle of wine at South Link Service Station. The day after that, he stole more alcohol from the same shop, and on October 12 stole alcohol from Centra on the Grand Parade.

Solicitor Eddie Burke said his experience of the defendant was that he was respectful. He said his problem was all about alcohol and not drugs. He said the defendant, who is from Cavan, had not coped well with the deaths of his parents, and his life spiralled out of control.
(Reuters/Jason Lee)Christians keep the faith despite persecutions in China.

China has arrested scores of Christian pastors in a sweeping crackdown on unregistered churches, which illustrates President Xi Jinping's growing intolerance of religious freedom.

Open Doors reported on Oct. 22 that China is cracking down on house churches, including those affiliated with Zion Church.

Zion Church is one of the largest and most influential underground house church networks in China. Founded in 2007 in Beijing by Pastor Jin Mingri, according to Open Doors.

It is also known as Ezra Jin and the church has grown to over 40 cities across China with an estimated membership of around 10,000.

The Chinese government officially banned the church the pastor founded in 2018 and confiscated all its property after it refused to install CCTV cameras in its building  something China compels in churches.

The church then went to having large online services alongside smaller, in-person house churches, gradually extending its reach to other provinces.

China requires Christians to worship only at churches affiliated with religious institutions controlled by the Communist Party, DW reported.

Authorities in Beijing only officially recognise two Christian groups as officially recognised: the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement.

Earlier in October, about 30 pastors and members of the Zion Protestant Church  one of the largest unofficial Christian churches in China  were arrested across at least seven provinces, including its founder, Jin "Ezra" Mingri.

"Some [police officers] smashed the locks and doors, while others cut the power and pretended to be electricians  knocking on doors before breaking in," said Bob Fu, a Chinese pastor who founded US-based religious group ChinaAid, which closely monitors cases of Christian persecution in China.

Jin 'Ezra' Mingri leads a class on the basics of Christian beliefs at the Zion Church in Beijing, China

Jin 'Ezra' Mingri leads a class on the basics of Christian beliefs at the Zion Church in Beijing, China (2018 file)

Most of those arrested face charges of "illegally disseminating religious content online" as the church shifted to virtual services in 2018 and has since grown to at least 10,000 congregants across 40 cities.

In a post on X, Germany's commissioner for freedom of religion or belief, Thomas Rachel, condemned "the violation of religious freedom" and called for the release of all church members, according to DW.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticised China's actions, calling for the immediate release of those detained and allowing all people of faith to take part in religious activities without fear of retribution.

"This crackdown further demonstrates how the CCP exercises hostility towards Christians who reject Party interference in their faith and choose to worship at unregistered house churches," Rubio said in a statement

China's Foreign Ministry has rejected Rubio's criticism, saying that Beijing regulates religious affairs in accordance with the law and protects citizens' freedom of belief and the normal exercise of religion.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the United States should not interfere in China's internal affairs, the German news agency dpa reported.

ChinaAid's Fu told DW that 23 members of Zion Church remain in detention, though eight have been allowed to meet their lawyers  a rare move made by Beijing "under tremendous international pressure."

"The CCP (Communist Party of China) has indeed made a concession this time," Fu said. "Since those arrested are considered political prisoners, allowing them to meet their lawyers during the criminal investigation period would have been unthinkable in the past."
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The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire deal watched over by President Trump, who was in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit.
A contestant sings a Chinese song at the final round of the fourth "Laotians Sing Chinese Songs" competition held in Vientiane, Laos, Oct. 24, 2025. The final round of the fourth "Laotians Sing Chinese Songs" competition took place in the Lao capital Vientiane on Friday, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees from both China and Laos. (Photo by Wang Yuping/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The final round of the fourth "Laotians Sing Chinese Songs" competition took place in the Lao capital Vientiane on Friday, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees from both China and Laos.

In his remarks, Wang Chang, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos, said that the competition goes beyond artistic performance, serving as a vivid example of the growing China-Laos friendship and the common vision of building a community with a shared future.

"Through music, the two cultures find harmony in mutual appreciation, and our peoples deepen understanding through meaningful exchanges. This event injects new vitality into the enduring China-Laos friendship," said Wang.

In his speech, Director General of the Heritage Department under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Phakhanxay Sikhanxay said the competition is an important Lao-Chinese cultural exchange activity, which will contribute to promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Since its launch in August, this year's competition has attracted hundreds of Lao enthusiasts of Chinese songs. After auditions, preliminary rounds, and semi-finals, 12 contestants advanced to the finals. After fierce competition, 23-year-old Sirisone from Vientiane won the top place.

The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Laos and the Lao Ministry of Culture and Tourism. 

This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows a dance performance at the final round of the fourth "Laotians Sing Chinese Songs" competition held in Vientiane, Laos. The final round of the fourth "Laotians Sing Chinese Songs" competition took place in the Lao capital Vientiane on Friday, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees from both China and Laos. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
A series of new avian influenza outbreaks has deepened concern across the UK poultry industry, with cases now confirmed in Denbighshire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on Sunday (26 October) confirmed infection in a flock of 32,000 free-range laying hens near Cynwyd, Denbighshire, alongside a second outbreak in 32,000 birds near Penrith, and another in 68,000 free-range hens near Bedale, North Yorkshire.

All affected sites have been placed under strict 3 km Protection Zones and 10 km Surveillance Zones, as authorities race to contain the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain. The cluster of outbreaks marks the most serious escalation in the disease since early 2025.

In response, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) has renewed calls for an immediate Housing Order across western Great Britain, warning that the risk of transmission is rising sharply as migratory birds return for winter.

BFREPAs Gary Ford said: This is distressing for the families involved and concerning news for the UK poultry sector, particularly for those poultry businesses in the immediate area of the outbreak.

In light of the escalating situation and the growing risk of disease transmission, we are calling for an urgent Housing Order to be implemented across the western region of Great Britain.

"While housing measures alone cannot eliminate the risk, they are a critical step in reducing exposure and limiting the spread of this aggressive disease.

Ford urged producers to remain vigilant: We urge all poultry producers to maintain high standards of biosecurity at all times and to report any suspicion of disease promptly. These actions, combined with housing measures, will be pivotal in containing and ultimately eliminating this outbreak.

BFREPA said it continues to work closely with Defra and APHA to support affected farmers. The welfare of our flocksand the livelihoods and mental wellbeing of those who care for themremain our top priority, Ford added.

Producers across all regions are now being urged to review their biosecurity protocols and remain alert for signs of infection as the virus continues to spread.

Members of the public are also being urged to report sightings of dead wild birds to help track the spread of avian influenza across the UK.

Defra and APHA have updated their guidance for England, Scotland and Wales, reminding people that public reports play a vital role in monitoring bird flu and other wildlife diseases.

Sightings can be reported using the online service or by calling 03459 33 55 77, providing details of where the birds were found, what type they were, and how many were discovered.
Bollywood star Vidya Balan is ready to make her grand entry into Tamil cinema. The actress, known for powerful roles in Kahaani, Paa, and Hey Baby, will be reportedly seen alongside superstar Rajinikanth in Jailer 2, one of the most awaited Tamil films of 2026. Though she appeared briefly in Nerkonda Paarvai (2019), this will be her first major Tamil film role.





According to some reports, Vidya Balan plays the role of veteran actor Mithun Chakrabortys eldest daughter. Mithun will be seen as the main villain opposite Rajinikanth. The insider added, Vidyas character is strong, emotional, and deeply tied to the films core conflict. Her presence adds a new layer to the story. The shooting of Jailer 2 is currently taking place in Chennai , and the team plans to move to Goa in late October for the next schedule, which will continue for nearly two months. Post-production work is expected to begin early next year.



A source has also confirmed to Filmfare that Vidya Balan will indeed feature in the cast opposite Rajinikanth in Jailer 2.









Fans recently got a peek behind the scenes when Sun Pictures, the production house, shared a video from the Diwali shoot on social media. The clip featured Rajinikanth interacting warmly with the crew, Vidya filming her first Tamil scene, and director Nelson Dilipkumar giving cues for an action sequence. The post was captioned, Wishing everyone a sparkling Deepavali from the sets of Jailer 2.

Wishing everyone a super Deepavali  Here's a exclusive BTS from #Jailer2#HappyDeepavali pic.twitter.com/D1M4esKznG  Sun Pictures (@sunpictures) October 20, 2025

Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Kalanithi Maran under Sun Pictures, Jailer 2 is the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer. It blends high-octane action with comedy and drama. Apart from Rajinikanth and Vidya, the film stars Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu, and Mirnaa in key roles, with S. J. Suryah joining the cast.




Week-long location scout

Shooting in November

Jr NTRs upcoming film Dragon (working title) has wrapped up two schedules of shooting so far. Just when the third schedule was about to be commenced, the unit took a break. Partly because the actor needs time to undergo body transformation for one of the roles, and partly because director Prashanth Neel is tweaking the script to make it more gripping and intense. Jr NTR is set to resume shooting for the film next week, meanwhile other members from the unit are set to leave for Tunisia for scouting locations.A team from Jr NTR and Prashanth Neels film unit will leave for Tunisia (North Africa) to scout for locations. The country is a popular location for film shooting, particularly known for being a primary filming location for both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises. From ancient archaeological sites and bustling souks to blue coasts, Atlas Mountains and the northern reaches of the Sahara Desert, the country has everything. Neel wanted to explore interesting locations and bring out the best side of the country in his film. According to sources, A technical team will leave for the North African country of Tunisia in a couple of days for a week-long location scout. After SSMB29, Dragon would be the second Telugu film to visit an African country for film shooting in recent times.If all goes well, Jr NTR will commence shooting for the films overseas schedule in the last week of November. But before that the actor would resume shootingworking briefly for a lavish action episode at RFC in Hyderabad. The film's large canvas, extensive VFX, and complex action sequences require significant post-production time. Tipped to be an epic action saga with emotionally charged incidents that take place over a periodic timeline, the film is slated to hit theatres on June 25, 2025.
Rio Tinto and China's State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan have launched a trial of battery swap electric haul truck technology at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251026376828/en/

The trial is Rio Tinto's first use of battery swap electric haul trucks in surface mining operations. This is a major step towards developing the cost-effective technology and operational learnings required to reduce emissions from mining haulage fleets one of the largest contributors to the company's Scope 1 and 2 carbon footprint.

Over the last year Rio Tinto and SPIC Qiyuan have delivered and installed a fleet of eight 91-tonne Tonly trucks, together with 13 batteries (each 800 kWh), a battery swapping station, static charger, and supporting infrastructure.

The trucks will now be used by Oyu Tolgoi for tailings dam construction and top soil transportation tasks, providing Rio Tinto with hands on experience operating and maintaining a complete battery electric truck and swap charging system.

Battery swapping technology allows the battery of an electric mining truck to be replaced at a battery swap station in less than seven minutes, without the need to charge the vehicle at a fixed charging facility. This minimises downtime and improves equipment efficiency.

Rio Tinto General Manager Global Equipment and Diesel Transition Ben Woffenden said: "The launch of this trial with SPIC Qiyuan is an important milestone, harnessing China's widely used and leading battery swap technology in a partnership that supports Rio Tinto's drive to accelerate low-carbon innovation. The rapid deployment and fast-tracked operational learnings have highlighted the importance of partnerships in advancing low-emission haulage alternatives for our business.

"By working with partners such as SPIC Qiyuan and Tonly, Rio Tinto is rapidly identifying and adopting cost-effective, proven innovations that can support operational excellence and advance decarbonisation goals."

General Manager of Qiyuan Green Power, Mr. Guo Peng said: "We are honoured to partner with Rio Tinto to launch this milestone battery-swap truck trial at the Oyu Tolgoi mine. SPIC Qiyuan is committed to advancing green energy technology innovation, and this partnership showcases the significant potential of our proven battery-swap solutions in helping global mining customers reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Rio Tinto to jointly explore broader prospects for the mining industry's low-carbon transition."

The equipment will be tested through to the end of 2026 and will help Rio Tinto identify opportunities for wider adoption of this low emission technology across the company. Rio Tinto's global fleet of 700 haul trucks includes about 100 small or medium class (100-200t payload) vehicles, offering the potential to adopt current-generation battery swap technology.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251026376828/en/

Contacts:

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

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Category: Oyu Tolgoi
In his career of over 4 decades, Shah featured in over 250 films, which include cults and blockbusters Hero No 1, Judwaa, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Om Shanti Om, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Veteran actor Satish Shah, known, passed away at the age of 74 due to kidney failure. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit shared the news of Shahs passing away on Instagram as he wrote, Sad and shocked to inform you that our dear friend and a great actor Satish Shah has expired few hours ago due to kidney failure. He was rushed to Hinduja hospital where he breathed his last. A great loss to our industry . Om Shanti.

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In an interview with Komal Nahta a few years back, the late actor spoke about how he didnt feel he was good looking during his struggling days in the industry. When I would say that I have come from the institute, I would get a bit of respect, but thats about it. There was no other advantage whatsoever, Shah said.

The actor added, It was a time when actors would be selected after their black and white pictures were seen, and that wouldnt work for me as I was not that good looking. They wouldnt think that I am the new Shammi Kapoor, and I was aware of it. I had not come to become a hero.

Ashoke Pandit also shared a video in which he said, I would like to share a sad news with you. Our friend, a great actor, Satish Shah has passed away due to kidney failure, a while ago, he suddenly fell ill at home. He was taken to the Hinduja hospital, Shivaji Park. He has passed away. His body will be brought to his residence in Bandra. I will keep you informed about his funeral. It is a huge loss for our industry. I have worked a lot with Satish. Satish is a great man.

Filmography

In his illustrious career of over 4 decades, Shah featured in over 250 films, which include cults and blockbusters Hero No 1, Judwaa, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Om Shanti Om, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and Main Hoon Na. Satishs 1984 iconic sit-com Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi was a defining moment in his career. In his later phase of career, Satish became a household name for his portrayal of Indravadan in Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai.
Mako Nishimura was reportedly Japans first woman yakuza. After she ran away from home as a teen, she joined the organised crime network that reigned over Japans drug rings, gambling dens, and sex trade at 20. Today, she helps other retired gangsters reintegrate into society

Retired yakuza Mako Nishimura collects disposed waste with ex-offenders as part of their monthly litter-picking activity in Gifu. AFP

A missing fingertip offers a clue to Mako Nishimuras criminal past as one of Japans few women yakuza. But after clawing her way out of the underworld, she now spends her days helping other retired gangsters reintegrate into society.

The multi-billion-dollar yakuza organised crime network has long ruled over Japans drug rings, illicit gambling dens and sex trade.

In recent years, the empire has started to crumble as members have dwindled and anti-mafia laws have been tightened.

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An intensifying police crackdown has shrunk yakuza forces nationwide, with their numbers dipping below 20,000 last year for the first time since records began in 1958.

Heavily inked with dragon and tiger tattoos, 58-year-old Nishimura navigated the yakuzas patriarchal hierarchy  where brute force and authoritarian leadership reign  on and off for three decades.

Retired yakuza Mako Nishimura shows her forearm heavily inked with dragon and tiger tattoos and a missing fingertip, that she cut off on her own as part of the yakuzas ritualistic self-punishment for blunders. AFP

Rival gangsters looked down on me just because I was a woman, which I hated, she told AFP at her cramped apartment in central Japans Gifu region.

I wanted to be acknowledged as a yakuza, she said. So I learned to speak, look and fight like a man.

Nishimura says she was officially recognised by authorities as the first woman yakuza after she was jailed for drug possession when she was 22.

While no official police data verifies this, experts say women members are extremely rare.

Retired anti-mob detective Yuichi Sakurai said he had never seen a woman yakuza in his 40-year career, but it was possible a few are included in the annual numbers tracked by police, which do not give a gender breakdown.

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Nishimura, skinny with dyed-blonde hair, finally put the syndicate behind her around five years ago.

She now ekes out a living at demolition sites  one of the few jobs that tolerates her full-sleeve tattoos.

She also supports other mafia retirees, taking huge pride in leading the Gifu branch of

Gojinkai, a non-profit dedicated to helping ex-criminals.

Yuji Moriyama is among the posse of middle-aged tough guys  one has a prominent knife scar across his belly  that Nishimura takes out for monthly litter-picking trips.

Shes like a big sister. She scolds us when we deserve it, 55-year-old Moriyama said, recalling a time he skipped the trash collection and she made him kneel on the ground to apologise.

She scared the hell out of me, he said, laughing.

For Nishimura, the idea Im doing something good for other people gives me confidence, she said.

Im slowly returning to a normal human being.

King of villains

Nishimura grew up in a strict family, with a civil servant father who heavily pressured her academically.

As a teen, she ran away from home and fell into crime, joining a major yakuza clan by the age of 20.

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Brawls, extortions and selling illegal drugs soon became routine. She even cut off her own finger tip as part of the yakuzas ritualistic self-punishment for blunders.

But in her late 20s, Nishimura absconded from the syndicate and was excommunicated, putting gangsterism behind her to marry and raise her son.

Mako Nishimura poses during an interview with AFP at her residence in Gifu. AFP

For the first time, I felt a gush of maternal instinct. He was so cute, I thought I could die for him, she said.

The determined new mother studied her way into the care and medical industries, only to be fired over her tattoos.

Unsure where else to turn, she relapsed into selling stimulants.

In her late 40s, she rejoined her old yakuza organisation but found it poor and bereft of dignity.

The yakuza had thrived in the post-war bedlam of Japan, when it was at times seen as a necessary evil to bring order to the streets.

It still exists in a semi-legal grey area, but harsher anti-mafia laws have left fewer people willing to do business with the mobsters.

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Yakuza used to be the king of villains, she said, but seeing her old boss struggling to scrape money together disillusioned her to the extent that she quit the underworld shortly after her 50th birthday.

Today, Nishimura has found a new mentor  Gojinkai chairman and prominent former gangster Satoru Takegaki  with proceeds from her recently published autobiography helping her make ends meet.

I think yakuza will keep shrinking, she said.

I hope they will become extinct.
With the final exit of MiG-21s last month, India is reportedly going ahead with the programme to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet.

With the final exit of MiG-21s last month, India is reportedly going ahead with the programme to upgrade the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet. An Indian Express report stated that the move is coming at a time when the exit of MiG-21s brought down the IAF fighter squadron strength to 29, as against the sanctioned 42.

It is pertinent to note that the Su-30MKI upgrade programme, also referred to as the Super Sukhoi programme, is touted as a major midlife upgrade programme which has the potential to increase the service life of the fighter jet by 20 years.

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Officials close to the matter told The Indian Express that the upgradation proposal is being examined by the Ministry of Defence, and efforts are underway to fast-track its movement to the Cabinet Committee of Security (CCS) for its approval. It is currently being examined by the Ministry of Defence. Efforts are on to send it soon to the CCS for its sanction for the design and development phase, a senior official who asked to remain anonymous told The Indian Express.

The official noted that the upgradation would include a new cockpit, avionics, radars and IR sensors, a new electronic warfare suite including jammer pods. Sources reportedly said that the programme is close to being finalised. Once it receives the CCS sanction, state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will set a timeline to deliver the aircrafts initial operational clearance (IOC) version in five years and the final operational clearance (FOC) version in seven years after the CCS nod.

Why it matters

The timing of the upgradation matters, given the IAFs dwindling fighter squadron strength, which straight away went to 29 after the MiG-21s retired last month. The IAF currently has a sanctioned fighter squadron strength of 42. Apart from this, the Indian Air Force is yet to receive delivery of any of the 83 Light Combat Aircraft Tejas Mk1A from HAL, The Indian Express reported.

In November 2023, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved an Acceptance of Necessity for the upgradation of Su-30MKI aircraft indigenously from HAL. In December last year, the DAC accorded an Acceptance of Necessity for the procurement of the Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS), which comprises External Airborne Self Protection Jammer pods, Next Generation Radar Warning Receiver and associated equipment for the Su-30MKI.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the system is expected to enhance the operational capabilities of the Su-30MKI and protect it from enemy radars and related weapon systems. Last year, the DAC also gave a nod for the overhaul of the engines of the Su-30MKI, which will enhance service life.
President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said that healthcare is an integral part of national development, and no citizen should be deprived of effective medical services.

President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday said that healthcare forms a crucial pillar of national development and that every citizen deserves access to quality medical services.

Speaking after inaugurating Yashoda Medicity, a private hospital in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, the president said that by dedicating themselves to the healthcare sector, medical professionals also contribute directly to the nations progress.

I appreciate all of you for your commitment, she said, adding that she was pleased to learn Yashoda Hospital has been working sincerely in alignment with Indias national health priorities.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel were among those who attended the ceremony.

Highlighting the broader role of healthcare in Indias growth, President Murmu reiterated that health service is an integral part of national development.

Protecting people from diseases and improving their health standards is among the top priorities of the government, which is continuously expanding health infrastructure and medical services across the country. These efforts will contribute to building a healthy and developed India, she added.

#WATCH | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: President Droupadi Murmu inaugurates Yashoda Medicity Hospital in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad.



Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Anupriya Patel, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath and others also present. pic.twitter.com/WmG0HZSwBF  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2025

The president also called for the active participation of all the stakeholders, including the private sector, to ensure that quality healthcare reaches every corner of the country.

No citizen should be deprived of effective medical services. Good private institutions can play a valuable role in achieving this goal, she said.

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Many economically weaker people also contribute to the nations development. Their lives are precious, and they too must receive full support and access to healthcare, she emphasised.

I believe that discharging social responsibility along with health responsibility should be the priority of medical institutions, the president said.

Murmu also appreciated the managing director of Yashoda Medicity, Dr P N Arora, for opening the facility in the name of his mother.

Naming the hospital after our mother, Yashoda ji, is an example of Indian traditions and indigenous spirit, Murmu said, as she hoped that the institute would give special emphasis on medical research with the spirit of Swadeshi.

President Murmu also took a tour of the hospital and said that for the first time she saw such a modern facility, where all diagnostics and treatment facilities are available under one roof, which would save precious time of the patients, officials said.

India is moving towards rapid development, and this will only be possible if every citizen remains healthy, she said.

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The president also suggested that Yashoda Medicity collaborate with institutes such as IIT-Bombay to adopt indigenous technologies like gene therapy for cancer treatment.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr P.N. Arora, Chairman, Yashoda Medicity and Yashoda Group of Hospitals, said, Yashoda Medicity is more than a centre of advanced healthcareit is the embodiment of a vision rooted in compassion, empathy, and hope for every patient and family who comes through our doors."

Over three decades, we have combined global expertise with heartfelt care. Every structure, every system, and every initiative here reflects our commitment to make healthcare accessible, humane, and life-enhancing. Our goal is to continue touching lives, restoring hope, and setting new standards in compassionate care for generations to come.

Dr Upasana Arora, Managing Director, Yashoda Medicity and Yashoda Group of Hospitals, added, Every patient who walks through our doors is at the heart of everything we do. With world-class facilities, advanced technology, and a deeply compassionate approach, Yashoda Medicity is committed to delivering patient-centric care of the highest quality, restoring hope, and improving lives for generations to come."

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With the inauguration of Yashoda Medicity, India takes a bold step into the future of healthcare, supporting the government-led Heal in India initiative to position the country as a hub for advanced, world-class medical care. This aligns with the vision for a Viksit Bharat 2047accessible, high-quality healthcare for every citizen and a healthier, more resilient nation.
ISTANBUL, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced on Sunday from northern Iraq that it is withdrawing all its forces from Turkiye.

"We are withdrawing all our forces in Turkiye that pose a risk of clashes or are vulnerable to potential provocations," the group said in a statement carried by Turkish television news channel NTV.

In a statement on social media platform X, Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said the dismantling of the PKK's elements within Turkiye and its armed structures across the region remains the core agenda of the "terror-free Turkiye" process.

The PKK, which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, announced in May its decision to disarm and disband following a call from its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to end the armed struggle. The long-running conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives.

The first group of PKK fighters laid down and burned their arms in July, marking the start of the disarmament process.

Ocalan, who founded the PKK in 1978, has been held in near-total isolation on Imrali Island in the Marmara Sea off Istanbul since 1999. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union. 
The Western Indian Ocean is where security, trade, and diplomacy intersect. Indias sustained engagement, naval exercises, and partnerships with African littoral states demonstrate a forward-looking maritime strategy

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) is no longer a remote, forgotten stretch of water. From the Horn of Africa down to the Mozambique Channel, scattered with islands like Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, these seas have quietly become one of the busiest and most closely watched maritime corridors in the world.

Tankers and cargo ships move through every day, carrying oil, gas, and goods that keep economies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East ticking. For India, whose trade and energy lifelines rely on these waters, what happens here is never far away. It shapes security, livelihoods, and the countrys broader strategic future.

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In October 2025, Chinas naval activity caught international attention again. Its 48th Naval Escort Fleet, including the destroyer Tangshan and frigate Daqing, set off from Qingdao on an anti-piracy mission to the Gulf of Aden. While such deployments are framed as routine, they underscore Beijings growing interest in securing vital sea lanes.

Over the past decade, China has poured money into ports and coastal projects, from its first overseas military base in Djibouti to the strategic Gwadar port in Pakistan. What may appear as commerce on the surface is intertwined with strategic ambitions.

For India, whose trade and energy lifelines pass through these waters, the WIO is no longer peripheral. It is central to national security and regional influence.

Chinas Expanding Presence

Chinas engagement in the WIO has intensified in recent years, mainly in the fields of naval, commercial and infrastructural. Its Belt and Road Initiative projects in the region have grown to record levels, with energy-related investments reaching new highs in the first half of 2025. Beyond infrastructure, China is developing deep-sea ports such as KyauThe Western Indian Ocean is where security, trade, and diplomacy intersect.kphyu in Myanmar, a key part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, which is expected to handle millions of containers annually.

Chinas maritime activities also extend to the deployment of research and survey vessels mapping the seabed in the eastern Indian Ocean, potentially enhancing its submarine warfare capabilities. These initiatives show that Beijing is combining commercial, scientific, and military efforts to strengthen its footprint in the WIO, influencing trade routes and regional security dynamics.

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Indias Strategy & Maritime Reach

India never issued a Monroe Doctrine for the Indian Ocean, yet its primacy in the basin has been widely accepted by littoral states.

India emphasises partnerships, trust, and a rules-based approach over confrontation. Initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and engagement with countries such as France, the United States, Japan, and Australia reflect its commitment to stability and multilateral collaboration.

The Ministry of External Affairs Indian Ocean Region Division coordinates policy, while the Navy maintains strong ties with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Oman. Access to strategic facilities such as Duqm Port in Oman and Reunion Island allows India to respond swiftly to regional contingencies.

Naval exercises like Konkan 2024 enhance interoperability and operational coordination, complementing Indias wider strategic posture. The Sagar doctrine, Security and Growth for All in the Region, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2015 during his visit to Mauritius, guides Indias engagement, linking defence cooperation with capacity building, humanitarian aid, and environmental protection.

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In fact, the doctrine envisions India as a net security provider and a developmental partner in the Indian Ocean, promoting collective security, economic growth, and sustainable maritime governance. The Information Fusion Centre Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram acts as a nerve centre, connecting India with African and Indo-Pacific partners for maritime intelligence and disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. It reflects Indias commitment to ensuring peace and strategic posture by emphasising developmental security, stability, and prosperity across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). It is a direct counter to the perception of Chinas militarisation and debt-trap diplomacy in the WIO.

Why Africa Matters

Today Africa is no longer peripheral in global affairs. The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region comprises 10 countries: Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa, Comoros, Madagascar, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the French overseas territory of Reunion. The eastern African coast, from Somalia to Mozambique, is central to Indias maritime security. Through platforms such as the IndiaAfrica Forum Summit and blue economy dialogues, India emphasises skills development, training, and local ownership, aligning with Africas Agenda 2063 for sustainable development.

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On the ground, Indias cooperation is tangible. In Mauritius, over $680 million has been invested in infrastructure, healthcare, and maritime security, including Port Louis redevelopment and monitoring of the Chagos Marine Protected Area. In Seychelles, naval visits and joint training programmes have strengthened professional ties with the Defence Forces. In Mozambique, Indias involvement in the $20 billion LNG project with Total Energies reinforces both regional energy security and local development.

Critical Chokepoints and Energy Security

The WIO contains some of the worlds most vital maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Mozambique Channel. A significant portion of Indias oil supply passes through these corridors, making their security non-negotiable. The Strait of Hormuz alone carries around 20 per cent of global oil shipments, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has seen tensions, including missile attacks by Houthi rebels.

India works with regional and global partners through multilateral exercises and minilateral partnerships with France, the UAE, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on maritime information sharing, coordinated patrols, and maintaining regional stability.

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Balancing Power and Opportunity

India recognises that projecting military power alone is not enough. Smaller island states prioritise climate, environmental protection, and sustainable development. By pairing defence cooperation with development assistance, India positions itself as a responsible partner and presents an alternative to Chinas debt-driven infrastructure model.

Indias geostrategic posture in the Indian Ocean is now a crucial part of its broader defence strategy, especially as India-China relations evolve. Every Chinese move, from port developments to naval patrols, affects Indias strategic calculations. Maintaining a steady presence in the WIO is essential.

Shaping the Regions Future

The Western Indian Ocean is where security, trade, and diplomacy intersect. Indias sustained engagement, naval exercises, and partnerships with African littoral states demonstrate a forward-looking maritime strategy. While competition exists, so do opportunities for collaboration, stability, and growth. For India, the WIO is shaping its role in the Indo-Pacific, not as a bystander, but as a steady and responsible power for decades to come. It is a pivotal point which possesses potential which can define the economy, the climate, and the balance of power for generations to come.

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Rashmi Rani Anand is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for African Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Prashanto Bagchi is a Research Analyst at covering China. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Apec Gyeongju Summit offers a platform for direct, face-to-face dialogue between the two leaders, enabling them to move past lower-level disputes and engage in personal diplomacy

The US-China trade talks are proceeding amid high tension and a series of tit-for-tat escalations, with a fragile tariff truce set to expire in November. Against this background, US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are likely to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit on October 31-November 1 in South Korea, but whether a significant deal can be reached remains uncertain.

Ahead of their upcoming meeting, Trump has said he would make a deal on everything with Xi Jinping, pointing to potential agreements on agriculture and nuclear arsenals. I think we are going to come out very well, and everyones going to be very happy, Trump added. The high-stakes meeting comes as a delicate trade detente between the economic superpowers nears its expiration on November 10. Trump has also set November 1 as the deadline for the additional 100 per cent tariffs announced earlier this month.

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Before the Trump-Xi meeting, the US-China trade talks will resume in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who has been the lead negotiator for his country, will hold talks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent from October 24 to 27, but whether a deal can be reached remains uncertain. If the negotiations fail to produce a more permanent agreement by the November 10 deadline, the original higher tariff rates could be reimposed.

It may be recalled that in April 2025, the US had imposed 145 per cent tariffs on most goods from China, while China had responded with 125 per cent tariffs. A 90-day truce on tariffs was reached by these two countries in May 2025, which was a temporary agreement that reduced tariffs between the two countries from their peak levels to allow for further negotiation. This truce was extended by 90 days in August 2025, but a more permanent agreement has not been finalised, and the original high tariffs could be reinstated on November 10, 2025, if talks fail.

The mutual pressure from the US and China over tariffs stems from deep-seated economic, political, and strategic disagreements that have intensified throughout 2025. The US has used tariffs to address what it claims are unfair Chinese trade practices, while China has responded with its own retaliatory measures to defend its interests. While both countries have sought to de-escalate tensions at times, the underlying issues and competing agendas persist.

In October 2025, China announced new export controls on a range of strategic materials, including expanded restrictions on rare earth elements, superhard materials (like synthetic diamonds), and high-performance lithium battery components. These are crucial for advanced technologies and defence. A significant aspect of the new rules is the extension of jurisdiction to items produced outside of China if they are made with controlled Chinese technology or materials. The new measures also include controls on related technologies, such as those for rare earth mining and magnet production.

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In a move seen as a direct response to Chinas rare earth dominance, the U.S. signed a critical minerals agreement with Australia. In retaliation for the Chinese restrictions on exporting rare-earth minerals, which are critical for US technology and defence industries, President Donald Trump also threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, beginning November 1, 2025.

Reciprocal maritime fees also indicate the escalating tensions. In October 2025, the US and China also began imposing reciprocal maritime port fees on each others vessels. The US fees target Chinese-owned or operated vessels, while Chinas retaliatory fees are for US-linked vessels. In international trade, a US-linked vessel can be defined by its ownership, operation, or country of registry (flag). The fees are being implemented in phases, starting in October 2025 and increasing annually through 2028, with the specific amounts differing between the two countries.

The recent measuresincluding export controls, new tariffs, and port feesindicate a pattern of escalating tensions in the weeks leading up to potential high-level talks. A comprehensive deal is unlikely in the near term, and a renewed pause in tariffs is the most probable outcome of the Apec meeting. The negotiations continue to face deep-seated disagreements over core issues such as technology transfer, market access, and intellectual property.

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If the negotiations fail to produce a more permanent agreement by the November 10 deadline, the original higher tariff rates could be reimposed. While this is a possibility, analysts have noted that both sides have shown a willingness to maintain open communication channels. Failure of US-China trade talks could bring significant and painful consequences for both countries. A breakdown would mean a deepening trade war marked by higher tariffs, greater uncertainty, and further disruptions to supply chains.

Renewed and higher tariffs on Chinese imports would directly raise costs for American consumers and businesses. A major escalation could drive prices up significantly. Escalating trade tensions would increase uncertainty for businesses, which could freeze investment, hamper growth, and potentially contribute to a recession. The US economy remains heavily dependent on Chinese inputs for many manufactured goods. An abrupt and full separation would cause massive economic shocks to both supply and demand.

There would also be significant consequences for China. Escalating trade tensions and loss of the US market would further slow Chinas economic growth, which is already grappling with domestic issues. A prolonged trade war would particularly hurt Chinas small businesses, a major engine of its economy, and could lead to rising unemployment. As US tariffs and export controls restrict access to American markets, Chinese manufacturers would need to pivot to other regions, a costly and challenging process.

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While China has threatened to weaponise its dominance of rare earth mineral exports, such a move could backfire in the long term. It would accelerate US and allied efforts to find alternative supplies in places like Australia, ultimately eroding Chinas monopoly. The economic consequences would extend to other countries that are highly integrated with either the US or Chinese economies. The trade diversion caused by the previous trade war showed that while some nations may benefit from manufacturing relocation, others could suffer from a drop in Chinese demand.

Summing up, the Apec summit provides a forum for direct, face-to-face dialogue between the two leaders, potentially bypassing lower-level disputes and allowing for personal diplomacy. The talks between Trump and Xi will test their ability to navigate a complex and increasingly fragile relationship. Both leaders have political motives driving their strategies, and a positive outcome could be claimed as a victory on the domestic front.

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The meeting is not just about bilateral trade. Trump aims to leverage his relationship with Xi to gain Chinese cooperation on other geopolitical issues. He has stated he intends to discuss pressuring Russia over the war in Ukraine. Due to the scale of the two economies, the outcome of any meeting between their leaders has major implications for global trade, supply chains, and market stability.

If talks fail, Trump has threatened to impose 100 per cent tariffs, and China could aggressively enforce its rare-earth mineral export controls or launch antitrust investigations into US firms. A breakdown in dialogue could lead to a renewed cycle of retaliatory policies, causing further market volatility and supply chain disruption.

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.

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The proposed Gaza transitional government, to be headed by the former war-mongering British PM Tony Blair, doesnt represent Palestinians

According to Trump's plan, former British PM Tony Blair, called a war criminal by critics in West Asia, will chair the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) and administer the enclave for five years without involving the PA or Hamas. Representational image

The Green Zone, a fact-based war thriller helmed by the renowned Paul Greengrass, concludes with a glimpse into Iraqs ravaged and tumultuous future.

Focused on the fabricated Weapon of Mass Destruction intel provided by Iraqi defector Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, known as Curveball (the new Deep Throat) by Western intelligence agencies, the movie climaxes with an intense political bickering among Iraqi factionsan ominous start to 2003, the year of US invasion.

Greg Kinnear, who plays Department of Defense Special Intelligence official Clark Poundstonebased on Paul Bremer, the corrupt and controversial head of the American puppet Coalition Provisional Authoritywitnesses a meeting in the Green Zone convened to decide Iraqs leader descend into chaos.

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The factions refuse to recognise US-backed politician Ahmed Zubaidiin reality, Ayad Allawi, a former Baathist-turned-CIA supporteras Iraqs new leader.

The Green Zone ending highlights how the US failed to understand the complex dynamics of Iraqi factions and the ethnic strife and why Iraqis werent ready to accept an American puppet as their leader.

Deposing a dictator, especially with foreign military intervention, is never the biggest hurdle. The chaos, the struggle for power and the bloodshed that ensue are the biggest obstacles to peace and rebuilding.

The US is infamous for abandoning nations after direct or indirect military operations in the name of restoring democracy or fighting terrorism and for strategic and military gainsAfghanistan and Iraq are the best examples.

No Mission Accomplished in Iraq and Gaza

A similar situation could plague war-torn Gaza.

On May 1, 2003, on board the USS Abraham Lincoln, George W Bush declared that the US had won in Iraq after overthrowing dictator Saddam Hussein.

Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed  because the regime is no more, he said after a much-criticised arrested landing in the nuclear-capable anti-submarine S-3 Viking.

As Bush declared a fake American victory from the podium, a White House-produced banner with the words MISSION ACCOMPLISHED hung in the background.

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The War on Terror continues, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide, he said.

The tide in Iraq never turned in Americas favour.

A bloody insurgency rocked Iraq the same year, transformed into a sectarian war and continued till the US ended combat operations, leaving the country ruined and devastated.

Despite Bush claiming that the US had won, troops remained in Iraq for eight more years. The US spent around $728 billion, 4,492 US servicemembers were killed and another 32,292 were wounded. Around 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed.

Though then-secretary of state Donald Rumsfeld removed the words Mission Accomplished from Bushs speech, the president delivered a similar speech with the words included to US troops Camp As Sayliyah in Afghanistan on June 5 the same year.

Both Iraq and Afghanistan were destroyed never to recover again.

Bushs Mission Accomplished catchphrase was back to haunt the US 15 years later during Donald Trumps first term. After the US, the UK and France struck Syria with a volley of Storm Shadow and Tomahawk missiles on April 14, 2018, in response to the Douma chemical attack by the then-Bashar al-Assad regime, Trump prematurely tweeted: Mission Accomplished!

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Nothing was accomplished as the Syrian Civil War continued till December 2024 with a former al-Qaeda member, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaawho fought American troops in Iraq and Syrianow leading a highly destabilised nation riven by a sectarian conflict, humanitarian crisis and economic turmoil.

On October 12, Trump did a Bush.

Before departing for Israel, where he got a standing ovation for ending the war following his 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, and Egypt for the Gaza Peace Summit and ceasefire signing, Trump, in his much-loathed pomposity, said that the Gaza War was over.

This is not only the end of a war  This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East, Trump told the Knesset on October 13 amid applause.

Itll be the new beginning for an entirely beautiful Middle East, the US president said during the signing of a joint declaration on Gaza, Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity, in Egypts Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on the same day.

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Leaders and representatives from 30 nations gathered as Trump painted a rosy future for the region. This is a monumental moment in the history of the world beyond the Middle East, he said on a stage adorned with the theme PEACE 2025 in big, bold and white.

Trumps two speeches bear an uncanny resemblance to Bushs speech.

Ironically, the words emblazoned before the Sharm el-Sheikh stage and on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier bore the usual American show-offspectacular on the surface but hollow underneath.

Similarly, no mission has been accomplished in Gazathe enclave is on the precipice of another round of bloodshed.

In his rambunctious and deranged self at the Knesset, Trump even praised Benjamin Netanyahu for using powerful American weapons very well in Gazawhich have killed civilians in thousandsbecause thats what led to peace.

The Egypt peace summit was a nauseating tableau of power play in which participating nations did their cameos as protagonist Trump towered above the obsequious lot. It was a pageant, not a peace summitorganised by a reckless man, a maverick whose USP is chaos.

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Implementing Trumps peace planlacking in specifics and planningfully is a mirage. But for now, hes basking in the fake glory of having ended the Gaza War and monetising every moment of it.

Gazas precarious reality hit hard barely a week after Trumps two spells of boisterousness.

On October 19, Israel killed 45 Gazans in air and artillery strikes after Hamas ambushed and killed 2 Israeli soldiers in Rafah. Later, Israel announced that the ceasefire, under phase one of the peace plan, and aid delivery would resume the next day.

The Gaza Government Media Office alleged that Israel has killed around 97 Palestinians and wounded 230 since the start of the ceasefire, and violated the truce agreement 80 times. As of October 20, 68,159 Gazans have been killed and 170,203 wounded since October 2023.

Even the first phase hasnt been completely implemented. Hamas was supposed to return all living hostages and the remains of the dead. Subsequently, Israel was to release 250 life sentence prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained after the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack. However, Hamas hasnt returned the remains of 13 dead hostages.

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Bloody Insurgency, Fight for Supremacy

The US was responsible for the Iraqi insurgency (2003-11). Despite the CIAs warning about the high risk of a political and ethnic conflict after Husseins overthrow, Bush appointed the inexperienced Bremer without consulting secretary of state Colin Powell and NSA Condoleezza Rice.

Bremers CPA orders to exclude members of the Baath Party from the new government and disband the Iraqi Army, under vice-president Dick Cheneys instructions and against the advice of senior military and CIA officers, triggered a violent insurgency.

The Baathists were angry. Almost 400,000 soldiers were immediately jobless. A vast pool of frustrated, angry and jobless youths, several of them armed, was an easy source of recruitment for jihadist organisations.

The insurgents, numbering 3,000-7,000, comprised Baathists (Army and intelligence officers), nationalists, Salafists, Shias (Badr Organisation, Mahdi Army and Muqtada al-Sadr followers) and al-Qaida members, and were mainly active in and around Fallujah, Samarra and Baghdad.

Pitted against the superior multinational coalition force, the insurgents resorted to IEDs, car bombs, suicide attacks, ambushes, sniper attacks and guerrilla warfare.

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Gaza could turn out to be another stage for the battle of supremacy between Hamas and other armed factions.

In fact, Trump has turned Gaza into a more dangerous place.

Trumps recklessness, juvenility and flip-flop in dealing with Hamas have all the ingredients of turning Gaza into an Iraq-like cauldron.

One of the most contentious points in his peace plan is that Hamas should disarm. However, neither the group has agreed to lay down its arms nor has there been any discussion about it. Moreover, its not about disarming Hamas; its about ending its two-decade-old entrenched position in Gazas political and security apparatus.

Trump has emboldened the terrorist group.

After returning to the White House, Trump threatened Hamas several times but never acted.

Despite being debilitated both in numbers and power, Hamas has now come out of hiding, executing Israeli collaborators on the streets and policing north Gaza after the withdrawal of Israeli troops to the Yellow Line.

The demarcation, the first of three planned IDF withdrawals, has divided the coastal enclave in half with Israel controlling 53 per cent of it. Hamass brazen public executions have proved that it is the only security provider to Gazans in the remaining 47 per cent.

After Hamass public executions, only three days after the ceasefire, Trump said that if the group continued to kill Gazans, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.

In his latest threats, which resemble those uttered by a school bully, he asked Hamas to behave or else you will be eradicated.

Trump is solely responsible for Hamass resurgence.

On the one hand, he warns and threatens Hamas. On the other hand, he publicly admitted to giving Hamas approval for a period of time to stop the problems.

In other words, Trump has greenlighted a battle for dominance between Hamas and other terrorist groups, some allegedly backed by Israel, in Gaza.

They [Hamas] do want to stop the problems, and theyve been open about it, and we gave them approval for a period of time, he told the media aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel and Egypt on October 12.

Trumps idiocy has triggered a fight for dominance that could derail his peace plan mid-way.

Other terrorist groups see this as an opportune moment to challenge Hamass supremacy. Hamas, in turn, has launched a crackdown against rivals.

Two days after the October 10 ceasefire, Hamas killed 33 members of the Doghmosh clan, one of the largest, most powerful and well-armed groups, in Gaza City.

Clan leader Mumtaz Doghmosh, not seen since the October 7 Hamas attack, led the Popular Resistance Committees armed wing in Gaza City and formed the Army of Islam, an Islamic State (IS) affiliate. In fact, it plotted attacks in collaboration with Hamass Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades and was part of the 2006 cross-border attack to capture Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The clan has links with Fatahs Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.

The Doghmosh clan is also alleged to have been affiliated with Israel, but it has denied the allegations.

The Abu Shabab clan, or the Popular Forces militia, a Bedouin group based in Rafah and led by Yasser Abu Shabab, operates in southern Gaza. Hamas has accused Shabab of operating in collusion with Israel since the IDF still occupies southern Gaza.

Another group that operates in southern Gaza is the Al-Majayda clan. Based in Khan Younis, the group fought with Hamas in recent months with the latest clash earlier this month that killed several members of both groups. Though opposed to Hamas, some clan members are affiliated with it and Fatah. Hamas has accused the group of having ties with the Abu Shabab.

Several other clans operate in Gaza. Its an entangled web of shifting alliances, opportunism and double-cross in the race for supremacy.

The fight has become dirtier with Israel backing some Hamas rival clans. According to reports, Israel supports Shababs Popular Forces, which had looted aid trucks to resell to Gazans.

Israel also supports the Strike Force Against Terror, formed by Hussam al-Astal, a member of the al-Majida clan. Hamas and Al-Astals group clashed early this month before the ceasefire. Al-Astal, a former security officer in the Palestinian Authority (PA), allegedly collaborated with Israel in the 1990s. Per Israeli media reports, he also has ties with Shabab, which makes Israels support more evident.

In giving a free rein to Hamas, Trump has turned Gaza into a quagmire without realising that the group is the biggest obstacle to his peace plan, especially point one. Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.

As long as Hamas is armed, with no intention of disarming, Hamas cant be a terror-free zone and will continue to pose a threat to Israel.

Neither point 13, which calls for the destruction of all military, terror and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, is feasible with Hamas in control.

The demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning is impossible as long as Hamas fiends patrol the streets and execute people publicly.

However, Trump, a consummate liar, already proclaimed last week that Hamas would disarm. I spoke to Hamas, and I said, Youre going to disarm, right? Yes, sir, were going to disarm. Thats what they told me, he told reporters at the White House.

Trumps peace plan has another point that could trigger an Iraq-like insurgency.

Trump has already sent 200 troops to the north of Gaza in Israel to coordinate the fragile ceasefire and stabilise the enclave with Egyptian, Qatari and Emirati troops expected to join them.

Point 15 calls for a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to be deployed in Gaza to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces, and the force will be the long-term internal security solution.

So far, no country has fully committed to the ISF with unconfirmed reports indicating that Pakistan, Indonesia and Azerbaijan are the top contenders. Moreover, the ISF, which will reportedly be headed by Egypt, will not be a UN peacekeeping force despite acting under its mandate.

Theres no guarantee that Hamas and the other terrorist organisations will not start an Iraq-like insurgency against the ISF.

The ISF, despite comprising troops from Muslim and Arab nations, will be an occupying forcean idea anathema to any country. In fact, countries fear that sending troops to Gaza will pit them against Hamas, unless it disarms, and are reluctant to commit.

Trumps Paul Blair Bremer Ready for Gaza

Bremer not only symbolised the American mismanagement, corruption and short-sightedness post-Iraq War, but he also pushed the country into a blackhole of insurgency and political uncertainty.

The American de facto chief civilian administrator of Iraq (May 2003-June 2004) was a disaster for Iraq.

US audit agencies discovered that the CPA handed over truckloads of dollars without any accountability. More than a hundred contracts worth billions awarded to corporations were probed. Moreover, $8.8 billion spent by the new Iraqi interim government while Bremer was in charge was unaccounted for.

Bremer ensured political turmoil. He backed Allawi to become the president of the CPA-established provisional government, the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC), and later the prime minister of the Iraqi Interim Government. The British-educated Allawi, a Shia US puppet, had no experience and was in exile in London for 30 years before being summoned by his master. His party lost both the January and December 2005 parliamentary elections.

Political instability gripped Iraq after the US invasion. Since then, the democratic yet dysfunctional political system has been plagued by sectarian divisions and widespread corruption. Infighting among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish political elites has resulted in political paralysis, lack of accountability, corruption, poor public services and infrastructure and high unemployment.

Similarly, point 9 in Trumps peace plan is nothing but Bremers CPA in disguisea hogwash that will destabilise Gaza further, alienate Gazans and colonise the enclave.

Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza, the plan reads.

Here comes Trumps Paul Bremer into the picture.

Former British PM Tony Blair, an architect of the Iraq War, who not only believed Curveballs bollocks but also his governments September 2022 Iraq Dossierwhich wrongly claimed that Iraq could launch chemical weapons in 45 minuteswill run Gaza for five years before handing it over to the PA.

According to his plan, Blair, called a war criminal by critics in West Asia, will chair the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA) and administer the enclave for five years without involving the PA or Hamas.

A leaked draft plan of the transitional authority, published by the Israeli daily Haaretz last month, shows that merely managing Gaza for three years would entail expenses of $90 million in the first year, $134 million in the second, and $164 million in the third.

GITA, to be established by a UNSC resolution, will comprise international billionaires and technocrats who will have supreme political and legal authority for Gaza during the transitional period.

A Board of Peace consisting of 7-10 members, including Blair, and chaired by Trump will oversee and supervise GITA.

Marc Rowan, a billionaire owner of one of Americas largest private equity firms; Naguib Sawiris, an Egyptian billionaire in telecommunications and technology; and Aryeh Lightstone, CEO of the Abraham Accords Peace Institute, are the three potential members.

The Board will also include a senior UN official, and at least, one qualified Palestinian representative and other Muslim membersall from a business background.

The Gaza transitional authority is a deliberate attempt to keep Palestinians out.

First, Board members will be appointed by the UNSC without Palestinian consensus. In the first two years, the members will not even operate from Gaza but from Egypt and Jordan.

Second, a body called the Palestinian Executive Authority, comprising the ministries of health, education, water supply and energy, housing, local criminal justice and welfare, is at the bottom of GITAs hierarchy, meaning it will have the least power and no independence. Even the Authoritys chairman will be appointed by the Board.

The Gaza transitional government will be a farce with almost no Palestinian representation or power. Trump and Netanyahu have ensured that the PA is kept out of Gazas administration.

GITA is, in fact, worse than Bremers CPA. Though ordinary Iraqis didnt view the CPA-established 25-member IGC as independent of the US, it, at least, represented tribal leaders, secular politicians, religious Muslim conservatives, exiles, tribal leaders and women. Shias were allotted 13 seats and the rest were divided among Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmen.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank focused on US foreign policy and international relations, the IGCs ethnic and religious make-up was far more representative than any previous Iraqi government, and the Shia majority, for the first time in Iraqi history, had a leading voice in politics.

Forget about a two-state solution. Trumps Gaza peace plan is merely a five-year business proposal in which corporations come first and Palestinians last under a former war-mongering prime minister.

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. He tweets as @FightTheBigots. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
To those of us who wander into the tranquil environs of museums, we find that most of them are run by governments or by private institutions. In either case, they tend to follow a prescribed pattern. In gallery after gallery, there is a display of artifacts and objects. Some displays are well planned, better captioned and lit. Others may be in a state of neglect. But there is a quality of sameness to these museums, a lack of imagination.

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Amidst this, two museums that are distinct in their displays of the past are those that showcase private collections. The museums are very different in their outlook, in design, style, vision and geographic locations. But what brings them together is that their collections were built by two inspired people, and their families. These were individuals who shared a knack of spotting objects which represented interested ideas and periods of history. And they brought them home.

Dinkar Gangadhar Kelkar and Revi Karunakaran were both born in pre-Independent India, albeit more than a generation apart in time. The Chitpavan Brahmin Kelkar, born 1896, was of a scholarly bent of mind from his early days, publishing poetry and editing books even in his early twenties. An optician by profession, the year 1920 was a turning point for him and the beginning of what we now know as the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum in Pune.

Coming across a Mayur Veena  a wooden veena shaped like a peacock and embellished with silver  triggered with Kelkar a desire to find objects of tradition and antiquity. The decades that followed saw him travel to remote villages, obscure tribal habitats and little-visited shrines. In the process, he found extraordinary objects in the everyday life of these communities, bringing together a fabulous collection of over 22,000 antiquities.

Mayur Veenas in the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

In 1975, realizing the scale of what he had collected and how much more would be required to showcase it, Kelkar donated it all to the Government of Maharashtra. Today, the museum  spread over two wings and four floors  is a depiction of living history, giving a view about how communities ate, drank, lived, celebrated and more, over a century ago. Perhaps its finest feature is a recreation of the 18th century CE palace of Mastani, Muslim wife of Peshwa Bajirao I.

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For those who wonder how the Raja got prefixed to the name, this was the name of Kelkars eldest son, who died young. The museum was originally Raja Sangraha and later Raja Kelkar Historical Collections, before it got its current name. Charming as the current location in a quiet lane of Pune may be, space limitations allow only a fraction of the collection to be displayed. The future holds promise of expanding to a massive new facility.

If Dinkar Kelkar was a son-of-the-soil Maratha, the 1931-born Revi Karunakaran was almost a global citizen. Born to a Malayali father and an Austrian mother, educated in the UK, Switzerland and the US, he spoke multiple languages. His grandfather, Aandiyara Krishnan, had been the first Indian handloom factory owner to begin exporting coir, entering what had till then been the preserve of British industrialists. It was Krishnan who began collecting artifacts from around the world, a practice his son continued, and grandson took to new heights. Life took a turn for Karunakaran with his fathers early death, propelling him into heading the family business when he was barely 21.

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Across three generations, the family put together a vast collection of curios and artifacts. With Revi Karunakaran passing away in 2003, the credit of converting the collection into a stunning museum goes to his wife, Betty. In 2006, the landscape of picturesque Alappuzha saw an interesting new addition. A grand building came up, designed by noted architect Lalichan Zachariah. Spread over a whopping 28,000 square feet, it stands out for its Greco-Roman columns. The museums design lives up to the spirit of the global traveller it is named after.

An iconic object in the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum, Alappuzha, Kerala

Showcased within is one of the worlds largest private collections of Swarovski crystals, including several rare pieces. Equally striking is the museums registered ivory collection, one that encompasses an incredibly beautiful Dashavatara  a depiction of Vishnus ten incarnations. On one side is an antique stained glass that depicts Krishna playing the flute, while on a table rests a model of the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai, created out of the pith of a tree. From Mexico come figurines made of vitreous volcanic rock and from Indonesia, polished volcanic rock. On one shelf are antique Chinese snuff bottles while on a wall hangs a tapestry showing Florence, Italy.

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Ivory collection in the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum, Alappuzha, Kerala

Also from Italy is a limited-edition Blue Dante vase, apparently a gift from Revi Karunakaran to his wife shortly after their marriage. There are objects in jade and porcelain. Standing in a lotus pond in the courtyard of the museum is the incredible seven-foot bronze statue of The Prodigal Son by Israeli artist Sam Philipe. Not to be missed are numerous rare artifacts from Kerala itself, including murals, idols and wooden objects. Each has a story behind it, a history that is worth recounting. The list can go on and on.

Chinese vases in the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum

Betty Karunakaran has passed on but her work and that of her husband and his ancestors lives on in the form of the Revi Karunakaran Memorial Museum. As does the work of Dinkar Kelkar in Pune. As a visitor walks through the portals of these museums, we dont just get a glimpse of a bygone world, we are also able to see that world through the eyes of the Kelkars and Karunakarans. One hopes to see many more such museums preserve lovingly collected objects.

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The author is a heritage explorer with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants were killed in clashes near the Afghanistan border, the Pakistani military said on Sunday, even as both countries held talks in Istanbul to ease rising tensions.

An Afghan Taliban fighter sit next to an anti-aircraft gun near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan, on October 15, 2025. Reuters File

Five Pakistani soldiers and 25 militants were killed in fresh clashes near the Afghanistan border, the Pakistani military said on Sunday (October 26, 2025), amid a fragile ceasefire with the Afghan Taliban.

The violence came even as delegations from both Afghanistan and Pakistan met in Istanbul to ease tensions following the deadliest border fighting in years.

As claimed by Pakistans military, militants attempted to cross from Afghanistan into Kurram and North Waziristan districts on Friday and Saturday  rugged areas along the countrys northwestern frontier.

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The armys media wing told Reuters that the infiltrations raised questions about the intentions of the government in Afghanistan in regards to addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from its soil.

Earlier, Pakistans Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Saturday that the truce between the two sides was holding and expressed hope that Afghanistan wanted peace. But failure to reach an agreement in Istanbul would mean open war, he warned.

The Taliban government has not yet responded to Islamabads latest claims. It denies harboring militants and accuses Pakistan of violating Afghan sovereignty through its military operations.

Officials from both countries are meeting in Istanbul to develop mechanisms for maintaining stability outlined during earlier Doha talks.

The recent clashes, which also killed civilians, marked the worst violence along the border since the Talibans 2021 takeover of Kabul. The confrontation began after explosions in central Kabul, which the Taliban blamed on Pakistan, prompting retaliatory strikes along the frontier.

The blasts coincided with a rare visit by the Talibans foreign minister to India. Pakistan, once a key supporter of the Taliban, has seen relations with Kabul deteriorate sharply in recent months.
President Trump started his Asia tour with a series of trade agreements across Southeast Asia, signalling a renewed push to assert US economic influence before his much-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press as he departs the White House for Joint Base Andrews on October 24, 2025 in Washington, DC.- AFP

US President Donald Trump began his Asia tour by announcing multiple trade agreements and diplomatic initiatives, setting the stage for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week.

Within hours of arriving in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Trump announced six trade agreements with four countries Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

The deals cover critical minerals, rare earth elements and broader market access. Malaysia pledged to refrain from imposing export quotas on critical minerals, while Vietnam and Cambodia offered US exporters unprecedented access to local markets.

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Analysts suggest the agreements are designed not only to boost US exports but also to counter Beijings expanding influence over key supply chains in Southeast Asia. The Trump administration is signalling that it can deliver both economic benefits and diplomatic stability in the region, ahead of key negotiations with Beijing, said a senior trade analyst cited by Seeking Alpha.

Trump brimmed with confidence ahead of the meeting with Xi in South Korea, that seeks to end the bruising trade war between the worlds two biggest economies.

I think were going to make a deal, he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur, as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinas Vice Premier He Lifeng concluded two days of meetings.

Chinas vice commerce minister Li Chenggang told reporters a preliminary consensus had been reached.

Peace diplomacy bolsters US influence

Trump also presided over the signing of an expanded ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia, following his intervention in July to halt deadly border clashes. My administration immediately began working to prevent the conflict from escalating. Everybody was sort of amazed that we got it done so quickly, Trump said.

Experts say this dual approach combining trade and security achievements positions the US as a credible partner for ASEAN nations, projecting influence in both economic and geopolitical spheres.

USChina trade talks: A tentative framework

On the sidelines, U.S. and Chinese negotiators held intensive discussions to de-escalate the ongoing trade war. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told ABCs This Week that China agreed to defer new export curbs on rare earths for a year and to resume substantial U.S. soybean purchases.

Trump expressed confidence that a formal deal would be finalised during his Thursday meeting with Xi in South Korea. Beijings top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, described the preliminary consensus as the result of very intense consultations, aimed at averting 100% US tariffs that were threatened for November.

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Strategic signalling and global leverage

Trump also met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to begin talks on lowering US tariffs by 50% on Brazilian goods, while Canadian negotiations remain stalled, with an additional 10% tariff imposed on Canadian exports. Analysts argue this selective approach reinforces Washingtons leverage across multiple regions.

While the rapid pace and breadth of agreements raise questions about implementation, experts note that the announcements are as much about optics and geopolitical signalling as they are about tangible trade gains. By coupling economic deals with high-profile diplomatic interventions, the US enters the Xi summit projecting regional leadership and negotiating strength.

ASEAN integration and regional implications

The tour also coincided with East Timors formal induction as ASEANs 11th member. Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao described the milestone as a powerful affirmation of our journey (Bloomberg). The integration of Asias youngest nation illustrates how U.S. engagement with regional multilateral frameworks can amplify Washingtons strategic influence.

In sum, Trumps Asia tour blends trade, diplomacy, and geopolitical signalling. Success will depend on converting preliminary frameworks into enforceable commitments, maintaining credibility with ASEAN partners, and navigating Beijings counterstrategies. Analysts say the outcomes will shape both the trajectory of USChina trade relations and Washingtons broader Indo-Pacific strategy.

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US President Donald Trump repeated his claim that India is completely cutting back its oil purchases from Russia and insisted that China is doing the same. The proclamation from Trump came ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping

US President Donald Trump on Saturday reiterated his claims that India is cutting back on its purchase of Russian oil, as he intensifies pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. Recently, Trump has imposed sanctions on two of the largest Russian oil firms, Rosneft and Lukoil, claiming that Russia is using the revenue from oil purchases to fund its war in Ukraine.

Trumps proclamation also came ahead of his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. While speaking to the reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed hope that the discussions would yield a complete deal," Bloomberg reported.

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Trumps Asia tour comes amid heightened tensions between the US and China over trade, technology, and raw material restrictions, increasing pressure on both nations to reach an agreement that could pause the ongoing trade war. When asked by reporters if Trump would mention Chinas Russian oil purchases during his meeting with Xi, the American leader gave an affirmative response.

I may be discussing it, but you know Chinas  you probably saw today  China is cutting back very substantially on the purchase of Russian oil, and India is cutting back completely, and weve done sanctions," Trump claimed.

It is pertinent to note that India has consistently rejected Trump's claim that New Delhi would cut down oil imports from Russia, insisting that its priority remains protecting national interests.

Trump remains optimistic

The Republican firebrand expressed optimism about the ongoing discussions with Beijing. He mentioned that he would address agricultural trade and Chinas role in exporting components used to produce fentanyl.

I want our farmers to be taken care of, and he wants things also. Were going to be talking about fentanyl. It is killing a lot of people, a lot of people, it comes from China, he told reporters while heading to Asia.

It is pertinent to note that this is not the first time Trump has claimed that India is scaling back its oil purchase. Earlier, the American president proclaimed that India would cut down Russian oil imports by the end of the year, noting that it was a gradual process.

India, as you know, has told me they are going to stopits a process. You cant just stop (buying oil from Russia). By the end of the year, theyll be down to almost nothing; almost 40 per cent of the oil, he said at that time.

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China has reached a preliminary consensus in its trade negotiations with the United States, a top Beijing official said in Malaysia on Sunday, days ahead of high-stakes talks between their leaders.

This picture taken on October 22, 2025 shows trucks loaded onto a cargo vessel for export at Yantai port, in Chinas eastern Shandong province. (Photo by AFP)

Economic officials from China and the U.S. reached a preliminary consensus after discussions on a range of issues including the extension of their trade truce, fentanyl and export controls, Chinas top trade negotiator Li Chenggang said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Li, alongside Vice Premier He Lifeng, held talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to de-escalate a trade war on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit.

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Officials from Beijing and Washington met for two days of negotiations in Malaysia that ended Sunday ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in South Korea this week.

Earlier today, a US envoy said that the United States and China are working towards finalising details on trade talks ahead of a highly anticipated meeting of their leaders in South Korea this week.

I think were moving forward to the final details of the type of agreement that the leaders can review and decide if they want to include together, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in Malaysia.

With inputs from agencies
The Chinese government has directly threatened a severe breakdown of ties, demanding that the United Kingdom formally and unequivocally back Beijings claim of sovereignty over Taiwan

Chess pieces stand before the Chinese and Taiwanese flags in this illustrative image. (Reuters)

The government of UKs Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been placed on notice by Beijing, which has delivered an unambiguous warning that the future of diplomatic relations hinges on Britains public stance on Taiwan.

According to reports, the Chinese government has directly threatened a severe breakdown of ties, demanding that the United Kingdom formally and unequivocally back Beijings claim of sovereignty over Taiwan.

Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, stated that the future of UK-China relations depends entirely on Britain accepting Beijings territorial claims. Zheng demanded that the UK formally acknowledge that Taiwan has never been a country and that the island belongs to China.

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The ultimatum says that not backing the One China policy or treating Taiwan as independent would harm ties between the two countries.

We hope that the UK government will honour the solemn commitments it made in 1972and handle Taiwan related issues prudently, Zeguang told The Telegraph.

In response to Zeguangs comments, former security minister Tom Tugendhat said: Beijings attempts to distort international law, including claims that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 confers dominion over Taiwan, should be resisted. These are rightly matters for the Taiwanese people to determine. Using economic coercing to force others to submit does not make it legal.

Taiwan: The core interest

China views the Taiwan issue as a non-negotiable core interest and has repeatedly denounced any foreign country that attempts to interfere or suggests Taiwans independence is anything other than a domestic matter for China to resolve.

The aggressive diplomatic move follows a period of heightened tension and mixed messaging from London. While the Starmer administration has sought to deepen economic ties with the worlds second-largest economy, a number of recent actions and statements by British officialsparticularly regarding military exercises and support for Taipeihave drawn Beijings ire.
London police have re-arrested Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu after he was mistakenly released from prison, sparking a government investigation

London police said Sunday they arrested a convicted asylum-seeker who was mistakenly released from prison.

The Metropolitan Police said Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu was arrested in the Finsbury Park area in north London.

Kebatu, 38, was released from prison on Friday in a blunder that has embarrassed the government.

The migrant was sentenced in September to 12 months in prison for five offenses, including the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in July in Epping, on the outskirts of London, just over a week after he had arrived in England by boat.

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His arrest earlier this year had triggered a wave of anti-migrant protests in London and other cities.

Thousands of people protested outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, northeast of London, where he was staying along with other newly arrived migrants. Multiple protests targeting other hotels housing migrants followed in other British cities and towns, with some demonstrations attended by far-right activists and spilling into disorder.

The group Stand Up to Racism also rallied in counterprotests.

Authorities said they were alerted Friday afternoon that Kebatu was released by mistake at a prison in Chelmsford, Essex, and was seen catching a train there. British media reported that he was wrongly categorized as a prisoner due to be released, instead of being sent to an immigration detention center.

The Prison Service launched an investigation, and a prison officer has been removed from discharging duties while that takes place.

(Except for the headline this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
A man throws a pumpkin up in the air at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People hold a baby during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People gather under a tree during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A woman with her children attends a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A musician performs during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

People ride during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A man takes photos during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Children play among fallen leaves during a fall festival at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

Pumpkins are on display at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

A girl holding a pumpkin walks on a lawn at the Governors Island in New York, the United States, on Oct. 25, 2025.

A festival was held at the Governors Island in New York on Saturday, attracting locals and visitors to celebrate the fall harvest with various family-friendly activities. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)
At a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, East Timor was formally admitted as ASEANs 11th member, with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao calling the milestone a dream realised and a new chapter for the regions youngest nation

Foreign ministers and economic ministers of ASEAN member countries pose for a group photo during the ASEAN Joint Foreign and Economic Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP)

East Timors Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao described his countrys long-awaited admission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a dream realised and a turning point for its future. Speaking at a formal ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Gusmao declared, Today, history is made, as East Timors flag was raised alongside those of the ten other member states.

The event marked ASEANs first expansion since the 1990s and officially opened the blocs annual summit, which includes high-level meetings with key partners such as China, Japan, India, Australia, Russia, South Korea and the US. US President Donald Trump, on his first Asia trip since returning to the White House, landed in Malaysia for the ASEAN Summit on Sunday, where he is set to witness an expanded ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia and oversee pivotal trade talks with Malaysia.

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Among the attending dignitaries were Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japans newly inaugurated Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

A milestone for the regions youngest nation

East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, joins an economic community of around 680 million people with a combined GDP of $3.8 trillion. With its own GDP of about $2 billion and a population of 1.4 million, the country faces significant economic challenges, including high unemployment, poverty and malnutrition. Roughly 42% of its citizens live below the national poverty line, and nearly two-thirds are under 30, making job creation crucial.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose nation currently chairs ASEAN, said East Timors membership completes the ASEAN family and reinforces a shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.

Analysts say the move reflects ASEANs adaptability and inclusivity. As protectionism rises, ASEANs expansion underscores its commitment to regionalism, openness and equal participation, said Angeline Tan of Malaysias Institute of Strategic & International Studies.

East Timors path to independence was marked by struggle. Once a Portuguese colony, it was invaded by Indonesia in 1975, beginning a 24-year occupation that ended after a UN-supervised referendum in 1999. The nation gained full independence in 2002 and is now led by two independence heroes  Prime Minister Gusmao and President Jose Ramos-Horta, the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

While its oil and gas reserves have long supported government revenues, dwindling resources have driven the country to diversify its economy. ASEAN membership offers access to free trade deals, investment and a wider regional market.

East Timor applied for membership in 2011 and was granted observer status in 2022. Joanne Lin of Singapores ISEASYusof Ishak Institute noted that integration will require sustained technical and financial support as the nations institutional capacity remains below most ASEAN members.

Gusmao called the moment a beginning of an inspiring new chapter, adding, For us this new beginning brings immense opportunity in trade, investment, education and the digital economy  we are ready to learn, innovate and uphold good government.

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(With agency inputs)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will meet NATOs Secretary General Mark Rutte, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and other senior policymakers during a trip to Brussels starting on Monday, a spokesperson for his ministry said.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul will travel to Brussels starting Monday to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, and other senior policymakers, a ministry spokesperson said.

The visit follows the postponement of a trip to China, originally set to begin Sunday, after Beijing confirmed only one of Wadephuls requested meetings, highlighting growing tensions between Berlin and Beijing over trade and security issues.

In Brussels, Wadephul is also scheduled to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, according to the spokesperson.

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The focus of the consultations with representatives of the EU and NATO  the organisations that bring together our most important and closest partners and allies  will be on continued support for Ukraine and European security and defence capabilities, the spokesperson said.

Another focus of the talks will be international trade issues, including prospects and potential solutions for ensuring a smooth supply of important raw materials, in particular rare earths and computer chips, two areas that are subject to bottlenecks.

Indias Goyal is in Brussels for trade policy talks, the spokesperson said.

The EU and India are working to meet a year-end deadline for signing a free trade pact.

With inputs from agencies
Trump on Sunday praised Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as great people and said he would work to quickly resolve the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict. He made the remarks at the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur.

US President Donald Trump with Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. Advisers to Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have approached US officials with an offer to build and run a port on the Arabian Sea. Image courtesy White House

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (October 26, 2025) praised Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as great people and said he would quickly work to resolve the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.

Trump made the remarks at the signing of the Thailand-Cambodia peace deal on the sidelines of the Asean summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Referring to that truce, he said it was one of eight wars his administration had ended in just eight months.

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There is only one left. I heard that Pakistan and Afghanistan have started up. But I will get that solved very quickly. I know them both, Trump said. The Pakistan Field Marshal and the Prime Minister are great people, and I have no doubt we are going to get that done quickly.

Trump added that resolving conflicts was something he believed he could do. I do it nicely. I dont need to do it, I guess. But if I can take time and save millions of lives, thats really a great thing. I cant think of anything better to do.

He also emphasised his administrations record, saying, There has never been anything like the eight wars that my administration ended in eight months. There never will be either. I cant think of any President that ever solved one war. They start wars, they dont solve them.

The US Presidents remarks came after Pakistans Sharif previously credited Trump with helping to stop a conflict between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April by Pakistan backed terrorists.

Sharif called Trumps intervention outstanding and even suggested he should be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. India, however, maintained that no third-party mediation was involved in its ceasefire with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghan officials were scheduled to hold a second round of talks in Turkey on Saturday to address border tensions and curb terrorist activity. The first round, held in Doha on October 19 and facilitated by Qatar and Turkey, led to a temporary calm along the border.

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In her first call with US President Donald Trump, Japans new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged to make strengthening the JapanUS alliance her governments top foreign policy priority ahead of their upcoming summit in Tokyo

Japans new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, told U.S. President Donald Trump that strengthening their countries alliance is her governments top priority, in their first phone call on Saturday.

Takaichi also told Trump that Japan is an indispensable partner in terms of the U.S.s strategies towards China and the Indo-Pacific, according to comments posted on the Japanese premiers official website.

I conveyed to him that strengthening the JapanU.S. Alliance is the top priority for my administrations foreign and security policy, she said, according to the post.

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We confirmed our shared commitment to further elevating the Alliance to new heights.

Takaichi spoke to Trump from Malaysia, where she is attending a regional forum, which began on Sunday. Trump spoke from Air Force One while on his way to Malaysia.

Trump will visit Japan from Monday, and hold a summit with Takaichi on Tuesday.

Trump began their phone call by congratulating Takaichi on her appointment last Tuesday as prime minister, and the two also reminisced about late former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, Takaichis political mentor, she said.

Takaichi said her impression of Trump was that he is a very cheerful and engaging person.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Chandraprabha Singh, a 44-year-old assistant teacher in North Carolina, was arrested for allegedly attacking her husband with a knife, leaving him seriously injured, while investigations and court proceedings continue

A 44-year-old woman of Indian origin, Chandraprabha Singh, was arrested earlier this month in North Carolina for allegedly attacking her husband with a knife, following an argument about house cleaning, WBTV reported. Singh, who works as an assistant teacher at Endhaven Elementary School, has been suspended with pay by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

According to reports, Singh was charged for assault with a deadly weapon, causing serious injury to her husband, Arvind Singh. The incident allegedly occurred on Sunday, October 12, at their home on Foxhaven Drive. The arrest warrant states that she unlawfully, willfully, feloniously cut another person. Police arrived around 10:49 am after a report of an assault, by which time Arvind Singh had already been hospitalised with a serious neck injury.

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Court proceedings and school response

Singh was initially denied bond by a magistrate but later had her bond set at $10,000 during an October 13 court appearance, at which she was also assigned a public defender. She was released from jail on Monday after posting bond and was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device and avoid any contact with her husband.

An affidavit indicates that Singh claimed the injury was accidental, stating she was preparing breakfast and accidentally cut her husband while turning with a knife. Arvind Singh, however, told 911 that she was frustrated and purposely attacked him with the knife, adding that the argument escalated over house cleaning.

Singh began her employment with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as a lunchroom assistant on October 4, 2023, and was promoted to assistant teacher for grades K-3 in August 2024. She has been serving in this role at Endhaven Elementary School in the Ballantyne area since then.

Investigations are underway, with authorities reviewing statements from both Singh and her husband. Singhs next court appearance is scheduled for October 30.
Indias Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, on Sunday discussed a mutually beneficial trade agreement, energy security and oil and gas trade with Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Indias Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra met on Sunday with Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to discuss a range of issues including a mutually beneficial trade agreement, energy security, and oil and gas trade.

Had a productive meeting with @SenatorShaheen, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee @SFRCdems. Our discussions focused on our work to arrive at a mutually beneficial trade arrangement, Indias energy security and increasing oil and gas trade with the US, and shared geopolitical challenges in our region, Kwatra posted on social media.

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Had a productive meeting with @SenatorShaheen, Ranking Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee @SFRCdems. Our discussions focused on our work to arrive at a mutually beneficial trade arrangement, Indias energy security and increasing oil and gas trade with the U.S, and pic.twitter.com/IJT19iYuiZ  Amb Vinay Mohan Kwatra (@AmbVMKwatra) October 26, 2025

The Indian Ambassador also shared Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Also reiterated our PMs stance for peaceful resolution of conflict in Ukraine through constructive dialogue and diplomacy, Kwatra added.

The meeting came in the backdrop of the proposed bilateral trade deal between India and the US, which, according to an official, is very near to concluding.

We are very near as far as deal is concerned, the official said on Friday.

In the Berlin Global Dialogue, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India will not do any deal in a hurry or with a gun to our head.

Five rounds of talks have been completed so far for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement between the US and India. The relations between the two countries have been reeling under severe stress after the Trump administration imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. It includes a 25 per cent additional import duty for buying Russian crude oil.

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India has described these duties as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

With inputs from agencies
Red Cross and Egyptian teams have been permitted to search for the bodies of deceased hostages beyond the yellow line demarcating the Israeli militarys pullback in the Gaza Strip, an Israeli government spokesperson said on Sunday.

Palestinians gather around a Red Cross vehicle transporting hostages as part of a ceasefire and hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in the southern Gaza Strip, October 13. REUTERS

The Israeli government has authorised Red Cross and Egyptian teams to search for the bodies of deceased hostages beyond the yellow line, which marks the boundary of Israels military pullback inside the Gaza Strip, a government spokesperson said on Sunday.

Hamas has claimed it has been unable to locate the remains of some of the 13 remaining hostages and has not handed over any bodies since Tuesday. Israeli officials, however, maintain that the group is withholding both the bodies and information on their whereabouts, in what they described as a violation of the October 9 hostage-ceasefire agreement.

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At the same time, Israel reaffirmed that it will retain full control of security within Gaza, despite its participation in a US-mediated ceasefire that envisions the eventual deployment of an international peacekeeping force.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told ministers that Israel would make its own decisions on when and where to conduct military operations, as well as which nations would be permitted to send forces to oversee the truce.

Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves by our own means and we will continue to determine our fate, Netanyahu said. We do not seek anyones approval for this. We control our security.

Meanwhile, AFP footage showed an Egyptian convoy in Gaza bringing rescuers and heavy machinery to speed up the search for the remains of deceased Israeli hostages Hamas says are lost in the rubble of the devastated Palestinian territory.

Low-loader lorries flying the Egyptian flag transported bulldozers and mechanical diggers into Gaza, accompanied by tipper trucks sounding their horns and flashing their lights, en route to an Egyptian aid committee based in Al-Zawayda.

Israel government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said Netanyahu had personally approved the arrival of the Egyptian team.

Now, this is a technical team only, and none of these personnel are in the military, she said.

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The team are allowed entry beyond the IDFs Yellow Line position into Gaza territory to conduct the search for our hostages.

Under the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire, as Israeli forces withdraw after the end of two years of brutal fighting against Hamas, an international force, expected to be drawn from mainly Arab or Muslim countries, is supposed to secure Gaza.

But Israel opposes any role for its regional rival Turkey and Netanyahu, under fire from hardliners in his own coalition for even agreeing the ceasefire, took a stern line on Sunday as government ministers met in Jerusalem.

We made clear with respect to international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us, he said, one day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wound up the latest in a parade of high-level visits by Washington officials.

Later, Bedrosian put it more starkly: The prime minister has said its going to be done the easy way or the hard way, and Israel will have overall security control of the Gaza Strip.

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Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas will have no part in governing the Palestinian people.

Childs dream is gone

Aid agencies complain that humanitarian convoys still do not have enough access to Gaza to alleviate the famine conditions in parts of the territory, and families there are still going hungry.

AFP journalists followed the family of 62-year-old grandmother Hiam Muqdad for a day in their Gaza City neighbourhood, where they live in a tent next to their ruined home and her barefoot grandchildren gather domestic waste and twigs to burn to heat water.

When they said there was a truce, oh my God, a tear of joy and a tear of sadness fell from my eye, Muqdad told AFP. The childs dream is gone. In the past they used to go to the park but today children play on the rubble.

Israel has withdrawn its forces within Gaza to the so-called Yellow Line but remains in control of more than half the territory, approves every UN aid convoy going through its borders and has carried out at least two strikes since the ceasefire.

To underline Israels independence of action, Netanyahu said it had pummelled Gaza with 150 tonnes of munitions on October 19 after two of its soldiers were killed, and had conducted a strike on Saturday targeting an Islamic Jihad militant.

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The United States and allies have set up a truce monitoring centre in southern Israel  the Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC)  and dispatched a string of top officials from President Donald Trumps administration to promote the ceasefire.

The latest Israeli strike came just as Rubio was leaving Jerusalem, but Washingtons top diplomat said he remained optimistic the ceasefire would broadly hold if Hamas agrees to disarm and hand over the rule of Gaza.

Rubio told reporters that Washington did not expect the Yellow Line to become Gazas new border and that Israel would eventually pull back.

I think, ultimately, the point of the stabilisation force is to move that line until it covers hopefully all of Gaza, meaning all of Gaza will be demilitarised, Rubio told reporters on his plane as he flew on to Qatar.

The main Palestinian factions, including Hamas, have agreed to form a committee of technocrats to administer Gaza alongside the ceasefire and reconstruction effort.

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But Hamas has resisted calls for its immediate disarmament and has launched a crackdown on rival Palestinian gangs and armed groups in Gaza.

Hostage recovery

On Saturday, Mousa Abu Marzouk, Hamass head of international relations and legal affairs, warned: Excluding Hamas from maintaining stability in the Gaza Strip could lead to chaos and a security vacuum.

Hamas insists it is serious about returning the remaining 13 hostage bodies.

They include 10 Israelis kidnapped during the groups attack on October 7, 2023 that triggered the conflict, one Israeli missing since 2014, a Thai and a Tanzanian worker.

Hamas has already returned the remaining 20 living hostages and 15 bodies of hostages.

But Hamas warns it will struggle to find the bodies of the others in the ruins of Gaza, where more than 68,500 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, according to figures from the health ministry of the Hamas-run territory deemed reliable by the UN.

Bedrosian dismissed this, telling reporters: Hamas knows where our hostages are, and we know they are aware of their locations If Hamas made more of an effort, they would be able to retrieve the remains of our hostages.

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With inputs from agencies
The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was reportedly sitting on the historic monuments wall when he was overcome by a sudden illness, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the Pantheons surrounding moat.

The Pantheon, built by Emperor Hadrian, is one of Italy's most visited sites (AFP)

A 69-year-old Japanese tourist has died after falling approximately seven metres from the outer wall of the Pantheon in Rome late Friday night, according to local authorities.

The man, whose identity has not been revealed, was reportedly sitting on the historic monuments wall when he was overcome by a sudden illness, causing him to lose his balance and fall into the Pantheons surrounding moat. Rescuers were forced to open a gate on the Via della Palombella to reach the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The Italian news agency Ansa first reported the incident. Police have opened an investigation into the tragedy.

The victim was visiting the city with his daughter, who told police her father had fallen after succumbing to an abrupt bout of ill health. The ancient wall where the incident occurred is frequently used by tourists as a spot to rest while sightseeing.

The Pantheon, built by Emperor Hadrian, is one of Italys most visited sites, attracting over four million visitors in 2024. This marks one of several tourist tragedies in Rome this year, following the death of a Spanish woman who fell near the Spanish Steps in March.
JD Vance criticised Mamdani after the Democratic candidate gave an emotional speech about his Muslim faith and his familys experiences following the September 11 attacks. Mamdani recalled that his aunt stopped taking the subway after 9/11 because she did not feel safe wearing her hijab.

US Vice President JD Vance on Saturday slammed New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani after the Democratic Socialist candidate gave an emotional speech about his Muslim identity and familys experiences after the September 11 attacks. Mamdani claimed that his aunt stopped taking the subway after September 11 because she did not feel safe in her hijab.

Speaking outside a Bronx mosque ahead of the citys mayoral election, Mamdani denounced racist attacks from his rivals and pledged to proudly embrace his Muslim faith. Fighting back tears, he recalled how his aunt stopped taking the subway after September 11 because she did not feel safe in her hijab.

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Vance later mocked Mamdani on X, writing, According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks, while sharing a clip of the speech.

More from World How Argentinas midterm polls are a big test for Trump ally, Milei

Mamdani, a 34-year-old Queens Assemblyman, said he had initially tried to downplay his faith to appeal to a wider audience but now regretted doing so. I thought if I behaved well enough, or bit my tongue enough, Id be seen as more than just my faith. I was wrong, he said. I will not change who I am or how I eat for the faith Im proud to call my own.

He also criticised opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa for Islamophobic comments. Cuomo had suggested Mamdani would be cheering if another 9/11 occurred, while Sliwa accused him of backing global jihad.

Despite the attacks, Mamdani vowed to continue representing all New Yorkers, saying, I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light.

Early voting began Saturday in the closely watched race featuring Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent candidate Andrew Cuomo.
The PKK said from its Qandil base on Sunday that it has completed disarming, after ending its 40-year armed fight in May 2025

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) has announced the completion of its full withdrawal of all armed forces from Turkish territory, signalling an important milestone in the complex, decades-long peace process with Ankara.

The formal statement, read out from the PKKs base in the mountainous Qandil area of northern Iraq on Sunday, formally concludes the months-long disarming phase, building upon the groups decision to formally renounce its 40-year armed struggle back in May 2025.

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This transition is set to bring an end to a protracted conflict that has claimed an estimated 50,000 lives and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the region for decades.

The peace initiative was set in motion approximately a year ago after the Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, offered an unexpected olive branch to the PKKs jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, opening the door for negotiations. The process had gained international attention in July when the group held a symbolic ceremony to destroy a first batch of weaponsan event President Erdogan previously hailed as an irreversible turning point.

During the announcement, the PKK confirmed that its fighters, including a contingent of 25 shown in a released image, have successfully relocated across the border into their safe zones in northern Iraq.

The group affirmed this definitive withdrawal as a strategic pivot towards democratic politics, intending to replace armed insurgency with legal and political engagement to peacefully defend the rights of the Kurdish minority in Turkey.

Crucially, the PKK said that the onus is now on Ankara to fulfill its commitments to the nascent agreement.

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The group urged Turkish authorities to put in place without delay the necessary legal and political steps, specifically citing laws of freedom and democratic integration, that would facilitate their movements ability to participate legitimately in the countrys democratic processes.
Colonel-General Ali Naghiyev, the Chief of Azerbaijan's State Security Service, currently visiting Tbilisi, held a meeting with Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Head of Georgia's State Security Service, Azernews reports.

The discussion focused on the strategic partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as plans for enhancing cooperation in the field of security.

Both sides stressed the importance of boosting the exchange of information and expertise, noting that robust collaboration between the two countries' security services plays a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations and maintaining peace and stability in the region. They also addressed regional developments and the challenges currently facing the area.

Mamuka Mdinaradze thanked Ali Naghiyev for his visit, emphasizing its significance in reinforcing the ties between the two nations' security institutions.

The meeting, which took place at the Georgian State Security Service, was attended by deputies of the heads of both countries' security services, along with the heads of various structural departments.

Afterward, Mamuka Mdinaradze and Ali Naghiyev paid their respects by laying wreaths at the monument to Azerbaijan's National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, as well as at the memorial honoring those who lost their lives defending Georgia's territorial integrity.
MACAO, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Three concurrent exhibitions in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) concluded on Saturday, generating more than 140 signed agreements and 68 business expansion projects.

The 2nd China-Portuguese-Speaking Countries Economic and Trade Expo (Macao), the 30th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, and the Macao Franchise Expo 2025, which opened on Wednesday, were organized by the SAR's Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).

Among the 68 companies that have signed investment project agreements, 24 enterprises were reported to have initiated or completed procedures to establish businesses.

Having attracted more than 85,000 visitors, including 15,000 trade visitors and professional buyers, the events supported Macao's "1+4" economic diversification strategy, with nearly 80 percent of the agreements related to these key industries, the IPIM said.

The institute also revealed that approximately 15 percent of the deals involved Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs), highlighting the event's role as a vital bridge for China-PSC cooperation. 
The men, originally from Seine-Saint-Denis near Paris, included one who was preparing to depart from Charles de Gaulle Airport, according to French newspaper Le Parisien.

Police stand near the pyramid of the Louvre museum on Sunday. Reuters

French authorities have announced a major breakthrough in the investigation into the daring daylight theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, with the arrest of two suspects.

French media outlets, including the newspaper Le Parisien, reported that the two men, originally from the Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, were taken into custody in connection with the crime. One of the suspects was reportedly arrested as he was preparing to board a flight at Charles de Gaulle Airport, suggesting an attempt to flee the country.

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Authorities suspect both men, around 30 years old, were part of a four-member gang that carried out a brazen seven-minute heist, making off with roughly $102 million in jewels.

Though they dropped a diamond-and-emerald crown while fleeing, the thieves successfully stole eight other items, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise.

The arrests come just a week after four thieves, using power tools, broke into the worlds most-visited museum last Sunday and stole items of inestimable value. The audacity of the crime, carried out in broad daylight, shocked the nation and the international art world.

Earlier this week, a new video surfaced showing two thieves fleeing with valuable crown jewels. The footage captured them in construction outfits, escaping the scene using a hydraulic lift.

New footage reveals the bold Louvre heist: two thieves lowering themselves from a balcony on a stolen lift, jewels in hand. They hijacked the lift days earlier, disguised it, and tried to torch itbut guards intervened. Still on the run with $96M in loot. pic.twitter.com/QY7ZpahwF8  Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) October 23, 2025

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Earlier footage showed a robber smashing a glass case while museum-goers walked past.

The security lapse has become a national embarrassment. Frances Justice Minister has publicly conceded that the museums security protocols failed, an admission that has left the country with a terrible image.
A shooting at Pennsylvanias Lincoln University during Homecoming killed one person and injured six others, prompting a multi-agency investigation and public safety warnings

At least one person was killed and six others sustained injuries in a shooting at Pennsylvanias Lincoln University on Saturday night, during the historically Black universitys Homecoming weekend, officials reported. Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a news conference early Sunday that a total of seven people were struck by gunfire, without specifying the conditions of the injured.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident. The Chester County District Attorneys office urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact the FBI. Officials have not identified any suspect and advised the public to avoid the university area.

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Several victims hospitalised

At least three individuals with gunshot wounds were taken to Christiana Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, and another was transported to ChristianaCare in Newark, Delaware, according to Jay Moore of the Chester County Sheriffs Office. Pennsylvania State Police described the situation as very active on Saturday night. Several people were reportedly treated at the scene after being knocked down and trampled while trying to flee, KYW reported.

Lincoln University, located about 55 miles west of Philadelphia, is the nations first degree-granting Historically Black College and University. The university said counselling services would be available Sunday morning for anyone affected by the shooting.

Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe asked the public to pray for the students, faculty, and law enforcement on Facebook, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he had been briefed and pledged the states support. He urged the public to avoid the area and follow local law enforcement guidance.
Netanyahus comments were a direct response to international discussions, particularly those involving the US, regarding the long-term stability and security arrangements in the Gaza Strip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, DC. File image/Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a firm statement on Sunday, stressing that Israel will not seek any external approval for its national security decisions, including military actions against its enemies.

Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves by our own means and we will continue to determine our fate, Netanyahu told a meeting of government ministers.

We do not seek anyones approval for this. We control our security, he said, after a week of high-level visits by US officials seeking to solidify the fragile Gaza ceasefire.

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Netanyahus comments were a direct response to international discussions, particularly those involving the US, regarding the long-term stability and security arrangements in the Gaza Strip. He made it clear that Israel alone controls its security policy and will exercise its discretion when responding to or preempting attacks, citing recent actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

Who gets the final say on Gazas security force?

Netanyahu also addressed the proposal for an international security force intended to stabilise Gaza following the recent ceasefire. The force, expected to be composed largely of Arab and Muslim nations, is a key component of the US-brokered agreement.

The Prime Minister asserted that Israel will retain a veto over the forces membership, stating, We made clear with respect to international forces that Israel will determine which forces are unacceptable to us.

He said Israel would reject any role for its regional rival, Turkey, in the security force. The comment reflects Israels determination to keep control of its own border security and not be seen as dependent on the United States.
North Koreas Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui is set to visit Russia and Belarus, according to a statement released by the state news agency KCNA on Sunday. The agency noted that Choes trip comes at the invitation of the foreign ministries of both nations but did not disclose the specific dates of her travel.

The announcement coincides with US President Donald Trumps planned visit to South Korea on Wednesday for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. US media have reported that officials within his administration have privately explored the possibility of arranging a meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who last held talks with Trump in 2019. Trump has publicly expressed his wish to meet Kim again, possibly within this year.

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Kim recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing during a military parade in September commemorating Japans surrender in World War II. Relations between Pyongyang and Moscow have strengthened notably in recent years, with North Korea dispatching troops to Russia in support of its ongoing war with Ukraine.
Rubio has said that Washingtons ties with Pakistan will not come at Indias expense and will not affect its deep, historic and important friendship with India.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a memorial service for slain conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium, Arizona, US, on September 21, 2025. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Americas efforts to strengthen ties with Pakistan will not come at the cost of its deep, historic and important friendship with India, Bloomberg reported.

Speaking to reporters aboard a flight to Doha ahead of the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, Rubio described this approach as part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy. He noted that just as India has relationships with countries the US does not, the reverse also applies.

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We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, Rubio said. I dont think anything were doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India.

Vice versa applies, he added. I dont think anything were doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important, Bloomberg cited him as saying.

The remarks come as US President Donald Trump has been highlighting a close relationship with Pakistan. At the ASEAN summit, he called PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir great people and said he would quickly work to resolve the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict.

Rubio also acknowledged challenges in US-India relations, including tensions over tariffs imposed by Trump and Indias purchase of Russian oil. Were fully aware of the challenges with India, but our job is to create opportunities for partnerships where possible, he said.

His comments follow Trumps repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the brief conflict triggered by Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

India has multiple times rejected Trumps claims, stating that the Pakistani side of the DGMO had reached out to India, while Pakistan used the situation to gain leverage with the US and even nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize.

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Rubio said the US remains committed to rebuilding strategic partnerships with both countries. He also confirmed he would meet Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the ASEAN summit to discuss trade and strategic cooperation, reiterating that the US and India remain close allies.
After the museum theft, Dortmunds Bocker Maschinenwerke GmbH is openly advertising the same lift truck model used in the crime.

The thieves used a freight lift to scale the museum, broke in through a window, and fled with Napoleonic jewels on motorbikes.

A German lifting equipment manufacturer has achieved global brand recognitionnot through a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign, but as an accidental accomplice in the recent, daring jewel theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

After the museum theft, Dortmunds Bocker Maschinenwerke GmbH is openly advertising the same lift truck model used in the crime.

The crime, executed in broad daylight, saw the audacious robbers make off with eight invaluable French crown jewels, including pieces belonging to Empress Eugenie and Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon I.

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The crucial role of the German-made elevator in the seven-minute heist has been turned into viral marketing. Bocker posted a picture of their Agilo model outside the Louvre with a catchy, tongue-in-cheek caption promoting its efficiency and stealth. The ad read: IF YOURE IN A HURRY. The Bocker Agilo carries your treasures up to 400 kg at 42 m/min. Quiet as a whisper thanks to its 230 V electric motor.

Alexander Bocker, the companys managing director, admitted that the unique circumstances presented a business opportunity too good to pass up. When it became clear that no one had been injured in the robbery, we took it with a touch of humour, he said, acknowledging that using the worlds most visited museum as a backdrop was a chance to get a little attention for our company.

The specific lift used in the crime was one sold years ago to a French rental client, a type of machinery common in Paris due to the small elevators in older apartment buildings.

Police have noted that the thieves had replaced the license plates and removed company-specific labelling to mask the trucks origins. While the company condemns the absolutely reprehensible crime, their quick-witted marketing has ironically brought a spotlight onto their whisper quiet lifting capabilities.
The 70-year-old scientists alleged crime is centred on his work supporting international restrictions on industrial krill fishing in Antarctica, which Russian authorities claim undermines their economic interests

A whale swims near the krill trawler Fu Xing Hai with mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula in the background (AP)

A diplomatic confrontation has intensified between Ukraine and Russia following the arrest of a senior Ukrainian marine biologist, Leonid Pshenichnov, in Russian-occupied Crimea on charges of high treason.

The 70-year-old scientists alleged crime is centred on his work supporting international restrictions on industrial krill fishing in Antarctica, which Russian authorities claim undermines their economic interests.

Pshenichnov, a respected expert on Antarctic conservation, was detained while preparing to travel to Hobart, Australia, to attend a crucial meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Russian documentation provided to the scientists lawyers accuses him of using his research to encourage a Ukrainian proposal that would restrict krill harvesting, thereby harming the Russian fishing industry.

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The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from the global scientific community and international partners. The UK and Australia have called for his release, with Ukraines Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, expressing profound shock at the illegal incarceration. The Ambassador stressed that the charges are trumped-up and groundless, noting that Pshenichnov is a scientist, not a politician, whose only offense was providing scientific evidence.

The controversy is intrinsically linked to the ongoing international debate within CCAMLR over establishing a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around the Antarctic Peninsula to safeguard the krill population, which forms the base of the Southern Oceans food chain. Russia, along with China, has been accused of consistently blocking these conservation measures.

Concerns for the scientists welfare have grown, as colleagues cite Pshenichnovs existing health issues and the potential for a life sentence under Russias severe treason laws.
Russia launched drone attacks on Kyiv early Sunday, killing three people and injuring at least 29, as the city faced a second consecutive night of strikes.

Russia launched drone attacks on Kyiv early Sunday, killing three people in their homes, Ukrainian authorities said.

At least 29 people, including seven children, were injured in the second night of strikes on the capital. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the victims included a 19-year-old woman and her mother.

The drones set fire to two apartment buildings in Kyivs Desnianskyi district, forcing evacuations from nine- and 16-story blocks. Residents described thick smoke and said they used wet blankets to block fumes while waiting for help.

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Ukraines air force said Russia launched 101 drones overnight, with 90 shot down. Debris damaged several sites in the city.

The attack followed Saturdays missile and drone strikes that killed four people in Kyiv, prompting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to renew his call for more Western air defense systems.

More from World Russian strikes across Ukraine kill 4, wounds 20 people

Russias Defense Ministry emphasised that it had targeted energy and transport infrastructure linked to Ukraines military but did not address civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a successful test of a new nuclear-capable cruise missile. In Russias Bryansk region near the border, a civilian woman was injured when a Ukrainian drone hit her car, regional officials said.
Russia has tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, which President Vladimir Putin says can evade any defence system and has an almost unlimited range. The missile flew 14,000 km in about 15 hours during the October 21 test, according to Russias top general Valery Gerasimov.

Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on after a meeting with US President Donald Trump at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, US, August 15, 2025. File Image/Sputnik via Reuters

Russia has successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile  a nuclear-capable weapon that Moscow claims can evade any defence system  and will now move toward deploying it, President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday.

Russias top general, Valery Gerasimov, informed Putin that the missile travelled 14,000 km (8,700 miles) and stayed in the air for about 15 hours during the October 21 test.

The 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel), known to NATO as the SSC-X-9 Skyfall, is said to have an almost unlimited range and an unpredictable flight path. Putin called it a unique weapon which nobody else in the world has.

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He noted that some experts once doubted the weapons feasibility, but its crucial testing has now been completed. Putin directed Gerasimov to classify the weapon and prepare infrastructure for its deployment.

Gerasimov added that the missile was powered by a nuclear reactor, and this test was distinct due to its long flight duration. He claimed it could defeat any anti-missile defences.

Last week, Putin also oversaw a separate test of Russias strategic nuclear forces across land, sea, and air. The modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level  higher than any other nuclear power, he said.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia holds 5,459 nuclear warheads, while the United States has 5,177  together accounting for about 87 per cent of the worlds nuclear arsenal. The strategic forces are capable of ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation and the Union State in full, Putin added.
The Kremlin warned that Russian armed forces will retaliate forcefully to any attacks on its territory, following successful testing of a nuclear-capable missile.

Russian armed forces will respond forcefully in the event of strikes deep inside Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published on Sunday.

Like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin said, the response will be overwhelming, Peskov told state TV Kremlin correspondent Pavel Zarubin.

Putin said on Thursday that Moscow would never bow to pressure from the United States or any other foreign power, and cautioned that it would deliver an overwhelming response to any military strikes deep inside Russia.

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On Sunday, Putin said that Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-capable weapon Moscow says can evade any defence system, and would move towards deploying the weapon.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
JERUSALEM, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A two-year-old girl has died of measles at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, the hospital and Israel's Health Ministry said in separate statements on Sunday.

According to the hospital, the toddler died on Saturday after a 10-day hospitalization, during which she was placed on ECMO life support in the intensive care unit.

The ministry stated that this is the eighth measles-related death in Israel since the outbreak began in early April, all of them children who were previously healthy but had not been vaccinated.

The ministry also reported that a six-and-a-half-year-old unvaccinated boy is currently hospitalized and on a ventilator due to the disease.

By mid-October, 1,654 measles cases had been confirmed in Israel, with 533 requiring hospitalization.

The ministry identified 10 cities experiencing high measles incidence and recommended that residents advance the second dose of the measles vaccine from six years to 18 months.

It also advised that children aged 6 to 11 months in these cities, as well as visitors in this age group, receive an additional dose.

Unvaccinated individuals, as well as parents of infants who have received only one vaccine dose, were advised to avoid large gatherings in the affected cities to reduce the risk of infection.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that typically causes fever, fatigue, a runny nose, and a rash. In some cases, it can lead to severe complications and may be fatal. 
Taiwan ramps up defence spending and expands military partnerships with Europe amid uncertainty over US support, seeking to hedge against potential shifts in Trumps China policy while deterring Beijing through capability and diplomacy.

Officials in Taiwan had initially welcomed Donald Trumps re-election, recalling his first terms pro-Taiwan stance, which included expanded arms sales and high-level contacts with the island.

Coupled with Taiwans silicon shield, home to the worlds largest semiconductor manufacturer powering US AI industries, Taipei had reason to feel secure. But as the US presidents focus shifts toward a trade deal with China, Taiwanese policymakers are grappling with a central question: what if America reduces its security commitments?

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Trumps recent remarks hinting that Taiwan could be part of broader US-China negotiations, combined with new trade tariffs and delayed arms sales, have unsettled Taipei. Taiwanese officials are now hedging against a scenario in which US security guarantees weaken, while still striving to maintain Washingtons commitment to the island.

Defence spending surge

President Lai Ching-tes October 10 national-day address underscored this dual strategy. Taipei pledged to raise defence spending to more than 3% of GDP by 2026 and 5% by 2030. Plans also include a new air-defence system, T-Dome, supplemented by a special defence budget potentially worth $33 billion, much of which could be allocated to American-sourced military hardware.

Observers note that these measures are as much a signal to Washington as they are to Beijing. This approach is designed to convince the Trump administration that Taiwan is investing substantially in its own defence, offsetting concerns over US disengagement.

Charm offensive and outreach beyond America

Beyond domestic defence signalling, Taiwan has quietly expanded diplomatic and defence outreach beyond the United States. President Lai has sought discreet collaboration with European partners, focusing on drones and asymmetric military capabilities, amid growing European defence spending following the Ukraine crisis.

Septembers defence expo in Taipei featured stronger European representation than usual, including Germany and Airbus showcasing tactical drones, while a delegation signed co-operation agreements with Poland and Ukraine on aerial drone manufacturing.

These partnerships, while unlikely to replace U.S. security guarantees, provide Taiwan with technology and expertise to bolster its capabilities. Officials have been deliberately circumspect about these collaborations to avoid provoking China, which maintains longstanding objections to any enhancement of Taiwanese military capabilities.

Political and institutional hurdles at home

Despite these proactive steps, challenges remain. Opposition figures, such as newly elected Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun, oppose major increases in defence spending. Critics also note that even full support from Trump and US allies cannot fully substitute for a sustained American security commitment.

Analysts suggest that Taipeis strategy is thus a delicate balancing act: publicly signalling commitment to self-defence, privately cultivating alternative partners, and maintaining Washingtons attention without alienating China.

Strategic calculus: deterrence through capability and diplomacy

Ultimately, Taiwans hope is to keep Beijing convinced that the cost of military aggression outweighs potential gains. By simultaneously boosting military spending and outreach to Europe, Taipei seeks to hedge against US unpredictability while avoiding overt provocations that could trigger escalation.

As the Trump-Xi summit approaches, the islands strategy reflects a pragmatic assessment: America is indispensable, but a credible Plan B is critical in an era of geopolitical uncertainty.

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US President Donald Trump will witness the signing of a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia as soon as he arrives Sunday in Malaysia, he said while en route to Asia.

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media aboard Air Force One on October 24, 2025, in flight. AFP

US President Donald Trump will witness the signing of a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia as soon as he arrives Sunday in Malaysia, he said while en route to Asia.

Thailands prime minister, who had requested the signing be moved earlier due to the death of the Kingdoms queen mother, will be on hand when we land, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social from aboard Air Force One.

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Sadly, the Queen Mother of Thailand has just passed away. I send my condolences to the Great People of Thailand, Trump wrote.

In order to accommodate everyone for this major event, we will be signing the Peace Deal immediately upon arrival.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Saturday delayed his departure to a summit of ASEAN leaders in Malaysia following the death of the Queen mother, but said he still wanted to jet in for a peace deal with Cambodia, to be witnessed by US president Donald Trump.

I cancelled my trip to Malaysia today. However, regarding the peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia with the Prime Minister of Malaysia and the US President, Ive asked them to rescheduled for tomorrow morning instead, Anutin told reporters broadcast on local television.

Thailands former Queen Sirikit, the mother of the current King Vajiralongkorn and wife of the nations longest-reigning monarch, died late Friday at the age of 93, the palace said.

It is a great loss to the nation, Anutin said before an urgent cabinet meeting on Saturday morning.

Trump will attend the ceremonial signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia at an upcoming summit of Southeast Asian nations, the foreign minister of host Malaysia said last week.

Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia erupted in July into the deadliest military clashes in decades, killing more than 40 people and forcing around 300,000 to flee their homes.

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The two sides agreed to a ceasefire  brokered in part by Trump  after five days of fighting and have since repeatedly traded accusations of truce violations.

The royal family is venerated in Thailand, treated by many as semi-divine figures and lavished with glowing media coverage and gold-adorned portraits hanging in public spaces and private homes nationwide.
US President Donald Trump arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday to kick start his Asia tour. During his trip to Malaysia, he will attend the 47th Asean Summit and related meetings.

US President Donald Trump arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday to kick start his Asia tour. During his trip to Malaysia, he will attend the 47th Asean Summit and related meetings. According to Free Malaysia Today, Trump landed in Kuala Lumpur at 9:35 am (local time) and was greeted by the countrys Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The president received a warm welcome at the airport, witnessing cultural performances with dancers waving the national flags of Malaysia and the US. It is pertient to note that Trump is participating in the Asean Summit for the first time since 2017. It is also Trumps first trip to Asia since he returned to the White House.

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The last time an American president attended a regional summit was back in 2022, when former US President Joe Biden attended the Asean summit. During his time in Kuala Lumpur, Trump is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Malaysian president. He will also join a working lunch with Southeast Asian leaders.

Whats more in store?

As this years Asean chair, Malaysia has set Inclusivity and Sustainability as the theme for the summit. Meanwhile, the White House noted that during his Asia tour, Trump will witness the signing of a peace declaration between Thailand and Cambodia. The deal brokered by Trump was agreed upon by the two nations earlier this year, marking an end to the deadly conflict in the region.

The Republican firebrand will then depart from Malaysia on Monday morning for a one-day visit to Japan, where he will meet the countrys new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Before arriving in Kuala Lumpur, Trump had already held a phone call with Takaichi, reaffirming strong ties between Japan and the US.

He will then head to South Korea, where he will attend the Apec Summit. During his trip to South Korea, Trump is also scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The two leaders are expected to discuss a comprehensive trade deal and the war in Ukraine.
Ahead of his visit to Japan, US President Donald Trump held his first phone call with the countrys Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday.

Ahead of his visit to Japan, US President Donald Trump held his first phone call with the countrys Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday. According to Nikkei Asia, the leaders agreed to further strengthen the US-Japan alliance, with Trump congratulating Takaichi on her election victory.

According to the report, the call between the two leaders lasted roughly 10 minutes, during which Takaichi told Trump that strengthening the US-Japan alliance is the top diplomatic and security issue for my administration.

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Japan is an extremely important country for the US strategy toward China and the Indo-Pacific, Takaichi told reporters at her hotel in Malaysias capital after the call. Just like Trump, the Japanese Prime Minister is in the country to attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.

Had a good and candid conversation with @realDonaldTrump today and truly appreciated his warm congratulatory message on my appointment as Prime Minister. Together with him, I am determined to elevate the JapanUS Alliance to even greater heights, she wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Had a good and candid conversation with @realDonaldTrump today and truly appreciated his warm congratulatory message on my appointment as Prime Minister. Together with him, I am determined to elevate the JapanU.S. Alliance to even greater heights.



Starting tomorrow, Ill be   (@takaichi_sanae) October 25, 2025

Starting tomorrow, Ill be attending ASEAN-related Summit Meetings. I am looking forward to working closely with the US and our regional partners toward a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, she furthered.

Can Takaichi woo Trump?

During the phone call, the Japanese Prime Minister also asked for Washingtons support in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals who North Korea abducted. The two leaders also discussed conditions in West Asia.

The call comes at a time when Trump is scheduled to visit Japan from Monday to Wednesday, where he is scheduled to hold his first face-to-face talks with Takaichi. Before coming to power, Trump had already feted Takaichi, calling her a highly respected person of great wisdom and strength, and her election tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan. In response to this, the Japanese premier said that she is truly hoping to work together with President Trump to make our alliance even stronger and more prosperous, and to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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However, due to Trumps uncertain dynamics with world leaders, it is unclear whether Takaichi can form a strong, sustained political bond with the mercurial Trump, especially given her fragile domestic position; the ruling Liberal Democratic Party lacks a legislative majority. It is also important to recall Trumps first term in office, when he initially called then-UK prime minister Theresa May my Maggie before falling out with her over a range of issues, including her preferred Brexit deal.
Trump met Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Malaysia, saying the two countries could make pretty good deals during their discussions.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) talks to US President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he hopes to strike deals with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their meeting in Malaysia. I think we should be able to make some pretty good deals for both countries, Trump said.

Lula also expressed optimism, saying, Theres no reason for having any other kind of conflict between Brazil and the United States, and added that he had a written agenda to discuss with Trump. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.

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Following their encounter, Brazils Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira described the meeting as positive, noting that Trump had instructed officials to begin bilateral negotiations. We will establish a negotiation schedule and identify the sectors to talk about so we can move forward, Vieira said, adding that Brazil requested a suspension of tariffs during the talks.

In August, Trump raised tariffs on most Brazilian goods from 10% to 50%, linking the move to what he called a witch hunt against Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula had called the hike a mistake, pointing to a $410 billion US trade surplus with Brazil over 15 years.

The higher US tariffs have reshaped the global beef market, driving up prices in the US and shifting trade through countries like Mexico, while Brazilian exports to China continue to grow.
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia formally signed an enhanced ceasefire deal on Sunday, which was overseen by US President Donald Trump

Donald Trump at the signing of a Cambodia-Thailand peace deal between Thai prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian PM Hun Manet in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. AFP

The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia formally signed an enhanced ceasefire deal on Sunday, which was overseen by US President Donald Trump. The deal was signed shortly after Trump arrived in Malaysia, where he will attend the 47th Asean Summit.

The deal was a follow-up to the agreement between the two nations in July, which was brokered by Trump, ending the deadly five-day conflict between the border nations. On Sunday, the American president watched as the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed the expanded ceasefire at the Asean summit.

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The agreement obligated both Thailand and Cambodia to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held prisoner and for both sides to begin removing heavy weapons from the border area. Shortly after the ceasefire ceremony, Trump signed an agreement with Cambodia on reciprocal trade and a US deal with Thailand on critical minerals.

A White House official noted that during his Asia tour, Trump would also sign a critical minerals agreement with Malaysia while in Kuala Lumpur.

The American leader began a five-day Asia tour, which includes his trips to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. This is the first time Trump has visited the continent since he returned to the White House.

During his trip to South Korea, Trump is expected to take part in high-stakes trade talks with Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, on the final day of his trip. It is pertinent to note that Trumps arrival in Malaysia came soon after he announced on Saturday that he would raise US tariffs on Canada by 10 per cent over an anti-tariff ad sponsored by the Ontario government.

Interestingly, both Trump and the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are attending the Asean Summit. However, before landing in Malaysia, Trump told reporters that he had no intention of meeting Carney there.

With inputs from agencies.
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will increase the American tariffs on Canadian goods by 10 per cent, reiterating his displeasure over an anti-tariff ad sponsored by the Ontario government.

US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The Canadian PM earlier in May said his government is talking to the US about joining the Golden Dome missile defence program. AFP

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will increase the American tariffs on Canadian goods by 10 per cent, reiterating his displeasure over an anti-tariff ad sponsored by the Ontario government. The announcement from Trump came just days after he terminated all trade talks with Canada over the same reason.

Trump announced the increase in tariffs in a post on his social media platform TruthSocial. The Trump administration has condemned the Ontario governments ad that referenced former US President Ronald Reagans support for free trade and provoked the US presidents anger. Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10 per cent over and above what they are paying now, Trump said Saturday on social media.

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He went on to slam the ad, calling it a fraud and maintained that the sole purpose of it was Canadas hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their rescue on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States. Now the United States can defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!), the president wrote.

Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that the province will suspend the US ad campaign on Monday, following discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He also pushed for the reopening of trade negotiations.

What was the controversy about

The ad, which was paid for by the government of Ontario, uses excerpts of a 1987 speech in which he said, trade barriers hurt every American worker. Trump responded to the ad by terminating trade talks with Canada, accusing th country of fraudulently used an advertismen t[sic] which he called FAKE.

He went on to claim that Canada is trying to interfere with the US court decisions on the levies. Based on their egregious behaviour, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated, he wrote.

In response to this, Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said: Tariffs at any level remain a tax on America first, then North American competitiveness as a whole. We hope this threat of escalation can be resolved through diplomatic channels and further negotiation. CUSMA [the CanadaUnited StatesMexico Agreement] means a North America where businesses do better. A successful free trade zone is fundamental for both our economies.

Meanwhile, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, a non-profit organisation that works to advance his legacy and principles, wrote in a post on X that Ontario did not seek or receive permission to use the clips.

In a statement over the matter, the foundation said that the advert used selective audio and video and  misrepresents Reagans comments. It said it was reviewing its legal options, which Trump cited in his Truth Social post. It is pertinent to note that in July this year, Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the United States from 25 per cent to 35 per cent.

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Turkey is expected to be excluded from the multinational Gaza stabilisation force following Israels objection to its participation

Turkey is likely to be excluded from the 5,000-strong stabilisation force planned for Gaza after Israel made clear it did not want Turkish troops involved. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, confirmed that Israel must be comfortable with the nationality of all forces participating in the mission, which aims to prevent a security vacuum once Gazas reconstruction begins. Although Turkey had offered to contribute troops, Israels disapproval stems from growing tensions over Syria and Ankaras perceived closeness to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.

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The potential exclusion is controversial, as Turkey is one of the guarantors of the Trump 20-point ceasefire agreement and has one of the regions most capable Muslim armed forces. The new force is expected to be led by Egypt, with Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates among other contributors. These countries still prefer that the mission receive a UN Security Council mandate, even if it is not formally a UN peacekeeping force.

Israel and US outline postwar structure for Gaza

The stabilisation force will coordinate with a US-led Civil-Military Coordination Centre (CMCC) based in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. The CMCC, which includes a small number of British, French, Jordanian and Emirati advisers, was inaugurated by US vice-president JD Vance. The centre will also assist with aid coordination for Gaza, though key crossings remain closed.

The missions tasks include disarming Hamas and supporting the formation of a transitional Palestinian government, which remains disputed. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Palestinian Authority involvement, though Palestinian factions have agreed to hand governance to an independent technocratic committee.

Meanwhile, an 81-member Turkish disaster response team remains at Egypts border awaiting Israeli clearance to enter Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged the US to increase pressure on Israel, calling for sanctions and arms bans to enforce the Trump plan.

Rubio added that the UNs Palestinian relief agency, Unrwa, would have no role in Gaza, labelling it a subsidiary of Hamas. His stance contrasts with many European nations and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which recently described Unrwa as essential for aid delivery. The ICJ also found insufficient evidence that the agency had been irreversibly infiltrated by Hamas.

Joint US-Israeli opposition to Unrwa presents a challenge, as the Trump plan includes a UN role in aid distribution but excludes the agency itself. Norway is now drafting a resolution based on ICJ findings, emphasising that Israel must not restrict humanitarian aid. Despite an agreement for 600 trucks of aid daily, only 89 on average have been allowed through  just 14% of the pledged amount.

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Unrwa has criticised Israel for ongoing violence and annexation in the West Bank, calling for compliance with international law. The head of the UNs humanitarian agency, Tom Fletcher, described Gaza as resembling the ruins of Hiroshima or Dresden after his recent visit.

In Cairo, delegations from Hamas and Fatah agreed to transfer Gazas administration to a temporary committee of independent technocrats, working with Arab partners and international organisations to restore essential services.
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said that she is not done with American politics, hinting that she is considering another bid for the presidency

Former US Vice President Kamala Harris said that she is not done with American politics, hinting that she is considering another bid for the presidency. In an interview with the BBC, scheduled to air on Sunday, Harris said that she would possibly be the next president, making the clearest suggestion to date that she would make another run for the White House in 2028.

However, Harriss proclamation on the matter is coming at a time when she is lagging far behind in the polls. The former American VP insisted that she had not yet made a final decision, but expressed her confidence that America would eventually have a woman in the White House. I am not done, the former vice-president told the BBC. I have lived my entire career as a life of service, and its in my bones.

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Harris went on to dismiss polls that place her as an outsider to win a place on the Democratic ticket. She is currently ranking behind even Hollywood actor Dwayne the Rock Johnson. If I listened to polls, I would not have run for my first office, or my second office  and I certainly wouldnt be sitting here, she said.

Harris slams Trump

In the Sunday interview, Harris said that the warnings she made during her campaign trail against the current US President Donald Trump had been proved right, claiming that the American leader has been behaving as a fascist and authoritarian. She went on to lambast her former Republican rival as a tyrant with thin skin who is weaponising the justice system.

Harris pointed to the brief suspension of late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel by ABC after he joked about Republican reaction to the killing of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk. It is pertinent to note that Kimmels ousting was celebrated by Trump and came after a Trump-appointed regulator threatened ABC.

He said he would weaponise the Department of Justice  and he has done exactly that  His skin is so thin he couldnt endure criticism from a joke, and attempted to shut down an entire media organisation in the process, she said. The former VP also slammed business leaders and institutions in the US, whom she accused of submitting to Trumps tyrannical demands

There are many  that have capitulated since day one, who are bending the knee at the foot of a tyrant, I believe, for many reasons, including they want to be next to power, because they want to perhaps have a merger approved or avoid an investigation," she averred.

When asked by the BBC about the interview, a White House spokesperson said: When Kamala Harris lost the election in a landslide, she shouldve taken the hint  the American people dont care about her absurd lies. It is pertinent to note that Harris is on an international book tour promoting 107 Days, her account of her short 2024 presidential run, which began only after former US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race following months of speculation about his cognitive decline.

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An anti-tax crusader and billionaire ally of US President Donald Trump has been identified as the anonymous private donor who gave $130 million to the government to pay the US troops amid the government shutdown. The story of Timothy Mellon

An anti-tax crusader and billionaire ally of US President Donald Trump has been identified as the anonymous private donor who gave $130 million to the government to pay the US troops amid the government shutdown. According to The New York Times, Timothy Mellon, the heir to the Gilded Age industrialist and former Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, is the secret donor.

While announcing the funding on Thursday, Trump described Mellon as a dear friend, great American, and patriot. However, his administration kept his name under wraps until two anonymous sources within the government told the NYT about the arrangement. Trump announced the secret, legally controversial donation amid growing clamour about the potential financial hardships caused by the ongoing federal shutdown, which is now in its fourth week.

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He doesnt want publicity, Trump said on Friday as he headed to Malaysia. He prefers that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned. Meanwhile, the Pentagon told NYT that the donation was accepted under the general gift acceptance authority

The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members salaries and benefits, said Sean Parnell, the Pentagons chief spokesperson, in a statement. However, it is pertinent to note that the donation, which equates to about $100 per service member, appears to be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act. The legislation prohibits agencies from spending funds in advance or in excess of congressional appropriations. It also forbade the federal body from accepting voluntary services, with the exception of emergency cases involving the safety of human life and protection of property.

Mellons allegiance to Trump

The 80-year-old billionaire pumped a whopping $165 million to back Trump, Robert F Kennedy and other Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle. This made him the top donor fueling outside spending groups last year, according to the campaign finance watchdog OpenSecrets.

Melon has also given money to Kennedys anti-vaccine group, Childrens Health Defence. The retired railroad magnate lives mostly in Wyoming. He is a relatively new player in campaign financing, donating just $32,000 in the 2016 election cycle when Trump first ran for office.

This quickly jumped to $10 million in 2016 and $60 million in 2020. In the same year, Mellon gave a rare interview to Bloomberg in which he said he believed Trump had delivered on what hed said on the stump. Back in 2021, the Texas Tribune reported that Mellon had donated $53 million to Texas Governor Greg Abbotts fund to build a wall on the states border with Mexico.

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The reclusive billionaires wealth and anti-tax leanings can be traced back to his industrialist grandfather, who made his money in banking and investments in startups before serving as treasury secretary from 1921 to 1932.

It is pertinent to note that the Mellon family continues to remain one of the countrys richest families with a combined net worth of $14 billion in 2024, according to Forbes. Timothy Mellons individual wealth is unclear, with reported estimates ranging from $700 million to $4 billion.
CAIRO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt has dispatched a specialized team and equipment to Gaza to assist in recovering the bodies of Israeli hostages held in the enclave, Egypt's Al-Qahera News reported Saturday.

The state-affiliated media, citing an anonymous source, said the deployment aims to accelerate the search operations under the ceasefire agreement, particularly for recovering remains from beneath the widespread rubble in Gaza. Previous reports indicated extreme difficulties in retrieving bodies due to massive destruction.

Earlier, Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli leaders had approved Egypt's request to allow equipment and personnel entry for the recovery mission. This comes as part of ongoing efforts to implement the ceasefire terms.

Under the ceasefire agreement taking effect on Oct. 10, Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages while Israel freed about 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

Israel estimates that the bodies of 28 hostages have been held in Gaza, some of whom were killed before being taken and others who died in captivity. Hamas has so far returned 15 bodies. 
As Trump arrived in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, US and Chinese officials concluded talks leading to a very substantial framework to defuse escalating trade tensions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Amid renewed trade tensions with Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Sunday that Washington and Beijing had reached a very substantial framework aimed at preventing the United States from imposing 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods and allowing a deferral of Chinas planned export controls on rare earth minerals.

He also said the US expects China to resume large-scale purchases of American soybeans over the next few years and delay its new rare earth licensing rules by a year, following two days of trade talks in Malaysia.

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The breakthrough came after high-level discussions in Kuala Lumpur ahead of a planned meeting next week between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, Bessent said China was ready to make a deal after the negotiations. He confirmed that the framework paves the way for the TrumpXi meeting this week, which aims to avert the sweeping tariffs Trump has threatened to impose on November 1 if Beijing proceeds with rare earth export restrictions.

Im also anticipating that we will get some kind of a deferral on the rare earth export controls that the Chinese had discussed, Bessent said, highlighting the progress made during the talks.

China dominates the global production and processing of rare earth mineralsessential for electronics and defence technologiesand recent signals of export curbs have raised concerns in Washington over supply chain vulnerabilities.

President Trump gave me tremendous negotiating leverage with the threat of the 100% tariffs, and I believe weve reached a very substantial framework that will avoid that and allow us to discuss many other matters with the Chinese, Bessent added.

President Trump arrived in Malaysia on Sunday for the Asean Summit, the first stop of a five-day Asia tour expected to culminate in a face-to-face meeting with Xi in South Korea on Thursday.

According to Bessent, Trump may also visit Beijing early next year, ahead of the Lunar New Year on February 17, with a follow-up meeting in Washington planned before Xis visit to the United States for the G20 summit next autumn.

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Trump has indicated that fentanyl production and exports will be a key topic in his talks with Xi, as Washington continues to accuse Beijing of failing to curb shipments of precursor chemicals used in the deadly opioids production.

Following the Kuala Lumpur discussions, Chinas chief trade envoy Li Chenggang said both nations had reached a preliminary consensus to extend their trade truce while addressing issues linked to fentanyl and export controls. Li and Vice Premier He Lifeng led the Chinese delegation, while Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer represented Washington.

Striking an optimistic tone after the talks, President Trump said, I think were going to have a deal with China, hinting at further meetings with Xi in both China and the United States in the months ahead.
PM Modi on Sunday virtually addressed the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, calling Asean a key pillar of Indias Act East Policy. He highlighted Indias growing partnership with Asean.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday virtually addressed the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur, congratulating Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for chairing the summit and calling the group a key pillar of Indias Act East Policy.

India and Asean together represent almost a quarter of the worlds population. We do not just share geography; we are also connected by deep historical ties and shared values. We are fellow travelers of the Global South, PM Modi said.

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My remarks during the ASEAN-India Summit, which is being held in Malaysia. https://t.co/87TT0RKY8x  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 26, 2025

Speaking on the summit theme of Inclusivity and Sustainability, he highlighted Indias support for digital inclusion, food security, resilient supply chains, and disaster response. India has always stood strong with its Asean partners in every disaster. Our collaboration in HADR, sea security, and the blue economy is rapidly increasing. Seeing this, we declare 2026 as the Year of Asean-India Maritime Cooperation.

He also emphasised expanding cooperation in education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cybersecurity. The 21st century is our century. It is India and ASEANs century. I am confident that the aim of Asean Community Vision 2045 and Viksit Bharat 2047 will develop a bright future for humanity, Modi said.

He welcomed Timor-Leste as Aseans newest member and expressed condolences on the passing of Thailands queen mother.

India and Asean not only share trade and geography but also cultural relations. ASEAN is the main pillar of Indias Act East Policy. India has always supported Asean centrality and its outlook on the Indo-Pacific. During these times of uncertainty, the India-Asean Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continuously grown. Our strong partnership is emerging as the basis for global stability and development, he added.

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Entisar al-Hammadi, a Yemeni-Ethiopian model jailed by Houthi rebels on the charges of immorality has been freed after five years.

After being five years in prison, Yemens Houthi rebels released model Entisar al-Hammadi as told by her lawyer to a news agency AFP.

She was sentenced to five years, as arrested in February 2021 while going for a photo shoot in Sanaa on the charges of prostitution, drug abuse and fornication. Her lawyer said that the accusations against her were incorrect and suppressed the womens liberties and rights.

Hammadi, who is the daughter of a Yemeni father and Ethiopian mother, worked as a model for several years and also performed in two Yemeni series. Defying the conservative Muslim norms, she sometimes appeared in photographs without a scarf which sparked outrage.

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Her lawyer, Khaled al-Kamal, told AFP, Entisar al-Hammadi was released yesterday evening and is now in her home. He also spoke about the injustice she faced during her period in the prison highlighting deteriorated health.

In March 2021, Hammadi was sent to the Central Prison in Sanaa where she faced discrimination and was called whore and slave because of her dark complexion, as stated by her lawyer.

Amnesty International said that upon her arrest, Hammadi was interrogated while blindfolded, physically and verbally abused, subjected to racist insults and forced to confess to several offences  including drug possession and prostitution.
KIEV, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 32 were injured in Russian drone strikes on Kiev early Sunday, authorities reported.

According to Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, seven of the injured, including two children, were hospitalized.

The State Service for Emergencies said that drones hit two high-rise residential buildings in the northeastern Desnianskyi district, igniting fire in one of them and shattering windows in the other.

Another drone struck an apartment block in the northern Obolonskyi district.

More than 100 rescuers and 20 units of equipment were deployed to the sites of the strikes.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that its air defenses intercepted 90 of 101 Russian drones overnight.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that over the past week, Russia had fired nearly 1,200 combat drones, more than 1,360 guided bombs, and over 50 missiles at Ukraine. 
A Palestinian injured child is seen at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 24, 2025. According to data from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), at least 320 Palestinians have been killed and injured by unexploded ordnance across the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023.(Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

GAZA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Six-year-old twins Yahya and Nabila Shorbasi were playing among the rubble of their destroyed home in Gaza City when a sudden explosion shattered the silence of a fragile ceasefire. The small metallic object they had found turned out to be an unexploded bomb.

"We were clearing the rubble when we heard a huge explosion," Abu Mohammed, their grandfather, recalled the horrifying moment.

"We ran and found Yahya and Nabila lying on the ground, covered in blood. They were playing with a round object that exploded the moment they touched it," he said while sitting beside their beds at Al-Shifa Hospital.

Yahya lost his right hand and suffered multiple injuries, while Nabila sustained fractures in her foot. "Playing has become deadly," the grandfather said quietly. "Even after the war ends, we continue to die."

The tragedy of the Shorbasi twins reflects the growing threat of unexploded ordnance (UXO) scattered across the Gaza Strip. Although calm has prevailed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect more than two weeks ago, the remnants of war remain buried under debris, turning neighborhoods into potential minefields.

In the northern Gaza City neighborhood of Sheikh Radwan, 10-year-old Ahmed was also injured when a metal object exploded near his family's temporary tent.

"Ahmed thought it was a toy," said his mother, Salwa Hasanat. "I heard the explosion and found him unconscious, his right hand gone. None of us knew these remnants could still kill."

In another case, 13-year-old Samer Bahloul from the Tal al-Hawa area lost his left eye after a small metal box he found near his tent exploded.

"I thought it was something useful," he said quietly. "When I woke up, my father told me I had lost my eye. The doctors said it was part of a bomb."

According to data from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), at least 320 Palestinians have been killed and injured by unexploded ordnance across the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023.

The Gaza Center for Human Rights, an independent civil organization monitoring violations, estimates that around 20,000 unexploded bombs and missiles remain scattered across Gaza.

It said that by mid-October, the total rubble resulting from the destruction of homes and vital infrastructure had reached between 65 and 70 million tons, containing about 71,000 tons of explosives and remnants of war.

"Although hostilities have ceased, death remains present in every street and alley of this devastated land. These remnants continue to haunt people even after the end of fighting," Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson of the civil defense, told Xinhua.

Mohammed, an engineer specializing in ordnance removal and currently working with a local clearance team, said his work has become increasingly dangerous and complex due to shortages of specialized equipment and fuel.

He added that the teams have had to prioritize the most urgent sites, leaving many areas unchecked. "We lack advanced detection devices, heavy machinery, and maintenance parts. Sometimes we work manually, which is much slower but safer for civilians nearby," he said.

The work also takes a heavy toll on the engineers themselves. "The continuous exposure to danger and destruction is exhausting, both physically and mentally," he said. "We have no psychological support or rest periods. But we continue because people's lives depend on our work."

Mohammed explained that clearance operations are coordinated with the United Nations, which has launched community awareness programs to educate residents, especially children, about the dangers of suspicious objects. "The biggest problem is ignorance," he said. "Children see a shiny object and think it's a toy, not realizing it could kill them."

Beyond the human toll, experts warn that unexploded ordnance and other remnants of war are also threatening Gaza's already fragile environment. Environmental engineer Saeed al-Aklouk told Xinhua that the remnants of bombs and missiles are contaminating soil and groundwater across the enclave.

"Thousands of unexploded munitions from the recent Israeli military campaign threaten to deprive farmers of cultivating large areas of land," al-Aklouk said. "These areas have become unsafe for people, animals, and crops alike."

"The destruction of sewage networks has caused the leakage of hazardous substances, while metals and chemicals from the munitions have contaminated farmland," he said. "The long-term environmental and health impacts will be severe."

He warned that cleaning up the remnants of war could take years, delaying recovery and posing lasting dangers to local residents.

"Without international support, advanced equipment, and safe access to affected areas, the task of removing explosive remnants will remain incomplete for a long time," he said. 

A Palestinian injured child is seen at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on Oct. 24, 2025. According to data from the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), at least 320 Palestinians have been killed and injured by unexploded ordnance across the Gaza Strip since the start of the conflict in October 2023.(Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
FM spox calls for an end to the impunity granted to Israel by its supporters and apologists

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 25, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called for an end to the impunity Israel enjoys due to its supporters.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s "latest opinion on #Palestine (22 October) is calling out, once again, the undeniable truth that the Israeli regime continues to be THE TREMENDOUS VIOLATOR of each and every norm of int'l humanitarian law," Baghaei wrote on his X account on Saturday.

"The Opinion reaffirms that the Israeli regime is under an obligation to ensure the basic needs of the Palestinians who are living under its occupation, including the supplies essential for their survival, and that it must not impede the provision of such supplies," he added.

"The Court has recalled the obligation under int'l law not to use starvation as a method of warfare," he noted.

"The ICJ has already issued another straightforward opinion reaffirming that the occupation of Palestinian lands is 'unlawful' and must end," he stated.

"Israeli regime has persistently defied all these principles & rules," Baghaei said.

"The Israeli regime is accused, by both ICC and ICJ, of committing the most atrocious crimes of int'l concern, namely WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY and #Genocide_in_Gaza," he noted.

Earlier on October 15, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had reaffirmed that the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza would not halt his country's legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

"The case is proceeding, and it now has to go to the stage where Israel has to respond to our pleadings that have been filed in the court, and they have to do so by January of next year," Ramaphosa added.

South Africa filed its complaint in December 2023, stating that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention through its actions against Palestinians in Gaza. The move has been supported by several countries, including Brazil, Nicaragua, Cuba, Ireland, Colombia, Libya, Mexico, Spain, and Turkey.

In October 2024, South Africa submitted a 500-page detailed legal brief to the ICJ. Hearings are expected to begin in 2027, with a final ruling anticipated by late that year or early 2028.

Israel waged its war in Gaza in early October 2023, killing nearly 68,000 Palestinians and injuring more than 170,000 others. Thousands more remain unaccounted for.

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Israeli drone strike kills one in southern Lebanon amid ongoing truce violations

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 5:50 PM

An Israeli drone strike has killed one person and injured another in the southern Lebanese governorate of Nabatieh, marking the latest in a series of violations of a fragile ceasefire between the Tel Aviv regime and the Arab country that took effect in November 2024.

Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA), citing the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at the Lebanese Health Ministry, reported that the unmanned aerial vehicle targeted a car in the town of Harouf on Saturday, resulting in the casualties.

Separately, an Israeli drone was seen flying in the skies over Adloun and Ansariyah areas in southern Lebanon, as it was on a reconnaissance mission.

In light of the substantial losses during 24 months of war and the inability to fulfill its military objectives in the aggression against Lebanon, Israel had no choice but to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27, 2024.

Ever since the agreement was enacted, the occupying forces have conducted numerous assaults on Lebanon, including airstrikes throughout the country, in blatant disregard of the ceasefire.

On January 27, Lebanon made an announcement regarding its decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until February 18.

Even though the deadline has passed, Israel remains in control of five important regions in southern Lebanon, which include Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all located close to the border.

Lebanon has denounced the ongoing presence of Israeli military personnel, perceiving it as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and the predetermined schedule for withdrawal.

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UN warns of winter crisis in Gaza as Israel continues to block vital aid

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 3:33 PM

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the Gaza Strip is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis as winter approaches, with vital shelter and supplies blocked by Israel from entering the besieged territory.

In a statement on the social media platform X on Saturday, the UN agency said that shelter and winter materials meant for displaced families "are sitting in UNRWA warehouses in Jordan and Egypt, blocked from entry."

"As winter approaches in Gaza, people are increasingly in need of shelter and warmth," it said, urging Israel to immediately restore humanitarian access and comply with international law.

Israel's restrictions on aid continue despite the latest ceasefire deal with Hamas, brokered by US President Donald Trump. The first phase of the 20-point plan included a prisoner exchange and was meant to lead to the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA's warning came after a senior Israeli official said that Tel Aviv "does not intend to allow UNRWA to return to work in Gaza despite the International Court's decision" requiring it to do so.

Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Palestinians in Gaza "have not received sufficient supplies" of humanitarian assistance and ruled that Israel must facilitate aid delivery and end the use of starvation as a method of warfare.

The opinion, issued as a non-binding legal advisory, outlined Israel's obligations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank following a request from the UN General Assembly in December 2024.

UNRWA's senior communications manager, Jonathan Fowler, told the BBC that the ICJ ruling made Israel's actions "clearly wrong and against all obligations that member states are meant to follow."

"It's incumbent upon all member states of the United Nations to ensure that international law is followed by all other member states," he said, adding that UNRWA must be "allowed to do its work in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, and accountability must come."

Despite international rulings and mounting global concern, Washington has echoed Israel's opposition to UNRWA's role, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying on Friday that the UN agency "is not going to play any role" in Gaza's future administration or aid distribution.

Speaking at the US Civil-Military Coordination Center overseeing the ceasefire, Rubio said, "UNRWA is not going to play any role in providing aid."

His remarks came as Israel's continued blockade of aid has left residents in Gaza without adequate food, medicine, or shelter.

In a related development, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that there has been little improvement in humanitarian access since the truce took effect on October 10.

"The situation still remains catastrophic because what's entering is not enough," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters, adding that "there is no dent in hunger because there is not enough food."

UN agencies warn that without immediate access to life-saving supplies, the coming winter could push thousands more civilians to the brink of starvation and disease.

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93 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since ceasefire: Health ministry

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 2:14 PM

The Gaza Health Ministry says at least 93 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks and 324 others wounded since a ceasefire took effect in the besieged territory earlier this month.

In its statement released on Saturday, the ministry reported that in the last 48 hours, 19 people who were killed in Israeli attacks have been brought to Gaza hospitals, along with another seven who have sustained injuries.

It also noted that the death toll from Israel's two-year genocidal war has now reached 68,519 fatalities and 170,382 injuries since October 7, 2023.

A ceasefire deal took effect on October 10 in the Gaza Strip, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. The first phase included the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

According to Gaza's Government Media Office, Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas 80 times since the truce took hold.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian child was seriously injured by Israeli occupation gunfire in the northwest of the southern city of Rafah.

In another incident, two individuals were wounded when Israeli forces shelled a civilian vehicle in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Yunis.

On Friday, Israeli forces detonated residential buildings southeast of Khan Yunis and shelled eastern Deir al-Balah in central Gaza with artillery fire.

Tragically, two Palestinian brothers were killed in an artillery strike east of Deir al-Balah, with Israeli forces alleging they had crossed the so-called "Yellow Line."

The attacks occurred despite reports from Israeli media indicating that Washington has been urging Tel Aviv to avoid escalating tensions or implementing punitive measures over Hamas's alleged failure to return all the bodies of Israeli captives as agreed upon in the ceasefire deal.

Hamas has already fulfilled its part by releasing all 20 remaining living Israeli captives and nine dead captives.

Hamas says it has handed over all the remains it could currently locate and that recovering the rest may require more time and specialized equipment.

The resistance group has placed responsibility for the deaths and missing bodies, believed to be buried under rubble along with thousands of civilians, on Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his cabinet, and the military.

Israel has used delays in the return of captive bodies as justification for continuing its attacks, keeping the Rafah crossing closed, and halving the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory.

While mediators had hoped the ceasefire would stabilize conditions on the ground, Israel's latest violations signaled a return to pressure tactics, raising fears that the genocide could soon resume amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

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Tehran says Israel's 'chronic impunity' must end after ICJ opinion on Palestine

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 10:23 AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has called for an end to the "chronic impunity" granted to Israel by its supporters and apologists, following a new International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion that condemns the regime's violations of international humanitarian law.

The ICJ issued a legal opinion on October 22, stating that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to work with UN agencies to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza. At the same time, Israel was "also under a negative obligation not to impede the provision of these supplies," the court said.

In a post on X on Saturday, Baghaei said the ICJ's opinion once again exposes "the undeniable truth that the Israeli regime continues to be the tremendous violator of each and every norm of international humanitarian law."

He noted that the court reaffirmed Israel's obligation to ensure the basic needs of Palestinians living under its occupation, including supplies essential for their survival, and stressed that the regime must not obstruct the provision of such supplies.

The ICJ, he added, has recalled the prohibition under international law against using starvation as a method of warfare.

Baghaei also referred to the court's previous opinion, which reaffirmed that the occupation of Palestinian lands is "unlawful" and must end.

He said the Israeli regime has consistently defied these principles and is denounced by both the ICJ and the International Criminal Court (ICC) for committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza.

In July 2024, the ICJ released another advisory opinion declaring that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories is "unlawful" and should be terminated without delay.

The ICJ is also currently reviewing a case filed by South Africa, which accuses Israel of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention through its conduct in Gaza.

Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Palestinian resistance fighters carried out a military operation against the regime over its intensified violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the war has killed at least 68,280 people, most of whom are women and children, and injured 170,375 others.

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Colombia's president slams US sanctions as 'paradoxical', hails Colombia's anti-narcotics efforts

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 9:58 AM

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has vowed to stand firm after the US imposed sanctions on him over alleged links to drug trafficking, calling Washington's move a "paradox" given his long-standing cooperation in the fight against narcotics.

"What I received for a decades-long, effective fight against drug trafficking was such a move from the government that we have helped a lot in curbing cocaine consumption," he wrote on the X social media platform on Friday.

He added that it's "an absolute paradox, but there will be no stepping back and getting on our knees."

On Friday, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced new sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, and his son, along with Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, who has also been added to the blacklist.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent claimed that since Petro "came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans."

Last week, US President Donald Trump called Petro an "illegal drug leader," claiming that his Colombian counterpart is "strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs" across Colombia.

Trump also threatened that his administration would cut off all subsidies to the Latin American country.

Last month, the Trump administration accused Colombia of failing to cooperate in the drug war, although at the time Washington issued a waiver of sanctions that would have triggered aid cuts.

The US also revoked Petro's visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and urged US soldiers to disobey Trump's orders.

Colombia under Petro has increasingly voiced support for Palestinian rights and condemned Israel's genocidal war on Gaza.

Earlier this month, Colombia expelled the Israeli regime's diplomats over Tel Aviv's aggression targeting an international Gaza-bound aid flotilla, while urging the US president's imprisonment for Washington's complicity in the regime's genocide in the blockaded coastal Palestinian region.

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MANILA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 alleged Filipino human trafficking victims from illegal scam centers in Myawaddy, Myanmar, have sought the help of the Philippine government for repatriation, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sunday.

As of Friday, the DFA said the Philippine Embassy in Yangon, Myanmar, has received 222 "active requests" for repatriation assistance from Filipinos in scam hub areas, of which 66 have reportedly crossed into Thailand and nine have reached Yangon and are now under the embassy's custody.

"The Embassy is working with Myanmar authorities to finalize the deportation procedures for those currently in holding camps and to facilitate the rescue of those who remain in scam hub compounds," the DFA statement read.

It added that the Philippine embassy continues to closely monitor the situation in Myawaddy, Myanmar, following confirmed reports of law enforcement operations conducted in scam hub compounds on Oct. 20, 2025.

The DFA said it is coordinating with the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and other relevant agencies, remains committed to the safe repatriation of affected Filipinos through established government-to-government channels, and continues to work with both Myanmar and Thai authorities to expedite the process.

The DFA advised all Filipinos to go through proper foreign employment procedures established by the DMW before departing the country for overseas employment.

Many Filipinos, lured by high-paying jobs, continue to fall prey to work offers by illegal scammers in Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia despite warnings from the government. The Filipinos, along with other Southeast Asian nationals, end up in forced labor in scam centers in these countries.

Many victims of scam farm operations who were initially promised legal jobs are kidnapped and sold to other fraudulent operations, according to the United Nations.

The UN has expressed alarm over the thousands of trafficked individuals in the region, saying the situation has "reached the level of a humanitarian and human rights crisis." 
Three killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon amid ceasefire violations

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 6:49 AM

In the latest near-daily violations of a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon in place since November 2024, Israeli military aircraft have carried out separate strikes against positions in southern Lebanon, killing at least three individuals.

The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced in a statement that an Israeli drone strike killed two people in Toul town of the Nabatieh district on Friday, and wounded two others. It did not provide details on their condition.

A security source said the unmanned aerial vehicle fired a missile at a car, directly hitting the vehicle and causing it to catch fire.

The Israeli military said it attacked sites linked to the Hezbollah resistance movement, including "a military camp and a site for the production of precision missiles," without providing evidence.

Later, the military claimed its forces killed Abbas Hassan Karky, whom it identifies as "the logistics commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front headquarters."

There was no confirmation or comment from Hezbollah.

Separately, Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) reported that an Israeli drone targeted a car on the Qaaqaait al-Jisr neighborhood in the Nabatieh district, killing one person. No further details were provided.

In another violation of the ceasefire, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade near a bulldozer in the western neighborhood of the town of Khiam, in the Marjayoun district of southern Lebanon, with no casualties reported.

On Thursday, Israeli forces struck the eastern region of Bekaa, killing two people. They later targeted Arabsalim area in southern Lebanon, killing two others, including an elderly woman.

In light of the substantial losses during 24 months of war and the inability to fulfill its military objectives in the aggression against Lebanon, Israel had no choice but to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which came into effect on November 27, 2024.

Ever since the agreement was enacted, the occupying forces have conducted numerous assaults on Lebanon, including airstrikes throughout the country, in blatant disregard of the ceasefire.

On January 27, Lebanon announced its decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until February 18.

Even though the deadline has passed, Israel remains in control of five important regions in southern Lebanon, which include Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all located close to the border.

Lebanon has denounced the ongoing presence of Israeli military personnel, perceiving it as a breach of the ceasefire agreement and the predetermined schedule for withdrawal.

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Israeli settler attacks during West Bank olive harvest 'organized terrorist policy': Hamas

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 7:14 PM

A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the ongoing brutal attacks carried out by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, condemning them as part of "an organized terrorist policy."

Abdul Rahman Shadid made the remarks on Saturday, as Israeli settlers' attacks on Palestinian farmers across the West Bank have intensified in recent days, particularly in an attempt to deter them from tending to olive trees during the harvest season.

Shadid further characterized these attacks as "an organized terrorist policy" that specifically targets land, people, and various aspects of Palestinian life in the West Bank.

He also stressed that the assaults are designed "to expand the settlements, terrorize residents and force them to abandon their lands."

On Friday, in the town of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah, a focal point of violence this year, Israeli settlers targeted Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season, culminating in a disturbing incident captured on video.

The video footage depicted a young masked man striking an older Palestinian woman who was in the process of picking olives, causing her to collapse.

The distressing scene has brought attention to the heightened violence characterizing this year's olive harvest in the West Bank.

The annual harvest, once a peaceful gathering for families in the West Bank, has transformed in recent years into a series of increasingly violent confrontations involving Israeli settlers, troops, Palestinian harvesters, and foreign activists.

The olive harvest season began in October and will last until mid-November, as Palestinians across the West Bank harvest olives from trees they see as deeply connected to their national identity.

According to the agriculture ministry's 2021 census, the West Bank is home to over eight million olive trees for its three million Palestinian inhabitants. Every autumn, Palestinian farmers, as well as urban residents with family-owned trees, venture into the fields to handpick olives.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that 27 West Bank villages experienced attacks related to the harvest in the week of October 7 to 13 alone, underscoring the widespread impact of these incidents.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 25 October 2025 - Day 1340

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 in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 158 combat clashes.

Russian Zagarbniki launched one rocket and 49 aviation strikes, using six missiles and dropping 99 controlled air bombs. In addition, the Russians have engaged 1819 kamikaze drones and carried out 3021 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the North Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled four Russian assault actions since the beginning of the day, another battle is ongoing. The Russian enemy also launched nine air strikes, dropping 17 controlled airstrikes, carrying out 119 shells, one of them from a jet-fire system.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy has attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders nine times in the area of Vovchansky, Krasny First and in the direction of Bologivka, Kolodyazny and Dvorichansky, one confrontation is ongoing so far.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian units carried out seven assault actions, trying to break through the positions of Ukrainian defenders towards Pishany and Boguslavka, currently one attack is ongoing.

In the Lyman direction since the beginning of the day, Russian invaders 11 times attacked the positions of Ukrainians near the settlements of Grekivka, Serednye, Novoselivka, Zarichne, Torske and in the direction of the settlements of Drobisheve and Korova Yar. The three clashes are still ongoing.

In the Slovak direction, Russian forces tried to break through three times in the areas of yampol, serebryanka and siversk. Two clashes are underway.

In the direction of Kramators komu, one combat was recorded, the Russian enemy's units tried to advance in the Stupocok area.

In the Konstantiniv direction, Russians 21 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces. Efforts of the attack of the Russian occupiers concentrated in the areas of Oleksandro-Shultynogo, Pleshiyivka, Scherbinivka, Rusynoy Yar and towards Konstantinivka and Sofiyivka. One fight is still going on.

Since the beginning of the day in the Pokrovsky direction, Russian units 65 times tried to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of settlements Shahove, Volodymyrivka, Pankivka, Mayak, Suhiy Yar, Zvirove, Rodinske, Mirnograd, Novoekonomicne, Red Liman, Beam, Balagan, Novopavlivka, Lisivka, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Udaachne, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, Philia, Dachne. In some locations the fighting does not stop.

Defense forces deter enemy attacks, the Russian enemy suffers significant losses - today 76 Russian invaders were defecated in this direction, 60 of which are irrevocable. Ukrainian defenders destroyed one armored carrier, one anti-tank device, two unmanned aircraft, two special equipment units and one enemy personnel cover. In addition, Ukrainian defenders hit the control point of the BPLA, armored transporter and 13 coverings of the opponent's personnel.

In the Oleksandrivsky direction, Ukrainian units stopped 15 Russian attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Sosnivka, Oleksiyivka, Novovasilivskke, Stepovo, Novogrigorivka, Pavlivka, Zlagoda and in the direction of Rybnoy, two more clashes are ongoing so far.

In the Gulyajpils komu direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks in the Malinivka area. The enemy launched air strikes in the areas of settlements of Danilivka, Pokrovsk, Bratske and Gulyaipole.

Ukrainian defenders repelled six attacks of Russian enemy units near Stepovoye, Kamiansky, Stepnogirsk and in the direction of Novoandriivka. The Russian enemy's aviation caused an air strike in the area of pavlivka.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, the Russian occupiers twice tried to move in the area of the Antonivsky Bridge. The Cossack woman suffered an air strike.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in response to the terrorist attacks launched by Ukraine against civilian facilities on the territory of Russia, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with long-range ground-based high-precision weapon tonight, as well as with attack UAVs against enterprises of the Ukrainian defence industry and energy infrastructure that support its work.

The targets were defeated, all the assigned facilities were neutralised.

Units of the Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of three mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade of the AFU, one territorial defence brigade, and one national guard brigade close to Leninskoye, Novaya Sech, Kondratovka, Korchakovka, Gnilitsa, and Rogoznoye (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of two mechanised brigades of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade have been hit near Volchansk and Veterinarnoye (Kharkov region).

Up to 150 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, one Western-made field artillery gun, and one electronic warfare station of the AFU have been neutralised. Also, an ammunition depot and eight materiel depots were eliminated.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line. Russian units engaged manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one assault brigade of the AFU and one territorial defence brigade close to Kupyansk, Kurilovka, Kucherovka, and Shiykovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses amounted to more than 230 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, two field artillery guns, including one Western-made gun, and five electronic warfare stations. Three AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation. The Group's units hit the formations of two mechanised brigades of the AFU, and one territorial defence brigade near Khromovka, Stepanovka, Seversk, and Pleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 85 troops, six armoured fighting vehicles, 10 motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS, eight artillery guns, including four Western-made artillery guns, one electronic warfare station, and three ammunition depots.

The Tsentr Group's units advanced to the depths of the enemy's defence. In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of four mechanised brigades, one assault brigade, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the AFU, and one national guard brigade near Krasnoarmeysk, Artyomovka, Annovka, Novonikolayevka, Dimitrov, Toretskoye, Sergeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Ivanovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 520 troops, seven armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued offensive operations. Russian troops inflicted losses on the formations of one mechanised brigade, one assault regiment of the AFU, and three territorial defence brigades close to Danilovka, Radostnoye, Yegorovka (Dnepropetrovsk region), Privolnoye, and Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU lost up to 320 troops, one U.S.-made MLRS, two artillery guns, including one Western-made gun, 14 motor vehicles, and one electronic warfare station.

The Dnepr Group's units have delivered strikes at enemy manpower and hardware of two mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade of the AFU, and two territorial defence brigades close to Stepnogorsk, Stepovoye, Novodanilovka (Zaporozhye region), Ponyatovka, and Antonovka (Kherson region).

More than 80 troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, 15 motor vehicles, five electronic warfare stations, one ammunition depot, and two materiel depots have been neutralised.

Operational-tactical aviation, attack drones, missile troops, and artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed a missile launcher and a transport and loading vehicle of the Neptune coastal missile system, and inflicted losses on UAV production workshops, as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 154 areas.

Air defence systems shot down two guided aerial bombs and 281 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 668 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 92,459 unmanned aerial vehicles, 633 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,664 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,607 MLRS combat vehicles, 30,783 field artillery guns and mortars, and 44,815 units of support military vehicles have been neutralised.

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Commissioner's Office strongly opposes US politicians' joint letter shielding anti-China rioter Jimmy Lai

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Oct 25, 2025 05:57 PM

The Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Saturday issued a stern warning to certain US politicians, calling for them to immediately cease meddling in Hong Kong affairs.

The remarks came in response to a joint letter by US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch and other lawmakers to US president, in which they made false statements and openly voiced support for anti-China and destabilizing figure Jimmy Lai.

According to the commissioner's office website, court proceedings in Lai's case have revealed extensive evidence showing that Lai engaged in rampant secessionist activities that seriously undermined Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, struck at the bottom line of the "One Country, Two Systems" policy, and endangered national security. His offenses, the office said, would constitute crimes in any country and should be punished according to law.

The office stressed that Lai is a convicted criminal serving multiple sentences, and claims of "prolonged detention" are completely groundless. "The National Security Law for Hong Kong fully safeguards human rights, and Lai's legitimate rights have been protected in accordance with the law during his imprisonment," the office stated.

It added that the HKSAR government and judiciary remain steadfast in safeguarding national security, and that Hong Kong society strongly supports punishing crimes endangering national security according to law. "Any attempt to interfere in the judicial process or undermine Hong Kong's rule of law will not succeed," the office said.

The commissioner's office also denounced US politicians for whitewashing and shielding Lai, saying that such actions constitute blatant interference in Hong Kong's judiciary and a serious violation of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs under international law and norms of international relations. "These actions run counter to the spirit of the rule of law and reflect a hypocritical double standard," it said.

"Any noise seeking to smear Hong Kong cannot shake the steady progress of 'One Country, Two Systems' and no external interference can obstruct Hong Kong's historical momentum from governance to prosperity," the office said on its website.

"We urge relevant US politicians to face reality, adopt an objective and fair stance, stop sheltering anti-China elements, respect the rule of law in the HKSAR, and immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," it said.

The remarks followed a Bloomberg report that more than 30 US lawmakers signed a letter asking the US president to raise the issue of Lai during his trip to Asia.

The HKSAR government also condemned in August the slanderous remarks made by external forces regarding Lai's case under the NSL for Hong Kong and the treatment provided to him during his custody.

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China, US start economic, trade talks in Kuala Lumpur

Global Times

By Xinhua Published: Oct 25, 2025 11:23 AM Updated: Oct 25, 2025 11:27 AM

The Chinese and US delegations convened on Saturday morning for talks on economic and trade issues.

The two sides will hold consultations on important issues in China-U.S. economic and trade ties in accordance with the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries during their phone calls this year, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Thursday.

The Chinese delegation is led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

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PLA's new all-terrain vehicle-mounted air defense missile system unveiled in official media report

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Oct 25, 2025 08:58 PM

An official media report on Saturday unveiled a new type of vehicle-mounted air defense missile system deployed by the 72nd Group Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), with an expert saying that the new missile system is highly mobile and capable of providing air defense support for motorized troops on the move.

In a story about an air defense company under a brigade affiliated with the 72nd Group Army, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday reported that this unit has recently been equipped with multiple new types of weapons and equipment.

To ensure the new equipment could achieve its desired results in its first live-fire test, the troops held more than 30 simulated launches, eventually leading to a successful maiden test launch, CCTV said.

The CCTV report showed that the new equipment is a type of air defense missile system mounted on a Dongfeng Mengshi all-terrain wheeled tactical vehicle. Each vehicle is equipped with what seems to be a rotating radar apparatus, and two missile launchers are fixed on racks on the top of the vehicle, according to the report footage. It also showed the moment a missile is launched.

The CCTV report did not disclose further details about the missile, such as its designation or performance parameters.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the baseline version of the Dongfeng Mengshi vehicle is a utility platform that can equip many types of weapons and equipment. He noted that the vehicle can quickly maneuver through all types of complex terrains, bringing high mobility and flexibility to anything it carries.

At the V-Day military parade in Beijing on September 3, China unveiled six types of air defense and antiballistic missile equipment, the HQ-11, HQ-20, HQ-22A, HQ-9C, HQ-19 and HQ-29. They can carry out long-range, medium range, and short-range air defense missions and multiple course, multi-layer antiballistic missile interception, building a solid barrier for air and aerospace defense, safeguarding the peace and stability of the country.

Song said that the newly unveiled vehicle-mounted air defense missile system could serve as a valuable addition to this arsenal of air defense systems, as it could provide air defense on the move.

Song said that this highly maneuverable air defense missile system can accompany light motorized forces on the move, providing continuous air defense coverage throughout their operations.

In recent years, to maximize the operational efficiency of new equipment as quickly as possible, the company has established eight specialized teams focusing on detection, missile assembly, loading, and target acquisition, among other areas. These teams have developed over 10 air defense tactics and training methods, including short-range strikes, deceptive deployments, and rapid engagement-and-withdrawal strategies, CCTV reported.

Through deep integration with reconnaissance, early warning, intelligence gathering, and firepower systems, the company has achieved the capability of destruction-on-detection, becoming a dominant aerial hunter in the southeastern coastal, according to the CCTV report.

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Invocation of snapback is legally flawed: Iran, China, Russia say to Grossi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Oct 25, 2025

The envoys of the Islamic Republic, China, and Russia sent a letter to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (I), on October 24, 2025.

The full text of the letter is as follows:

H.E. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the I

Excellenc,

We, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the People's Republic of China, the

Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Russian Federation, have the honor to refer to the joint letter of our Foreign Ministers dated 28 August 2025 (INFCIRC1314-A/79/1004-S/2025/546), in which they set out common position regarding the recent actions by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany (E3) in relation to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).

We reaffirm that the invocation of the so-called "snapback" by the E3 is, by its very nature, legally and procedurally flawed. The E3, having themselves violated their commitments under both the JCPOA and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, and having failed to exhaust the procedures established under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM), lack the requisite standing to invoke its provisions.

Therefore, we affirm that in accordance with UNSCR 2231, all its provisions have been terminated on 18 October 2025. In light of this termination, the mandate for the IAEA Director

General's reporting on verification and monitoring under the UNSCR 2231 has lapsed. In the IAEA the implementation of the JCPOA, as well as verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of UNSCR 2231, were enacted by the resolution of the Board of Governors of 15 December 2015 (GOV/2015/72). This resolution remains in force and is the sole guidance that the IAEA Secretariat is bound by in this matter.

Operative paragraph 14 of this Resolution unequivocally stipulates that the Board "decides to remain seized of the matter until ten years after the JCPOA Adoption Day or until the date on which the Director General reports that the Agency has reached the Broader Conclusion for Iran, whichever is earlier". Consequently, as of 18 October 2025, the related agenda item has been automatically removed from the agenda of the Board of Governors, and no further action is required in this regard.

Our countries once again emphasize that it is essential that the relevant parties stay committed to finding a political settlement that accommodates the concerns of all parties through diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect, and refrain from unilateral sanction, threat of force, or any other action that may escalate the situation, and that all countries should contribute to creating a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

It is the hope of the Permanent Missions of China, the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran that this letter will be duly circulated to all IAEA Member States by the Secretariat as an INFCIRC document.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.

7129**9417

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Iran ready for diplomatic engagement with US based on equal footing, mutual respect: Araghchi

Iran Press TV

Saturday, 25 October 2025 5:21 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is ready to engage in diplomacy with the United States to reach "a wise solution" to the nuclear issue based on equal footing and mutual respect.

"Iran has repeatedly announced that it has never abandoned and will never reject diplomacy," Araghchi said in an interview with an online channel published on Saturday.

He added that Iran is now ready for diplomatic engagement with the US "if the Americans are willing to negotiate seriously and genuinely for a mutually beneficial agreement, not a one-sided one, and based on mutual respect and from an equal footing."

"We will not compromise on the rights of the Iranian people and will not tolerate domination and bullying over the Iranian people; however, we are ready for any wise solution," Araghchi emphasized.

He reiterated that Iran does not need nuclear weapons, saying the country's "ability to say no to the powers" was its "atomic bomb", which he said has been the case since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

"The problem between Iran and the US is the hegemonic nature of the other side, but we can manage the relations," the top Iranian diplomat emphasized.

He said Tehran had been engaged in talks with Washington about its nuclear energy program to build confidence and give assurances that there was no deviation in it when Iran came under attack in June.

He added that the two sides had held five rounds of negotiations and were planning to hold the sixth round on June 15, but the Israeli regime started its war of aggression suddenly two nights before that.

The foreign minister emphasized that Iran's resistance during the 12 days of the Israeli-American war was a "turning point" in history.

"It was an important principle for us that this war should not set a precedent for dealing with Iran. The whole world must understand that Iranians do not remain silent in the face of oppression, pressure, and war, but rather resist," Araghchi pointed out.

During the 12-day war, he said, Iranians proved that they would never give up their rights and flee from war but would stand firm and resist.

He stressed the importance of maintaining the country's preparedness, adding that this "does not mean a new war is likely."

"Preparedness is the most important factor in preventing war. I am confident that this experience will not be repeated, and if they make a mistake, they will face a similar response," the foreign minister said.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces targeted strategic sites across the occupied territories as well as the al-Udeid air base in Qatar, the largest American military base in West Asia.

On June 24, Iran, through its successful retaliatory operations against both the Israeli regime and the US, managed to impose a halt to the illegal assault.

Iran wants enrichment as its right

Elsewhere in the interview, Araghchi reaffirmed Iran's "completely peaceful and legal" nuclear energy program, saying Tehran has no intention to build bombs or nuclear weapons.

"We want enrichment because it is our right, while others say we should not have it. Our security doctrine does not include nuclear weapons at all for different reasons," he added.

He noted that the Iranian nation is ready to pay a heavy price but will not allow its dignity, honor, and independence to be disrupted.

The foreign minister criticized the US for setting preconditions for sitting down to talks with Iran, saying, "This method is a dictate and we will never accept it. This is the characteristic of the Iranian nation which have always stood for their independence and dignity."

He added that a major part of Iran's "serious" disagreements with the US stems from the US hegemony.

"If the US sets aside its hegemonic nature toward Iran, we can interact... The Iranian nation does not respond to the language of bullying, pressure, and sanctions but will respond to the language of respect."

"If you speak and act with dignity toward the Iranian nation, you will receive a similar response," Araghchi told the US.

He said Iran had no positive experience with the US and does not trust it, "but even without trust, we can interact cautiously."

"We did this, but we did not receive a positive response. This is the nature of the Americans. Now, there is no positive ground for interaction," he concluded.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

October 25, 2025

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continuing discussions on our collective effort to implement President Trump's Comprehensive Plan to End the Conflict in Gaza. During the call, Secretary Rubio and Prime Minister Netanyahu affirmed the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to the Press

US Department of State

Remarks to the Press

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

En Route to Doha, Qatar

October 25, 2025

QUESTION: I know you're meeting your Indian counterpart on Monday. (Inaudible) in terms of (inaudible)?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Am I going to raise that issue?

QUESTION: Do you think - do you think that they'll (inaudible) the sanctions on their companies? Do you think that's going to get the response (inaudible) 

SECRETARY RUBIO: We're still talking. I mean, we've got broader trade issues that we're working on as well, so - but they'll always be our allies and friends. We're just working through some - but I think (inaudible).

QUESTION: (Inaudible) have expressed concern about Pakistan and the greater relationship, stronger relationship between the U.S. and Pakistan (inaudible). (Inaudible) Pakistani (inaudible). And is this something that (inaudible)? Is it something that the Indians raise as a concern?

SECRETARY RUBIO: They really haven't - I mean, we know they're concerned for obvious reasons because of the tensions that have existed between Pakistan and India historically. But, I think they have to understand we have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and I think we've made - that's our job, is to try to figure out how many countries we can find how we can work with on things of common interest. So, I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. Look, they have some relationships with countries that we don't have relationships with. So, it's part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy. I don't think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important.

QUESTION: I'm wondering what your sort of takeaways were from the visit - like, the meeting with Netanyahu. You're pretty confident that they're going to - the ceasefire is going to hold, like for now at least?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, this is part of this.

QUESTION: Yeah.

SECRETARY RUBIO: I think every night brings a new challenge. You're talking about on the other side of that line is an organization that has dedicated itself to not just killing Israelis and murdering Israelis, but the destruction of the Jewish state. On the other side of that red line you're dealing with hundreds of thousands of civilians that have just gone through two years of very difficult circumstances. So, there's a reason why this hasn't happened before: because it's hard. And every night will bring new challenges on how to keep it together. So we recognize that, but we also feel like we've made tremendous progress in the last 12 or 13 days.

This is not unique to this ceasefire. I mean, it - you've seen it in others. I remember in the early hours and days after India and Pakistan stopped fighting, there were skirmishes. With Cambodia and Thailand, we're still experiencing that. We're still experiencing challenges with DRC and Rwanda. And none of those were as complicated as this.

So, we recognize that every night you're dealing with a situation that's going to require constant maintenance, and there'll be challenges and struggles. Every day brings some unexpected challenge, but also brings some unexpected hope that we'll be able to make some progress. We recognize this is not going to be easy. That's why I was here. That's why the Vice President came. That's why I believe General Cain will be here next week. And that's why I - we - I just spoke to the prime minister again a few minutes ago.

QUESTION: On the phone?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yes. Yeah, he's not on the plane. (Laughter.) That would be a story. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: You're meeting the Qataris, or you're - with the President?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, we're doing it at the refuel stop. The President will be meeting with them; I'll be part of that.

QUESTION: All right. That's just sort of convenient because we're going through, or is there something -

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. I mean, we're going to be there, so - and I think it was at their initiative, and I'm sure the President is happy to see them, and it'll be important. We'll talk about all of this, and other things.

QUESTION: So talking about, like, the ceasefire monitoring and stuff, do you have, like, a direct sort of deconfliction channel with Hamas? I'm imaging that a lot of these incidents that are happening, you've got PIJ, other gangs and things who might be coming across the Israelis and having clashes.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, so there is a - part of this effort is there is a sort of a cell that's been created among the multiple mediators, as well as us and the Israelis, where information flows in about a possible imminent threat. You saw that last weekend, where it looked like there might be an action that took place. It went through the cell. We put out a message through State Department, sent it to our mediators as well, about an impending attack, and it didn't happen.

So that's the goal here, is ultimately to identify a threat before it happens, work through the mediators to keep it from happening, and that - we've seen the instances drop off. Now, that may spike up again. We're not being cavalier about it. But that's the goal as we get through all of this. Ultimately, you're going to have a stabilization force that will be standing on that line that will help address some of this, but we're not at that stage, so right now it's just about keeping this alive. And it's a nightly task.

QUESTION: And is Hamas, like, sending messages like, "This wasn't us" for some of those clashes, for example?

SECRETARY RUBIO: The mediators, they'll argue that - I mean, in some cases they'll argue that it wasn't them. One of the arguments they made last week is that these were people in tunnels that didn't know the war was over. Obviously, that's - I think at this point everyone knows that now, so that's not - so you'll get some of that. There are still thousands of people on the other side of that line with weapons in their hands, and that's why this is an ongoing nightly challenge.

QUESTION: Insofar as helping with the CMCC, which countries - has Qatar contributed in terms of troops, in terms of 

SECRETARY RUBIO: We're not giving - in terms of the stabilization force?

QUESTION: Yeah.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we've had a lot of countries that have expressed an interest, and I think they'd want to know what's the mandate, what's the mission, what are the rules of engagement, what is this force supposed to do. All of that's being worked on. At some point I think we'll have to have an - come very soon, we'll have to have an international mission around it, whether it's an international agreement through the UN. Many of the countries that have expressed interest in participating at some level, be it money or personnel or both, are going to need that because their own domestic laws require it. So, we have a whole team just working on that outline of it.

But a lot of countries have expressed interest. Of course, I think they want to know what it is they're signing up for, and which is a very reasonable thing. So, we're working through that. We have a whole team working through that right now.

QUESTION: And it's not possible yet to say which countries are signed up?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I wouldn't do that yet. Because in some cases some of these countries haven't even socialized that in their own internal systems. But we're very pleased with the number of countries that have expressed an interest in being involved. Obviously, they want to know more details about it.

QUESTION: To go back for a moment to what we were speaking about earlier on the topic of India and your meeting with your counterpart, do you think that in order to get a broader trade deal with the U.S., India will be willing to really shove off its purchases of Russian oil?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think India has already expressed an interest in diversifying their oil portfolio and who they buy from. And, so, India only needs so much oil. So, if they diversified their portfolio, the more they buy it from us, the more they'll buy it from someone else. But I wouldn't prejudge or - I'm not negotiating trade deals, so I'm not going to speak on that because - but I know they've already expressed a desire to diversify their oil portfolio, even before all of this came up. So, obviously the more we sell them, the less they'll buy from someone else. And, but, we'll see where we wind up on all that.

QUESTION: With Colombia, we saw obviously the sanctions announced yesterday, the sanctions on President Petro and his family and one of his closest advisers. Is there an intentionality in terms of the tariffs - skip the tariffs - the sanctions being individual sanctions versus broad tariffs that would affect the entire Colombian economy?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, because we have an excellent relationship with the people of Colombia and with many of the institutions in Colombia. Some of our strong - and remain some of our strongest partners at the institutional level are Colombian security forces, many Colombian political figures. In fact, 72 hours ago the Colombian senate I believe voted overwhelmingly to designate the regime in Venezuela as a cartel and a narco-terror organization.

So the politics of Colombia are not actually reflected by the current president. And so our problem with the current president, in addition to his behavior, which has been erratic and counterproductive, is that in fact he is not cooperating on our counter-drug, and we felt that was best addressed at the individual level. And not to mention the guy standing in New York City with a bullhorn asking National Guard troops to disobey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief - completely unacceptable behavior on his part. And he has said things that are really outrageous the last few days.

But we separate that from our excellent relations with which - Petro will come and go as president. Our relationships with the people of Colombia, the economic sector of Colombia, the majority of people in politics in Colombia, and their institutions, in particular their defense institutions, are strong and enduring, and they're going to be strong and enduring long after this individual is no longer the president there.

QUESTION: I'm wondering if you - I'm also married to a Colombian, like you, so it's a personal interest. But I'm wondering - like, Petro is not very popular, as you're saying. They've got elections coming up next year. Like, are you concerned that potentially kind of turning this into a U.S.-versus-Colombia thing can actually strengthen him? I think with Lula we've seen like a little bit more - he's got a bump in popularity from, like, facing off against the President.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, this is not a U.S.-versus-Colombia thing. This is a - this is us reacting to the actions of what's turned into a hostile foreign leader. But we separate that from - that's why you don't see tariff action. That's why we don't want to harm the Colombian economy, because the Colombian economy is heavily reliant on the United States and is largely made up of people - everyday Colombians, individuals - who love the United States and like doing business with the United States. Why are we going to punish them for the actions of a leader that's not reflective of what we know that country is all about?

QUESTION: Can you rule out tariffs, then, as an answer, as a response?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I don't make tariff decisions, the President does. But obviously the President was aware of the options available to him and chose these instead.

QUESTION: And also in terms of - I know the President has tasked you in particular with Brazil on the trade issue, which I know broadly is not one that you are in charge of, but with Brazil, given the tariffs, where do you think that stands in terms of the possibility 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, we'll meet with them. The President will meet with Lula for - he'll interact with him at - I believe in South Korea, if I'm not mistaken, or maybe it's in Malaysia. But he'll be interacting with him over the next few days. They had a very positive phone call a few days ago. I met with the foreign minister about a week ago.

Look, Brazil is a big, important country. We think that long term it's beneficial to Brazil to make us their partner of choice in trade instead of China - because of geography, because of culture, because of an alignment in so many ways. We obviously have some issues with Brazil, particularly how they've treated some of their judges, have been treating the digital sector in the United States, the individuals located in the United States through social media posts. We'll have to work through those as well. That's become entangled in all of this.

But the President is going to explore whether there's ways to get through all of that, because we think it'll be beneficial to do it. It's going to take some time.

QUESTION: Would you say the 

QUESTION: When you say an interaction with President Lula, do you mean in sort of a bilateral meeting or 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, I think they'll be meeting. It 

QUESTION: I think it's in Malaysia. That's what I heard.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, that's where he'll be - they'll be meeting. They'll be seeing each other. They saw each other briefly at the UN. They had a very good phone call about two weeks ago - a productive call. But these things - they're a big, big economy, so it'll take time to work through some of these issues on the trade front.

QUESTION: Just to come back to Gaza, where you sort of - obviously you have, like, the yellow line, and there's this kind of Israeli-controlled zone there. Do you imagine that line remaining, like under the - there's going to be the international force. Will that eventually operate on the other side of the line? But the Israelis are, like, going to stay up till where this yellow line is?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I think ultimately the point of the stabilization force is to move that line until it covers hopefully all of Gaza, meaning all of Gaza will be demilitarized. What you call the green area behind - we call the green area, which is the area behind the Israeli line, that's a demilitarized zone. That is a place where there is no Hamas or there isn't going to be any terrorism, where expanded humanitarian aid is already flowing, and where hopefully reconstruction efforts will begin very soon. That could be the future for all of Gaza.

So ultimately the more of Gaza is demilitarized, the more of Gaza is - terrorism is removed from, the more that it's going to look like that green zone, and that line will move as a result of it. That's the long-term plan. Ideally, is for all of Gaza to look the way - that way. But that's going to take some time, but that's the goal of the stabilization force, is to be able to stabilize the situation and for Hamas to live up to the commitment they made. They made a commitment to demilitarize. That's part of this deal; they have to keep it. If they don't keep it, then the area that they're in will never really see the benefits of the deal.

QUESTION: A key part of that must also be the Israelis withdrawing from that area, right? Like, the 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. I mean, ultimately the Israelis - the Israelis have made abundantly clear they have no interest in occupying Gaza, they have no interest in governing Gaza.

QUESTION: Some Israelis want to have - return settlements to some of those areas, right? Are you going to 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, there may be elements in Israel that make that argument, but that's not -

QUESTION: You would be opposed to it?

SECRETARY RUBIO: This deal was struck with an Israeli Government that made clear that they have no interest in governing Gaza. What they have an interest in is a Gaza that's demilitarized and no longer poses a security threat to Israel. That's what they're interested in. That's what the goal of this plan is.

QUESTION: And that's Gaza, but its old borders, like the Gaza that you see on maps where - because the Israelis at the moment have kind of - they're controlling more and more into - into what we see as the Gaza Strip, right? So 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, their military forces are involved in securing that area because they don't want that area to pose as a launching pad for attacks or threats against Israel. But this deal does not contemplate them governing Gaza, and I think they - from everything we've ever picked up on in our conversations, they would love to get out of there as soon as they possibly can, but they can't do it at the expense of their security. But hopefully, as more and more areas of Gaza become demilitarized, the tunnel system is destroyed - possibly - normal life is restored for people, and Hamas is no longer part of the mix, then I think that's the ideal line. But that's - obviously there will be areas that are going to take longer, like Gaza City.

QUESTION: Your visit to Israel this week seems like it came together quite quickly. Last week it seemed like there was a - at one point there had been a thought to go to Budapest, and then there was the decision to go to Israel instead. Was there anything that made you decide that it was important to go so quickly off the Vice President's visit?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I mean, it wasn't timed after the Vice President's visit. It was timed after the fact that if I didn't go this weekend, I'm not going to be able to get back there for quite a while, and so much was happening in the short term. We have State Department people going every day in that. We need that - the civilian-military center has just been stood up. I think it required us to be able to pop in and see how it was working, identify the challenges that we're facing - and there are challenges - so that we can address it and we can make sure it's staffed up appropriately on the civilian side.

So we wanted to come. And if I didn't come now - because I'm on this trip in Asia, and then we have Orban the following week coming to Washington, I may not even be able to get over there until the second week in November, and I didn't think I could wait that long to get here. So, I'm glad the Vice President came in the early half of the week, and then I was able to come in the back end of the week. And even from his visit to mine, just in that two-day gap, we saw progress - things he identified and we were able to address and achieve progress.

So, look, this has never been done before. I can't say that this center is supposed to look like this, something that's occurred before. This is a brand new thing. And so, we're learning as we go, but I think we're making really good progress.

QUESTION: You mentioned a couple of times trying to get a UN resolution, right? Do you see 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Potentially that would be the route we go, yeah.

QUESTION: Like through the Security Council that would be?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Right, right.

QUESTION: Is there, like - do you think you can get the votes for that?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, anyone who votes against that is voting against the peace plan. I mean, we had - if we can get all the countries in the region to say this is a good idea, we want to do this, why would anyone object to that unless they want to see another war? The alternative to making this work is go back to war, which everyone was telling us they wanted to end. So I can't imagine why anybody would object to it. And that may be the route we go, but we'll need something internationalized because many of the countries that want to be a part of this can't do it without that.

QUESTION: Like the mission in Haiti has a UN element, right? There's a 

SECRETARY RUBIO: We just passed a Haiti resolution on a gang suppression force, and which we needed for countries to be able to participate in.

QUESTION: Right. There's different levels 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Another tough one, no?

QUESTION: But the UN is kind of - you say it's, like, under consideration, so it depends on how the regional - like the Arab countries who are going to contribute to the force kind of 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. I mean, that's the info we're getting right now. I mean, we'll discuss it now when we see the Qataris. Jared has been talking about it with them as well, with the Emiratis, the Turks, the Egyptians. The Israelis will be in this force. We've talked to multiple - and other countries that have expressed an interest in potentially being a part of this, like Indonesia or Azerbaijan.

But they've inquired. They want to know what is it that you're working on, maybe we'll be interested in participating, we need to know more. So we're taking all of that input and obviously take that into account in reconstruction, whatever we do.

QUESTION: If I could ask one more South Asia question. They're speaking about 

SECRETARY RUBIO: This guy is obsessed with South Asia. (Laughter.) Go ahead.

QUESTION: It's a huge, huge interest for us in terms of India, in terms of its demographics, economy.

SECRETARY RUBIO: He's got his APEC shirt on. Look. (Laughter.) Go ahead.

QUESTION: This is actually my guayabera from Yucatan. But - so I wanted to ask you about the relationship with Pakistan. It seems like it's been so strengthened this year. Was that based on their recognition of the U.S. role and the President's role in resolving and in avoiding potential war between India and Pakistan? And what do you think was the turning point to 

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I think they appreciated - anytime you work with someone, you get to know them and you interact with them, and so I do think there was some sense of happiness about it. But even before that conflict had started, I had already reached out to them and said look, we are interested in rebuilding an alliance, a strategic partnership with you. We think there are things we can work together with them on.

Look, we're fully aware of the challenges with regards to India and everything else, but our job is to try to create opportunities for partnerships with countries where it's possible. And we've had a long history of partnering with Pakistan on counterterror and things of that nature. We'd like to expand it beyond that, if possible, and understanding that there'll be some difficulties and some challenges. But I think it's a very encouraging thing that that relationship has strengthened the way that it has, and I don't think it comes at the expenses or instead of a good relationship with India, or anybody else for that matter.

QUESTION: Since we're going to ASEAN, is there anything particular about the Regional Forum? Another interest of mine - I used to live in Myanmar, so I'm kind of interested in what the approach is going to be.

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, they'll be there, you know.

QUESTION: Are they - I thought that 

SECRETARY RUBIO: The 

QUESTION: The general's not coming, but 

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, they'll send a representative (inaudible).

QUESTION: So a military representative of 

SECRETARY RUBIO: We think ASEAN - and we've said this, and I said this when I went to the ministers meeting - is the preeminent forum in which we want to engage with this region. The Philippines will chair it next year. I think Malaysia has done a good job of chairing it this year. We used that chairmanship where we were able to work with that chairmanship to de-escalate and ultimately end the Cambodia-Thailand conflict, and in fact we're hopeful that something will be signed here. I know there was a royal family death.

QUESTION: The Queen Mother, yeah.

SECRETARY RUBIO: The mother had passed, so they've asked us to move up the timing on that. So, we think it's a very important forum, one that we want to give attention to, and one that sometimes American presidents don't go to. So one of the things we often hear from people in the Indo-Pacific is, "Is the U.S. truly committed to the region?" And I think our presence here - my presence a couple months ago, and now the President coming, not just there, but ultimately to APEC - is a testament to that.

QUESTION: There's been some anxiety when we hear from officials in Taiwan looking ahead at the bilateral between President Xi and Trump that somehow Taiwan could become a negotiating or bargaining chip in terms of reaching a broader agreement. Is that valid concern?

SECRETARY RUBIO: No, I don't - I mean, I don't understand why there would be concern. Taiwan has a lot of things that they're - that they're worried about, and rightfully so because of the situation they find themselves in. But the conversations the President's had have largely - in addition to the necessity for the U.S. and China to remain diplomatically engaged with one another because of the size and importance of our countries, is on the trade front. And I don't think you're going to see some trade deal where - what people are worried about is we're going to get some trade deal where we're going to get favorable treatment on trade in exchange for walking away from Taiwan. That - no one is contemplating that.

QUESTION: Just coming back to the ASEAN. One of the dynamics has been that some of the ASEAN countries are keen on Burma, Myanmar - some of the ASAEN countries are keen to kind of have a more normal relationship, maybe welcome them back in. Are you guys sort of - is a part of what you do in this summit is, like, pushing back on that and saying it's not time to - it's not time to re-engage with the junta there?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah, well, I think we'd like to see some - we have real concerns about some of the things that they've done and some of the actions they've undertaken. But ultimately that's why this forum is so useful. This is what we'd like to see - some of these issues worked out regionally that we can participate in. We're not a member, but we're there as a partner. And that's why we think investing in this forum with our time, with our attention, is so useful for situations just like the one you (inaudible) with Myanmar.

QUESTION: Is there a sort of a policy towards Myanmar in this administration, or haven't really sort of 

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, see, and I think we're formulating. We'd like - we don't want to do it unilaterally. We'd like to do it with - in conjunction with regional partners. We've certainly been pretty - we've expressed openly our concerns about the junta and their activities. But we also think that this is an opportunity to allow forums such as this to work and to find solutions that we can be a part of, as opposed to dictating answers.

I've got to run and do a phone call.

QUESTION: One more. You've gone around the world. I know how much the Western Hemisphere has been a long-term issue that has - that's been of importance for you. With the conversation with Brazil, do you think there is an opportunity for Lula to play any kind of intermediary role given his historic ties to the government in Venezuela to convince and to persuade Nicolas Maduro that the time has come to step aside?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, even Lula doesn't recognize Maduro as the winner of the election or the legitimate leader of Venezuela. So, I don't know if they can be helpful or not. But I want to - it's interesting. We have deployed U.S. assets and interests all over the planet, but when we do it in our own hemisphere, which is logically where you probably spend most of your time and energy because it's the hemisphere you live in, everyone sort of freaks out.

We are involved in a counterdrug operation. The President has made this very clear. Unfortunately, the regime that governs, but is not the government of Venezuela, is a transshipment organization. They allow cocaine from Colombia and other places to be shipped through national territory - not just with the cooperation, but in many cases, with the participation of elements of this regime. This is why Nicolas Maduro, and others in his regime, were indicted - not indicted by Marco Rubio or President Trump; indicted by the Southern District of New York. And then with subsequent pleadings to add even more information on that.

So this is a very serious problem for the hemisphere and a very destabilizing one, and that has to be addressed. But that's the issue. The issue is we've got a drug cartel operating. Now, it's not just from there. As you've seen, the efforts have expanded to the eastern Pacific as well.

The difference between - with Venezuela and some of these other places is those are cooperative jurisdictions. If you go to the Dominicans, if you go to the Jamaicans, if you go to Trinidad, if you go to Ecuador, increasingly - as we've seen with our partnership with Mexico - they cooperate. They work with you. We have no drug cooperation with the regime in Venezuela, primarily because they're not legitimate and because they're part of it. They're part of the drug operation.

All right. Thank you, guys.

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

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Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), addresses a meeting commemorating the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China, in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING/TAIPEI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday commemorated the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China.

A high-level commemorative meeting was held in Beijing, attended by China's top political advisor Wang Huning.

Addressing about 500 attendees, Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, called on people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together to advance national reunification, and to leave no room for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in any form.

Saturday's meeting was held a day after the national legislature designated Oct. 25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration.

Taiwan was occupied by Japan after Tokyo waged war against China in 1894. The occupation lasted for half a century. On Oct. 25, 1945, a ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in the Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. From then on, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands returned to China's sovereign jurisdiction.

However, the two sides of the Strait have fallen into a special state of protracted political confrontation due to an unresolved civil war dating back to the late 1940s and the meddling of external forces.

Wang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan's restoration to China represented a great triumph and a shared glory of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

The establishment of the commemorative day reflects the Party's steadfast resolve to fulfill its historical mission and achieve complete reunification of the motherland, he said.

Wang stressed that people on both sides of the Strait should shoulder their historical responsibilities in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and realizing national rejuvenation.

Chi Hsing, publisher of The Observer, a magazine in Taiwan, remarked that designating the commemoration day resonates with the shared aspirations of the overwhelming majority of Taiwan compatriots.

She further noted that the move will rekindle shared memories among compatriots across the Taiwan Strait, inspire Taiwan compatriots to bear history in mind, carry forward the patriotic tradition, and strive for national reunification and rejuvenation.

On the other side of the Strait, a series of public commemorative activities was held on Saturday. In Taipei, despite autumn drizzle, people gathered at a downtown square to mark the occasion.

"Lanterns and decorations bring delight, victory songs everyone sings, echoing through cities and villages. Taiwan's restoration cannot be forgotten, cannot be forgotten," they sang in chorus, performing a spirited song written in 1946.

"Eighty years ago today, with the defeat of Japanese imperialism, Taiwan ended half a century of colonial rule and returned to the embrace of the motherland," said Wang Chuan-ping, vice chairperson of Taiwan's Labor Party. "This historic moment remains a shared memory for people across the Strait."

Lan Bo-chow, a well-known writer, said the establishment of the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration on the mainland enriches the significance of this year's observance.

Lan underlined the need to restore historical facts that have been distorted by some politicians in Taiwan, and present the truth to the public, thereby helping more people gain a clearer understanding of the direction for cross-Strait relations. 
Trump says he will discuss Taiwan with Xi at APEC

ROC Central News Agency

10/25/2025 04:33 PM

Washington, Oct. 24 (CNA) U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he will bring up the Taiwan issue with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping () during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in South Korea next week.

"I will be talking about Taiwan [with Xi]," Trump told reporters before he departed for his trip to Asia on Friday. The president also expressed "a lot of respect for Taiwan."

"We have a lot to talk about with President Xi, and he has a lot to talk about with us. I think we'll have a good meeting," Trump said.

Taiwan has long been a thorny issue between the United States and China. China has never relinquished the use of force for the unification of Taiwan, while Taipei has forged closer military ties with the U.S.

According to the White House, Trump will meet with Xi on the sidelines of the APEC in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30 local time.

On Wednesday, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung () told lawmakers in Taipei that the U.S. has assured Taiwan that its interests will not be harmed when Trump meets with Xi at the APEC.

"The U.S. side has repeatedly told us that it remains steadfast in its support for Taiwan and that its exchanges with China will not harm Taiwan's interests," Lin said during a legislative session.

Reuters reported that Trump will likely raise the issue of releasing Jimmy Lai (), the imprisoned founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy Hong Kong-based newspaper Apple Daily.

"It's on my list. I'm going to ask ... We'll see what happens," Trump told reporters, according to the Reuters report.

The White House said Trump would kick off a five-day trip to Asia from Friday, visiting Malaysia and Japan before arriving in South Korea.

It is Trump's first trip to Asia since he was sworn in January, and it will be the first time for him to sit down with Xi during his second term at the White House, which has drawn much of a global political spotlight.

Asked by reporters on Air Force One why he previously said China would not make any move on Taiwan, Trump said it would be very dangerous for them to do so.

"I hope they won't. We'll have to see," Trump said. "Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. I hope they won't. I think it would be very dangerous for them to do."

(By Elaine Hou, Joseph Yeh and Frances Huang)

Enditem/ASG

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China's 'unification benefits' hold no appeal for Taiwanese: MAC

ROC Central News Agency

10/25/2025 10:44 PM

Taipei, Oct. 25 (CNA) Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Saturday that the "benefits after unification" touted by Chinese authorities at a Beijing event marking "the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China" hold no appeal for the people of Taiwan.

"The crux of cross-strait relations lies in systemic differences, and the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) so-called 'benefits after unification' hold no appeal for the people of Taiwan," the MAC said in a news statement issued Saturday afternoon.

As Taiwan's top agency for cross-strait affairs, the MAC said Chinese authorities are attempting to unilaterally map out a blueprint for unification and tout its benefits in order to "entice unification."

"We believe the essence of cross-strait relations is a contest of systems, where democracy and authoritarianism cannot be reconciled," the council added.

MAC's statement came after Chinese authorities held a gathering in Beijing to commemorate "the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration to China" on Oct. 25, which the Taiwanese side refers to as "Taiwan Retrocession Day."

To the Republic of China (ROC) government, "Taiwan Retrocession Day" commemorates the transfer of control of Taiwan proper and the Penghu Islands from Japan to the ROC on Oct. 25, 1945, after 50 years of Japanese colonial rule.

That transfer date was nearly four years before the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on Oct. 1, 1949.

A number of highest-ranking CCP officials attended the Beijing event, including Wang Huning (), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi ().

In his remarks, Wang Huning said that after "peaceful unification," Taiwan would have the backing of a "powerful motherland" and that seven areas in Taiwan would "be better," according to a report by the Chinese-language newspaper United Daily News.

Those areas, the report said, include economic development, energy and resource security, and security guarantees.

Wang Huning also said that designating Oct. 25 as "Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration" -- a designation announced Friday -- can consolidates the international community's adherence to "the broad consensus that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China."

Despite the ROC government's relocation to Taipei in late 1949 at the end of the Chinese Civil War, Taiwan and the outlying islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu remain under ROC control to date and have never been ruled by the PRC.

As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the ROC and the PRC have clashed multiple times this year over who led in the Second Sino-Japanese War and over commemorations such as Sept. 3 Victory over Japan Day and Oct. 25 Taiwan Retrocession Day.

On Oct. 17, MAC head Chiu Chui-cheng (), said in a video statement that Chinese authorities have "fabricated the false narrative that Taiwan belongs to the PRC" in recent years -- an attempt, he said, "to eliminate the ROC and annex Taiwan."

Describing Beijing's events marking Taiwan Retrocession Day as "united front activities," Chiu said the Taiwanese government has banned public officials at the central and local levels, as well as faculty and staff at schools at all levels, from attending those events organized by Chinese authorities.

(By Sunny Lai)

Enditem/ASG

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/10/25

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Oct. 24 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Oct. 25 (Sat.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

9 sorties of PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 9 out of 9 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1141025_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window]

1141025_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window]

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Introductory remarks by the President of the Republic during the videoconference meeting of the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine.

Elysee - President of France

24 October 2025 - Check against delivery

Thank you, Keir. Thank you very much. Hello, Volodymyr. Hello, dear colleagues. I'm here in Paris with Luc and happy to be with all of you. Let me welcome the new Prime Minister of Japan. Welcome to our club and this is a great news to have you. Congratulations.

Keir, you perfectly frame our discussion. I just want to add three remarks. The first, very clearly, this coalition is a coalition for peace and no doubt and Volodymyr constantly reiterated his availability for peace. We built this coalition precisely to achieve a just, robust and lasting peace and neither a surrender nor precisely a permanent conflict. This is where Russia is the opposite, the one to have launched this illegal and unjustified war until now, to have refused any negotiations.

Second, it's very important to follow up our effort on support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia. Regarding the support to Ukraine, I totally agree with all the points you made. We will deliver in the weeks to come on additional efforts and financing. We had a very long discussion at the European Council yesterday. We will make progress in the weeks to come. Probably Ursula and Antonio will revert on that, but I'm confident that we will finalize our discussions. We all share the same objectives, meaning giving visibility and providing financing for Ukraine.

In parallel, we also need to continue to step up our military support to Ukraine, air defense capacities, long range capabilities, drones and the anti-drone system. I want to confirm, Volodymyr, that we will deliver in the days to come additional Aster missiles, new training programs and new Mirage. And we will, with some other colleagues, confirm some additional initiatives. But we have to focus on this top priority. In the face of the intensity of Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructures, we also need to keep supporting Ukraine's energy resilience with all existing instruments. It's very important for the weeks to come.

In parallel, we have to continue to step up our pressure on Russia. The sanctions and the American sanctions, as Keir mentions them, are clearly a turning point and they are perfectly synchronized with the 19th package of the Europeans for the very first time. And the efficiency, normally, of these sanctions should clearly impact the financing of the war effort in Russia. And we have to follow up. We must now work on the 20th package to continue to raise the cost for Moscow and engage with all our colleagues, which sometimes help to circumvent these sanctions and clearly follow very carefully oil and gas as the key points to be sanctioned.

In parallel, we have already achieved a lot to address the Russian Shadow fleet. And this is a perfect complement to the sanctions. Together with UK, which has played a key role from the very beginning on this critical issue, we have put forward at the meeting convened by our CHODs (Chiefs of Defense) 10 days ago, what we called together the Clean Seas Initiative, more than 33 CHODs were present in order to further enhance our cooperation. I want to thank you, Mark, because there is a great coordination with MARCOM for Atlantic Sea. We have a broader initiative because this is northern, western and southern front, where we clearly address the threat of the Shadow fleet. I ask you, colleagues, to appoint one point of contact by nation in order to share intelligence, to share best practice and to follow very concretely this action which is being delivered. But we are increasing our efficiency.

My third remark is to follow up as well our effort to decline our contribution precisely to build this just and lasting settlement to the war. This is about regeneration and long-term effort for the day after a ceasefire in Ukraine. Together we have defined a strategy to support Ukraine's future security so that it can deter and defend itself against a future attack. I want to thank once again all the CHODs for the great work. It's very important to follow up our effort to follow up the planification and to continue the work to engage with the US.

I think it's very important as well to have EUMAM completely involved for regeneration efforts. We also have plans in place to deploy a multinational force Ukraine once hostilities have ceased with a view to help secure Ukraine's skies and seas and regenerate Ukraine's armed forces with the support and input of 25 participating countries. It's very important to continue this effort with identification and all the precisions we want to get from our US colleagues.

I don't want to be longer. I totally concur with what Keir said and once again thank you very much to all of you and thank you, Volodymyr, to be today in London after your presence in Brussels and I think after the great announcement of the US President during the past few days, this is clearly a new move forward.

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At Least 4 Killed In Russian Strikes On Ukraine

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Current Time October 25, 2025

At least two people were killed and 13 injured in Kyiv overnight after a wave of Russian ballistic missiles triggered powerful explosions and fires across the Ukrainian capital, city military authorities said on October 25.

A kindergarten in the Dniprovskiy district was damaged and large blazes broke out in nonresidential areas of the Desnianskiy and Darnytskiy districts.

Meanwhile, two people were killed in strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities said.

Ukraine's air force said Russia carried out a large overnight mixed strike across the country, launching nine Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Rostov and Kursk regions and 62 attack drones from several directions, including Kursk and Oryol in Russia and Hvardiiske in occupied Crimea.

The military said air defenses downed four missiles and 50 drones while confirming impacts across 11 locations as morning assessments continued.

Elsewhere, Russian outlets claim Ukrainian forces launched several HIMARS rockets at the Belgorod reservoir dam.

Authorities initially said there was no flooding threat to nearby settlements, but Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov later warned that the dam could be destroyed if strikes continue and said officials are "suggesting" that roughly 1,000 residents in atrisk areas should evacuate.

Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment publicly on the specific strike, consistent with Kyiv's general policy of operational ambiguity regarding cross-border attacks

The overnight escalation also intersected with a new diplomatic signal from Moscow.

Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, said he believes the United States, Ukraine, and Russia are "quite close" to a diplomatic solution.

He did not elaborate on why he believes a diplomatic solution is imminent. The public positions of Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key issues, including territory and security guarantees.

Dmitriev is in the United States, and US media reports suggest he will meet with President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, in Miami on October 25.

Plans for a meeting in Budapest on Ukraine were put on hold this week after early signals of a Trump-Putin summit gave way to a reversal in Washington, with the White House saying there were no immediate plans to meet and Trump warning he didn't want a "wasted meeting."

The pause followed preparatory contacts in which Moscow rejected an immediate ceasefire that would freeze current front lines, prompting Washington to pivot toward new sanctions on major Russian oil firms and reinforcing European skepticism about a Budapest format without Kyiv's terms at the center.

Speaking to the press aboard Air Force One on October 25, Trump said that his meeting with Putin could take place once there were grounds to conclude a peace deal.

"I'm not going to be wasting my time," he added, calling the negotiation process with Russia "very disappointing."

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Ukraine's Western backers are ready to take to the next level their efforts to punish Moscow for continuing Europe's deadliest war in decades and force Putin to the negotiating table.

Starmer made the statements following a meeting in London on October 24 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and members of the Coalition of the Willing, a grouping of more than 20 nations helping the embattled country.

"We've been clear today that we must respond. Working with the US, this coalition is determined to go further than ever, to ratchet up the pressure on Putin -- from the battlefield to his war economy -- because that is the only way to change his mind and push him back to the table," Starmer told a press conference following the two-hour meeting.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-missile-ukraine- kyiv-warehouse-fire/33570120.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces inspects Tsentr Group of Forces

25 October 2025 04:45

The Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation General of the Army Valery Gerasimov checked the progress of combat missions carried out by  Tsentr Group's formations of the combined arms and marines operating in Krasnoarmeysk direction of the special military operation zone.

During the inspection at the forward command posts of the combined arms formation, motorised rifle formations, and marine formations, General of the Army Valery Gerasimov received reports from the Commander of the Tsentr Group, commanders of formations, and other officers on the progress of tasks in the area of responsibility.

At the end of the inspection, the Chief of General Staff summed up intermediate results with the command of the Tsentr Group of Forces, noting the progress made in the liberation of the Donetsk People's Republic, and set tasks for further actions.

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Andrii Sybiha: Another Russian strike on critical infrastructure

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

25 October 2025 11:34

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Another Russian air attack on Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure, energy grid, railroad, and ordinary homes in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Sumy, and other regions.

There are killed and injured people. No one in the world wants this war to continue except Russia. Absurdly, this country currently presides over the UN Security Council in October 2025-although its very presence at the UNSC is illegal. Russian terror can and should be stopped.

Thorough collective action. Stronger sanctions pressure. Stronger energy support and defense capabilities for Ukraine. Sufficient long-range strength will allow us to deprive Russia of its means of terrorright at the places of their production and launch".

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Trump: Won't Be 'Wasting My Time' Meeting Putin If Deal Not Likely

By RFE/RL October 26, 2025

US President Donald Trump said he is not going "to be wasting my time" by meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin if the Kremlin leader is not ready to make a deal to end his war on Ukraine.

"You have to know that we're going to make a deal. I'm not going to be wasting my time," Trump told reporters on Air Force One on October 25 during a stop in Doha en route to Asia.

"I've always had a great relationship with Vladimir Putin, but this has been very disappointing. I thought this would have gotten done before peace in the Middle East," he added.

Meanwhile, Reuters quoted a US official and another person familiar with the matter as saying Trump's administration has prepared an additional series of sanctions against Russia's economy that could be imposed if Putin refuses to reach a peace deal.

However, Reuters quoted an unidentified senior US official as saying Trump would prefer to have European nations make the next big move against the Kremlin - either in the form of additional sanctions or tariffs.

The United States sent shockwaves across global energy markets on October 22 when it said it was sanctioning state-controlled Rosneft and privately owned LUKoil -- Russia's two largest oil companies, whose exports go a long way toward filling the Kremlin's coffers used to fund the war.

"These are very big -- against their two big oil companies," Trump said at the White House, describing the sanctions as "tremendous."

A day later, the European Union targeted Rosneft and Gazpromneft, another major oil company that is a subsidiary of state-controlled gas giant Gazprom.

Maria Shagina, a researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Berlin, said the sanctions were the first significant measures taken by the Trump administration against Moscow and reflect frustration with "Russia's stalling tactics" in efforts to end the Ukraine fighting.

Observers are watching closely to gauge reactions by India and China -- the two biggest buyers of Russian oil exports. China is one of Moscow's top allies and trading partners, sourcing much of its Russian energy via Siberian pipelines.

New Delhi has so far resisted US pressure to curtail its use of Russian energy, and Trump has lashed out at India on the issue, imposing punitive tariffs and threatening more actions.

Trump's latest remarks appear to throw cold water over comments by Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, who told CNN on October 24 that he believes the United States, Ukraine, and Russia have made strong progress toward ending the war in Ukraine.

"I believe Russia and the US and Ukraine are actually quite close to a diplomatic solution," Dmitriev said, although he did not explain in detail why he believes a diplomatic solution is close. The public positions of Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on key issues including territory and security guarantees.

Trump spoke to Putin last week and said he planned to meet him in Budapest within the next few weeks. However, Trump later canceled the meeting, although he said it could take place at another time.

Trump Set To Meet Xi In South Korea

Trump is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea on the final day of his regional trip that is expected to focus mainly on trade.

He also plans stops in Malaysia and Japan on the trip.

In the meantime, Ukraine continues to endure nearly nightly attacks by Russian drones and missiles that hit apartment buildings and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other major cities far from the front line.

Asked about an attack this week that hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv, Putin envoy Dmitriev claimed the Russian military is not targeting kindergartens but that the military should be asked about this specific situation.

"I'm not a military guy," he said. "I'm just working to have dialog and make sure that the conflict is ended as soon as possible."

With reporting by Reuters and AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-russia-ukraine- sanctions-asia-trip/33570369.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Beijing, China, Oct. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- China will focus on managing the country's own affairs well, unswervingly promoting high-quality development, unswervingly deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up so as to deal with external uncertainties with its own certainty of high-quality development, winning strategic initiative in fierce international competition, and writing yet another chapter on the miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, opening up new horizons for Chinese modernization, a Chinese official said on Friday.

Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, made the remarks at a press conference on the guiding principles from the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Friday.

Jiang Jinquan, head of the CPC Central Committee Policy Research Office, said at the same press conference, that the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development is the most important outcome of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee held from Monday to Thursday.

The recommendations mark another guiding document in the CPC's history, Jiang said. With precise guiding principles, clear and specific development goals, and pragmatic tasks and measures, the document represents a new mobilization and overall arrangement for advancing Chinese modernization, which will have significant and profound implications for the future of the Party and the country, the official said.

Chinese experts said the 15th Five-Year Plan will not only chart the course for China's development from 2026 and 2030, but also serve as a source of certainty and confidence in a world that is undergoing unprecedented changes at a pivotal crossroads and provide great opportunities for the world through its own high-quality development.

Managing own affairs well

The recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the 15th Five-Year Plan have made building a modernized industrial system and reinforcing the foundations of the real economy a top priority, Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at the conference.

To achieve the target, efforts will be made to upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and expand emerging and future industries, promote the high-quality development of the service sector, and build a modernized infrastructure system, Zheng said.

Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Yin Hejun explained that the recommendations have stated, "We should promote advances in original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, facilitate full integration between technological and industrial innovation, pursue integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and advance the Digital China Initiative."

"We believe that after five more years of dedicated efforts, China's scientific and technological strength will take another major step forward. Scientific and technological innovation will play an even greater role in leading the development of new quality productive forces and promoting China's high-quality growth," Yin said.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) is crucial as the nation works to consolidate its foundations and advance across multiple fronts toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. Thus, it is a critical period for the country to strive for breakthroughs in core technologies and thereby build the country into a sci-tech powerhouse, Li Chang'an, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies under the University of International Business and Economics, said on Friday.

In addition to making significant advancements in high-quality development, the plenum also made an arrangement in a specified chapter of the Communique on promoting high-standard opening-up. This reflects the high importance the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core attaches to opening-up, and sends a strong signal of China's commitment to opening-up and win-win cooperation, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said at the same conference.

Focusing on the service sector, efforts will be made to expand market access and areas of openness from 2026 to 2030. Moreover, the country will expand pilot programs to open up in value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, while increasing openness in the education and cultural sectors in an orderly manner, Wang said.

While uncertainties and unforeseen factors are increasing in the world amid profound changes unseen in a century, globalization remains the trend. By taking the active initiative to promote high-level opening-up, the pledge is a clear demonstration of China's readiness to shoulder its responsibility as a major country and play an exemplary role over the next five years, Zhang Monan, a research fellow of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, told the Global Times on Friday.

One of the important outcomes is that the session deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, sending out the message that the consistency of China's policy and its steady economic growth and development prospect provide valuable certainty to this volatile world, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday.

From the 14th Five-Year Plan to the 15th Five-Year Plan, China has shown its firm resolve and perseverance and spelled out the key to China's good governance. Looking forward, China, a confident and open country, will share opportunities and pursue common development with countries around the world, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Guo said.

Strong CPC leadership

At the session, a call was issued to the whole Party, the entire military, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to rally more closely around the Party Central Committee with Xi at its core, work hard together toward the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization, and continue breaking new ground in the drive to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, according to the communique of the fourth plenum.

The leadership of the CPC is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Amid challenges, the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core is the source of confidence for today's China, Wang Yiwei, professor of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Friday.

With the strong leadership of the CPC, the significant advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the great efforts of the Chinese people pulling together, China is fully capable of achieving its goals during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Wang said.



Source: Global Times:

Company: Global Times

Contact Person: Anna Li

Email: editor@globaltimes.com.cn

Website: https://globaltimes.cn

City: Beijing





Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Grindr Inc.s (NYSE: GRND) board of directors and majority stockholders James Fu Bin Lu and George Raymond Zage, III, for potential breaches of their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with a potential take-private sale of Grindr that would cash out the entire minority stockholder interest.

If you are a current shareholder of Grindr, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc.

Why is Grindr being Investigated?

On October 14, 2025, SEC filings revealed that Lu and Zage were in the process of proposing a transaction to the Company which would take the company private, squeezing out all of the minority stockholders while preserving Lu and Zages personal ownership. Lu and Zage have disclosed that they have secured debt financing for up to $1 billion, so long as the deal is at or above $15 per share.

Despite this being a controller take-private transaction, there is no indication that any final deal will be conditioned on a majority-of-the-minority stockholder vote. While the Company has announced that it has appointed a special committee in connection with the potential transaction, it remains to be seen whether that will be an effective check on the influence of the controlling stockholders.

BFA Law is investigating Grindrs board of directors and the majority stockholders (Zage and Lu) to ascertain whether they have breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders in connection with the contemplated transaction.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc.

What Can You Do?

If you are a current holder of Grindr you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212-789-3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/grindr-inc

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that no positive ground currently exists for interaction with the United States, citing deep distrust after years of negative experiences with Washington, Iranian media reported Saturday.

In an interview with Iranian online channel Sahra TV, Araghchi said "we do not have trust and will not have it" in the United States, pointing to Washington's track record of failing to honor commitments towards Iran over the past 10 years.

Despite Iran's past willingness to "interact with caution," it never received "a positive response" from the U.S. side, Araghchi said.

Still, Iran remains open to diplomacy if the United States abandons its domineering approach and engages in "serious and real negotiations" on equal footing, with a sincere approach based on mutual respect and interests, he added.

In July 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions, including those of the UN. The United States, however, pulled out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

In late August, France, Britain and Germany triggered the "snapback" mechanism, leading to the UN's reimposition of sanctions after the Security Council failed to extend sanctions relief in September.

Iran and the United States were set for a sixth round of nuclear talks when Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on several areas in Iran. On June 22, U.S. forces joined the attacks by bombing the Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.

Over the past months, the United States has repeatedly called on Iran to stop uranium enrichment on its soil and curb its missile program. Iran has rejected both issues as non-negotiable. 
LANDSHUT, Germany, Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The latest release of mediCAD 8 by mediCAD Hectec GmbH marks a new era in intelligent orthopedic and trauma planning. Combining artificial intelligence, automation, and with a completely new user experience, mediCAD 8 transforms how surgeons prepare and evaluate orthopedic and traumatological procedures - making planning faster, more accurate, and more consistent than ever before. The integrated mediCAD AI technology, represents a significant advancement in digital surgical planning, delivering measurable improvements in precision and efficiency.

At the heart of the new release lies mediCAD AI, a framework that uses advanced algorithms to automatically recognize anatomical landmarks and interpret medical images with remarkable precision. The system detects key reference points across the hip, knee, and lower limb, supporting surgeons with data-driven accuracy from the first step of the planning process. Comparative studies show that landmark detection in mediCAD 8 achieves an average deviation of less than two millimeters, ensuring precise alignment and reducing the need for manual corrections frequently required in earlier versions.

The benefits of this automation extend beyond accuracy. In practice, segmentation and implant placement now only take about one minute, compared with two and a half minutes in the previous version, a reduction of roughly sixty percent. Notably, this performance can be achieved even by less experienced users, while version 7 requires expert-level familiarity to reach comparable results. The AI-driven workflow supports the user in providing quick, accurate results, saving human time for medical evaluation.

In addition to landmark recognition, mediCAD 8 automatically detects image parameters such as orientation and scale, displaying only the relevant tools for each case. The systems intelligent logic minimizes setup time and ensures that the appropriate planning modules are immediately available. The new 2D Trauma module introduces advanced features, including anatomy mirroring for comparison with the non-pathological side, integrated segmentation and fracture management with color-coded visualization, user-oriented interface for efficient fracture reduction. Expanded measurement options now cover the entire body, supporting comprehensive trauma analysis. The upcoming 3D Trauma module extends these capabilities into a three-dimensional environment, offering greater spatial understanding and precision.

By combining AI-driven automation, accuracy, and advanced trauma functionality, mediCAD 8 defines a new benchmark for intelligent digital surgery planning - empowering surgeons to plan faster, act with confidence, and enhance patient outcomes.

Email: info@mediCAD.eu, phone number: +49 871 330 203 0

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/47f0bf4d-9432-4b6a-9618-5d60088c29cb
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 suffered losses 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. 26, 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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Washington, D.C., Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States has begun what former CIA and Pentagon advisor Jim Rickards calls a mineral revolt  a strategic effort to end Chinas decades-long dominance over the raw materials that power Americas economy and national defense.

We rely on China for nearly 100% of 20 key minerals, Rickards said. These are critical to everything from NVIDIAs A.I. chips to Elon Musks EVs, robots and satellites  to advanced military weaponry like F-16 fighters and drones  practically every device with an on button.

That dependency, Rickards warns, came to a breaking point when China blocked the export of these critical minerals to the United States  meaning if we dont act  our whole economy could tip into crisis.

Trumps Counter-Strike

According to Rickards, President Trump has moved swiftly to reclaim control of the nations buried wealth.

First  hes pushing to open up all our Federal lands, which hold an estimated $150 trillion in natural resources, Rickards said. With the swipe of his pen, President Trump unlocked up to 250 million acres which were previously off-limits for more than a century.

Rickards added that the President issued an Executive Order which clears the way to mining our portion of trillions of dollars in minerals under the sea  theres an entire continent of wealth under the oceans.

Yes  its finally happening! he said. The President is opening huge deposits, many of which have been off-limits for generations  and not a moment too soon.

The End of Bureaucratic Gridlock

Rickards believes the turning point came when Trumps Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine  it essentially gave so-called government experts kill shot power to stop any mining project they wanted, at any time, for any reason  but all thats over now. For the first time in half a century  we can go get them!

He calls it an historic turning point for America, explaining that Washington is now inviting private enterprise to do what government never could: develop the nations own resource base.

These are public lands, Rickards said. But to unleash all this mineral wealth, the government is turning to investors  Trump is rolling out the red carpet as we speak.

A $150 Trillion Opportunity

In The American Birthright presentation, Rickards quantifies the potential: Trump and his team are pushing for the release of a national endowment worth at least $150 trillion  its enough to pay off the national debt four times over, buy every home in America, and still have trillions left over.

He emphasizes that this is not a government handout but a chance for the average American to become richer than they ever imagined  and a chance for a few little-known companies to become household names in the years ahead.

Rickards compares Trumps initiative to past national transformations: Trump is going to do something on a scale that dwarfs FDR and Social Security  his plan is 93 times bigger.

From Crisis to Control

Rickards frames the mineral revolt as both an economic and strategic necessity. Guess who profits from locking up our vast mineral resources  for decades? CHINA!

He argues that reclaiming those resources is the key to ending foreign dependence and restoring industrial sovereignty.

We know exactly where these minerals are. We know theyre worth trillions of dollars. Now  for the first time in half a century  we can go get them!

About Jim Rickards

Jim Rickards is a former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Treasury. He predicted the 2008 financial crisis, Donald Trumps 2016 victory, and the 2020 pandemic lockdowns months before they occurred. Today, he publishes Strategic Intelligence, a monthly briefing on geopolitics, economics, and national security.
PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As national attention turns to the STATE OF OREGON V. DONALD J. TRUMP case, Naegeli Deposition & Trial one of Americas leading court-reporting and litigation-support firmsemphasizes the critical importance of accuracy and integrity in official court transcripts.



In moments like this, when every word and pause can shape the outcome of a case watched around the world, the integrity of the transcript is everything, said Marsha J. Naegeli, Founder and CEO of Naegeli Deposition & Trial. We are extremely honored to have been chosen by both sides to handle this history-making proceeding. Our reporters and legal-tech teams work around the clock to capture every detail with absolute precisionbecause justice begins with an exact record. We understand the urgency and responsibility that come with this level of national attention, and our team is fully equipped to meet every deadline while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and professionalism.

Naegelis certified court reporters and realtime specialists are currently providing transcription support related to the Oregon proceedings, ensuring that every statement, exhibit, and exchange is documented with clarity and accuracy.

Coverage of the ongoing case can be found on Fox News: https://www.foxnews.com .

For more than 45 years, Naegeli Deposition & Trial has delivered nationwide litigation-support servicesincluding remote depositions, legal videography, transcription, and trial presentationto law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. The firms reputation for reliability, confidentiality, and professionalism has made it a trusted partner in complex, high-stakes legal matters across the United States.

About Naegeli Deposition & Trial

Founded in 1980, Naegeli Deposition & Trial provides comprehensive court-reporting, transcription, and trial-presentation services in all 50 states. With offices in every major metropolitan area, Naegelis mission is to ensure that the truth is preserved with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism in every case.

Learn more at www.naegeliusa.com or visit Marsha J. Naegelis bio at https://www.naegeliusa.com/about .

Media Contact

Country: Portland, Oregon, USA

Media Contact: NAEGELI Deposition & Trial

Company: NAEGELI Deposition & Trial

Email: contact@naegeliusa.com

Phone: (800) 528-3335

Website: https://www.naegeliusa.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/257470d5-f7d7-4b30-a748-53af767144c7
Perth, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SEPTEMBER 2025 QUARTER REPORT

Perseus Minings sustained operational performance grows

cash & bullion balance to US$837 million

PERTH, Western Australia/October 27, 2025/Perseus Mining Limited (Perseus or the Company) (TSX & ASX: PRU) reports on its activities for the three months period ended September 30, 2025 (the Quarter). Below is a summary of the release. The full report is available at www.perseusmining.com, www.sedarplus.ca and www.asx.com.au.

Operating performance

12-month rolling average TRIFR of 0.60 well below industry average.

well below industry average. Gold produced totalled 99,953 ounces at an AISC of US$1,463 per ounce.

at an Average cash margin of US$1,612 per ounce of gold produced, giving notional operating cashflow of US$161 million.

of gold produced, giving Cash and bullion of US$837 million, plus liquid listed securities of US$134 million.

plus liquid CMA Underground development commenced at Yaoure.

Nyanzaga project development progressing to plan with first production planned for March Quarter 2027.

FY26 Outlook

Production and AISC market guidance remains unchanged for the June 2026 Financial Year (FY26) at 400,000 - 440,000 ounces at AISC of US$1,460  1,620 per ounce.

at 400,000 - 440,000 ounces at AISC of US$1,460  1,620 per ounce. Share buyback programme renewed, with up to A$100 million to be invested over a 12-month period.

Corporate

Jeff Quartermaine retired as Perseuss Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on September 30, 2025 with Craig Jones assuming the role on October 1, 25.

Key operating indicators and highlights for the September 2025 quarter (Q1 FY26) include:

PERFORMANCE INDICATOR UNIT MARCH 2025



QUARTER JUNE 2025



QUARTER JUNE 2025



HALF YEAR SEPTEMBER 2025



QUARTER CALENDAR 2025



YEAR TO DATE Gold recovered Ounces 121,605 121,237 242,843 99,953 342,795 Gold poured Ounces 122,915 119,868 242,782 103,566 346,349 Production Cost US$/ounce 977 1,038 1,008 1,152 1,050 All-In Site Cost (AISC) US$/ounce 1,209 1,417 1,313 1,463 1,366 Gold sales Ounces 117,585 131,242 248,826 101,589 350,415 Average sales price US$/ounce 2,462 2,977 2,734 3,075 2,832 Notional Cashflow US$ million 152 189 345 161 503

Competent Person Statement

All production targets referred to in this release are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code.

The information in this report that relates to the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserve was updated by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Mining updates Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves released on 21 August 2025. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning those estimates and the production targets, or the forecast financial information derived therefrom, in that market release continue to apply and have not materially changed.

The Company confirms that the material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Ore Reserves described in Technical Report  Edikan Gold Mine, Ghana dated 6 April 2022, Technical Report  Yaoure Gold Project, Cote dIvoire dated 18 December 2023, Technical Report  Sissingue Gold Project, Cote dIvoire dated 29 May 2015, and Technical Report  Nyanzaga Gold Project, Tanzania dated 10 June 2025 continue to apply.

Meyas Sand Gold Project

The information in this report that relates to the mineral resources and probable reserves of the Meyas Sand Gold Project was first reported by the Company in a market announcement Perseus Enters Into Agreement to Acquire Orca Gold Inc. released on 28 February 2022. The Company confirms it is not in possession of any new information or data relating to those estimates that materially impacts of the reliability of the estimate of the Companys ability to verify the estimate as a mineral resource or ore reserve in accordance with Appendix 5A (JORC Code) and the information in that original market release continues to apply and have not materially changed. These estimates are prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 standards and have not been reported in accordance with the JORC Code. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the resource in accordance with the JORC Code and it is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further exploration work that the estimate will be able to be reported as a mineral resource or ore reserve in accordance with the JORC Code. This release and all technical information regarding Orcas NI 43-101 have been reviewed and approved by Adrian Ralph, a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information:

This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Yaoure Gold Mine, the Edikan Gold Mine and the Sissingue Gold Mine without any major disruption, development of a mine at Nyanzaga, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This market announcement was authorised for release by Mr Craig Jones, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Perseus Mining Limited.

ASX/TSX CODE: PRU



CAPITAL STRUCTURE:



Ordinary shares: 1,351,230,319



Performance rights: 8,554,434



REGISTERED OFFICE:



Level 2



437 Roberts Road



Subiaco WA 6008



Telephone: +61 8 6144 1700



www.perseusmining.com DIRECTORS:



Rick Menell



Non-Executive Chairman



Craig Jones



Managing Director & CEO



Amber Banfield

Non-Executive Director



Elissa Cornelius



Non-Executive Director



Dan Lougher



Non-Executive Director



John McGloin



Non-Executive Director



James Rutherford

Non-Executive Director CONTACTS:



Craig Jones



Managing Director & CEO



craig.jones@perseusmining.com



Stephen Forman



Investor Relations



+61 484 036 681



stephen.forman@perseusmining.com



Nathan Ryan



Media



+61 420 582 887



nathan.ryan@nwrcommunications.com.au

Attachment
BAGHDAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Oil Ministry announced on Sunday that a gas leak and subsequent fire at one of its storage facilities in southern Basra province left one person dead and four others injured.

A statement by the ministry stated that the incident occurred at 09:15 a.m. local time (0615 GMT) in one of the gas systems at the Zubair 1 depot, resulting in a fire within the facility's "old pumping system."

A preliminary investigation revealed that a Basra Oil Company employee was killed and four other workers were injured.

Firefighting teams from the oil sector and the Basra provincial government were immediately dispatched to the site to contain the blaze.

According to the statement, crews have gained "partial control over the fire area," with efforts ongoing to fully extinguish the fire. 
Its been four years since Nothing launched its Ear (1) and the London-based brand is now an established player in the TWS market. Enter the Nothing Ear (3)  its latest flagship wireless earbuds with the now recognizable transparent look and some key improvements.

While Nothing's naming scheme hasn't always been the most consistent, its earbuds have offered impressive hardware paired with a polished software experience. Ear (3) comes in with a more premium build, a dedicated microphone in the case and claims of improved sound output and superior noise cancellation.

Did Nothing deliver a winner with the Ear (3), or is this just a generational update? The short answer is yes, these are arguably the best earbuds from the brand to date, but we'd also take some of the maker's claims with caution. Read on for our full breakdown.

Table of Contents:

Design

The design of Nothing products is pretty much its key selling point. The Ear (1) were unlike any other pair of TWS buds back in 2021 and the Ear (3) aren't going for a major redesign but rather a different choice of materials.

That's mostly visible in the case, which now incorporates a recycled aluminum base layer, which is cool to the touch and adds a more premium feeling than the all-plastic cases of the past.

That premium feel comes at the expense of some heft as the Ear (3) case and buds now weigh 71 grams  10 more than their predecessor. The top and bottom portions of the case and the buds are still made from plastic with the same see-through look as on previous Nothing Ear models.

In terms of fit, the Ear (3) is identical to previous entries from the brand. Provided that you go for the correct silicone tip size for your ears, the buds will stay snug and we had no irritations even after multiple hours of continuous use.

The other noticeable design change on the Ear (3)'s case is the addition of a Talk button, which, combined with the dual microphones and speaker, brings Nothings Super Mic feature.



Nothing Ear (3) Talk button and microphone

The idea is that you can use the case a portable microphone for calls, voice recordings or talk to your voice assistant.

As for the retail package, Nothing is offering its usual box which houses the buds and case, three sets of replacement silicone ear-tips and a short USB-C cable for charging. The buds and their case are IP54-rated for dust and water resistance.

Features

Nothing's flagship earbuds offer a healthy dose of features that are expected in the premium TWS market. These include 12 mm dynamic drivers with a 20 Hz  40 kHz frequency response range and adaptive noise cancellation up to 45dB, just like their predecessor. The new bit with the ANC system is that it now adjusts according to your surroundings at a 600 ms pace.

Ear (3) pair over Bluetooth 5.4 with multi-point pairing and support for Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. These also come with spatial audio, though it does not support head tracking. You get support for the AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs, as well as in-ear detection for automatic play and pause, and a low-latency mode for gaming and video.

Nothing came with its signature pinch controls on the earbuds' stems. You get single, double and triple pinch gestures as well as single and double pinch and hold, which are programmable. Nothing also added 3x directional MEMS microphones in each earbud, alongside a bone-conduction voice pickup unit (VPU) per side.

Nothing Phone users running Nothing OS 3.5 or later have voice recordings automatically uploaded to the Essential Space app. Those recordings are also auto-transcribed, which is neat if you plan to use the buds and their case as a voice recorder.

Nothing Ear (3) are managed via the Nothing X app, which is arguably the best and most feature-rich companion app on the market. It works equally well on Android and iOS and offers a great selection of controls and toggles to help you personalize the earbuds to your liking.

Super Mic

And then we get to the key new addition  Nothing's Super Mic system, which integrates two microphones on the case in the area next to the USB-C charging port. The feature only works if one of the earbuds is inserted in your ear and lets you use the new microphone setup once you press the Talk button located on the corner.

Nothing claims that the dual microphones on its case are powerful enough to isolate and pick up your voice in the noisiest of environments at up to 95dB. The premise is that you can use the case for calls in noisier venues, opt to capture voice notes or talk to your phones virtual assistant. Sadly, the Super Mic system is limited to phone calls, your native voice assistant and native voice recording app.

In our experience, Super Mic delivered noticeably better voice pickup than the microphones on the earbuds. Positioning the microphone close to your mouth works wonders for call quality.

While testing the Ear (3)'s Super Mic feature during calls, I routinely had people on the other end reporting that my voice sounds just as good as when talking via my phones built-in microphone. So, if your current earbuds are always letting you down during calls, then the Ear (3)s case proves to be a powerful way to stay on top of your calls as long as you dont mind taking it out of your pocket.

Sound quality and ANC

Nothing has a long-standing history with over-pronounced bass in its earbuds and the Ear (3) are no expectation. Bass is definitely overpowering, but in a fun and enjoyable way. Theres an instant oomph when you play music, especially noticeable in rap or EDM tracks.

The updated 12mm drivers come with a redesigned diaphragm, which it claims translates to better bass and treble reproduction compared to last years model. They also feature a 20% larger radiating area, which further exaggerates the strong bass feeling.

Overall, the Ear (3) delivers a wider sound stage than its predecessor, and theres less noticeable distortion going on. The new model feels livelier and more energetic than last years Nothing Ear while also offering enhanced clarity in the mids and highs. Instrument separation is also improved.

Nothing's signature Advanced Equalizer tuning is present inside the Nothing X app with a fully customizable 8-band EQ. Ear (3) also gets some additional tweaks with the ability to select specific frequency values for each band and a Q factor, which offers controls for the shape of the equalizer curve and the bandwidth for more granular adjustments.

You can save your custom profile and share it with others, or import ones from the Nothing community, which has plenty of options for different tastes. With the right EQ, the Ear (3) can deliver a more balanced sound stage, though that does take some tweaking, and wed appreciate it if Nothing is able to deliver that experience directly out of the box.

ANC

The adaptive noise cancellation on the Ear (3) is quite good, provided you have the right set of ear tips, though it's not as potent as something like the Sony WF-1000XM5, for example. In my testing, the Ear (3) held their own in the office, drowning out the AC, the water cooler, and keyboard clicks. With music playing in the background and ANC set to high, the Ear (3) helps drown out unwanted noises and makes for a great companion to your daily commute.

Battery life

Nothing claims up to 5.5 hours from the buds themselves with ANC on and an additional 22 hours from the charging case. These numbers extend to 10 hours and 38 hours, respectively, with ANC off. There's a 500 mAh battery inside the case, just like on last year's Nothing Ear, and 55 mAh in each earbud, which is a small upgrade.

In our real-world usage, we got 6.5 hours out of the buds with ANC on and audio playback primarily via the AAC codec. While not class-leading, this endurance is respectable. Listening to audio via the LDAC codec limits playback to 3.5 hours with ANC on and 5.5 hours with ANC off.

The case and buds take about 70 minutes to charge from 0 to 100% and you can also take the wireless route (at 2.5W speeds), though that will take even longer at 120 minutes.

Verdict

Nothing didn't re-invent the wheel with its Ear (3) but it did bring a better sounding pair of buds with improved build quality and a rich feature set befitting a premium product. The seemingly gimmicky Super Mic feature actually led to noticeably better-sounding calls, even if positioning the case near your mouth is not the best solution out there.

If we have to categorize audio coming from the Nothing Ear (3) it's punchy and loud, which will likely appeal to the general audience. If youre not a fan of the default V-shaped tuning, Nothing is offering granular adjustments with its Advanced Equalizer inside the Nothing X companion app.

While ANC is decent, flagship buds from Sony and Apple give you better sound isolation. Battery life is just okay but you can get more if you look elsewhere. At their core, Ear (3) are a great pair of earbuds, and Nothings flashy looks and software polish are proving to be a differentiating factor in the crowded TWS market.

We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
Back in our day, phones used to come with chargers  now youre lucky if you get a cable. The good news is that USB-C and USB charging standards have done away with the compatibility issue of the past (well, mostly), so a few good chargers are all you need.

That means that you have to pick the chargers yourself, though. Here are the ones we use. And yes, you do need multiple  for your home, maybe for work and your car, maybe for travel. We have separated them into groups based on use-case.

Table of Contents:

Wall chargers

These are the simplest kind there is  a wall wart with one or two ports, the kind you used to get in the box. And so, chargers from phone brands are a good place to start.

The Google Pixel Flex Dual Port 67W charger is one of the first with support for Adjustable Voltage Supply, AVS, which is the standard that iPhone 17 phones use. Either port can deliver up to 67W to an AVS device, but it also supports basic USB-PD and the more advanced USB-PPS. Its a Swiss Army knife of a charger and we got one for the office for testing since we expect AVS to gain wider adoption, while PD and PPS are already widespread.

If you are looking for an iPhone charger specifically, Apples 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max is the obvious pick  it can deliver 60W for around 10-15 minutes and then it drops to 40W. The iPhone doesnt need 60W for long, anyway, so this charger goes as fast as the phone can.

Samsung hasnt jumped on the AVS bandwagon, so chargers like the 45W Power Adapter (EP-T4511) only support PD and PPS. This one claims super low standby power  under 5mW is the official rating  so its not wasting electricity when you leave it plugged in. A basic USB charger can burn through 0.1-0.5W just doing nothing and if you leave it plugged in for years (which you are not supposed to do, but its what usually happens), it adds up.

Looking past phone brand chargers, we also got one of these at the office  the Baseus Enercore CJ11 with a retractable USB-C cable. It also has two USB-C ports on board. You can use this at home and grab it for occasional travel  with this one you can be sure that you havent forgotten a USB-C cable. For dedicated travel chargers, look at the section below.

We also have several ACEFAST chargers. The ACEFAST PD65W charger, for example, has three ports  two USB-C and one USB-A for that old cable you still use. The transparent design looks pretty cool, its almost a shame to plug it in an out of the way socket. Use code SKYZRQMI for $20 off.

Some of us are long-time Baseus users and something like the Picogo 100W is a solid pick if you need to charge several devices at once. You can get 67W+12W+12W out of the three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A)  the handy display will show you how much each port is delivering.

Similarly, we have an assortment of Anker chargers too  the Nano series strikes a good balance between size and power. The Anker 735 Nano II 65W can do up to 65W on one of its USB-C ports (up to 22.5W on the USB-A port) and 40W+12W+12W when all three ports are in use.

Laptop chargers

Modern laptops usually support USB-C charging  for some, its the only charging method, others still have barrel plugs (or, if you are looking at MacBooks, a MagSafe port). For laptops, you need a charger that can deliver at least 65W and often a lot more. You can also use these to charge large power banks.

Apple added USB-C charging to MacBooks and iPads before it did for iPhones. So it sells powerful chargers like these, the 96W and the 140W charger. For a MacBook Air, you dont need all that much, but the MacBook Pros will definitely benefit from the extra power. Both chargers have only a single USB-C port, but you can use them to charge other devices while the laptop is not in use or runs on battery.

The 140W Laptop Charger from Anker can do up to 140W on one of its top two USB-C ports  thats enough for all but the most bonkers of gaming laptops. If using all four ports, the charger delivers 65W on the top USB-C port, 45W and 12W on the second and third, respectively, and up to 12W on the sole USB-A port. There is a display that shows the power draw on each port as well as various modes, e.g. High Performance or Cooling Mode.

You can also go all out with the Anker Prime Charger 250W. This one has a total of six USB ports (4x USB-C + 2x USB-A) with the top Type C port delivering up to 140W. However, it can split its power between all available ports  delivering up to 240W/250W with two, three or even all ports in use. It has a 2.26 LCD to show the status (and also a clock, because why not). The dial on the side controls things like port priority, so you can divvy up the power however you need.

The Baseus EnerFill FH11 GaN charger is quite powerful for its price  it can deliver the full 140W to a single laptop or split it for two laptops, each getting 70W. If you use all four ports, the charger outputs 65W+45W+9W+9W.

Car chargers

New cars have at least some USB ports on board  USB-A or USB-C, depending on the age of the car  some even have Qi wireless chargers. But not all cars have such ports and often they are not particularly powerful. Wireless Android Auto can sap away your phones battery surprisingly quickly!

In one of our older cars we use this 90W UGREEN charger. Retractable cables are cool in general, but in a car they are quite important  you dont want dangling wires on your dashboard. And if your passengers need to charge up their devices too, theres a regular USB-C port and a USB-A port on board too. By the way, if 90W sounds like too much, UGREEN also offers a 60W variant.

Naturally, Baseus have car chargers with retractable cables too. The Baseus Ultra-Mini Car Charger offers up to 60W with its 31.5 retractable USB-C cable, which can be split in two with the regular USB-C port.

The Baseus PrimeTrip VR2 Max does up to 163W and has two retractable cables, 31.5 each, plus an extra USB-C and a USB-A port. Theres a 240W variant too, but do check your cars fuses first! 240W is more power than the typical auxiliary power outlet (the cigarette lighter when we were younger) can handle.

Travel chargers

Here we will list adapters that you can take when you travel. These include tiny ones that you can throw in your backpack and not worry about the weight and ones that will keep you charged up almost anywhere in the world.

While USB-C won the DC power war, AC is another matter. The Baseus Encore CG11 is a 70W universal travel adapter, which can plug into wall sockets in 200+ countries around the world. This gives you one universal port that you can plug AC devices into, plus one retractable USB-C cable, one regular USB-C port and two USB-A ports. You can carry a dedicated plug adapter and a separate charger too, of course, but a combo unit like this one takes up less space. We took one on a trip to China and it worked great.

Anker have a similar device, the Anker Nano Travel Adapter. This one can plug into any wall outlet and it gives you one regular US outlet  plus two USB-C and two USB-A ports, of course (no retractable cables here). Note that the built-in USB ports cant deliver much power  at 20W, they can slow-charge a phone, but we wouldnt rely on them for a laptop.

If you are not leaving the country  or going to a country with compatible wall outlets  then wed recommend an Anker Nano 30W or 45W. They are powerful enough to keep your phone charged and you can forget they are in your bag  the 45W adapter weighs 2.11oz/60g (thats only a fraction more than the included cable!) and measures 1.3 x 1.26 x 1.5in/33x32x36.9mm.

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As migratory birds fly south each autumn, Heilongjiang in northeast China serves as a vital stop on their long journey. Its abundant wetlands and farmlands provide a safe haven, while local communities protect these travelers and preserve the balance of nature.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Green Growth Kupu Conservation Corps in Saipan was officially launched last week.

Its a major milestone in the partnership between the University of Guams Guam Green Growth and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Green Growth Initiative.

The regional expansion brings a proven model of environmental workforce development to the CNMI, aiming to train a new generation of leaders for the Pacific green economy, a release from UOG states.

The CNMI Green Growth Kupu Corps is a collaborative effort, facilitated by the University of Guam Center for Island Sustainability and Sea Grant, and is modeled after the highly successful Guam-based G3 Conservation Corps.

According to UOG CIS and Sea Grant Director Austin Shelton the conservation corps programs have already trained over a hundred individuals in various sustainability sectors.

The new CNMI program will build capacity in critical areas across both Guam and the CNMI, emphasizing regional cooperation to address shared environmental challenges.

Youve heard that saying, a rising tide floats all boats. The more of us that are doing this work together, the better it is for all of us. This is one small way that our people, even though were separated by land, were connected by water, said Shelton.

The CNMI Green Growth Initiative is facilitated by the Northern Marianas College, the leading workforce development institution in the CNMI.

NMC President and co-chair of CNMI GG Galvin De Leon Guerrero welcomed the new members to the fold and encouraged them to look for the deeper meaning of the program.

What I love about this program and what I love about CIS and Sea Grant and the Green Growth Initiative is that it really gets at the core of what we do in education and its something that as members of this inaugural cohort I hope you all take to heart, because to me, the point of education is to improve lives, De Leon Guerrero said.

The CNMI GG Kupu Conservation Corps is supported by the long-standing partnership with Kupu Hawaiis Conservation Leadership Development Program, a paid program for early professionals interested in pursuing a career in conservation.

The CLDP aims to prepare participants for careers in the rapidly growing green economy in Hawaii, Guam, the CNMI and across the Pacific.

Cohort member Gabriel Arkoh explained what motivated him to join the corps.

What inspired me to join is honestly being born and raised here you see a lot of our islands, our island needs us, said Arkoh. Being able to be a part of that and creating a better future for everyone, being able to create a better future for those coming up is something that inspires me.

Members are stationed at two host sites on Saipan:

American Memorial Park

 Joan Tomokane

 John Paul Castro

 Isaiah Joel Torre

 David Quitugua

 Gabriel Arkoh

 Myles Techur

Department of Lands and Natural Resources CNMI Forestry

 Kazuki Aguon

 John Kintol

Throughout the workforce development program members receive a stipend and upon completion can also access an educational grant through the AmeriCorps program providing them with both financial and academic support as they transition into full-time environmental work.

Groups interested in hosting a Kupu Conservation Corps member can contact the programs coordinator Annania Nauta-Kemp at annania.kemp@kupuhawaii.org.




Haiti - FLASH : Melissa has become a Cat 4 hurricane





On Sunday, October 26, 2025, in its latest bulletin on Cat 1 Hurricane Melissa https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46068-haiti-flash-melissa-has-become-a-hurricane-2-departments-in-the-red-the-human-toll-is-rising-video.html at 5:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (0900 UTC), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that Melissa has now become a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 220 km/h (minimum central pressure of 944 millibars).



The center of Tropical Storm Melissa was located at 16.3 degrees North latitude and 76.3 degrees West longitude, 487 km southwest of Port-au-Prince. A slow westward movement is expected today, followed by a north and northeastward turn on Monday and Tuesday.



A slow west-northwest to westward movement (7 km/h) is expected this Saturday through Sunday evening. On the forecast track, the center of Melissa is expected to move near or over Jamaica through Tuesday, crossing southeastern Cuba overnight Tuesday, and the southeastern Bahamas on Wednesday, October 29.



A hurricane warning is in effect for the southwest peninsula of Haiti, from the Dominican Republic border to Port-au-Prince. Consequently, the Haitian Hydrometeorological Unit (UHM), in conjunction with the General Directorate of Civil Protection and the Permanent Secretariat for Risk Management, has placed the Sud and Grande Anse departments on red alert. The South-East, Nippes, West, and central plateau departments remain on orange alert.







A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. The warning is typically issued 36 hours before the first anticipated occurrence of tropical storm-force winds, conditions that make outdoor preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect lives and property should be completed.



Melissa is expected to produce heavy rainfall through Tuesday, ranging from 15 inches (38 cm) to 30 inches (76 cm) in parts of southern Hispaniola, with locally higher amounts of up to 35 inches (89 cm) on the Tiburon Peninsula in Haiti.



In Haiti, catastrophic and potentially fatal flash flooding and landslides are expected in southwestern Haiti through midweek, likely causing significant damage to infrastructure and buildings and isolating communities for an extended period. Additional heavy rainfall is likely beyond Wednesday, but uncertainty about Melissa's track and speed reduces confidence in estimating exact additional rainfall amounts.



Satellite imagery indicates that maximum sustained winds have rapidly increased to near 220 km/h (140 mph) with higher gusts. Melissa is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Continued rapid intensification is expected through this evening, followed by fluctuations in intensity. Melissa is expected to make landfall in Jamaica Monday night and in southeastern Cuba late Tuesday. Although winds are temporarily decreasing on the Tiburon Peninsula, they could increase again over much of western Haiti Monday night into Tuesday.



Hurricane-force winds extend up to 35 km from the center of Melissa, and tropical storm-force winds extend up to 280 km from the center.



Swells generated by Melissa are expected to affect portions of the coasts of Hispaniola, Jamaica, eastern Cuba, and the Cayman Islands over the next few days. These swells are likely to cause potentially life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult your local weather office for forecasts.



The Haitian Maritime and Navigation Service (SEMANAH) has prohibited all coastal shipping activities on Haiti's southern coastal area until further notice due to high swells.



Civil Protection Advice :

The Departmental Directorate of Civil Protection calls on the entire population of the affected departments to remain vigilant during this period, as there may be flooding. The Directorate asks the population not to cross any watercourses under any circumstances, not to tie up animals where the water could carry them away, not to stand on hills and bridges to observe flowing water, not to shelter from the rain under trees, not to go barefoot in the rain, and not to touch any electrically conductive objects during a storm. Store your important documents in a safe place to prevent them from getting wet. Remember to keep an eye on people in need of assistance so that they can move if necessary. Remain calm and listen to Civil Protection messages from reliable sources.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46067-haiti-hurricane-melissa-2-departments-on-red-alert.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46053-haiti-flash-melissa-promises-to-be-devastating-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46046-haiti-flash-melissa-risks-becoming-a-hurricane-5-departments-on-orange-alert.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46039-haiti-flash-storm-melissa-threatens-haiti-5-departments-on-yellow-alert.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Ramil Hasan, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA), has held a meeting with Devlet Bahcheli, Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a member of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye, in Ankara, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, Ramil Hasan briefed Devlet Bahcheli on the Assembly's activities, ongoing projects, and plans for future initiatives aimed at enhancing cooperation between member parliaments.

Hasan also emphasized the importance of improving coordination among the Foreign Ministries, the Organization of Turkic States, and the parliaments of Turkic nations, pointing out that these efforts are progressing effectively under Kazakhstan's current chairmanship.

Devlet Bahcheli expressed his full support for initiatives aimed at advancing TURKPA's work and highlighted the importance of these efforts.

The discussions focused on strengthening interparliamentary cooperation and further boosting TURKPA's role as a platform for fostering unity and solidarity within the Turkic world.

Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TURKPA) is an international body founded in 2008 with the aim of enhancing inter-parliamentary collaboration among its member countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkiye.

Its objectives include promoting political dialogue through parliamentary diplomacy, aligning national legislation, and strengthening ties in political, economic, and cultural fields. The Secretariat of TURKPA is based in Baku, Azerbaijan.
SINGAPORE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday that China is ready to work with Singapore and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to make China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 a success and jointly achieve greater development.

Li made the remarks when meeting with Singapore's Acting President Eddie Teo during his official visit to the country. 




Haiti - Canada : High-level visit by the Gang Supression Force





The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) Command welcomed Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, to LSA2 this week. The GSF team, led by Colonel Eldon Morgan, Deputy Commander of the GSF, welcomed Ambassador Rae, the most senior UN diplomat to visit the Force since its transition from Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) to GSF on October 3rd, 2025. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45891-haiti-flash-the-security-council-has-voted-for-the-new-gang-repression-force.html



Rae was accompanied by Andre Francois Giroux, Canadian Ambassador to Haiti, as well as a delegation of senior officers from the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince.



Rae commended the officers for their dedication, professionalism, and sacrifice, reaffirming the United Nations commitment to ensuring that the GSF continues to play a transformative role in restoring stability and addressing gang-related insecurity in Haiti.



He emphasized Canadas commitment to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition from the former MSSM to the new GSF, highlighting that lessons learned and best practices from the previous mission are being integrated into the emerging operational framework. Ambassador Rae reaffirmed Canadas additional $60 million contribution, which includes support for a Regional Maritime Security Initiative aimed at strengthening regional capacity to counter the growing threat of transnational organized crime in Haiti and across the wider Caribbean https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45844-haiti-flash-canada-announces-$60-million-to-support-security-in-haiti.html .



The Ambassador called for patience and continued cooperation, assuring that the UN remains engaged in discussions with Personnel-Contributing countries and expressing optimism that additional GSF personnel will be deployed by April 2026.



As part of his visit, Ambassador Rae met with police and military women serving with the GSF.



The GSF Gender Advisor invited Chief Inspector Veronica Wanjiru (Kenya) to deliver remarks on behalf of the forty-seven GSF women personnel from Kenya (25), Guatemala (19), and Jamaica (3). She highlighted the crucial roles women play in the GSFs operations.



Ambassador Rae also visited a section of the GSF facilities housing the air operations unit led by El Salvador, where he inspected two newly arrived helicopters. He commended this support as a significant boost to the GSFs air mobility and logistical capacity.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Religion : First Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo XIV





Mgr Pierre-Andre Dumas, Bishop of the Diocese of Anse-a-Veau-Miragoane and Vice-President of the Episcopal Conference, currently convalescing in the United States after being attacked by criminal gangs for attempting to pacify his country https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41764-haiti-news-zapping.html , discusses the violence shaking Haiti and the impact of Leo XIV's apostolic exhortation, a bearer of hope and confidence.



The contagious smile of Father Jean Julien Ladouceur, parish priest of Sainte-Claire de Petite Place Cazeau, kidnapped two days ago by one of the most powerful local gangs in the Delmas region, on the outskirts of the capital, Port-au-Prince. And then there is the pain of the many families who saw their loved ones die before their eyes during the ferocious passage of Tropical Storm Melissa, which is currently devastating entire villages and injuring dozens.



If one were to find in Haiti the "incarnation" of Leo XIV's apostolic exhortation on love for the poor, Dilexi te, [a text already implemented by Pope Francis and completed by Leo XIV], one would only have to look these poor people straight in the eye. Like the rest of the population, they have long since had nothing: neither a state, now prey to criminal gangs that constantly kill, steal, and kidnap, nor the hope of seeing the wounds of climate tragedies and earthquakes heal, which seem to follow one another with seemingly perfidious cruelty.



"For us in Haiti, Dilexi te truly represents a prophetic text," comments Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas. After reading the document in one sitting and recognizing, in each of the Pope's thoughts, traces of the pain and deep desires of his people, Bishop Dumas explains that for the Haitian Church, the exhortation serves as a firm call to the Gospel, which teaches boundless love for the most deprived. "It is a moral and ethical compass at a time when we suffer violence and are resigned. In Haiti, Dilexi goes beyond the theoretical; it is a beacon on our path that illuminates a wounded people, crucified by their history." "Faith is inseparable from love for the poor." Dilexi te, Leo XIV.



For the Bishop, the Pope's words urging us not to lower our guard in the face of the poverty ravaging the world teach him one thing above all : "Here too, among us, poverty is not a tragic inevitability : it depends on human choices." And these can be changed. We just have to want it. Leo XIV helps us understand that our people must be liberated, respected. And, why not, also honored for all the struggles they have waged and still wage. This cry of the poor, demanding a nation without conflict, yearning for bread, justice, health, and stability, has finally been heard. "And it was precisely Dilexi who did so, recognizing this voice as that of God, which has resonated throughout history."



But the document is also embodied in the tears of victims of abuse, like the religious abducted the day before yesterday, whom Bishop Dumas knows well. "Father Jean-Julien Ladouceur is director of the Episcopal Commission for Education, of which I am President. He also knew very well the three people who were abducted with him. But the apostolic exhortation is also fulfilled in our migrants forced to flee, in our uneducated children, in our families expelled from their homes, in our young people who leave the country to seek their fortune abroad."



The hope that Dilexi gives to Haiti lies in the transcendent dimension that leads directly to the love of God, who never fails to respond promptly to the requests of his children. "And we," the bishop adds, "feel this divine benevolence every day by observing the gestures of solidarity between individuals and between families that remain united." We realize this through the unwavering faith and mutual commitment of young men and women in schools, parishes, and movements. In short, after reading Dilexi te, Bishop Dumas is increasingly convinced that Haiti can rise from its ashes. "For us, the Pope has truly brought a breath of fresh air, a true confidence." 



Learn more about "Dilexi te" :

Dilexi te (Latin for "I have loved you") is an apostolic exhortation by Pope Leo XIV, signed on October 4th, 2025, and published on October 9, 2025. It is the first magisterial document of Leo XIV. The exhortation's central theme is Christ's love for the poor and the invitation to the Church to renew its commitment to those most in need.



Download Pope Leo XIV's complete "Dilexi te" (PDF in English , 36 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/DILEXI-TE-en.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41847-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41764-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41742-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41710-haiti-flash-mgr-pierre-andre-dumas-injured-in-an-explosion-in-port-au-prince.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Upon arrival, several individuals fled from an apartment in the building.

The operation began around 15:20 and lasted until early evening, involving five to six patrol units. Officers responded to a call reporting a person believed to have broken into a basement storage area.

Police in Helsinki launched a large-scale operation on Sunday afternoon after receiving a report of a suspected break-in at a residential building on Kalevankatu in the city centre.

One of them escaped to the rooftop, prompting police to deploy a drone to locate the person.

Despite the dramatic response, police later confirmed that none of the people found at the scene were suspected of being involved in the alleged burglary. No arrests were made.

A spokesperson from the Helsinki Police Department said a criminal report has been filed concerning suspected unauthorised entry into the basement. The individuals who fled were interviewed but not linked to the break-in.

The operation caused no disruption to bystanders, and police stressed that the situation posed no public danger.

Footage from the scene showed officers in the buildings stairwell and patrol cars stationed outside, but the street was not cordoned off.

This visible presence in the heart of Helsinki prompted early speculation about the nature of the operation, which was later confirmed to be related to a suspected break-in.

Iltalehti was the first to report on the police operation.

HT
Speaking in Yles traditional Sunday interview , Orpo ruled out immediate cuts to pension levels but said the retirement age must be assessed continuously to ensure the sustainability of the pension system. He confirmed the governments position not to touch pension payments during the current term.

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Finland must keep all options open for long-term fiscal reform, including a review of the pension age, while reiterating support for Ukraine and defending the closure of the eastern border with Russia.

Our decision has been not to interfere with pensions. It has been a value choice, Orpo said.

He referred to the life expectancy coefficient already embedded in the system, which raises the retirement age incrementally based on demographic trends.

Eventually we must ask if it increases fast enough. That must be evaluated continuously, Orpo said.

He said all parties should leave room for future governments to decide the direction of reforms after the next parliamentary elections, which are due in around 18 months.

Orpo said the government has strengthened the pension system by around one billion euros and insisted no reforms have been made that would reduce benefits.

On public finances, Orpo estimated that the next government will need to find around six billion euros in spending adjustments. He said the current administration had introduced a debt brake with wide support among parties, and that economic growth alone would not be enough to resolve structural issues.

He rejected a proposal by coalition partner Finns Party to limit health and social services for foreign residents in Finland. He said all residents with valid permits have equal rights to public services.

There are hundreds of thousands of people with foreign backgrounds in Finland. They have the right to be here, and the right to services, he said.

On defence policy, Orpo described Russias stalled military progress and Ukraines increased capacity to strike within Russia as signs of strategic progress for Ukraine. He also noted Chinas decision to limit its oil purchases from Russia as significant.

Russia is not advancing on the front, and Ukraines ability to strike inside Russia has improved, Orpo said.

He expressed disappointment at the European Councils failure to agree on the use of frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraines defence. He said Belgiums concerns were legitimate but believed a compromise is still possible.

Europe has not, at any stage, been able to respond adequately to Ukraine's needs, he said.

Asked whether Finland would be willing to share risks to enable the use of those assets, Orpo replied: Yes, we are.

Regarding climate targets, Orpo said Finland remains committed to its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035, as outlined in the government programme. But he acknowledged that declining carbon sinks represent a significant obstacle.

He referred to new communications with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which confirmed that some targets may not need to be compensated for by stricter action in other sectors such as transport or housing.

The challenge with carbon sinks is massive, Orpo said. New methods must be found.

Turning to border policy, Orpo confirmed that the closure of Finlands eastern border with Russia will remain in effect until further notice. He said partial re-opening could be considered if Russia resumes earlier practices of preventing undocumented crossings.

Border crossing could be reopened at some point in the future, if Russia stops sending people without documents, he said. But currently there is no indication they plan to change.

He added that authorities continue to assess the situation, including recent incidents of illegal crossings at Ilomantsi, but repeated that the capacity of Russian officials to immediately escalate pressure remains unchanged.

We see how migrants are used at borders in southern Europe. That risk remains on our border too.

On domestic healthcare, Orpo acknowledged regional difficulties in delivering services due to financing pressures and salary increases in the sector.

The situation has improved overall, but there are still areas with major problems, Orpo said. The system must ensure that service levels do not collapse due to staff cuts.

He attributed some financial strain to previous miscalculations by the last government and said the current administration has had to provide additional funding to keep services operating.

Labour market challenges were also raised. Orpo maintained that the governments employment target of 100,000 new jobs by the end of the term remains in place, despite the Ministry of Finance projecting the goal will not be met.

We are still working toward that goal every day. We dont give up, he said.

Opposition MP Tytti Tuppurainen of the Social Democrats criticised Orpos responses, accusing him of avoiding responsibility and leaving hard decisions for the next government.

She said Orpo relied on optimistic rhetoric despite worsening indicators and claimed the interview revealed the governments inability to deliver.

Its clear the government is out of ideas, and the prime minister doesnt even try to solve problems anymore, Tuppurainen said in a statement.

She pointed to policy disagreements within the coalition, particularly in social services, values, and pensions, as signs of growing internal disunity.

Orpo declined to confirm whether his party had begun preliminary talks about future coalitions but said no informal negotiations, such as sauna talks, were underway.

He ended the interview by saying that realistic public debate on the economy was needed.

Negative talk does not help anyone, Orpo said. There are positive signs, and it is important that people are aware of them.

HT
The arrests took place on Saturday evening, nearly a week after the robbery, which saw four men use a truck-mounted lift to break into the museums Apollo Gallery in broad daylight. The thieves escaped within minutes, taking nine priceless pieces of royal jewellery valued at 88 million.

French police have arrested two men suspected of involvement in the audacious theft of French Crown Jewels from the Louvre Museum, as investigators pursue leads suggesting the gang may have received insider help.

The Paris prosecutors office confirmed that one suspect was detained while attempting to leave France through Charles de Gaulle Airport, reportedly bound for Algeria. The other was arrested elsewhere in the Paris region. Both men are in their thirties and are known to police for previous burglaries.

Police sources said the suspects are from Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris, and may have been part of a four-man burglary team hired by a criminal organisation or art smuggling network. Two other members of the gang remain at large.

The heist unfolded last Sunday morning at around 9:30, shortly after the Louvre opened to the public. Wearing high-visibility vests and motorcycle helmets, the thieves used a stolen basket lift to reach a first-floor balcony overlooking the River Seine. They cut through a window using power tools, overpowered the guards, and smashed two reinforced display cases inside the Apollo Gallery.

The operation lasted less than seven minutes. The gang fled on two scooters waiting outside, carrying a trove of emerald, sapphire, and diamond-encrusted jewels once worn by French royals including Queen Marie-Amelie, Empress Marie-Louise, and Empress Eugenie.

One item, Empress Eugenies crown, was later found damaged outside the museum. Experts fear the remaining jewels may have already been dismantled, melted down, or sold as loose gems. The moment these stones are separated, tracing them becomes almost impossible, art investigator Arthur Brand told the BBC.

A police source told Le Parisien that the thieves had detailed knowledge of the Louvres layout and security system. Digital evidence reportedly shows contact between one of the museums security staff and members of the gang before the break-in, raising suspicions of insider involvement.

French media reported that the lift used in the heist had itself been stolen days earlier from a seller in Louvres, a town north of Paris, after being listed on an online marketplace.

The Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that the investigation is moving quickly but declined to confirm whether any of the jewels have been recovered. She criticised media leaks, saying they hinder the effort to locate the stolen artefacts and those still at large.

Following the robbery, Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin admitted that security failed at every level, noting that several windows in the Apollo Gallery had not been reinforced and that a lift was parked nearby without restriction.

Museum director Laurence des Cars told French senators this week that security cameras around the museum were ageing and some key areas had no coverage. A preliminary review found that one in three rooms near the gallery lacked CCTV.

As a result, France has moved to strengthen protection around its major cultural institutions. The Louvre transferred its remaining Crown Jewels and other high-value exhibits to the Bank of France, where they are now kept in a vault 26 metres below ground.

Experts say the theft is among the most serious museum robberies in Europe in decades. The jewels financial value is estimated at 88 million, but their historical significance to France is considered irreplaceable.

For now, two suspects remain in custody and can be held for up to 96 hours under French law. Police continue to search for the remaining thieves and to verify whether the operation was commissioned by a criminal syndicate or coordinated from abroad.

HT
Democrat: How does new map reflect NC's 50-50 party balance? GOP: 'It doesn't'

Hundreds of protesters gather Oct. 21 at the Old Capitol in Raleigh to listen to top Democrats voice objections to a mid-decade redistricting effort led by Republican leaders of the N.C. Legislature. [SARAH MICHEL/Carolina Public Press]

While more than a dozen North Carolinians pleaded with lawmakers to bow out of mid-decade congressional redistricting last Tuesday afternoon, state Rep. Brenden Jones, R-Columbus, looked down at his phone.

Related Stories

A day earlier, State Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, stared blankly ahead for two hours while his Democratic colleagues lectured him and his fellow Republicans for heeding President Donald Trumps call to redraw maps to give Republicans an edge in the midterms.

Faced with a foot-high stack of over 12,280 public comments  nearly all adamantly against the redistricting process  Republicans cut off House floor debate after an hour Wednesday, voting along party lines to implement the new maps before lunchtime.



Jones, a House redistricting committee co-chair, and Hise, a Senate elections committee chairman responsible for the new congressional map, didnt have to pay attention. Republicans didnt have to consider the plethora of public comments. They didnt have to make excuses. So they didnt.

The motivation behind this redraw is simple and singular: draw a new map that will bring an additional Republican seat to the North Carolina congressional delegation, Hise said. Republicans hold a razor-thin margin in the United States House of Representatives. If Democrats flip four seats in the upcoming midterm elections, they will take control of the House, and torpedo president Trumps agenda.

In North Carolina, the governor cannot veto redistricting legislation; now, the only barrier to implementation is the courts.

Litigants in an ongoing redistricting case concerning North Carolinas congressional map added onto their lawsuit Thursday in light of the new maps. Other lawsuits could follow.

Gerrymandering: Whats legal, what isnt?



In 2023, the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed its own precedent to greenlight partisan gerrymandering, or the practice of redrawing maps to give one party a disproportionate advantage in elections.

Republican legislators then jettisoned their court-ordered 2022 maps that featured an even number of Democratic- and Republican-leaning districts, in favor of a new map with 10 solid Republican districts, three solid Democratic districts, and one competitive district that U.S. Democratic Rep. Don Davis, NC-1 has held since.

Now, because of that same ruling, Republicans can say the quiet part out loud. They can draw an even stronger partisan gerrymander, so they will. Wednesday, they drew Davis out of his district in a proposed 11-3 Congressional map.

When asked by state Sen. Gladys Robinson, D-Guilford, how the new plan reflected the states approximately 50-50 party split, Hise responded simply:

It doesnt.

The new map would impact the First and Third Congressional Districts.

The First District would gain some of the Third Districts most red counties, and consequently shift from a district where Trump won 52 percent of the 2024 vote to one where he would have earned 55 percent of the vote.

Consequently, the Third District would become less Republican. Under the new map, it would move from a district where Trump won 60 percent of the 2024 vote to 56 percent.

Even if Democrats overperform in the 2026 midterm elections and win the First or Third District, the districts will almost certainly go to Republicans in the long term, said Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation.

Democrats cant do anything about partisan gerrymandering, but they do have one hope left  that the courts rule against the redistricted map for racial gerrymandering.

The First District has a storied history.

State Rep. Rodney Pierce, D-Halifax, said its been home to the highest concentration of Black North Carolinians since the Antebellum era. During the Reconstruction Period, voters chose a handful of Black congressional representatives, but then stopped for nearly a century.

After 91 years without a Black congressional representative, former Congresswoman Eva Clayton won a seat in 1992. She was followed by Black Congressmen Frank Ballance, G.K. Butterfield and most recently, Don Davis.

If the new maps make it through court scrutiny, the proportion of Black voters in the First District would drop from about 41% to 33 percent, while the proportion of Black voters in the Third District would rise to 29%.

Neither is likely to be enough to elect the preferred candidate of the districts Black voters.

The map also splits districts in a way that combines mainland agricultural folk with beach and coastal North Carolinians, groups that have different priorities, different needs, different economies, different lives in general, different cultures, Pierce said.

Throughout the legislative week, Democrats relentlessly alleged that the maps were drawn to dilute the power of Black North Carolina voters, while Hise and other Republicans consistently rejected the idea.

As the sole mapmaker, Hise said he did not use any racial data in the computers used to draw maps.

Pierce said he didnt have to use that data to know where the Black population is concentrated.

He said it seems intentional that this effort is happening while the U.S. Supreme Court may be on its way to decide that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act  which requires drawing majority-minority districts in certain cases to ensure minority groups can elect their preferred representative  is unconstitutional.

You have all these cases about political representation, namely Black political representation, and the only thing pretty much protecting that is Section 2 (of the VRA), he said. So I just dont see that as a coincidence.

The Voting Rights Act and congressional districts



Trish Todaro attached a yellow paper clip on her shirt, a subtle marker of resistance against Nazi occupation used by Norwegians during World War II.

Todaro was one of several hundred protestors who first rallied in front of the Old Capitol and then marched to the state legislature to confront lawmakers Tuesday. She came all the way from Surf City in Pender County to express her opposition to mid-decade redistricting.

Todaro fought for womens rights, and now, she says she is fighting for everyones rights.

Were going to lose Democratic representatives, which is going to trickle over to having a Congress that is just going to say Yes, sir, no, sir, she said. Theres not going to be a voice of opposition.

Megan ONeill, another protestor and co-founder of Underwire NC, an organization supporting women voters, said losing representation matters on a host of issues, like gun violence and reproductive health care access.

North Carolina is a 50-50 state, right? she said. We are purple, and when you look at our map, you dont see that. And so the Democratic and even the unaffiliated voices in North Carolina then dont have representation fighting for what we want at the state level or at the national level.

Redistricting for partisan gain is unpopular  an estimated 84% of North Carolinians oppose it, according to a recent poll.

But popularity isnt a legal consideration. The Voting Rights Act may be.

Under Section 2 of the VRA, parties can sue over maps they allege dilute a minority groups voting power. However, its not an automatic slam dunk every time a map reduces the proportion of Black or brown voters in a district.

Instead, courts have to decide whether minority voter dilution is illegal based on three criteria established in the 1986 Thornburg v. Gingles case.

The first Gingles criterion is that the minority group impacted by vote dilution could have made up over 50% of a districts voting age population if the map were drawn a different way that met traditional redistricting criteria, like compactness.

The second Gingles criterion requires affected minority groups to be politically cohesive, meaning that minority voters tend to vote together in elections.

The third Gingles criterion requires white voters who make up a majority of challenged districts to also vote together as a bloc, usually in opposition to the minority groups preferred candidate.

In a recently decided racial gerrymandering case involving northeastern North Carolina  albeit one involving state legislative maps, not congressional maps  District Court Judge James Devers III ruled that plaintiffs did not prove that the region met the first or third Gingles criteria.

In his opinion, he stated that voters across the state, including in northeastern North Carolina, voted more along partisan lines than racial lines.

Thats a big deal, because if you cant demonstrate those criteria, especially whites voting as a block to thwart Black voters, youre going to have a hard time proving a racial gerrymandering case, Jackson said.

An attorney involved with the redistricting litigation objected to Devers ruling, calling it egregiously wrong and not determinative of whats happening in northeastern North Carolina. There is significant racially polarized voting in the region, they argued.

I expect it to be taken up by the Fourth Circuit, they added. I expect the Fourth Circuit to not necessarily agree with the district court in that case.

Any litigation over the new maps could use different evidence and different expert testimony that may stand a better chance of proving a VRA violation. If plaintiffs cant find a more convincing set of arguments, theyre unlikely to succeed, Jackson said.

Even if Section 2 is struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, there are other legal avenues to challenge the maps, Jackson and the redistricting attorney said. Intentional racial discrimination is still illegal under the 14th Amendment, for example.

Thursday, the Elias Group added onto its ongoing lawsuit over North Carolinas congressional map  Williams v. Hall  to reflect the legislatures actions.

In a supplemental complaint, the Elias Group argued that the new map is not only a partisan gerrymander, but a racial gerrymander as well.

The new maps move four counties with Black voting age populations ranging from 30-39% out of the First District in exchange for six counties from the old Third District that have Black voting age populations from 2-19%, according to the filing.

In addition, the Elias Group filing argues that the mere premise of mid-decade redistricting without a court order is unconstitutional because it does not account for population shifts since the last U.S. Census. While the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that partisan gerrymandering is an unavoidable side effect of required redistricting, the Elias Group argues that this map-making was voluntary, and so no justification exists for using partisan or racial data in the process.

Based on precedent, Jackson suspects that courts will allow the newly passed map to stand at least for 2026 while litigation progresses. Otherwise, courts would risk pushing back the December filing period and complicating the 2026 election cycle.

No matter how hard the struggle, Pierce said he wont stop advocating for fairer maps.

Youve got to reorganize, restrategize, and then come back, he said. You never stop fighting. You cant, because people continuously fought to get you where you are, and if you dont do your part, then what are you doing?
KABUL, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- At least four commuters were killed and 16 others injured when a truck collided with Hilux vehicle in eastern Afghanistan's Ghazni province, local media outlet TOLOnews reported on Sunday, citing provincial officials.

The accident took place on the outskirts of Qarabagh district along the highway linking the capital Kabul to southern Kandahar province, killing four commuters on the spot and injuring 16 others, according to the officials.

Officials attributed the crash primarily to reckless driving.

Road mishaps due to reckless driving on congested roads and lack of traffic signs on dilapidated highways are one of the leading causes of deaths in the war-ravaged country. 
Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and former UN secretary-general, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) should lead economic cooperation and shared prosperity in the region by upholding multilateralism and working together on climate action, supply chain stability and digital standards, Ban Ki-moon, chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia and former UN secretary-general, has said.

In a recent interview with Xinhua ahead of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju running from Friday to Saturday, Ban expressed hope that the gathering would produce practical, forward-looking results and inject fresh momentum into global development and cooperation. It marks the first time in 20 years that South Korea is hosting the meeting, following the 2005 session in the southeastern port city of Busan.

Founded in 1989, APEC has served as an important platform for regional economic cooperation, promoting free and open trade and investment, empowering developing economies and supporting sustainable growth, Ban said, warning that multilateralism, essential for building a more peaceful, just and sustainable future, is "under more and more pressure."

Ban said Chinese President Xi Jinping's Global Governance Initiative, proposed at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin this year, came at the right moment, noting that the initiative upholds fairness, inclusiveness and respect for sovereignty, promotes multipolarity and partnerships, and highlights cooperation on global challenges such as climate change, food security, digital transformation and public health. It also brings political energy to the Global South, he added.

As the world celebrates the 80th anniversary of the United Nations this year, Ban said the initiative complements the UN80 Initiative. Combining the two, he said, could help strengthen the legitimacy of the multilateral system, better mobilize resources, technology and political will, and bridge the gap between developed and developing countries to build a fairer and more responsive governance system.

Ban warned that rising unilateralism and protectionism are undermining the spirit of international cooperation that underpins the United Nations, saying that China can play an "independent and constructive" role in defending multilateralism and advancing global governance reform.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world's second-largest economy, China has acted as a bridge through promoting South-South cooperation, advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and actively participating in peacekeeping missions, he said.

These efforts, Ban added, have amplified the voice of the Global South and made global governance more representative.

He said China's continued investment in renewable energy, technological innovation and public health cooperation has enabled the provision of global public goods.

China's leadership in climate action, digital governance and public health demonstrates the truth that only by working together can the world overcome challenges, he added. 
KHARTOUM, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday said they have captured the headquarters of the Sudanese army in the besieged city of El Fasher, the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region.

"Our forces have succeeded in liberating the 6th Division in El Fasher, North Darfur State, and have established full control over it," the RSF said in a statement released on its official Telegram channel.

The statement described the development as a "historic victory," noting that the forces had inflicted heavy losses on government troops "in lives and equipment."

RSF soldiers also posted videos on the social media platform X showing RSF fighters celebrating in front of the gate of the 6th Infantry Division headquarters belonging to the Sudanese army inside El Fasher.

So far, there has been no comment or confirmation from the Sudanese army or any independent body, amid conflicting reports about the situation on the ground in El Fasher and growing fears of a humanitarian deterioration there.

Telecommunications and internet services have been nearly completely cut off in El Fasher since early Sunday.

An eyewitness from the city said that El Fasher is experiencing a state of chaos and mass displacement of residents amid a lack of humanitarian and medical services.

However, the Popular Resistance in North Darfur State, armed civilian groups fighting alongside the Sudanese army, denied that El Fasher had fallen to the RSF.

"El Fasher is currently facing a misleading and blatant media campaign aimed at spreading fear and panic, as well as a growing wave of disinformation intended to undermine the high morale of the forces on the battlefield by suggesting that the entry of the division's headquarters means the fall of El Fasher," the group said in a statement.

"We assure you that El Fasher is the barrier and the rock upon which the militias' conspiracies and dreams will shatter -- it will remain resilient," the statement said.

El Fasher is considered the last major administrative center in the Darfur region that had remained under the control of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

Sudan remains gripped by a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, plunging the country deeper into a humanitarian crisis. 
SINGAPORE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang concluded his official visit to Singapore on Sunday, reaffirming the two countries' commitment to deepening cooperation and jointly promoting stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

During the two-day visit, Premier Li met with Singaporean leaders and attended a roundtable with the business communities of both nations. He called for deeper collaboration across a wide range of sectors and welcomed Singaporean enterprises to share in the opportunities arising from China's continued development.

Upon his arrival on Saturday, Li highlighted that the development of China-Singapore relations has maintained strong momentum since the establishment of diplomatic ties 35 years ago. The relationship, he said, has been characterized by growing political mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation, and closer people-to-people exchanges, setting a model of mutual learning and win-win cooperation among nations.

China, he said, stands ready to work together with Singapore to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, comprehensively expand mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to work together in the modernization drive, and contribute more to upholding true multilateralism and promoting common development in the region.

China and Singapore share strong economic ties as close neighbors and important partners. China has been Singapore's largest trading partner since 2013, while Singapore remains China's leading source of new foreign investment.

Flagship projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor -- a multimodal transportation network -- have demonstrated the enduring vitality and resilience of practical cooperation.

People-to-people exchanges have also flourished. Since the introduction of mutual visa-free travel in February 2024, China has become Singapore's largest source of tourists. In the first nine months of this year, Singapore recorded 2.5 million arrivals from China. According to the Singapore Tourism Board, the Chinese mainland also ranked first in tourism receipts.

Li's visit came shortly after the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, which, Li said, would open new opportunities for China-Singapore cooperation.

During talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday, Li said China is willing to strengthen development alignment with Singapore, make full use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and maintain the strong momentum of two-way trade and investment.

He welcomed more Singaporean enterprises to invest in China and expressed hope that Singapore would continue to support Chinese businesses operating here.

For his part, Wong voiced full confidence in China's economic prospects and reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to continued investment. He said Singapore stands ready to further enrich the substance of the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership with China.

Following their talks, Li and Wong jointly witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements covering areas such as the digital economy, green development, information and communications, transportation, food safety, emergency management, and third-party collaboration.

Artificial intelligence, the green transition, smart cities, and the digital economy are the future engines of growth, and China's progress in these areas complements Singapore's own development priorities, Hoo Tiang Boon, an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University, told Xinhua.

On Sunday, at the Singapore-China Business Roundtable, Li reiterated China's commitment to high-level opening-up. He pledged that China would continue to ease market access, improve the business environment, ensure equal treatment for domestic and foreign enterprises, address their legitimate concerns, and support both Chinese and Singaporean companies in pursuing greater development.

"Despite global headwinds, China remains a growth market for Singapore companies," the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) said in a press release. The SBF announced earlier this week that it will lead a delegation of over 500 representatives from 57 companies to the upcoming 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE).

"The CIIE continues to serve as an important platform for Singapore businesses to engage Chinese and international buyers, reflecting growing confidence and sustained interest in the China market," it said.

At Sunday's event, Li also called on both sides to upgrade cooperation from "complementary elements" to "collaborative innovation," from "bilateral cooperation" to "tripartite cooperation," and to move from "participating in global division of labor" toward "jointly leading the formulation of rules."

Business representatives at the event said China-Singapore economic and trade cooperation continues to drive growth and prosperity in both countries and across the region. Singaporean enterprises expressed optimism about China's long-term outlook, emphasizing that the Chinese modernization process will generate new opportunities for nations worldwide, including Singapore.

During his visit, Li also stressed the importance of jointly upholding multilateralism, especially at a time when the world faces complex and interwoven challenges.

In a meeting with Singapore's Acting President Eddie Teo on Sunday, Li reaffirmed China's readiness to work with Singapore to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Li said China stands ready to work with Singapore and other ASEAN members to ensure the success of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 and achieve greater development.

He also told Wong a day before that, as the multilateral trading system comes under strain, China is ready to cooperate with Singapore to strengthen communication and collaboration within the United Nations and other mechanisms, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and uphold free trade and economic globalization.

Echoing Li's remarks, Wong said Singapore is committed to deepening multilateral cooperation with China, defending free trade, and advancing regional and global stability and prosperity. 
LILONGWE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Malawian President Peter Mutharika has issued an executive order banning the export of raw, unprocessed minerals as the country gears itself up to develop its wide range of mineral resources.

The order was released on Saturday, reaffirming the government's commitment to "ensuring the sustainable development and utilization of mineral resources, and to promote the growth of the national economy through value addition and industrialization."

The president said the purpose of the order is to prohibit the export of raw minerals, promote local value addition, and ensure that the country's mineral resources contribute to national economic development and prosperity.

According to the executive order, the prohibition took effect on Oct. 21, 2025.

"The exportation of raw minerals from Malawi is hereby prohibited. This prohibition shall apply to all minerals extracted in Malawi, including but not limited to uranium, rare earth elements, niobium, graphite, tantalum, bauxite, coal, limestone, gemstones, heavy mineral sands, vermiculite, phosphate, pyrite rutile, gold, diamonds, copper, etc," reads the order dated Oct. 23, 2025, and signed by Mutharika.

Any person or entity found in violation of the executive order will be subject to penalties, fines, and other sanctions as provided for by the laws of Malawi, according to the order.

The prohibition, however, exempts minerals that have been processed, refined, or value-added in Malawi in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the mining sector.

Mutharika said the implementation of the executive order will be reviewed and monitored regularly to assess its impact on the economy, industry, and the environment, with the ministry responsible for mining expected to submit reports to the president on its progress. 
SINGAPORE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday that China will firmly promote high-level opening-up, further ease market access, continuously optimize the business environment, and actively address enterprises' reasonable concerns.

Li made the remarks at a China-Singapore business community symposium during his official visit to the country. He attended the event alongside Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. 
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Five soldiers and 25 terrorists were killed in two separate military engagements in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Sunday.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement that personnel of security forces effectively engaged with terrorists trying to infiltrate through the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in North Waziristan and Kurram districts of the province.

In North Waziristan, 15 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, were killed, said the ISPR.

Whereas, another 10 infiltrating terrorists were killed in the Ghaki area of Kurram district, it added.

A large number of weapons, ammunition and explosives were also recovered from the killed terrorists. 
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong holds a welcome ceremony for Chinese Premier Li Qiang before their talks in Singapore, Oct. 25, 2025. Li held talks with Wong here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

SINGAPORE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Singapore to implement the major global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote the development of the international order in a more just and equitable direction, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday.

As the multilateral trading system comes under severe strain, China is ready to cooperate with Singapore to strengthen communication and collaboration within the United Nations and other mechanisms, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, uphold free trade and economic globalization, Li said during talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Noting that Xi's meeting with Wong in June in Beijing charted the course for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage, Li said China stands ready to work with Singapore to follow the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, uphold the original aspirations for the establishment of diplomatic ties, and carry forward traditional friendship.

Li called on both sides to consolidate political mutual trust, expand pragmatic cooperation, and continuously deepen bilateral relations to better serve their modernization drives and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability and development.

Li said that the just-concluded fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) deliberated over and adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, providing top-level design and strategic planning for China's development over the next five years and beyond.

He noted that China is willing to strengthen development alignment with Singapore, make full use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, maintain the sound momentum of two-way trade and investment growth, further enhance and expand key cooperative projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and the Tianjin Eco-City, deepen cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and biomedicine, and actively explore third-party cooperation.

China welcomes more Singaporean enterprises to invest in China and hopes that the Singaporean side will continue to provide support for Chinese enterprises operating in Singapore, said the premier.

He also called on the two countries to strengthen exchanges of experience in areas such as social welfare and employment promotion, work together for better development through mutual learning, and deepen cooperation in culture, tourism, education, media and youth exchanges to continuously enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

Wong congratulated the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC. Noting that this year marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and China, Wong said bilateral relations are developing well, with the friendship between the two countries continuously deepening, mutually beneficial cooperation increasingly expanding, and fruitful results being achieved.

The Singaporean government adheres to the one-China principle and firmly opposes "Taiwan independence," Wong said.

Wong said that Singapore stands ready to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, enhance exchanges of experience in governance, promote landmark major projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park and cooperation on connectivity, foster new growth points for cooperation in fields including green economy, digital economy and artificial intelligence, actively carry out third-party cooperation, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and continuously enrich the connotation of the all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership between Singapore and China.

Wong said that Singapore is fully confident in China's development and is willing to continue investing in China.

Singapore supports the Global Development Initiative proposed by Xi and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, safeguard free trade, adhere to multilateralism, and make unremitting efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large, he added.

After the talks, Li and Wong jointly witnessed the exchange of multiple cooperation documents in areas such as digital economy, green development, information and communication, transportation, food safety, emergency management, and third-party cooperation.

Prior to the talks, Wong held a welcoming ceremony for Li at the Parliament House. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in Singapore, Oct. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani authorities have foiled a major drug smuggling attempt and seized narcotics valued at more than 18 billion rupees (about 64.06 million U.S. dollars) in the country's southwest Balochistan province, said the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

The Customs Enforcement Wing of the FBR said in a statement on Saturday evening, a truck was intercepted by a Field Enforcement Unit (FEU) team in Noshki district of Balochistan.

"Upon detailed examination, a modified fuel tank was found containing concealed boxes filled with narcotic substances," the statement said.

Authorities recovered about 300 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, from the vehicle, and also arrested two suspects.

The statement added that the operation was part of Pakistan's continuing crackdown on cross-border smuggling and international narcotics trafficking networks exploiting the country's border routes.

Earlier this week, Pakistan's naval forces also seized narcotics valued at over 972 million U.S. dollars from sailboats in the Arabian Sea.